Integrated Combat Arts.
Kuga Combat Technique.
Battlecraft Method.
These were the three martial arts that Ur selected after his initial review.
Unlike the more specialized techniques in the library, these three stood out for the opposite reason—their lack of distinctive traits. In other words, while they didn't particularly excel in any one area, they also had no glaring weaknesses.
Integrated Combat Arts, as the name suggests, was a comprehensive body of techniques that fused elements from many fighting styles. You could see a little bit of everything in it.
Kuga Combat Technique was perhaps the most "unique" among the three.
Simple. Direct. Brutal.
That was Ur's impression of it.
Interestingly, this technique wasn't developed by any martial arts master. Rather, it was a survival art passed down by an ancient tribal people known as the Kuga.
These people lived in a wild, monster-infested jungle, surrounded by deadly animals, hostile tribes, magical beasts, and a ruthless environment.
It was under such conditions that the Kuga Combat Technique was born.
From the moment of its creation, the Kuga style had only one purpose—to kill enemies quickly and efficiently, at the lowest cost possible.
It was a true killing art.
As for the final option, the Battlecraft Method, Ur felt it resembled classical martial arts from his past life.
In terms of refined technique alone, nothing else in Fairy Tail's collection could hold a candle to this one.
Ur finished with his shortlisting rather quickly.
But choosing one among them? That took much longer.
They all fit his criteria well, but it wasn't realistic to train in all three at the same time.
After all, mastering martial arts required just as much time and effort as learning magic, if not more. Ur struggled with indecision for a long while and finally chose Kuga Combat Technique as his main discipline. The reason was simple.
The other two, Integrated Combat Arts and Battlecraft Method, were optimized for fighting human opponents. But the threats he would face in the future weren't going to be limited to humans.
This world had demons, monsters... and even dragons.
Once his choice was made, Ur immediately got to work. Martial arts weren't easy. It wasn't just about memorizing some moves.
The essence of martial arts lies in maximizing the human body's capabilities.
For example, if an ordinary punch normally had 100 units of force, martial arts taught you how to throw the same punch with 200 units of power.
And in this area, the Kuga Combat Technique excelled. It didn't just teach you how to generate that power; it taught you where to deliver it for maximum effect.
Which spot to hit for an instant kill? If you couldn't kill with one blow, where would you strike to inflict maximum damage?
At first, Ur had been confused as to why Fairy Tail, a guild so full of "kind-hearted" people, had a martial art like this in its library.
So kind that they'd defeat an enemy, leave them alive, and then just let them recover and return for revenge later.
With that level of "kindness"… How did a combat art like this even exist in this guild!?
Hmmmm, must be a mistake.
Someone probably picked it up by accident… one of those 'kind-hearted' members.
Yeah. Definitely a mistake.
The Kuga Combat Technique didn't have set forms or sequences.
That was also what made it harder to learn than most styles. Unlike other martial arts, its most essential requirement wasn't drills or physical conditioning.
It was the environment.
This technique could only be properly trained in specific conditions.
If those conditions weren't met, you'd just be learning a hollow imitation, all form, no substance.
The good news?
Those "specific environments" could technically be artificially created.
The bad news?
Ur didn't have the money to make that happen.
So his only option was to rely on natural environments to complete his training.
Fortunately, there was such a place near the guild.
Unfortunately, that place was a little bit dangerous.
❖≔﴾═══════ﺤ
Early morning.
The sun rose in the eastern sky.
A warm beam of light cut through the canopy, falling across Ur's face as he stood before the forest.
After a full night of deliberation, he had made up his mind.
He would use the eastern forest near Magnolia, a natural "training ground" with all the danger he needed to temper his Kuga Combat Technique.
Unlike most martial arts, the first step to learning the Guga style wasn't technique, or strength, or stamina.
It was learning how to run away.
Sounded ridiculous, didn't it?
But in truth, that was the most authentic part of the Kuga philosophy.
To the Kuga tribe, if you couldn't escape, then no matter how strong you were, you were eventually going to die.
Because in their world, threats didn't come one at a time. They came constantly and from everywhere.
Staring into the dense, almost hellish wilderness before him, Ur hesitated for a long moment.
And then finally, shouldering his pack, he clenched his teeth and stepped into the forest.