On the Ark.

“I said take off your clothes,” Skadi repeated. “Do you have hearing problems too? But you didn’t seem to before.”

"Of course my hearing is fine... but why are you making me take off my clothes?"

Skadi thought for a moment and said, "To make you stronger."

"That reason is too strange."

“This is such a hassle,” Skadi sighed. “Can’t you just listen to me? This is the first time I’ve done something like this, and it’s hard for me to find the right spot if you don’t take your clothes off.”

Lin Ye felt the conversation was getting increasingly strange, and before it completely veered off course, he gave in.

"Fine, I'll take it off then," Lin Ye muttered. "Anyway, I'm a man, what's there to be afraid of?"

So he took off his shirt.

Skadi said, "And the pants."

He reluctantly took off his pants.

Skadi added, "There's one more."

Lin Ye was furious: "You've gone too far!"

"Hmm?" Skadi frowned. "Why are you so resistant? I was just trying to find the right spot... Oh well, whatever. I've already seen everything, there's nothing interesting here."

Lin Ye: "..."

Skadi slowly walked forward, then raised her hand and placed it on Lin Ye's chest.

“I remember the first location was here,” Skadi murmured.

Lin Ye felt his body stiffen. He could feel the coolness of Skadi's hand, smell the faint fragrance wafting from her gray hair, and see her red eyes deep in thought... He slowly looked away and stammered, "What, what are you going to do?"

Skadi suddenly exerted force, pressing her fingers into Lin Ye's muscles.

"pain."

Lin Ye really felt the pain, the same unbearable pain, like a sudden eruption of volcanic lava, so painful that he couldn't help but bend over.

“Pain? That’s good,” Skadi said calmly. “It means I’ve found the right spot.”

Lin Ye gritted his teeth: "What exactly do you want?"

“These are all necessary steps to help you master the Leap Strike,” Skadi said. “I’m developing your body.”

"...Why do you like saying things that are so easy to misunderstand?" Lin Ye muttered.

"what?"

"It's nothing." When the pain subsided, Lin Ye slowly straightened up. "I still don't quite understand, is there such a technique for generating force? Why has no one told me about it?"

It's like opening up your Ren and Du meridians, but Lin Ye knows very well that Arknights is a game for hardcore gamers, not a martial arts game. Opening up your Ren and Du meridians is just too far-fetched.

“Nobody knows this,” Skadi said calmly. “It’s a skill, or rather an ability, unique to my race.”

Is that so?

“Yes, and most people can’t master this skill,” Skadi said, “because of their physical structure.”

"Really? Then who else on Rhodes Island can control it?"

"I'm the only one."

Lin Ye was stunned: "Does 'only you' mean... you didn't tell anyone else? Or is it that no one else could find out?"

“Yes, they all do,” Skadi said calmly. “I am indeed unwilling to share this technique with the rest of Rhodes Island, but I am also well aware that even if I did, they would not be able to master it. This is due to racial reasons; apart from my race, no other race can master it.”

Lin Ye's lips twitched: "Then why did you teach me? We're not even from the same race, are we?"

Skadi was silent for a moment, then said, "You might be an exception."

"what?"

“You ask too many questions.” Skadi put her hand on Lin Ye’s shoulder again. “Anyway, we’ll find out soon enough.”

Before Lin Ye could react, she suddenly exerted her strength.

"Ah ah ah ah ah!"

The sound of a man's screams echoed from the fourth floor of the office building.

Ten minutes later, Lin Ye, covered in sweat, disregarded his recent shower and lay down on the ground, closing his eyes and panting heavily.

Skadi crossed her arms, looked down at him, and said calmly, "Your physical fitness is still too poor."

Lin Ye was speechless; he suspected Skadi was deliberately torturing him.

Skadi pinched almost his entire body, and although it didn't seem like she used much force, it still caused Lin Ye excruciating pain. Especially when Skadi pressed on his lower abdomen, Lin Ye almost couldn't help but embarrass himself, but fortunately, his strong willpower allowed him to endure it.

Did Skadi press pressure points?

Lin Ye didn't know. He just wanted to rest, but he also knew this wasn't the time to rest, so he slowly opened his eyes and saw Skadi's long legs. Then he looked up along her legs... He suddenly sat up, his face flushed, and he was panting heavily.

"You've recovered?" Skadi looked at Lin Ye. "That was pretty fast."

Lin Ye gave a vague reply, then mustered his courage and said, "Skadi."

"Ok?"

"Let me give you a set of clothes."

