Special Training (2)

Kyren arrived at the clearing first. For the first time ever, he was doubled over, gasping for breath. A small victory.

Lydel arrived only a few seconds later, trying—and failing—to look unaffected. "I knew I shouldn't have gone easy on you," he said between breaths.

Kyren scoffed. "Sure, you went easy on me." Then, seeing his friend finally drop onto the ground, gasping for air, he burst into laughter.

Lydel groaned but managed a grin. "Guess we both need more stamina," Kyren said.

At those words, Lydel's grin widened. "Finally, it's my time to have some fun."

Kyren let out a small groan. He had never beaten Lydel in hand-to-hand combat. With Lydel's ability, it had been impossible when he was powerless. But now… now he had a chance.

Lydel stood up and walked over, bowing slightly. Kyren mirrored him. Lydel's father had always said that before a friendly spar, you should bow—to show respect for your opponent.

They stepped back, no words spoken, both shifting into their stances.

Kyren moved first. He started the same way he always did—rushing straight at Lydel. He still didn't quite understand how to use his new abilities, at least not the way he had when he first awakened them. That sensation had vanished. He was on his own.

Still, something had changed. His punch landed faster than any before, cutting through the air with surprising speed. But it wasn't enough. Lydel's ability kicked in, and he slipped to the side with ease, circling left. Kyren barely caught the movement before a fist shot toward his face.

His body reacted on its own. His Catlike Reflex passive kicked in, and he swiped the punch away effortlessly.

Lydel smirked. A feint.

Kyren realized too late—Lydel's true strike was an uppercut aimed straight at his gut. It landed hard. A sharp pain shot through Kyren's core as he doubled over. He caught himself quickly, just in time to see a kick flying toward his head.

This time, he managed to react, raising his arms in a tight guard. The impact still sent him flying backward. He hit the ground hard, rolling nearly seven feet before stopping.

Kyren cursed under his breath. Why the hell didn't I check my skills first? Going in blind is how I'm gonna lose. Why can't this thing just tell me what my skills are—

As if responding to his thoughts, a robotic version of his voice rang out:

Kyren Warhammer

Innate Skills:

Flash Step: Infuse mana into your legs for extreme bursts of speed.

Stalwart Shield (Passive): Absorbs small amounts of mana from opponents and surroundings upon impact. (Active): Inject stored mana into your body to enhance either specific areas or your entire form.

System Skills:

Catlike Reflex (Passive): Enhances reflex speed.

Momentum Slash (Active): A mana-infused strike that grows stronger with momentum—the faster you move, the deadlier the slash.

The words echoed in his mind, yet Kyren understood them instantly. It was as if the knowledge had been carved into his very being.

But there was no time to dwell on it. Lydel was already moving.

He darted forward with inhuman agility, swaying low to the ground, shifting from side to side with seamless precision. A wicked grin stretched across his face—right until he saw Kyren standing tall, completely unshaken.

Lydel didn't hesitate. He kept moving, but panic flickered in his eyes. He was seeing something—Kyren wasn't sure what—but whatever it was, it clearly told him one thing: no move would save him now.

Kyren activated Stalwart Shield, letting the mana he had absorbed from the panther and this brief fight flood his body. Then, he triggered Flash Step.

Lydel tried to dodge left—but in his vision, he saw himself sprawled on his back. He tried to dive downward—but again, he saw himself flat on the ground.

Panic turned to dread.

Before Lydel's body even hit the dirt, Kyren was there. He spun into a roundhouse kick, striking with bone-crushing force. Lydel flew backward, tumbling nearly ten yards before coming to a stop.

A familiar sound echoed in Kyren's mind.

Ding!

Side Mission Complete.

Would you like to collect your rewards?

[Yes] / [No]

Kyren barely processed it, already rushing to his friend's side.

Lydel groaned, sitting up. "Goddamn, you're fast now," he muttered. "I couldn't even figure out what was going on in my fast-forward."

Kyren extended a hand, helping him up. "Come on," he said, grinning. "Let's set up camp by the lake and eat before the real team training starts."

Lydel started to smile—then Kyren mentioned team training. His grin vanished, replaced by a look of pure dread.