Starting the "Six Styles" Cultivation

Among the Navy Six Forms, the first one Wood intended to train was "Soru"!

The so-called "Soru" is a high-speed movement technique within the Navy Six Forms.

In an instant, by continuously and rapidly stomping the ground dozens of times, it generates explosive reactive force for high-speed movement, making it appear to enemies as if the user has vanished.

This "instant" can be precisely timed to 0.36 seconds.

"Soru" is the most basic move among the Six Forms; once mastered, one can learn its derivative technique, "Geppo."

Choosing to train in "Soru" first was partly because it's relatively simple among the Six Forms, and partly because it's extremely practical.

Leaving other matters aside, this high-speed movement technique is undoubtedly an epic boost for those skilled in close-quarters combat or swordsmanship.

Of course, "simple" here is only relative to the other Six Forms. In fact, even though "Soru" has the most practitioners among the Six Forms, it's still not something ordinary Marine Small Fry can master.

To stomp the ground more than ten times within 0.36 seconds requires considerable leg strength and speed.

According to Kaji's training notes on the Six Forms, the fastest way to master this move is to strengthen the leg muscles.

He even thoughtfully listed several feasible training methods for Wood, such as adding weights to the ankles or running through mud...

There weren't many muddy swamps in the mountain forest, but they weren't absent either. However, such places usually attracted large numbers of Wild Boars.

As everyone knows, Wild Boars love to wallow in mud, so when Wood found a suitable training spot in the forest, he also stirred up trouble with these formidable creatures.

With a swing of his Wooden Sword, one impatient Wild Boar that charged first lay dead on the spot.

Yet, after seeing their companion die, the other Wild Boars didn't flinch; instead, they reddened their eyes and encircled Wood, closing in.

"Oink---!"

The leading Wild Boar was enormous, standing as tall as a grown man on all fours, with a clear claw scar at the corner of its eye. It seemed to be the leader of this herd.

In his previous world, such a massive Wild Boar couldn't exist, but in this world, giant creatures weren't rare.

The lead boar, eyeing Wood with his Wooden Sword, could sense he was no pushover. So it maintained a combat stance and let out "oinks," trying to intimidate Wood, the intruder, into leaving their territory.

"All living things have spirit. Sensing danger, so you dare not advance? Then how about this?"

Facing the Wild Boar leader, Wood could clearly see that the creature possessed considerable intelligence.

Though Wood's size was negligible compared to the boar, the aura of a "Swordsman" made it uneasy.

And when Wood tossed his Wooden Sword aside in front of it, the Wild Boar leader's gaze toward him changed noticeably.

"Oink---!"

With another grunt from the Wild Boar leader, the surrounding boars all backed off. The enormous leader then stepped past the others, approaching Wood, its massive tusks looking terrifying.

"Interesting. Didn't expect you to follow the code of the martial world too. Planning a fair duel with me?"

Looking at the giant boar before him, Wood showed a look of interest. He then put on the prepared weights and assumed a combat stance facing the Wild Boar leader.

Man and beast stood opposite each other, then in the same instant, they both moved without hesitation.

The Wild Boar's charge was incredibly fast, especially combined with its massive size. Even as a mere beast, it erupted with astonishing combat power.

Over these past few years, whether on Maple Leaf Island or at Marine Headquarters, Wood had undergone devilish physical training every single day.

Compared to the swordsmanship he directly obtained from the system, the physical fitness he gained through his own efforts had improved just as dramatically.

With a stomp that shattered the ground beneath his foot, Wood leaped forward and punched straight at the Wild Boar leader's massive tusk!

The collision of fist and tusk lasted barely a moment before Wood's body was sent flying by a tremendous force, crashing backward into a tree stump.

Seeing that the human seemed no match for him in the clash, the Wild Boar leader wore a distinctly human-like expression and pressed its advantage, charging at Wood again.

Wild Boars were only good at straight-line charges, but Wood was carrying too many weights, slowing his speed and making dodging difficult.

Normally, a standing jump could send him several meters high, but now, a leap barely cleared the boar's head.

Dodging the boar's charge in an awkward posture, his waist was grazed by its tusk, leaving a deep gash.

But as they passed each other, Wood mustered all his strength and delivered a punch straight to the Wild Boar leader's temple...

---------Divider---------

The Marine Academy held tests once a week, and exactly one week had passed since the last shooting test.

As Wood stepped into his formation, he immediately felt a gaze filled with intense fighting spirit.

Following the line of that gaze to its owner, he spotted a tall, strikingly cool and beautiful female Marine.

Determined to get her revenge today, Gion had spent the past week practicing her Gun Skill every day, aiming to wipe away the shame!

In fact, like Wood, Gion preferred cold weapons like Swords over hot weapons like guns and cannons.

She hadn't cared much about her scores in gun and cannon subjects before, but last time, the instructor stated she was inferior to Wood and needed to learn from him, which stirred Gion's fierce competitive spirit.

As a rare female Marine, Gion never wanted to be looked down upon because of her gender. She also wanted to prove that women, even without the natural advantages of men, could still become excellent Marines!

"Today's training lesson is on how to correctly use cannons to attack enemies.

Unlike rifles, cannons are difficult to operate alone in combat. Coordinated teamwork in loading and firing brings out the cannon's greatest advantage."

"Now, the names I call will pair up in twos. One handles loading, the other adjusts the angle and fires.

Uru, Yak—one pair.

Wood, Gion—one pair."