Chapter 293: Section 81: Learn Combat Skill Again
Just now, Fishman Sauerkraut personally witnessed how the person had progressed from being a neophyte to becoming thoroughly proficient and then to making rapid strides until eventually keeping pace with him and even slightly surpassing him.
Such a degree of progress powerfully shocked Sauerkraut’s worldview.
His originally firm and stable stance had now begun to falter.
Seeing his plans yield the exact opposite results, the old Brown Scale felt both shocked and helpless as he quickly patted his favorite disciple on the shoulder, “You are certainly not stupid!”
In his mind, he added, “If you’re stupid, then wouldn’t that make me the stupid of the stupids?”
“What’s going on here then? Master, do you believe this? This is something a Fishman achieved in one day… no, half a day, no, that’s not right. Less than half a day,” Sauerkraut said while pointing to the rubble on the ground, his voice slightly trembling.
...
“How would I know what exactly is going on! This is unbelievable!” Brown Scale silently exclaimed in his mind, but outwardly he maintained his composure and asked, “Maybe he’s just special. Where is he now?”
“Ahead. He should still be practicing splitting stones,” Sauerkraut mechanically replied.
“He’s been chopping so much, his body temperature must be very high, boiling with heat. We need to hurry over!” Brown Scale analyzed deliberately.
The old Fishman Shaman immediately understood his implication.
Brown Scale had invited her, the Mayor, to help train in the Red Scale Chaotic Blade Skill.
The Shaman’s spells could quickly reduce body temperature and also heal the internal injuries from training.
The potential of Fishmen couldn’t be compared with that of the Human Race. Black Iron was not rare among humans, but among the Fishman Clan, the number of Black Iron Level Transcendents was few and received more attention.
The old Shaman was a Silver Level Spellcaster, and helping in the training was also a process of bestowing grace.
This would be a bargaining chip for recruiting him in the future.
As they traveled, the talent displayed by the person had far exceeded the expectations of both old Fishmen.
This intensified their desire to recruit him.
“Let’s go,” the old Shaman said and immediately set off.
Brown Scale also left Sauerkraut behind on the spot.
“Hey, wait for me, elders,” Sauerkraut realized after a moment and quickly swam a few strokes to catch up with the elders, then shifted his stance, stepping on the seabed, changing from swimming to walking.
After walking a short distance, the three of them found the person.
The Fishman youth was swinging a pair of Bronze Level scimitars that he had obtained not many days ago.
The scimitar swiftly chopped, splitting a stone with each stroke.
Due to maintaining Red Scale’s chaotic blade technique for a long time, the young Fishman’s scales were faintly glowing red.
“Stop, cease chopping!” Brown Scale quickly shouted, reaching the side of the person, “You’ll hurt yourself like this. Haven’t I already warned you? You can’t practice this blade skill recklessly; you need to rest more and take care of your body.”
Brown Scale was genuinely concerned, yet also secretly alarmed.
He thought of his own younger days and couldn’t help questioning, “Did I have the perseverance to practice blade skills like him when I was young?”
Absolutely not.
He was well aware of the pain a Fishman could feel when using Red Scale’s chaotic dance to the point where scales glowed red.
“This boy’s willpower is also so strong, almost as if made of steel!”
Seeing Brown Scale stop him, the Fishman youth could only cease his practice.
He felt somewhat disappointed.
After surpassing Sauerkraut, he had wanted to test his body’s limits, but Brown Scale stopped him.
He wasn’t worried about the damage.
Fishmen might have poor recovery power, but Dragon-men could excel.
He could completely mutate into a Dragon-man form to accelerate his injury’s recovery speed.
Even if that didn’t work, there were plenty of Healing Potions on the Justice as well as his exceptional healing means—the Green Jade Gold Coffin.
“Sir, please lend a hand to help this ignorant junior,” Brown Scale requested the old Shaman.
The old Shaman smiled at the Fishman youth, “Child, you have plenty of time in your life, no need to rush. Relax a bit and let me heal you.”
Saying so, the old Shaman quietly chanted a few lines and successfully cast the spell.
The spell worked swiftly.
The Fishman youth quickly felt his body temperature drop rapidly back to normal, while blood infused with Life Energy flowed through his veins, silently healing every internal injury in his body.
“What kind of spell is this?” the Fishman youth revealed a suitably surprised expression.
“This is a type of Blood Magic called Blood Healing Technique,” the old Shaman replied and then asked, “Do you feel better?”
“I feel great! With this spell, I could go without sleep and spend the entire day practicing blade skills!” the Fishman youth clutched his fists and exclaimed excitedly.
Blood Magic was relatively rare.
Generally, it was mastered by the Blood Elves, the Blood Clan (Vampires), and some clergy of the Evil God sects.
The youth had not expected that the old Fishman Shaman also had this skill.
But he soon recalled that when they had entered the Fishman village, the old Fishman Shaman had used a spell to check if there were any spies in the merchant convoy and had also determined that he and the Knife Fin tribe were not associated.
“That previous spell, it should have been a Blood Magic too.”
