"Matt, your combat talent reminds me of Sonya, though you're not quite on her level," the female barbarian said in a raspy voice, clad in standard battle armor.
Matt Murdock now wielded a hand axe with growing skill, though he was merely chopping wood. His clean, sharp movements carried a pleasing grace.
The female barbarian barely knew Sonya, but who on Harrogath didn't know that prodigy? She judged Matt against Sonya's imagined talent, though it wasn't entirely fair. Sonya could mimic a technique after one glance, a genius bordering on arrogance. If she heard the comparison, she'd likely challenge Matt. But Sonya wasn't here, so no harm done.
"Lady, you still haven't told me your name. It bothers me," Matt said, splitting a log with his axe.
"You don't need my name. Here, only legends get called by name. I'm just a barbarian who fell to a demon horde," she replied, expressionless. Alive, she'd dreamed of being like Rhea, but died in her fifth battle.
She studied Matt, weighing something. "Are you ready for my secret realm?"
Her eyes held a spark of approval. When Matt climbed Harrogath, no ancestor spirit thought he'd make a barbarian. A mage, maybe—blind warriors were unheard of, but blind mages were known. Despite low expectations, she chose Matt, drawn by his heart for justice.
"What will I face in your secret realm?" Matt asked, still swinging his axe. The weapon's weight strained him, but he managed.
"All the battles I fought, from life to death," she said. Not all at once—staged progressively. Though she died after five fights, she wasn't weak, just reckless, ignoring molten ground. A demon's obvious spell ended her.
Matt could handle the first stage, she estimated. With some armor from it, he had a shot at her realm.
"Battles that killed a warrior like you? I'm not there yet," Matt said calmly, knowing her skill and strength far outstripped his.
"Cough! The demons weren't that strong. My death was… an accident," she said, voice tinged with embarrassment. Her fights: a Fallen squad, a zombie horde, an infernal bull, a corpse mother, and a molten-wreathed wraith. The first four were easy; the last, she died chasing a glowing orange item, ignoring the rolling flames.
"Better hurry, then," she said, watching Matt swing.
…
At rest, Matt and Luke lay on their stone beds, lost in thought.
Luke, bruised and swollen, broke the silence. "Matt, don't you need to get back to work?"
Matt's lawyer life was hectic.
"My partner's handling it. We need to focus on getting stronger," Matt replied, hands at his sides. He wanted to prop his arms behind his head, but the ache stopped him.
"This training's stealing my freedom, damn it!" Luke grumbled. He felt himself growing stronger, but Madoc's brutal methods—akin to Spartan training—were hard to stomach. Each strike of Madoc's iron rod matched Madame Gao's pain, though his precise control left no lasting wounds, just vivid agony.
"You're a lawyer. Can't you talk to Madoc? Stop him training us like this? We're civilized, not savages!" Luke touched his bruised face, wincing.
Matt's expression mirrored a law student asked for free help. He often worked pro bono, but that wasn't the issue. "Where exactly do I file a lawsuit up here?"
His words cut off the aimless chat. Sleep, then more training, was what mattered.
…
Next morning, in the New York Sanctum:
"Wang, your shift!" a mage interrupted Wang, who stared at a jar. Milk collection day, and he still hadn't dared taste the white ash inside.
"Feel any changes?" Wang asked, stretching his stiff body.
"I could take down a cow!" the mage said, flexing.
"Moo~"
A bellow sounded as the mage hit the floor, tripped by Mike, whose bell-like eyes gleamed with disdain. Infused with Heaven's spring water, the cow was far smarter now, understanding human speech—a bizarre change.
"Easy, Mike! He's joking. Let's eat," Wang said, grabbing Mike's rope and heading to the Sanctum's hall, where Mike often stayed. Smartly, Mike kept it clean.
"Moo~"
Mike strode ahead, dragging Wang like a child with a large dog. Human will meant little to such a beast.
(End of Chapter)
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