Imperial Throne

Chapter 23: Combat Techniques

"Combat techniques?" Yam looked intrigued.

"Combat techniques, martial techniques, battle arts, they all essentially mean the same thing. It's just that in our Tyrella Kingdom, we prefer to call them 'combat techniques,' meaning skills for battle."

Giggs knew Yam wasn’t familiar with these terms, so he began explaining, "The Kingdom's Military Swordsmanship you've been practicing is actually a simplified version derived from the combat technique [Tyrella Military Swordsmanship], designed specifically for commoners to train with."

Hearing this, Yam immediately understood.

"So only Bloodline Users can truly wield combat techniques?"

"Yes." Giggs nodded. "Many combat techniques have various requirements, speed, strength, even specific force-exertion techniques, and some may even have bloodline requirements. These can only be fulfilled after one becomes a Bloodline User, as the body is enhanced by the power of the bloodline."

Yam nodded in realization. "No wonder the Kingdom's Military Swordsmanship felt off to me recently."

"[Tyrella Military Swordsmanship] is divided into [Light Feather] and [Heavy Mountain] forms. The former emphasizes agility, while the latter focuses on strength. Generally, [Violent Bear] Bloodline Users train in the [Heavy Mountain Style Tyrella Military Swordsmanship]." Giggs explained.

"Since the [Flame Hound] Bloodline isn't known for strength, I'll get you a copy of the [Light Feather Style Tyrella Military Swordsmanship] when I get the chance. You've trained so long in the Kingdom's Swordsmanship—it shouldn’t go to waste."

"Thank you," Yam quickly expressed his gratitude.

Giggs had always treated him kindly.

He had first helped find a physician for Yam’s mother, then replaced his risky saber with a more suitable longsword. Now, he had given him the [Eagle Strike Swordsmanship] and even promised to look out for the [Light Feather Style Tyrella Military Swordsmanship].

Even though Yam understood that Giggs was investing in him because of his potential and power, he was still deeply moved.

"The stronger you get, the more at ease I feel." Giggs laughed generously.

"But [Eagle Strike Swordsmanship] comes with a footwork component and has certain physical requirements, usually, only Second-Tier Bloodline Users begin training it. You're still a First-Tier, right? Just observe and simulate for now. Don’t rush into training or you might hurt yourself, which would cause more trouble."

Yam nodded without speaking.

In truth, he had already advanced to Second-Tier two days ago, but he hadn’t told anyone.

What shocked him more, however, was the power of the Rusty Sword.

From his understanding over the past year, he realized the Rusty Sword hadn’t merely enhanced the [Flame Hound Bloodline Potion], it had also purified it. That dose had been equal to just a single standard potion.

Compared to Lily, who needed seven Potions to awaken her bloodline, Yam had succeeded with just one. Judging by this as a measure of bloodline potential, he could be considered a one-in-ten-thousand genius.

But the more he understood, the more terrified he became.

To transform someone with no bloodline aptitude into a genius of unmatched potential, what kind of Divine Weapon was this?!

Still, Yam maintained a calm exterior and softly asked, "Are combat techniques also divided into tiers?"

"Normally, they’re classified as low, medium, and high." Giggs shook his head. "Like [Tyrella Military Swordsmanship], a low-tier technique, since it’s just basic sword moves. This [Eagle Strike Swordsmanship], because it includes footwork, [Eagle Strike Step] is considered mid-tier. As for high-tier techniques, I don't know much, only that they’re more powerful, with more skills, and might even involve secret arts."

The Bole family was only a baron family without even a Bloodline Imprint.

Whether Giggs could reach Third-Tier and inherit the title was still uncertain, so his knowledge of bloodlines and secrets was limited compared to families like Burton's that possessed Bloodline Imprints.

"However, some people do break down combat techniques further into levels like 'Second-Tier Intermediate' or 'Third-Tier Lower,' for instance."

Changing the topic slightly, Giggs continued, "They judge techniques by the tier needed to practice them. For example, this one is a 'Second-Tier Intermediate Technique' because it requires a Second-Tier Bloodline User."

