Transcendent Gene
Chapter 89: Guided Training [5]

Chapter 89: Guided Training [5]

Training with Jax was more like what Gio was used to.

They sparred without using their Sequences. Jax used a pair of wooden short swords, while Gio was given the option to pick between several training weapons on a rack in the hauler.

It would be leaving soon, but Gio and Jax would stay where they were. As long as they had transportation and a place to lay their heads, it was enough.

Nevertheless, Jax didn’t ask many questions about Gio’s skillset.

"I’ve never been a good teacher. If you want to meet good teachers, you’re gonna have to wait until Amaya and Jason come around. Ulver said you’re a good learner, though."

Gio nodded his head. He prided himself on his learning ability.

"Since it’s like that, let’s spar once a day. I’ll let you know what I see wrong and you can learn from my form. That much should be enough."

"Once a day?" Gio questioned.

"I mean, once a day required. If you want to spar again, just come get me. I’ll be down whenever. It’ll be a month before the zephyr comes back to get me, so I’m sure you’ll have more than enough chances."

"Alright."

It was good enough for Gio.

"Let’s get started then."

Since it was the first day, he picked up a sword. It was the easiest weapon to produce with Hekat’s ability at the moment, so it would be his main weapon until he found something better.

Weapon in hand, he stood in front of Jax.

And the battle started.

Jax was incredibly fast even without his Sequence. It was almost hard to track him with eyes alone when he moved.

Gio’s pupils narrowed as he focused his attention on the world.

’There!’

He was just barely able to calculate the trajectory in his mind and put his blade up before the man arrived.

Thunk!

With a heavy sound, both of Jax’s blades collided with his. Gio’s knees buckled under the pressure. He could feel his bones creaking under the weight as well.

Gritting his teeth, he dropped himself to the ground and rolled, standing up as soon as possible.

He tried to never take his eyes off Jax, but somehow, the man moved unseen.

He was already behind Gio when he stood up. His sword came down and hit Gio square on the top of the head. He whipped around with his own weapon, but dropped it before attacking.

"That’s death."

"Yup. Super death," Jax agreed.

"You almost got cut in half last time, so I figured I’d show you what would have happened if that guy wasn’t weakened like crazy."

Gio hummed in agreement.

"It’s not like I didn’t understand that already."

"Then why are you trying to move with us?"

Gio raised an eyebrow.

"Is that what you’ve been curious about?"

"Yeah. All of us have been wondering about it. If you’re not dumb, you should realize that little amount of strength isn’t enough. I don’t get why you want to die when you can just learn slowly like the Captain wants."

Gio looked at Jax for a moment.

’I guess Ulver didn’t ask because of his personality, but I do need to say this to them personally instead of just saying it to Raymond.’

Jax was s talkative guy, so if he said everything here, it would probably make its way to everyone’s ears.

’And it’s probably different to hear it from him instead of their Captain, who they’re forced to listen to.’

It wasn’t a statement that questioned their bonds. It was merely the reality of a relationship formed on the basis of leader and subordinate.

He heaved a small sigh.

"You guys see me as too much of a kid."

He started strong. It was best to rid that notion from their minds as soon as possible.

There wasn’t anything new in Gio’s words. He essentially repeated what he’d already told Raymond.

He had a plan. He wanted to grow. He needed real combat experience now. It couldn’t wait.

He didn’t say anything directly about having a past connection to the world of Sequencers, but he tried to imply it.

If the crew could also start believing something like that, they’d have an easier time accepting him.

Well, as long as Gio didn’t exaggerate that connection enough for it to become suspicious.

It was a fine line to tread, but he walked it anyway. He finished explaining to Jax, who rubbed his head with a frown for a second before shrugging.

"I guess I get it," he said.

"But it’s still not going to be easy. The way you are now, even just a little bit of actual combat will end you. You can’t end up on the stretcher every time."

Gio agreed. He needed to get his younger body used to moving faster and faster.

He’d already done so when he was still in Haven, but it wasn’t a one-time thing. For Sequencers, training the body to keep up with the mind was a neverending battle.

Merely, the disparity between mind and body was much, much greater in Gio’s case.

"We’ll see what happens," Jax said in the end.

"Once I’m done with you, you’ll be a lot better off. When the rest are done too...you’ll probably be good enough to stand at the starting line."

A grin formed on his face.

"Alright, let’s do it like this kid. If you can impress me by the end of this month, I’ll support bringing you to the field."

Gio’s ears perked up.

"Yeah? Impress you how?"

"Isn’t that obvious? I don’t expect you to beat me, but..."

Jax’s eyes narrowed slyly.

"If you can dodge the attack from just now by the time we’re done, you can call me impressed."

Gio’s eyes narrowed in return.

"If you wanted to make it sound easy, you shouldn’t have made that expression."

"I made this expression to tell you it’s going to be a nightmare, though?"

"Your personality is..."

"My greatest feature! Say another word and we’re using abilities starting tomorrow."

"My lips are sealed."

It was a much more conversation-filled atmosphere than the last month. Gio definitely preferred it as opposed to the constant suffering.

But this was training at the end of the day.

"Can we go again?"

He picked his sword back up and pointed it at Jax.

"You’re not giving up yet?"

"It’s day one. Why would I give up?"

"Hahaha..."

Jax laughed awkwardly.

He certainly did not like the look in Gio’s eye. He could almost see his own future suffering reflected in them.

’I’m not going to have much time to relax, am I?’

His lips curled into a wry smile as he raised his swords and responded to Gio’s approach.

At the time, he didn’t know how accurate his thoughts would be.

Because whether it was on the first day, the second, the third, or the tenth, Gio never stopped asking for matches.

They sparred at least six times a day. When they weren’t sparring, Jax watched Gio train on his own and digest what he learned from their fights.

He didn’t say it out loud, but Jax was more than a little impressed.

’Usually, people who have to spar with Ulver come out looking like deflated meatballs.’

It was different for Gio.

From the first day he returned to training after relaxing his muscles with healing serums, he felt the changes in his body.

He was faster and stronger. It felt like he could move more better, like his body was responding to him better.

If it wasn’t, he wouldn’t have been able to block Jax’s first movement at all.

But he was able to block the first one.

And as the days went by, his eyes started to adapt to the older man’s speed.

His perception was being heightened. His body’s natural instincts were becoming sharper.

Just a little fraction, no, just a spark of a fraction of the beast of the tower manifested.

Truly, the world itself waited for the day he could fully return.

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