Training Grounds

Seventh day in the reality, 8 AM, 20th day in the game.

Logging into the game, Zypher took note of the resources he gained from the Codex Labyrinth.

One day is like the first wave he did, but he can't say no to free free resources.

To be strong as soon as possible, there is one thing that he has to get before venturing out.

"Welcome, trainees! This is the Legar Training Department, and we are looking for decent people to help us in making our city peaceful!"

In a platoon of level 1 to 5 players, Zypher is at the back of the said platoon.

This was a cheat code known 5 years into the game.

The Stat Builder.

This was what it was called by the players as they continue to get stats by training.

But, it is all down to 5 stat points per main stat, 3-4 for hidden stats, 2-3 for special stats, and 1 for other stats.

But, Zypher is not here for those stats.

Though he can max out the 8 main stats, his goal is another thing.

In this training halls, players without class can get skills if they haven't chosen their classes yet.

There are also variety of weapons such as axes, halberds, spears, swords, bows, even guns and magic.

In truth, this is a go to place by newbies who are not yet aware what to choose in their professions and classes. This is the strainer that sifts their abilities and chooses their paths.

After choosing a class, the unnecessary skills are deleted, and can be relearned by getting a subclass related to that skill.

But, the skills are from combat classes, can he, a cursed player that cannot choose a combat class get such skills?

The answer is yes! How do you think he fought using the Illusionist Class in his past life?

In short, even the ones with production classes can get skills as long as they can learn from the training grounds.

And what does Zypher have that made him confident? Right, the blessing of the Learning Ability.

In short, if he was cursed to be the weakest in stats and level, he can be stronger in other aspects such as skills and abilities.

But, the game has it's own restrictions. One person can only learn up to ten trainings, and if they are not able to get a class, all their skills are deleted, and they have to choose another ten classes.

But for Zypher, who has already known this cheat in his past life, only six trainings are needed.

First, Magic Training. This game runs on magic, fighting and clearing quests. By being able to use magic, problems can be as good as solved.

But magic is not omnipotent that it can do anything with a flick of a wand. There are problems that magic cannot do, or can do, but is against laws and codes. That's why the second thing, fighting, comes into play.

Good versus bad, man versus man, and the clearing of quests.

The second training he went is the Pole Training. Pole is the basis of many mid ranged weapons, such as spears, halberds and tridents.

With this, he can use any mid ranged weapon, and can open new scenarios in his life.

Next is the Blade Training. Swords, sabers, daggers, even katanas and knives are not an exception, as long as it is a blade.

Third is the Shooting Training.

Disclaimer, there are no kids harmed in this training.

Shooting is for bows and guns, as well as crossbows, blowpipes and other projectiles.

Fourth is his specialty when he was in his past life, String Training.

This was his go to skills when he was still in his past life. The possibility is endless, from metal strings, to whips and other things that can go with strings.

Fifth one is the hand-to-hand combat training. As it suggests, close combat and battle awareness.

Zypher has it, but because he was transported back in time, he has to readjust himself, and see what he have, and not.

Last, and definitely the best training he has to do, is Assassination Training.

Although a bit too near the assassin class, it can never come close, as he cannot get the class.

Whatever he needs: poison, stealth, spying, tracking, trap assembly and disassembly.

But, the most important thing he gets in this training is what he can't get in this life: transfiguration magic.

A player has his Skill Tree, and there are skills that cannot be accessed by the Unclassified players.

For example, a no class player can access the Hawk's Eye Skill of an Archer, but because they can't unlock the Skill Tree, he can't unlock the next Skill, Eagle Eye. Much more the Ultimate Skill of it: Avian Vision.

But still, because of Project: Zerø's AI, it created every possible NPC that can give Special and Hidden Skills, but, this skills also falls short compared to those in the Skill Tree.

For example, a Warrior Player with the Skill Taunt, will have no side effects, but a Mage Player, using Taunt will have a debuff of slower casting speed after using the Taunt.

Mages need to cast spells fast, but lowered casting speed will hinder their progress.

Not for Zypher though. The ball of experience, meticulous planning and knowledge, as well as sense, understanding of the game, and wisdom of a regressor, he can overcome things like this.

The training only lasts for 9 game days, which is 3 normal days, but the problem is, each player has only 12 hours at most of gaming time.

Zypher also has to follow the rules, but he isn't the type that will succumb to the rules.

Instead, inside those three days, he searched every starting classes that everyone can have.

Warrior - a short to mid ranged combatant. They can use aura, and cold weapons.

Shooters - ranged players that can use firearms or a bow and arrow.

Mages - users of magic and the most helpful in battles, if they have good controls.

Supporters - healers, buffers, debuffers, neutralizers, as well as crowd controllers. They help and support other players.

Nurturers - summoners, necromancers, tamers. As long as they have the summons, they are nurturers.

Basically, after doing the in game training, Zaon will browse the net to get more information. Although he is ahead by an era, he can never get too complacent, and must take things step by step.

