Grey found himself standing in the same sandy arena. The sand itself wasn’t actually as annoying as one might find on the beach and you made it to solid ground without even having to push through more than half a centimeter or so.
But he was surprised by just how unbelievably annoying it was. Not to mention the fact it got everywhere, it was somehow both slippery as hell and heavy. When it got slick with sweat, it was even worse in both aspects.
He sighed.
"So you’re saying that right now my Abilities are shit."
"You’re a Holy Knight now. Act with some decorum and choose better words."
"Technically, I’m not yet." Grey grinned. "And I might never be if you try to kill me enough times."
Having grown used to Grey’s antics already, Edmun didn’t mind it. But Grey spoke again before he could continue.
"So how do I get from Passive Link to Core Sync?"
Edmun raised an eyebrow. "Relax, boy."
"What? Are you trying to put a ceiling on what I can accomplish? That’s not very cool teacher master of you."
Edmun shook his head. "Core Sync can’t be reached without a Frame. The combat Ability you have that guides your blade isn’t attached to a Frame, so how can it reach Core Sync?
"And even in such a case, the only way to reach Core Sync is to have a Perfect Frame. And even then, you would have to choose one Ability to reach Core Sync with at a time.
"And even then—."
Grey rolled his eyes. How many times did they have to go through this?
"Yes, yes. Very difficult, very small number of people, shocking changes would be needed. Can we skip to the part where I leave you in shock and awe already?"
"This is why I never had kids of my own."
"Are you sure that’s not because you have no game, old man?"
"Oh please. Do you know how many women salivate at the chance to be with a Holy Knight?"
Grey’s eyes lit up.
"Don’t even think about it. Being a Holy Knight comes with an oath—."
"I quit."
Without another word, Grey started walking away. They wanted him to be celibate? Absolutely not!
It was just one con after another with this old man. He absolutely refused. He’d rather die a few more times and turn his brain to meat paste before he ever had to deal with any of that.
Unfortunately, he didn’t make it far before he was grabbed by the arm. Edmun looked at him with an evil grin.
"It’s not an oath of chasteness. There are plenty of Holy Knights with wives and children. It is an oath that you can only consummate through the binding of marriage, though. The discipline will do you some good."
"No. NO. NO!" Grey tried to move, but he couldn’t get away. The old man’s grip was too hard.
"Yes." Edmun’s evil grin widened. "It’s already too late to escape. Even if you weren’t taken in as my disciple, you awakened a Holy Frame. Meaning, you are already bound by our rules. There’s no chance for you."
"What the fuck you perverted old man?! Do you get off on this?! You want to see my dick and balls in a cage too?!"
Edmun’s evil grin faltered. Grey’s mouth was truly too sharp.
But he had a solution for that.
With a flick of his wrist, Edmun sent Grey flying back into the arena. The latter caught himself and skidded to a stop across the sand, but the doorway he had been going for was now blocked by the old man.
There was no way he was getting through.
"Now, we can start with lesson one. Pick up your sword."
Edmun tossed a simple mass-produced sword at Grey’s feet. It skidded to a stop by his toes.
Grey grumbled and picked it up. How would they know if he found a baddie and vented his frustrations on her in a back alley anyway? It had been too long since he had sex. He didn’t give a damn if the Producers were watching. What were they going to do? Kill him?
They were already trying to do that.
"I should also warn you that the Goddess is watching. Punishment for breaking a Holy Knight’s oath is Eternal Damnation. I’ve never experienced it myself, but I have seen it before. Combusting from the inside out isn’t fun, I assure you."
Grey froze, his eyes slowly turning toward the old man.
"I’m going to chop your balls off." Grey said coldly.
Edmun grinned. "I’m looking forward to it. Now, lesson number one. Forming an Active Link with an Ability without a Frame requires intensive focus and concentration. Without a Frame, you will need to actively consider its strengths and weaknesses, its balances and imbalances yourself.
"Only when that is completely ingrained into your psyche and it becomes second nature will you be able to reach Active Link. But the more complex and higher grade the Ability, the more difficult this is to accomplish.
"An Ability like yours that seems to provide general processing ability for combat actions is among the most difficult to do this with because it has no repeatable action. You need to truly understand the very essence of it to reach Active Link from Passive Link.
"And there’s only one way to do that." Edmun said with an even wider evil grin. "Drilling it on the edge of life and death."
Just as Edmun was about to attack, Grey asked a question.
"And what about the creation of a Frame? If I reach Active Link, would it be possible to take an Ability and form a Frame with it by evolving the Active Link into a Core Sync?"
Edmun paused, blinking in surprise. He fell into his thoughts for a long while before he slowly nodded.
"Theoretically, yes. But I have never heard of someone accomplishing such a thing. Those that would have succeeded are certainly either talents of a much higher level than I have ever come across, or powerhouses of a tier I do not know the name of."
Grey’s eyes narrowed. Then he suddenly moved, catching the old knight a bit off guard.
He’d be damned if he didn’t leave here with a little bit of skin in the game for his efforts.
If he couldn’t fuck anymore, he was touching something, dammit.
Edmun had completely underestimated just how much this pissed Grey off.