Chapter 52: *Kevin’s analysis*
The fight raged on, and Kevin had already disarmed Erik multiple times, sending him crashing to the ground just as often. When he felt he had learned everything he needed from this encounter, he tossed his stick at Axel, who looked genuinely pleased, then charged at Erik.
Startled by Kevin’s sudden aggression, Erik lost his focus and left himself wide open. In an instant, Kevin capitalized on the opportunity, disarming Erik once more with a flurry of quick moves. But he didn’t stop there; he forced Erik to his knees and trapped his head in the grip of his arms. It was game over for Erik—he knew that if he tried to move, his neck could snap.
"I give up!" Erik patted Kevin on the arm to signal his surrender.
As soon as Kevin let go, the crowd erupted into enthusiastic cheers, rushing forward to congratulate both fighters to have given them this exhilarating match. Once the spectators returned to their own training, Erik exclaimed, still not believing what had just happened, "Damn, Kevin, you’re so incredible!"
Axel pulled back Kevin’s hood and draped an arm around his shoulders, proclaiming proudly, "Of course he’s incredible; he’s my man, after all."
Still smiling, Axel turned to Kevin and asked, "What do you think?"
Kevin glanced at Axel before shifting his focus to Erik, who was awaiting his verdict. "Not bad at all! You have a solid foundation and a sharp mind. You managed to parry my attacks the second time I used them and even found effective counterattacks. Honestly, I’m quite impressed."
Turning back to Axel, he continued, "However, he lacks speed and strength. But that’s manageable; with a good training program, those aspects can be improved easily. You can also train with him to help him learn to change the rhythm of a fight. With that sharp mind of his, he should master this technique quickly. He’ll also need to discover his own fighting style; have him experiment with different weapons. I doubt the sword is suited for him."
Axel nodded, agreeing with Kevin’s assessment. He had observed the same qualities in Erik and recognized that adaptability was Erik’s strong point, which was why he wanted to become his tutor. Erik’s intelligence in understanding his opponents’ movements and almost instantaneously finding appropriate counterattacks marked him as an exceptional fighter.
Unfortunately, others hadn’t taken him seriously because, as Kevin pointed out, he lacked the strength and speed that usually defined a fighter. It was easier to mentor a bulky brute than someone like Erik. Yet, as he pondered it, Erik reminded him of Kevin and the boundless potential he could possess with such intelligence.
Axel then asked Erik, "Do you agree with this analysis?"
Erik, having kept his mouth agape in shock due to Kevin’s insight, quickly closed it and looked at both of them. "I know I lack speed and strength; we’ve already discussed this, Axel."
Then, turning to Kevin with a puzzled expression, he added, "As for the weapons, I’ve always trained with a sword. The instructors thought it wasn’t worth their time to teach me... Do you have a specific weapon in mind that might suit me better?"
With a smile, Kevin walked over to a long table filled with various weapons. He picked up a double-bladed axe, its sharp point separating the two blades, and returned to Axel’s side. He handed the axe to Erik, who took it in surprise, while Axel looked equally astonished. Kevin explained, "The axe isn’t just for those with immense strength; it’s very easy to wield. You can simply shorten the handle to make it perfect for you.
You’ll also need to find a second one just like this. Look, you can lock the blades of your opponents’ swords in the gaps between the blades and the sharp tip of your axe. With a quick flick of the wrist, you can easily disarm your opponents. Plus, with two axes, you can defend with one while attacking with the other. All you need is agility, and you seem to have plenty of that."
Feeling a bit helpless himself, Axel said to Kevin, "Babe, could you teach him the basic movements? I’ve never trained with an axe."
Seeing the glimmer of hope in Erik’s eyes, Kevin replied, "Okay, I’ll help you, but not today. First, prepare a training program for him to improve his speed and strength. I still need to complete my hour of stretching and workout."
Axel understood Kevin’s desire to train, so he hugged him and leaned in to demand a kiss, which Kevin happily gave him.
A frustrated moan escaped Axel’s throat as he forced himself to pull away, knowing that if he didn’t, he’d carry Kevin straight home for a different kind of practice. Kevin heard Axel’s moan and chuckled as he stepped back, teasing, "Be good! Stay focused!"
Kevin moved to a corner not far from them and started his hour of workout. Glancing at the main menu of his System, he noted it was almost 4 PM. He found it odd that Alan hadn’t yet returned his necklace, but figured he didn’t need it right now anyway.
As Kevin watched them train, Alan arrived just as Kevin finished his two-hour workout and completed his daily quest for the second time that day. Alan looked terribly embarrassed and quickly apologized to Kevin, explaining that he had lost track of time while meditating. He immediately returned the necklace.
Kevin put it back around his neck and asked curiously, "So, how was it? Did you feel a difference?"
Alan’s excitement was palpable as he replied, "It was amazing! Tony wasn’t lying about this necklace. Not only do you feel no mental fatigue, but the elemental particles are also much more abundant than usual. With this necklace, you’ll progress very quickly—it’s fantastic!"
Kevin smiled at him, sharing in Alan’s enthusiasm about the necklace. Suddenly, he remembered something he wanted to ask, "Alan, I have a question about crafting potions. Is it possible to infuse the spiritual energy into the cauldron faster to speed up the crafting process?"
If he could accelerate potion-making, he would earn a significant amount of experience points and Soul Force points, and Alan was the person who could answer all his questions.
