Day 2 continued

Jason was in his brain space gaming when a sudden smack on his shoulder dragged him back into the game world instantly like a vortex sucking him out of his precious gaming moments in his head. He was only able to shout out

"MY KD!!" as he was dragged out.

Jason opened his eyes to see Lyle grinning at him,

"working hard I see"

Jason had finally figured out how he could draw out his mana and inject it into the sword. It had become as easy and familiar as tightening his core and untightening it. It did take him about 5 hours but his mana manipulation skill shot up to level 6.

It was easy to direct the mana into the sword but maintaining it was the hard part it was like trying to stop a giant wave from crashing into you. Pointless, Jason could last a few minutes and then the blue glow from the wooden sword would fade out like a lantern that was put out.

He was able to do it unconsciously after a few hours if that was worth anything though, so when his body went on autopilot he just went and played some of the games in the mind space, he was kinda curious as to how and for what reason the gaming room existed, but whatever he could play videogames and that was that. He could investigate the mind space later.

While Jason had the recap in his mind Lyle started to examine the sword that he was holding

"mana manipulation huh, it seems Charlie taught you a bit of his specialty."

Lyle thought for a bit,

"yeah I might as well teach you a bit of mine too"

Jason's eyes light up but then started to dim as he saw Lyle pick draw his sword. It was a sword made out of black metal. It was black with red runelike inscriptions on it. Lyle grinned and said

"Alright, I've been assigned to teach you the second form of the rose knight swordsmanship, it focuses on attack and speed so the best way for me to teach it to you, is to beat it into you."

Jason's body was barely holding on with no food or water for the past few days he was going to collapse soon, sure the recovery spell did bring him back into peak physique but it didn't help with the hole in his stomach that felt like it was tearing his stomach apart.

He raised his sword in the ever so familiar 1st form and injected mana into his sword unconsciously.

Lyle grinned and disappeared from his spot. Jason didn't even try to defend, he just though to himself

"God, why does each blue 2 team members have the ability to disappear on command, is it like a trend or something?"

While Jason was thinking that tiredly Lyle reappeared on Jason's side with his arm already pulling back to swing.

"haha to slo.. wait, are you really that tired."

Lyle prevented himself from swing the sword and landed on the ground. To answer Lyles's question, yes Jason was seeing swirls and stars being lightheaded and dizzy was the least of his worries. It seems practicing mana all night wasn't the best idea when he had a limited amount.

Jason hit his limit at that moment and everything started to look distant, except for one thing, the ground. The ground just got closer and closer to Jason's face.

Before Jason knew it he had faceplanted on the ground and he had no energy to get back up.

Lyle watched as Jason fell down, curiously wondering why Jason was playing dead. Like he had seen some animals doing that when he was hunting in his childhood. But that wouldn't work on humans right?

Lyle sauntered to check on Jason. He squatted down when he reached Jason and poked Jason a bit.

Jason was completely conscious and could feel everything in his body from the aching soreness and the fatigue that could make an elephant collapse. He currently couldn't see much because of, well the ground that was currently imprinted onto his face. But he could definitely fell Lyle poking him with the butt of his sword like he was checking if he were dead or alive.

Jason had to endure Lyle poking him for a few minutes before Lyle rolled him over. Jason weakly spat out the dirt that had entered his mouth and said to Lyle who was poking his cheeks.

"food... give me fricking food"

Lyle looked like he had the greatest revelation. He searched in the satchel he had on his side and pulled out two boxes and judging from the smell it was food.

Nothing in Jason's body was obeying his command and his mouth suddenly decided to go into hyperdrive. He started to produce a large amount of saliva and his thoughts were consumed by the fantasy of him stuffing whatever was in those boxes into his mouth.

Lyle took one of the boxes and placed it next to himself. The other box he placed next to Jason. But first, before he opened it. Much to Jason's agony. Lyle grabbed him by the shoulders and did the disappearing thing. Jason could feel his stomach being left behind as they zoomed to the edge of the field.

Lyle finally stopped at the edge of the field where the trees were, he robbed Jason up to a tree, while Jason tried to calm his entire body from flopping out again. Lyle noticed how Jason was completely sprawled out and again suddenly remembered something. He went through his satchel again while Jason was basically dying of hunger and fatigue.

Lyle finally pulled out a tiny vial filled with a red liquid that had a golden glow surrounding it. Without saying a word Lyle forced Jason's mouth open and poured it into his mouth. Jason swallowed the mysterious red liquid. He could feel it traveling down. But as it traveled down it gave this electrifying feeling to his entire body. Jason's eyes snapped open, his muscles tensed and his entire body pulsed with new energy. His fatigue was washed away now all that was left was the food part.

It seems Lyle had taken the food boxes because they were right next to him. Jason grabbed the box nearest to him and started to eat like a ravenous wolf. Lyle explained what the vial of red liquid was

"that was a thing given to me by Charlie, he said something about a miracle flower the wolves found but I kinda tuned him out after that, he did give me an extra pack of food for you tho.."

Jason only nodded while he ate. He had no time to converse only food was the important thing here. Lyle just watched Jason eat, for a bit. He smiled and handed the remaining pack of food to Jason.

"eat this, you'll need it for what's coming up"

Jason had a bit of despair surge into his heart, but he was going to go through all of that anyway, might as well get some extra food before he did so. So without further ado, he took the box that Lyle was handing out for him and started to eat. The boxes only had bread and butter. But to Jason, it was like a luxurious meal.

The food disappeared too soon and Jason was left looking at two empty food boxes with a depressed face. Lyle stood up and pulled out his sword.

"Alright, your fresh and ready to go, lets fight!"

Jason got up, he thought about complaining for a bit, but he was completely ready physically, he wasn't hungry anymore, and mentally well that wasn't a problem at least for now.

Jason pulled out his trusty iron sword. Screw using that cheap wooden one. He injected mana into it like normal. In fact, it was much easier than injecting mana into the wooden one.

Lyle grinned at Jason who was looking at him cautiously. Lyle gripped his sword handle and the red runes seemed to glow a bit brighter than before. He swung his sword a bit like he was warming up, but when he swung he left an arc of red and black.

To Jason, it sorta looked like how he imagined the colors of hell to be like. And with the devilish grin, Lyle was giving him, it wasn't helping the image at all.

Lyle called out to him right before he attacked

"give me a good fight Arch"

Lyle lowered his stance until he resembled a predator eyeing its prey. It definitely worked since Jason felt like the prey. But Lyles's legs seemed to glow, like Charlie and his sword's runes started to shine like fire.

Lyle growled in a voice that only Boops could hear

"or you'll regret it"

He disappeared and before Jason knew it Lyle was only a few feet away from him in the air. With both of his arms behind his back preparing for a swing. Jason only had a few seconds to react.