Adrian walked for a while until he found someone on guard duty. Adrian asked where the directions of the barracks are and headed there with his entourage of eye catching creatures. Adrian walked through the town and caught the fancy of children, more specifically his Soulbounds. The children could not control themselves to touch Sirius.
It seems that Daemos children are unafraid of monsters or Adrian's soulbounds are just too tame for them to feel threat. Adrian did not mind as long as Sirius is not bothered and it seems it likes the attention which he can feel from soul resonance. Adrian could feel the emotions of his soulbounds which is why he would be able to detect their emotions even if they do not show it.
The children could not touch Kanlaon and Saena is on top of Adrian's head which is why they are focused on Sirius. Adrian actually agrees with the children hugging Sirius because they show faces of satisfaction. He agrees that Sirius is like a giant wolf stuff toy when you embrace him. Sirius' fur is soft and silky and most of all its warm.
Though the feeling did not last as their parents would collect them after a few seconds which saddened the children. The parents told Adrian an apology which he just answered with a smile.
After a few more minutes of walking, Adrian could hear the grunts and could see some Daemos undergoing military training. It seems he has reached his destination. He could see that the soldiers are mostly Diabolons and Imps with a few Djinns which makes sense since Djinns are more attuned to using magic than the other two species of Daemos.
Adrian could see that amidst the ones who are undergoing training is a Diabolon that is a few inches bigger than the other ones and is overseeing the group of trainees. He is bulky and his muscles are big just like a wrestlers or bodybuilders. His horns are like a crown decorating his head.
He is shirtless but the runes in his upper body are like an intricate design of tribal tatoos and even emits a faint blue glow. His aura could be felt from where Adrian is standing and has an overbearing yet majestic pressure. His demeanor is that of a battle hardened general that leads his battalions to victory.
Adrian told his soulbounds to stay where they are and busy themselves with the food that Adrian brought out for them.
As Adrian was getting closer to the Diabolon overseer, he was getting nervous because of the pressure being emitted by the individual but he did not cower instead braved on. The Diabolon noticed this and a smirk could be seen in his face. He purposefully tested Adrian when he noticed that Adrian was going to him.
Since Adrian passed the test of the diabolon, he would willingly hear his request to a certain extent. Adrian managed to reach the front of the Diabolon but his legs almost gave way but he managed to speak.
" Sir, I would like you to teach me the ways of weapons mastery because I want to be able to wield any weapon that my hand could touch."
The Diabolon then sized up Adrian again and gave a sigh before speaking.
" If that is your only request then that would not be difficult to approve but be warned that having weapons mastery will not lead you to the peak like others who focus on one weapon for all their life. Yet judging by what I observe, you want to be able to handle any situation with different tools rather than struggle with one weapon.
The road in obtaining it will be difficult but I hope you have the guts to carry on with your ambition. I am Bronx, the Chief of Security Forces for the Paradox Planes and an elder for our race. Meet me here in three hours for the start of our training"
Achieve Weapons Mastery I (Link Quest)
Bronx the chief of Security Forces would personally oversee your training. Prove to him that you have the mettle to become great. Meet him in the dedicated time for the start of your training.
Clear Condition: Comeback in three hours and meet Bronx
Reward: Increase in intimacy with Bronx
When Adrian accepted the quest, Bronx went on his way o the tent and told the trainees to rest for they would resume later. When Bronx was nowhere in sight Adrian slumped down on the ground and breathed a sigh of relief. He would log out for now because it was time for lunch since his mother notified him. He would return by the end of lunch and would start his training.
Adrian logged in with five minutes to spare and re-summoned his soulbounds and just told them to play around but not bother the other people. Adrian again went to Bronx and reported for the start of his training.
[Achieve Weapons Mastery I quest has been cleared. Achieve Weapons Mastery II has been added in the quest list.]
Achieve Weapons Mastery II (Link Quest)
Bronx would teach you the ways of the sword first.
Clear Condition: Be able to win the spar with a trainee that Bronx has appointed.
Adrian was given a training sword. The sword's blade was dulled so that it would not inflict cuts when hit. Adrian was instructed to swing the sword a hundred times which Adrian thought it was easy but in reality was not. Adrian had to swing the training sword in a certain way for it to count which was counted by the system via his quest log.
To make matters worse, Bronx cast a spell on Adrian so that his titles and skills would not activate which greatly weakened him in terms of strength and stamina. Adrian lost count of how many swings he did so that the official swing count would become a hundred but he managed to achieve it and fall down due to exhaustion.
Bronx congratulated him for getting the swings right a hundred times albeit painstakingly with many mistakes. The next task was to teach Adrian how to parry with a sword effectively. Adrian must use the weight of his body and the sword to be able to use a proper parry. He learned to parry even when he was hit with exhaustion and his stamina bar was in the red but still strived.
Bronx had to step in and stop the training for now and continue tomorrow which was good news for Adrian because he already reached 12 hours by the time his stamina bar hit red ten times. Adrian bowed to Bronx and bid him farewell for the day.
Adrian once again logged in with all the tips that Bronx gave him like having the proper posture and having the perfect timing. Adrian even ran simulations in his head before sleeping which led him to dream about the training. It seems that all the simulations he did had an effect and he managed to successfully parry one hit from Bronx. They continued until Adrian could parry three out of five hits.
After the parry lesson, Adrian was told to rest for the next phase would be the sparring and if he managed to win they would continue with the next step of the training. Adrian then logged out to eat and do necessary bodily functions before re-logging and attempting the spar.
Adrian then went to Bronx to proceed with the spar. He was greeted by another trainee from the grounds which was a Diabolon but less bulky but with well toned muscles. He looked just like Bronx but younger. He was then introduced by Bronx as his son named Onyx. Bronx said that he was the same age as Adrian and like him only recently started to train with the corps.
Despite joining the corps recently, Adrian could feel the same pressure from Onyx that he could feel from Bronx. It seems that the sparring would not be easy. They both bowed to each other and sported a battle stance.
"Commence the spar" Bronx's voice resounded throughout the training ground catching the attention of the trainees that was on a break.
Adrian first observed his opponent before engaging since he first want to gauge his enemy and was more adept at counter attacking rather than attacking head on. As if reading Adrian's wavelength, Onyx started the attack first. Adrian tried to parry but was forced to step back because of the weight of Onyx's sword. Onyx did not wait for Adrian to recover his footing and lunged at him again.
This time Onyx added more force to his strike and Adrian parried in an awkward posture and was forced to sit in the ground due to recoil but this did not deter Adrian from trying to stand up. He magnificently showed his will to fight but was beaten by Onyx and Adrian was deemed unable to continue because of the bruises in his body.
Bronx said he could try again later and Onyx even encourage him that even he needed to take Adrian seriously because of his fighting spirit. Adrian lay on the ground with his soulbounds approaching him and comforting him. Adrian once again run simulations in his head from the fight he took part and with a determination to at least land a strike on Onyx.