Chapter 253 Dash attack
The group nodded, understanding the plan's urgency and risks. With a sense of determination, they dispersed, readying themselves for the upcoming ambush.
The group finished their meal and settled in for some much-needed rest. However, in the interest of safety, someone needed to keep watch. Kevin, not feeling sleepy just yet, volunteered to take the first shift. They still had nine hours before the planned attack.
Joining him for this shift were Yelena and her husband, Robert. They took their positions, ready to keep a vigilant eye on the surroundings while the rest of the team caught up on much-needed sleep.
Kevin had an additional motive for taking the shift: training. Despite the jungle's danger, he was determined to enhance his fighting abilities. He aimed to add an ace up his sleeve—a move Keith recently showed him: the dash attack.
Though its name seemed silly, the move was anything but. Kevin admired how Keith vanished and reappeared, striking swiftly. He was intrigued and eager to master it, even though Keith assured him it would come naturally. Determined, he tried to replicate Keith's technique. He focused on posture, leaning forward with one foot slightly ahead of the other, channeling his strength, and leaping forward at a precise 45-degree angle.
He zoomed forward, almost a blur, but he couldn't cover much ground—just a few meters—unlike Keith, who effortlessly dashed almost 10 to 15 meters.
"Ah, darn," he muttered, catching himself from falling and swiftly getting back into position to try again.
Yet, despite his repeated attempts, he could only leap 2 or 3 meters each time. Unfazed, he persisted, practicing over and over while Yelena and Robert observed, sharing amused smiles and conversation.
"Is he trying to nail that Soldier Blade dash attack?" Robert inquired, acknowledging that, like everyone else, he hadn't mastered the soldier-style technique. Yelena, who had expertise in the soldier blade technique and primarily wielded long blades, nodded in confirmation.
"Yeah," she affirmed with a smile.
"I've heard you can't learn it just by practicing," Robert remarked with an amused expression.
Yelena shook her head, still smiling. "You're right. You can't unless all your meridians are unlocked, especially the lower parts of the body. Keith had all her meridians open in her legs, connected to the main ones, which enabled her to perform it. But she did it without any practice."
Robert nodded in understanding. "Fighting techniques might seem simple, but as cultivations increase, they get more intricate." He glanced at Kevin, who seemed to have opened his lower body meridians and linked them.
"Wanna clue him in on that?" Robert asked his wife. She shook her head. "I won't. There has to be a reason why the Cultivations Association doesn't want cultivators on meridian linking stage to know about this."
So, they stood there, observing Kevin's repeated attempts at the dash. Each time he dashed, he'd stumble, catch his breath, and try again.
After watching him for an hour or so, Yelena stepped in. "Young man, that's probably enough for now. You should rest; we've got a fight in a few hours."
Kevin, sweat dripping down his face, breathing heavily, glanced at her. He took a sip from his water bottle nearby and replied, "Just two more hours," checking his watch determinedly.
Yelena noticed Kevin's persistence and offered a smile. "Instead of just dashing forward, How about try moving in all directions, almost like linking one dash to another."
Kevin, pondering her advice, recognized her experience and the time she had spent mastering this technique long before him. He nodded in agreement. "Thanks," he acknowledged before resuming his practice.
Observing this, Robert questioned, "Didn't you say you wouldn't assist him?"
"I never said that," Yelena said with a smile. "I mentioned I wouldn't tell him he couldn't learn it through practice, not that he could learn it by doing what I suggested."
"Then why did you tell him?" Robert asked, looking puzzled.
Yelena smiled amusedly at her husband's question. "I didn't tell him to do it; I just advised him. He started doing it on his own," she explained. Her smile widened as she continued, "And why did I advise him? Well, didn't you find him annoyingly swinging his blade around? I simply suggested it so he'd tire himself out quickly, and I could enjoy this beautiful night with my husband without any disturbances." She glanced up at the silver moon shining high in the sky.
Robert looked at her with surprise but soon smiled. Not everyone knew this side of his wife—manipulative and somewhat mischievous. Chuckling softly, he wrapped his arm around her waist and said, "Well, technically it's still daytime here... But it doesn't matter as long as we're together."
As the couple enjoyed the serene moonlit night, Kevin persisted in attempting Yelena's suggested technique. Leaning forward at a 45-degree angle, he took a deep breath and leaped ahead, managing to extend his dash length by half a meter due to his continued practice. Swiftly moving forward, he then transitioned to leap backward, then to the left, and eventually returned to his initial position.
He noticed his proficiency in these maneuvers and quickly grasped the reason behind it. Dodging attacks from the monsters was his aim, given his limited combat skills. He intended to lure them by evading their strikes, creating openings for his own counterattacks.
Despite his adeptness in this evasion tactic, he couldn't improve his dash attacks. His speed increased as he dashed around, yet the distance he covered remained unchanged. Furthermore, he found that his stamina was depleting rapidly, a consequence of his efforts.
Kevin continued his training, his determination unwavering even as the night deepened. With each attempt, he dashed, twisted, and turned, his movements becoming more fluid. Amidst the silence of the jungle, his steps echoed softly, a testament to his relentless effort. Despite the exhaustion creeping in, he persevered, pushing his limits with each breath. His dedication shone through the darkness, a lone figure amid the shadows, chasing after mastery in the stillness of the moonlight.
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