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Chapter 71: 011: Direct Death Without Advance
After years of relentless effort, Lynch had long since perfected the three stages of Apprentice Knight training—muscles, tendons, and skin—successfully advancing to the rank of Knight. He was now transitioning from Low-level Knight to Mid-level Knight.
[Knight Breathing Method lv3: 8632/10000]
Don’t think this is easy—on the contrary, in some ways, Knight Training is even more challenging than Wizard cultivation. Wizards merely need to meditate to improve their strength, but Knight Training requires combining physical exercises with synchronized practice, which is incredibly grueling. The sweat Lynch had shed over the past few years could almost be calculated by tonnage.
Of course, the rewards of diligent effort were undoubtedly worthwhile. A glance at his attributes is enough to prove it:
Strength 8.3, Agility 8.6, Constitution 8.2.
The average of his three basic attributes had already surpassed 8 points, equivalent to eight times that of an ordinary mortal, making him essentially a small-scale superhuman.
His Physical Defense could be described as "Copper Skin Iron Bone." Ordinary blades and swords, unless wielded with sufficient force, could at most scratch his skin’s surface—but it would be difficult to harm the dermis or the muscle layers beneath.
In terms of speed, his burst movements were now fast enough to rival a cheetah in full sprint.
And as for offensive capability, relying purely on raw physical strength, he could easily slash through a tree so large it would take several people to hug it. In terms of magical energy units, this would equate to approximately 6 units—a destructive force comparable to a typical Low-level Apprentice Magic.
In contrast, a Mid-level Apprentice within the refining system would need to undergo bloodline fusion or even enhance their body by transplanting certain organs to achieve such extraordinary physical performance. Yet Lynch had achieved all this without damaging his body in any way, purely through natural growth and cultivation.
And,
this was not even the full extent of what being a Knight entailed...
Inside the Stock family’s training room, Lynch sat cross-legged on a mat, practicing the Knight Breathing Method.
It was visibly clear—a faint mist-like substance streamed across his body’s surface. This mist surged into him with every inhale and exhale, coursing through his limbs and flowing toward his abdomen, where a thumb-sized, seed-like object resided.
This was the Knight’s exclusive Power Seed, also known as the Life Seed.
The Power Seed’s primary function was to enable Knights to harness a specialized Transcendent Attribute-like power. It went by various names, but it was most commonly referred to as Fighting Spirit—the mist-like substance currently swirling around Lynch.
This Fighting Spirit was a peculiar form of matter. Its greatest function was to fortify the Knight’s body. When activated, it could significantly enhance the Knight’s physical capabilities. For instance, if Lynch poured Fighting Spirit into an all-out sword strike, he could deal over 10 units of damage, approaching the potency of Mid-level Apprentice Magic.
Beyond that, it could imbue the body with tremendous vitality. While it couldn’t extend lifespan like the Power of Life, it could accelerate wound healing, boost metabolism, and enhance resistance to common illnesses.
A Transcendent Attribute not linked to elements or spiritual power?
Lynch was highly curious about the composition of this mysterious substance. However, despite combing through the entire library, he found no relevant information. Perhaps no Wizard had ever studied this energy, or maybe the related research was simply beyond his reach?
In any case, Lynch still hadn’t figured out its exact composition. However, the Power of Life he sensed after his recent promotion to Mid-level Apprentice gave him a strangely similar feeling. Could there be some kind of connection?
[Knight Breathing Method Skill Level +5] Before long, Lynch completed another cycle of Knight Breathing Method training.
After a brief pause, he stood up and began his swordsmanship training.
The swordsmanship technique was called [Direct Death Without Advance], a set of high-level swordsmanship skills composed of advanced combat moves like ’Charge,’ ’Heavy Slash,’ and ’Fearless.’
Though nominally a swordsmanship technique, it was more accurate to describe it as a complete combat skill set. In addition to sword techniques, it incorporated footwork, defensive maneuvers, and techniques for utilizing Fighting Spirit—all of which needed to be seamlessly coordinated.
This high-level swordsmanship was widely known throughout the Mortal World. Lynch had heard of its name long before because its creator was none other than the legendary Great Knight Grant Gwodis of the Ramos Duchy.
In a stage play Lynch had once watched, this Great Knight had used this swordsmanship technique to repel an army of thousands. It was even rumored that he had once stood his ground against Wizards...
Lynch wasn’t sure if the legends were true, but this swordsmanship was indeed on an entirely different level from the Basic Swordsmanship he had learned earlier. If he mastered it, he was confident that he could hold his own against typical Low- or Mid-level Apprentices—even without the aid of Magic.
Of course, although this swordsmanship was exceptionally powerful, it was also notoriously difficult to master. Across the entire Human World, few could claim proficiency...
Nowhere was this more evident than on his system panel.
[Direct Death Without Advance lv0: 16/3000]
Even the entry-level stage required 3000 skill points—more difficult than any of the Mid-level Apprentice Magic Models he had recently learned. It was undoubtedly the most challenging technique in Lynch’s current repertoire.
"Alright, time to grind harder!"
There was no need to overthink it. No matter how difficult something was, as long as Lynch could see his skill level inch upward, he never lost confidence.
...
Living in the castle, Lynch quietly refined his techniques while waiting for news from Avery.
In the blink of an eye, more than a month had passed.
During this month, aided by his Magic Little Expert trait, Lynch had made significant progress on several Spells he had purchased from the marketplace.
[Elemental Voidification lv0: 386/500.]
[Multi-element Shield lv1: 128/1500.]
[Space Distortion lv1: 89/1500.]
[Thunder Strike Spell lv1: 222/1500.]
[Dark Flame lv1: 279/1500.]
[Earth Sinking Spell lv1: 108/1500.]
Other than Elemental Voidification, the rest had gradually reached lv1 and successfully passed the entry-level stage. As for Elemental Voidification...
Lynch admitted he had underestimated this spell’s complexity. It required an understanding of the interactions between various elements and the combinations of derived elements. Learning it was exceptionally frustrating, with skill level increases of only 1 or 2 points at a time.
Lynch now fully understood why this Mid-level Apprentice Spell—despite seeming excellent in every way—was sold at such a low price. It was simply not something easily mastered.
As for the other Spells, they were manageable. Although they were all significantly more challenging than the ones he had learned previously, Lynch’s solid foundational knowledge allowed him to progress steadily without major setbacks—his skill levels consistently improving over time.
Time slipped by unnoticed as Lynch immersed himself in training. Before he knew it, another week had passed.
The long-anticipated Victory Festival arrived as scheduled...
