Chapter 134: The Guildmaster’s Disciple

The sound of clashing weapons echoed throughout Darkstar Guild’s enormous training gymnasium as Jet stepped into one of the private arenas, carrying a wooden practice axe.

It was the morning of the twelfth day since the assassination attempts began, and his injuries had finally improved enough for him to move without experiencing constant discomfort. His ribs remained tender, and Safiya had warned him against prolonged combat, but the worst of the pain had subsided.

Across the arena, Alessandro Vittorio Orsini stood with his hands clasped behind his back, watching several Guild members spar in an adjacent training area.

"You’re early today," Alessandro remarked when Jet approached. "I was beginning to think young people had forgotten the value of punctuality."

Jet smiled. "I didn’t want to keep you waiting, Guildmaster."

"A sensible decision," Alessandro replied with an amused expression. "Although I should warn you that arriving early doesn’t mean I’ll go easy on you."

Jet glanced at the wooden sword resting beside the Guildmaster. "I wasn’t expecting you to."

Alessandro chuckled before picking up the weapon. "Good. Then let’s see whether you’ve remembered anything from our previous lesson."

Their training began with footwork.

Alessandro instructed Jet to move across the arena while maintaining a steady circulation of Mana, changing direction whenever the Guildmaster raised his hand.

The exercise appeared simple, but Jet quickly discovered that controlling his Mana while repeatedly adjusting his movements required considerably more concentration than he’d anticipated.

Whenever he accelerated, his instinct was to increase the amount of Mana flowing into his legs.

Alessandro noticed immediately.

"You’re doing it again, Jet," the Guildmaster observed. "You’re treating Mana like something you must force into every movement. Stop thinking about producing more power and concentrate on using what you already have."

Jet slowed his breathing and adjusted his circulation.

A thin current of Mana flowed through his limbs, remaining relatively steady as he changed direction.

"Better," Alessandro remarked. "Now maintain that while moving faster."

Jet increased his pace.

For several minutes, the exercise continued without interruption. Alessandro occasionally changed the direction of his commands, forcing Jet to adjust his balance while preserving the same Mana flow.

By the time the Guildmaster finally called for a halt, sweat had gathered along Jet’s forehead.

"How much Mana did you expend?" Alessandro asked.

Jet examined his remaining reserves before answering. "Less than I expected. Probably around a third of what I’d normally use for the same movements."

Alessandro nodded approvingly. "That’s the difference between possessing strength and knowing how to manage it. Powerful Awakeners rarely lose because they lack impressive abilities. Sometimes they lose because they’ve spent everything before the decisive moment arrives."

Jet considered the explanation.

During his confrontation with the assassins, he’d repeatedly forced enormous amounts of Mana through his body to compensate for the difference in strength. By the time he’d activated his Asura Mask, his reserves had already been severely depleted.

He’d survived, but only barely.

If he could improve his efficiency, even a modest reduction in Mana consumption would provide considerable advantages during prolonged battles.

---

After a short rest, Alessandro moved toward the weapon racks and selected a wooden axe.

"Let’s work on your combat judgment," the Guildmaster announced. "I noticed something during our previous session that I want you to correct."

Jet raised his own weapon. "What is it?"

"You recognize openings quickly," Alessandro explained. "That’s an excellent quality. Unfortunately, you also have a habit of attacking whenever you see one."

Jet frowned. "Isn’t that what I’m supposed to do?"

"Not necessarily," Alessandro replied, shaking his head. "An opening can be genuine, or it can be something your opponent deliberately allows you to see. Experienced fighters know how to make their mistakes look convincing."

He positioned himself several meters away.

"I’ll give you opportunities to attack. Your task is to decide which ones are worth taking."

Jet nodded and settled into his stance.

Alessandro advanced slowly, swinging his wooden axe toward Jet’s shoulder.

Jet stepped aside and noticed an apparent opening beneath the Guildmaster’s raised arm.

He immediately thrust his weapon forward.

Alessandro rotated his wrist.

The wooden axe struck Jet’s weapon aside before its handle stopped inches from his chest.

"Dead," Alessandro remarked calmly.

Jet stared at the wooden handle.

Alessandro withdrew his weapon. "You saw an opening and attacked without considering why it existed. If I’d been holding a real weapon, that mistake could have cost you your life."

Jet exhaled slowly. "I understand."

"Then let’s try again," Alessandro instructed.

The next exchange lasted longer.

Jet avoided the first apparent opening, recognizing that Alessandro had deliberately exposed his shoulder to invite an attack. However, when the Guildmaster shifted his weight backward, Jet attempted to exploit the movement.

Alessandro stepped forward instead.

His wooden axe tapped Jet’s ribs.

"Dead again," the Guildmaster announced.

Jet grimaced. "You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?"

Alessandro laughed. "Immensely. But don’t worry, I received considerably worse treatment when I was learning."

Their training continued for nearly half an hour.

Jet gradually learned to distinguish between genuine mistakes and deliberate invitations. Rather than immediately attacking every exposed position, he began observing Alessandro’s balance, weapon placement, and available escape routes.

The improvement was subtle but noticeable.

During their final exchange, Alessandro deliberately lowered his guard.

Jet recognized the opening.

Instead of attacking, he retreated half a step and waited.

Alessandro smiled.

