Cassian’s excitement about upgrading his skills faded quickly when he saw the costs. Upgrading Sword Mastery by just one level required 5000 training points, and passive skills demanded even more, so he dismissed those outright. He didn’t have enough points yet, but completing more tasks could make some upgrades achievable.
Full Body Massage Mastery cost 600 points for a single level-up, while Gale Whisper Sword Style required 1000 points per level. However, each subsequent upgrade would cost more, dampening Cassian’s enthusiasm significantly. He entered the personal training chamber, which was surprisingly spacious, but paid it little mind. As soon as he stepped inside, he activated the Training Field, vanishing from the room.
The Training Field was a large, well-lit stone room with high ceilings, perfect for practice. The only change was the mana density—nearly double that of normal outdoor areas, akin to deep forests.
Cassian, unimpressed, said, "System, activate the Situational Combat Simulator."
[What situation would the Trainee like to simulate?]
After a moment’s thought, Cassian recalled his recent fight. "Simulate my battle with the stone-skinned Circle Warrior," he said, relieved he didn’t need to explain further since the system knew all his actions.
Though this felt like a privacy invasion, Cassian shrugged it off. The system wouldn’t spill his secrets or use them against him.
As Cassian stood in the Training Field, the system processed his request. The air shimmered, and the familiar stone chamber began to transform. The smooth stone floor beneath his feet softened, morphing into a slick, muddy path that squelched under his boots. The scent of damp earth filled his nostrils, replacing the sterile air of the chamber. The high ceilings, once a stark gray, dissolved into a vast, star-strewn night sky, twinkling with constellations that felt both familiar and alien. The walls of the room faded, giving way to a dense forest, with towering trees sprouting from the ground, their gnarled branches swaying in a simulated breeze. The mana in the air pulsed stronger, its density mirroring the wild, untamed energy of the deep forests.
As Cassian stood in the Training Field, the system processed his request. The air shimmered, and the familiar stone chamber began to transform. The smooth stone floor beneath his feet softened, morphing into a slick, muddy path that squelched under his boots. The scent of damp earth filled his nostrils, replacing the sterile air of the chamber. The high ceilings, once a stark gray, dissolved into a vast, star-strewn night sky, twinkling with constellations that felt both familiar and alien. The walls of the room faded, giving way to a dense forest, with towering trees sprouting from the ground, their gnarled branches swaying in a simulated breeze. The mana in the air pulsed stronger, its density mirroring the wild, untamed energy of the deep forests.
In moments, the scene solidified. Carriages materialized along the muddy path, their wooden frames creaking as they rocked on uneven ground. Lanterns hung from their sides, casting flickering golden light that danced across the surroundings.
Mountain walls materialized on one side, followed by the appearance of people—his teammates Lumine, Robert, Wanni, and others. The battle erupted as black-cloaked cultists attacked, and Cassian saw himself within the simulation, fighting fiercely. The system’s voice echoed:
[The first simulation is free. From now on, each simulation will cost 10 training points. However, once performed, a simulation can be repeated at no cost.]
Cassian frowned, mildly annoyed, but didn’t dwell on it. The realism was astounding—screams of battle, clashing weapons, dying cries, and mana guns firing felt vividly real.
[The Trainee may join the simulation and fight anyone as desired. Note that the system can only simulate battles based on the Trainee’s personal observations. For specific simulations, the Trainee must provide detailed instructions.]
"That’s a bit inconvenient," Cassian muttered, watching the simulated battle unfold. Seeing himself battered by a massive hammer, he winced. Even knowing he couldn’t feel the pain and would heal, it wasn’t pleasant to watch. "System, can you restart the simulation or, better yet, replace me right when I start fighting that hulking hammer-head?"
The system’s voice rang out, and Cassian was caught off guard as the scene reversed at breakneck speed. Mana bullets zipped back into gun barrels, severed heads reattached, and chaos rewound.
Everything paused, and Cassian found himself face-to-face with the hulking figure again, tossing soldiers aside like they were weightless. Smirking, he muttered, "Hey there, big guy, we meet again..." Just like before, the giant charged, hammer whistling through the air toward Cassian’s head.
This time, Cassian was ready and dodged more skillfully, but to his shock, the next attack deviated from the previous pattern. Instead of swinging, the hulking man charged and kicked Cassian in the stomach, sending him crashing into a tree. Though he felt no pain and was in no danger, the unexpected move stunned him. "Stop!" he called out.
The giant froze mid-jump, hammer poised to crush his head. Cassian demanded, "What was that, System? He moved differently this time!"
[That’s because the simulations are adaptive. They adjust based on the Trainee’s movements and decisions.]
Cassian rose to his feet, unharmed but shaken, the sensation of the kick lingering as if it were real. Confusion clouded his face as he muttered, "System, what do you mean ’adaptive’? Explain it."
[The Situational Combat Simulator dynamically adjusts scenarios based on the Trainee’s actions. Each decision or movement you make influences the simulation, causing opponents to adapt their tactics, attack patterns, or strategies. This ensures varied and realistic combat experiences to enhance your adaptability and decision-making skills.]
Cassian blinked, processing the explanation. "So, you’re saying this thing changes the fight depending on what I do?" He glanced at the frozen hulking figure, hammer still suspended mid-air. "That’s why he kicked me instead of swinging like before?"
[Correct. The simulation analyzes your responses and alters the opponent’s behavior to challenge you differently each time, within the constraints of observed or specified data.]
Rubbing his head, not fully grasping every detail of the system’s explanation but getting the gist, Cassian gave a slight smirk. "That’s... convenient. Alright, let’s do this again. Restart the simulation, right before he charges."
[Simulation restarting at the requested moment.]