I started checking the surroundings to find if there is any difference between reality and this simulation since it's artificial and all.
But to my surprise, The sight of the endless sea of sand and its burning hot climate with no clouds gave me the same impression as the ones which were mentioned in the books.
I couldn't find any difference in the details between a real-world and a simulation world, the multitude of details that had been added in this simulation world really makes me think like I have been summoned to another world.
But since the timer is running and I have no time to just waste on site seeing so immediately checked my weapon to check on its details.
And again to my surprise, the work of these creators really amazed me the sword felt so real even the weight of the sword was so greatly replicated.
The sword was a replica of the basic swords used by the guards in the academy but there was a weapon shelf next to each contestant until the timer stops so that they can change weapons.
I tried to find a single edge sword but my bad luck I wasn't able to find one there so I took the basic sword and equipped it on my waist.
And as the timer was about to go down, I tried to unsheath my sword and swing it a few times to familiars my self with the new sword only to find it a to be little uncomfortable which was actually better than I imagined.
Before I know it I was acting all fired up and ready to battle even though this was basically the first time after 6 to 7 years in my life I am trying to stand on my own against someone.
And the last time I tried to do something like this, well let's just say it didn't end up well for me and I was hospitalized with a couple of broken bones.
I don't want to actually recall those times, so leaving all those past miseries aside.
" Let me see how you're gone keep that smug on your face after I beat the crap out of you."
Even though those words may sound arrogant for a newbie who hadn't even held a sword for more than two months.
Well basically it has been only two or so months I have actually seen a sword in real life much less weld them.
I believe my words aren't due to my arrogance but due to my confidence.
The isn't a great difference between the words 'arrogance' and ' confidence ' both the words pretty much mean the same, except for the fact arrogance has no basis to back it while confidence has means to back its basis.
And as for the basis of my confidence, it's basically based on my analysis of Clark's clone battle abilities behavior, and attack pattern.
Back on earth According to our understanding a program or a programmed entity is supposed to be it's just artificial replicas that follow a set of commands given to them as a command.
But the Clark clone reproduced by this so-called 'soul simulator' seems to possess a significant amount of intelligence, and a personality, which can be easily noticed in its movement and the way it dealt with the students.
In fact If not for the level restrictions and the fact its attacks are restricted by the soul simulator, I am sure not even one person from the group of newbies would stand more than a second against it.
And according to my observations from all its fight with other students in the group, I had noticed that the clone actually possesses the same personality as the real Clark.
And I don't need to tell you how much I know about a person with that personality because I had practically lived my life with such a person therefore if I say I know him more than myself my words weren't without any base.
Before I knew it the timer had already reached the single digits I closed my eyes and with a deep breath, I took my fighting stance.
And when my eyes were open the timer has already gone zero and the clone immediately dash forward to end me with a single slash.
Seeing its fast movement a sudden fear and anxiety appeared in my heart, well what can I say even though I knew that I'm not the same weak Issac from the past who can't even lift a 5 keg rice bag now.
Question like
' will I be ok?'
' What if I'm not strong enough?'
Hundreds of such questions and doubts were running ramped through my head.
You may think is this guy joking? Didn't he sound so confident about the plan and stuff?
Wasn't his words arrogant a few minutes ago?
while I still am but those words were not completely due to my arrogance It was more of a motivational speech to myself.
In a fact, I already know that I would easily win it and I had even planned this out. My past experiences are still tormenting me even though I'm trying to forget them and move forward.
But the fact is knowing something and doing something are completely different, anyone can do the former but only the brave can do the latter.
And even though I wasn't a coward, I wasn't brave either because this is the first time something bad had happened and all my preparations went to drain while I end up in a more miserable state.
It isn't my cowardice it's just my experiences that had turned me into a self-doubting person.
And I have experienced so much bad luck that I have never even once been able to fully accomplish something or anything before something or someone destroys it.
This inability to control my fate had left a deep impression on my heart that even though I knew the way I still couldn't do it.
But I didn't know Something was about to happen and that something will help me break free from the cocoon of self-doubting and make my first true step.
While I was having second thoughts about the fight, the clone had already appeared in front of me and had raised its sword to finish me off while I am still lost in my thoughts.
By the time my instincts tingled and woke me up from my stupider but it was already late. The swords were about to descend on me and just as I was thinking that this will be the end.
It was at this movement I noticed that the sword was fast descending now, from the moment it was raised and the blade takes above the head of the clone to perform an overhead downwards slash.
It was appearing slow to me I didn't know whether it was my adrenaline doing or the plot amour but whatever it was, it had really saved my sorry ass today.
And just as the sword descend the world suddenly felt a little slow and before I knew it my body had automatically in an instinct had evaded the blade.
Before I knew it I had already jumped a few steps back while evading the blade with my instincts.
I suddenly felt a feeling that had been longing to feel for a very long time in my life, the feeling of joy that comes with the satisfaction of someone achieving something with their two hands.
But just as I was enjoying the feeling of satisfaction the clone once again appeared before me and this time it made a diagonal slash, from an upper right to lower left not wanting to give space to evade the attack like last time.
But instead of evading I immediately step back with a small kick to slide while keeping my legs on the sand not wanting to render my movements by jumping to give the enemy an easy way to finish me off.
Before I knew it the clone had already tried to slash me more than ten times but I had evaded it all not easily
"And here I was making fun of those who had been running for their lives."
While I was basically doing the same but the only difference between them and mine was I was getting more and more graceful after each time and each time I evade slowly but surely the confidence inside me is growing.
The more the Battle went on the more fluid my movement become, the once crude way of evading and dodging had now become more careful and effortless.