The next morning, Ren woke up in a good mood. The reason behind this was because before he slept, he tried one last time to make a replication of something. Since skills weren't coming through, he tried to replicate a technique instead. Unlike skills, techniques didn't exactly need to be activated or even utilize force, they were more like experiences one had gathered and honed through training.
Techniques were also very important as they can form the basis for using a skill, and unlike skills, they could be learned and one person could have an infinite number of them, as long as he was dedicated. It's like learning to cook and also being good at shooting a football, all require technique, which stems from practice and honing of the skill. Also, there was no force required to use them, but one could still apply naturally apply force to improve efficiency.
Anyway, Ren had succeeded in creating a simple but highly effective technique, 'weapon throw'. Though simple at first, for someone who can throw a knife at the speed of a bullet, this would be incredibly deadly. Well, he couldn't achieve such a feat at the moment, but eventually.
'Even though techniques are kind of inferior to skills in so many levels, they can still be incredibly useful. It all depends on who is wielding the knowledge I guess.' Now Ren had an objective in mind to create many techniques.
With the Weapon throw technique that would normally be common with assassin type classes, he gained another element to his fighting now.
'No, its definitely OP. Even the muscle memory has been replicated and copied, it's like I've been throwing weapons my entire life.' Ren now felt that he really didn't waste his time watching all those knife and axe throwing videos online, it helped a ton now.
Without taking his bath, Ren didn't bother changing clothes or putting on his badge as a Private before leaving his room. The first place on his mind was any shop where he could buy the necessary things he needed to clean his room properly and wash the bathroom. He would also need to get food. Since the school also had other places apart from the central cafeteria where the students could eat, Ren opted for that instead, it felt more convenient.
Finding a store wasn't difficult, and Ren also found it incredibly easy to procure his food. On his way back, he was lucky to find someone who was willing to accept a few bucks to the work of cleaning for him. 'It's not like I have any valuables in the room, so I don't need to worry about anything important being stolen.' Since that was the case, he didn't hesitate to spend a few buck to get the job done for him. All he needed to do was give the man the key to his room and it would be done.
'Since the free time came earlier, I should go do other things for now.' Ren thought to himself.
At the moment, two important things stood out. The first was that he wanted to test his other skill to see just how good it was in the practical sense, then there was also his newly formed technique.
After he was done with that, since he didn't plan for it to take up much of his time, he would head to the first hidden dungeon to claim the first clear reward.
'The aspect where this world is like a game is also interesting.' He thought to himself.
The academy grounds were really big and easily a city on its own. It consisted of not just the learning aspect, there were all other things to make it a normal city with civilians living and working there also. Apart from the housing and infrastructural aspect, there were also a lot of wild areas with monsters inhabiting some. These areas were used usually for training the students and such, so it was well guarded and monsters wouldn't just leave the area.
'Well, there's only one such general area. With the help of dungeons, there's no need to bring potential danger to the people outside when we can train inside.' The monsters that inhabited those areas were tamed after all and rarely used.
Well, after wondering deep into the forested area that was covered with thick vegetation and huge trees, Ren found a suitable place to practice.
'Running in such high speeds is so fun, haha, this could become my hobby.' There was no way he hadn't thought about becoming a speedster, after all, that is every man's dream at some point in life. Since he also had such great affinity with lightning, Ren surely anticipated the day.
'Well, since I can also just increase my agility stat, maybe that would work too…' "That reminds me, I will need a skill that can boost my speed instantly, no matter how much or how long, it's always useful." Well, he was about to test one right now.
He already understood the power his 'slash' skill had, so he wanted to test out the 'lightning impulse'.
'This should be fun.'
Ren wasted no time in activating the skill. As he did, he felt the surge of energy within his body, and he could feel it burning away.
Also, even though his hair was short, the charged atmosphere around him caused the hair on his head to stand a little, and scatter, giving him a kind of wild look, but with his handsomeness, it couldn't look wrong.
'I can feel the quantitative increase in my stats right away.'
According to the effects, his senses were now sharper, but Ren didn't really feel too different from how he usually feels. Now though, his strength and agility should have been increased to 15 each. "too bad I can't test defense."
"You can!" Ren heard an eccentric voice say to him a distance off from where he was standing.
'WHAT?' He turned to see who it was, then his mind was at ease.
"General Orson, good morning, sir!" Ren canceled his skill and greeted the general with his right hand balled into a fist and placed over his chest at the left side, while his other hand went behind his back.
"Oho, I see you already know the ethics so soon."
"Well, sir, I've seen the soldiers do this and learned from them." Ren answered smoothly.
'WHAT THE FUCK! OLD MEN ARE SO SCARY!! When did he even get here? Weren't my senses supposed to be sharpened???'
Ren already knew just how powerful one could get in this world, but experiencing it for himself, he could testify to just how ridiculous it was.
"Be at ease, I have come to ask you a simple question, nothing more. I only caught sight of you coming this way, so I followed." Orson explained himself, after all, he didn't want to appear as a creep.
"Oh, what is it you wish to ask me, sir?" Ren asked, even though he was well aware.
'In the original it was Ray who he enquired about and wanted to take him to his own school, now it seems I'm the one. Does this guy have all the experts to teach youngsters in his school or something?' Though Ren called him am old man, he really wasn't anything close to 70 and had a strong build, it was only a verbal tick, that was what it was.
"Well, I would like to invite you to our academy, the Western Phoenix Academy. Before you answer, I should inform you that we have the best swordsman on our side, so if you choose us, the benefits of learning under such a man are immeasurable…" Orson gave some more concrete points before allowing Ren to make his decision.
"If you need time to think-"
"No, sir, I have made my choice, a man should be decisive enough." Ren said, earning himself two raised eyebrows. "I will remain in this academy, it isn't just fate to be here, but I feel this is where I have to be."
'This is where most of the story takes place during the first part of the original story, no way am I leaving.'
"I, see… Well, then, I wish you the best of luck in your studies." Orson said with an impressed expression.
'Well, I can't expect all dialogue to be the same.'
"Thank you for understanding, Sir!"
"Enough, enough, you're making me embarrassed with the shouting. You said you wanted to test your defense? Why don't you test it against young Pierce here? He also uses lightning skills; it should be ok if you two spar a bit." Orson said.
'Wait, Pierce, General Orson, lightning… NO SHIT? His age was never mentioned, so I never thought he'd be this young… This is a good encounter.'
"Come on, I'll entertain you." Pierce said stepping forward with a friendly smile.