Above the mage!

Chapter 335 Basic Footwork
Formal physical training takes place in another venue.

Inside the square training ground, the ground is paved with smoothly polished black stone slabs and is equipped with many metal pillars that can rise and fall freely from the ground.

They are of varying heights and arranged in an orderly manner.

Around the venue, water will be shot out from the alchemy machines at different speeds and angles.

"Could it be that he wants to practice physical training on the pole?" Gao De guessed as he looked at the metal pole that looked like the plum blossom pole in martial arts movies and TV dramas.

"You want to run before you even learn to walk? That's a training that can only be done by people who are skilled enough in body movements. If I ask you to go up now, you may not even be able to stand steadily, let alone dodge attacks." said Master Naxi.

Gao De smiled awkwardly.

"Today, you will learn some basic footwork first. If you learn quickly, you can also practice rope ladder dodges."

"Basic footwork?"

"Yes." Master Naxi demonstrated it to Gao De on the spot.

He stood with his feet parallel and shoulder-width apart, and his left foot suddenly moved a small step to the left. His right foot then slid to the left, maintaining a good distance between his feet and body balance during the sliding process. He bent his knees slightly so that he could adjust his posture and direction at any time.

“This is a slide step.”

"Sliding allows you to move quickly in the horizontal direction, and your body is more stable during the movement, which is suitable for evading linear attacks laterally."

"For example, the common [Ice Blade], [Witch Arrow], or the straight claw attack from the earth creatures, etc."

"This is a cross step." Master Naxi's left foot crossed in front of his right foot and landed in front of his right foot. At the same time, his body turned to the right. Then his right foot moved one step to the right and returned to a position parallel to or slightly wider than his left foot.

"The crossover step can quickly change the position of the body and achieve a large degree of lateral movement. It is often used to dodge attacks from the side, or to go around the side of the attacker when dodging an attack and counterattack."

"This is a step back, which is one of the most frequently used basic steps." Master Naxi stands on both feet and takes a step back with his right foot, with the sole of the foot touching the ground first and then the whole foot firmly on the ground. At the same time, he moves the center of gravity of his body backward and follows with his left foot, moving a small step backward.

He maintained proper distance between his feet and body balance throughout the process.

"The speed of retreat should be fast and the movements should be smooth. The upper body should be kept upright and should not lean back or forward too much."

"Do you see the purpose of retreating?" This time, Master Naxi did not explain directly, but asked a question.

"Keep your distance." This question is not difficult and can be understood at a glance. Gaode immediately gave the answer.

"Yes, distance is the mage's lifeline, weapon, and even advantage. Long-range attack is our unique advantage."

"This is especially true when fighting against leyline creatures. Learning to maintain a proper distance will give you enough time and space to cast various spells and make various strategic decisions."

"If you want to keep your distance, you have to pull in the opposite direction of the enemy's attack. All mages understand this principle."

"But most mages who haven't received orthodox combat mage training can't retreat in the opposite direction like I did when facing the enemy's footsteps. Most of them just turn around and retreat."

"Exposing your back to the enemy in battle is a very dangerous thing, so you must master the technique of quickly retreating while facing the enemy, so that you can observe the attacker's movements in real time and perform subsequent defense or counterattack." Master Naxi elaborated.

Hearing this, Gao De felt a little ashamed.

In fact, he had always done this before joining the Sea Sentinel.

To create distance means turning around and running. At most, you can look back from time to time while running. Then, when the distance is close enough, you can use spells to attack.

So back and forth.

The whole thing is rough and full of holes.

Not to mention the possibility of ignoring some of the enemy's movements, just turning around and aiming at the enemy again will take a lot of time.

The reason why there have been no major problems is, firstly, that I have been lucky enough, and secondly, that I have relied on the spell's "automatic search for enemies".

But obviously, this is just a stopgap measure.

As your strength increases, the enemies you face will become stronger, and the possibility of this crude fighting method encountering problems will actually increase.

Then, Master Naxi demonstrated the side stepping technique for avoiding frontal or side attacks while maintaining a frontal posture relative to the enemy.
Used to dodge ground spells like [Earth Spike].

