This Spiritual Energy is Lethal!-Chapter 96 - 0: Your Name Is... Diana?

Chapter 96: Chapter 096: Your Name Is… Diana?

“I’m really excited to welcome a new member,” the blonde girl said. “If you sign up for a 1-year membership at once, there’s a promotion where you get an additional 3 months of membership. I highly recommend the 1-year membership—it’s what most newbies go for.”

A 1-year membership?

Bro, I’ve got like 20 hours left to live; who knows where I’ll even be this time tomorrow, let alone next year.

After hesitating for a moment, Chen Ke calculated the cost. Alright, a year it is—it’s just 1000 union coins.

“Then let’s do a one-year membership,” Chen Ke said with a smile.

Brig, standing to the side, was also quite pleased. Chen Ke wasn’t sure if HEMA club instructors earned commissions by getting students to buy courses like gym instructors do.

...

Speaking of gyms, Chen Ke had also signed up for a membership at a fitness center near his home before crossing over. The idea was to bulk up, trim down, and take the opportunity to admire the athletic beauties.

But reality always seems to run counter to one’s desires.

Forget meeting beauties—unless you’re in a super high-end gym, it’s hard to even encounter the opposite sex. Most places are filled with either skinny 90-pound weaklings or rotund uncles.

Of course, there are also the genial big-chested bosses who check in to the gym every day.

And the trainers? They’re like salespeople, constantly nagging you to buy courses, endlessly pushing you to purchase a full set of private lessons with all sorts of nonsense like “body fat,” “red and white muscles,” and “your figure is actually not bad” to bamboozle you.

Once they realize they can’t persuade you to buy, the gym might as well not have trainers as far as you’re concerned. Have fun playing by yourself, lad!

Chen Ke examined his Golden Arthur membership card closely. Was he a bit impulsive just now? But with his rate of making money in this world, it wouldn’t take but a moment to earn not just 1000, but 10,000 union coins.

After all, he used to be working a job, but over here, it’s more like… robbery.

“Alright, do you guys have courses? Like the most basic introductory ones,” Chen Ke asked.

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“Of course, Golden Arthur has the best HEMA instructors. We not only have the basic guards and footwork but advanced moves too…” Brig went on and on.

“Uh… is there an extra charge for that?” Chen Ke interjected.

“Of course not, it’s free. It’s open to all students, anyone who wants to can come. We also organize internal competitions, sword-friends meetups, and such…” Brig said, smiling.

“Sounds good,” Chen Ke replied with a grin.

“It’s still early; don’t you want to get into shape quickly?” Brig said.

“I don’t even have my own gear yet. This outfit isn’t suitable for working out,” Chen Ke said, spreading his hands.

“We have gear ready to use. In the beginning, you can use ours. Once you decide which sword style you want to focus on, it’s not too late to buy your own equipment,” Brig said, arms crossed, as if tempting Chen Ke.

“Since you put it that way… let’s do it…” Chen Ke glanced at his skill panel.

He was still a bit short of the entrance threshold for Meyer Swordsmanship, but judging from the 35% increase just from watching a bit earlier, he could probably pick it up even faster.

Following Brig, Chen Ke went to the club’s storeroom, which was filled with beginner-level protective gear and practice swords, and even had small shields.

After looking around the storeroom, Brig picked out a full set of protective gear for him.

It was a complete set of dark blue full body protection, including a swordsmanship mask, mask reinforcement overlay, fencing jacket, ‘lobster’ heavy gauntlets, leg guard pants, long stockings, and sports shoes.

Chen Ke could tell just by looking that wearing the whole set was going to be hot, but luckily it was still cool in March in the United Federation, and the mall had air conditioning.

Now, only the choice of sword remained.

He picked up a two-handed longsword laying on a stand near the wall. As a training sword, it was also made of steel, very slim, unsharpened, with a round tip.

Next to it, on a rack, he saw a row of rapier-like swift swords, with a semi-circular guard, which Brig said were generally used for dueling.

