Grandmaster of Combat

A so-called Grandmaster of Combat is a martial arts practitioner who is able to train their physical body to the extent of the human limit. Everyone who has become a Grandmaster of Combat possesses tempered skills, a strong body, and represents the extreme pinnacle of humankind. Every Grandmaster of Combat has a quality that they excel at, just like how you are exceptional in your Strength and Defense.

Garen was silent for a while. "If what you say is true—that I have entered the level of Grandmaster of Combat—why is it that against experts at the level of Tenstar Ni, I can only handle one at a time at best?"

That is because you haven't properly solidified. In the examples of Grandmasters of Combat that I know of, each and every one of them has a tough physical quality and vitality. Their ability to recover is shocking and the true strength that they wield is far beyond the limit that a normal human being can achieve. Simply put, Grandmasters of Combat are top experts who are one league ahead of average martial arts practitioners and represent the extreme limit of the human body’s advancement," Su Lin answered formally. "If my estimation is correct, once you return, you will enter an explosive growth phase in the enhancement of your true strength.

Garen slowly nodded. What he did not say, however, was that he was already experiencing this enhancement. During the process of fighting his way over here, he had sensed his body become easier to control and using his skills felt more natural. Occasionally, a flood of combat experience would instinctively surface and he would land a phenomenal strike.

Grandmasters of Combat are far more superior than normal people and are no longer afraid of guns and bullets. It's even classified as a non-human realm. There are even some Grandmasters of Combat that believe that they're no longer mortal and view normal people as ants.

## Quantity

In that case, you should know a few experts at this level?" Garen asked in a low voice.

Indeed I do. There are 42 people who can be considered Grandmasters of Combat and these are only the ones on-record. There are probably more off the record, but there should be about 80 people in total. They are the strongest group of people in the entire Confederation! Normal firearms have no effect on them and only especially powerful firearms can harm them.

80 people… How many people are there in the Confederation?" Garen didn't expect there to be so many more peak experts.

The result of last year's population census was 160 million people. In other words, combined with the older generation of Grandmasters of Combat, you are one in two million. But don't fret, among these 80 people, more than 50 are senior people from the previous generation. They are advanced in age, most of them have retreated to a life of seclusion, and no one knows how many of them are still alive. The active individuals are the Grandmasters of Combat who have emerged in the past 50 years, which total to approximately 30 people. And that's the amount when you count everyone on- and off-record.

Su Lin held the lighter, then repeatedly lit it and put it out again. "Based on the information we have gathered, there are probably 10 Grandmasters of Combat scattered throughout the 13 provinces of the Confederation. Five are from Celestial Circle Gate representing the Southern Alliance and five from the Northern Alliance. It's evenly matched, but I have a feeling that this has been deliberately decided by both parties in conference. It's too much of a coincidence that both sides have the exact same total of five people.

The majority of the Grandmasters of Combat are concentrated within Celestial Circle Gate and Crimson Sand Sword. The heads of Celestial Circle Gate and Crimson Sand Sword are both older generation Grandmasters of Combat, but I don’t know about the others.

## Classifications

Grandmasters of Combat are classified into Righteous and Immoral, and the difference lies in the fighting styles. A Righteous style doesn't hide its moves and uses momentum to pressure opponents. An Immoral style uses endless amounts of secret techniques.

'Grandmasters of Combat' is merely a collective description of a select few martial art practitioners who have reached the human limit. Naturally there would be stronger and weaker categories within. It's only normal," Celine said matter-of-factly. "Now there are these so-called Grade E and Grade D categorizations. Those are the levels used to categorize the strength of firearms. In actuality, almost all Grandmasters of Combat are Grade D, including you. One level higher would be Grade C, which is currently the category for special unit weapons, such as special gunpowder and powerful weapons made from special materials. These are incapable of being defended by Grandmasters of Combat. Perhaps only a very small number of Grandmasters of Combat can achieve this level. Duskdune Shura might be one of them."

## Highest Level

Garen smiled, ever since the day (the fight against Clark and the Killer Hunters Squad) that he unlocked a new dimension of observation, he’s been able to clearly see and feel the flow and control of energy along his body, it’s as if he was now fully in control, and able to maximise his agility to a unprecedented level of accuracy and efficiency.

Just like right now, he can even sense the heartbeat of The Eighth Hoop who was standing a few meters away from him, he could hear every beat of his heart.

If a mere mortal were to focus all of his energy, he would conjure what would then be known as ‘focus’, but he would only be able to focus on one point at one time. In fact a mortal would feel tired very quickly after focusing for a while. Only after recouping his blood flow, would he be able to resume.

As for Garen now, his conscience, Qi, and spirit were all one now, energy flowed endlessly from his body, and his breaths were steady and strong. His ability to observe and focus on his surroundings was as if a mortal was focusing all of its attention on one thing, except that for him it was for many things.

Everything within a five metre radius of him was in total clarity.

## Links and References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Chapter 95
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Chapter 104
3. ↑ Chapter 96
4. ↑ Chapter 133
5. ↑ Chapter 164
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Chapter 165