Skill Plunderer

~Omniscient Pov~

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"I'm FINALLY home..." Yohan said. He climbed up towards his room, and before he could even do anything; he instead immediately decided to take a warm shower...

he sighed, It sucks that I can't feel the warmth..." All his passives made it nearly impossible for him to feel a noticeable shift in the temperature. And after a nice long bath, he headed out, staring at his system panel.

'This is gonna be good.' He smiled at his collection today, 'Alright, I've got about an hour before my mom gets home, so~ Plunder!'

As he uttered those small words, he felt immense pain flush over him. Yohan gritted his teeth, the intense pain surging through his body like wildfire. It was much sharper this time, more severe than anything he'd felt before.

"Urgh... every time!!" he hissed, stumbling toward his bed as the transformation began. His muscles tightened and bones shifted subtly, each fiber in his body adapting to the new skills he had just plundered.

Yohan clutched his head as the familiar searing pain surged through him. It wasn't his muscles or physical form that felt the strain—this time, the changes were deeper, more insidious. He could feel his mind expanding; as if it was adapting to the new information and capabilities it should have now, and it was all flooding in...

"Ugh... What... is this?" he groaned, his body shivering slightly. He stumbled to the side, grabbing onto the desk for support. The sensation wasn't pleasant, but he could tell something was shifting within him.

Soon, he felt his vision blurring into nothing, but darkness... 'Ahh, fuck...'

*Thump!*

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"Urghh..." He felt the hard wooden floor beneath him creaking slightly... He clutched his head, feeling a bit of pain from what had happened earlier, 'That has to be a new record for pain...' He wasn't entirely sure, but every time he absorbed such powerful perks, the pain got a little worse.

Other than that, he didn't feel all that much different than he used to... 'I expected something more than this...' He stopped his thought; instead, he realized it made sense based on the nature of the abilities he absorbed... But, maybe he could test it.

'Maybe If I watch a video of sword users, it will make a difference...?' He highly doubted it, but it wouldn't hurt to try...

He turned on his phone, going through a video tutorial on the basic fundamentals of using a blade...

As the video played, the instructor on the screen moved fluidly, demonstrating precise strikes and graceful footwork with a blade. Yohan's eyes followed the motions, his mind focusing intently on every swing, every stance used. At first, it felt like any other time he had tried to learn something new—his concentration was practically unwavering, but his body remained stiff and unresponsive...

But then, something changed.

He felt a shift, subtle at first, like a tingling in his fingertips... His grip tightened on the imaginary hilt in his hands, and without realizing it, he began to mirror the movements on the screen. It was as if some part of him—some latent memory buried deep within himself—was waking up. Before he knew it, he began mimicking the instructor on the video...

Each movement he did became slightly sharper, more precise, like muscle memory he never knew he had...

'W-what the hell...?' 

Yohan paused the video, staring at his hands... His mind tingled with newfound awareness. It wasn't just that he could remember the techniques being shown; it felt like his body already knew them. As if he had spent months perfecting the art of basic swordsmanship without ever touching a blade...

'I can see it... The way of the sword...' Yohan smiled...

He clenched his fists, 'That bastard Johnathon... Is this what being a genius feels like?' He essentially understood the video completely and was able to replicate the moves to an insane degree... The memorization aspect might be due to his improved memory overall, which is something that he needed to fix if he wanted to learn all the moves he needed.

He stood up, wincing as the floor creaked beneath his feet, his joints a bit stiff from sitting so long. Grabbing a broom handle from the corner of his room, he imitated the basic strikes from the video. His movements were far smoother compared to before, faster than they should have been for someone who had only just begun to learn.

Ad this wasn't due to an increase in his stats; but simply an increase in technique, yet his mind recognized the inefficiencies and was correcting them, making him like a blade that was getting refined and tempered...

'This... This is vastly different from earlier.' He had received some tips from Johnathon to help him, and he had remembered them somewhat. However; the version of himself that just watched the video, he knew would do much better in the fight...

He swung the broom in an arc, feeling the force behind the motion as if he were wielding a real blade. The balance, the precision—it all felt right this time. Too right. It wasn't comparable to the absorption of passive strength or resilience. There was a sort of finesse to his movements now, something beyond raw power.

"Ha! HA! HAA!!! Looks like this will make a difference after all-", "Yohan! would you stop shouting!" He immediately quieted down. Hearing his mother from downstairs...

Yohan froze, his triumphant grin fading in an instant. He glanced down at the broomstick in his hand, suddenly feeling foolish. "S-Sorry, Mom..." he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible. The last thing he needed was her marching up the stairs, asking a million questions about what he was doing.

He set the broom aside.

'Guess I got a bit carried away,' he thought, rubbing the back of his neck. 

"Keep it down next time, okay?" his mother called again, her voice softer this time, but still with that tone that said I mean it.

Yohan exhaled, his earlier energy fading into a bit of amusement. "Yeah, yeah... I'll keep it down," he muttered. However, now, he was going to watch as many of those videos as he could to build up his experience.

'A shame, I'll have to slowly reveal my skills from now on.' He thought, smiling internally. Tonight, he watched over a dozen videos before he slept...

