"He was begging for mercy," Lilly repeated for the third time. "I've never seen big brother like that."

“Me neither," Yolga replied. "Did I mention how much I love the way the cube kept hitting him?"

"You did but I don't see the humour, to be honest." The corner of Lilly's lip twitched. "It was horrifying to witness such a brutal assault. I can't imagine how traumatising it was for him."

Caution looked down, seemingly finding interest in the grass. No emotion registered on his face but it was impossible not to latch onto their words. The twin's teasing reminded him of the banter he would have with his close friends from his previous life. He longed to have a drink with Richie, Alkesh and Connor again. The memories they shared were priceless.

Too busy reminiscing, Caution wasn't paying attention for a short while but eventually tuned in to hear a cheerful voice of a young woman. It was Senni, their close combat teacher.

Still being an active adventurer who frequently took on quests, Senni stood out from the other lecturers. Her black hair was short and her brown eyes were intense. Even under the blazing sun, she wore steel armour and a glimmering navy blue pair of...

"Gauntlets," Caution whispered.

"All adventurers must be proficient in close combat," Senni said. "The biggest mistake rookie mages, healers and archers make is to rely too much on long-range attacks. If you're unable to use mana or run out of ammo, you'll need to resort to using your melee weapon to finish them off. Take out your weapon everyone."

Senni quickly inspected each student's weapon and frowned when she got to Caution. "Where is your weapon?"

Caution raised his rusty, steel gauntlets. "These guys."

At first, Senni grinned but it quickly disappeared after noticing Caution's unchanging deadpan expression. "In close combat, you intend to defend yourself with gauntlets alone? They won't do a good job at finishing monsters."

"I'll manage, but I'm sure I could do a better job with those." He pointed at her blue gauntlets. "Can I borrow them permanently?"

Senni looked at him with disbelief. "Excuse me?"

"I know this is sudden but they look so beautiful and I..." Caution gazed at the gauntlets longingly. "I think we're meant to be together. They're the perfect size, and I've heard some great things about rune armour. They've very sturdy yet lightweight. How about we have a little fight for it?"

"You're creepy, kid. No."

"I assumed you weren't the type to run away from a challenge."

Senni snorted. "You? A challenge? That's hilarious." She took a step forward and began inspecting Lilly's starter adventurer sword.

"I guess you learn something new every day," Caution said clearly, nudging Yolga with an elbow. "Even qualified adventurers can be cowards."

Take the bait, take the bait, take the bait.

"Change of plans, students!"

Yes!

"Today we're going to learn what happens if you disrespect me. What was your name? Caution was it? Here's a challenge for you. Land a single hit on me. If you do, I'll give you my rune gauntlets but if you can't..."

Senni paused for effect. She grinned. "Everything you own will be mine."

"Everything?"

"Everything except your underwear. I'm feeling kind."

"Ma'am, you're taking me way too lightly. I--"

"Wait!" Astel yelled. He cut through a bunch of students. "Can I talk to my friend really quickly?"

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Senni raised an eyebrow. "Okay."

Astel gripped Caution's shoulder. "Don't take the challenge," he whispered, eyes filled with concern. "You won't win. Her agility is 98."

"How the hell do you know that?"

"Increase your perception."

"Why do you care?" Caution scowled. "Get off me."

Declining was not an option. Regardless of the circumstances, Caution couldn't back down from the challenge, especially since an additional desire now spawned alongside the need for the gauntlets... He wanted to prove that high numbers weren't everything.

"I accept the challenge," Caution said. Students gasped in response and they quickly dispersed to give the two space.

"Perfect. Give me everything you have. Whenever you're ready."

Everyone watched the two stare each other down. Ten seconds passed.

"We haven't got all day!" Senni yelled.

Caution sighed. Clearly, she had no plans to engage. He raised his gauntlets, posed in a fighting stance, and breathed in a surge of mana. "Thank you for the opportunity."

Senni scoffed. "You won't win. This is more of a demonstration if anything."

"That's not what I meant."

