Chapter 60 - SIXTY

Chapter 60: Chapter SIXTY

"Shit..."

"Hol’ up. Keep watching."

They focus on the screen once more.

The icicle pierces through the Nikura’s jugular. It flies out of its skull, blood splattering in the air at its exit.

The icicle suddenly changes course.

It pierces through the Nikura’s large obsidian eyeballs, and comes out its large back. The Nikura drops dead on the spot.

The icicle melts from the heat it just passed through. After all, underneath all that body armor, it’s pure fire.

"Okay, that’s impressive." Hirano nods.

"It’s basic!" Xin Linhua tugs at his hair "It’s literally one of the most basic things about being a Hydromancer! Holy hell!"

"You’re gonna burst a blood vessel." Rong Yufei points out.

"And whose fault is that!?" Xin Linhua turns his back to them "Just looking at any one of you is spiking my blood pressure."

The video resumes playing.

The melted icicle had turned into a small puddle on the cracked earth.

The Hydromancer has eight more Nikuras to kill and half a bottle of water left.

Without breaking a sweat, the Hydromancer stretches out his hand.

The melted icicle slowly flows out of the ground, drop by drop and merges with each other. The water solidifies once more, a blue icicle floats above the Hydromancer’s head.

"Well, I’ll be damned!" Someone whistles.

Xin Linhua face palm. It’s like teaching a bunch of toddlers and watching as they ogle at things they’ve never witnessed before. It’s both annoying and amusing to him.

On the screen, the Hydromancer runs around happily as he slashes his way through the Nikuras.

He’s more fluid now, like water, twirling his way through the enemy line and cutting them down. That laughter is just as narcissistic as Xin Linhua’s.

A Nikura breaks free from the onslaught. It charges through the massacre, opening its large mouth, its black obsidian eyes are locked onto the Hydromancer.

A large fire erupts from its mouth, raging its way towards the happy Hydromancer.

Just seven feet away from its target, the Hydromancer suddenly turns to the approaching fire.

Without blinking or panicking, he raises his other hand, water flowing from the bottle and swirling rapidly in front of him. The attack arrives.

Steam erupts from the collision and covers the whole place.

Almost all the Nikuras except one had been killed by the Hydromancer who was multitasking. He controlled the icicle with one hand, while controlling the other half of the water with his other hand.

The last Nikura stops in its tracks. Its large eyes darts through the fog, seemingly trying to see if the Hydromancer survives.

The fog slowly clears up. The Nikura deems it safe enough to approach, so it does.

__Slish!!!

The Nikura drops dead. An icicle flies out from its body and returns to the middle of the fog that has cleared up.

The Hydromancer walks forward An ice shield larger than him slowly melts into water alongside the icicle, flowing back into the water bottle.

The video ends. Xin Linhua turns to the team.

"Well?"

"Xin Linhua..." Hirano unfolds his arms "Where did you discover all this?"

"To be blunt, you were widely known as a wastrel." Gao Shi leans back "All of a sudden, you’re a Guide that’s never seen before, you have a powerful Sentinel like Phantom and you can go toe to toe with a D-Rank, even if your opponent uses their ability."

"Not to lie, it leaves one suspicious." Naka narrows his eyes "The Xin family should do a DNA test to determine if you’re still the real Xin Linhua."

Xin Linhua is speechless.

Fine! It’s his fault. He’s the one who wanted to make them stronger so they wouldn’t die an untimely death! Now, they’re the ones who are suspicious of him! Bunch of ungrateful humans!

"If you want me to take my techniques back, keep talking."

They all zip their mouths, some even make the gesture of throwing a key away.

"Moving on, that is for Hydromancers–"

"I have a question."

"What is it?"

"You said something about controlling blood. You haven’t–"

"Are you kidding me?" Xin Linhua scoffs "You can’t even make a water ball and you want to move to blood? The day you turn a room temperature coke into an icicle, I’ll consider teaching you blood work."

"Okay!"

Despite being insulted, the Hydromancer takes no offense, he only gets more fired up.

"So, who’s next?"

"That’s all for today." Xin Linhua shrugs.

"What the fuck!" Gao Shi flares up "You called us here, practically dragged us out of our beds, only to show us this?"

"No, you dumbass." Xin Linhua flicks his forehead "Pyrokenesis is far too dangerous to be used in an enclosed space, even if it’s a place like this. If you want to train, wait for a rift."

"Xin Linhua, we’re bedridden." Gao Shi points at his shoulders "Two months, no rift duties. Naka and I got three months. Do you think I can wait that long?"

"Okay, but do you think I care?" Xin Linhua arches an eyebrow "I’m the one who went out of my way to accommodate your ass and still taught you things you wouldn’t have dared to imagine. Pyromancers are impatient and hot headed by nature, I get that, but if you want to stay on this team, you do whatever the fuck I tell you to."

The team falls into silence.

An angry Xin Linhua is rare. A smiling one, a teasing one– both are common and dreaded by them, but an angry one is definitely not on their budget.

The youth is staring at Gao Shi with zero emotions and a murderous gaze.

"I’ll give you copies of the animation I made." Xin Linhua’s tone softens again "Watch it, study it and make sure you understand every single step. The moment we’re in a rift and you can’t do shit, I’ll beat your ass myself."

"Sure." Gao Shi agrees "If I can’t do it by then, I’ll stand still and let you cripple me."

"Haha!" Xin Linhua’s sudden laughter causes them to flinch "Good! Very good! Remember your words, Gao bastard."

Xin Linhua picks up the tablet and sends a file to Gao Shi and Naka respectively.

The two stare at their ra?ars. Message received.

Xin Linhua turns to the two remaining Sentinel.

"Senior. I’m afraid we can’t train today either."

"Yeah, I don’t think the institute will be happy if we were to destroy their precious stadium." Hirano agrees with a nod.

"We’ll wait. Send us the file if you have one." Rong Yufei rubs her neck.

"Done. I’ve shared the files with each of you. The Aeromancers and Hydromancers should practice now. They survived without much injury and they are hale and healthy now."