Thud-
I closed the black diary.
The detailed information about me on the last page is very helpful if I say so myself.
"I think I finally understand how to use the second technique."
I was able to move an 'avatar' inside my soul after reaching proficient mastery in my art.
But that was something I was able to do naturally after reaching proficient mastery.
That was not what the actual technique was.
I focused on the space surrounding me.
'Spatial Manipulation: Space Rupture'
C..crack-
A small crack appeared in the air.
The crack was the size of a finger. I focused on enlarging the crack.
Droplets of sweat formed on my forehead.
C..craccck-
The crack enlarged to the size of my forearm.
I tried to expand it more, but this was my current limit.
"A grey space."
I put my hand through the crack into the grey space.
But there was some kind of barrier that made me unable to do so.
'Construct'
Remembering what I just read in the diary, I materialized a small dagger.
I then pushed the dagger into the crack.
"So, this was how I was supposed to use it."
The dagger went inside the crack without any resistance.
Before reading about this in the diary, I had tried placing everything into the crack, but nothing went inside.
"I can only store the weapons I construct inside it."
C..crrrack-
With a single thought from me, the crack closed.
I moved around like that.
"It's following me."
Although it was invisible, I could feel that the crack was there and that I could reopen it with a single thought.
I decided to move around more to find the maximum distance I can put between me and the crack.
Finding it only took a few minutes.
"30 feet with me as the center. It's the same distance inside which I can construct my weapons."
I walked toward the center of the white room.
This room was Susan's personal training room. I asked her to let me use it after scamm-cough cough enlightening her about the organization's Assessment.
Whoosh-
Two orbs appeared on my palms.
I brought my hands together and fused them.
Three seconds later, there was a reddish-black orb on my palm.
"Three seconds. Not bad."
With my only option to use it in close quarters, I had been training to decrease the fusion time.
(Is there no way for the orb to be used as a ranged attack?)
(Magicians make sure to always keep a distance. But the orb isn't of much use if you get close to them.)
(If you get close to a magician, you can defeat them even without the orb)
"Let me try if I can make it a ranged attack"
(You can?)
"I'm trying"
I joined my wrists and held the orb between my stretched palms.
Then I slightly parted my legs and pulled my arms closer.
Finally, I bent my knees a little.
(What are you doing?)
'Don't disturb me.'
"Huu…."
I exhaled loudly.
"KAAAMEEE…"
I increased my volume to another notch.
"HAAAAMEEEEEH-"
CLACK-
"What are you doing?"
The door to the training room opened, and Susan entered. She had a weird expression on her face.
It seems she saw me.
I coughed slightly and stood back straight.
"Did I not tell you that you shouldn't disturb me? You interrupted me when I was about to complete my strongest skill."
I lied as easily as I breathed.
In this world, there are three classifications of skills.
Based on efficiency, they are ordered like this: Acquired skills> System skills > Manual skills.
Any move of an awakener can be classified as a manual skill.
A person punching? That's a manual skill.
A person coating their weapon in aura? A manual skill.
A person manipulating mana to fly? That too is a manual skill!
Anything that wasn't given by the system or an acquired skill was a manual skill. Arts are also a type of manual skill.
"Why did you come?"
I questioned her while wiping my forehead with a towel.
"The details about the practical exam have been released. We need t-"
"Climb to the 10th floor of the Dungeon of Trails within 3 weeks. The exam will be conducted there. Is that what the message is?"
"Yes"
Susan answered, slightly shocked.
I internally gloated at her surprise.
This information wasn't very highly classified, but still difficult to obtain.
I just showed her that I had a good intelligence network, even within Ward. I bet my image improved in her mind by another notch.
'Sometimes my genius is... it's almost frightening.'
"Then I'll go back."
"Wait."
Susan stopped at the door.
"I need to train. Spar with me."
"Why?"
Her eyes were speaking 'Aren't you stronger than me? Why do you want to spar with me?'
(Stronger than her? She can squash you like a mosquito)
'Even if you are speaking the truth, can't you put it more nicely?'
(You are right. You won't die like a mosquito.)
(You are a cockroach.)
Eth was right. No, not about the cockroach thing.
He is right regarding Susan's strength.
If I fight Susan, she will easily discover that I was faking my strength. I needed to trick her.
"I'm learning to fight with a different fighting style. Don't worry, I'll lower my level."
I fused ether and nether and wrapped the harmonized energy around my core.
Maintaining the cover around my core takes focus. I had undone it after entering Susan's dorm room.
"What is your current strength now?"
Susan, feeling the slight changes in my energy fluctuations, asked.
"Lvl 11. You should also restrict yourself to around this level. With this, the training will be more effective."
But of course, I was lying.
My strength wasn't affected in the least. I was only saying this to make sure Susan holds back while fighting and I have an excuse for being weak.
"Okay."
Vupp-
Susan replied, and a sword appeared in her hands.
*
Susan stood across from Nathan.
Gulp-
Her whole body was tense.
Till now she had no idea about Nathan's true strength.
Was he truly stronger than her? Someone who was trained to become a weapon?
"You can start."
-Bam!
Susan bursts a layer of aura under her feet.
Her body shot towards Nathan.
Swish-
She pulls back her sword and slashed.
Nathan doesn't try to dodge. He only pulled his fist closer to his body and lowers his stance.
'What?!'
Susan's blade reaches Nathan's neck within a second.
Phzzzt-
Clang-!
Suddenly, a sword materializes between Nathan's neck and her sword.
At this moment, Nathan punches her face!
Susan was too close to dodge his attack.
She makes her decision in a split moment.
*Grab*
She dropped her sword and grabs his arm.
Before Nathan can react, she pulls him by arm and started spinning him.
Swosh- Swosh-
Just as she reached maximum velocity, she turned on her heel and threw Nathan toward the wall.
Nathan's body flew to the wall like a cannonball!
He was about to hit the wall when he suddenly twisted his body in mid-air.
Phzzzt-
A greatsword materializes under his feet.
He stops in mid-air by using his sword for footing!
Using the force behind Susan's throw, he bends his knees and channels ether to them.
He then copies Susan and creates a concentrated ether layer under his sole.
Crack- Crack-
The greatsword started breaking under the extreme pressure of Ether.
-Bam!
He leaps back toward Susan.
Susan was getting excited.
Nathan's expression is calm as a lake even now.
She wanted to see how much more till he is forced to get serious.
She decided to get a little more serious herself.
Susan started using the strength of Lvl.14.
Another sword appeared in her hand.
Vroom-
Air stirred, and white flames covers her sword.