*Thump* *Thump* *Thump*

The crimson cube repeatedly bounced on the ground like a basketball while rotating at a blistering speed. Intuitively, Caution understood the erratic behaviour. The energy store was emulating his excitement.

Suddenly, a glowing mana bar flashed, indicating that his mana consumption was full, and he spoke the incantation for Elemental Sustain (Intermediate). It was a spell that had taken years of practising mana absorption to master and allowed him to control the four elements simultaneously for a limited duration.

For a brief moment, his eyes flashed purple as he smashed the gauntlets together twice. "This is the perfect chance to go all out!" He bolted forwards, immediately closing the gap between them. An arc of fire blasted out of his right gauntlet as he threw a hook. Senni flipped backwards, avoiding both the punch and the Fire Wave. Students behind her yelled and dived to the ground.

She pulled a quizzical look. "This is new."

Caution continued with a barrage of left and right jabs, each one randomly expelling out a fireball, a large boulder or a stream of water. Senni smiled as she darted out of punching range.

But Caution didn't chase. After slightly widening his stance, he threw complex combination after combination, settling into a comfortable rhythm. He instinctively bobbed and weaved between every punch even though there was no attack to avoid. There was something about the boxing alongside the sparkling fire, rumbling of the earth, and water splashing that left students with their jaws hanging open.

Senni smoothly avoided every elemental attack, but Caution could see the fear in her eyes as she flipped and ducked the projectiles. Skill wasn't her dilemma. She was more than capable to dodge. But how long could she handle the overwhelming pressure?

Because all it took was one slip-up.

All it took was a small rock to slap her across the face or a high-pressure water stream to catch her leg.

It was only a matter of time. Surely...

Caution threw a left uppercut and a large crumbling earthy wall erupted in front of Senni, blocking her path. "What's wrong?" he yelled. "You're hanging by a thread and we're just getting started!" He threw several uppercuts, alternating between gauntlets.

Walls boxed Senni in on either side and all of a sudden... Caution was right in her face.

We're in the boxing ring now ma'am.

He hurled a right hook. Senni ducked under a blazing arc of fire. She seized his arm with a vice-like grip and hurled him into the earthy wall.

*CRUNCH*

Dazed from the impact, Caution used a gust of air to slow him down. Friction burned the heels of his feet as he skidded against the grass, using a gust of air to slow him down. Seemingly out of nowhere, the hilt of a sword sunk into his stomach and he flew yet again before bouncing twice on the ground.

A blurry Senni stood over him who now wielded a silver, glistening rapier. "I'm impressed. No student has ever pushed me like this before but unfortunately, student, this challenge is over."

Automatically, in the corner of Caution's vision, a health bar flashed... He had three life points.

Already? What the hell is that even based on? How can they determine what I have left in the tank? Fuck this system.

"I think I went a bit too far," Senni said. "I'm sorry. I will heal you myself."

What is she on about?

Caution stood up quickly only to stumble back down. A wave of bittersweet nostalgia slapped him in the face. In another world, this was the part where the referee would count to ten. As he felt himself slowly losing consciousness, vivid memories of training under a large oak tree resurfaced. Every morning and evening he had practised there without fail regardless of the weather. Paying great attention to technique and form, he'd refined his boxing while improving his mana absorption for half a decade.

The results of his hard work were finally showing and the fighting experience was great but... he still needed to win. At this point, he almost didn't care about the new gauntlets. He just wanted to win because he wanted to win.

Caution tried to get up again and this time succeded. He raised clenched gauntlets in a fighting pose.

Senni groaned. "Are you trying to die? Give it up."

Though Elemental Sustain (Intermediate) had worn off, Caution did not hesitate or waver. He threw quick combinations despite excess mana and lactic acid causing great pain. Every so often, he altered his rhythm or feinted, but Senni always seemed to be one step ahead. Her sword rose or dipped to defend against every attack.

He snatched the crimson cube floating nearby and hurled it.

Senni ducked. Caution threw a swift jab. Senni deflected

"I don't know what that was but nice try, kid. You put up a good-"

The crimson cube hit her in the back of the head. She stumbled forward slightly, a look of astonishment planted on her face.

"What?"