The Ashen Dominion
Chapter 102 - Gentle Monster

Chapter 102: 102 - Gentle Monster

"Looks like I’ll be your training partner."

Khan calmly said, smiling softly while holding a wooden spear in his right hand. His voice was low, calm, friendly... but Edmar wasn’t fooled by it.

His brows subtly lowered as he looked at the man standing across from him.

’Don’t let that smile fool you...’

He had seen Khan fight before, multiple times actually. He knew very well—behind that kind and soft demeanor was a monster. Just like Brock. Just like Jin.

These three were on another level.

"Fuuuuuu..."

Edmar let out a short breath through his nose. Then slowly, he crouched slightly and got into position.

Fwip—

He held the wooden sword in each hand tightly, blades pointed downward. His back straightened, and his focus sharpened.

"I’ll be in your care."

Edmar said quietly, keeping his eyes locked on Khan.

"Please guide me."

He added, his tone was serious.

Khan just smiled wider, not smug or mocking—he nodded at the gesture.

"Of course."

He replied.

"Do your best."

Then he followed with that. It wasn’t condescending, it wasn’t sarcastic.

It was just Khan being genuine.

Edmar stayed silent at that and maintained his stance.

And then, after a bit later—

"Let’s start then."

Khan stated that.

"..."

Swoosh~

And with that cue, the quiet tension between them thickened.

BAM—

Edmar kicked off the ground first!

He moved fast, not hesitating even for a second. He rushed toward Khan, holding his blades tightly.

Then when he reached him, with fluid motion—

SWOOSH—

He slashed diagonally from below with his right sword!

THAK!

Khan twirled his spear to the side with one hand and deflected the strike easily.

But Edmar already predicted that and he didn’t stop!

FWISH—

He followed up with a swift thrust of his left blade, aiming for Khan’s stomach!

Fwip— TOK!

Khan spun the shaft of his spear again, redirected Edmar’s second blade upward, then took one light step back.

"..."

Edmar’s eyes focused harder.

Then— SLASH!

He unleashed a horizontal attack with both blades at once, cutting in opposite directions!

But—

Tap— tap—

Khan just shifted his stance slightly and danced past them, his body light like wind.

Again, Edmar slashed down with his right!

TAK!

Khan twirled his spear once more, the wooden tip meeting the incoming blade with a loud sound—redirecting it to the side again.

"Gugh...!"

Edmar groaned in annoyance.

Then at that moment— Khan spun lightly on his heel and stabbed forward with the bottom of his spear toward Edmar’s ribs!

BAM!

"Urgh—?!"

SWISH~

Edmar grunted as he leapt to the side, barely avoiding the impact, but the air brushed his ribs— it was a close call.

"..."

He glared at Khan, now breathing lightly.

’He’s not even attacking seriously.’

Edmar thought.

Khan was holding back. He knew it.

And that made it worse...

’FUCK IT!’

FWOOSH—

Edmar dashed forward again—swinging his right sword straight down, then quickly reversed it into a rising slash!

Khan moved like water.

He parried the first swing with the lower shaft of his spear, then jumped back lightly, letting the rising cut miss completely.

Then without pause—Khan stepped forward and jabbed his spear forward again!

Tap— WHOOSH~

Edmar twisted sideways and avoided it just in time.

But right then—

Whap!

Khan’s spear lightly tapped Edmar on the shoulder!

It wasn’t strong.

It wasn’t painful.

"?!!"

But Edmar froze.

Khan was telling him something.

That opening... would’ve been fatal in real combat.

"You’re leaving your left side open when you twist your body too far."

Khan said casually, stepping back again.

"..."

Edmar didn’t reply. But he understood the message.

He just stood there, processing everything that had happened and calming himself.

Then immediately after that—he kicked off again!

BAM!

And when he gor in front of Khan for the second time...

SLASH— SWISH— FWOOSH— S W O O S H—!

He unleashed a barrage of attacks! Edmar’s blades moved fluidly, quickly.

He was fast.

Very fast.

He had honed his dual sword style for years—each motion calculated, refined.

But—

Khan was just... smooth.

TWHACK! TAK— TOK! THUD—!

His spear moved like it had no weight. Each motion served a purpose; block, redirect, adjust.

He didn’t waste a single movement. It was like he wasn’t even trying, just flowing along with the rhythm of Edmar’s strikes.

And whenever he found an opening—

Whap.

His spear would tap Edmar on the shoulder.

On the ribs.

On the thigh.

Or wherever part of his body was left open.

Not hard. Never painful.

But for Edmar... it was humiliating.

Each tap was a lesson.

