Divine Beast Ascension

Chapter 301: Training Officially Begins

“How will I know when I’m ready to make a technique or merge the natures?”

“You’ll know.”

“I’ll know?”

“You’ll know,” Zelsh repeated himself. “Anything else?”

“Well... How should I go about testing my gravity essence?” Oli asked.

Zelsh shrugged. “How would I know? I don’t have that.”

“What–”

.....

“You’ve experimented in the past, so why not start there and take it up a notch,” Zelsh mentioned with another slight grin.

“I guess...”

“Since you’ve got no more questions–”

“Hey, I–”

“I should get going. I have things to handle before the others are ready to start training,” Zelsh continued, ignoring Oli’s interjection. “Good luck. I look forward to seeing how fast you progress.”

Without another word, Zelsh leaped into the abyssal air above. He was beyond the reach of Oli’s essence before a single word to exit Oli’s mouth. And now, Oli was left alone at the bottom of the dark, musky cavern. No way out.

Oli sighed to regather himself but soon noticed a few things left on the ground. Snickering to himself, Oli accepted his circumstances and accepted the handful of scrolls and manuals.

“I guess this is it... No way out, so why complain? I’ll save that for after I leave and can grill Zelsh over Gramps’s food...”

With that self-affirming statement in his mind, Oli scanned over his immediate surroundings. He began to memorize where everything is. The well trough at one side, a nearby place to start farming, an opposite end he felt would work for a bed area. Oli had no choice but to take everything in stride, so why muddle his mentality when this was his only option?

*****

For the rest of the palace, nothing seemed to be different. Only the few active servants from the early morning had a sense that something was going on but that was changed when they saw Zelsh alone in the halls. He was less tense but the seriousness under his gaze lingered still. At least he would greet the workers like always, with a wave and a smile.

Kraz was one of the first people to awake, apart from the servants. He wasn’t spoiled like some children of kings. No servants woke him up. No one brought him breakfast. No people were waiting on his hand and foot for Kraz’s every need.

Since young, Kraz and Donovan had both been raised as normally as possible. They were taught that their father’s servants were just that, their father’s. They hadn’t earned having servants for themselves, so they would care for themselves until they were kings. While Donovan finally began to earn the many free services of the palace, Kraz was left to using the servant cafeteria for free food and having only himself to help with anything.

Such an upbringing led to both sons being punctual and serious when needed. It also meant that Kraz was always the first person to enter the giant colosseum, waiting for his new training regimen to begin with Oli as a new partner.

However, Kraz was amazed to see his father entering the colosseum with Tilgron and Vant instead.

“Did something change?”

Nodding, Zelsh replied, “Oliver’s already entered the chasm, and he won’t be exiting until he’s an elder.”

“That long?!” Kraz shouted in question. Tilgron and Vant said nothing but their expressions were enough to prove their shock.

“For now, you’ll continue the usual training with Vant and Tilgron each morning. And in the afternoon, the other representatives will be joining you each day. All three of you need to gain as much battle experience as time will permit. So expect more and more challengers to be invited to your sparring sessions,” declared Zelsh, demanding their undivided attention. “Once Oliver has ascended, then he’ll join your sparring sessions. Until then, I’ll train you in the morning and check on him afterward. Understood?”

“Yes, sir!” all three shouted in unison.

“Good, then get started! Tilgron, you’re the foe!”

With a powerful roar, Tilgron charged at Kraz without hesitation. But Vant charged as well, tailing Tilgron closely. Kraz roared as well, readying his essence armor and coating his claws in death essence.

The Tundra Tiger lunged with claws up front and tail from behind. Ice covered his claws to increase their sharpness and strength while an icy mace took shape around Tilgron’s tail. He clashed with Vant and Kraz equally, not letting either of them gain an advantage in the lopsided sparring match.

“Good, but don’t slow down!” Zelsh shouted from the side. “Keep using your head, Tilgron, but you can’t slow down! The longer you take to think, the faster you’ll lose!”

The tiger roared again as his hindclaws were covered in ice and swatted at Vant’s leg.

But the image of the human martial artists flickered. His leg bled badly but quickly faded away, leading to the fade of his entire body.

However, Tilgron wasn’t falling for it. He leaped to the side. Still facing the larger wyrm at the front, Tilgron began to pump water into the ground while swinging his tail to ward off the reappearing Vant.

“Good! But Vant, you can’t be predictable! What’s the point of using illusions if your foe can predict your movements?!” Zelsh instructed with his booming voice.

Vant didn’t reply but his actions proved his listening skills. As his silhouette solidified, Vant threw his wind-covered hand into Tilgron’s side. It was easy work to deflect the blow, but Tilgron growled as blood was drawn just below the icy mace from Vant’s true hand.

“Better! But don’t get left behind, Kraz! You’re the largest here, so use that to your advantage! Don’t let it be your disadvantage!”

As if reading his father’s mind, Kraz roared but maintained his position. He continued to claw and draw Tilgron’s attention away from Vant. Suddenly, earthen spikes erupted from the ground below, along with the tip of Kraz’s tail.

Tilgron leaped and backed off, but the pressure never left him. Kraz gave chase while Vant’s flickering image kept Tilgron from getting comfortable.

Watching the three of them, Zelsh smiled. The king softly mumbled to himself, reaffirming his necessary determination, “To win... Oli should be able to beat all three at once... But he can do it... He’ll have to...”