> "Hey, sword-for-brains!"
Skyler looked up from the rusted practice blade in his hand.
Across the training yard, a squad of adventurer trainees were laughing.
They all wore real gear, carried real weapons. Their leader — a tall guy with flame-tipped gloves and a sneer — stepped forward.
> "I've seen rats swing better than that. Where's your class crystal, huh? Oh wait—"
Mock gasp.
"You don't have one."
The others laughed.
Skyler said nothing. He turned away.
> Ignore them.
But the guy wasn't done.
> "Come on. Swing that little twig again. Let's see if you can scratch me."
Skyler gritted his teeth.
> Let it go.
Then the guy stepped forward and kicked over the crate of practice weapons.
> "Oops."
Skyler didn't move — not at first.
But his hand gripped the broken wooden sword tighter.
> "He used a stance just like Daniel's... left leg dominant, high guard..."
The guy lunged.
Skyler's feet moved before he could think — left foot pivot, low drop, sharp slash up.
CRACK.
The wooden blade snapped against the guy's shoulder, and he staggered back — stunned.
Everyone froze.
> "What the hell…?"
Skyler lowered the broken hilt, eyes cold. "You're wide open every time you lead with your right."
The guy growled. "You bastard—!"
He activated his fire skill, and a burning gauntlet flared to life.
> [Skill: Flame Pulse – Tier C]
Skyler's heart raced. No time to dodge.
The punch came fast.
He raised the hilt out of reflex.
BOOM.
Pain exploded through his arm, and he hit the ground hard, gasping.
> I'm still too slow...
The crowd chuckled.
> "That's what I thought. No class, no rank, no shot."
Skyler's vision blurred, but through the ringing in his ears, he heard something new.
> [Sword Memory: Reactive Defense Pattern: 12%]
Even beaten, the system was still recording. Still learning.
> "I lose… but I remember everything."
---
That night, he trained again — alone in the dark.
Every move from the fight replayed in his head. Every angle. Every mistake.
He imitated the flame gauntlet's punch, using a stone in his hand to simulate weight.
Over and over.
Until sweat soaked through his shirt and his muscles screamed.
---
By dawn, a new prompt appeared.
> [Skill Fragment Acquired: Unarmed Counterstrike – Tier F]
Progression: 24%
Skyler smiled for the first time.
---
Meanwhile…
In the Guild command tent, Daniel read over a scouting report.
He paused when
he saw a name.
> "Skyler...?"
The wind shifted outside.
Daniel looked up, eyes narrowing.
> "Why does that name feel familiar…?"