100\% Drop Rate: My Special Ability is Perfect Replication

Chapter 149: Training[2]

Todd and Nirvana weren’t exactly close given what happened to Amelia, but they had been spending lots of time together since their training started earlier.

Drekar was a lot harder to read, but it was obvious these two were planning something.

"Yeah... That doesn’t sound bad at all!" Todd said in the most artificial tone Faust had ever heard. "We can measure the difference in... um." He looked like he was trying to remember lines. "...the difference between someone that has mastered their body and us."

"And we could have a prize for winning," Nirvana said, trying too hard to be casual. "You know, it doesn’t have to be anything big... you can have me do something for you or you do something for me if I win."

Faust turned to the floor and Drekar, who looked exasperated.

’Oh, I think I know what this is.’

"I’ll take that action," Faust said, grinning slightly. "I’ll decide what I want when I win."

Nirvana nodded. "Uh, yeah, it doesn’t have to be anything painful or embarrassing, though."

"No, Nirvana, this is the part where you say something that makes you think you’ll win," Faust corrected.

"That’s what I expected too," Drekar agreed. "If you’re going to do this, I’ll place some restrictions on Faust because of the attribute difference."

’You’re making it too obvious that you’re trying to help her,’ Faust said internally. "What restrictions?"

"You won’t move to meet her, so the speed advantage isn’t yours completely. And no strikes from you, only grappling to put her back to the ground. But all she has to do to win is land three hits on you. Blocked hits count."

"Three?!" Todd started. It must have not been what they agreed on.

Nirvana also looked unsure, but her eyes widened when Faust nodded.

"Seems fair," he said casually.

They must have planned to ask for five or ten hits thinking Faust would be scared of too many limitations, but he could barely imagine Nirvana landing one hit on him.

It wasn’t arrogance. Okay, maybe a little. But his reaction speed and experience reading opponents were far ahead of hers.

He could see her punch coming years before she even loaded up.

They took the space in front of Drekar, facing each other with vastly different expressions.

Nirvana’s knuckles were clenched so tight they looked bloodless. Her crimson eyes were wide with focus and determination. She took a higher stance, guard raised like this was a boxing match.

Faust, though, got low and spread out his arms like a peacock spreading its feathers to look threatening. Nirvana took a step back, so it worked.

He wasn’t allowed to strike her, so he would rely on grappling, which made her wonder how to punch down like that. To be fair, she wasn’t too versed in kicks.

"Starting to regret the challenge?" Faust quizzed as he rounded her, stalking Nirvana like prey.

"No," Nirvana said with some force, before stepping forward.

Her stance was too open and her top foot was so close. Instincts flared in Faust’s mind and he moved to grab her legs and sweep her off her feet.

But then it clashed with his mind as the rule of not moving to her sparked in his thoughts.

Nirvana lashed forward immediately, stretching her legs into a perfect kick. It slammed softly against his shin with a sharp sound, and she retreated quickly.

Caught off guard, Faust didn’t immediately grab her foot. He blinked twice as he realized he had been played.

Nirvana did know how to throw a proper kick. She had been pretending to be confused about what to do, maintaining her high stance as she inched that forward leg toward him.

He glanced at Drekar, fully sure that this was his advice.

Nirvana moved the moment his eyes left her, as if waiting for this moment. She was already one move ahead of him.

Two sharp steps sounded against the white, plastic-like floor. Out the corner of his eyes, he saw Nirvana’s shape moving to him.

She was on his right side. So he should dodge left or jump back. He couldn’t block.

But that would play into what Drekar and Nirvana planned.

Instead, he stepped forward into the attack, turning to see her palm already streaking toward his waist. Another light attack to just tag him.

Faust bent forward purposely, moving his hips back just inches so her palm missed. Now he was off balance, but he let himself fall, grabbing Nirvana’s arm as he went down.

Pull her down and roll her onto her back. Easy.

But Nirvana also tripped as she attacked. His fingers barely scratched her wrist as she tumbled by. She lashed out at his touch and hit his belly.

That was a second hit.

Faust fell on his ass staring at her, wondering if that was also part of their plan, because it was kind of ingenious.

But Nirvana got up and scrambled back, eyes widening as she realized how close she was to losing.

So no. She probably didn’t plan that.

Drekar faceplanted. "Did you seriously trip in the middle of a fight?"

"It helped her, though," Todd pointed out. "She—eek." He shuddered as Drekar turned to glare at him and just shut up.

Nirvana was back on her feet, watching Faust rise slowly. She felt the subtle change in him as he reentered his stance.

One more hit and he lost.

"Stop trembling," Drekar said loudly. "He’s only trying to unnerve you. Now, quickly, go for the final misdirection."

Her eyes narrowed slowly as she let out a shaky breath. Her body tensed before she sprung forward at full speed. Fear of closing in had been replaced by strong steps.

Faust waited patiently, watching her chest as she feinted left and went right, sweeping low for a kick to his ankle.

Without even looking down, Faust raised his foot and let the kick pass by harmlessly. His hands shot forward like a grasshopper’s, grabbing Nirvana’s shoulders and pushing her down.

It looked like a win if Faust hadn’t been given enough time to think about the situation.

Nirvana needed one more hit. As long as she got it before her back touched the ground, she’d win.

Her knees snapped up to hit his open belly. But he was already there, blocking the knees with his right hand.

He made sure her back touched the ground softly, grinning as he said, "your small knees are too easy to block. I win."

Nirvana looked defeated, but Faust was still going to do what she wanted either way. It was an interesting match, after all. She had grown a lot in her planning and sneakiness.

Drekar cleared his throat. "Did you forget what I said? Blocked hits count."

Faust was stuck for a moment, then he remembered. "You mentioned that at the enddddd," he groaned.

But nonetheless, he was happy for Nirvana.

"There goes your unbeaten streak," Drekar said with a grin. "But don’t worry. All you have to do is beat ten players in a row."

Might be time for Faust to go to other Compounds where he wasn’t known and challenge some random people.

But first...

"So, Nirvana," he started, "what am I doing for—"

"We’re going on a date!" she said quickly, pumping her fists.