Welcome to Hell!

Chapter 136: first weapon training

The day after I allowed Julius and the others to choose their weapons, most of my comrades continued their usual training routine; which consisted of barehanded battles against Karelvo’s demons. However, a few of us, including myself, had weapons in hand at a separate location. The reason, of course, was to instruct Julius and the other two on how to handle their weapons.

The trio had decided on their respective weapons yesterday. Julius selected dual swords, Ariel chose a spear, and Bolts settled on a one-handed sword and shield. Julius’s choice of dual swords seemed to stem from his competitive spirit against Leo, Ariel seemed to prioritize reach, and Bolts seemed keen on defense. It wasn’t just my own imagination that their weapon choices mirrored their individual traits.

By the way, it had been made clear by Farl, the top marksman of the special operations unit, that even for demons, learning how to handle a bow within the timeframe until the war’s beginning was practically impossible. Hence, we couldn’t afford to grant the three the freedom to choose a bow as their weapon… Thankfully, since none of them had initially chosen bows, it wasn’t an issue.

“Well then, shall we give them a brief tutorial?”

“Ariel’s never held a spear before, so be gentle, okay?” Linardo said.

“Got it~. But seriously, don’t get too strict and accidentally kill someone, okay~?” Tuhru added

As for the pivotal role of instructors, Julius was assigned to me, Ariel to Linardo, and Bolts to Tuhru. Both Linardo and Tuhru were regarded as the finest warriors when it came to handling spears and shields within the special operations unit. There was no doubt about their qualifications as instructors.

Listening to the “pleasant “exchange between the couple, Ariel and Bolts seemed to grow somewhat pale for some reason. Both of those two were considerably skilled among us. Julius and the others could rest assured that they rarely made misjudgments. So, it was about time they pulled themselves together.

Well, perhaps there might be moments where they would come close to dying due to miscalculations… Yet, experiencing a near-death encounter before heading to the actual battlefield could prove beneficial. It wouldn’t hurt to know how much your body can or cannot move during those critical moments.

“We’re starting here too.”

“Ah. So, what should I do?” Julius asked.

“There’s only one thing I can teach you. Learn through real combat. Now, come at me from any direction.”

I had never been formally taught the intricacies of dual-wielding by someone else’s logical breakdown. While there was someone I could consider a mentor— Alexander—his training primarily consisted of nothing but actual combat. My improvised swordsmanship had evolved within battles, honing movements that were as quick, sharp, and efficient as possible, all in the desperate desire to survive. That was my way of fighting.

Hence, all I could offer in terms of instruction was pointing out the strengths and weaknesses through exchanges that resembled real combat. I was well aware that it wasn’t the most helpful way of teaching, but I had no other option. Besides, it was a teaching approach that certain demons like Leo actually appreciated, so it wasn’t all that bad.

Leaving the thinking aside, I drew both swords from their scabbards and let my arms hang down. It wasn’t a matter of me underestimating Julius, but rather assuming a stance that could counter any kind of attack. Since adopting this seemingly unconventional posture, I could count on one hand the times I’d been struck while training with weapons. I would like to apply this stance to barehanded training as well.

However, Julius who was unaware of this, seemed to interpret my actions as me looking down on him. Frowning and showing displeasure, he demonstrated the agility of a demon, swinging both arms up and stepping in.

Indeed, being bold was undoubtedly one of Julius’s strengths. Yet, his movements were overly simplistic. Charging straight ahead wouldn’t work against opponents who were stronger. I caught Julius’s dual swords with the sword in my left hand.

“Too slow. Don’t rush in so naively with that level of speed.”

“Whoa!?”

“And it’s light. You won’t be able to cut through the armor of a regular armored soldier like that. Put some weight into your sword… like this.”

Right after blocking his attack, I casually swung the sword in my right hand, while providing feedback, and sent Julius flying. He was thrown off balance, and he flipped backward. Ignoring this, I stepped in and brought down my sword. Julius, who ended up on the ground, seemed to realize that he’d be cleaved in two if I struck directly, so he hastily rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the sword.

Oh, he managed to escape without freezing up in fear and turning stiff. Of course, had I been truly serious, he would have been cleaved in two. But right now, that doesn’t matter. What impressed me was that he didn’t cower or shut his eyes when faced with a weapon aimed to kill him.

“Good. No matter how scared you are, don’t avert your gaze from the enemy. If you want to survive, tame that fear without forgetting it. Always be conscious of death.”

“Guh! Youu!”

Julius quickly got back up and once again charged at me. Unlike his initial reckless assault, this time he lowered his stance and aimed for my knees. A good tactic considering the difference in our sizes. His swift decision-making and determination were commendable. It seemed like he had the makings of a warrior.

However, this alone wouldn’t earn him a passing grade. Tactics that leverage the difference in size are anticipated by the enemy as well. If Julius didn’t consider this, he would be easily countered. Instead of using my sword to parry, I kicked in a way that swept his arm aside.

