[Performed a perfect dodge]
The system's voice echoed in Cassian's mind as he deftly evaded Robert's thrust, countering with a downward slash across Robert's shoulder, causing him to wince in pain. The system defined a "perfect dodge" as a successful counterattack immediately following a precise evasion.
It was a difficult maneuver to pull off, and fortunately, the system only required him to perform it a maximum of five times. After all, in a real fight, the same move rarely works repeatedly—unless it's part of a combination of basic maneuvers.
Cassian had been sparring with Robert for a while after Julius wrapped up today's lesson, which focused on the proper way to grip a sword. Neither of them thought they needed the instruction at first, but they were in for a surprise when Julius explained the advantages of holding their swords correctly.
Each type of sword had its own ideal grip, and for Cassian, it meant holding the sword a bit more loosely. He wasn't a fan of this at first—when exchanging blows, the force would travel down the sword's hilt into his hands, causing them to tremble with pain. But it was effective, allowing him to perform more moves than usual, including some trickier maneuvers.
Cassian adjusted his grip on the wooden training sword, holding it more loosely, just as Julius had instructed. As he faced off against Robert, the difference was palpable—his wrist moved with more freedom, and the blade responded fluidly to each shift of his stance. Robert came at him first, leading with a straightforward thrust aimed at Cassian's chest.
Cassian sidestepped, letting the loose grip guide his next move. Rather than block Robert's thrust directly, he slid his sword along the side of Robert's blade with a light parry. The loose grip absorbed some of the force, sparing Cassian's hands from the usual jarring impact. With a quick flick of his wrist, he transitioned into a downward strike aimed at Robert's shoulder.
But Robert was ready this time, bringing up his wooden sword in a sharp, upward block, the two blades clashing together. Seizing the moment, Robert pushed forward, aiming a quick slash toward Cassian's side. Cassian shifted back, the looser grip letting him move his sword quickly to intercept.
He parried the strike, feeling the vibrations travel through his hands but managing to redirect the energy into a counter.
Cassian twisted his sword upward, turning the parry into a fluid upward cut toward Robert's chin. Robert leaned back just in time, dodging the attack, then retaliated with a sweeping horizontal slash aimed at Cassian's midsection. Cassian ducked low, allowing the strike to whoosh harmlessly above his head.
Without missing a beat, Robert pressed the attack, following up with a downward chop aimed at Cassian's shoulder. Cassian barely managed to twist his loose grip into a quick spin, the momentum of the spin carrying his sword into a low sweep at Robert's legs.
Robert hopped back, avoiding the strike, but Cassian had already pivoted, using the loose grip to redirect his momentum into a diagonal slash upward.
Robert blocked again, but the force behind Cassian's strike pushed him back a step. Cassian saw his chance and spun into a feint—he made it look like he was going for Robert's side, but at the last second, he twisted the blade upward, aiming a swift strike at Robert's head.
Robert barely managed to bring his sword up to block, their wooden blades cracking together with a sharp sound. Breathing heavily, Robert stumbled back, then counterattacked with a thrust aimed directly at Cassian's chest, hoping to catch him off guard.
Cassian shifted his body at the last moment, letting Robert's thrust pass just beside his ribs. In one fluid motion, he spun around to Robert's side, using the momentum from the loose grip to slash downward. Robert twisted out of the way, just narrowly avoiding the strike, and the two fighters broke apart, both panting, their expressions a mix of exhaustion and exhilaration.
"Not bad, Cassian," Robert breathed, adjusting his stance. "You're quicker than before."
"I've been practicing a lot..." Cassian said, breathing heavily, his gaze distant and unfocused.
[Daily Training Tasks Completed]
[Deflect 40 Moves: 40/40
Parry 20 Moves: 20/20
Perform Perfect Dodge 30 Attacks: 30/30
Do 3-Slash Combo: 25/25]
He stared at the system's panel, his eyes widening in surprise as a new notification popped up. Before he had a chance to read it fully, he waved off Robert's curiosity and said, "Let's wrap it up... I'm starving." Without waiting for a response, he headed toward a secluded corner of the training grounds, a spot hidden from view where he could check the system's latest message in peace.
As Cassian reached the hidden corner of the training grounds, he leaned against a wooden post, catching his breath. The system's screen materialized in his mind, revealing the new notification:
[New Skill Progression Achieved]
[Sword Mastery: Ranked Up from Novice to Apprentice]
[Trainee Cassian grasp on the sword has become more refined. Trainee now have better control over his strikes, allowing for smoother transitions between offensive and defensive maneuvers. Endurance when using sword techniques has slightly increased.]
A faint grin crossed Cassian's face. He could already feel the subtle change—his grip felt more natural, the weight of the practice sword less burdensome, and his movements flowed with newfound ease. His fingers flexed around the wooden sword's hilt, testing this improved control, and he realized just how much the hours of sparring and practicing those tricky maneuvers had paid off.
"Apprentice, huh?" Cassian muttered to himself, a small swell of pride rising in his chest. It wasn't a massive jump, but it was progress, and he'd been working hard these past few days. With Julius's guidance and his detailed lectures, his improvement had been quicker than ever. Just as he was savoring this small victory, the system interrupted his thoughts with a new notification.
[Training Points Unlocked.]
[Training Field Function Upgraded.]
[Training Points: A currency for trainee Cassian to use in upgrading system functions or unlocking additional features.]
[Training Points can be earned by completing training tasks, which the trainee can select from the task option in the system panel.]
[Daily training tasks will no longer be automatically provided.]
[Training Field Upgraded: Training conducted in the field will now count towards selected training tasks and will also increase proficiency in skills. While training in the field, time will flow twice as fast as in the outside world.]
[Trainee can use Training Points to enhance the time dilation function, allowing time to flow even faster in the training field compared to real space.]
"I'll be damned..." Cassian said with a wide smile, surprised by the news. The training field upgrade excited him; he realized he could now train his skills there, and even better, the daily training tasks were no longer required.
There was still an option to select tasks from which he could earn Training Points, and everything seemed straightforward enough for him to grasp. However, he took the time to read through the descriptions carefully, not wanting to overlook any details. His first priority was figuring out exactly how to earn those Training Points.
And he could find that out in the system's task options.