Five different attacks, each from five different angles, landed on Atticus with immense force.
Two struck his legs, one hit his stomach, another his chest, and the last one hit his back.
The attacks came from such varied angles that Atticus's body didn't even know where to move. He ended up remaining in place, his face contorting in pain.
'So fast!'
He had seen each one of them approaching him, but he hadn't been able to react in time.
'It must be Grandfather. He made sure their strength and speed are greater than mine,'
The five constructs didn't give Atticus time to think and unleashed another brutal series of blows. Atticus attempted to dodge, but it was futile.
Aside from the fact that they were stronger and faster than him, Magnus was also watching the battle. He could predict every move Atticus wanted to make.
The pain from each attack was immense. Every time a blow landed, Atticus felt a jolt of electricity coursing through his body.
'I have to learn how to use lightning,'
Despite the immense pain and the severity of the situation, Atticus knew that this was the only way out. His mind immediately began working.
He hadn't been able to see how Magnus had created his lightning because of how fast he had been, so he would have to find another way.
However, before he could continue this thought, Magnus's voice suddenly boomed over the crackling of energy,
"Atticus, you're already familiar with the basis of the other elements. The lightning element isn't much different. The lightning molecules in the air are known as electrons.
"When we generate lightning, we manipulate the flow of these electrons, creating a powerful electrical charge. This charge can be directed, intensified, and even shaped into constructs like the ones you see now. You're in an area abundant with these electrons; I'm sure you can figure out the rest."
Immediately after Magnus finished speaking, each of the five constructs stopped moving before suddenly backing away to create distance.
They each pointed their arms forward, and five lightning bolts blitzed towards Atticus in the next instant.
Instead of panicking, Atticus closed his eyes, his mind spinning. Magnus's explanation, along with the demonstration from each construct, was everything he needed.
The air around Atticus became electrified, tendrils of lightning materializing and snaking their way across his body.
His eyes snapped open, and a wall of lightning suddenly appeared in front of him, blocking each of the lightning bolts.
Magnus nodded in approval but his expression remained unchanged.
"We will immediately move to a more advanced lesson."
Each construct darted towards Atticus, spreading out and striking with precision all around him. However, the situation had slightly changed. Now, Atticus could control lightning!
The attacks still hurt like hell, but he was able to mitigate the pain significantly.
Magnus continued speaking.
"Since you've learned about the basics of the other elements, I think we can skip some parts. Now you will learn about how to use lightning to influence the human body."
It was hard, but as soon as Atticus heard Magnus's words, he split his focus so he wouldn't miss anything. This made more hits land on him, but at this point, Atticus didn't care.
Magnus's insane control over the lightning element was still fresh in his mind from the day he temporarily took away his vision and hearing.
He could imagine its other uses and wanted to learn them immediately.
Magnus didn't waste any time.
"By understanding how electrical signals work in the human body, we can control and enhance our bodily functions. For example, the blinding flash you experienced a few years back was a direct overload of the optic nerves, temporarily overwhelming your vision."
"We can also stimulate muscles. By directing a controlled electrical charge into the muscles, you can increase their strength and speed. This is neuromuscular stimulation. It allows for rapid muscle contraction, enhancing your physical performance significantly."
"This technique can make you faster and stronger, but it requires precise control to avoid damaging the tissues."
A surge of lightning exploded from Atticus, sending the constructs around him flying and giving him time to ponder Magnus's words.
However, just as Magnus finished speaking, visible ripples of lightning coursed through each construct's figure, making their limbs bulge with enhanced power.
They shot forward in unison, the force of their launch causing ripples to spread outward. Closing the distance in an instant, another set of attacks was unleashed from different directions.
'They've gotten even faster and stronger,'
Atticus attempted to block with multiple lightning shields around him, but as though they were made of paper, their forms crumbled under the immense force of the attacks, each striking Atticus with great force.
Atticus's face contorted in pain before his body was sent flying and tumbling down on the condensed lightning continuously.
