The hard work of practicing the drills became a daily thing. It was weeks upon weeks of the same routines and Mr. Smith had finally brought Mark's skills to the point of perfection. The sloppy moves and random motions that had saved his life in the mountain cave were soon replaced by perfect body movements that had taken him weeks to perfect. The fluid motions he took down his sparring partners with ease and grace.
Mr. Smith had taught him the basic techniques of combat. They consisted of these basic Jutsu's that Mark had to practice thousands of times before they became second nature to him.
The Iron Mirror Counter (Kagami-no-Jutsu):
Used when an opponent charges in and attempts to strike Mark directly, you slip inside their guard and use your palms to push down hard on their forearms forcing them to the ground. At the same time you use your other palm to strike their chin pushing them down further with their own forward momentum.
The Shattering Wave Takedown (Nami-Kuzushi):
This was used when an opponent came at you, you sidestepped their charge and hooked them around the neck with an arm. At the same time you swept their legs out with your other leg breaking their fall and sending them crashing to the ground hard.
The Rising Dragon Lever (Tatsu-Uke):
Used when an opponent struck at you with a high strike or swung a blunt weapon overhead you crossed your forearms creating a wall to stop them mid-swing and locked them in place. Then you twisted your hips pushing your shoulder up along their armpit breaking their shoulder in half.
The Viper's Coiled Coil (Hebi-Karami):
This was used when an opponent tackled you to the ground. You hooked their side with your legs preventing them from rolling off you. You then swept your hips to one side forty-five degrees facing them and isolated their arm by pulling your hips away from them breaking their shoulder in half within seconds.
The Earth Binding Trap (Chi-Katame):
Used when your opponent attempted a low kick or a waist level tackle you dropped straight down and drove your knee into their thigh as you trapped their ankle locking them in a secure hold.
The Phantom Shift Strike (Kage-Geri):
A sneaky strike used when an opponent had blocked or guarded all other approaches. You feint forward with a powerful step and then pivot on the ball of your foot sending a spinning heel kick into their temple bypassing any shields or blocks completely and knocking them out cold.
The Crushing Stone Elbow (Iwa-Ate):
Used when an opponent has tried to clinch you in for a body strike or grapple. You slipped inside their guard and rammed the end of your elbow up into their nose bridge shattering it.
The Flowing Willow Redirection (Yanagi-Kaze):
This was used when an opponent charged with a two handed weapon. Instead of blocking it you guided the flat of their blade away using your palms in a sweeping motion causing them to overextend and completely loose their balance.
The Twin Falcon Plunge (Taka-Tsume):
Used when an opponent came at you with a mid level thrust. You grabbed their arm and took your step back causing you to loose your balance and drop your weight down on your backside placing your boot across their midriff and throwing them over your back and onto their back in one smooth motion.
The Unbroken Heaven Stance (Ten-no-Kamae):
The finishing move for many other defensive Jutsu's. You took a heavy blow across your forearms to break their strike. Then you trapped their striking arm and spun one hundred and eighty degrees hip throwing them to the ground before delivering a final blow to their throat.
Mark now stood before the universal interface with a happy smile as the interface appeared before his eyes along with a chime.
[System Message: Skill Mastery over 'Oakhaven Jutsu Defensive Arts Achieved!']
[Reward Granted: 50 Silver Coins and 500 XP]
Mark used the coins in his inventory to go to the local merchants and purchase new gear. He traded is old leather for a reinforced tunic and bought several potions to fill his inventory with.
Despite all Mark's progress the class path was still locked behind a glowing ruby chime on his menu screen. The system informed him that the special class path to become a Tactical fighter would only open if he could defeat the club's number one fighter, a hulking giant of a man named Ahmed.
On the day of the fight the whole place was packed with village guards, local mercs, and other onlookers. As Ahmed stepped on to the training ground Mark's danger sense skill went off. The big man was almost twice Mark's size and had twice the muscles. Ahmed had a thick waist and thicker arms as he rolled his broad shoulders revealing a level eight combat aura as he spoke.
"You've made quite a name for yourself recruit. But the number one spot is mine alone".
The supervisor stepped between them and the next thing Mark knew they were fighting. Ahmed charged forward swinging a heavy right hook that blew the air from his lungs. Mark kept his cool. Using the Flowing Willow redirection he slipped inside the giant's guard knocking his elbow into Ahmed's side.
The big man grunted as the blow connected with his ribs but he took it and swung his big arms around Mark's waist tossing him onto his backside. Ahmed dropped down on to his back putting him in a dominant ground position and preparing to finish the fight. Mark used the ground defense skills he had been practicing to roll sideways away from the big man. He pulled Ahmed's arm across his chest and rolled his hips up knocking him off of him. The big man rolled sideways off of him and was knocked to his back again as Mark scrambled back on his feet.
Ahmed growled furiously as he came back to his feet and swung wildly at Mark. He rolled away from the big man to check the force of the blows but Ahmed's attacks were coming faster now. Using his Iron Mirror counter he took the next set of blows sliding inside Ahmed's guard. He used his head to keep the big man's blows wide as he took the chance to see how much the big man was struggling. Ahmed's breathing was starting to come in shorter gasps and he started to slow his movements.
Ahmed lunged forward in a low profile tackle. Mark used the Earth Binding trap to drop down and drive his knee into the big man's side. He hooked his ankle with his leg locking the big man's leg in place. He used his free arm to roll Ahmed's hip sideways taking him off his balance and knocking him clear off his feet.
Ahmed landed flat on his back wheezing in great gasps of air. Before he could recover Mark rolled over his shoulder knocking the wind from Ahmed's lungs. He pinned the giant's neck with his knee holding him down as he isolated his arm in a Viper's Coiled Coil.
Ahmed tapped the ground twice and a notice appeared before Mark's eyes
[SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT: TRIAL COMPLETED]
[Final Club Fight Won! You have defeated Ahmed the Champion.] [Tactical Class opened!]
As a flood of new information rushed into his head Mr Smith came onto the training ground with a happy grin across his face. He threw a silver medal with the Oakhaven crest engraved into it and shook Mark's hand.
"Well done Mark. You have earned yourself a degree of combat knowledge in a matter of just a few months. I can't believe this young man, you are truly an amazing strategist."
Mark nodded his thanks and fastened the medal to his tunic. Almost immediately the crowd parted revealing Alden. His usual laid back attitude was gone, his face was serious and his eyes held a warning look.
He stepped before Mark and put a hand to his shoulder.
"Stay on guard Mark, because it seems as though bigger challenges are waiting to test you." He told him in a serious tone. "The outer paths have been compromised. It would appear that one of the elite fighters from the neighboring werewolf faction has come to challenge you."
Mark focused his attention to take in what the man said. The new class abilities in his head immediately shifting into a combat ready stance. "A Werewolf?"
"That's right. His name is Punk. He is a feral lycanthrope who boasts of his strength and brutality. He and his raider gang have carved a path of destruction and lawlessness across the Eastern borders. Their front line is already laying siege to our gates."
Progress
Character Level: 5
Class: Tactical Path Unlocked!
Next Goal: Defend the Oakhaven Border From Punk's Werewolf Gang. The End
ns216.73.216.184da2
and then Add to home screen.