Talent System: I Instantly Master My Opponents Skills

The shattered pieces of Zane's broadsword scattered around the surrounding of the training grounds like fallen stars. For a moment silence hung in the air, only to be broken by the splatter of blood near Jason's foot, the liquid had started a small pool.

Jason felt the pain from his lost thumb, even he didn't know that his phalanges were strong enough to stop a broadsword from cutting through it.

Zane stared, disbelief etched onto his face. "What... just happened?" He questioned, his voice barely a whisper.

Jason felt it right to go along with the feeling, telling Zane the truth might break the youth's spirit. "I don't know."

Zane stepped back in shock as he dropped his right hand, his expression was a mix of disbelief and confusion.

To him, Jason had been almost everything: Jason was a friend, a sparring partner, someone he could talk to, and a good storyteller. He had always known that there was a gap between the two of them, however he didn't know it was as big to this extent.

"Are you OK?" Zane asked, his tone much more calmer. "You're bleeding."

Jason looked at him. "So you finally figured it out, genius."

Zane couldn't believe this guy, even after his thumb had been cut off he was still acting like a wisecrack.

"I guess I'll be fine after I drink a potion." Jason said.

Zane nodded, the ring in his hand glowed in a very faint light. From it a liquid encased in a purple container covered with a white spray appeared in his hand.

Jason understood the gesture, he took it from Zane before spraying it on the wound.

Because this was a potion and not an elixir the wound would heal over time.

"Let's keep going." Jason suggested.

Zane looked at him in uncertainty, he had just lost his thumb, the former finger a little bit away from their training spot.

"Alright." Zane nodded.

He went over to his weapon spot before carrying a dagger, the sleek blade gleamed menacingly in the light. "For your own sake, this dagger also has a 20% chance of poisoning."

"Okay." His grip tightened on the weapon in his hand; an 8-inch dagger. He could feel that there was something different about Zane, he seemed to have a different air about him.

They launched into the next round.

Zane was faster this time, his movements were a blur to the untrained eye as he lunged forward. Jason raised his weapon to block, the clash of metal rang out in the air.

Zane immediately withdrew before charging again, he had spent years watching Jason as they spared, each time learning, observing and looking for counters – with every feint, every thrust. Each time he came close to breaking Jason's defenses he was stopped.

He knew that he wouldn't be able to break his opponent's defenses.

He lunged again, this time with more precision in his actions, the dagger was aimed for Jason's exposed side. The clang of metal sounding in the air rang out, the force of impact reverberating on Zane's hand.

"Come on! I know maids who have better footwork than you!" Jason taunted, his voice laced with fake arrogance.

"But which of them have ever looked at you like you're a human being?" Zane countered before unleashing a flurry of strikes.

Jason barely had time to counter the continuous barrage before Zane jumped back.

Without a word, Zane moved backwards to prepare a skill.

He prepared the Z-charge and rushed forward, his attack and speed greatly increased while using the skill. But there was something that was the same with the last time the skill was used – it was aimed to kill.

It was a thrust.

As Jason easily parried the strike, Zane shifted his weight, pivoting to the side and aiming for his opponent's exposed arm.

It seemed like Jason was about to get hit, but in the last 0. 011 seconds he ducked with a speed impossible for even rank 5's before striking Zane's blade with an overhead strike.

In the last second Zane retreated by using his enhanced speed, he knew the implications of allowing that attack land.

"Impressive, If you allowed that attack land it would've broken that weapon." Jason commented.

Zane showed a smirk. "The broadsword you broke is coming out of your tab."

"I didn't break it, it was the battle." Jason said before moving forward.

Zane readied himself, this time Jason was the one on the attack.

Jason was showcasing his speed, he was obviously faster than before. But even though, Zane thought he still had a fighting chance.

Instead of striking with the dagger Jason used his palm, he performed an overhead strike sending Zane off-balance.

Jason took a deep breath, as he released it he switched to his right hand.

Before Zane could react he thrust it into Zane's shoulder, the boy tried to react quickly sending out an uncontrolled spark of lightning at Jason to disrupt him.

However, Jason dodged by seemingly fazed from his position before reappearing at the exact same spot. He had moved so fast that it left a slight afterimage.

He withdrew the dagger from Zane's shoulder before ducking and lodging it in his leg.

At that Zane managed to land a hit, he pierced Jason's back with the dagger.

"Grrggh!"

Jason felt a stinging pain from his back, his joints also became somewhat stiff, very soon the pain seemingly spread out through his entire body, he knew that the dagger had a 20% chance of poisoning and paralysis, but when you compared 20% to 70% you would find out that the latter was more probable than the former.

Jason felt his body weakening slowly, Zane was now on top of him.

With a burst of strength he threw the boy off him.

They both retreated.

"Are you poisoned?" Jason asked Zane.

"No, it's only 20%, the odd chances of me being poisoned are 20."

Zane shrugged as blood slowly tricked from his shirt, he lunged right back in.

Jason feigned a retreat, drawing Zane in. As Zane lunged, Jason pivoted sharply, leveraging his weight to sweep Zane off his feet. The older fighter was sent tumbling to the ground, his dagger flying from his hand.

"Give up?" Jason asked.

"Alright." Zane grumbled.

Zane got onto his feet before staring at where they had fought, there was a combination of a broken sword and blood.

"Do you have any antidotes on you?"

"Why do you need an antidote?"

Jason shot him a look, as if he was looking at an idiot.

"We're fighting with poisonous daggers, what do you expect?"

Zane using his spatial ring, brought out a potion.

Jason sprayed it on the wound before throwing the container onto the ground.

"When you come next time it won't be as easy." He said solemnly, feeling the weight of his realization of Jason's strength in their fight.

"When you see me next time, we'll be prepping to enter a dungeon."

"Then I guess I'll have to beat you."

"Are you really that dumb, do you need me to replay our first fight. And besides..." Jason said running a hand through his hair, the poisoning and paralysis was gradually subsiding. "... we can't fight in a dungeon, it's supposed to be about survival."

Zane said nothing.

"But if you want to have a chance to beat me I'll give you some advice: Practice our preferred move until you master it, then move on to the next one you'll learn. It'll be helpful for both of us." Jason said giving a thumbs-up.

"Do you want me to call you thumb-less?"

Jason looked down, indeed he had used his thumbless hand to give a thumbs-up.

"I'm not the one cleaning up."

The training grounds was a mess.

"Neither am I."

A/N: Add this book to your collections... It motivates me to type more!