And so, he discovered three things in the training grounds, that he did not know in his past life.

First is that, hidden and special skills may be acquired in the training grounds, but only low level ones. Normal, up to uncommon only, and nothing else.

Second, if you beat the instructor by using only the weapon, and without using a skill, he will give you random items.

Third, you can join the "military" after training, and fight monsters on the Battlefield, and get more rewards.

Though the third one is a bit tempting, Zypher is far from going to that place.

Battlefield is just an endless wave of monster, and clearing it doesn't mean they will stop.

For now, he has to make his preparations for the years to come.

He isn't even old in the game yet. He is also not playing for a month. It's just almost a week.

Going back to the training grounds, Zypher got a little excited. It is time for him to know what level of skills he retained from his past life.

"Cadet 2117, pole practice!"

"Cadet 2118, blade practice!"

Voices were heard in the training grounds everyday, and the cadets that were not called continuously ran around the grounds.

2117 is the cadet number of Zypher, and so, this day, he has to do the pole training.

Not pole dancing, guys.

This is a long one-on-one lesson, and after that, the player must spar with the proctor.

[You have learned Basic Ability: Sweep.]

[You have learned Basic Ability: Strike.]

[You have learned Basic Ability: Thrust.]

This appeared in the notifications of Zypher. Though a bit unimportant, learning these is useful in every way.

And so, the long training started.

[You have learned Normal Skill: Pole Spin.]

[You have learned Normal Skill: Pierce]

[You have learned Normal Skill: Redistribution]

[You have learned Normal Skill: Range Calculation.]

[Mastery: Pole I]

This notification is needed by Zypher to know his progress. Mastery is something that someone can just do, but it is the mastery to do it proficiently.

And now, he must face the proctor of the said training ground.

[Marissa Lv. 15]

The Spearwoman of Legar.

The NPCs in Tutorial Villages have only fixed responses and movements. That is why, once someone leaves the village, the said village can't be accessed again by the same player.

This is why the dungeons here are weak and small.

The anomaly of having a strong opponent was just unlucky, for they don't have a high-level player.

Also, dungeons are not part of villages, so they can also be accessed again.

Too bad, Blood Bat Cave already found it's owner.

This is what Zypher needs: combat.

[Combat Initializing...]

[3...]

[2...]

[1...]

[Start!]

The first to move was Marissa, and her spear was already held in one hand.

Too bad, the pole arrived earlier than the spear.

Because Zypher threw it like a javelin.

Hitting the pole away, the AI thought that it was a misplay by the player, but Zypher knew well what he had to do.

If you are holding a spear on your left hand, you will flick the spear outside if a projectile is coming to you, and prepare for the next attack.

But, for Zypher, who fought much harder and more difficult AI in his past life, this is just child's play. What he wants to know is how far is he from his strength in his past life.

He lunged his body towards Marissa, who has now flicked away the spear. Seeing the approaching Zypher, she used the other end of the spear to sweep him, but what happened next is surprising.

Using his body's momentum, he jumped upwards, to dodge the sweep, and used Marissa's head and shoulder as support for him to maneuver and make a sudden flip mid air, delivering a kick once he flipped himself.

Although out of balance due to the sudden push, Marissa spun herself, and blocked the incoming kick by holding the spear with her two hands.

Seeing this, Zypher shook his head from left to right as he used the block as another support to maneuver and jumped towards the weapon he threw earlier.

Picking it up, he saw Marissa stood up and lunged at him, but with a smile, Zypher held the spear tightly as he readied himself.

Marissa arrived at the opportune moment, and as if he had orchestrated it beforehand, Zypher stepped forward and twisted his body to dodge the incoming spear.

Seeing her attack get dodged, Marissa swept the spear towards where Zypher is dodging, but she was surprised to see a pole descending on her undefended body.

She then hurriedly retracted her spear, but what came next was something she did not expect.

It didn't arrive.

And then, it did.

After that, she was sent rolling back to the other end of the platform.

It was not that heavy of a strike, but it definitely hit her when she had her guard down.

[You win!]

With that, the sparring session ended, and now, Zypher can get a reward for clearing the training.

[Special Pole Skill Acquisition Card obtained.]

"Oh? There's no indicator if it is a Normal Skill or Rare? Does it mean, that my cheat as a regressor is activating? And I will get a Legendary or Mythical Skill?"

[No. The indicator was omitted because of the long name. I'll update it.]

Mod's voice resounded in his mind.

'Stingy.' Zypher said in his mind as he snorted.

[Uncommon Special Pole Skill Acquisition Card obtained.]

"At least, it's Uncommon."

(Hey kid, what are you planning to do now?)

"You all awake? What plan are you talking about?"

(You can't choose a class, right? So basically, all you have learned here, will be deleted three days after.)

"Wha-? Oh, shucks. I forgot."

[...]

{...}

(...)

"Not you too, Edit."

<..?>