The assignment board went up outside the strategy room.
Three names in gold lettering with specialist assignments. One name in plain ink.
Hero Kenji — Advanced Sword Arts Instructor: Master Swordsman Valerian (Level 72, Royal Guard Captain)
Hero Aria Frostborne — Grimoire Studies Instructor: Court Mage Thessaly (Level 58, Royal Academy)
Hero Marcus Lightbringer — Divine Magic Refinement Instructor: High Priest Aric of Temple Soleth (Level 55)
Hero Hiroshi Tanaka — Continue basic combat drills Instructor: None listed (Requirement not met. Instructor access unlocks at Level 10 or above.)
Hiroshi read it twice. Not surprised. Expected exactly this.
His mask responded automatically. Slight smile.
Of course. Why waste a master's time on the expendable?
"Master Valerian?!" Kenji stared at the board. "He trained the King!"
Aria read her assignment with satisfaction. "Court Mage Thessaly. Her elemental theory work is foundational."
Marcus said excited. "High Priest Aric!"
Kenji glanced at Hiroshi's card. "Hey, that's it? No specialist?"
"Makes sense." Hiroshi kept his voice casual. "Masters work with heroes who have reached level 10 at minimum."
"That's not fair. Want me to talk to Gideon about..."
"Really, it's fine! Basic drills suit my current level. No point wasting a master's time."
Framed it as logical. Kenji accepted.
Aria studied Hiroshi's card more carefully. "No instructor listed at all. Every other trainee has at least basic supervision and your a hero."
"I'm self-sufficient."
"That's not the point."
Hiroshi met her eyes. Brief honesty. "I know. But it is what it is."
"I'll pray for your growth, brother," Marcus said.
"Thanks. I'll take all the help I can get."
The others left for their instructors. Hiroshi stood alone on the training grounds.
Wooden dummies in rows. Obstacle course empty. Basic equipment. No plan except "continue drills."
Two weeks until E-Rank dungeon.
They expect me to stagnate. They expect me to stay weak. They expect the next dungeon to finish what Warren didn't.
Fine. Let them expect.
He picked up a wooden sword and approached the first dummy.
Days 1-3 were frustrating.
Standard drills. Same ones he'd been doing for weeks. Hit dummy, dodge counter-swing, repeat a thousand times.
Getting nowhere.
He could hear Master Valerian's instructions carrying across the grounds. Kenji learning advanced forms. Actual progression.
Hiroshi hit wood.
Day 3, the dummy's counter-strike caught him in the ribs. Sharp pain. He checked his System.
No notification.
"Come on," he muttered, hitting the dummy again. "Something. Anything."
Nothing happened.
Day 5 brought the realization.
Hiroshi sat on a bench, examining his hands. Thinking.
Warren. [Adaptive Evolution] had triggered against goblins. Living enemies with technique. Not training dummies.
Training dummies were mechanical. No actual skill behind the movement.
His hypothesis was that The skill requires intent. For it to copy Technique. He Something more that that.
He needed to be attacked by someone who knew what they were doing.
Training dummies couldn't teach him.
Only option: Find someone willing to hit him properly.
Day 6, he approached Commander Gideon.
"Commander, I'd like to spar with the training squires."
Gideon looked up, surprised. "Spar? At your level?"
"Yes"
Gideon studied him. "You... want to get hurt."
Careful answer. "I learn better from direct combat experience. Dummies aren't enough for me."
Gideon paused. Then: "Alright. But if you break something, I'm sending you to the healers."
"Thank you"
Gideon assigned a Level 8 squire.
The spar was brutal.
The squire, trained for years, proper technique, won easily. Used [Basic Sword Form] with actual footwork, guard positions, strike angles.
Hiroshi got hit. Repeatedly.
But.
[Adaptive Evolution] triggered.
First hit with proper technique: System notification.
[Analyzing combat pattern... Basic Sword Form observed]
Pain surge. Familiar now. Uncomfortable but expected.
Second hit: Reinforcement.
Third hit: [Basic Footwork Lv.2] → [Basic Footwork Lv.3]
The spar ended. Hiroshi lost decisively. Body sore, bruised everywhere.
His face showed genuine excitement.
It works. Real technique triggers it. Dummies can't. Living attackers can.
The harder they hit, the more I learn. The better they are, the better I become.
Days 7-8, he escalated.
"Can I spar with a Level 10 squire?"
Gideon raised an eyebrow. "Level 10? You sure?"
"Positive."
