Return of the Fallen Volume 5 Chapter 35
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Author: Blue_Rat
ch35
Kazuki looked at the next rock and waved Glacious away.
“I’m good. That first one weighed what, 7 thousand pounds. That’s basically my limit. This one is only slightly bigger but it clear its weight did not increase by a small amount. The fact that you asked me to pick it up so casually is suspicious enough. Let me guess, this rock actually weighs a few thousand pounds more.”
Glacious scrunched his brow.
“Well your no fun.”
Glacious bent down and picked the dark green rock up with ease. Rolling it around his arms for a second, he caught it and spun it on top of a single finger.
“You’re correct. This rock here, although only a few inches bigger than the first one you lifted doe, in fact, weigh a few thousand pounds more, three to be exact.”
Kazuki rolled his eyes as Glacious showed off.
“So you brought me here to train?”
“Is it that obvious?”
“The way this open field is laid out is not simple. It seems to be a perfect circle and the ground is flattened entirely. Not only that, though these rocks weigh thousands of pounds, there is also no damage whatsoever to the surroundings. I dropped one a moment ago and there was no fracturing of the ground.”
“Hmm, very good Kazuki, you figured it out so quickly.”
Kazuki shrugged his shoulders.
“Such an open space is bizarre when one is surrounded on all sides by forests and mountains. There are not many other things it could be. The question I have though is how are heavy rocks supposed to guide me in entering the 4th stage?”
“The 4th stage.”
Glacious shook his head.
“This will not lead you to the 4th stage.”
“Wait I’m confused. You said you would make me the strongest human in the world. How do these rocks that have nothing to do with the 4th stage help me on my path to becoming the strongest Mage?”
Glacious smiled for a moment before he threw the green rock in his hand right at Kazuki’s face.
*Whoosh*
The distance was short but Kazuki’s reflexes were faster. Kazuki tilted his head out of the way just as the rock scraped past his face and flew off far away.
*Crack snap crack*
The sound of trees crashing rang out in the distance until after about 10 seconds everything settled down and the crashing stopped. Kazuki felt something warm run down his cheek and wiped it away. His hand was painted in red and he felt a stinging sensation from a fresh cut on his face.
Mei didn’t understand what was going on but she jumped by Kazuki’s side and took up a defensive stance, ready to fight. She glared at Glacious viciously and bared her tiny canines ready to snap at him at a moment’s notice.
Kazuki knew it wasn’t like that. Had Glacious wanted to kill Kazuki…
Kazuki’s train of thoughts trailed off.
(I would have died just now if I hadn’t moved.)
Kazuki narrowed his eyes. He knew Glacious could kill him in an instant and that was clearly a death blow but at the same time, Kazuki felt no killing intent from Glacious.
(A test maybe.)
Kazuki didn’t know what this attack meant but Glacious didn’t make a move since. Kazuki didn’t like the silence that was forming and just decided to ask.
“Senior, what was that just now? We were having a pleasant conversation and then you attack.”
“Hmm, you just asked me a question about what these rocks had to do with the 4th stage did you not. That was my answer in a way.”
Kazuki and Mei both exchanged a confused look.
“Senior I don’t know how you were taught but I am not you. I don’t work with riddles. Straight answers or it goes over my head. SO if you wouldn’t mind, could you do me a favor and explain in plain words why you just tried to kill me.”
“You say it goes over your head but we both know that’s not entirely true. I can see you’re quite clever but I guess everyone needs a clue sometimes.”
Glacious picked up another rock.
“Here’s another clue.”
Right when he finished those words, he chucked the rock, again at Kazuki’s head. Kazuki didn’t expect this but still, his reflexes didn’t fail him. Kazuki twisted backward and the rock flew over his head. This time Kazuki felt anger boiling up and was just about to yell but when he twisted back thousands of these dark green rocks hovered above his head. The entire ground glowed with a green and golden light and both Kazuki and Mei felt their blood run cold.
Glacious spoke as though nothing was wrong.
“I told you I was going to make you the strongest human in the world. Young Kazuki, do you really believe that that only involves magic?”
It was like a lightbulb suddenly went off in Kazuki’s mind as things began to click.
Glacious went ahead and explained.
“I threw two rocks at you just now and not just once but twice, you’re first reaction was not to use magic to defend yourself nor to use magic to attack but instead use your physical qualities to evade danger.”
Glacious waved his hand and the inscription on the ground dimmed and faded and with it, all of the rocks fell out of the air all at once.
*BANGGGGG!*
With the fall, came the crash and a terrifying crash it was. Kazuki and Mei’s legs wobbled as they felt the ground shake ad tremble all around them. The vibrations felt similar to an avalanche happening. Mei gripped Kazuki’s waist and hugged him tight as she shook in terror. Just as soon as it happened not even a second later and the shaking of the ground was silenced.
