As the fight continued with the seemingly invincible mannequins, it got harder and harder. The mannequins were learning from Tai's movements and soon stopped being predictable as they used his moves against him. If this kept up for much longer, who knows how good the mannequins would get.

The mannequins were like self-learning AIs that learned from the moment, and like AIs, if they were given enough time, they would become better than humans, or at least most humans.

Tai struck them with the blade of his naginata as hard as he could, putting all of his strength behind each strike, but still, there were no scratches on the mannequins.

Maybe I'm going about this the wrong way? Tai thought. This part of the trial is clearly about polearms, but maybe the goal isn't to destroy the mannequins?

Testing out his theory, Tai continued sparring with the 5 mannequins, dodging and weaving through their attacks as he counter-attacked, but this time, he wasn't putting all of his strength behind each strike. It felt like a friendly spar, albeit not as friendly as any wrong move would result in him dying.

The mannequins learned from Tai as they too started dodging some of his attacks, and even grazing his body with their polearms, but like the mannequins, Tai was also learning. Fighting multiple opponents was tough, but it was good practice as Tai learned what he should do, and not do.

Since the world changed, Tai had really only fought monsters, and fighting these mannequins provided good practice when he would inevitably fight an intelligent, humanoid, or even a human being.

His swings became faster, and more precise, and he developed greater control over his own body as he twisted and contorted his body to dodge the polearms that came his way.

In the background, Tai could hear dinging, indicating that he was leveling up, but he dismissed the notifications as he didn't want to get distracted and possibly die.

After a few more minutes of sparring with the AI mannequins, they stopped attacking and disappeared in a burst of white as the next group of 5 mannequins appeared. These new mannequins were faster and stronger than the last mannequins, and not only that, they inherited the skills that the last mannequins learned from sparring with Tai.

Not even letting Tai regain his energy, the mannequins started attacking, landing a few hits on Tai as their speed surprised him, but he quickly focused himself and started dodging their attacks as his wounds started healing themselves.

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Just like the last mannequins, these ones were also learning as they tried out new tactics, some of them working and some of them failing, but the ones that worked were improved upon, making new, and deadly tactics.

Tai did his best to remember the mannequins' weird tactics, because as weird as they were, they were smart, and more importantly, worked, meaning that he could also use them, so fighting fire with fire, he copied their tactics and not soon after, the 5 mannequins disappeared, and just like last time, the next group of mannequins appeared, stronger and faster than the last.

"He's not doing that bad. 3rd set of mannequins, and by the looks of it, he's going to beat this one too."

"Yes, but all those mannequins can be considered fodder except for the last group. They have the skills of legends as they're the only mannequins that keep their memories after every trial."

Just like the bystander predicted, Tai beat the 3rd set of mannequins, and then the 4th, and so on until he beat the 5th, and now he was up against the 6th and last group of mannequins.

His body was a complete mess as it did its best to heal itself and close up any wounds.

"Ahhh... You're the last 5. This one should be the last part of the trial too," Tai said.

The mannequins approached him, but unlike the rest of the mannequins, they had a certain air emanating from them, an aura one could say. Just like what has always happened, these mannequins were stronger than the last, but when they started attacking, they employed tactics, strategies, and techniques that the other mannequins had never done before.

In an instant, Tai's body was punctured by 5 polearms, and his body was being repeatedly stabbed as he did his best to dodge the attack's, but they were too fast. He was lucky to have a healing factor, or he would've most likely died by now, but even if he had a healing factor, if this kept up for too long, he would eventually die.

It's ok. I'll just do what I've always done. Learn.

Tai studied their movements and copied them. His movements became faster, and he landed his first hit on the mannequins making him smile.

It's possible!

His body was being bombarded with blades, but as the saying goes, what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger.

As Tai observed their movements, he saw them slow down in his eyes as he started dodging the mannequins' attacks. The same polearm that stabbed him was now barely grazing him as he saw through their movements.

"You may never tire, but I have something that you mindless dolls don't have. The will to live."

Just like he had done before, he started learning from the mannequins that have learned from every trial that they have participated in and in the end, the mannequins couldn't even touch him as he dodged all of their attacks and just like all the other mannequins, they disappeared as Tai completed his trial.

The man sitting down started clapping and congratulating Tai, "Congratulations. You have completed your trial, and I'm sure your body is fatigued. Lay down as you receive your rewards."

Tai didn't even hear anything as he dropped on the ground, and closed his eyes.

Multiple skills have reached their max level