A Glimpse of Power from the Demon King

Burning up and sweaty with the Ladder training, I say, “Hee, Huff… Tssh…. Physically I’m strong, but Ha, hoh… the training exercise might kill me.”

Far from warm up, my legs muscles have cramped after that.

Enuma coaching, told me, "Perform the ladder training every day. And even after the graduation games of course."

While huffing for air, I say “R-Really… Eeh, my legs… My thighs are jerking. My feet are sore.”

Enuma continued, "Familiarize yourself. And make it a daily routine. Once tis a habit, you will feel unwell any day you do not perform it. If that happens, there will no longer be an issue."

I reply, “E-Every day? I will have to torture myself everyday?.” 

Enuma confirms, "Precisely. Punish yourself, indulge yourself, and give yourself an addiction. That is to say, become strong you must suffer."

I ended up spending a lot of time on the Magical Ladder training. Little by little, I seem to be getting the hang of it, but I still can’t do it perfectly, so I’ll have to work it.

Enuma clapped and said, "Then, next on the training schedule, you will be instructed on body techniques. But before that… have you ever studied any Martial Art?"

I agreed, “Once, only as a basis. We don’t even spar at the academy.”

Enuma said, "That so. Then, first of all, show me some of your motions."

Uncertain, I ask, “Motion?”

Enuma thought on the description of words, "Hmm, shadow, no, sparring. Yes, do some ‘Phantom Sparring’."

He’s saying terms I don’t understand. I guessing he means sparring by myself?

Enuma questions my thoughts, "Oh, are you unaware? Shadows are a staple of martial art training. This is supposed to be an imaginary enemy you face on your own, and train to avoid attacks with kicks, fists and so on."

I reply “Osu”

Enuma lecturing said, "Sparring is a mock battle in which an actual opponent is prepared. And now, what I have just thought of, the Phantom Sparring. Not a virtual enemy. Not even a real partner. You are going up against a ghost with no substance."

So, I didn’t know what the difference was. I’ll be sparring with ghosts, not imaginary enemies? With ghosts… A Ghost?

Enuma confirms, "It is so. It shall be me. We shall spar on the assumption that my form actually exists."

I ask, “What!? with you. how?”

Enuma coaching me says, "Come at me with intent to kill. Instead, even if no damage is given, I shall fight back as well."

No way, a sparring match with the Demon King. Sure, I can’t touch him, but we can simulate combat. Interested, I say, “This might be fun! Let’s do it. Let’s see how great the martial art of the Demon King is!”

Certainly, it seems much more effective than sparing alone assuming an imaginary enemy. I’m extremely interested in the Demon King’s martial arts. Also, how well can I fight against the Demon King?

I make a demand and say, “Hey. Then you won’t pretend my attacks didn’t land when they actually did, will you? If I score a hit, you should declare it yourself?”

I got a little excited, flexing my fist and stretching my joints, which helped me forget my fatigue inmy legs.

Enuma erupts with glee, "Fuhahahahahaha. Even for a genius, the chances of that are zero."

Astonished by the remarks, “Hoh?”

Enuma asked, "Do you actually think your attacks can hit?"

At that moment, the atmosphere changed. I involuntarily breathe in the invisible pressure that seemed to crush my moment of enthusiasm.

With imperative tone, Enuma says, "Now, attack from anywhere. I don’t mind you using magic?"

A sparring match with the Great Demon King! However, the opponent is a ghost, and there is no damage to me even if he fights back. It is absolutely impossible to die. However, I am nervous…

Enuma asks, "Hmm. What happened? Afraid of me, perhaps?"

I react with a gasp, “Eh!?”

A simulated combat? I’m about to fight the Demon King now. I realized that, and the moment Enuma stood in front of me, I felt a cold sweat.

Enuma tries encouraging me, "No one will die, there will be no injury. There should be nothing to be afraid of."

Is it so different just by standing in front of me, it so scary to confront an enemy that should be harmless.

Enuma says, "Well, even if there is no death or injury. You may end up with a vision of such pain."

I swallow my dry saliva at hearing him. That’s right, I can imagine it. There’s a feeling like somehow my life is on the line, even though I know I’m not going to die.

It’s so heavy, painful, and cold that just looking at his eyes makes my consciousness seem far away. An overwhelming sense of intimidation.