Skadi asked, puzzled, "Why?"

"Look at you, you only have one set of clothes, it's really inconvenient."

“I have more than just a set of clothes; I just didn’t bring them with me,” Skadi said calmly. “You’re worrying too much.”

Lin Ye was at a loss for words.

“Alright, stand up straight,” Skadi said. “Now do as I say, slowly relax your body…”

Skadi taught Lin Ye a new breathing technique. Lin Ye felt it was strange, but he still chose to listen to her.

He hadn't held out much hope, since Skadi herself had said that no one but herself and her people could master this skill. So he didn't quite understand why Skadi would let him try.

But to his surprise, after breathing according to Skadi's instructions for ten minutes, he suddenly felt something different about his body. Even though there was no water around, he felt as if he were immersed in it.

"What...what's going on?" Lin Ye was greatly surprised.

Skadi witnessed Lin Ye's reaction, guessed what was going on, and whispered, "Just as I thought."

Lin Ye immediately looked at Skadi: "I knew it? What?"

“You can master this technique,” ​​Skadi said. “You can master the Leap Slam.”

"But...why?" Lin Ye asked, puzzled. "You just said that only people of your race can use this technique. By the way, what race are you?"

“To be honest, I’m not entirely sure myself,” Skadi said softly. “But I’ve heard rumors that long ago, before the world of Terra was even formed, one race and another made a pact in the deep sea, vowing to be friends forever and fight together against the powerful creatures in the deep sea.”

"and after?"

"Over time, after those powerful creatures went extinct, two groups chose to remain in the deep sea and the other chose to come ashore."

Lin Ye slowly opened his mouth wide: "What do you mean?"

“I come from the deep sea,” Skadi said calmly, “while you come from the continent.”

"Are you saying that the group that came ashore was human?"

“The original humans, the pure human race that is now on the verge of extinction,” Skadi said softly.

Lin Ye was filled with shock.

"The Leaping Wave is a product of cooperation between two races long ago, a testament to the weak fighting against the strong. To survive in the cruel depths of the sea, two weak yet intelligent races came together." Skadi raised her sword again, pointing it at Lin Ye. "Although you have undergone many changes since coming ashore, and may have long forgotten everything about the deep sea, we will not forget. It's as if it's etched into our genes. We still remember our allies, remember how we clung to each other in our most difficult and challenging times... So raise your swords."

Lin Ye suddenly panicked: "What do you mean?"

"Remember the glory and power of your ancestors."

"But even if you say that... weren't my ancestors monkeys?"

“I’m going to go.” When Skadi said she was going to go, she really meant it. This attack seemed to be even more intense than the previous probing. “Recall everything that sleeps in your genes, recall the momentum of your ancestors cutting through the waves in desperate situations… that is Leaping Waves.”

Lin Ye retreated while gripping his sword tightly.

He still didn't know what to do, but his body seemed to react naturally. He felt as if he were standing on a beach, with surging waves crashing against him, trying to knock him down and swallow him whole. He could only do his best to stand, using his frail body to fight against the waves, and then using all his strength.

He swung his sword, cleaving through the waves.

Clang!

A dull metallic clanging sound.

The black greatsword and the black steel sword clashed together, like two ferocious beasts tearing at each other.

No one gave an answer.

Naturally, there is no retreat.

Lin Ye stared blankly at his hand holding the sword.

He actually... blocked Skadi's attack?

Skadi chuckled softly: "It seems the legend was true."

"what?"

Skadi sheathed her sword.

“I have no kin on this continent,” Skadi said softly. “So it’s quite nice to meet you. Please take care of me in the future, Lin Ye.”

……

……

Author's Note: The pact between Skadi's tribe and pure-blooded humans is a personal addition, a kind of random modification. The inspiration comes from the legend that orcas are friendly to humans because humans made some kind of pact with them when they were in the deep sea. However, humans forgot this pact after coming ashore, while the orcas have continued to this day. Of course, there's no scientific basis for this; I just thought the legend was beautiful, so I used it. Hope you like it (still have a cold, dizzy, going to sleep).

Book recommendation: "The Invincible Me Doesn't Need to Take Action Personally".

This probably doesn't need much explanation. It was written by the great Shenwu Liuliu. The name alone should be enough. Those who are interested can go and check it out!

Chapter 142 Shameless

The next day, when Lin Ye was woken up by the alarm clock, he felt pain all over his body, as if his bones were about to fall apart.

"Tsk, you actually managed to wake up." Ansel's voice rang in Lin Ye's ears. "Rare indeed."