"Excellent," the Guildmaster remarked, lowering his weapon. "You finally understood."

Jet wiped the sweat from his face. "That sometimes the best attack is the one you don’t make?"

"Precisely," Alessandro replied. "Combat isn’t a competition to see who can swing first. It’s a contest of decisions. Strength determines what you’re capable of doing, but judgment determines whether you should do it."

Jet committed those words to memory.

---

They took their next break on an observation platform overlooking the central gymnasium.

Below them, dozens of Darkstar Awakeners continued training inside reinforced arenas. Some practiced basic weapon techniques, while others exchanged attacks powerful enough to shake the protective barriers.

Jet watched a group of younger Awakeners practicing under an instructor.

"Guildmaster, can I ask you something?" he said.

Alessandro glanced toward him. "Of course."

"With your strength, you could probably accomplish more in a single day than most of those Awakeners could manage in months," Jet observed. "Why spend so much time training people who might never reach your level?"

Alessandro regarded him thoughtfully before looking toward the gymnasium.

"Because their value isn’t determined by whether they can become as strong as me," the Guildmaster answered. "That young woman practicing with the spear might never become a 5-Star Awakener. But if her training allows her to protect a family during a Dungeon outbreak, then the time spent teaching her was worthwhile."

Jet remained silent.

Alessandro continued, his expression becoming serious.

"When I was younger, I believed strength was everything. I wanted to defeat stronger opponents, conquer dangerous Dungeons, and prove that I deserved my reputation. It took me years to understand that becoming powerful doesn’t automatically make a person worthy of respect."

Jet glanced toward him.

"What changed your mind?" he asked.

Alessandro smiled faintly. "Losing people I couldn’t protect. Watching ordinary civilians suffer because powerful Awakeners considered their problems beneath them. Eventually, I realized that strength means very little if it only serves the person possessing it."

Jet thought about Inez.

He’d returned to the past with ten extraordinary Divine Runes, yet the purpose behind his desperate pursuit of strength remained remarkably simple.

He wanted his sister to live.

Alessandro seemed to recognize something in his expression.

"You’re thinking about Inez, aren’t you?" the Guildmaster asked gently.

Jet nodded. "She’s the reason I can’t afford to become weak."

"Then don’t," Alessandro replied. "Become as strong as you possibly can. Just remember that the people you’re protecting need more than your strength. They need you to remain someone they can trust."

Those words lingered in Jet’s mind.

He had spent much of his previous life fighting simply to survive. Protecting Inez had always been his greatest motivation, but he’d rarely considered what kind of person he might become if he eventually possessed enough strength to protect her without fear.

---

By early afternoon, their training session had concluded.

Jet returned his wooden axe to the rack while Alessandro reviewed several notes concerning his progress.

"Your weapon proficiency is impressive," the Guildmaster observed. "Your combat instincts are unusually sharp, and you learn quickly. However, your Mana efficiency needs improvement, and you occasionally rely too heavily on explosive strength."

Jet nodded. "I’ll work on those weaknesses."

"Good," Alessandro replied. "But don’t attempt to correct everything overnight. Proper training requires patience, especially when you’re recovering from injuries."

Jet hesitated before speaking.

"Guildmaster, would it be possible for me to continue learning from you?"

Alessandro looked up.

Jet continued, his expression earnest. "I know you’re busy managing Darkstar, and I don’t expect you to spend every day training me. But whenever you have time, I’d appreciate the opportunity to learn."

For several seconds, Alessandro studied him.

Then the older man smiled.

"I don’t see why not," he answered. "I can’t promise a fixed schedule, but you’re welcome to visit whenever circumstances permit. If I’m available, we’ll train. If I’m occupied, you can practice what I’ve already taught you."

Jet bowed his head slightly. "Thank you, Guildmaster."

Alessandro waved dismissively. "Save your gratitude until you’ve survived a few more lessons. I’m told I can be rather demanding."

Jet chuckled. "I’ll manage."

"We’ll see about that," Alessandro replied with an amused smile.

As Jet prepared to leave, the Guildmaster accompanied him toward the arena entrance.

"One more thing, Jet," Alessandro said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Don’t become obsessed with reaching the next Star. Advancement matters, certainly, but a higher Star Rank won’t automatically correct poor judgment."

Jet nodded thoughtfully. "I’ll remember that."

"Good," Alessandro replied. "Then go home and rest. And tell Adesewa I haven’t broken you yet."

Jet laughed. "I’ll make sure she knows."

When he finally left Darkstar’s training complex, Jet felt considerably more optimistic than he had that morning.

Alessandro hadn’t formally accepted him as a disciple, nor had Jet sworn allegiance to Darkstar Guild. Their arrangement was simple: whenever their schedules permitted, the older Awakener would offer guidance, and Jet would do his best to learn.

Yet something about the relationship already felt different from an ordinary instructor teaching a student.

Alessandro treated him with patience, challenged his mistakes without belittling him, and seemed genuinely interested in helping him improve.

For someone who had spent so much of his previous life struggling alone, that kind of guidance was unexpectedly valuable.

Jet looked back toward the enormous Darkstar headquarters before entering the waiting vehicle.

He still had enemies to find, injuries to overcome, and another Star to reach.

But for the first time in a long while, he had someone outside his small circle of companions whose experience he could rely upon.

And he intended to make the most of it.