Among the Holy Relics Chen Ke currently possessed was a huge tower shield, a one-handed broadsword, and a two-handed greatsword.

Considering the Golden quality of Faralis’ Unyielding Fury was far more powerful than the Fire-igniting Broadsword, Chen Ke decided it was more reliable to learn the two-handed greatsword.

Chen Ke, with Brig’s help, put on protective gear, hugged the mask, and carried the sword to the training ground, attracting the gaze of some new recruits. Brig gave a simple introduction of Chen Ke, who awkwardly waved his hand.

“So, now I’m going to teach you the most basic stuff…” Brig started his talk by beginning with the four principal stances of HEMA and pointing out the key points of each stance.

Having already seen it several times in videos, Chen Ke picked it up very quickly, although he still needed more practice with the wrist-twisting motion to flip the blade.

Smooth transitions between the four stances were not an easy task. According to Brig’s requirements, Chen Ke had to transition unconsciously between these stances, rather than consciously posing them stiffly.

“You’re learning fast. Pay attention to your footing. Don’t get messy with your steps. If your weight is on your left foot, then grip the front of the sword handle with your right hand, and vice versa,” Brig instructed.

“How do you manage to spin such a long thing around your body…” Chen Ke wondered as he practiced.

“Focus, Chen Ke. When changing stances, imagine there’s a real enemy in front of you, and you’re attacking from every direction…” Brig was midway through his sentence when he pulled out his phone.

“Does this look correct?” Chen Ke performed a few stance cuts and asked.

“Sorry, Chen Ke, I suddenly have some things to attend to… I need to step out right away…” Brig said, looking at his phone apologetically.

“Oh! What a coincidence!” Chen Ke said, a bit disappointed.

“I know it’s hard to forgive me, but trust me, I’ll make it up doubly to you next time. But I have to go now, I’ll call an old member to accompany you for practice,” Brig said, clapping his hands, and gestured toward the woman he had noticed before.

“Diana! Diana! Help me out.”

The woman named Diana was drinking water at the edge of the field, her sword leaning against the wall, and her mask resting on a stool. Hearing Brig’s voice, she looked toward Chen Ke’s direction.

“What’s up, Brig?” Diana asked.

“Look, we have a newbie here. Can you teach him?” Brig said.

“That’s your job, Brig. You handle it,” Diana said, wiggling a finger.

“I can’t argue with that logic!” Chen Ke threw up his hands.

“I’m begging you, Diana, I need to step out for a bit,” Brig said.

“Alright, but this the last time, Brig. I’m serious, it’s the last time,” Diana sighed, picked up her sword, and walked onto the training field.

“This is Chen Ke. He just joined us today. Be, uh, gentle,” Brig introduced the newcomer to Diana.

“This is Diana. She’s probably the strongest female member here. You’ll definitely learn a lot from her!” Brig said to Chen Ke.

After the introduction, Brig hurried out the door at a run.

Both of them watched Brig’s retreating back and sighed at the same time.

“It seems he really has an emergency,” Diana said.

“You didn’t bring your helmet,” Chen Ke reminded.

“I don’t need that. How far did you get?” Diana asked bluntly.

“I’ve just managed to assume the four stances,” Chen Ke shrugged.

“Hmm… Enough to take a beating, then. Start, newbie!” Diana sneered, clenching the longsword with both hands, pointing it at Chen Ke.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! I think you just want to hit me,” Chen Ke backpedaled.

“If you want to learn to hit someone, you must first learn to take a hit. It makes you learn faster. Come at me, newbie!” Diana finished, took a quick step forward, and raised her sword high, cleaving down toward Chen Ke.

Chen Ke recognized that as an overhead cleave and hastily retreated, raising his sword horizontally above his head, trying to block Diana’s downward attack.

“Don’t assume,” Diana taunted, as the cleaving sword motion suddenly changed; she grabbed the blade and thrust the sword hilt hard toward Chen Ke’s chest.