While its speed is higher than I expected, it still isn't anywhere close to mine. As it reaches me it swings its axe up over its head and tries for a massive chop. As it does I easily step to the side and crouch as I move forward, moving myself behind the orc and hitting it in the side with Blitz.

While I was expecting to cut the orc in half, I forgot that I am not wielding Blitz. So I only manage to do a couple of hundred damage and while this hurts the orc it isn't the instant kill I was expecting. Even now that my mind blade's damage is one and half times my intelligence it is still nowhere near my strength.

I manage to hit the orc two more times in the time it takes it to turn around to face me. As the orc raises its axe for another swing I manage to strike yet again before dodging to the side to avoid the axe. Even after getting hit four times the orc doesn't seem very hurt, maybe it has damage reduction or something.

Either way I am just not doing enough damage so instead of just striking wildly I decide to switch to using my supreme swordsmanship techniques. I wait for the orc to swing again, then I dodge, get into the right stance, and use pierce. My mind blade pierces the orc's side and goes right through and for the first time the orc reacts with a roar.

It isn't dead yet but that obviously hurt it quite a bit more, before it can recover I step forward and use slash. As blood starts leaking from the X carved into its chest the orc suddenly roars again. Its eyes go pure red and its muscles seem to swell, it seems to be going berserk.

The orc's next swing is faster and much more powerful, I am barely able to get out of the way. When the axe hits the floor it smashes the stone and gets stuck for a second. Not wanting to waste this chance I switch my footing and use chop as I aim at the orc's neck.

??? says "Opponent defeated! Skill fusion triggered!"

"Skill fusion??"

Skill Fusion: Supreme Swordsmanship Level 3 + Sword Intermediate Level 11!

New skill: Sword Master Level 1!

"Hey! What was that? Answer me!"

Despite my yelling the voice doesn't respond and when I check my skills supreme swordsmanship is gone. First mind blade levels up so easily, now I triggered a skill fusion, is this what the book meant about becoming stronger? If the test is set up to not only help skills level but to combine skills then this place is awesome!

'Let's see what Sword Master is!'

Sword Master

Level 1

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Str +10

Damage +100% Speed +10%

'Wow! That is impressive! And it works on any sword! Wait, does that mean the limitation is gone?'

Curious I dismiss my mind blade and pick up the orc's axe, for the orc it was a two-handed weapon but for me it is one-handed. As I pick it up and give it a few swings I realize I am not getting any penalty for wielding a non-sword weapon. In fact if I use it in combat I am betting I can even get the weapon skill for axes back.

Keeping the axe with me for now I continue down the corridor until I come to another small square room. There is another hallway opposite where I enter, so I am guessing this is a type of break room. Once I enter the next hallway I will probably find another opponent to fight.

Before doing that though I stop to think about the skill fusion, I have a lot of skills and I don't often utilize them properly. Mainly because half the time I forget I have most of them, so merging skills to get better skills might be perfect for me. The problem is I don't know how to trigger the fusion, or if it will only trigger after I defeat the opponent.

Also will it work on all my skills or just the ones I use while fighting the opponent? I really wish this stupid test gave some kind of explination or tutorial! Instead of sitting here just making wild guesses I may as well just go fight the next opponent and see what happens.

With my mind made up I move into the next hallway and head down it to find my next opponent. I don't know enough about the test to make a real plan, I don't even know how many fights I have to go through. The test was made back when humans had the ability to gain levels, which means they had skills, so this makes sense.

Having the trial help streamline and strengthen skills would definitely benefit the mage knights. The voice I heard was probably the voice for the test's system, it just announces things it isn't interactive. While these are just my current guesses at least they are educated guesses.

After walking for a bit I spot my next opponent, or I should say opponents since I see three figures. As I approach I can tell they are still orcs, but they are armed differently. The first is just a two handed axe like the last one I fought, the second has an axe and a shield, while the last has a bow and arrows.

So now I get to face a tank, a dps, and a ranged dps all at the same time, at least there isn't a healer. If the two melee orcs can hold me back then the ranged orc will be the biggest problem. Then again I might just be able to ignore him, after all arrows shouldn't hurt much, especially if I use my new armor.

'Wind Armor!'

*DING*

Congratulations! Skill Wind Armor has progressed to level 2!

Wind Armor

Level: 2

SP Cost: 100 Duration: 1 minute

Projectile Defense: 55% Magic Defense: 15%

So the test does help skills level faster, this place is great! With the armor protecting me I charge at the orcs. As I do I activate mind blade to create a sword in my other hand, then I activate lightning aura to give both weapons a boost. When I hit the twenty foot mark the orcs react to me, the tank braces for my charge while the archer falls back.

It seems they actually know basic tactics, so even if they are weak they can still cause problems. Ignoring the archer for now I continue charging at the two melee orcs, as I do I aim for the tank. At the last possible second I suddenly redirect myself towards the dps orc catching both of them off guard.

This sudden move allows me to also dodge the first arrow from the archer. As I hit the axe wielding orc I bring both my mind blade and the axe down in a double strike. While I do massive damage to the orc, I am surprised and disappointed because no new skill notification comes up.