Although her body was cold enough, Thea's mind was becoming clearer and clearer. No matter how low her IQ was, anyone could understand the purpose of this training.
I believe my perception has been well-honed over the past week, and today, I discovered a prototype under external stimuli. Will the situation be the same if I face external interference in my next fight? The basics are still not solid enough!
Understanding the purpose of the training, Thea adjusted her attitude. After all, she had always been a focused woman, even if she sometimes seemed absent-minded. Now, standing on the beach, she did her best to ignore the cool breeze brushing against her skin and focused entirely on exploring her surroundings. She couldn't tell whether she was freezing from the cold or if she had made more progress. However, she vaguely felt that the space around her was becoming clearer and more defined.
After an indeterminate amount of time, she heard Mrs. Shiva's voice:
"Capture."
A gust of wind blew, and Thea instinctively reached out, believing she had caught it with ease. But… why did it feel like just a piece of wood?
"Let's see how much you understand. Attack me!"
Thea had already grasped the essence of this unconventional training method. Fearing she would lose the heightened sensitivity she had developed, she didn't dare remove her blindfold. Instead, she closed her eyes, blocking out all distractions. When she was only three steps away, she struck with full force—only to hit a wooden stick.
Mrs. Shiva effortlessly parried the blow and countered with a strike to Thea's left shoulder.
"Yes, your speed can be faster. There's an opening on the left. Again."
Pa!
"You're raising your right hand too high. Again."
Pa! Pa!
"Faster. Again."
This woman was brutal! Thea gritted her teeth in frustration. She had never taken so many hits in her entire life! In the past, she had fought Malcolm to a standstill, but now… she was completely outmatched.
Still, for the sake of improvement, she forced herself to persevere, constantly adjusting her stance and refining her attacks.
After what felt like an eternity of being struck, she finally heard Mrs. Shiva's voice, like a divine reprieve:
"That's enough for today. Take off the blindfold. I'll apply some medicine."
Leaning on the wooden stick, Thea slowly removed the blindfold. It felt as if she had returned from the depths of hell. As her eyes readjusted to the light, the world around her suddenly seemed breathtakingly beautiful.
Blind swordsmen in anime always looked so powerful—their poses elegant, their skills refined. But now, she knew the truth: it was all a lie. Massage was the only salvation after training like this. Who in their right mind would willingly fight this way?
She touched her body and winced. Bruises covered her skin, a mess of blue and purple. She no longer felt the cold—just a deep, aching pain. This training was a thousand times harder than anything she had done before. But if she truly wanted to improve, what other choice did she have?
"Sit down. I'll apply the medicine."
Still dazed, Thea watched as Mrs. Shiva opened a small bottle, poured some liquid into her hands, and began rubbing it onto her shoulder.
"What… what are you doing?" Thea asked, a sudden nervousness creeping into her voice.
"Applying the medicine. There are plenty of places you won't be able to reach yourself. Stop talking nonsense and stay still."
Thea fidgeted, uncomfortable. Maybe it was because they weren't that close yet, or maybe… she was just embarrassed.
As Shiva's hands moved over her skin, warmth spread through Thea's muscles. It felt as if thousands of tiny ants were burrowing into her body, sinking into her bones. Saying she felt uncomfortable would be a lie. But admitting she enjoyed it? Never.
Her muscles gradually relaxed, her face heating up. When Shiva finished applying the ointment, she gave Thea's shoulder one last slap. By now, Thea was sweating—whether from the training or something else, she wasn't sure. Either way, her senses felt sharper, her perception heightened.
"Your progress is faster than I expected," Mrs. Shiva remarked. "We won't practice perception today. Come fight me instead."
Thea didn't hesitate. Even if her chance for revenge was slim, at least she could return some of the blows she had taken.
Still feeling warm, she didn't bother putting her coat back on. Grabbing her staff, she lunged forward.
The two women clashed fiercely. Thea felt a fire burning within her, her body surging with newfound energy. With her enhanced perception, her strikes became swifter, more precise, forcing Mrs. Shiva to retreat several times.
"That's great! Thea Queen, you're qualified to be my opponent!"
Mrs. Shiva smirked and leaped back, stepping out of the fighting circle. With one smooth motion, she shed her long coat, revealing a tight red vest that clung to her well-defined muscles. Her flat abdomen bore a graceful "mermaid line" near her lower stomach.
But as soon as she got serious, Thea realized the gap between them was still massive. Mrs. Shiva wasn't just the world's top assassin—her mastery of martial arts was on a completely different level. Her aggressive strikes became intricate, almost elegant in their execution. Her technique was sharp, her movements precise.
Thea tried to counter, shifting between different fighting styles. She cycled through three different fencing techniques and two hand-to-hand sequences, but every attempt was easily neutralized.
"Let's fight barehanded!"
Thea threw aside her staff. She knew her weapon skills were lacking. If she wanted to catch her breath and stand a chance, hand-to-hand combat was her best bet.
"You think I'll fall for such a simple trick?" she muttered.
Yet, surprisingly, Mrs. Shiva accepted the challenge and tossed her weapon aside as well.
Ten seconds later, Thea regretted everything.
With weapons, she had managed to hold her ground for a few exchanges. But now? She was completely dominated. Mrs. Shiva was even stronger in unarmed combat!
Despite Thea's desperate efforts, she was quickly overpowered. Shiva's fists moved like lightning, casting endless shadows before Thea's eyes. And yet, Thea knew the master was going easy on her. If she hadn't been, Thea's face would already be unrecognizable.
"Why does this feel like one of those old movies where a martial artist demolishes a Japanese soldier?" Thea grumbled. "Wait… is this Wing Chun?"
Mrs. Shiva arched an eyebrow. "Little Thea has sharp eyes. Do you want to learn?"
Thea's mind raced. Wing Chun? Yes—she had seen Oliver training on a wooden dummy before.
Learn it? Of course!
In a world without superpowers or supernatural abilities, finding a fighting style that truly suited her was essential.