LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 2: Clash of Determination
As Tyler prepared himself for the skills test, stretching his arms and legs in the training arena, a thought struck him. He decided to test out one of the skills he had recently noticed in his own status screen: Appraisal.
"Appraisal," he said softly, focusing on the towering figure of Instructor Darnan. Instantly, a translucent violet screen appeared before his eyes, detailing everything about the burly instructor. Tyler's eyes widened as he scanned the information.
Appraisal: Instructor Darnan
Name: Darnan Ironfist
Level: 75
Age: 42
Species: Human
Rank: Platinum
Class: Weapon Master
Occupation: Guild Instructor
Health Points (HP): 850/850
Mana Points (MP): 300/300
Stamina: 500/500
Attributes
Strength: 85 (Extraordinary physical power, capable of wielding massive weapons with ease.)
Agility: 40 (Remarkable speed and reaction time for a man of his size.)
Attack: 90 (Devastating attack power in both melee and ranged combat.)
Defense: 70 (Exceptional durability, able to withstand heavy blows.)
Speed: 35 (Surprising swiftness when in combat.)
Luck: 25 (Moderate luck for critical hits and situational advantage.)
Intelligence: 30 (Competent understanding of tactics and magical resistance.)
Skills
Weapon Mastery (Unique): Grants proficiency with all types of weapons, enabling flawless execution of techniques with swords, axes, hammers, and more.
Iron Stance: Temporarily reduces incoming damage by 50% while maintaining stability.
Berserker Charge: A powerful forward rush that breaks through enemy defenses.
Groundquake Slash: A devastating weapon strike that creates shockwaves, stunning all enemies within a radius.
Battlefield Commander: Enhances the abilities of allies within a certain range.
Mana Barrier: A temporary shield created from condensed mana to block magical attacks.
Personality Traits
Stern Mentor: Has high expectations but genuinely cares about the progress of his students.
Battle-Hardened: Over 25 years of combat experience in various terrains and conditions.
Strategist: Excels at devising plans mid-battle to adapt to changing scenarios.
Tyler's jaw dropped slightly as he absorbed the sheer strength and skills listed on the screen.
"No wonder he's an instructor," Tyler muttered to himself, feeling both awe and excitement. Darnan's stats and abilities painted the picture of a seasoned warrior who had seen and survived countless battles. The thought of testing himself against someone of this caliber sent a thrill through Tyler's veins.
"Something wrong, kid?" Darnan's gruff voice broke Tyler's concentration. The instructor was watching him with a raised eyebrow, clearly noticing his momentary distraction.
Tyler shook his head, the Appraisal screen disappearing as he refocused. "Nothing at all. Just getting ready."
Darnan smirked. "Good. Let's see if you can back up that confidence of yours."
Tyler stood on the training ground, his hands trembling slightly as he prepared for the fight. Nervous energy coursed through him, but he clenched his fists and gave himself a hard slap across the face. "Oh yeah! Let's do it! I'm going all out right now!" he yelled, a determined grin spreading across his face.
Darnan, the towering instructor, let out a hearty laugh. "Alright, kid. But I've got to warn you, if you go all out now, you might not pass!" His booming laughter echoed through the arena, making the onlookers chuckle.
Tyler hesitated for a brief second, his confidence wavering. But before he could dwell on it, Darnan's voice rang out: "Skill: Berserker Charge!"
In a flash, Darnan dashed toward Tyler at an incredible speed, closing the gap in an instant. Tyler barely had time to react as the massive figure bore down on him. "Oh shit! Skill: Energy Wave!" Tyler yelled, throwing his hands forward. A surge of raw energy erupted from him, colliding with Darnan mid-charge. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the arena, forcing Darnan to slide back several feet.
Darnan straightened, a surprised grin on his face. "Nice one, kid. Didn't think you had that kind of power." Without missing a beat, he lunged forward again, this time swinging his fists in powerful arcs.
Tyler ducked and weaved, narrowly avoiding the strikes. Darnan laughed heartily, his fists moving like battering rams. "Not bad! But come on, kid, you've got to do more than dodge!"
Tyler gritted his teeth, his mind racing. "You're a monster," he muttered under his breath, sweat dripping down his face. Darnan's relentless assault left no room for counterattacks.
