~The Advanced stage can only be reached through constant practice and use of one's ability, as well as deep knowledge of it. However, some undergo these and still fail to evolve. This is due to other factors involved in the Evolution of a Special Ability~
TIME PASSED: Approximately 30 hrs. 15 mins. (Day 2)
LOCATION: Valeria (Ruined World)
It had already been over 18 hours since they had started training. In another 22 hours or so, the training for the day would be over. Tenny had two options before him.
The first would be to stall for time, until training was over, giving him more chances to discover information regarding Kyron's other weaknesses and analyze the situation more, after all, the more he knew, the more of an advantage he was at.
Besides, he still needed more personal training in order to fully master the switching of his patterns. It was like a randomizer switch he regularly flipped in his head, which caused all the combinations of his automatic teleportation to reset, resulting in a new sequence.
It was difficult to get the hang of it, and so he hardly rested and slept the previous day, and even the moments before the training.
Since Michael relieved him with his 'Healer's Wish', Tenny felt brand new.
He could decide to keep practicing on his own every day, until he mastered the technique, and honed his other abilities, gathering information on the enemy in the process, and at the most opportune time, win against Kyron.
At least that was one way to go about it... but, it had some flaws.
"If I stall for time, sure I won't run out of energy, but my efficiency will no doubt drop. Also... me taking my time also gives the enemy more time to figure out my weaknesses and the trick behind my moves. Once he does, it will become more difficult to evade, talk less of landing a hit." Tenny deduced.
The other option was to aim for victory. This way, whenever he sees an opening, he takes it. The victory might not also be immediate. Sure if he was fortunate, he could win on that very day, but it could also take a few days. However the outcome, it would still take less time and would not give Kyron the chance to learn of anything detrimental to him, unlike the first option.
This option also had its risk, so Tenny did not want to immediately choose it. For one, now that Kyron had been hit, he would be warier, and he would also realize the weakness of his Mind Reading Ability. This would make him more on guard while using the ability, or he could even fake using the ability, while actually luring Tenny. Tenny would not know if the latter was the case, so he had to be extra careful.
Kyron ranked above him in all aspects... Except ONE! Analysis and strategy.
Tenny's overthinking nature proved to be a gift, as he could read a situation and come up with a plan, given sufficient time, even amid danger. This happened when he first encountered a cultivator, and even when Kyron was still THE GRANDMASTER.
Tenny realized the advantage he possessed and decided to exploit it. Unlike him, Kyron usually went blank in battle, even though he was very smart.
After ruminating on the options for a while, he decided.
"I said I'd win, and I will. I can't afford to risk it... I'll take it one step at a time.." Tenny said, deciding on the first option.
TIME PASSED: 132 hrs. 31 mins (Day 6)
Tenny had already grasped most of Kyron's movements and attack patterns. What made it easy to do was Kyron's reliance on instinct and lack of strategy. This made his attacks monotonous. Tenny was also beginning to grasp the reason Michael had organized this exact training between them.
The aim of the training was for the both of them to learn how to complement themselves and each other by engaging in this game. They both had set strengths and weaknesses, which the other lacked. By facing each other, neither would be able to even land a hit, talk less of winning. This would make one, or both of them surpass their limits and develop themselves while learning of their weaknesses and working on them.
"That's quite a smart plan, Michael" Tenny said, smiling.
It had been a few days since Tenny had decided to stall, while developing himself, and so far it was working perfectly. Almost too perfectly.
Anytime Kyron tried to read Michael's mind, Tenny would attack, disrupting the flow. This ensured the safety of his secret.
However, it was getting more and more dangerous for him. One bad move and it could prove fatal, especially with the way Kyron was acting at the moment.
Tenny had decided not to risk any more time. He had to end things as soon as possible, or everything could be lost.
"I'll end it today" Tenny resolved.
Not only was it too dangerous to continue stalling for time, since it was only a matter of time before Kyron would get him, Tenny also worried about the second, and final, stage of the training. They would be facing Michael, who would most definitely be exponentially more difficult compared to Kyron.
He had to save as much time as possible in order for him to have enough to learn from Michael, and then beat him.
"It will take at least 500 hours to win." Tenny thought to himself. "Now... To win!" Tenny said, preparing to go all out, using all he had learned and beating Kyron.
Kyron seemed helpless. Every time he wanted to read Michael's mind, Tenny would interrupt him. What was most annoying was the timing. Since Kyron could predict his attacks if he knew the exact moment he would teleport, Tenny often had intervals when attacking Kyron, after all his opening was a minute.
"Dammit!" Kyron had often yelled in frustration when just seconds remained till completion and Tenny disrupted everything.
This was the deciding moment. Tenny timed everything. Ready. Set. Go!
Tenny teleported behind Kyron, who twisted as he raised his hands to strike Tenny. Tenny quickly teleported to Kyron's front region, which was left unprotected, but the Grandmaster's other hand quickly reached for Tenny at the same time.
Tenny then teleported to midair, directly in front of Kyron's face, and kicked him hard. Kyron took a few steps back as he staggered, and Tenny teleported a safe distance away from his location.
"Two to go," Tenny said to himself. "Now, what he's going to do next is... Try reading Michael's mind."
Tenny had studied Kyron's behavior and needless to say, he already knew his next move before he would make it.
"Since I have a one-minute window, he won't expect me to come rushing him immediately the countdown starts. Plus since he'll be stunned and try to counter me, I'll use this opportunity to land two hits, one directly, and the other at his blind spot when he moves to counter. He expects me to only attack once, that's why I've been maintaining that pattern. He won't expect two hits in a row." Tenny planned his next move.
At this point, Kyron, who was recoiling from the just-finished attack, focused his attention on Michael, and this signaled Tenny who immediately blinked and appeared directly in front of Kyron's shocked face.
He quickly slapped him, as this proved to be quicker than a punch, and time was of the essence. Immediately, Tenny blinked again, appearing behind Kyron, and then to land his final hit, went for the slap again.
Unfortunately, things did not go as planned.
Tenny's eyes widened as he saw Kyron looking behind him, his eyes piercing Tenny's and his smile widening crazily.
Tenny's senses shut down, and they were all overrun by one thing and one thing only... FEAR!
Tenny immediately realized... He could not hit Kyron again, or else Kyron would first hit him, painfully at that.
Hesitantly, Tenny teleported as far as he could from Kyron, exactly 20 meters northeast, at 45 degrees. As he opened his eyes, Kyron was right in front of him!
"Wha..." Tenny thought, but before his mind could even comprehend what happened, Kyron hit him, three times.
Normally it would be impossible, even for Kyron, to land 3 solid hits on Tenny without him blinking even once, BUT Kyron knew that, and that was why he came up with the best way to hit him.
"Using three of my right-hand fingers, I'll hit him, and since the fingers are not equal, they'll touch his skin with intervals of microseconds, not quick enough for him to react, but still counted as individual hits." Kyron had rightly deduced.
Tenny was still shocked when the match ended, and the winner was the one no one expected it to be, Kyron.
Michael's eyes widened, just realizing what had happened, and what Kyron had done to win which escaped even his notice. He looked at Kyron with wonder while a grin formed on his face.
"This guy... is a true monster!" Michael said as he smiled.
TO BE CONTINUED ...