"So if a technique can be practiced at First-Tier, it’s a First-Tier technique?"

"There’s no such thing as a First-Tier technique." Giggs shook his head. "First-Tier is just the initial awakening, everyone automatically gains one bloodline ability. That stage is mainly about becoming familiar with your power. Combat techniques start from Second-Tier. Typically, unless a Third-Tier ability has undergone mutation, people don't learn Third-Tier techniques. So it usually jumps from Second-Tier to Fourth or Fifth."

"Mutation of a bloodline ability?"

"Yeah, something I’ve only heard about."

Giggs then explained what he knew about bloodline ability mutation.

"I see." Yam nodded.

He suddenly recalled, his ability wasn’t [Blood Flame] from the [Flame Hound], but [Flame Stream] from the [Flame Demon Hound].

That might be a mutation of his bloodline ability. Though it looked similar to [Blood Flame], in truth it was vastly superior.

The two chatted further, though most of it was Giggs complaining about the troubles of being a lord, while Yam quietly listened.

He didn’t really understand these things.

But being thoughtful, Yam absorbed what he could from hearing and observing, forming his own impressions.

He felt Giggs was a kind-hearted lord, but not necessarily a competent one.

Lily, on the other hand, had both the means and foresight, clearly more suitable for leadership.

Whether she was kind, though, was questionable. After all, her method of dealing with those wealthy merchants in White Mountain City was anything but honorable, he had learned from Nika that the evidence of collusion with thugs had been fabricated under Lily’s orders.

That merchant had been the weakest among White Mountain City’s elite, making him the easiest target.

From there, he was used as a breakthrough point to implicate other merchants, rapidly restoring order in the city.

Yam vividly remembered the words Lily spoke after it was over:

‘What matters is how the Bole family deals with those who try to take advantage of chaos.’

It made him think of how the Baron of Gem Territory had treated the Iron Wolf Mercenary Group as bandits, perhaps as a show of resolve and to set an example.

And that made Yam uneasy, thinking of how his father and brothers still hadn’t made contact.

Nearly a year had passed since they left Fisher Village.

With order restored in White Mountain City, and the five villages in the White Mountain Territory having governed themselves for a while, the land had returned to a calm, stable state, as if the previous turmoil had never occurred.

Now, as the weather turned colder, winter had officially arrived, and White Forest Castle welcomed joy once again.

Because everyone knew, the war would soon end.

Not just a brief peace, but several years of genuine calm.

The war, initiated by Gem Territory, had dragged on for three years. Though Red River Territory was nearly at its limit, Gem Territory, as the invader, had expended far more resources maintaining its supply lines.

Moreover, Red River was a traffic hub connecting several nearby territories. As the war intensified, it impacted not just Red River and Gem Territory, but also drove the prices in surrounding areas to ridiculous levels.

So from any perspective, the war couldn’t go on.

With its end, and prices yet to return to pre-war levels, no lord would dare ignite another conflict.

Thus, Yam was ready to take this rare period of calm to request permission from Giggs to travel, he was deeply worried about his father and brothers.

Until now, he hadn’t brought it up because entering Gem Territory during the war would have risked unnecessary trouble, especially since he was now a household knight of the White Mountain Territory.

Moreover, White Mountain had also been caught in the war. Its defenses were thin, and even White Forest Castle hadn’t been entirely safe.

Under such circumstances, Yam couldn’t abandon Giggs.

“Hm?”

Just as Yam reached Giggs’ door to submit his request, he suddenly heard a strange noise.

It was soft.

Fleeting.

Like the light flutter of a bird landing on a branch.

But Yam knew full well, on a winter night like this, there shouldn’t be any birds in flight, especially not this late with the stars overhead.

“Clang—”

The sound of a blade scraping from its sheath rang out!

Sparks flew from the edge of the scabbard, immediately igniting into a sweeping blaze.

[Flame Demon Hound] bloodline ability.

[Flame Stream]!