Small steps to quickly adjust the body position in small complex terrain or space;

Used for all-around evasion and relocation, the Spin Step allows you to dodge attacks by rotating your body with minimal movement.
All the demonstrations have been completed, and there are more than ten basic steps alone.

"To become a systematic combat mage, there are so many things you need to learn and master." Mage Naxi added, as if worried that Gaode would find it cumbersome.

"That's right." God nodded.

He didn't find it cumbersome.

In his previous life, to learn mathematics, he had to spend twelve years laying the basic foundation.

Starting from the most basic understanding of Arabic numerals and mathematical symbols, to mastering basic mathematical tools such as operations, functions, geometry, etc.

"You try it yourself first. I'll watch from the side and point out if there's anything wrong." said Master Naxi.

Naturally, Gao De had no objection, and silently cast [Divine Guidance +] on himself. After entering the youthful version of the flow state, he began to practice according to the steps that Master Naxi had just demonstrated.

There were still some mistakes at the beginning, and Master Naxi would point out the problems and correct them in time.

"The key to the sideways step is the balanced transition of the center of the body. You must first put your center of gravity completely on your right foot and feel the concentration of power."

“Although the short steps require quick movement, they do not mean stepping randomly without any rules. The degree of bending of the knees must also be kept stable to ensure flexibility during movement.”

“The core of the rotation step lies in the stability of the axis”

With the guidance of the Naxi Master, Gao De gradually got the hang of it and his movements became more and more standard.

When it comes to footwork practice, although Gao De is not as gifted as he is in judging distance and angle, his learning ability is among the best.

After each step is passed, Master Naxi will let Gaode start practicing the next step.

In just this morning, Gao De had learned five of the ten or so steps.

"Go have a meal and come back in an hour. You are making rapid progress in your studies. Try to master all the basic steps today." After hearing the hourly bell from the clock tower on top of the Collingwood Art Gallery, Master Naxi stopped Gao De's morning practice.

Upon hearing this, Gao De respectfully bowed to Master Naxi to express his gratitude before leaving.

Looking at Gao De's leaving back, Master Naxi's eyes flickered slightly. He didn't know what he was thinking about, and he couldn't help but sigh.

A "student" who is so polite, respectful and talented will naturally be very much liked by the teacher. This is human nature.

So even though he didn't say it on the surface, in his heart, he actually had a very good impression of Master Gaode Naxi.

If it was thirty years ago, before the incident with Master Jaden, he would definitely be "delighted" to meet such a "student" given his personality, but now.
Gao De, who had been immersed in practice, was already sweating all over. He first went back to the dormitory to take a shower and change clothes, and then went to the cafeteria to enjoy the free lunch as usual. When he came back, he found that Master Naxi had already arrived and was waiting for him. "Master Naxi, I'm sorry, I'm late."

Master Naxi waved his hand and said, "I came early. Let's continue."

In the afternoon, just as Master Naxi expected, Gao De successfully mastered the remaining basic steps.

"Learning the basic steps and being able to use them skillfully are two different things. At least you have to be as familiar with these steps as if they were muscle memory to be considered qualified." Master Naxi said this after seeing Gao De master the last and most frequently used step back.

"I see."

When he performs these steps now, he still relies on his brain's reactions.

This level of skill will be full of loopholes in battle. It will only be useful in actual combat if it can reach the point where the footsteps react instinctively.

"The next stage is rope ladder dodge practice. Of course, the practice so far has been conducted without the addition of any magic."

"Because once you use spells like [Long Stride] and [Leap], your speed will be too fast. With your current level, you will just be in a mess and it won't be effective for training."

"Practice of body movements must be done step by step."

Finally, Master Naxi took Gaode to experience the rope ladder dodging exercise.

He placed a rope ladder flat on the ground, and then started the alchemical machine to shoot water at Gode. Gode needed to move his body quickly in the grid of the rope ladder and use basic steps such as small steps, side steps, cross steps, etc. to avoid the water attack.

This requires the trainee to use the most appropriate footwork according to different attacks, while using rope ladders to limit the range of movement to ensure the best response with the least movement.

