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!"

so Gravis 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 several meters distance, and he realized that he

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

second one felt like it could cut the world itself. Of course, William didn't have the strength to do that, but just the change

its killing potential beyond a normal attack," William looked back at Gravis with fire burning in his eyes. "You might not have the muscle strength to hurt a middle-grade demonic beast, but if you used such an

with this attack. "It might raise the killing power of your attack, but the wind-up time is longer too. If someone took advantage

are singular attacks with impressive strengths, but also with weaknesses." William smirked slyly. "But you are not required to

eyes 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

As long as you don't follow up with another attack, nothing will happen to me. I will lower my strength to be just as

He charged 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 the initiative, and you would overwhelm me

"Parrying is a better way to block an attack, but it requires better timing and better control of

was not sure what William wanted to show him. He already knew all that. Yet, he attacked again. This time, William jumped back. "If I retreat from

is a dodge. Yet, without

his sight. Gravis was shocked because he couldn't find William with his

believe me, but I have only moved as fast