Ch 30: Third Star Esper

It took Emrys and Elysia seven days to leave the forest.

During these seven days, they faced many insectoid attacks. Hundreds of insectoids came after them, and some of them were very strong. The strongest of them were at the level of Seventh Star insectoids. But Elysia alone fought them all while protecting Emrys. She was very powerful and skilled, and no insectoid could get past her.

While they were in the forest, Elysia also took time to teach Emrys how to fight. She showed him the basics, from simple moves to more advanced techniques. She became Emrys’s first teacher, and he learned many things from her. However, Elysia's way of teaching was tough. Emrys was beaten up badly by Elysia several times, ending up bruised and sore. But Elysia didn’t worry about him getting hurt because she had noticed something special about him.

Five days ago, when a group of Fourth Star Insectoids attacked them, Emrys got injured. He had cuts and bruises all over, and it looked painful. But then something surprising happened. Within just a few hours, Emrys's injuries began to heal. The bruises faded, the cuts closed, and soon he looked like he was never hurt at all. His body seemed to heal on its own, faster than normal.

This quick healing surprised Elysia, but she didn’t ask him about it. She just kept training him, and Emrys kept learning, and he was grateful to have her as his teacher.

By the end of the seven days, Emrys had grown stronger, and he understood a lot more about fighting, thanks to Elysia.

While at it, his strength also broke through again, reaching Third Star.

Yes, Emrys was now a Third Star Esper.

Currently, Emrys and Elysia were in the middle of training, sparring hard with each other.

Emrys pounced forward and tried to hit Elysia, throwing punches and kicks one after another. He moved quickly, using everything she taught him. But each time, Elysia blocked him with ease. She barely had to move to stop him, making it look effortless.

Emrys lunged forward, again aiming a punch at her.

Elysia easily blocked it with her arm and shook her head. She said, "You are too slow. And you are leaving your right side open. Try again."

He adjusted, trying to keep his right side covered, and threw another punch. But Elysia caught his fist in her hand, stopping him. She then explained with a sigh, "No, not like that. Your arm needs to be stronger. Don't just swing wildly."

Then, without warning, she twisted his arm gently but firmly, making Emrys stumble.

"Ouch!"

Emrys exclaimed, feeling the sting from her grip. But before he could step back, Elysia pushed him, and he fell to the ground.

"Stand up. We are not done yet," Elysia commanded. Her voice was calm and firm.

Emrys got up, wiping dirt from his clothes. He tried to focus, remembering her advice. This time, he aimed a kick at her side. But Elysia sidestepped, dodging him with ease. Then, she gave him a light smack on his shoulder, making him lose his balance again.

"You are too low," she repeated. "Watch my movements. Study how I dodge. You are too focused on hitting me and not thinking about where I’m going."

Emrys nodded, feeling a bit frustrated but determined to keep trying. He took a deep breath and tried again. He aimed another punch, this time more controlled, trying to anticipate her movements. But Elysia saw right through him. She caught his wrist and twisted it lightly, bringing him down to one knee.

"Close, but not good enough. Keep your stance steady. Don't let yourself get off balance so easily." She said.

Before Emrys could stand up, she let go and gave him a light push, making him fall backward again.

Emrys grunted in pain, feeling sore.

"Come on, again. Don't stop until you get it right." Elysia said with a small smile.

Emrys stood up, catching his breath.

He tried once more, taking her advice seriously this time.

But again, she dodged, blocked, and corrected him with another smack or push.

Each time he messed up, Elysia didn't just tell him what he did wrong; she showed him by making him feel the mistake. The soreness from her hits helped him remember every lesson, every correction.

Hours passed just like that, and Emrys kept trying, learning a little more each time and getting stronger with each lesson Elysia gave him.

Even though it was hard, Emrys felt grateful. He was finally learning how to fight, even if it meant getting knocked down again and again.

This way, he could at least fight enemies of humanity with more precision, like an expert.

Two days later, Emrys and Elysia could be seen standing by the side of a small lake. The lake water was very still, and the place felt peaceful.

After fighting their way out of the forest, they found this lake where Elysia was training Emrys.

There were no insectoids around, and everything was quiet.

Emrys used his Echo Sense to check the area. He could sense everything for ten miles in all directions, and not a single insectoid was nearby. This calm area felt like a rare moment of safety.

Echo Sense was his special ability, and it was growing stronger as he grew stronger. He could feel his power spreading wider like his senses were stretching farther out. He had never sensed such a wide area before. This made him feel a bit amazed and proud. But it wasn’t just Echo Sense that was changing; Emrys could feel other changes deep inside him. On the outside, he looked the same, but he could tell something strange was happening within him.

For the past few days, he felt these hidden changes within his body continue every day. His body seemed to be transforming in small ways that he didn't fully understand yet. It was like he was becoming something new, something stronger. He was excited, curious, and even worried, wondering what these changes would mean for him in the future.