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~Omniscient Pov, the next day~

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Yohan got ready for school like usual, but today he felt a bit more excited. After watching all those sword videos last night, he understood sword users on a whole new level, and he actually respected them now. There was something methodical about the way they moved, and the focus they had... It just clicked for him.

Without wasting anymore time, he threw his bag onto his back and headed out. On his way to the academy, he thought about the match he was going to have with Johnathon, 'I can't wait to see the look on his face when he realizes that I'm talented.' Yohan grinned.

~

'Hmm… He's here early,' Yohan thought as he climbed down the stairs, spotting Johnathon already stretching, getting himself ready, 'Typical Johnathon—always taking things seriously.' Yohan's steps slowed for a moment, watching Johnathon move with the usual confidence. His grin softened into something more focused...

As Yohan approached; Johnathon turned, a smirk already forming on his face. "Morning, little Yohan," he called out, the teasing tone unmistakable. It was always like this—Johnathon never missed a chance to remind Yohan of the gap between them, especially of late.

"Morning..." He replied. He dropped his bag to the side; looking over, he could see a sword waiting for him, 'Well, I've got to give it to the guy, he takes his role seriously.' Yohan grabbed the sword, he swung the blade a few times, and feeling the weight of it, he adjusted accordingly.

However, Johnathon's gaze lingered on Yohan, his brow furrowing slightly. There was something, different. It was subtle, but there—something was off about his younger friend's demeanor. Yohan no longer had that awkward, unsure presence he usually carried when handling a sword. Even the way he gripped the blade, the smoothness of his movements, felt... seasoned, almost instinctual even. It was nothing like the rookie Johnathon had sparred with just a day before.

'Interesting...' Johnathon thought.

His usual confidence faltering for a mere nanosecond. He didn't show it, though. Instead, he forced a grin, masking the unease creeping up his spine. "Tell me... Have you been practicing?" he asked, half-joking, but mostly curious. Something was definitely off here. Yohan couldn't have gotten that much different, could he?

Yohan on the other hand; just smiled, with a quiet, calm confidence in his eyes, "Something like that."

Johnathon narrowed his eyes slightly, adjusting his stance a bit. Whatever had changed, he was about to find out. Just as they were about to clash, Johnathon lowered his level to match Yohan's.

Johnathon dashed forward. His eyes narrowed as Yohan met his attack, this time not falling back or scrambling to defend. Instead, Yohan parried, holding his ground in a way that was entirely unfamiliar... There was no fumbling or hesitation—just a steady, focused response to each of Johnathon's moves.

'He's actually putting up a fight...' Johnathon thought, impressed but also a little thrown off.

He was still more skilled, no question about it. His strikes were much faster and more precise, and his experience showed in the way he controlled the flow of the match. But Yohan wasn't backing down at all. Each time Johnathon had pressed forward, Yohan blocked or countered almost perfectly, his movements far sharper than they'd ever been...

"Not bad," Johnathon grunted begrudgingly, swinging his sword in a calculated arc, expecting Yohan to falter under the pressure.

However, Yohan barely managed to deflect it, his muscles straining, but he held firm. "Better than yesterday, right?" he replied, his tone cocky; there was a clear hint of satisfaction in the younger one's eyes.

Yohan had to change his plans, he couldn't hold back much when fighting Johnathon at all; who was essentially a vastly better version of his current self in terms of swordsmanship...

Johnathon smirked, a small bead of sweat starting to bead on his forehead. "Yeah… but don't get cocky. You're still way behind me, short-stack."

"What!!? Short-stack?" Yohan said, slightly irate. Soon, they began clashing again, the sound of steel ringing in the air. Despite the clear gap in their skill levels, Yohan was keeping up. And for the first time, Johnathon found himself genuinely feeling slightly challenged. just slightly.

Johnathon lunged in again, his sword slicing through the air with a practiced grace. Yohan instinctively shifted his weight, sidestepping to evade the blow while raising his sword to meet Johnathon's in a swift clash, 'Argh!' Yohan grunted. The impact literally reverberated through his arms, sending a jolt of energy through him.

"Nice reflexes," Johnathon remarked, recovering quickly. He pressed forward, striking again with a series of quick jabs, each one aimed to test Yohan's defenses. 

With every swing, Johnathon was relentless, his strikes precise and powerful. Yohan found himself on the defensive, but instead of panicking, he channeled everything he'd learned from those videos.

'Damn it! FOCUS!!' He yelled at himself.

Yohan had remembered the fluid movements and the importance of footwork. Over time, he began to adjust his stance, moving with purpose, and began to anticipate Johnathon's next move...

Just as Johnathon feinted left and swung right, Yohan pivoted, narrowly dodging the blade while bringing his own sword up to intercept the next strike. Their swords met with a metallic clash that echoed across the courtyard. Yohan felt the shock travel up his arms, but he held firm, using the momentum to push back.

"Whoa!" Johnathon exclaimed, surprised by the sudden increase behind Yohan's defense. And that's when he had pieced together that Yohan was improving, and doing so rapidly at that...