He got beaten worse. But copied more.
[Sword Guard Lv.1] learned[Strike Timing Lv.1] learned
Pattern established: Spar, get beaten, copy techniques, request harder opponent, repeat.
Circular masochistic training loop.
Effective but disturbing.
Day 8, hitting the dummy for the thousandth time, something clicked. The dummy counter-struck. This time Hiroshi dodged—copied skill working. Dummy swung again. Hiroshi blocked—copied guard functioning.
[Impact Resistance Lv.2] learned
System notification confirmed: Accumulated damage triggers skill evolution.
Both paths worked. Techniques copied from skilled attackers. Endurance skills developed from sustained damage.
Both required pain.
Both worked.
Day 10, he pushed harder.
"Level 15 opponent."
Gideon's concern showed. "Level 15? Hiroshi, that's..."
"I can handle it."
"You're Level 6."
"I know."
Long pause. "One session. If it goes badly, we stop."
The Level 15 knight destroyed him. Significantly stronger, techniques more refined.
But Hiroshi copied [Shield Block Lv.1] and [Combat Sense Lv.1].
Worse pain give the better skills.
Gideon watched the whole session. Saw Hiroshi get hit repeatedly. Saw Hiroshi getting up every time.
Something was happening. Progress visible.
Day 12, Hiroshi made his final request.
"Level 18."
"Absolutely not."
"Commander..."
"Level 18 knight versus Level 6? You'll die."
"I heal fast."
"That's not the point."
Hiroshi looked him in the eye. "Two days until E-Rank dungeon. I need to be ready."
"Ready how? By getting crippled?"
"By learning what I can, as fast as I can, with whatever tools I have."
Gideon saw something in his face. Resolve, not masochism.
"One session."
"Thank you so much sir."
The Level 18 knight was brutal.
Hiroshi got thrown across the training yard. It was not even a fight. Juts one sided beating.
But: [Advanced Footwork Lv.1] copied. [Weapon Reading Lv.1] copied.
Two major skills from one brutal session.
He lay on the ground after, breathing hard. Every bone aching. Smile on his face.
The knight stood over him. "You're either brave or insane, kid."
"Little of both."
Marcus healed him that evening. Didn't ask questions.
Day 14. End of training period.
Stats displayed on the magical board. Public assessment.
Kenji: Level 12 STR: 35, AGI: 28, VIT: 25, INT: 14, WIS: 12, CHA: 30 New Skills: [Sword Mastery Lv.2], [Blade Dance Lv.1]
Aria: Level 11 STR: 10, AGI: 18, VIT: 15, INT: 40, WIS: 30, CHA: 22 New Skills: [Frost Nova Lv.2], [Elemental Absorption Lv.1]
Marcus: Level 12 STR: 25, AGI: 15, VIT: 35, INT: 18, WIS: 28, CHA: 25 New Skills: [Divine Heal Lv.1], [Sacred Shield Lv.1]
Hiroshi: Level 7 STR: 10, AGI: 14, VIT: 16, INT: 15, WIS: 11, CHA: 8 New Skills: [Sword Mastery Lv.1], [Shield Block Lv.1], [Combat Sense Lv.1], +7 others.
Gideon read the board aloud. "Two-week specialist training results."
He pointed to each line. "Kenji: Level 12. Excellent work. Aria: Level 11. Strong magical progress. Marcus: Level 12. Balanced development."
Then he looked at Hiroshi's line.
"Hiroshi: Level 7. Ten new skills acquired. No instructor."
Pause.
"Fastest self-taught progression in forty years of training records."
Kenji stared. "Ten skills? Without a master? How?"
"Sparring. Lots of it. Self-study between sessions."
"Against who?"
"Various training partners. Worked my way up."
Aria studied the numbers carefully. "Skill quantity exceeds guided training output. How?"
"I've been busy training."
"Mm." Aria didn't push. But she filed it away.
Gideon distributed briefing materials. "E-Rank dungeon: The Drowned Catacombs. Study these."
Hiroshi took his packet and started reading immediately.
Kenji watched. "You never stop studying, do you?"
"Can't afford to."
That night, alone in his quarters, Hiroshi examined the bruises in the mirror.
Pointed to each one.
"Shoulder bruise: [Parry Lv.1]. Rib bruise: [Impact Resistance Lv.2]. Hip bruise: [Combat Reading Lv.1]. Back bruise: [Shield Block Lv.1]."
He opened the E-Rank briefing materials.
The Drowned Catacombs