Lightning Is the Only Way

"See? That's what I've been telling you all this time," Jeros shouted from the side at William. "Your Martial Styles might be strong against inexperienced opponents, but their weaknesses get quickly exposed by an experienced one!"

"Shut up!" The young man couldn't take it anymore and stood up. "You don't understand the strengths of Martial Arts!"

"Be quiet!" shouted William and looked at the young man with narrowed eyes.

The young man lost some of his drive. "But Master! They are insulting our Martial Arts," he continued.

William took a deep breath and sighed. "That might be true, but they have the right," William said between deep breaths. "I am the strongest person in the Martial Hall, and they have both defeated me," William bitterly smiled now. "If I, who has mastered most Martial Styles, lose to two people with their own fighting styles, it only shows the weakness of our Martial Styles."

Gravis was impressed by William. William was an old man and had, probably, practiced Martial Arts and Martial Styles for his whole life. Renouncing his own experience and ideology required a strong heart and will. Being able to do that was very rare, and Gravis felt like he had met another incredible man today. The young man, on the other hand, went silent and continued watching.

"Yet," William turned to Gravis. "Martial Styles might be useless to you, but Martial Arts could still improve your fighting strength." William's eyes were blazing. "Martial Styles mostly imitate the strengths of beasts, but Martial Arts take advantage of the human body to increase their power. Watch!"

could see his side. "This is a normal chop with my full power." William's sword slashed downwards with incredible speed. Gravis could hear the wind being cut from

from William's body. "Is the Wind Splitting Chop!" William shouted as his body bent slightly to the back, and his sword cut down with even more speed than before. Yet, this time, Gravis could not hear

hit, but the second one felt

looked back at Gravis with fire burning in his eyes. "You might not have the muscle strength to hurt

attack. "It might raise the killing power of your attack, but the wind-up time is longer too. If someone took advantage of that time, you have no way to

differ. Martial Styles encompass a whole fighting style, while Martial Arts are singular attacks with impressive strengths, but also with weaknesses." William smirked slyly. "But you are not required to use it every time you attack. Wait for a chance, where the enemy is not ready for a counterattack and use it. Martial Arts may have weaknesses, but all weaknesses can be made up

lighted up, and he pondered more. If he timed an attack right, he might be able to even injure middle-grade demonic beasts. Having a slight possibility to deal damage was better than having

still useful because they were based on the human body. "Attack me with a chop! Be serious, and try to kill me with that! As long as you don't follow up with

with his full power and released all his strength in a chop. William blocked it, but his legs buckled, and his knees shook. "If we were in a real fight, I would lose

his saber again and slashed. William angled his sword and parried, but he still got pushed to the side, Gravis' eyes following him. "Parrying is a better way to block an attack, but it requires better timing and better control of your power. My parry could be

This time, William jumped back. "If I retreat from

attack is a dodge. Yet, without perfect timing,

to see what William would do. Gravis used another chop, but suddenly, William vanished from his sight. Gravis was shocked because he couldn't find William with his eyes. Yet, he somehow

but I have only moved as fast as you," he explained with a