"Skill: Shadow Strike!" Tyler shouted. Dark energy engulfed his fists as he darted forward, his movements sharp and precise. He unleashed a flurry of strikes at Darnan, each blow trailing with shadowy tendrils. But Darnan's reflexes were impeccable; he dodged each attack with ease, his amused expression never faltering.
Darnan's grin widened as he saw an opening. "Skill: Iron Fist!" he bellowed, his fist glowing with a metallic sheen as he delivered a devastating blow to Tyler's side. Tyler let out a pained cry as the punch sent him skidding across the ground, coughing up blood as he struggled to get back on his feet.
"Not so cocky now, are you?" Darnan taunted, cracking his knuckles. Tyler wiped the blood from his mouth, his hands trembling as he forced himself upright.
"I'm not done yet," Tyler growled, his eyes blazing with determination. "Skill combo: Arcane Leap + Flame Kick!" With a burst of mana, Tyler vanished and reappeared midair, his leg igniting in flames as he kicked downward with full force. The fiery impact sent Darnan flying across the arena, skidding along the ground before slamming into the far wall. Darnan caught himself, shaking the dust from his shoulders as he stood.
"Now that was awesome," Darnan said with a grin. "But you'll have to do better than that."
Before Tyler could react, Darnan charged forward again, his fists a blur as he unleashed a series of heavy strikes. Tyler managed to dodge some of the blows, but one connected squarely with his shoulder, sending him spinning to the ground. He gasped as pain shot through his arm, struggling to stand as Darnan loomed over him.
"Skill: Groundquake Slash!" Darnan roared, bringing his weapon down with earth-shattering force. Tyler barely rolled out of the way, the impact creating a massive crater where he had been moments before.
"Skill: Unyielding Spirit!" Tyler yelled, forcing himself to his feet as a radiant aura surrounded him. He charged at Darnan, delivering a barrage of punches and kicks. Each strike was powerful, but Darnan blocked or deflected them with practiced ease.
"Skill: Berserker Mode!" Tyler roared, his body enveloped in a crimson aura as his strength and speed increased exponentially. He vanished from sight, reappearing behind Darnan and delivering a lightning-fast series of jabs. Each strike crackled with electricity, sending shockwaves through the air.
Darnan grunted as the blows pushed him back, his arms tingling from the impacts. "Not bad, kid. But let's see how you handle this! Skill: Mana Barrier!" A shimmering shield of energy surrounded him, absorbing Tyler's attacks.
Tyler gritted his teeth, his fists glowing with dark energy. "Skill combo: Shadow Strike + Arcane Leap + Flame Kick!" He darted around the barrier, unleashing a devastating combination of attacks. Flames and shadows swirled together as Tyler's kicks and punches battered the barrier until it shattered.
Darnan staggered, but his grin never wavered. "You've got guts, kid. But I'm not done yet."
Tyler wiped the blood from his mouth, his breaths ragged as he prepared for one final attack. "Skill combo: Berserker Mode + Arcane Leap + Lightning Jab x30!" His aura flared brighter as he vanished, reappearing in front of Darnan in an instant. His fists moved faster than the eye could follow, each jab crackling with lightning as they struck Darnan's chest and arms.
Darnan roared, swinging his massive weapon in a desperate attempt to counter. "Skill: Groundquake Slash!" The ground shook as he brought his weapon down, but Tyler's momentum was unstoppable. "Skill: Unyielding Spirit!" Tyler yelled, breaking through the shockwave and delivering a final, full-power Lightning Jab to Darnan's face.
The impact sent the massive instructor hurtling through the air, crashing through the wall and landing in the guild hall beyond. The guild fell silent as adventurers turned to see Darnan lying amidst the rubble. Gasps and whispers filled the air as the receptionists rushed to the scene. "What the hell just happened?!" one exclaimed.
Peering through the hole in the wall, they saw Tyler standing back on the training ground stage, his chest heaving and his aura still crackling with energy. Aelira, the silver-haired receptionist, stood frozen, her face a mixture of shock and amazement. "Tyler... really did that?" she whispered.
Darnan groaned as he pulled himself from the debris, a wide grin spreading across his bruised face. "Not bad, kid... not bad at all."
