Defense...

Defense...

Marcus seized on this key point. An idea struck him like a bolt of lightning.

He slowly raised his head, a look of grim determination flashing in his usually calm eyes.

’The final breakthrough can’t be achieved through safe training.’

’Only a real threat can force out my true potential!’

...

"What did you say?"

Valles looked at Marcus in confusion, thinking he must have misheard.

"Are you out of your mind, Marcus?"

Valles had just finished his morning practice when Marcus showed up, and they had happened to run into Gray on the way.

"I’m serious."

Marcus’s expression was grave as he repeated, "Please, hit me."

"He’s definitely out of his mind."

Gray stated with certainty from the side, reaching out a hand as if to check Marcus’s forehead for a fever.

"No, no, no, no... Marcus."

Valles waved his hands frantically, still not quite understanding. "Why on earth would I hit you out of the blue?"

"I feel like I’m on the verge of a breakthrough, but I’m always just that little bit short."

Marcus’s tone was solemn.

"I’ve thought it over and over, and I’ve realized I’m not pushing myself to the limit. Only immense external pressure can squeeze out my latent potential!"

He looked directly into Valles’s eyes, his attitude earnest.

"So, please help me, Valles. I need you to force out my potential."

Seeing that Marcus didn’t seem to be joking, Valles could only furrow his brow and try to follow his friend’s line of thinking.

"So you’re saying... you want me to use my attacks to simulate the pressure of a life-or-death situation, force out your potential, and achieve a breakthrough?"

"Yes." Marcus nodded.

"Are you sure this method will work?" Valles was still a bit incredulous.

He had never heard of such a training method.

"We have to try," Marcus said.

"I can help, too," Gray said from the side, rubbing his hands together eagerly.

Marcus glanced at Gray and said calmly,

"You can’t. You can’t beat me."

"I can’t help but feel a little underestimated..."

Valles mulled it over.

Although it sounded a bit ridiculous when he first heard it, upon further thought, what Marcus said did make some sense.

He had heard stories of Warriors achieving breakthroughs during life-or-death battles. What if it actually worked?

"Alright..."

Valles finally agreed. "Since you insist, let’s give it a try."

「Half an hour later, in a secluded patch of woods outside Black Stone Town.」

Gray leaned lazily against a large tree with his arms crossed, playing the part of an audience member.

In the center of the clearing, Marcus and Valles stood facing each other, taking up sparring stances.

"Ready?" Valles flexed his hands, his knuckles letting out a sharp CRACK.

"Bring it on! And don’t hold back!" Marcus’s fighting spirit soared.

"Then watch out!"

The moment the words left Valles’s mouth, he stamped his foot and charged forward.

Although Valles usually favored his longbow, this by no means implied his close-combat skills were weak.

On the contrary, years of using a Strong Bow had made his arm muscles firm and explosive. In terms of pure arm strength, even Warriors of the same Level would struggle to best him.

What’s more, Valles was now a Middle Level Ranger. The advancement of his Heart of Qi had made his physical attributes a far cry from what they once were.

A swift Jab shot directly toward Marcus’s face.

THUD!

Marcus barely managed to raise his arm to block. The immense force sent a sharp pain through his arm bone and made him stumble back a few steps involuntarily.

Before Marcus could steady himself, Valles’s next series of attacks followed one after another.

Whip Kick, Elbow Strike, Combination Punch—his ferocious assault was like a raging storm.

Even though Marcus was a Vanguard specializing in close combat, he found it difficult to resist Valles’s offensive and could only defend passively.

After several rounds, while Marcus hadn’t been seriously injured, several blue and purple bruises had inevitably appeared on his face and body.

Gray, on the other hand, was watching with great interest.

’Who would’ve thought that the tall and sturdy Marcus would actually be getting beaten down by Valles?’

’Interesting.’

"It’s no good... no good..."

Marcus clutched the side of his slightly swollen face as he backed away, dodging a hook from Valles.

"I told you so."

Valles stopped his attacks as well, looking a bit helpless. "This training method is useless. Who ever heard of achieving a breakthrough just by getting hit?"

"No... I mean, it’s not enough."

Marcus took a deep breath.

"This level of intensity isn’t enough to stimulate my potential. I don’t feel any sense of crisis. My Fighting Qi isn’t being mobilized."

"Not enough? Then how are we supposed to ramp up the intensity?" Valles asked, confused.

Marcus’s gaze grew even more feverish.

"Valles, use your bow and shoot me."

"Impossible!" Valles refused instantly, without a second thought.

Even Gray, who had been enjoying the show from the sidelines, couldn’t sit still any longer.

"Hey, hey... Marcus, don’t be reckless. This isn’t the same as a fistfight. Someone could get killed."

"That feeling—that someone could get killed—is exactly what I need."

Marcus’s tone was firm. "Help me this one time, Valles. Only this Level of desperation can stimulate my potential to its absolute maximum."

"What if you don’t break through? Then you’ll have taken an arrow for nothing, won’t you?" Gray said.

"I still wouldn’t blame Valles. This is my own choice," Marcus said.

"This isn’t about blame."

Valles was getting angry now. "Marcus, there’s no way I’m letting you try something so absurd."

"Trust me, Valles!"

Marcus’s words rang with conviction. "I can definitely block it!"

Valles fell silent.

He met Marcus’s determined gaze, and after a long moment, he let out a heavy sigh.

"Fine, fine... As you wish. We’ll give it a try."

Valles picked up his longbow, Moonlight, and walked to a spot over thirty meters away.

He drew a wide-blade arrow from his quiver and, at an angle where Marcus couldn’t see, removed the arrowhead.

Then Valles nocked the arrow—now just a wooden shaft—and aimed it at Marcus.

The moment he drew the bowstring, Valles’s entire aura sharpened.

At this distance, he was a perfect shot, able to hit anything he aimed at.

"Come on...!"

Marcus stared intently at Valles, mustering his Power and preparing to defend.

He released the string!

WHOOSH!

The shaft, though only wood, still whistled through the air with formidable force.

In that instant, Marcus forced himself to concentrate with all his Spirit.

He could clearly feel the Heart of Qi in his lower abdomen growing more active under the external pressure.

Streams of heat were flowing rapidly through his meridians, attempting to merge with his flesh and blood to form a Combat Qi Shield strong enough to withstand the external attack!