"You know, young master, you still have yet to beat me," Ginger smirked
"Oh wow, it's almost as if you're stronger than me or something."
"Being stronger doesn't mean you'll always win." She smirked
"True, but it's nice to know that if I lose, I can just claim that you're stronger than me. You don't want to see how I'd react if I beat you. 'You suck! You got beat by someone weaker than you.' Then you'll be like, 'I was going easy on you, if I was going all out, you would lose.' Then I'd say, 'Who won? Yeah that's what I fucking thought bitch.' Doesn't sound nice does it?"
"No, actually, it doesn't." She admitted
"By the way, why didn't you just kill the snake? I'm sure you were strong enough to do so even if we weren't at our best."
"I knew we weren't in danger so I wanted to have some fun."
Zion felt a vein in his head almost pop. "Fun? That was fun to you? I almost got eaten by that stupid snake!"
Ginger could only laugh. "Skill issue."
"Okay bitch, sit there and let me beat your ass. I gotta vent my nonexistent but petty anger out on you!"
"Oh, I'll let you beat it alright."
"Hey! Save that for later. I already have a hard time concentrating with your boobs swaying all over the place."
"No wonder you never beat me before."
The two then engaged in a sword clash and started to spar.
After he finished with Lidia, he called up Ginger so they could have their spar. Zion made sure to keep his skills honed because this was an eat-or-be-eaten world. He was only strong for his age, not compared to the world.
The sound of swords clashing with each other reverberated throughout the training hall. Subtle shockwaves sent ripples of wind blasting through the air, blowing away anything that didn't have a solid foundation.
Zion parried an incoming strike aimed at his head and repositioned himself to get a better footing. He struck back at Ginger, but his attack was easily blocked.
Ginger elegantly moved her sword in a way that resembled dancing and appeared in front of Zion, slashing down at his chest.
Unfortunately, her attack collided with an invisible barrier that surrounded him, and taking advantage of this opportunity, he thrusted his sword at Ginger in an attempt to end the battle.
"Nice try," Ginger smirked while jumping back. "You almost had me-"
Her speech was interrupted by mana in the form of a blade piercing her abdomen.
"Weren't you mocking me earlier, saying that I haven't beaten you yet?" Zion asked, slightly basking in his victory. He retracted the mana blade, which was formed by his hands, and it disappeared from Ginger's body.
"You cheated! This was supposed to be a non-aura battle."
"I don't think my enemies would agree to a battle without mana. Catch." He tossed her a healing potion.
"Sigh, fine. You got me." She drank the potion and her wound healed instantly. "That hurt you, know!"
"I'm sure that injury is nothing to a master stage cultivator like you."
"And for an advanced-stage cultivator, you're too strong."
"It's because of the cultivation method I created. You know it too so don't act like you're suddenly at a disadvantage when you're stronger than your cultivation level."
Mana exists in this world, and for the five main races of the world, it can be broken into two main categories, Aura, and Magic.
Mages create a ring around their heart while Martial Artists create small orbs, also called stars in theirs. Magic likes to flow, so to use it properly, a ring of mana is created. Martial Arts like to have a solid foundation, so that's why mana is condensed into an orb/star.
"Like you, I want an excuse for losing, hmph."
They both laughed and wiped the sweat off their body, taking some time to relax and drink some nice, cold, refreshing water.
"You know, now that this spar is over, why don't we have another type of spar?" Zion smiled, pulling Ginger into his embrace while cuffing her plump, toned ass.
"Oh? And what kind of training are you implying?" She asked seductively, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Oh, you know." Kissing her on the lips, he savored her taste. "The bed kind."
"Well young master, you know I'm always ready for you to take me."
"That's what I like to hear." He pulled her in once more, kissing her juicy lips. Her orange hair rested on his shoulders as they embraced each other. He was about to make his next move when someone called for him.
"Young Master! Come quick! Your mother is calling you!" Normally, Lacey wouldn't have come running into the training room out of breath with a worried expression on her face.
It was for that reason that Zion assumed something serious had happened or he was in trouble. He was hoping it was the former.
"Oh shit, I hope I'm not in trouble." He panicked a bit. "Lacey, was she mad? What was the tone of her voice like? Did her nose do that weird movement it does when she's upset?"
"I-I don't know. She sounded calm but she was authoritative. You should just see what it's about."
"Shit. Okay, thanks."
"Okay, deep breath." Zion inhaled, then exhaled before knocking on Zaleena's office door.
Zion took another deep breath, cleared his mind, and then entered her office.
"Hello, my beautiful mothER!" In an instant, Zion crumpled to the floor, his body crushed beneath an unseen force as if the very air had turned against him.
He didn't need to guess what had happened. He had somehow made his mother upset and now he was about to be punished.
"You didn't come to the meeting." She spoke, her voice calm, and her attention occupied by important documents on her desk.
"Oh, shit. I uh, forgot. But I have a good excuse for it." The force increased, making it harder for him to even lift his head, but after a few seconds of this, the force vanished.
Zaleena sighed, shaking her head at her son. "Zion, I know you have plans, ambitious plans, but I still want you to take your responsibilities seriously. Not your responsibilities to the goddess, but to your family."
"I understand. Sorry, mom."
"It's alright. I know you already had written plans on how to handle the monster wave. I read them at the meeting. I had hoped you would be the one to do so though."
"Next time." He smiled,
"Mhmm, yeah, sure. Give me a kiss and get out of my sight." She couldn't be mad at him, she loved her son too much for that.
"You're the best mom." He kissed her on the cheek and left her office.
"I know I am." Zaleena chuckled softly and returned to signing the important documents