One step at a time

The spear technique I had been using until now was an insult to the very concept of armed combat.

Every strike was a hesitant, clumsy reflection.

Every thrust was misaligned.

My balance was fragile, and my reaction time… at best, terrible.

I wasn't a spearman.

I was just a guy holding a spear and pretending I knew what I was doing.

But Ascending Dragon's Fury was different.

It didn't just rely on strength or speed.

It was fluid. Relentless.

A continuous sequence where every movement fed into the next.

The first strike was an upward thrust, using the momentum to spin and deliver a sweeping slash.

The second strike turned that rotation into a fierce counterattack, eliminating the opening left by the previous move.

No wasted energy. No hesitation.

A dance of extreme precision.

But right now, I was just a spectator to this mastery.

An idiot holding a spear, watching a hologram make something I could barely comprehend look effortless.

[You seem hesitant, Perseus.]

Luxxion's voice.

Indifferent. Cold. Too objective to be annoying… yet somehow, still managing to be.

I rolled my eyes.

''I'm not hesitant. I just don't want to mess up.''

[Then why are you messing up?]

I let out a long sigh.

Talking to Luxxion was like being stabbed slowly with a razor-sharp blade.

With surgical precision. No rush.

''Show me my status window.''

A pause.

Then, a translucent screen appeared.

And there it was—the confirmation of what I already knew.

[Status Window]

[Name: Perseus (Liam Han)]

[Strength: 1 Star (49%)] - [Agility: 1 Star (50%)]

[Endurance: 1 Star (35%)] - [Perception: 1 Star (23%)]

[Energy: 1 Star (5%)] - [Intelligence: 1 Star (47%)]

[Spirit: 2 Stars (52%)] - [Luck: 3 Stars (60%)]

I wasn't just bad.

I was a walking disaster.

Seeing my mediocrity laid out so blatantly still stung.

After scanning the books with Luxxion, I thought I had all the information I needed.

Delusion.

''Execute the basic movements in the hologram.''

Luxxion obeyed.

A hologram appeared before me.

And then, it moved.

Each transition was flawless.

Every step, every rotation, every thrust—absolute precision.

The worst part?

It wasn't just Ascending Dragon's Fury as described in the book.

The hologram was correcting my own mistakes.

Luxxion was shoving all my flaws down my throat.

[With your current level, you won't be able to execute any of these movements correctly.]

I knew that.

But hearing Luxxion say it so emotionlessly made me grit my teeth.

''…Did you really have to adjust it based on my mistakes?''

[The purpose of training is improvement.]

Sweat dripped down my forehead as I watched.

Every strike. Every angle.

Flawless.

It was infuriating.

And yet, I couldn't look away.

Even a hologram was stronger than me.

I materialized my spear from my inventory.

The space was small, but enough.

No excuses. Just training.

My first attempt?

Horrible.

The second?

Even worse.

I lunged forward and messed up the rotation. My waist felt like it would snap from being so stiff.

I adjusted my footing but lost the timing of the thrust.

It was like trying to assemble a puzzle while someone kept kicking the pieces away.

But I kept going.

My breathing got heavier—not just from fatigue, but from concentration.

I kept going.

Every strike was a failure.

But I kept going.

Then, I noticed something.

''Can I change the hologram's appearance?''

[Yes.]

''And its strength?''

[Yes. I can adjust it to match your capabilities or completely crush you like an insect.]

I blinked.

''Was that last part necessary?''

[It was a fact. Nothing more.]

I sighed.

After the hundredth attempt at the same move—a diagonal slash followed by a rotation and thrust—I paused to catch my breath.

My legs trembled.

''How many holograms can I create at once?''

[Depends on the level of stress your brain can handle.]

I frowned.

''So that's the fancy way of saying if I overdo it, I'll pass out, huh?''

[Correct.]

An idea started forming in my head.

''Can they fight each other?''

[Yes.]

''Can I assign different techniques to each one?''

[With some limitations. Your knowledge must be sufficient for the execution to be at least minimally functional.]

I crossed my arms, a smirk forming.

That was more than enough.

''Demonstrate it.''

Two figures materialized in the small space.

The first hologram took on my exact appearance.

The second was a faceless silhouette.

Then, they began to fight.

The difference was brutal.

The hologram using my current technique was completely annihilated.

No chance to counterattack. No openings.

The stronger hologram's spear sliced through the air with terrifying precision.

Its movements were seamless, transitioning effortlessly from one attack to the next.

And the other one?

It just tried to survive. And failed miserably.

It was like watching an adult fight a kid swinging a stick.

The "inferior" hologram never even got the chance to attack.

Every attempt was intercepted.

Every move was shut down before it could even be completed.

It was a complete massacre.

The fight lasted seconds.

[Your incomplete knowledge explains this result.]

I ran a hand down my face, letting out a tired sigh.

''So... I'm a walking disaster.''

[Partial confirmation.]

My expression twitched.

''Couldn't you, I don't know, lie to boost my morale?''

[Statistically, unfounded positive reinforcement has minimal effectiveness in real learning.]

If I wanted to fight for real, I needed to be more than just a punching bag.

''Put the hologram against me.''

[Pain level has been adjusted to prevent the user from completely breaking.]

I blinked.

''Was that sarcasm?''

[Negative. Simply a precise choice of words.]

I let out a dry chuckle, gripping my spear.

''Whatever. Let's do this.''

I swallowed hard.

The hologram took its stance.

The fight began.

The first strike came fast.

I didn't even need a full second to realize—

I wouldn't be able to block it.

My body reacted before my mind.

I leaned to the side at the last moment.

The spear tip grazed my collarbone, slicing through the air with a sharp whoosh.

I tightened my grip on my spear and countered with a downward strike.

The hologram dodged like I was moving in slow motion.

Another attack.

Another miss.

My opponent wasn't using any flashy techniques. No complex maneuvers.

Everything was basic.

And I still couldn't keep up.

Each thrust was calculated, exploiting every tiny gap in my defense.

Every block I attempted felt clumsy, like I was trying to hold back a storm with my bare hands.

It advanced.

One strike knocked my spear aside effortlessly.

A second later, it spun the shaft and slammed it against my leg.

My knee buckled.

I had no time to react.

The spear's shaft struck my chest, knocking the air from my lungs.

I hit the ground, gasping.

The hologram didn't hesitate.

The spear tip stopped a hair's breadth from my throat.

… I lost.

Humiliatingly.

I trembled.

Cold sweat dripped down my neck.

The hologram withdrew.

My spear was still beside me.

I grabbed it and stood up.

My breath was unsteady, my muscles burned.

But I stood.

And met the hologram's gaze.

''Again.''

Luxxion remained silent.

The hologram reset.

And the fight restarted.