“You, this guy…” Sauerkraut’s eyes went wide as he observed the pile of rubble at the feet of the Fishman youth, “you’ve already surpassed me. What exactly are you?”
“I say, Old Brown Scale, although this blade technique of yours isn’t hard, it still needs improvement.” The Fishman youth’s words were somewhat provocative.
“No, this blade technique is not at all easy. You are progressing so fast, there is only one explanation—perhaps your bloodline is not simple,” Old Brown Scale said earnestly.
The old Shaman nodded, quite agreeing with Old Brown Scale’s speculation, asking the Fishman youth, “Have you tested your bloodline?”
The two elder Fishmen suspected something about the Fishman youth’s bloodline.
But if tested now, it would likely only reveal the Black Iron Bloodline of the Brown Scaled Fishmen and a very small portion of Bronze Bloodline of the Deep Blue Wise Ones.
The Fishman youth’s excessively fast progress stemmed from his human intelligence and the robust base of a warrior.
For Fishmen, the Red Scale Helical Blade technique was challenging, but the complexity and refinement of human Combat Skill often far exceeded it.
The current situation for the Fishman youth was like a senior student learning junior-grade knowledge in college. Standing at a high point and looking down while learning, the challenges that troubled the Fishmen were merely minor annoyances to him.
Seeing the two old Fishmen doubting his bloodline, the Fishman youth did not refute them; in some ways, this doubt was a good thing.
He immediately shook his head and spread his hands, “Where would I have had the chance to check my bloodline?”
“That’s true.” The old Shaman recalled the identity of a wandering bounty hunter, “The technology to detect bloodline has always been in the hands of the three Upper Tribes. Our village only selects a few people each year to send to the center of the Sea Eye for bloodline testing. I suggest you check your bloodline, you might discover something.”
The Fishman youth replied, “I would like to, but I don’t know any Fishmen from the three Upper Tribes.”
“I’ll introduce you when there’s a chance,” Old Brown Scale said with a smile.
The Fishman youth’s astounding talent rapidly changed Old Brown Scale’s attitude.
Before, he thought the Fishman youth was haughty, unacquainted with manners, and wildly natural (in reality, it was the youth’s first time interacting with other Fishmen in his Fishman identity, not knowing the subtleties of interaction), and hard to like, very much needing guidance.
Now, Old Brown Scale felt that such an attitude from the Fishman youth was very normal. A genius of the Fishman clan should indeed carry such an air!
The Fishman youth held his head high, rotated his wrists, practiced blade flourishes, and lazily urged Old Brown Scale, “I’ve roughly learned the Red Scale Helical Blade, teach me another Combat Skill. After you’ve taught me, I’ll return these two scimitars to you.”
“You want to learn a second Combat Skill now?” Old Brown Scale laughed, “Seaweed sometimes tastes great, but if you stuff too much in your mouth, it’s hard to chew.”
“That’s my affair. Stop dawdling, teach me another one.” The Fishman youth was insistent on learning.
As they had agreed, one bronze scimitar in exchange for one Combat Skill.
The Fishman youth needed Combat Skills.
Urgently.
His previous Combat Skills, like Dragon Claw Strike, Flame Burst, and others, were intended for use in his Dragon-man form.
Using them in Fishman Form wasn’t impossible, but their power would be greatly reduced, and they could also harm himself.
Like the Red Scale Helical Blade technique, it was also modified from the original version through generations to gradually suit Fishmen.
The youth, although possessing many Fishman Bloodlines, could not acquire Fishman Combat Skills through the Blood Core.
Old Brown Scale’s intention to recruit the youth was well known to him, though he pretended to be unaware.
Old Brown Scale’s suggestion to exchange two bronze scimitars for Combat Skills was just what the youth wanted.
“I need to learn two Combat Skills quickly to enhance my strength in Fishman state.”
“Then find an opportunity to reach the deepest part of the Sea Eye and explore the condition of the Half-plane.”
The youth knew he had to hurry.
According to the pattern, the day of the Sea Eye’s eruption was drawing near. He needed to acquire information quickly and then return in time to take charge at the Justice Pirate Group.
Old Brown Scale pondered for a moment and said, “I have three Combat Skills here, one is called Wave Stepping, one is called Helical Blade, and the last one is called Tough Scales.”
“Watch carefully, I’ll demonstrate them all.”
Old Brown Scale demonstrated the three Combat Skills in succession.
Using the Wave Stepping Combat Skill, a strong driving force could be created under the Fishman’s feet, helping them move swiftly.
Helical Blade was a technique for throwing the scimitar, serving as an enhancement for long-range combat capability. If successful, the thrown scimitar wouldn’t need to be retrieved by the user; it would fly back by itself. Sometimes, it could even utilize currents to change the trajectory of the blade.
Tough Scales was the most straightforward Combat Skill, a defensive method. After its use, it would make the Fishman’s scales tougher, effectively reducing damage. However, for the youth, this Combat Skill had a significant flaw. That is, it would reveal the quality of the Fighting energy.
For example, after Old Brown Scale used it, his entire body scales shone with the color of Black Iron. If the youth used it, it would be of a silver hue, exposing his secret as a Silver Fighter instantly.