Divine Beast Ascension

Chapter 359: Exchanging Teachings

“Also...” added Netra, turning to face her worried mother, “I’m glad I made you proud.”

“Netra! You’ve always made me proud!” As any worried mother would, Puula began inspecting Netra’s injuries.

Vloz chuckled, “She’s fine. With some rest and healing items, Netra will be back at full strength tomorrow.”

“How about a celebratory feast?!”

Everyone looked back to Zelsh, who happily pointed at Ania and Bradok, “With the two finest chefs that Bore City has ever known, there is no better way than to celebrate this experience with a one-of-a-kind feast!”

“Right! To the kitchen!” Bradok chanted, throwing his arm around his daughter to lead the way.

Ania sighed but smiled. “Alright, this counts as the promised feast!”

.....

“I’ll make sure everyone is ready! How long till the meal?” Zelsh asked with childlike eagerness.

Shrugging, Ania replied, “Let’s say two hours. That way you’ll get my best stuff and can’t complain for another feast.”

“Works for me!” Ecstatic, Zelsh turned his attention to his students. “Take this time to recollect on each other’s battles. Netra is a unique opponent and this should be used as a step forward in your cultivations! And make sure to thank her!”

“Of course!” Tilgron was the first to reply, glancing back at the fox while licking the blood around his neck.

Netra didn’t notice, but Vloz and Puula did. And both of them sighed when they noticed a sense of intrigue hidden behind the tiger’s stare.

“Will this be the only time you visit?” Vant asked, approaching Netra’s group. “If not, we’d always welcome more sparring matches or even shared training days.”

Kraz approached the group as well but looked to Vloz before everyone else. “As her instructor, I now understand why my father respects you despite our knowledge of your background. If you’d allow it, I would greatly appreciate receiving your teachings as well.”

Curious, Vloz looked at Zelsh’s smile and then back to the young, towering wyrm. “Are you sure? Your father is-”

“I’m my own man and am allowed to seek out any teachers I’d like, so long as they do not keep me from receiving my father’s teaching as well,” explained Kraz. “Please, if you’re willing, I would be honored to be considered your student, even if only your half-student.”

“Wooow... It’s not every day I’ve seen Kraz take to someone else’s teachings. If you’re willing, I’ll hire you as a secondary instructor,” Zelsh offered.

“Sorry, but I’ll decline such a position.” The leopard shook his head, not surprising the king cultivator. “However, shared training and exhibitions may not be such a bad thing... So long as we’re able to properly schedule things and can prepare, I wouldn’t mind exchanging teachings.”

“Ohhh, you’re a sly one...” Sighing, Zelsh noticed Kraz bowing deeply in search of approval. “... Fine. Exchanging teachings can be arranged, I guess.”

“Thank you, King Zelsh.” Dropping one knee, Vloz bowed to the behemoth of a man.

“In that case, until dinner is ready, how about you take the lead on their training?”

Laughing, Vloz nodded before getting back up. “If that will get you to teach my people, I’ll gladly share my knowledge and experience with your pupils. Netra, take a break for now. But pay attention.”

“Yes, Master.”

While Netra joined Puula and Zelsh in the stands, Vloz stayed behind with all three of Bore City’s finest pupils in front of him.

“Attack me.”

All three trainees nodded, taking a calming breath before their training resumed.

Excited once again, Zelsh shouted, “Remember! He’s an assassin! His fighting style will be similar to Netra’s, only far more deadly and stealthy! Be careful or you’ll lose before you can even see what happened!”

But before the three students could nod in response, they looked back and could no longer find their target.

“I told you to attack me...”

Without warning, they heard Vloz on their left, near Tilgron. Yet it was Vant, on the far right, that was suddenly knocked away.

“If you don’t attack...” Vloz’s voice suddenly sounded like it came from all four directions. “Then I guess I have no choice but to attack myself...”

Next, it was Kraz that got drilled in the abdomen, knocking back his upper torso and throwing his head back in pain.

“You... I’m curious how you’ll handle this...” Vloz’s voice seemed to echo and circle around Tilgron, who was both smiling and sweating. “Not used to assassins? Most people aren’t... That’s what makes my job easier...”

Tilgron then created an icy shield by stomping on the ground near his side.

“Close...”

Despite the effort, Tilgron felt a paw reach out and flip his hip over his head.

“But not quite...”

Zelsh was reveling in the show. He had sparred with his students plenty of times. But it was hard to find a teacher like Vloz, someone not specialized in battle but in killing. Someone with such a skill set but trustworthy enough for such exercises.

For Zelsh, this was a win-win. He got to enjoy seeing his students get soundly defeated while watching them try their best to adapt to a deadly challenge.

Vloz gradually reappeared in the center of the three young cultivators. “Don’t make this too easy. Netra and the others get this as a warm-up. We’ve only just begun the lesson.”

“You’ll have to figure out how he makes himself invisible! There are a few ways to do so without illusions, so stay sharp!” encouraged Zelsh, who also retrieved a pouch of dried fruits as a snack. He then turned and smiled at Netra. “Want some?”

“Sure...” She nodded, letting the king dump some dried fruit on her tail.

“What?”

“Nothing... I’ve just never met a king, yet you’re nothing like what I’d expected.”

Bursting out in laughter, Zelsh chomped away at his snack. “Is that a bad thing?”

Netra shook her head and smiled. “No. It’s a great thing.”

“Then I look forward to the moment when I get to test your potential myself. But for now, let’s enjoy the show your teacher is giving us,” remarked Zelsh, looking back to see his pupils even more confused than before.