“Guh!?”

“I see… Did you slip your blade in response to my kick? You anticipated my kick, didn’t you? That one passed without a question.”

Although he was blown away by my kick, Julius quickly recovered and got up with a grin. He had anticipated my attempt to counter in some way and responded skillfully, not only blocking it but also launching a counterattack. Faint marks of the blade remained on the exoskeleton covering my shins, serving as evidence of his success.

Furthermore, his ability to perform a breakfall using only his back was also commendable. If he had mastered this essential technique for using dual swords that occupied both hands, it would save me the effort of teaching it.

“Now, come at me as if you intend to kill. Each time, I’ll let you know what you did right and what needs improvement.”

“Heh! Don’t complain even if you end up dead!”

While I didn’t believe Julius had the capability to kill me with his skills, it was probably best not to say that aloud. He was showing enthusiasm after all. It wouldn’t be good to dampen his spirit, and provoking him might lead to sloppy moves on his part.

As I continued to guide Julius through his still somewhat awkward movements, I used my compound eyes to observe the training of the other two. Linardo stood opposite of Ariel as he meticulously instructed her on her spear grip and basic movements.

“I’ve heard that Ariel is quite good in spiritual arts. It might be a stretch for now, but it’d be great if you could eventually combine your spiritual arts with spear techniques in combat.”

“Huh? Um, well, I actually consider the spear more for self-defense…”

“Hah, what are you talking about? Just because you have a bit of skill in spiritual arts doesn’t mean we can afford to have you stay in the rear. If anything, spiritual arts can be used for self-defense, while close combat takes the main stage. That’s why we’re starting with physical training first.”

“But…!”

“We don’t have a place outside the front lines. If you want to survive, you better dedicate yourself to learning spear techniques with an almost reckless determination.”

Ariel had been serious about learning spear techniques from the beginning, but Linardo’s reality check had only fueled her determination further. Her movements were still quite unpolished, yet she had a track record of elevating her spiritual arts to combat-ready levels. Surely, mastering spear usage would come to her quickly.

After focusing on Ariel, my attention shifted to Bolts and Tuhru. Tuhru was demonstrating the proper way to hold a shield for Bolts. Although he was the one being taught, Bolts seemed to be getting the hang of it. Surprisingly, he might have a talent for handling shields; a pleasant surprise indeed.

I was relieved to see that Bolts, who I thought was the most vulnerable, seemed capable of defending himself. That was good, but wait… was he sneakily glancing at Tuhru’s chest while receiving instruction?

I was not a human originally, so I didn’t fully understand, but one of the aspects human males apparently found attractive in females was their chests. And he was stealing glances from behind his shield. Even though Tuhru was Linardo’s wife… What is he thinking?

“Very good, very good. Alright, let’s start moving toward combat scenarios now. Ready… and, go~!”

“I unders-gubuh?!”

“Oh my, oh my? You mustn’t let your guard down during training. If you can’t react on the battlefield, you’ll end up dead, you know~?”

Bolts who was engrossed in his sneaky glances, was suddenly interrupted as Tuhru swung her war hammer in combat formation, smacking him hard. He was sent flying, contorting into an arc, bouncing off the ground several times before finally coming to a halt.

While Tuhru might have thought she swung lightly, she was renowned for her outstanding strength, which was second to none even among the special operations unit. The impact was substantial, and Bolts, who had been hit, remained crouched on the ground as he vomited.

An accident had happened all too soon, but it was Bolts’s fault for being distracted during training in the first place. Let him reflect on his wandering attention; he could at least be glad that he had gained the experience of enduring pain. Let’s leave it to Tuhru for now.

“Step into it properly. Engage your hips.”

“Hup! Yah!”

“It’s still too early to use consecutive attacks. Focus on delivering a solid strike.”

“Gaaah!”

“Not bad. However, your killing intent is wavering. Your feints and main attacks are clear for everyone to see. Even attacks you know will be blocked should carry the same intent. Make them believe that getting hit equals death. The force of your determination is not to be underestimated.”

While keeping an eye on the other two, I did my best to impart both techniques and the right mindset to Julius. From Julius’s perspective, it might have felt like he was being subjected to some form of abuse. Internally, he was likely cursing me for suggesting such reckless tasks.

However, the battlefield is a place filled with even more irrationality. The weak and the foolish are mercilessly slain, and no matter how skilled and seasoned one is, bad luck can easily lead to a swift demise. To emerge victorious in such a place, to survive, one must be willing to do whatever it takes.

For a while, I had him swing his weapon throughout the day to help him get accustomed, and a few days before the impending conflict, I planned to have him engage in mock battles with his fellow companions to expose him to various opponents. Even so, when the time comes to die, he will die… that much is determined by the whims of fate for the three of them.

Though we’ve only known each other for a short time, they were my comrades too. I continued to train Julius, in the hope that he’d survive as long as possible.