Each tap meant he made another mistake.

But still, Edmar didn’t stop.

"AGAIN...!"

BAM!

He yelled, charging once more at Khan.

THUD! TWHACK! TAK! TOK—!

Their weapons clashed again and again.

"..."

Khan remained calm, his breathing was stable. Always had been throughout the fight.

"Huff...! Haaaa!"

Edmar’s breath was getting heavier. His arms trembled slightly.

But he pushed through.

SLASH!

He swung his sword.

FWOOSH—

He twisted his body and launched a kick.

But, just like earlier— All of his attacks were parried and dodged by Khan.

Tap.

Then he was hit by another soft attack from Khan.

This time, to his chest, and there was a bit of force to push him back.

"...?!"

THUD-

"Ugh..."

Edmar stumbled back and fell butt-first on the ground, panting heavily.

Khan just looked at him, his face soft as ever. Then with his lips parting—

"You’re good."

He said that honestly.

"Really good, actually. You’ll improve fast."

"...Tch."

Edmar clicked his tongue and stood back up, wiping sweat from his forehead.

He wasn’t angry.

But he was irritated on himself.

’Is the gap really that big...?’

He looked up and saw Khan, standing straight, his spear lowered to the ground.

"Want to keep going?"

Khan asked him.

Edmar didn’t answer immediately.

His hands were aching slightly. His breath uneven.

But after a while of silence...

"Yeah."

He muttered.

"Just one more bout."

Khan smiled again. He got into his fighting stance.

"Alright then. Let’s exchange techniques one more time."

Then again—

BAM!

Edmar rushed at him, and the two clashed!

This time, Edmar tried mixing feints with real attacks.

Swish- FWOOSH!

He fainted a right slash and used the left to stab at Khan’s shoulder—

CLACK!

It was blocked.

Then Edmar jumped, trying to bring both blades down from above. But before he could even do so—

Tap-

Khan sidestepped, and again—

Whap.

A soft hit on Edmar’s calf.

"Ah—!"

Edmar landed, knee bending slightly from the pressure.

He almost dropped his left sword.

But he gritted his teeth and forced himself back up.

"You’re too focused on finishing with power."

Khan said calmly.

"You’re fast, use that instead. When your opponent has better control, strength doesn’t matter as much."

He added casually.

"..."

Edmar didn’t reply.

He was learning.

Bit by bit.

And even if it frustrated him... he could tell—

He was improving just from this fight.

"Thanks for the lesson."

Edmar muttered, lowering his weapons after the next clash.

Khan nodded his head, dropping stance too.

"You’re welcome, kid."

He smiled.

"Haaaaaaa..."

Edmar just sighed.

He didn’t know if he should be flattered or annoyed.

Then—

Clap- clap- clap—

"Not bad."

Brock said that from the benches.

Kaiser, now sitting upright, was watching too. He didn’t say anything though.

"That was a good bout."

Viktor added.

"Hmm, I can see the potential."

Then, Jin muttered that.

Edmar heard that, but he just looked away.

Well, that was because... He was hiding a small smile.

Inside—he was a little proud receiving a praise from Jin.

He quietly walked off the arena, Khan following behind him.

Their training round... was done for now.

...

...

...

"And now, it’s our turn."

Tap—

Viktor said as he stepped onto the arena, casually rolling his shoulders while holding the wooden axes.

Jin let out a long sigh from where he was sitting.

"Ugh, I hope this doesn’t become a daily thing."

He mumbled lazily, rubbing the back of his neck as he stood up.

"Oh come on, it’s not like you’re doing something at the moment."

Khan said with a grin, tossing Jin two wooden machetes from the rack nearby.

Jin caught one in each hand and clicked his tongue, walking toward the arena with slow, deliberate steps.

"Tch... you’re way too motivated for a guy who just got beat up yesterday."

He mumbled toward Viktor, who just glared at him in return without saying anything.

Meanwhile, Kaiser stretched his arms above his head and leaned back on the bench beside Edmar.

"Hmm, Jin isn’t in the mood... He’ll probably end this fast."

He whispered under his breath, resting as much as possible before going back to training his body later.

Brock crossed his arms, eyes locked on the arena with mild interest. Because currently— Viktor is probably the strongest between Him, Kaiser, and Edmar. Not by much though.

Inside the square ring, Jin twirled the machete once before getting into a half-hearted stance.

Swish~

Viktor just smirked as he mirrored him, tightening his grip.

The air around them subtly shifted.

"You can start whenever you want."

Jin casually mentioned that. And as soon as those words left his mouth—

BAM!

Viktor kicked off without a word.