Chapter 12: Difference of Theory and Practice (2)

Lyn moved silently. He watched the mirror's every move.

Just how..

With his skills, Lyn couldn't replicate the clone's construct mace. 

"It must be a part of the skills' growth.."

In the face of despair Lyn began to analyze everything he could about his first match. He experimented with his [Beginner's Construct] skill, not only to attempt to recreate Ren's mace, but to also attempted to sharper his [Split] needles. 

"If I use a pyramid, it becomes much more similar to the clone's sharp edge."

At this point, Lyn was certain that the clone was a higher level than him. Not only could it apply its skill better than him, but it reacted quicker than he could think, and hit harder just as quick too. Again and again, Lyn couldn't face the clone for long enough to study all of its moves. For once, Lyn hated himself for always hiding what he could do.

"It would have been an impossible trial, but who could have known the system did something like this.."

[Temple Changes!]

[Permanently raised all skill levels by 1!]

[Added 1 skill slot!]

[Reduced restrictions on the system stats!]

Does the temple decrease the system's influence over me?  Or is it the temple integrating itself? 

From what Lyn could gather, the only thing in here for him to do was fight, but he was trying to avoid fighting as long as he could.

I haven't felt sleepy, hungry or thirsty either...

Unfortunately, that time has come to an end.

[Changes calculated! Please continue the 'Mirror Domain']

Although it was phrased like a request, it felt like the temple demanded he continue. Without a real choice, Lyn had to step forward before he was truly ready once again. He couldn't be sure the mirror would fight any differently, but he could use that theory to his advantage.

'[Beginner's Construct], [Split], [Spark Barrier] 

Preemptively readying his Pyramid split and barrier, he felt the cold gaze of the clone rest on him again.

When the clone shot forward,  Lyn shot his needles immediately after, then used [Blink Chain] to dodge out of the clone's line of sight.

Without a moment of rest, he used [Mana Flare] and shot it directly in the path of the clone, who swiftly knocked the needles that would have hit him out of the air. 

Noticing this, Lyn created three new constructs. He used two hand-like constructs and attempted to restrict the clone. However, the hands were unlike the needles, and moved too slow in the air to catch the already speedy clone. 

Dashing forward its mace swung toward's Lyn's faces who used his third construct, another hand, to drag himself back. In his quick, short and, calculated movements, he felt his body slam against the dirt circle's barrier.

Without a moment of hesitation the clone swung its mace from above Lyn knocking him to the ground.

"B-[Blink Chain]!"

Somewhat prepared for the attack, Lyn moved away before the clone could deliver a finishing blow. His now bloodied face blocked a portion of his vision.

Shit.. this.. fucking pain!

Lyn's head throbbed. His [Blink Chain] skill canceled, as all he could think about was the painful sensation on the left side of his head.

Without any cards left, Lyn created as many hands as he could in a desperate attempt to restrict the clone. As he poured out his [Life Force] the density of the hands began to increase as a collective, and [Mana Flare] recharged. 

Successfully, the hand's stopped the clone in its tracks. For the first time, it used a skill other than [Intermediate Construct].

In an instant, the clone blinked behind Lyn. He twisted his body as fast he could and aimed for the left arm of the clone, to stop its mace. However, as if it expected him to use the [Mana Flare] the clone blinked again and activated [Deep Sleep].

Overwhelming Lyn, it used his same strategy and created many hands to stop him in his tracks.

[...]

[..Falling into 'Drowsy' state!]

"Shit! No!"

Lyn began to lose focus again. He desperately tried to blink to navigate the dirt circle, but the clone's hands always obstructed his path towards his enemy.

He's using them as a barrier!

Lyn realized he had no way to approach the clone without fighting hand to mace. In a battle like that, he was sure to die. Still clinging to life, forgetting he'd revive at the end of this, Lyn focused completely on [Blink Chain].

He blinked around the circle as quick as the skill would allow.

Overusing the skill, he charged up [Mana Flare] but he still didn't pause. The clone's stance began to shift, as if to prepare for an incoming attack from any direction.

Lyn created more constructs. Cubes, tears, Pyramids and Spheres, any basic shape he could think of in a split second. The crystals on his glove began to crack and the cracks on his skin began to move further down towards his elbow.