The challenge had now sparked something in Yohan, pushing him to dig even deeper. He launched into a swift counterattack; seeing the opening, launching a series of swift strikes aimed at Johnathon's torso.

Johnathon's eyes widened in disbelief as he recognized the familiar pattern in Yohan's strikes. It wasn't just that Yohan was holding his own—he was mirroring Johnathon's technique, using it against him with surprising accuracy. The realization hit Johnathon hard. He's copying me… It was almost eerie how quickly Yohan had picked up on his style, making adjustments with each swing, each parry.

Their swords clashed again, the ringing sound filling the air. Yohan's movements grew more fluid, and even though he wasn't winning, he was no longer on the defensive. With every swing, he felt his muscles adapt, his instincts sharpening. The techniques he had watched in the videos last night seemed to flow through him naturally now. His body responded to the rhythm of combat like it was second nature.

Johnathon, still much more skilled, parried and dodged with ease, but he couldn't ignore how much Yohan had improved. He threw a swift overhead strike, expecting Yohan to falter, but Yohan countered with the same move, almost identical to Johnathon's style. The echo of their swords filled the courtyard, but now Johnathon had to fight with more focus.

As they circled each other, Yohan's breathing grew heavier. Sweat dripped down his face, his body screaming for rest, but his mind refused to quit. His passive abilities kept him going, pushing his stamina beyond normal limits, yet the exhaustion was starting to build. His breath came in short bursts, his muscles burned, but he didn't show it.

Johnathon, noticing Yohan's growing fatigue, smirked but with a sense of respect; even as small as it was, "You've gotten a hell of a lot better, but don't push yourself too hard, son. You're not invincible."

Yohan grinned, despite the exhaustion practically clawing at him. "Maybe not… but I'm not backing down either."

They clashed again, the back-and-forth strikes and blocks becoming almost methodical... The spar had gone on for hours at this point, and though Johnathon remained in control, Yohan's resilience was undeniable.

His sword strikes, though slower now, were still precise. The way he adapted to Johnathon's movements made it clear—Yohan wasn't just surviving the fight; he was evolving with each passing moment... Almost like himself...

Johnathon pressed harder at the thought, somewhat trying to break Yohan's defense, but Yohan kept stubbornly holding on, matching Johnathon's intensity. With each blow, Yohan seemed as if he had learned something new, refining his technique in real-time.

Johnathon stepped back, lowering his sword with a calm demeanor that belied the irritation gnawing at him. "That's enough for today," he said, his tone steady but carrying a tinge of frustration beneath the surface. As impressed as he was, he couldn't shake the nagging feeling—How had Yohan improved this much?

He hated it. Yohan had always been, well, practically talentless before the break. Someone you could spar with for practice, but never a challenge. And now, here he was, genuinely keeping up with Johnathon in sheer skill. Sure, he wasn't using his full power—he wasn't even close. But the fact that Yohan could push him to use even 1/10 of his real strength felt almost… unreal.

Johnathon's mind raced with these questions. What the hell happened to him? Something about this whole thing didn't sit right with him, and it wasn't just the improvement. It was the way Yohan fought now—with a purpose, with a focus and precision that he never even hinted at before.

Meanwhile, Yohan was barely holding himself together, panting heavily, his body drenched in sweat. But he was grinning. The exhaustion didn't seem to bother him; in fact, it only made his victory sweeter. "Told you… I'm not the same as yesterday," he said, his voice breathless but filled with satisfaction.

Johnathon clenched his jaw, masking the flicker of envy. "Yeah," he muttered, forcing a nod. "I can see that."

But inside, the thought echoed louder. What the hell changed?

Johnathon swiftly gave Yohan one last glance, a mix of frustration and curiosity flickering in his eyes... Without another word, he turned on his heel and made his way toward the exit. His footsteps echoed in the quiet courtyard, the weight of the spar still hanging in the air between them. Yohan watched him go, feeling the tension ease with every step Johnathon took away.

The door creaked as Johnathon pushed it open, sunlight spilling in from the outside. "I'll see you tomorrow," he said, not bothering to turn around. His voice was calm, but there was something beneath it, and Yohan could feel it too...

Yohan didn't reply, just nodded to himself as the door closed behind Johnathon. He stood there for a moment, letting the silence settle around him. His body still ached a bit, his muscles burning from the fight, but there was a strange sense of satisfaction in it all.

Johnathon was gone now, and Yohan knew he'd be back... Tomorrow, the next day, the day after that—there would be more spars, more battles to push him to his limits. But today, he'd done something important. He'd gotten only a glimpse of what it felt like to truly fight, to stand on his own two feet against someone like his older friend.

And that was just the beginning...

Still, this fight made Yohan realize just how important experience was in battle, 'I doubt I would have learned this much if I didn't view those videos and practice the night before...', he stared down at his own hands, smiling.

He was incomparably stronger than before he fought in this match.

'Though, It's a damn shame I couldn't get any more of skills out of it.' He sighed for a little, but he was still satisfied due to the amount of experience he gained. 

He had another hour to freshen up before regular classes began, but he needed a shower first...

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END