(Loki POV)
After Allen took Ais with Riveria behind them, I kept my eye on the bag.
1.3 billion? That's what my new child got in his second dive in the dungeon.
"Finn, do you think we can?"
"I don't think you can do that."
"Why do you think so?"
"Is your head still hurting?"
"A little."
"That's why."
"Tch, he hits like Riveria. I wonder if it's because of their age."
"Let's...not mention this in front of them."
(Allen POV)
In the sparring ground with Ais on the other side.
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[Side quest: spar with Ais for 30 minutes.]
[Rewards]
Hornet power.
[Optional Quest: Defeat Ais]
[Rewards]
system Update.
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'Hornet and what update?'
[My update, Host]
'What's in this update?'
[That's a secret.]
'Last time you said that it didn't go well for me.'
[This one is different, Host.]
'Fine.'
[Thanks, Host]
'THAT'S WHAT I WOULD SAY IF IT WAS EASY.'
[Host, just catch her off guard.]
'I will try.'
[Let's work hard, Host]
"Hey, Ais."
"Yeah?"
"Go easy on me."
"..."
Ais just nodded but for some reason I feel I'm still in danger.
"I won't use Ariel, and I will hold back but I want to see what you can do when truly challenged."
'Ariel? is that a buff spell?'
Ais raised her sword getting into her stance.
"Riveria what level is Ais?"
"Level 4."
'Ah I should've told Loki to upgrade my stats before I left.'
"Now remember this isn't a death match it's a friendly spar."
"Yeah, for her but for me it might be life or death situation."
"Don't worry you will be fine...If she managed to hold back properly."
'I want to upgrade my stats.'
I took my stance calming my mind.
"Begin"
Riveria said as Ais made her first move.
She didn't waste any time as her blade was whistling through the air where my head had been. my reflexes were already high which remind me with my training with sly.
(Previous world under sly shop)
"When facing a fast opponent, you must focus on your surrounding and clear your mind."
"What does this have to do with the Nail art?"
"It's the reason why it's called the Nail art."
"For example, the cyclone slash How do you do it?"
"Isn't it just spinning around?"
-Bonk-
"OW?!"
sly hit me with the hand of the nail.
"Wrong, you have to Focus on your surroundings then measure the strength you put in the nail which makes the cyclone slash."
"So, I have to focus on clearing my mind."
"Correct."
I sat on the ground trying to clear my mind.
'Clear my mind clear my-"
-BONK-
"OW?! WHAT'S THAT FOR?!"
"You were thinking to clear your mind, not clearing your mind."
'Tch wait for me I will get revenge.'
"Were you thinking something bad behind my back." Sly said looking at me with cold expression.
"Nope I would never even think about that." I said with sweat running in my head.
'It's easy to be his disciple by saying 'If you don't teach me, I will jump off a cliff' technique.'
Of course, he didn't believe me at first but when I managed to find a cliff I jumped, and he saved me.
'To be honest his story is sick.'
----------------
Long, long ago, in the glorious, ancient kingdom of Hallownest, there lived three great masters of the Nail—the sacred blade of the bugs. Each was a master in his own right: Oro, the warrior; Mato, the spirited; and Sheo, the artist. But above them all, their teacher, their legend, was a bug known as the Great Nailsage.
This Nailsage was a tiny bug, but his movements with the Nail were like the wind—unbeatable, flowing, and swift. He taught his three pupils the secret ways of the Nail Arts, skills that turned their simple weapon into a devastating force.
Yet, as Hallownest began its slow, inevitable decline, the Nailsage grew weary. He saw the world crumbling, the great warriors of old fading, and he began to believe that true power lay not in the sharp edge of a blade, but in the clinking weight of Geo—the kingdom's currency.
So, the Great Nailsage turned his back on the prestige and the combat. He abandoned his mantle and his grand Nailmaster's Glory charm. He walked away from the Nail Arts and from his pupils, who scattered across the dying kingdom, still holding to his lessons.
The Nailsage adopted a new life and a new name: Sly.
Sly moved to the peaceful, dilapidated town of Dirtmouth, the small haven on the surface. There, he opened a tiny, humble shop, stuffing it with all the trinkets, keys, and practical wares a traveler might need. He was a friendly, though a bit greedy, old shopkeeper whose only passion seemed to be haggling and the satisfying accumulation of Geo. No one in Dirtmouth, save perhaps the weary Elderbug, knew his true, legendary past.
------------------------
"You still can't clear your mind?" Sly asked.
"It's not easy for someone like me who have a big mission."
"Hmm try something else."
'Something else?' I thought for a moment then closed my eyes trying to imagine my surrounding is dark.
'If I can't focus with clear mind then I might try to imagine darkness around me then try to focus on it with no disturbance with the outside world.'
After 15 minutes I opened my eyes went to the closest dummy.
"Hmm, what are you doing?"
I didn't reply to his question I closed my eyes trying the same process.
- deep, ringing SHING-
Where I stood with my nail the dummy broke into many pieces.
"Very good you manage to get a grasp of it."
With that we continued training until the day I had to leave.
"The Nail Arts... they are not lost," he whispered. "You are worthy, little one. You have done what I could not—you have become the Great Nailsage's final, greatest pupil."
As a final honor, Sly bestowed upon me the very charm he had once cast aside: Nailmaster's Glory, a testament to the fact that even in the twilight of Hallownest, true mastery of the Nail still shone brightest of all. The greedy shopkeeper was gone, and for a moment, the fearsome legend of the Great Nailsage lived again.
And though he returned to selling goods in his shop, Sly would forever address me with profound respect—for we were now, truly, equals.
(Current world)
Ais slashed down her blade meeting my nail.
-shing-
-shing-
I manage to parry some of her move's that is until.
---------------------
[Side quest completed: spar with Ais for 30 minutes.]
[Rewards]
Hornet power.
-----------------
I felt my power increased in the middle of the battle but that didn't stop me from continuing.
"It's over" Ais said as she dashed to me with greater speed.
"Your right but not for me."
I used shade dash to go through her and the attack which made her surprised.
Right now, I was behind her focusing to use great slash.
Ais turned thinking what I did was useless but I used teleportation to go behind her again.
Ais not expecting this turned around to block the attack as she can't dodge in time.
-deep, ringing SHING-
-Phew-
-Boom-
What Ais didn't expect was the force behind that attack which sent her flying to the nearest wall.
"AIS?!"
Loki shouted as she ran to ais.
I realized that every member of the familia was watching our fight with wide eyes as they seen a ghost.
'Maybe I overdid it.'
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