Chapter 24 Purpose and flash
Some time had passed since his conversation with Sabine. Vandal had spent long hours meditating and had finally stabilized his Stage Three Resonance. Matron Clara had offered to teach him basic fighting techniques. He had almost declined, but something in him accepted. He was glad he did. The complex punching arts hidden in his mind were powerful, yet they would take weeks or even months to master properly. Matron Clara’s straightforward lessons gave him a solid foundation and helped the ancient techniques click faster.
He absorbed every lesson like a sponge. Sweat dripped down his face as he repeated the forms again and again under the afternoon sun. His muscles burned, but with each repetition the movements grew smoother, more instinctive.
Sabine often came to keep him company. During breaks they sat together, trading silly jokes and lighthearted stories. For the first time since arriving in this world, a quiet warmth settled in Vandal’s chest, a small but genuine sense of happiness.
Following the training methods of the Nephilim Fist of Destruction technique, he also worked on controlling his berserk power. Every day, outside of eating and sleeping, he was either drilling his punching arts or training his resonance energy control.
On Thursday afternoon, Vandal stepped out of the courtyard to stretch his legs. Noticing he was finally alone, he decided to take a quiet stroll.
“Oi, I wanted to come get you for a walk, but you beat me to it.”
A sweet voice rang out. Vandal turned and saw Sabine standing at the entrance of the path, smiling brightly. She hurried over, her steps quick as if something urgent had pulled her there.
“What’s going on?” he asked. “Why does everywhere look so empty? I expected to see more sect members around.”
Sabine’s expression tightened with impatience. “An important announcement was made about the location of a treasure. Right now everyone is rushing over there. We need to go quickly too, or we won’t even get seats.”
Just as she had said, the central square was packed. Core sect members stood in clusters, excitedly discussing the newly revealed treasure map. The treasure was supposedly hidden inside an ancient graveyard.
One senior sect member stood nearby, his gaze lingering on Sabine. A smirk tugged at his lips as he watched her walk.
“Sabine!” he called.
She turned, saw who it was, and immediately looked away, continuing her conversation with Vandal as if nothing had happened.
A moment later, someone tapped her shoulder. It was another sect disciple, clearly sent by the senior.
“Sabine, I was calling you. Why didn’t you answer?” the disciple asked, forcing a smile.
“Oh, sorry. I didn’t recognize you. It’s Senior Jaeden, right? What a coincidence meeting you here,” Sabine replied politely, though her tone stayed stiff.
“Hey, no need to be so formal. You can just call me Brother Jaeden,” the disciple said. His eyes roamed openly over her body from head to toe.
“Sabine, you’re interested in the treasure too, right? With your delicate appearance, you must be worried about running into trouble. But don’t worry. Follow me and I guarantee no one will bother you.”
As he spoke, Jaeden reached out, aiming to slip his arm around her waist.
Before his hand could make contact, Vandal stepped in smoothly. He pulled Sabine gently against him, blocking Jaeden’s move.
Jaeden’s face darkened with anger. His glare locked onto Vandal, sharp with hostility.
Vandal ignored him completely. He looked down at Sabine with a soft chuckle. “Darling, do you know him?”
Sabine smiled sweetly and played along. “Not too familiar.”
“In the future, don’t chat with people you’re not familiar with. Girls need to be careful,” Vandal said calmly. He gently stroked her hair, acting as if Jaeden wasn’t even there.
“I understand,” Sabine replied, leaning into him as if they were truly a couple.
“Boy, who are you?” Jaeden growled, his face flushing with rage.
Before Vandal could answer, another disciple spoke up loudly.
“He’s the boy Matron Clara brought into the sect. She made him take the talent test, but he failed badly. Afterward, he used some evil technique to beat up the guards until Grand Elder Williams had to step in and knock him out. That’s why he’s still here.”
“He’s probably still being investigated as a possible spy,” another disciple added. “That’s the only reason he hasn’t been executed yet.”
Vandal turned to Jaeden with an arrogant tilt of his head. “And who are you?”
“Who am I?” Jaeden sneered. “I am a core sect disciple and a member of the Seekers. Jaeden Cannabis.”
“Oh? You’re Jaeden Cannabis?”
“That’s right.”
“Never heard of you.”
The surrounding sect members gasped. The Seekers were the second-highest rank among disciples. Yet this outsider, whose place in the sect was still uncertain, had openly dismissed a senior member loud enough for everyone to hear.
“You’re looking to die!” Jaeden roared.
He attacked instantly. His palm sliced through the air with a sharp whistle, carrying a blast of wind echo straight toward Vandal’s face.
Sabine frowned and quickly gathered her resonance energy to form a warm blue shield. But before she could move, Vandal gently pushed her aside.
Whooosh
Vandal leaned his head to the side at the last moment, easily dodging the strike. In the same motion, he stepped forward and threw a sharp punch aimed at Jaeden’s chest.
Seeing Vandal not only dodge but counter so cleanly, Jaeden’s eyes widened. He hurriedly channeled wind echo energy into his fist and met the punch head-on.
Bang!
The two fists collided with a loud impact. Both staggered back a few steps. Vandal’s expression stayed calm, but Jaeden’s face twisted. His hand throbbed with numbness. The boy in front of him was only at Stage Three Resonance, yet their clash had ended in a draw. His body felt unnaturally tough, like steel tendons and iron bones.
According to sect rules, using echo powers to kill or seriously injure another disciple was strictly prohibited except in cases of irreconcilable conflict or approved death matches. Elemental attacks were normally forbidden outside controlled training or official duels.
However, this case was different. Vandal was not yet a full sect member, so he might not face punishment for severely beating this fool to death.
To end it quickly, Jaeden turned underhanded. He pretended to throw another punch, but this time he concealed a small knife in his fist. He coated the blade with wind resonance energy and swung again.
If Vandal met the fist directly, the hidden knife would slice deep. Even if he countered, Jaeden was confident he could take the hit while his wind-infused blade struck the sternum.