Chapter 78: Ch:78 Cult of the Niharins

“Hey, guys. What are you doing?” Brad asked calmly, joining the conversation.

“You know, the elders say that Niharins are a cult group, known for their black magic,” Molex said, his eyes darkening.

The three of them fixed their eyes on Molex, their expressions turning serious. Meanwhile, Jerald quietly joined the conversation.

“And… they also say that whenever a Niharin steps into an area, they bring something which is called destruction,” said Molex.

“Hmm… did you know what they look like? Or have any idea how they might appear… Molex?” Daniel asked with a curious expression.

Molex shook slightly. “From what I’ve heard, they wore a white robes but yesterday what I heard was completely different. They say they saw two people wearing masks.”

“Right, I’ve also heard about it too,” Jerald added.

Slowly, one after another, the other shamans joined the conversation, forming a small circle near the town hall.

’But didn’t they found a dead body in that jungle? Or maybe they carried the body to somewhere else. Hmm… that might be,’ he thought, his eyes fixed on the ground.

“Shamans! Let’s move!” Marco barked from behind.

One by one, the shamans moved alongside Marco, entering the training area together.

“I’m sure, you guys must’ve heard about yesterday. But don’t worry, your Master took all under control,” Marco said nonchalantly.

A river of questions swirled in Daniel’s mind, but he held his tongue for now.

“Master, can you tell us more about yesterday’s scene,” Bernard asked, curiosity bright in his eyes.

“Yes, master. I want to know as well,” said Tridon.

“Me too, master.” said Molex.

“No!” Marco said, his voice sharp and commanding. “We should not focus on that thing—it’s a distraction from your growth. My students, you must focus on improving yourselves. Understood?”

“Yes Master!” they shouted in unison.

…

“Okay Student, today we are going to learn the first form of the thunder,” Marco announced. “But remember, a proper warm-up is always necessary.”

The students nodded in unison.

“This time we are going for twenty rounds. Now, get ready. In three—”

’Fuck… why twenty rounds, Master? Are you adding yesterday’s training because you skipped it?’ Zushio thought, bracing himself.

“Two.”

’But, I’ve already learned the first form. So, why do I have to run twenty with them?’ Bernard thought, frowning.

“One.”

*Patter-Patter*

*Zap!!*

“Aaahh!” Zushio yelped, rubbing his tricep where the jolt had struck.

’Fuck… not this torture again,’ Daniel thought, pushing himself forward.

The shocks were inevitable—and far stronger than before. One after another, everyone was getting zapped relentlessly, with no mercy. On average, each shaman endured thirty jolts.

…

“Haah… haah… haah…” Daniel gasped.

Some lay limp on the ground, exhausted, while others still rubbed their arms from the shocks.

Meanwhile, Marco brought some pre-cut wooden poles from the jungle and thrust them into the ground with brute strength.

*Thunk!-Thunk!-Thunk!*

…

“Student! Come here,” Marco barked.

The shamans moved to the center, where ten strong wooden poles had been planted in a straight line.

Marco guided them to stand before the poles, imagining them as their targets to be struck with lethal precision.

“Okay, now back to the basics, first take ten steps backward. Then, start rubbing your palms. Make them warm and let the mana flow through your blood and veins,” Marco instructed.

Everyone obeyed instantly. A tingling sensation surged through them, and small sparks danced from their palms.

Within a few minutes, someone unleashed a thunderbolt on one of the wooden poles.

*Bzz-Boom!-Crack*

Bernard took the first spotlight. The wooden pole shuddered under his strike, splitting almost completely in half.

“Good Bernard, you can take a step back,” said Marco.

Bernard felt a flicker of pride in his chest, his eyes following the cracks he had made—until Daniel unleashed his thunderbolt.

*Boom!-Crack-Thud*

The wooden pole didn’t just crack—it toppled to the ground with a thunderous crash, a clear display of his strength.

“Excellent, Daniel. You can also take a step back,” Marco Commanded.

In the meantime, Bernard clenched his jaw, forcing himself to stay calm despite the stir of jealousy. Daniel, however, didn’t even notice.

Daniel then walked casually over to Marco, curiosity written across his face.

“Master, I have a question.”

Marco nodded slightly. “Yes, what is it?”

“After I create an energy ball, why can’t I destroy it or shut it off?” Daniel said.

“Hmm… it’s because, you can’t,” said Marco.

“What? But why?” Daniel asked, confusion flickering across his face.

Marco extended his palm. “Look closely. Do you see these white particles flowing above my hand?”

Daniel nodded softly.

“You convert them into lightning using your imagination, belief, and will. But once you bring it into reality, it must be unleashed because it wants to be unleashed. You either throw it into the air and let it vanish, or direct it wherever you want. Understood?”

Daniel nodded again. “Yes, Master.”

*Bzz! BOOM!*

Another shaman unleashed a thunderbolt at a wooden pole. It split in two, crashing into the ground with a resounding slam.

“Very good, Zushio,” said Marco.

“Hmm… I guess it’s better to use flint and steel than thunder,” he murmured, walking back to his spot.

One after another, everyone demonstrated their first form. Out of ten, eight unleashed their thunderbolts, shattering the wooden poles into pieces.

Marco, meanwhile, kept planting pole after pole in front of them, forcing them to practice over and over until small blisters formed on their hands.

“Ugh… it’s so damn painful to form a thunderbolt on these blisters,” Daniel growled, wincing as he stared at his palm.

But soon, Belinda arrived as their savior. They were granted a short break for breakfast, and then training resumed, continuing until the afternoon.

In the end, Marco had achieved a great success. All ten young shamans were capable of using the first form within a few weeks. Though there was still room for improvement, it was a proud moment for him.

“Students, tomorrow we will continue our practice,’ Marco announced. “From tomorrow, everyone must wear the locket you received from the box. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes master,” they shouted in unison.

The shamans dispersed from the training ground, but Marco did not join them. He remained standing in the center, flanked by two armored knights.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep