A Story of Evil

Chapter 186: Training and Insight

"Hey any of you got an idea where my king is?" Hendrickson asked.

"Didn't Sol tell you not to call him that?" Alice said in reply.

"Oh yeah sorry. Just a force of habit." 

"Force of habit my ass." Was Jade's reply.

The steel user was with the other members of the team. They were playing a card game inside the canteen. With food being served to them in plenty ones which tasted like rare delicacies.

They didn't mind much that Sol was away. It wasn't like they needed him to be around them. Hence Rick was the only one actively looking for the boy. Unable to settle down until he is assured of Sol's whereabouts. And for the sake of their card game's peace, Alice decided to offer an answer.

"He said he'd be going to King Jubilee so, I bet they're having another chess game right now."

"Is that the board game you mentioned? The one where you have idle pieces that you need to move?"

"Yes it's exactly that Rick."

"Man, that sounds like a boring game. Why are they so hooked into it?"

"Well, in their defense, you keep on working out whenever possible but nobody likes doing the same."

"Touch." 

Cain placed down his cards. Revealing a complete set which let him win. The others were annoyed that they lost but this was only momentary. Each of them already won in the game and, the only contest they were having is who could win the most. Thus they reset the cards and Nathan shuffled them. With the same boy asking a question of his own while he did so.

"But what about that training facility you have in here? Any chance you'd let us go there?"

"You want to get inside Pandora's Box?" Cain asked.

"Man the name itself is already cool. I bet whatever is inside is just as awesome." Hendrickson said in reply. Actually meaning to ask this himself.

"We'd have to consult the king for that." Was all that Cain said. A loyal follower of King Jubilee. One who would never go against the Void King's wishes.

"But is it possible?" Nathan added. Doing some fancy shuffles with the deck which impressed the others.

"It is. But like I said, we'd have to consult the king for that." Cain repeated because it was like they didn't hear him the first time.

"Ohhh to get inside the same place where Sol trained. I'd be more than honored if I could fight in the same space." Hendrickson commented, getting pumped up just from the thought of this.

"But what is it like inside?" Jade also asked, a bit curious about Pandora's Box.

"It's better for you to see for yourself. I don't want to spoil the fun." Was all that Cain said as Nathan finally finished shuffling their game starting once again.

...

...

...

Sol chose Direwolves as his training companions once again. Primarily because the creatures were quick with their movements. This is a good combination with their incredible senses which, allows them to move almost instinctively during combat. Allowing them to stay out of harm's way.

That's exactly the kind of thing Sol needed. An opponent which could also help him raise his own instincts because, he wasn't fighting with any weapon. He was only focused on dodging the attack of the wolf. On using his gravity and space in order to help him achieve this.

That's why there was only a single direwolf. A single monster which Sol fought toe to toe. 

"You aren't gonna catch me unless you put more effort into it." Sol taunted but, the direwolf couldn't understand his words. Nor did it care. It simply wanted to take down its target. Making it that much more formidable. 

The wolf began with the regular pounce attack. Sol tried using his gravity magic to pull his body away but, this was off by about a few centimeters. Allowing the direwolf to cut some strands of his hair. The creature didn't stop here and let out a howl as lightning was released from all around its body. Attempting to strike down the human with the lightning bolts.

"If I mess up here I'd definitely die." He said, pushing his body as fast as he could and, surely enough the force was much more than he intended. Getting him just in front of the direwolf. But he didn't stop here. He placed his palm on the body of the monster and casted [Center of Gravity]. Instantly pulling all of the wolf's body parts to a single point as flesh and blood spattered. 

"Why is it even this difficult? It's like it was designed to never be mastered." Sol said as he let out a sigh. But he wasn't giving up. In fact, he already summoned the twentieth direwolf and wasted no time as, the fight resumed once more.

The next direwolf tackled Sol directly. Sol tried using his gravity on the joints of the creature to make it trip. But along the way, he also ripped the whole skin on one leg. This inevitably lead to the outcome which Sol wanted but, there was no control nor focus in the attack. The method was lacking the finesse he needed. 

Thus he snapped his fingers. Resetting both the direwolf and the fight as well.

"This is like going back to square one." Sol said as the new direwolf began its attack.

Sol boosted his body with gravity. Flinging him in the air. The direwolf quickly followed this, getting enough strength on its back legs as it leapt to the air. Sol then pushed his body down, preventing himself from being clawed as he also added a thin wall of space in between him and the creature.

But since the direwolf's body weighed a ton, it got down almost as quickly as Sol did. The monster then turned and gathered lightning on all its four legs. Pouncing towards Sol at the next second, in a speed quicker than normal. 

Sol didn't move from where he stood however. He simply pivoted his body to the side. Just enough to simply be grazed by the lighting that, at that point, already covered the body of the direwolf. He then pushed the creature away with gravity. It wasn't micro casting however so there was no satisfaction which Sol felt.

But the creature was far from biting the dust. In fact it recovered immediately from the blow made by Sol and, came running towards the boy. With lightning trailing on its path.

"Perfect. Let's try that move again." Sol thought to himself. Referring to the gravity casting he made on the earlier monster.

He simply took a deep breath as he waited for the direwolf to get within range. And, as soon as it was, he tried focusing on all the four legs of the creature. Attempting the same thing as he did with the earlier wolf but, only with an attempt to slow down the monster.

Sol was successful in getting two of the legs. But the other two had their flesh sticking out. In fact, the degree of damage was even highly differentiated. As one leg already had the bones exposed. Nevertheless the direwolf still continued with its attack. Pouncing once again. But since the attempt already failed, Sol snapped his fingers. Making the direwolf vanish as he sighed in regret.

"This just won't do. With the rate I'm going, I probably won't be able to use this properly on time."

The skill was complex. As if Sol was attempting to put a thread through the eye of a needle in less than a second. And using this kind of skill over and over again meant that, it was like he was attempting this same feat. Over and over again.

But since Pandora didn't allow the thing he wanted, the boy had no choice but to make do with what he had. Of course there was also the fact that, the Seraphim already told him not to worry. That he could relax and leave everything to the King. 

Yet the Sol didn't want to be reliant on the Void King's protection forever. He's never liked the feeling of helplessness. And Sol would do everything in his power in order to assure that this won't happen again.

"If only I had more skills. I won't be worrying about this anymore..." Just as Sol said this, his body froze in place and his eyes widened. It was as if a splash of cold water hit his face as, another idea struck his head. 

He did have more skills available. In fact, they were already with him inside the facility. And at the same time, he could also use them for another goal. That's why he called out to Pan again who, willingly appeared.

"You know I'm not like a summon that you can call anytime."

"I'm sorry but, I actually need something Pan."

"As long as it's not related to turning you into a shadow soldier."

"It isn't."

"Okay. Fire away then."

"Can you give me this same time slowing tomorrow?"

"Did nothing about the irreversible effects get to you?"

"Don't worry. I'm still fine plus, this is the last time I'd be asking this of you."

"Is that true?"

"Yes. I won't ask the same thing again."

"Fine. But why do you need it so badly tomorrow?"

"Well it's simple. I want to see how well my teammates could fight on their own." 

"Okay then. But I won't be granting this again in the future."

"Yes. Thank you Pan." Sol said as the Seraphim finally disappeared.

The boy didn't even waste any time to rest. He ran outside Pandora's box and, went straight into the control room where he knew King Jubilee would be.