Chapter Nine: Combat Training

"Don’t be hasty, Matt. Never mind the Hand, even Fisk isn’t someone easy to deal with," Gu Zhongyan said calmly.

"If we want to stand against them, we need even greater strength. So, teach me how to fight."

"What?" For a moment, Matt wondered if his super-hearing had failed him.

"Did you just say you want me to teach you how to fight? I remember you said you were a wizard, didn’t you? If I’m not mistaken, wizards use magic, right?" Matt couldn’t help but ask.

"Of course wizards use magic," Gu Zhongyan replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "But this is a special situation, isn’t it?"

"And besides, who says a wizard can’t learn hand-to-hand combat? Isn’t it common for sorcerers to fight up close?"

He thought of Loki, famed as the mightiest sorcerer of the Nine Realms, but also an expert at stabbing people in the back; Gandalf, who, after casting a light spell, would swing his sword with wild abandon; or Tiga, whose limitless abilities were always saved for a last-minute burst. In the Marvel universe, sorcerers brawling hand-to-hand was hardly unusual.

Even in the world of Harry Potter, Godric Gryffindor—one of Hogwarts’ founders—was himself a master swordsman.

Right now, he had little magic at his disposal, and without a wand, he couldn’t cast anything worth mentioning. Wasn’t learning how to fight the obvious choice?

Matt was left speechless by this reasoning, and the more he listened, the less reliable this so-called ‘wizard’ seemed.

"Alright. If that’s what you want. But let me be clear—learning to fight isn’t easy. Once you start, you can’t quit halfway."

"You’ll suffer a lot during this process, and no matter what happens, you must persevere. Do you understand?" Matt’s expression was grave.

Gu Zhongyan nodded. "Don’t worry. I’m prepared."

"Then let’s begin!"

With a single word of warning, Matt lunged forward like a tiger on the hunt.

So fast!

That was Gu Zhongyan’s only reaction.

He hadn’t expected Matt’s lesson to begin so abruptly, without any warning or even a hint of instruction—just a straight punch, so swift that he only sensed it when the air whistled around Matt’s fist.

The massive fist was about to crash into his handsome face. Gu Zhongyan scrambled back and twisted to the side, barely dodging the blow.

His mind-hardened body reacted far faster than any ordinary person’s, allowing him to avoid Matt’s punch at the very last instant.

"Wait, we’re starting already? You haven’t taught me anything yet!" Gu Zhongyan dodged awkwardly, calling out hurriedly.

Matt’s response was far colder than he’d expected. "You said it yourself—our enemies are powerful. We have to get stronger as quickly as possible. Real combat is the best teacher."

Before he’d finished speaking, Matt’s arms shot out like steel pins, grabbing Gu Zhongyan’s right arm and twisting hard.

A sharp pain shot up Gu Zhongyan’s arm and exploded in his skull, a cold sweat instantly breaking out on his brow.

He had traversed three worlds, but never before had he felt pain like this. Whether in his first life in a peaceful world, or his second in a magical one, he’d never been in a real brawl like this.

The searing pain was bitter, but it also ignited his fighting spirit.

As a Hufflepuff known for his perseverance and resilience, Gu Zhongyan’s tenacity was nothing short of extraordinary.

Gritting his teeth, he reacted almost instantly, hooking his right foot and grabbing at Matt’s arm with his left hand.

His response surprised Matt. This so-called wizard was an enigma, impossible to read. Judging by his heartbeat, though, he was just a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old kid.

Matt had come at him hard, both to strengthen him as quickly as possible, and also to teach him a lesson. Since they’d met, Gu Zhongyan had been in control—the chance to humble him couldn’t be missed.

He’d expected Gu Zhongyan to either give up or at least beg for mercy after taking a hit. Instead, he clenched his teeth and fought back.

Clumsy as his counterattack was, Matt couldn’t help but approve of this mysterious ‘wizard’s’ attitude.

Despite his surprise, Matt didn’t hold back. He stepped back, released Gu Zhongyan’s arm, and swept aside his attack with a flick of his left hand. Then, with a swift kick, he struck Gu Zhongyan’s lower leg.

Thud!

The powerful kick landed squarely on Gu Zhongyan’s shin. He grunted, his body buckling into a half-kneel.

The stabbing pain shot straight to his head. If not for his mind-enhanced physique, he might have fainted then and there.

Half-kneeling, clutching his now-swollen leg, Gu Zhongyan gasped for breath. Matt’s mocking voice echoed in his ears.

"What’s wrong? Is that all a wizard’s strength amounts to? Can’t even take a single kick?"

Though he knew Matt was goading him to stoke his fighting spirit, failing to withstand even a single move was infuriating for someone who had once been Hufflepuff’s most outstanding student.

"Don’t underestimate me!"

Gritting his teeth through the pain, Gu Zhongyan forced himself upright. Fists raised, he charged with the ferocity of a wild beast, intimidating to behold.

Unfortunately, reality is far harsher than ideals. No matter how fierce his momentum, Gu Zhongyan couldn’t magically transform from a novice into a master fighter in an instant.

Right now, he was a tiger in name only—a paper tiger.

Against such an opponent, Matt needed almost no effort. After only a few breaths, another heavy blow landed squarely on Gu Zhongyan’s face.

With a resounding crack, stars exploded before Gu Zhongyan’s eyes and the world spun. Only his fortified body kept him from collapsing outright.

Yet the more he was knocked down, the more determined he became. With another shout, he lunged at Matt again.

His technique was still all over the place, but he was noticeably faster than before.

Thanks to his super-hearing, Matt noticed that whether or not Gu Zhongyan was truly a wizard, at the very least, his physical strength far exceeded that of an ordinary person.

Despite taking several of Matt’s heavy blows, he hadn’t gone down. Matt hadn’t used his full strength, but it was enough to prove Gu Zhongyan’s extraordinary potential.

This realization stoked Matt’s own fighting spirit.

Given such potential, he would do everything in his power to hone Gu Zhongyan’s combat skills.