He spun and skidded along the ground before coming to a stop.
The five constructs stood all around him, their intense white eyes fixed on his struggling figure on the floor.
Atticus coughed out a mouthful of blood and struggled to stand up.
He was glad Magnus had demonstrated using the constructs.
'He's still as ruthless as ever,'
Atticus wiped the crimson blood from his mouth with his arm. He had already expected something like this when he knew Magnus would be training him.
This feeling intensified when he saw that lightning would be the last element he would learn. It simply meant Magnus didn't want this training to hinder learning the other elements.
Since he had trained with Magnus, Atticus had never known him to train in the conventional way. Every single one of his lessons had always been learned during battle.
And although to Magnus, he was pulling his punches, it didn't feel that way to Atticus. The power of the attacks that landed on him had always been uniform and just high enough to make him feel intense pain but low enough to avoid significant damage.
The move Magnus had just explained and shown Atticus seemed simple but was complicated at the same time.
It involved using lightning, an electric charge, to stimulate targeted muscles, prompting them to contract by mimicking the body's natural nerve signals.
However, the tricky part was the intensity of the electric charge. This was directly correlated to the duration of the augmentation. High intensity for explosive power and speed while low for an otherwise uniform increase.
Atticus immediately got to work as he stood up straight. He targeted each of the important muscle groups in his body: quadriceps, hamstrings, biceps, triceps, and core muscles.
Atticus's body flexed, a visible ripple of electrical energy coursing through each of his muscles, making them bulge with intense power.
He could feel his capabilities had increased to a whole new level, higher than he had ever felt when he used his superficial lightning to augment his body.
But something felt off; he couldn't put his finger on it.
"Augmenting your muscles is just one step; the other is stimulating your nerves for faster speed and improved coordination," Magnus said.
Magnus could read Atticus like a book. He already knew what was going through his mind.
That explanation was everything Atticus needed.
He immediately directed the electric charge toward the major nerve pathways, especially those connected to the limbs and core muscles, using low to medium intensity to avoid overstimulation and potential nerve damage.
Everything fell into place as though it were a finished puzzle, and Atticus felt his reflexes and coordination improving at a fast rate.
Each of the five constructs exploded as their power and coordination were enhanced. Without wasting a second, they streaked toward Atticus and launched another round of attacks.
Atticus calmly inhaled and then exhaled before his body disappeared, clashing with all five constructs in the next instant.
The battle took on another turn this time. Unlike before, no hits were landing on Atticus anymore!
He move with speed and power and at the same time well coordinated and precise, evading and deflecting each of their attacks before throwing his own.
The battle was still intense as Magnus constantly made sure the constructs were always more powerful than Atticus. But Atticus now had a way to react to their adruptness which was basically a game changer for him.
This stalemate lasted for a long while and when signs of fatigue started appearing on Atticus's face, his movements slowing down slightly, Magnus decided to add another lesson,
"The next lesson, cardiac control. Here, you will stimulate your heart and other major blood vessels which will help regulate heart rhythms and improve cardiovascular efficiency, leading to better stamina and edurance,"
Each of the constructs backed up, allowing him to catch his breath.
Atticus breathed heavily, trying to regain his breath. He had heard everything Magnus had said and had his gaze fixed on the constructs, he was obviously about to demonstrate it.
Atticus noted as electric charges flowed through each of the constructs chest, stimulating their artificial hearts and veins.
Magnus construct were basically lifelike at this point. If not for the lack of consciousness, they could be taken as living beings. The man had created every organs, veins and other parts that were present in normal humans.
However, Atticus wasn't focused on that. He could immediately feel the immense energy that erupted from them once Magnus was done.
He wasted no time before simulating what he had just seen.
In the next second, Atticus felt an instant rush, an intense energy coursing through his body. He felt his fatigue wash away, a surge of adrenaline rushing through him.
Atticus stood up straight and faced the five constrict and without uttering a word, they each moved, intense clashes rocking the space in the next instant.