Training?

(Lex POV)

'I really need to watch my words more carefully especially when, there are such observant nitpickers in my life.'

I was receiving a questioning look from Amber her face filled with curiosity, not going to lie bit she's kind of a dweeb with these things...

'Not like wasn't either.'

"Well y-you see I want to live a quiet and peaceful life so I keep my talents hidden unless necessary. In fact I hope you can keep this a secret."

I received a look of scrutiny from her side, but acted convincingly enough as I whistled hoping she'd let it go.

"*Sigh* I understand your reason, characters tend to like to hide their talents and show them when needed. It does seem a bit counter intuitive at the same time since you could be insulted for weakness.. oh well it's your choice. I won't intrude on the matter but..."

"But, what?"

"I have a condition for keeping this secret."

'Gosh why do I keep on falling into lopsided deals, like with Arlan, it's not all bad but it sucs I couldn't do better.'

I nod as I lampooned inwardly,

"I want you, to make some artifacts for me."

'This is interesting at least.'

"I don't mind, but what kind?"

'It would be very good practice for me, if I have a customer.'

"I don't know, what CAN you make?"

"Well..."

I tap my chin as if recalling, but in fact I hastily scrolled to the skills screens and opened the tab,

[[Creatine inscriptions opening

1_______________100

*Ting*

<>

1. Ignition (Contents)

2. Disgust (Contents)

3. Shine (Contents)

4. Stick (Contents)

...

I looked at the list that spanned for over a 100 different inscriptions, but this time carefully chose a few specialised ones rather than spilling my full ability,

"I can lower people's overall presence, make things attachable and detachable, and make things reinforced by a few times."

"Wow, that's impressive how did you manage to learn these things?"

"Simple really, you see a lot of special devices during the time you work as a merchant."

"Well , alright then... that one for lowering presence could I have something like that."

"Sure but it'll take a few days it's been a while."

"Of course take your time I'm not in a hurry."

***

I spent almost the entire day figuring out creatine inscriptions it's really convenient I could in fact inscribe things into wood and leaves too the amount of focus required while troublesome was totally worth it. Over this week I managed to level up [Sleepless] twice and it's like I took an energy medicine to stay up for exams. The morning after I'd still feel tired though...

Angeline was looking jollier any day and I was honestly surprised to not have encountered the "metal man" yet. Looks like the universe really wants me to go through a training arc.

Today was the day, I'd start getting self defense training from Arlan. I don't know what there is for a mage to teach me, maybe he won't even do that perhaps he hired someone else too. I've been watching him and he doesn't seem to be very athletic.

"Master are you going to do as you said today? Are you going to teach me to protect myself."

I waited for him to finish his experiments today, I rarely interacted with them and today wasn't an exception. Something that was funny is that it seems Angeline may be a blooming sadist. She'd keep running through people to make them feel chills. Especially Esel supposedly feeling frustrated she could barely make him break that poker face of his.

Arlan stood up and began to limber up. Once he finished,

"Follow me, I'll take you to a training ground you'll be fighting someone to test where you're at."

"Oh? And who might that be master."

'I wonder of this is a scenario where he'd get me to fight the knights captain or something or maybe I'm being underestimated and he'll get me to fight a low rank knight...'

"Hmm... you'll see soon."

***

We soon arrived in an indoor hall with reinforced walls and a high ceiling like those in indoor stadiums back on Earth.

"*Whistle* this place is fancy."

"Sure is, one of my old colleagues created this basic training grounds design its now frequently used for sport stadiums."

"That's... interesting."

'With all these references to various things I'm mostly certain there's a connection to Earth here, I doubt I'd have any time remaining to find out.'

We entered and multiple gazes landed on Arlans stature, whispers that were barely audible played in the background.

Soon a large figure in a... jumpsuit appeared drenched in sweat.

'There's definitely connection to Earth here.'

"Hello Sir Arlan it's a pleasure to meet someone of your stature here, I heard you'd be coming today."

He put his hand forward to shake hands and Arlan complied, *Crunch!* Arlan looked down at his hand with a little eye twitch,

"I'd... appreciate if you'd stop breaking every bone in my hand it's tedious to heal you know?"

"Oh! Yes, yes my apologies I recently ranked up so I've had a bit of an issue with controlling ky strength."

'He broke Arlans hand!??'

Arlan simply rubbed it a little and a green glow emitted from it,

"It's quite alright, it's just a waste of mana though it'll shake off soon enough..."

'He just broke your hand and your going to shake it off?'

"Haha, you're a tough lad "

The jumpsuit guy laughed and patted Arlans shoulder,

"... I'm older than you though?"

"Right, right... so what can I help you with?"

"I need one of your knights to fight with him."

Arlan pointed back at me and I simply waved hello,

"Hmm, I can get that arranged in a few minutes, let me just ask him a few questions."

"Sure go ahead."

The guy approached me, he is... really tall. With red hair combed back and red eyes to match the fiery look he approached me.

"So kid tell me about yourself."

He crossed his arms.

"What do you want to know?"

"Stuff like if you can use aura, are you an experienced fighter, do you want to fight someone with a weapon or without?"

I nod these were all reasonable questions but first things first I should let the cat out of the bag,

"Umm I can't use aura I'm a creatine user sir."

