The new girl was experienced with the breathing technique so instructor Canes didn't have to set her aside to teach her alone. She taught her together with the rest of the class.
But before she started, she said to Arthur, "Today is your first day joining the main class too. This is for her as much as it is for you. So you should pay close attention."
Then she began her class in earnest.
"Cultivation has three cornerstones in the first mortal coil. They are the breathing technique, exercise technique, and fighting technique."
"The breathing technique focuses on using mana to nourish the body and fuel transformation. The exercise technique focuses on refining force in the body and increasing the control of the body. The fighting technique focuses on the utilization of force."
"Picture the body and the three techniques as a horse-driven carriage, or coach. The horse is your body, while the carriage is work that you want to do. The horse pulls the carriage just like your body pushes and pulls to do work."
"The breathing technique is the act of giving food to the horse. Without food, the horse will be too weak and won't be able to move. Even if it is able to move, it won't be able to move for long."
"The exercise technique is the attachment and maintenance of wheels to the carriage. The carriage can move without wheels, but it will be vastly inefficient, and if the wheels are damaged, it will affect the mobility of the carriage."
"The fighting technique is the driver or coachman. The horse can move the carriage on its own. But only the driver knows the specific direction to go in order to bring the carriage to a specific destination quickly."
"In this way, the three techniques are independent. But alone, they are inefficient. It is only when they are put together that their true power is shown."
"The breathing technique creates the potential for work. The exercise technique overcomes friction and increases the efficiency of movement. The fighting technique provides a direction and purpose. It tells you when to start and when to stop."
She was mainly looking at Arthur and the new girl when she asked that question. After all, the other students had probably heard this same lesson many times. Since they were 139, he is willing to bet that one of them had heard it at least 100 times.
He shook his head to the question while the new girl also indicated that she had no question. It didn't surprise him that the new girl didn't have questions because instructor Canes was very good at teaching and explaining.
He thought to himself, "It is probably because she had a lot of practice with this same line."
Instructor Canes continued, "Now I'll demonstrate the purpose of the fighting technique. After that, we will have the fighting competition. Then we will perform the mana exercise technique to round up the day."
She called out to him, "Arthur Dyson. Why don't you come up and fight Taylor?"
He didn't have much of a choice in the matter despite her wording it like a question. He could only rise, bow, and cup his hands to her. Then he made his way to the center of the circle.
Ruff wanted to follow him, but he made the dog stay behind. It made Ruff whimper pitifully.
The new girl beside him wanted to pet him to appease him, but he snarled and bared his teeth at her.
This frightened her and let Ruff return to whimpering pitifully again. But this time, no one pitied him.
Arthur shook his head when he saw this. But he quickly focused on his upcoming fight and opponent.
His opponent was the boy who took him to get his custom-made, small-sized uniform on his first day. It was a boy with blond hair and black eyes.
Taylor was taller than him and also bigger. He looked to be around 25 years old. It wasn't an ordinary 25-year-old either. He looked like an MMA fighter. He was all muscle and sinew.
Arthur was sure that he wasn't 25 since that was too old for the academy. But that only made Taylor more fearsome for looking beyond his age.
Instructor Canes made way for them at the center of the circle. Then she said to them, "Arthur is at the sixth transformation while Taylor is at the fifth transformation. But I believe you all know the outcome of this fight before it even starts."
Most of the trainees nodded in agreement. It made Arthur groan inwardly. He thought to himself, "I hope it doesn't go too badly."
He doesn't have any hope of winning at all. He is not being pessimistic. He is actually being realistic about his chances.
Even so, he decided to do his best so as not to suffer too bad a loss.
Instructor Canes said to them, "You may start."
Taylor smiled at him as he stepped closer to him. He said, "Little Red, be careful."
Arthur corrected him, "I'm not little anymore."
Taylor chuckled. "Right. You're big now. Big Red, be careful."
Arthur lunged at him when they were close enough. He did so to take advantage of his superior speed and catch his enemy off guard.
His hands closed in on Taylor. Then Taylor grabbed his hands and twisted his posture in a weird way that forced Arthur to follow along.
Arthur's world turned upside down. Then his back struck something hard. His consciousness blacked out for an instant as he closed his eyes. In the darkness, he could hear Ruff barking aggressively in the distance.
When he opened his eyes, he found himself lying on the ground. His back was aching, so he groaned in pain.
Taylor reached out his arm to him and helped him up. He even offered an apology.
He said, "I didn't mean to slam you that hard in the ground. But you're heavier than you look. I had to put in a lot of effort into the move."