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Conra and Adrian, weapons drawn and aimed at each other, carefully observed their opponent while in a standoff.

A warrior trained in the Reverse Muscle Technique can glimpse the ethereal muscles of those at a lower level. By observing each other, they can gauge the opponent’s level, and if the opponent is at a lower level, they can predict their next move in an instant.

Unfortunately for Adrian, Conra was at a higher level in the Reverse Muscle Technique. While Adrian had just completed his 1st Banding, Conra had already completed his 2nd Banding. Thus, Conra could faintly perceive Adrian’s ethereal muscles, whereas Adrian couldn’t read anything from Conra.

However, Adrian wasn’t disheartened. He had always anticipated facing opponents of higher levels, especially as the leader of a slum. Moreover, the Reverse Muscle Technique he had mastered had a unique feature that allowed him to hold his own against higher-level masters.

This unique feature left Conra feeling perplexed as he faintly glimpsed Adrian’s ethereal muscles.

“Can’t… read his movements?”

Normally, ethereal muscles resemble the human body, as they are cultivated through physical exercises based on the human body structure. Even if they take on slightly different forms, there are limits—like overdeveloped upper bodies resembling gorillas or overdeveloped lower bodies resembling rabbits, ostriches, or kangaroos.

In this sense, Adrian’s ethereal muscles appeared utterly alien to Conra. While the overall outline was humanoid, the fundamental structure of the muscle fibers felt more like a cephalopod in human form—a blend of cephalopod and human muscle fibers within a human frame.

Thus, Conra had to admit that it was impossible to predict Adrian’s next move based on his ethereal muscles.

But isn’t that what battles are all about? It’s just a matter of facing an opponent of equal or higher level, as usual.

Thinking this, Conra initiated the fight by thrusting his spear, as he always did.

The weapon matchup was unfavorable for Conra. Spears are generally at a disadvantage against swords, as the spear’s effective striking range is limited, leaving no sharp means to counter an opponent who closes the distance.

Adrian’s movements, though not large, were aggressive and active. His sword, reminiscent of a snake’s flicking tongue, darted in and out, aiming to slash at Conra.

This disoriented Conra. Despite trying to ignore Adrian’s cephalopod-like ethereal muscles, the snake-like movements inevitably affected him.

As a result, Conra couldn’t rely on his usual beast-like agility to aggressively close the distance and had to adopt a more cautious stance. This neutralized his greatest advantage.

“Ugh, what bizarre… swordsmanship!”

Conra, having narrowly escaped several dangerous moments due to Adrian’s unpredictable movements, frowned as he spoke. Adrian forced a smile. While he had successfully exploited Conra’s surprise, Conra was no ordinary warrior. The gap in strength and agility due to their levels in the Reverse Muscle Technique, coupled with Conra’s innate talent and competitive instincts, made him a formidable opponent.

Though Conra’s genius was currently hindering him, Adrian never forgot that he was the underdog.

Sophia had noticed Conra and Adrian’s fierce battle early on but chose not to intervene. Having already discerned the peculiarities of Adrian’s ethereal muscles, ethereal brain, and swordsmanship, she believed it was better for Conra to experience them firsthand for his growth.

Adrian had initiated the fight, knowing that his element of surprise would diminish over time. He feared that once Conra grew accustomed to his ethereal muscles, he would lose any chance of victory.

“Pingimiento (Camouflage)! Engaño (Deception)!”

It happened in an instant. Adrian’s ethereal muscles writhed strangely, and the next moment, Conra lost sight of Adrian. It was as if Adrian had melted into the surroundings.

The two short spells, seamlessly chained together, were enough to disorient Conra.

*Snap!*

Adrian, like an assassin, thrust his sword into the gap in Conra’s consciousness.

It was a moment of crisis. If not for Conra’s near-instinctive evasion and defense, he might have lost at least three fingers on his left hand.

Had that happened, even Conra would have struggled to maintain a clear advantage over Adrian.

“Tch, reacting to that… You’re a monster.”

Conversely, Adrian felt a deep sense of frustration for failing to inflict significant damage despite revealing his trump card.

As Adrian clicked his tongue in disappointment, Conra struggled to understand what had just happened. In his place, the spirits Rugus-Artaeus and Esras-Hermes explained the situation with admiration.

{By altering the spiritual pigments through the fluidity of his ethereal muscles, he camouflaged himself into the environment. Then, by chaining two spells, he created a gap in perception to slip into the opponent’s blind spot. A natural-born assassination technique, worthy of being called a one-hit kill.}

{Not just that. If it were ordinary spells, Conra wouldn’t have been so easily caught off guard. Adrian is also a skilled spellcaster. He cast two single-word spells in quick succession, chaining them so naturally that they felt like one spell, maximizing the element of surprise. Such a feat is impossible for a normal ethereal brain. It seems his ethereal brain, like his ethereal muscles, resembles that of a cephalopod.}

{He must have chosen techniques that complement each other well. Both techniques were likely secret arts of renowned families.}

Hearing this, Conra’s eyes grew more wary.

“Just being unfamiliar isn’t an excuse. Falling for something without even understanding it is a warrior’s shame.”

Lowering his stance and extending his spear, Conra pondered.

“How did I react earlier? I didn’t even realize it, but my body moved on its own. Can I react like that again?”

Honestly, Conra wasn’t confident he could react the same way if Adrian attacked again. Sensing his internal conflict, Rugus-Artaeus spoke.

{Conra, you’re a warrior with exceptional senses. In battle, you always see, hear, and perceive more than others, fighting amidst a flood of sensory information. Right now, that’s working against you, as you’re being swayed by the opponent’s sensory deception. That’s why your reactions are delayed. No, the very process of perceiving, discerning, and deciding on a reaction is hindering you.}

Conra agreed with Rugus-Artaeus but asked how he should proceed.

“Then, what should I do?”

{There are two ways.}

“Two?”

{One is to exclude all senses and perceptions, setting up a rational combat logic for specific situations and moving solely based on that. The other is to exclude all senses and perceptions, trusting your body’s instinctive reactions above all else.}

“The first one takes too much time. I should’ve prepared it earlier.”

{Exactly. So, the only option is the latter. And fortunately, you have the ‘talent’ to make it possible. Your opponent, regardless of anything else, is at a lower level than you. Here, you must trust your innate talent and the level you’ve achieved. There’s no other way.}

In short, Conra had to trust his talent and skill, letting them guide him without overthinking.

“Then, from now on…”

{Just suspend all judgment and let your body move as it wants.}

Under normal circumstances, such advice from Rugus-Artaeus would have been suicidal. Against a higher-level opponent, this approach wouldn’t work. Trusting instincts over thought was a risky gamble.

But at this moment, it was the only way for Conra to break through. And Conra was the type to listen to advice and act on it immediately.

As Conra discussed the strategy with Rugus-Artaeus, the dynamics of the battle between Adrian and Conra began to shift. Adrian, noticing Conra’s movements becoming more fluid and instinctive, started to feel a sense of crisis.

“Tch, this won’t do. If I don’t finish this now…!”

Despite having mastered a one-hit kill technique, Adrian felt a growing sense of unease after failing his first attempt. But he had no other options.

As he writhed his ethereal muscles again, his form momentarily blended into the surroundings. Using a peculiar footwork technique, Adrian slipped into Conra’s blind spot.

And then, the spell erupted like a death cry.

“Pingimiento (Camouflage)! Engaño (Deception)!”

And as Adrian thrust into the gap in Conra’s consciousness…

“This… this can’t be…”

Adrian, disarmed by Conra’s reflexive reaction, fell to the ground.

 

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