“Lastly, when you saw all of the rocks hovering above you, you froze. Again, your instincts told you that the only way to overcome the situation was for your body to do something but at the bottom of your heart you knew your body would not be able to take them all. Here-in lies one of the core problems with magic. Do you understand now?”
Kazuki glared at Glacious for a moment before he sighed.
*Haaa*
Rubbing Mei’s head he reassured her.
“Mei Mei, it’s ok, Senior was just trying to teach me a lesson, though he went a bit far, he did it for me. Everything’s fine now.”
Mei looked up at Kazuki, she was on the verge of tears. Hearing that there was no danger and the reason she pointed at Glacious and yelled.
“Mister dragon you’re a stupid head meanie, and and…I hate you!”
Glacious couldn’t help but chuckle to himself. There was actually someone in this world who dare insult him and it was a little bird at that. Glacious didn’t take any of it to heart and found it entertaining. He playfully held out a hand and somewhere deep within the nearby forest something flew out at an incredible speed and landed in his hand.
Several small blue fruits filled up his large hand and a sweet smell drifted off of them and immediately filled Mei’s nose. Her eyes widened and her mouth watered on the spot. Glacious playfully teased Mei.
“You hate me, really. Well, that’s certainly too bad. If you liked me, I’d be willing to part with these tasty little fruits.”
“Eh! Eh! Eh! Those…Those fruits are…are they yummy?”
Glacious teased her some more.
“Tasty, these are some of the best-tasting fruits in the world. They may not be as delicious as the Cerack fruit but they are pretty close. Not only that, but I also have tons and tons of these. It’s too bad though that this poor dragon is hated and all just because I was trying to teach Kazuki a small lesson. Guess I’ll just have to throw these away, it’s a shame really.”
Mei ran over and shouted.
“WAIT!”
“Hmm, what is it little bird?”
Mei looked down shyly and kicked at the dirt moving it around in circles.
“Uh…Um…Mei doesn’t hate you. She…She knows that big bro Kazuki needs to learn lots and lots, otherwise he’ll never accomplish anything. Mei understands so, so…um, please mister dragon.”
Glacious thought for a moment and rubbed his chin finally he shook his head.
“No, I’m not appreciated for my good deeds, these are better off in the trash.”
Mei’s jaw fell open and she was shaken to the core. Tears began to fall one by one and Glacious could see he fucked up and his teasing had gone too far. He quickly pushed the blue fruits in front of her.
“Little bird it was a joke a joke. Hurry and take these before I change my mind.”
Mei looked up with a puppy dog-like expression.
“Really, Mei can have these?”
Glacious nodded.
“Yes yes just stop crying ok. As a matter of fact, you can have all these in my forest. Why don’t you go play by yourself for a while and explore why I talk some more with your big brother. There are lots of fun things to see and do in my territory what do you say?”
“I can explore?”
“Yes, treat it as a game. Go find the best places to eat a snack and when you find the number one best spot, I and your big brother can have a snack with you there.”
Mei wiped the tears from her face.
“Can…can mama and all of the big sisters come to?”
“Of course, now go ahead and hurry along before the small animals eat all of these yummy fruits.”
“AH! I won’t let them. I’ll beat them up if they try.”
Mei then transformed into her Mangshi form and took to the skies, speeding off in a certain direction.
Kazuki shook his head as the image of Mei beating up animals over those fruit popped up in his mind.
Glacious sighed and wiped his forehead of sweat.
“That little bird is quite something.”
Kazuki nodded along.
“Back to the topic at hand. The rocks you threw at me. You brought up my physicality and the fact that I didn’t use magic, and mentioned that this was one of the core problems with magic. When you say that, your meaning is that no matter how strong a Mage is if they have a weak body, it’s all for naught.”
Glaqcious nodded.
“Basically. You could have the greatest magical powers in the entire world but if your body is weak, you may die from a random rock thrown at you. A Mage has many awesome powers and defenses to match but there isn’t a being alive that doesn’t drop their guard at some point. For a Mage with a regular body for example like little Nunully, any normal attack could kill her if landed on her weak point. A blow to the head, a stab in the heart. What’s the point of all that power if you have to be afraid of falling asleep. I told you Kazuki, I intend to turn you into the most powerful human and the first step is to improve your body. It may seem like it has nothing to do with magic but you’ll see soon enough why that isn’t the case.”
Kazuki didn’t like Glacious’s approach but he understood it.
“That’s fine but again there’s no need for the roundabout. In the future, I’d appreciate the straight and true. Riddles are not for me.”
Glacious nodded.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
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