As expected, in the first practice, the main player was in a panic. He either failed to dodge, or his movements were too large, or he didn't have time to pay attention to his steps.

In short, in a short while, Gaode was soaked by the water.

"When you can hold on for more than ten minutes and your clothes don't get wet, you can practice magic." Looking at Gao De, who was soaking wet and a little embarrassed, Master Naxi said with a smile.

"In the future, you can train on your own first."

"Okay, Master Naxi." Gao De agreed.

"I heard that you rejected Zuo Wen Burns' sponsorship invitation?" Master Naxi had already turned around and was about to leave, but suddenly thought of something and turned back to ask again.

"Yes." Gao De did not deny it.

Master Naxi didn't say anything for a moment, thinking about something.

After a moment, he slowly said: "They are very powerful among the sea sentinels."

"So, if you are determined not to associate with them, you must be prepared to be targeted."

"Will they do something bad to me?" Gao De asked back.

"That won't happen," Master Naxi looked at Gao De and said seriously, "Don't worry about that. The rules of the Sea Sentinels are here. Even they can't afford the price of harming their colleagues."

"But within the rules of the Sea Sentinel, they will have many ways to deal with you."

"Many talented and arrogant civilian mages, like you, refused at first, but in the end, were forced to bow to them."

"Especially in the assessment and evaluation, newcomers like you will have difficulty completing tasks and gaining military merits in the first one or two years due to lack of experience. They only need to make some efforts to suppress your military merit ranking to the unqualified range."

"So, if you need it, I can try my best to help you extend the time of your initial training. More preparation time is always good." Master Naxi looked at Gao De and said seriously.

"Isn't Master Naxi from a noble family?" Gao De did not respond, but asked curiously.

"He can barely be considered a minor noble, but he is not as good as them." Master Naxi knew what Gao De meant, and said directly without much emotion: "And not all nobles are like them."

"It's not just me. There are also some noble mages of extraordinary origin among the Sea Sentinels who also disdain to associate with them."

"It's just that there are the most people like them, so their momentum is also the loudest."

"I see," Gao De nodded, and then thanked Master Naxi, "Thank you for your kindness, Master Naxi, but the training will proceed at a normal pace. I still have some confidence in the assessment and evaluation."

Confidence was one reason, but more importantly, only after completing his initial training could he travel freely between the North and the Plantagenet Dynasty.

During the initial training period, "classes" must be attended every day, and Gaode is not allowed to leave for a long time.

"Okay." Since Gao De said so, Master Naxi would not insist on anything.

"But there is one thing I need to trouble Master Naxi for." Seeing Master Naxi's good intentions, he said, "I'm running out of Kaimai Tincture. Can you apply for another batch for me?"

"Is the Kaimai Tincture almost running out?"

"Correct."

"Didn't I give you a hundred bottles?!" Master Naxi still couldn't believe it and confirmed it again.

Gao De smiled shyly.

"Are you feeling well?"

"You have seen my situation." Gao De said with a smile.

Master Naxi was silent for a while, then asked cautiously, "How many magic veins have you built?"

“Currently, there are 21.”

After a slight intake of breath, Master Naxi continued, "I understand. I will report your situation to the higher-ups. Special cases should be treated specially."

Gao De was not clear about how Master Naxi negotiated with the higher-ups.

Anyway, the next day, someone came to our door carrying two boxes.

Three hundred bottles of Kaimai Tincture were neatly stacked in each box.

Together, there are six hundred bottles, enough for Gaode to drink for a long time.

In the following period of time, Gaode focused on physical training.

In the blink of an eye, another twenty days had passed.

As the 26th drop of liquid mana condensed, the construction progress of Gaode's Leomon's magic vein network also reached 53 magic veins, which was a very fast speed.

At this rate, it would only take him more than half a year to build the most complex Leomon magic network that is recognized as the most complex.

And just a day ago, his performance in the rope ladder dodging exercise finally met the requirements of Master Naxi. From today on, he can switch to blessing spells and conduct exercises that are truly practical.

(End of this chapter)