Adrian kept sparring with Onyx throughout the day and by the seventh spar of the day, he finally managed to hit him once. Adrian managed to hit him because he kept switching from an offensive and defensive battle stance in order to confuse his opponent. Adrian dodge what he deemed he could dodge and parried only the heavy blows so that he could prepare for the recoil.
There are other summoners that could use weapons but would sacrifice using high level magic because of the training needed. Adrian is only able to wield a sword because the base job for a player is the most flexible. Adrian knows that obtaining the passive skill Weapons Mastery would be difficult but he did not expect it to be this difficult. He is only in step two and the reward was still not the passive skill. The most difficult passive to obtain would be the Weapons Mastery skill because it provides a general buff on any type of weapon.
Although the gloves do not have a damage modifier unlike normal weapons but he filed a ticket to the company that the gloves for summoners who rely on magic should have a damage modifier. It was not only Adrian who filed this report, even other summoners in the forum who chose the spell casting route did so. It was already difficult to have one main weapon, the amount for two main weapons would be a cost a normal user could not handle.
The casual summoner players also agreed to this since even they want to level up the same way as other player professions and Atlas Inc. listened. They released a statement that the hot-fix for the damage modifier for the summoner gloves would be fixed next week which is why Adrian became more determined because his demi-gauntlets is a growth type weapon which would have a higher damage modifier than normal.
When Adrian managed to hit Onyx, Bronx clapped his hands and told Adrian that he won which dumbfounded Adrian. Adrian was about to speak up about it when a system prompt appeared in front of his face.
[Player Equinox has finished the quest Achieve Weapons Mastery II]
[Player Equinox has leveled up]
[Quest Achieve Weapons Mastery III has been added to the quest log]
●Quest Notification●
Achieve Weapons Mastery III (Link Quest)
Bronx has been pleased with your use of the sword and has deemed it necessary to conclude its training using the sword. Now he wants you to master another weapon.
Clear Condition: Be able to strike the moving dummy with the dagger about 5 times in a span of two seconds.
Reward: Level +1
When Adrian accepted the quest, Bronx approached him to further explain the quest. Adrian git a feeling that the win aspect of the quest was vague because Bronx only said he was to spar with his son. This made Adrian re-evaluate the details from quests rather than just blindly accepting every quest.
" Now that you know the basics of the sword, we must now move on to a shorter weapon." Bronx said while handing Adrian a pair of daggers.
Bronx continued " Now your next objective is to hit this practice dummy with your dagger about five times in a span of two seconds. With your agility you could achieve it if the target was stationary but it is different if the target is moving. I wish you luck."
When Bronx was finished explaining, someone tapped Adrian's shoulder from the back which he reflexively turned his head. What Adrian saw baffled him, it was a wooden dummy that was moving like a human. It was even teasing Adrian and mocking him which made Adrian's forehead produce a bulge. Adrian kept his composure because he would not achieve his goal if he was overwhelmed by emotions of anger towards the dummy. Adrian knew that this dummy was made this way so that the corps would not only be trained physically but also mentally.
Adrian observed the dummy and tried to strike its shoulder but it suddenly evaded. Adrian tried multiple times with different strike patterns but the result was the same. The dummy manage to evade every strike like it has eyes on all parts of its body or it could read the every attack that comes from Adrian. He then changed what type of attacks he did after the third slashing motion he threw the one dagger. When Adrian threw the dagger, the dummy took a second to react and was hit in the elbow. It seems Adrian should minimize his movement in order to score a hit.
Previously, he was using big swiping movements and now he tried to limit the swing to only minimal effective movements. He was not successful at first but he adapted rather quickly at least from Bronx's perspective. The reason Adrian was able to adapt quickly is that he has practice with using the enlarged gauntlet form of his weapon. Although not the same size and shape the reach is almost the same and also the weight.
It did not take long for Adrian to hit the dummy with three consecutive hits in two seconds. He was happy that he managed to do it but it was not enough. The day ended with Adrian consuming his stamina to the limit that he had to take damage because of pushing the limits. Bronx told Adrian to continue again tomorrow to which Adrian agreed because he was already exhausted beyond measure.
When he exited the game pod, he went to his wheelchair and went straight to the bed. He was mentally exhausted and it showed by him falling asleep as soon as he went to the bed. He did not even did his usual battle simulation but he had an idea to do the mission.
The next morning after breakfast, Adrian logged in and proceeded directly in attacking the dummy and wasted no time to test his theory on how the dummy functions. After a couple of bouts, he finally learned on how the dummy functions. The dummy responds to the vibrations produced by the air.
If Adrian produced small vibrations, it would take time for it to register but if he produced bigger vibrations, the dummy would easily pick it up. It can also only pick one source of vibration at a time which is why it could not dodge the daggers when it was hurled towards it.
Adrian put his plan into action. He threw the dagger in his left hand towards the dummy and dashed toward the dummy and initiated a slash using his right hand. The dummy evaded to the path that Adrian dictated and was hit by the dagger he threw and it lodged in the dummy's shoulder. Adrian used this chance to quickly grab the dummy and place his arm around its neck and stab it four times.
He enacted this technique quickly and Bronx who was observing was pleased because usually the trainees would either give up or take ten days to succeed. Adrian then heard a system prompt and read it before dropping to the ground seemingly exhausted by the use of intense concentration with probably a kick of adrenaline in the mix.
[Player Equinox has completed the quest Achieve Weapons Mastery III]
[Player Equinox has leveled up]
[The quest Achieve Weapons Mastery IV has been added to the quest log.]
●Quest Notification●
Achieve Weapons Mastery IV (Link Quest)
Bronx is happy with your persistence and talent. There are only two more type of weapons left before you acquire the Weapons Mastery skill. Do not disappoint him
Clear Condition: Learn how to handle a long spear.
Reward: Level +1
" Congratulations on passing the test, young lad. Now that you know how to handle a weapon with short reach. You must now know how to handle a weapon like this." Bronx said while handing the spear to Adrian.
"I would personally teach you this time on how to be able to wield a long reach weapon effectively. From your stance, weight distribution and attack patterns. Listen well for I will give you these tips so that you would be able to handle any weapon that has long reaches like the spear."
Adrian then copied the movement of Bronx and was amazed because the movements are akin to that of a dance and he was mesmerized by the graceful yet powerful force to it. Adrian was part of the dance clubs when he was in elementary but did not in high school because he was engrossed in games.
His former love for dancing has now been ignited and by a game, mind you. Adrian thought it was funny that what he loves now could ignite his passion for what he loves before. It was already the end of the day when Adrian heard a system prompt.
[Player Equinox has completed the quest Achieve Weapons Mastery IV]
[Player Equinox has leveled up]
[The quest Achieve Weapons Mastery Final has been added to the quest log.]
●Quest Notification●
Achieve Weapons Mastery Final
Bronx is proud of what you achieved and is now teaching you the ways of the bow and arrow. Listen to him carefully in order to learn the necessary knowledge in handling the bow and arrow.
Clear Condition: Aim for the bullseye and hit it at least five times.
Reward: Weapons Mastery Skill
" Finally, the quest would be finished and I would be able to acquire the skill. Just a little more" Adrian thought to himself.
"We would start training tomorrow. You must have been tired today." Bronx said as he told Adrian that to go rest.