Orphan Reincarnation (4)

Among the countless weapons, I don't actually know how to wield even one of them.

Since there's no stat increase, I have to pick something at random.

Edith fiddled with things and eventually picked up a long blunt hammer.

I hesitated and picked up a sword.

'Skill Copy. Labyrinth Combat Art - Pankration.'

Pankration is the standard combat art of Labyrinthos city and a passive skill of the 6★ Labyrinth Warrior - Minos.

'Trait Copy. Rapid Fire Module.'

'Flutter~'

I counted time while injecting a spoonful of national pride into myself.

By 16 seconds it would hit 100%. I would stall until then.

'1...2...3...'

***

The night before, Kane was assessing the abilities he possessed.

'First. Only skills listed in the agent roster can be copied.'

I didn't know what Robert's first skill was or how to use it, so I couldn't copy it. Same went for hostile forces' skills not on the list.

'Second. The cooldown for replacing copied skills is 10 seconds.'

My cost is 10, so assuming 1 mana recovered per second, it roughly matches. If I had an ally with the charge ability, I could swap faster.

'Third. Traits and skills can be used even if not from the same agent.'

It would be better to copy the entire skill and trait from one agent, but there were cases where the synergy didn't match, so being able to choose was a big merit.

'What skills and traits should I combine to achieve synergy...'

Most high-percentage traits were conditional.

Like buffs applied during duration or random additions on attack.

I couldn't rely on luck, so I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠should prefer the former.

But sustained buff traits only came from agents whose skills had fixed durations.

Then a question arose.

"Wait, then how does the combination of passive skills and traits that apply [during duration] work?"

The result was simple...

It would continuously buff until the passive skill was changed.

***

'8...9...'

The seconds kept climbing.

"This spar will be against only the Mayer standard swordsmanship. If you're ready, come in."

"Let's go!"

At the same time, Edith charged forward.

She ran quickly and swung the hammer at Robert...

One combo: lightly blocked on the side of the wooden sword, the attack sliding off.

Two combos: Robert lightly extended his other fist, which Edith blocked with her left wrist.

Three combos: Edith reached for a counter, but before it could land, she flew back about three meters.

That was all within about two seconds.

'Insane. Way too fast.'

It felt like watching the fights of top-tier boxers without slow motion.

'Edith isn't ordinary either...'

No openings were visible from my perspective.

No matter how she attacked, it looked like she would be counterattacked.

Small crystals grew on Edith's wrist, absorbing damage.

Still, she frowned in pain.

'Is that the dragon scale?'

"Are they planning to attack separately?"

Robert felt relaxed.

'If I do it honestly, it will be blocked.'

I reversed the sword grip and threw a punch toward his head.

Robert looked surprised but quickly closed the distance.

'14...15...'

***

Edith's fighting style was direct and threatening.

A boiling state where she knew her own strength but didn't know how to use it.

'Is the dragon really a dragon?'

Even though it was a feint, power was there, but most of the damage seemed absorbed.

Then it was Kane's turn.

'Punch.'

Robert lightly deflected the sword and focused on Kane.

I thought he had infused spirit power, but no mana was felt from the sword.

'Moreover, there's no spirit aura at all now.'

Was he not using druid technique?

But his movements weren't knightly either.

A bit wild and direct, yet cunning and calculated, like seasoned warriors from Labyrinthos city.

He swung the sword vertically to check the path of the oncoming opponent and lightly swung.

The opponent couldn't react and flinched to the side.

'Hmm... the wild instinct from earlier is gone.'

If the wild instinct had been there, he would have judged that he could block this check.

But in that short time, he had become someone else.

Or like completely changing style mid-fight.

'Is he approaching carefully in battle?'

"Edith!"

'Ah, already recovered? Edith's attacks are heavy, so I'll block with the sword and punch Kane...'

I slightly moved my gaze to Edith's location.

I only saw her rubbing her painful arm without adjusting her body.

'Bluff?!'

***

Punch with bluff.

I picked the gap created by two actions.

"Hah!"

I stepped forward with footwork to narrow the space.

I gathered power from the ground from the feet.

A punch drawn like a picture.

Even though it came from an immature boy's body, if the technique was sufficient, it would be an effective hit.

Boom.

'16!'

And the following attack slammed into the solar plexus.

The phantom punch pierced the 10% probability.

***

The body swayed slightly from the punch.

Since it hit a vital point unexpectedly, I was unprepared.

'I seem to have gotten slack too. By the way, phantom... no, is it a kind of mana manipulation technique.'

Right after the attack, the body felt drained of strength.

It was not just a hit, but a near effective hit punch.

"Suddenly calling out to surprise me."

"If I had rushed in during that time, you would have taken a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hit too."

Now two people were looking this way with stances ready.

"I must have underestimated your levels."

The little kids had grown this much?

Awe and admiration, laughter came out.

***

'Ah shit.'

"Yo, what did you do, Kane."

The momentum surged beyond, the whole body felt killing intent.

From Edith still rubbing her wrist, resentment in her eyes.

"I didn't know this would happen either."

Ding -

'Real.'

Insane level health and top-tier attack.

Even if defense and resistance were 0, that level...

'Can I withstand the ultimate skill of the final boss bare-handed 3 times?'

He didn't even have a dedicated weapon.

I didn't know what dedicated weapon was, but it was surprising that it wasn't [Guardian].

"Sigh... surrender won't be possible?"

"Will it... no?"

"Remember this well. If you complete your training safely, you will be able to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠do this much."

Behind Robert... no, Hector's back, a huge wolf shape appeared.

"Second Sword - Orthos Orthros"

And the attack didn't even look like it was happening.

I thought I had to change the trait.

'Trait Copy! Earth's Shield!'

Blocked once.

"Mad!"

Double hit.

Hector's sword broke the shield and hit the head.

***

"Was my technique too much?"

Compared to the standard Mayer swordsmanship, my unique technique had greater power and speed.

I had lowered the power a bit, but it was too much for the young body.

'I guess I got too excited. For now, since it's a dagger, it's troublesome...'

Because of the big bumps on the heads of the two boys and girls, I took out emergency medicine from my bosom and applied it.

'Edith's every attack is heavy instead of wild. If I teach her how to control her power, she can grow.'

I carried the groaning Edith and Kane on my shoulders, retrieved the barrier stone, and returned to the poorhouse.

'Kane... I have to ask when he wakes up.'

The oddly broken action chain, the wavy senses, the identity of the used technique... too many changes for one technique.

'If I think I can handle various abilities a little bit... the road is long.'

I laid the two kids on their beds in their respective rooms.

I seemed to have relaxed too, so I had to train diligently.

***

'Strange ceiling.'

I had come to Kane's room.

My head was throbbing, but there were no bumps or bleeding.

'Did I change my trait?'

But the Earth's Shield situation still.

'My level did rise. My body isn't fully recovered but I can ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠move...'

While blinking a few times with eyes open, I sensed presence and turned my head.

"Ah, you're awake. It's okay. Kane?"

"You don't look okay at all. Idiot, don't know."

"That's what I know too. Idiot, Mote."

"Why are you asking if you know?"

"Noisy. Don't know."

"Hmph."

The twins fighting in front of me.

Small ears perked up on both ears.

The back alley duo famous for 4★ performance character.

[4★ Trickster - Mor], [4★ Dandelion - Mote]

"I'm fine, so calm down. Edith?"

Since she was hit by Robert's sword... is Edith still lying down?

"Wow."

"I've never seen Kane worry about anyone."

"Mor agrees too. Strange."

"Mote admits it too. Weird."

It seemed like my evaluation of Kane's personality would drop a bit.