Arlan looked at me up and down questioningly but the red haired guy just butted in and nodded,

"I see a creatine user eh? Any artifacts you've made."

"A few defensive weapons."

"Ok what about everything else?"

"I'm not very experienced I've only been in three fights each that I won from what I believe to be sheer luck, and I'd like to fight someone who's experienced in hand-to-hand combat."

He thought for a bit and went off on his own saying he knew someone suitable for me.

Arlan was now just silently looking into my soul,you know... casually.

***

(Arlan POV)

So he can use creatine now? There are not a lot of fighters who use creatine. Beside artifacts that cause physical augmentation are usually harmful to its user, and banded in most countries this one included.

'*Sigh* this 'kid' keeps bringing back memories of various people and companions. As strange one he is I wonder what level he's at?'

The captain of the third squadrons knights here is Feritz Hollow, he's one of the youngest to rise the position apparently. I can't confirm it though since for one I don't care, and I won't come.back here for a while after a month of training Lex.

I chose to train him, but he should have a bit of skill from his previous world. Or maybe hes forgotten them?

'Tch. It sucks bit I really do want to go to his world and find out more, if I go there perhaps I'll be able to find out more about the gods and surpass the world level... I still have time to weigh my options...'

I grumble, following silently behind Lex as he was called by Fenitz.

'He got someone to agree pretty quickly.'

***

Two people were looking at eachother and surrounded by a crowd of others who were training. One was obviously Lex he changed into a much more flexible attire and put his gloves on. He's had them ever since I first encountered him.

A killer glow flashed in his stone grey eyes as he stared down his opponent who was much more relaxed than him.

On the other end an almost androgynous looking man stood on the other end, he has slick black hair and obsidian eyes. He was in a casual shirt and pants, he was also wearing gloves that had little metal bits where the back of his hand would be.

"Hey what's your name?!"

Surprisingly despite his serious gaze an excited voice came from Lex.

His opponent looked at him oddly, but made a few hand gestures that I understood from my travels. It was a form of sign language that originated on the eastern part of this continent. I guess he's mute.

"Nice to meet you Ichiro I hope to learn a lot from this fight!"

He knows this too? Lex is seriously a never ending mystery. It's almost exciting.

The man named Ichiro on the other end looked surprised but happily gestured back that said,

"It's nice to meet you as well, let's have a good fight."

Fenitz came in between and asked if they're both ready, they both nodded,

"Alright then, when this coin hits the floor you'll begin alright?"

I watched Lex carefully he seemed excited after the announcement, and prepared in a dashing position, it seems he'd be running in first since Ichiro stood wide open.

Fenitz flicked the coin and it spun in the air dozens of times, my brain can compute at ultra fast speeds however and so I counted the time till it hit the floor,

'3...2...1'

*Clinks*

As expected Lex dashed in at a fast speed, around Town level I'd say. In his hand was a stick, it looked completely ordinary. Once it contacted the floor, my eyes wer able to see the floor become smoother and structurally resembled ice.

He slid across the floor well balanced, a high kick came in his direction at high speeds. Ichiro also maintained fantastic balance and his foot was covered in a sliver hue, aura.

Lex saw it coming it seems as he dodged a second before it went past and went to punch him in the gut.

*Bam!*

He landed a successful hit but Ichiro's physique is sturdy,

He grabbed Lex by the collar and swung at him, a direct hit! I could see the immense pain in Lex's face from the aura instilled punch. Strangely however his emotions switched from a grimace to an anger filled one in a split second.

Gone a bit berserk he hops up and skillfully lands in Ichiro's shoulders. Ichiro falls backwards a bit and once again Lex's expression changed. It all happened in slow motion but I saw various emotions occur in a single second some that were unfitting for the situation. Till he stood stone faced and hopped back of before Ichiro hit the ground.

Unexpectedly Ichiro recovered in a split second and spun using the slippery surface, tripping Lex before he could react. He climbed on top of Lex and hounded Lex's face with punches that somehow hadn't knocked him out yet. Lex carefully and slowly pulled something out from his pocket and tapped it on Ichiro.

Whatever he did caused Ichiro to get up and move away I couldn't see his expression from the back, but I saw him shiver a little. Is he... scared?

Lex grinned a little, and once again took a stick from his pocket. This time however I couldn't make it out properly but it felt somewhat magnetic. Ichiro was stuck in place! Standing still Lex tapped the bottom of his shoes and ran without worry to kick Ichiro in the calf.

A second before it reached, Ichiro left his shoes down and hopped a few meters in the air. With an axe kick downwards, Lex nearly reacted and began to move but he was too slow and...

*Crash!*

A cough of blood escaped Lex's mouth, he got kicked in the neck with the back of Ichiro's heel and was left... knocked out on the floor.

'What just happened?'

Was the thought on a few people's minds who stood on one side and couldn't comprehend some of the actions taken in this fight. It was quick, efficient and yet entertaining. Ichiro handled all the moves thrown at him skillfully. Lex was chaotic he seemed both aware of what he was doing and could seemingly predict some moves before hand.

'Either he's got amazing predictive and observation capabilities, or is it instinct? Some lost muscle memory?'

Either way this fight was... a mess.

******

A/N Hope you enjoyed the fight, it's from Lex's perspective next for those who didn't get some of it. Got my economics paper tomorrow wish me luck!