CLEAVER OF SIN Chapter 695: Guinea Pig

Williams remained seated, his mind replaying the events of the last hour. His gaze fell upon his own injured body, his thoughts drifting to the just-concluded spar. He wouldn't deny the value of the lesson; he had certainly gained much insight, but he also keenly felt the widening chasm between himself and Asher.

'How can one anticipate the unexpected?' he pondered internally, Asher's parting words echoing nonsensically in his head. A sigh escaped his lips; if Asher had stated it, it must hold truth, even if he couldn't grasp it presently.

His dark eyes lifted, meeting Asher's violet gaze as he spoke, "Thank you for the lesson, Asher." His voice was filled with sincerity, as he now had numerous areas to focus on during his subsequent training. He had identified many shortcomings in his swordsmanship, flaws he could no longer overlook.

"No need for thanks; I merely accepted because I had free time," Asher responded, his tone casual and unconcerned, the act of aiding a friend costing him nothing.

'It seems he's oblivious to the Zone state he accessed,' Asher mused internally, 'Or perhaps people in Crymora simply aren't familiar with the Zone,' he considered, before dismissing the thought. After all, the Zone was not something one could consciously control or easily recognize – a transient state that appeared and vanished without warning.

"Sigh... it appears I'll have to borrow points from you to visit the Healing Department," Williams murmured weakly, his voice low and weary, his body finally succumbing to the full brunt of accumulated fatigue and residual pain.

"I assumed you were a social butterfly; surely by now you'd have a friend with healing abilities?" Asher inquired, tilting his head slightly in mild bewilderment. Such a connection would, after all, allow Williams to receive free healing without expending precious points.

"No time; everyone is engrossed in missions and other pursuits," Williams replied, groaning as a wave of pain, as if in response to the brain's persistent signals, fully registered.

"I suppose I can assist, then," Asher stated calmly, his voice remaining even and devoid of inflection.

Just as Williams was about to question how, Asher raised his hand, touching Williams' shoulder. Star Energy immediately pulsed, filling the air as Asher manipulated the light element, initiating the regeneration process for Williams. The energy flowed with a steady and consistent rhythm.

During his training over the preceding weeks, Asher had, naturally, devised a healing skill utilizing the light element. Having been healed by Malrik during his clash with Cindralis, Asher had simply sought to replicate the process. However, his mastery was far from perfect; healing, he understood, involved more than just channeling Astra energy and activating an ability; it required a profound understanding of the human body, down to its most intricate depths.

Though his healing skill was still nascent, not being his primary training focus, he employed his Star Energy to amplify its potency. This allowed him to heal Williams with relative ease, despite the inherent limitations of his current proficiency.

Williams' jaw slackened as he observed his wounds gradually closing. He couldn't fathom Asher's method; he knew Asher commanded the light element, but he had no idea it had developed to such an advanced stage in such a short period.

'Truly a monster,' he thought, reminding himself not to be astonished. After all, this was Asher.

Then, he noticed something peculiar. The initial mending of his injuries was slow, but the process was accelerating, the wounds sealing shut with increasing speed as time elapsed, as if the healing itself was gaining momentum.

'Is he... using me as a live test subject?' Williams' lips quirked as the realization dawned that Asher was utilizing him to refine his skill. But did he object? Absolutely not. He lacked the points for the Healing Department, and this was far more advantageous than any treatment he could afford.

Indeed, Asher was using Williams as a live test subject, but he wouldn't have done so without the confidence that he wouldn't inflict further harm or cause unforeseen complications. Previously, the only way for him to train his light healing skill was upon himself, a masochistic endeavor of repeatedly pushing his own limits through self-inflicted injuries.

Since a willing participant was readily available, why squander the chance.

Asher smiled, sensing the tangible increase in his control and proficiency over the skill in real-time. He gave a slight nod of satisfaction, acknowledging his own progress. Moments later, the injuries on Williams' body vanished, leaving him only tired and drenched in sweat, but no longer wounded or in pain.

"Sigh... While I shouldn’t be surprised, I am still astonished. Could you at least allow the rest of us to catch up by sleeping in your room for a bit?" Williams questioned, shaking his head as his words carried a mix of awe and annoyance at the immense gap between them.

Asher offered a simple smile in response. "If you can match my pace in a few days, feel free to try," he replied.

"I suppose I’ll give it a shot then," Williams answered with a touch of jest.

Shaking his head at the jest, Asher then raised his hand, channeling Astra energy this time. The energy coursed through his Astra veins, enveloping Williams and instantly purging him of blood, soup, and sweat.

"I don’t wish for anyone to misconstrue this situation and believe I bullied you when you depart," Asher stated matter-of-factly.

‘It appears I must enhance my skills to the level where restoring stamina becomes achievable,’ Asher mused internally, recognizing the possibility as individuals who had mastered their healing arts could already perform such feats with apparent ease.

"Thank you once more," Williams expressed, attempting to stand. His body remained frail, his muscles rebelling with every movement despite the healing he received.

"How many points would you be penalized for missing class today?" Asher inquired, his gaze fixed on Williams as he observed him intently.

"Approximately twenty points," Williams responded, well-aware of the point deductions each Instructor imposed for absence from their lessons.

Without hesitation, Asher then transferred one hundred academy points to Williams’ Point Card.

"Given your fatigue, you ought to rest. It’s not as though you can attend class in your current state, and furthermore, I was the one who pushed you to this limit, knowing you had classes scheduled today," Asher elaborated, finally rising from his crouch, his tone devoid of emotion.

"Well, I won’t refuse such a benevolent act. My entire body aches and is sore; I likely require several hours of sleep," Williams replied as he slowly got to his feet.

Nodding at his words, Asher remained silent.

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