The Awakening of Skills

Morning Determination

Kaizer stood alone at the edge of the forest, feeling the weight of his resolve. The cool morning air filled his lungs as he mentally prepared himself for the task ahead. His mind wandered to darker times, times he had long since buried.

Paradise... The memories flooded back to him—countless hours of relentless training, where weakness wasn't tolerated, and failure meant punishment. The instructors at Paradise had forced him to master every movement, every strike, every dodge. His body was conditioned to be a weapon, his mind sharpened into a tactical tool.

"If I want to survive in this world, I have to do it all over again," he muttered, clenching his fists. "But this time, I'll be the one in control. This time, I'll gain more than just survival."

His determination solidified as he remembered the countless drills from Paradise. "It's time to retrain, to become stronger—just like before."

First Strike

Kaizer picked up a sturdy branch from the ground, gripping it as though it were a sword. He remembered the endless hours he spent in Paradise, practicing basic strikes over and over until his arms felt like lead, the instructors shouting at him to push through the pain.

"I'll start with the basics," he muttered, lifting the branch above his head. He brought it down swiftly, cutting through the air with all the precision he had drilled into himself. The motion was smooth, powerful—just as it had been back then.

A flash of light appeared in his mind.

[Skill Acquired: Crescent Slash (Level 1) (Active)]

Effect: Basic slash technique. Increases damage dealt when performing slashing attacks with bladed weapons. Minor increase in precision.

Kaizer smirked at the notification, the feeling of progress familiar but welcome. "So that's how it works... It's just like before. The more I train, the more power I gain."

He repeated the movement again and again, each slash sharper and faster than the last. In his mind, he could hear the stern voice of his Paradise instructors urging him to improve his technique, pushing him to perfection.

[Skill Level Up: Crescent Slash Level 2 (Active)]

Effect: Increased damage and precision. Slashing attacks have a chance to inflict bleeding on the target.

[Skill Level Up: Crescent Slash Level 3 (Active)]

Effect: Mastery of the basic slash technique. Power and speed are significantly enhanced, and precision is razor-sharp.

Flowing Defense

Switching his focus, Kaizer recalled the brutal defensive drills of Paradise—where he was attacked from all angles and expected to block, parry, and deflect each blow without hesitation. The memory made his muscles tense, but it also grounded him in the reality of what he was now facing.

"This is nothing compared to what they put me through," he whispered, raising the branch as though it were a shield. He imagined blows raining down on him, just as they had during his time in Paradise. He moved quickly, deflecting invisible strikes, maintaining a perfect guard.

[Skill Acquired: Iron Guard (Level 1) (Active)]

Effect: Basic blocking technique. Reduces incoming damage when blocking with a shield or weapon. Slight increase in durability of defensive stance.

Kaizer's grip tightened on the branch as he refined his movements. He remembered the stinging pain of failure during his training days, the bruises that had covered his body, and the grueling repetition of each defensive drill. "I'm stronger now," he whispered. "I'll perfect this, just like before."

He moved through the drills effortlessly, anticipating attacks that weren't there but still reacting as if they were. Each successful block was rewarded with a deeper understanding of his skill.

[Skill Level Up: Iron Guard Level 2 (Active)]

Effect: Improved defense. Blocking now reduces more damage, and deflecting attacks causes minor recoil to attackers.

Precision in Motion

Next, Kaizer focused on his footwork. He recalled the long, arduous sessions of dodging and weaving, where his instructors would throw objects at him, expecting him to evade every single one. Failure resulted in a swift reprimand. "They trained me like an animal," Kaizer thought, his jaw tightening. "But it made me stronger."

He darted back and forth, weaving through the clearing. Each step was calculated, precise—just as it had been during those endless drills in Paradise. His body moved instinctively, honed by years of training.

[Skill Acquired: Phantom Step (Level 1) (Active)]

Effect: Basic evasion technique. Increases movement speed and agility, allowing for quick sidesteps and repositioning in combat.

As Kaizer moved through the clearing, dodging and spinning, his mind flashed back to the harsh voices of his instructors: "Faster! Again!" His feet responded automatically, pushing him further, faster. He gritted his teeth, feeling the surge of energy as he improved.

[Skill Level Up: Phantom Step Level 2 (Active)]

Effect: Enhanced agility and speed. Evasion becomes more fluid, allowing for faster reactions and greater control of positioning in combat.

Unleashing Power

Kaizer's eyes darkened as he shifted into more aggressive techniques. He remembered the countless combat scenarios they had forced him into—pitting him against other children in brutal sparring matches. His strikes had to be strong, precise, or he'd suffer the consequences.

He swung the branch in wide arcs, striking with all the force he could muster. The imagined faces of his opponents blurred before him as he attacked with renewed ferocity, his body remembering every painful lesson drilled into him in Paradise.

[Skill Acquired: Judgement Strike (Level 1) (Active)]

Effect: A powerful overhead strike. Deals high damage and has a chance to stagger enemies.

Kaizer's breath came in steady bursts as he repeated the strike over and over, his mind fully engaged in the movements. "This world rewards action," he muttered. "I'll take everything it has to offer."

[Skill Level Up: Judgement Strike Level 2 (Active)]

Effect: Increased power and precision. The strike now has a higher chance to stagger enemies and break weaker defenses.

Dual Wielding

Kaizer picked up another branch and began practicing with both hands, the memories of dual-wielding drills in Paradise resurfacing. His instructors had forced him to fight with two weapons, pushing him to master complex, deadly techniques. He had no choice but to adapt, or he'd be left behind.

Now, as he moved with the branches, those memories guided him. He attacked swiftly, with a lethal grace, cutting down imagined enemies.

[Skill Acquired: Twin Fang Dance (Level 1) (Active)]

Effect: A swift series of dual strikes. Increases attack speed when wielding two weapons.

Kaizer felt the familiar burn in his muscles as he pushed himself to keep going. He could hear the voice of his instructor in his mind, pushing him to the edge. "You must be faster than your enemy, deadlier than anyone who stands before you!"

[Skill Level Up: Twin Fang Dance Level 2 (Active)]

Effect: Enhanced speed and precision when dual-wielding. Strikes become more fluid, allowing for faster combinations.

Evolution of Skills

By midday, Kaizer stood in the clearing, breathing heavily but feeling stronger than ever. He had pushed himself to his limits, forcing each skill to evolve. His movements had become faster, sharper, and more deadly. He felt the system recognizing his growth.

[Skill Evolution: Crescent Slash → Lunar Cleave (Level 1) (Active)]

Effect: A powerful slashing attack imbued with the strength of the moon. Deals massive damage and has a high chance of causing bleeding.

[Skill Evolution: Iron Guard → Aegis Barrier (Level 1) (Active)]

Effect: A near-impenetrable defense. Blocking now reduces damage significantly and can reflect some of the damage back at the attacker.

[Skill Evolution: Phantom Step → Specter's Dance (Level 1) (Active)]

Effect: Advanced evasion technique. Allows for faster, more unpredictable movement, increasing chances to dodge and counterattack.

End of Training

Kaizer looked at his hands, a cold smile forming on his lips. "This is just the beginning," he whispered. "I've only scratched the surface of what I can do."

He felt no attachment to the memories of Paradise. To him, it was merely a tool—a tool that he would now use to grow even stronger in this new world. He had been trained to be a weapon before, but now, he would surpass even the limits imposed by his former life.

As he walked back to the village, he felt a new sense of power surging within him. He wasn't just an NPC—he was something far greater. And soon, the world of Gaia would learn just how powerful he could become.