The month went easier than expected. Mike got the chance to ask the others during the evaluation month about the company's protocols.
Even when not being taught by his superiors, he still managed to get the basics.
So, when the monthly period was over and after rejecting Rose's offer to work personally for her,
It was finally the best notice he could get. He can finally leave Rose's side.
-"Oh, please don't contract me after I finish my tests here" - Mike repeated in his mind a few times.
He was approaching the test area, the company basement.
The basement was big enough to hold some of the company's training and tests.
Surprisingly and still disappointed by it, the test was really easy.
It started with questions about protocols, but too few of them, and when his turn arrived, he got even fewer questions than the others.
The one making the questions and giving the scores was someone he hadn't interacted with before.
But the one in the physical test, was the shady man from the armory.
Luckily, Mike was even stronger than before, it took him little effort to finish the test.
After entering phase 1, his body itself got even stronger than before. Something that would not happen with any other invisible mind variant.
And the man, gritting teeth had no other option than giving him enough scores to pass.
Mike didn't mind the low score despite the one he deserved, as long as he could pass the test.
It took a few minutes after finishing to get his results and finally leaving.
There was no work for him until a client asked for him specially or got assigned to one.
So it was finally time to full training at home, this was the real challenge, he improved his combat but still was not able to use his ability for combat itself.
He aimed to reach the step in which it can be used as an attack, not as just support him in fighting.
But anyway, after arriving home, he got no greeting from the android herself but through the speakers.
-Greetings master, I was preparing the next step of your training. - Said Claire from the training area.
Mike lost no time and went right to the basement.
He threw his equipment beside the locker and got in his sports clothes quickly.
In the middle of the training area, was a big variety of weapons,
All cold weapons.
-What is this for? I don't think I have the license to hold those kinds of weapons. I barely got the one to hold fire guns after getting my work. - Mike had no intention of holding weapons like that in the open,
At least until getting the license for it.
-I can send the request online and approve it by myself, the current cyber security in Aether is low.-
-I... I have no words... is that possible?-
-You still need to go there and get the physical license, but yes, it is possible-
-I am surprised you are allowed to do those things; the guild must be crazy... but wise guys from the guild I guess-
-...- Claire kept silent at Mike's words, she was not allowed by the guild to do so, but still chose to keep the lie and not tell a word about it.
-So I need to train with weapons now, isn't enough a pistol? I already have one after all.-
-No, you will understand later. Choose one, master. Remember you can change your choice whenever you want but once in the outside...-
-Yes, I can't carry that many weapons, I know-
He got close to the shelves holding the weapons, each of them had a very sharp edge.
Some were weapons like combat knives, modern and new.
Others were uncommon and mysterious weapons, like the katana, that were clearly never seen in any country but reached mysteriously the market in Gaia as soon as appeared.
Among the unusual weapons, was even the chakram and variants of it, it was not as popular as others but held a dangerous potential in ancient times.
He felt like holding very long weapons like a spear, lance or a nodachi was pointless, both in style and usefulness in modern society.
But holding a combat knife? That was out of the question with so many exotic weapons in front of him.
He already had a combat knife anyway.
-You can't just tell me to choose one, there are many good 'babies' in this place! You are cruel! - Mike had no hope of the android helping him.
-... Master, you... can choose whichever you want, I will win our combats anyway - The android was about to comfort him with some idea,
But what Mike needs is no comforting words, sarcastic words are more useful to him.
He understood that he needed to train with each weapon he selected, it was better for him to select one easy to use for him and that wouldn't draw too much attention from people.
-You know how to ruin dreams...-
-Thanks-
-It wasn't a compliment... forget it...-
Mike's dream to choose an exotic weapon was cut in half and burned in his eyes.
He resisted choosing exotic weapons such as the chakrams, urumi, daggers with chains (like kusarigama from an unknown origin on Gaia), and so on.
He saw weapons that he could not recognize, the temptation was high for a mere mortal like him.
Anyway, with all his will, he reached the swords.
In there, some swords were exotic ones, so he at least, lost not too much hope.
-I will use this one - He grabbed a Wakizashi but as soon as he grabbed it, something felt amiss.
-This weapon, what is this material? And why does it say something about 'Made in Japan with a hand of the smith deity' here? What is Japan?-
-The place where it was made, it says its serial code there too, it was a relic made for your grandfather. Made from the guild in a place named Japan and specially handed to class 5 members. And that is a place on another planet, just to let you know.-
-So it explains why some exotic weapons appeared out of nowhere, but what material is it? I feel weird by holding it-
-All the weapons here are made by the guild, you can guess they are special in certain areas-
Claire needs no more words to let him understand sometimes. It was clear, special weapons? PhySEC is related if it's from the guild.
They moved beside the weapons area to start the spar.
Claire used a simple two-edged short sword.
Without much explanation, Mike already put on the cloth in his eyes.
Claire instructed him how to handle the weapon, but had no intention of just explain him, so started the combat right away.
Mike reacted quickly and was not a fan of getting stunned.
He tried to block, but the pressure from the opponent was high, his sword was not for his combat style, he needed to adapt his combat style or change the weapon.
But he decided to stick to the weapon, one cannot get exotic weapons every day.
Claire gave him no rest, so he had to adjust his combat style with difficulty.
Soon, got the basics, and his style changed to concentrate more on movement technique and reaction speed rather than strong defense and counter-attack as before.
Maybe it was not the right way to use the weapon, or maybe it was intended to be used in another combat style.
But still, it worked for him. As long as he could fight the android back, he did not need to change the weapon.
Fighting with fists was a thing. Claire was a weapon herself since could kill with her bare hands. But fighting with weapons was not just another thing,
With weapons, the danger increased. Who is barbaric enough to shoot a gun at others just for training?
It was the same for cold weapons after all, somehow that Mike had no time to even regret not telling.
Claire's moves were decisive, she had no expertise in holding swords but had the database, and the body of an android.
She quickly adapted to the perfect combat style for her that could also help Mike to train. It took her less than a minute, less than half a minute.
Few knew Mike that his sword could be used for defense and that Claire increased her strength just to make Mike change his weapon for one that fit him better.
But at the same time, few knew Claire that Mike was the common kind of man who stuck to exotic weapons like a treasure.
In the end, she just gave Mike a reason to adapt and improve even when in hard situations.
It was not easy for Mike anyway; he had cuts on his body.
The android avoided critical areas, she never tried to kill him but to hurt him.
Still, even if he got the basics, the weapon was special, but he still could not find how to use that special thing about it.
-"Is it to improve my ability? To be used against other users? How the hell should I use this thing?"-
His moves fast, his muscles aching in pain, and bleeding, he kept going, but still could not get the feeling on how to use it.
He had no clue what the sword had to offer him.
-That would be enough, master. You already got the basics, very quickly, but still need to learn how to use your ability with your weapon, and you are injured enough so quickly anyway, want to change your weapon maybe?-
-No, don't you dare to ruin my destined love- Said Mike while hugging the weapon.
-...- The android just helped him get healed, not arguing with the stupid things he just said.
If Mike once doubted the android and tried to pry into the methods of his family, he would be surprised.
This android increased the level of difficulty weeks ago, he was receiving training over his current ability phase.
But he trusted the guild's technology, not knowing it had flaws on this android.