The onlookers exchanged awed glances, their whispers growing louder as they realized what had just transpired. Tyler wiped the sweat from his brow and smiled. "Let's call that a pass, shall we?"
Darnan let out a hearty laugh as he dusted himself off, brushing debris from his shoulders. "Yeah, kid," he said, his grin widening. "I'd call that a pass."
Tyler's face lit up, his grin stretching from ear to ear. "Woooohooo! I did it!" he yelled, throwing his fists into the air before breaking into laughter. He looked over at Darnan, who was still chuckling.
"You did great, kid," Darnan said, his tone shifting to one of genuine respect. "Not many rookies can handle themselves the way you just did. That berserker combo of yours? Damn impressive."
Tyler's chest swelled with pride as he wiped sweat from his forehead. "Thanks, Darnan. That means a lot coming from you."
"Don't let it get to your head," Darnan teased with a smirk. "You've got talent, sure, but there's always room to grow. Keep working hard, and you'll go far."
Before Tyler could respond, a familiar voice interrupted. "What in the world happened here?" Aelira stepped carefully through the large hole in the wall, her silver hair gleaming in the sunlight as she surveyed the scene. She approached the two of them, her expression a mixture of exasperation and curiosity. "You two just had to make a spectacle, didn't you?"
Darnan shrugged with a grin. "The kid's got talent. Couldn't hold back on him, Aelira."
Aelira's piercing gray eyes flicked to Tyler, her lips curving into a small smile. "I know. I was watching."
Tyler blinked, his face flushing slightly. "You... you were watching?"
Aelira nodded. "Of course. I saw everything. That berserker combo, your use of Arcane Leap and Flame Kick—all of it. Honestly, I'm impressed. You held your own against Darnan, and that's no small feat."
Tyler's nervousness melted into pride, and he rubbed the back of his head with a sheepish grin. "Thanks, Aelira. I didn't know I had it in me."
"Well, now you do," Aelira said, crossing her arms. "But for the record, maybe next time you could avoid destroying half the training grounds?"
Tyler laughed nervously. "I'll try to keep that in mind."
Aelira's stern expression softened, and she gave Tyler a warm smile. "Well, congratulations, Tyler. You passed your evaluation. And in quite the dramatic fashion, I might add."
"Thank you," Tyler said, his excitement returning. "It was... intense, but I'm glad I pulled through."
Aelira nodded. "You did more than that. You've got potential, and Darnan doesn't hand out compliments lightly."
Darnan grunted in agreement. "She's right. You earned this, kid."
Aelira pulled a small, glowing crystal from her pocket and gestured for Tyler to follow her. "Come on, let's get you set up with your guild card."
They walked back into the training grounds, the crystal in Aelira's hand casting a soft light. As they talked, Tyler couldn't help but ask, "So, uh, what exactly does this guild card do?"
Aelira smiled patiently. "Your guild card is your identity as an adventurer. It tracks your rank, completed missions, and rewards. It'll also serve as your proof of membership in the guild." She handed the glowing crystal to Tyler, who placed his hand on it. The light intensified for a moment before dimming.
Aelira handed him a sleek, metallic card with his name and rank engraved on it. "Here you go, Tyler Walker. Copper-ranked adventurer."
Tyler stared at the card, turning it over in his hands. "This is so cool. Thank you, Aelira."
"You earned it," she said warmly. "And speaking of earning it, you're officially eligible to take on your first mission."
"Already?" Tyler asked, his excitement bubbling over. "What kind of missions are available?"
Aelira gestured toward the mission board in the main hall. "Take a look for yourself. Missions are sorted by rank, so stick to Copper missions for now. You can team up with others if you'd like or tackle one solo."
Tyler nodded eagerly. "I'll check it out right away."
Aelira placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him for a moment. "Tyler, remember this: being an adventurer is as much about learning as it is about fighting. Stay sharp, stay humble, and you'll do just fine."
Tyler smiled, her words resonating deeply. "I won't forget. Thanks, Aelira."
As Tyler made his way toward the mission board, Darnan and Aelira exchanged a glance. "He's got the spirit," Darnan said, his tone gruff but approving.
"And the potential," Aelira replied. "Let's see what he makes of it."