His blinks became faster.

His constructs denser.

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And his body began to burst with energy. 

He finally paused. His eyes glowing exactly like his clone, almost perfect it's piercing glare.

He raised his hand, he shouted.

"[Mana Flare]!"

A wave of energy, more destructive, moved towards the faster than it could react. Without confirming if it hit, Lyn simply activated the overloaded skill again.

"[Mana Flare]!"

An explosion of Life Force consumed the room. In a flash of green light, Lyn's vision began to fade. In a glimpse, he saw the system's congratulatory notification and weakly smiled. 

I.. really am.. a genius..

For the first time, Lyn was victorious.

. . .

Bellora quickly grew into the group's pace and atmosphere. Like it was a trip to go sightseeing, the group of strangers grew closer, studying all the strange sighting reported by any locals and the occasional battle between the loose monster here and there. It was like the Saint and the trio had been working together for a year the way they combed through the port district without any mistakes.

"Miss Hourson, you really are incredible!"

"Where did you get the chance to learn to deal with spirits!? Can a mage like me learn those buffs as well?"

Although the she never planned on detailing the secrets of her skills, the Saint wasn't the least bit embarassed to recieve their praises. They were deserved as her buffed spirit tag team was unlike any other warrior who came before her.  If she had the same 5 year time frame to grow, it would be an understatement to call her unparalled.

In addition her skills grew even quicker as she practiced buffing the warriors and spirits at the same time.

It drains my mana so quickly though.. it's nice to take these breaks..

Going in and out the city, Bellora's party could narrow the possible domain areas to three spots.

"Most of the citizens reported seeing and hearing a flying monster here, however the workers who go deep in the forest claim that the scream can be heard as far as here which unless it was collosal that wouldn't make sense. We can be sure that's not the case too, as warriors, who hunted around this area reported as many details as they knew about the monster, of course including it's location."

Damien, the leader of the trio, an archer, and the most knowledgable when it came to compiling and understanding trends of data simplified all the information the group collected.

"We'll then we should go for the where the hunters or workers report then. If not exactly then someone where in the middle, no?"

Aileen, the second archer of the group , and the designated scout, was sure that the hearsay among citizens probably shouldn't be trusted.

"Uh.. yeah what she said."

Finally, the mage of the group, Dennis, was more occupied with Bellora to pitch in on the group's discussion. The two didn't think much of it as he wasn't usually offering much to the conversation that they didn't already cover.

"Well that means it's decided then?" Bellora perked up, ready to get moving after a much needed rest session.

"Yes, I looked forward to fighting with you again Miss Bellora."

"You can drop the Miss, you know"

Bellora lighthearted joked with Damien and let him take the lead. In the distance a roar could be heard.

"And you said we couldn't trust the words of citizens?" The mage teased as he monster was as close to the city as it was reported to be

"And what exactly did you add, Dennis?" Aileen retorted sharpishly.

"Focus guys." Paying attention only to the path towards the monster's roar Damien gesutred towards Aileen to take the lead and guide the trio to the monster.

So it dies tonight then.

Bellora couldn't wait to take to the skies with her own power for the first time.

. . .

Ren watched the news to keep up with the world while under probation. It won't be long until she'd be free and could return with Lyn to the milliant dungeon. Once in a while Sunny would update Ren and how she was doing and so would Lyn but recently the two hadn't sent a message. 

There would always be quiet moments in everyone's lives and busy moments in others. Ren didn't think much of it until she got a message from Sunny.

Ah, is he worried about Lyn again? I swear he doesn't realize that he is a fully grown man sometimes.

But when Ren read the message she couldn't help but start overthinkng like Sunny after a moment of thought.

'Hey, where did Lyn say he was training again? There were people at the ACPP meaning to speak with him.'

Where?

Where was it?

Ren couldn't recall if Lyn had ever named where he was training. Hell, she didn't know if Lyn ever said where he was going explicitly, not even Sunny did. 

She sent a simple 'idk' but immediately requested to leave her house for important business. It wouldn't be approved immediately but Ren would try her hardest to get to the bottom of this as quickly as she could.

Haah, I'm just as bad aren't I..