The dungeon was silent again, the faint glow of loot fading into the shadows. John's heartbeat had barely calmed from the encounter with the rival.
He's targeting me… John thought. And he's strong.
Axel's voice suddenly echoed in his mind.
"John. Meet me at the training grounds. Now."
John blinked. The training grounds? Before he could respond, a portal shimmered before him. Without hesitation, he stepped through.
The world changed instantly.
Gone was the dungeon, replaced by a vast open field with floating platforms, moving targets, and holographic enemies of all shapes and sizes.
Axel stood at the center, arms crossed. His cloak fluttered in a nonexistent wind.
"Welcome," Axel said calmly. "This is where players with potential become legends. And you… have potential. But raw talent is worthless without control."
John swallowed. "I… I want to get stronger. I need to beat him—the rival."
Axel's gaze sharpened. "Good. That's the right mindset. But strength alone won't save you. You must learn to master your Skill Copy fully."
He gestured, and a holographic enemy appeared.
[Target Dummy | Level 5 | Skills: Fireball, Spin Attack]
"Observe first," Axel instructed. "Then copy. But this time… I want precision, timing, and adaptation."
John nodded. The dummy attacked, spinning and casting Fireball.
John's hands glowed faintly. He copied the Fireball, firing it back at the dummy… but it exploded harmlessly against a shield Axel had summoned.
"Too slow," Axel said. "Copying alone is not enough. You need to predict and combine skills."
John's brow furrowed. Predict… combine…
He inhaled deeply. As the dummy launched another Spin Attack, John analyzed the motion, timing the mimic perfectly. He combined Fireball mid-spin, sending the dummy flying into the air with a dazzling display of power.
Axel's eyes gleamed. "Better… much better. You are learning to not just copy, but adapt the skills to your own advantage."
Hours passed. John pushed himself beyond exhaustion, copying multiple skills, combining them, and even improvising his own attacks. Sweat dripped down his face, hands glowing with energy.
Finally, Axel stepped forward. "Enough for today. But remember…" His gaze was sharp, almost piercing. "Your rival is strong, cunning, and unafraid to exploit weaknesses. If you want to survive, you must anticipate him, not just react."
John nodded, determination burning in his chest.
"I'll get stronger," he said firmly. "I'll master this skill. And when he comes… I won't lose."
Axel smiled faintly. "Good. That's the spirit of a player destined to climb the ranks."
As the portal back opened, John looked at the training ground one last time. The energy thrumming in his veins was exhilarating.
This is just the beginning… he thought. The game… and my rival… are only going to get harder.