Enuma who usually listens to my conversations and talks normally, scares me.

Enuma pushing my sore spots, "Is something wrong, coward? This is what everyone is saying about you, right? Those words you hate the most."

Gasping me I react, “Eh!?”

Enuma continuing to push, "Still, you are only the hero-"

However, as usual he raises my motivation, and inflates my fighting spirit! I erupt shouting, “B-Be quiet! It’s annoying! Let’s do this!”

Enuma analyzing the combat thinks, "Hmm. He seems smarter than his father, yet the simpler parts still the same. It is the first step."

Getting to engage the Demon Lord, I yell out with fighting spirit, “Yaaaaaaaaag!”

However, no matter how much big your fighting spirit, it is impossible overturn reality!

I used my most trusted techniques, “Imperial Fluid Art, Rapid Flying Swallow Fist!”

I start off and got in with my left-handed jabs and fists. The high-speed lefts which go out at irregular trajectories to disrupt the opponent. “Hmp, hmp”

While glancing at all my movements, he quickly evaded my fists. Without moving one step away from the spot, on the contrary, he only moved his upper body to avoid them.

But I can’t be surprised at that now. After making sure he was fully concentrating on the left fist. Sweeping out my combo with opposite trajectory, with a right low kick!  “Take this!”

The moment I tried to kick out, something blocked my vision. “Ah, What?”

Enuma jeers me, "Is that it? Are you even trying?"

Enuma using his fingers got into my vision. Enuma saying, "There is no damage, but instinctively did you realize? Had I have taken even one more step, your eyes would have been crushed."

Breathing heavy, I did not saying anything but shared my hot breath, “Hmp, Naa!”

I wasn’t alert, but I couldn’t make any sense of the movement. My vision suddenly darkened, and it took me a while to understand that Enuma s fingers were in front of both my eyes.

Trying again after creating some distance between us, I call my magic attack, “Thunder Spell, Kilo Thunder!”

Because the opponent is a spirit body, there will be no damage, but he should still be able to be deprived of sight.

I’ll hit Enuma with thunder from the sky after making him stumble or take a step back. And then, I’ll pursue. Break his footing with my next attack, “Terra Spell, Kilo Ground Crack!” 

Enuma calmly says, "Considering your rather rebellious character, surprisingly your performance tends towards the royal road."

While Enuma was busy the lightning flash that fell, I thought a light crack in the ground with my feet that would make him stumble. 

However, Enuma was behind me, faster than I distanced myself in the back step. "Come now, no need to hold back. Keep trying."

I thinking "When... behind me. Did he go around?"

Don’t be scared. Because the opponent is the Demon King

Enuma announced "Hmm. It is a pretty straightforward attack. Hence easy to read, there is no surprise. But this much should be enough now."

A series of left and right fists, back fist from the swing, a high kick from his blind spot. However, all my attacks have been seen through and avoided. It’s nothing to do with my opponent being a ghost, I can’t seem to land any of my attacks!

Enuma saying, "I see, it is limited to the era when I was alive, but have you already attained the power of an Intermediate Warrior? I also discovered that Terran is proficient with Thunder attribute magic."

“Eh!?”

Enuma then starts listing off all my flaws, "Inexperienced in martial art, combat logic, magic power. Does not approach the Heroes of those days, but you still have more talent than the norm."

A word of praise while avoiding my attacks with a slight margin. That said, I’m not happy at all when I’m told in this situation.

Enuma continuing, "After all, what is regrettable is that you lack actual combat experience or the opportunity to frequently dive into the battlefield as in the era of war. That is why you are constantly told, ‘You are not reliable compared to the previous generation.’ "

I snap, “S-Shut up!”

Enuma coaching, "Yes! Silence them! All around you! The world! Everything!"

I won’t shrink from this, I will land a hit, even if it’s a single blow you will eat one of my attacks. 

Enuma clarifying, "But it is clear to me now. And so, take this as an experience. I will not touch you, I will not kill you, I will not hurt you, I will break your spirit and have you kneel."

From that point on, honestly my mind went blank as I was overwhelmed. Enuma with an eerie face that intimidates even the boldest men, says "Come on, experience firsthand! A glimpse of the power of the Great Demon King Enuma"

I was killed many times in a Phantom Battle. As I finally understood real battle.