Of course, he might have a lot of responsibilities, but his main and only responsibility should be them.

Azaroth narrowed his eyes. Or was something happening in the crypt that the Crypt Master wasn’t telling them? He wouldn’t be surprised if that was the case.

Or did the Crypt Master mean to kill at least one of them today? Maybe that was why he sent the monster after them. Or gave them the weapon?

Azaroth looked at him. Sometimes, it was easy to forget that the Crypt Master wasn’t human. He acted too much like one, making it easy to forget that he was as much a monster as anything down there.

"So," Stallus started, "why are we still here then?"

The Crypt Master nodded. "Really, it amazes me that you are still alive. You didn’t complete your basic training from Kael Hound before coming here."

They narrowed their eyes at him. "What basic training?"

"One of the most important of the basic training at your level. I watched you battle monsters, and it became clear that you lacked it. Essence Shielding!"

Azaroth remembered Kael Hound talking about it. He said he would teach it to them, but that was a long time ago. "Shielding."

The Crypt Master raised his hand, and essence pooled around him before it condensed in front of him into a tall, thin shield of red and blue that shuddered and then became still.

The shield in front of him was tall, not broad. It was even taller than him. "Send your attack on it, Alex."

"Are you sure?" Alex didn’t wait for confirmation before he threw lightning at the shield. It connected with a crack, but it might as well have been rocks.

The Crypt Master frowned. "That’s the firepower of your level? Quite small."

"That’s the rank we are currently at, and still, I didn’t use my full power," Alex explained. Using full power would mean draining his core until only essence cloak could be used.

The Crypt Master looked at him, his shield hovering in front of his left hand. "Use your full power."

He didn’t have to repeat it. Alex bent, then he spun his formation in his mind and connected it with his core by a mental rope. He took all the essence in his core, held it with his will, and poured everything into his formation.

His eyes glowed blue-white, and the air around him cracked. Lightning gathered in his right hand with a deep buzzing sound and then fired at the shield, blasting off in a streak of smearing white energy.

It collided with the shield with a thud, but even with all the power it packed, it barely made a ripple.

Alex sagged, breathing through his nose. "That... that shield is strong."

The Crypt Master’s lip curled. "No, your power is just weak."

"Before I put on a demonstration, let me tell you about the shield. It’s a very nice ability that all Awakeners should be able to do. It’s very useful in a one-on-one fight because you’ll be able to hold off your opponent’s attacks with a sizable amount of your strength."

"Why one-on-one?" Stallus asked.

"Because forming a shield will take directly from the essence you are cloaking yourself with, which might leave you open to others’ attacks while you are deflecting one," the Crypt Master said with a shrug.

Azaroth asked, "Can we make it with the essence in our core directly?"

"Yes," the Crypt Master continued, "but it’ll be difficult. Since you’ll just have to form it. But using the essence in your body, which is already used to protecting, will be easier."

"Which one is better?" Azaroth asked him. "Using the essence from the core or the one we already use for making the essence cloak?"

"From your core, of course. That won’t leave you quite open to attacks. But using the one from your body is faster and easier."

Azaroth nodded. Since their essence cloak is used for protecting their bodies and for strength and speed, it would be easier for their brains to form a shield out of it.

Azaroth looked at the Crypt Master then. "Teach me the two methods."

The Crypt Master’s eyes shone. "You really are greedy, aren’t you?"

Azaroth shrugged. He is what he is. "So? Which will it be?"

"Very well. I will teach you the two methods. I assume the same goes for the whole team? Yes? Alright."

The Crypt Master began, "The shield itself is unique for each person. My own is a long shield, taller than me but narrow. Your own will be different, specific only to you. And, a shield is also a kind of weapon."

"No one knows why it is like that. Some say shields are a reflection of each person’s soul." The Crypt Master shrugged. "I don’t know if that’s the truth, but the truth is that each shield is different."

"How do we get our shields then?" Catena asked.

The Crypt Master smiled, his teeth unnaturally white and gleaming. "If we had time, we would go the traditional way of training, but as we don’t have the time..." he trailed off.

Azaroth caught on. He now understood where Kael got his ideas for cutting short training. "Tell us the shortcut you have."

"Danger," the Crypt Master said. "You should think about shielding, protecting, and your shield should come out quite well."

"You said something about danger," Alex reminded him.

"Yes," the Crypt Master confirmed. "When you are in danger, that is when your soul is more protective. More open and flexible. It is said that if you think about your shield then and use your will and essence, your shield should form."

"Now, this is where it gets tricky. You have to be thinking of either your core or your essence cloak while you do it. But remember, using your essence cloak as a shield is easier and will probably provide results more than your core."

Azaroth tilted his head. "You said we have to train in danger. Then if it’s harder for a core to provide the shield, what will happen then?"

The Crypt Master blinked at him. "Death, of course."