Monstrous Potential

[Ding!]

[Congratulations to the player for learning the skill "Adaptive Combat Technique" through practice. The system will now display the said skill.]

[Adaptive Combat Technique

Grade: Legendary

Tier: Mid

Beginner Proficiency: 0.00%

Description:

A flexible and unpredictable combat technique that can be used with the user's fist or anything as the weapon to attack or defend.

It focuses on being able to deal with any situation no matter what condition the user is in.

A combat technique personally created by Arthur Vermilion.]

Zen, who was still lying on the ground while panting in exhaustion, was dumbstruck as he looked through the system window that appeared in front of him.

'Damn, another legendary skill…!'

He couldn't believe what he was seeing, it felt as if legendary skills were very common in this world.

However, Zen shook his head to remove this entitled mindset from his head.

Zen knew that the only reason he was able to gain this many skills was because of his teacher, Arthur.

He could not imagine how long it would take other people to be able to obtain a skill of their own without privileges or anyone's guidance.

Thinking about it carefully, isn't he just like those who grew up with a silver spoon on their mouth?

This thought made Zen chuckle.

After being distracted for a bit, Zen returned his focus on the skill he had obtained. He noticed in the description of the skill that its creator was his teacher.

'Arthur Vermillion huh… so that is his family name.'

Zen silently remembered Arthur's full name in his heart.

As his eyes glanced over the column of the skill information panel where the beginner proficiency was located, he remembered something and hurriedly opened his skill panel.

He looked through his skill panel and saw the skills section and clicked his [Cold Weapon Mastery] skill.

[Cold Weapon Mastery

Grade: Epic

Tier: Top

Beginner Proficiency: 96.47%

Description:

The mastery over all kinds of cold weapons.]

Staring at the skill panel, Zen was confused by his proficiency.

'What? Is it really this easy to level up a skill?'

He remembered that it had only been a few hours, maybe a little over 7 hours, of being beaten up— trained by Arthur.

'Is it because of the bonus effect of my [Apprentice of Fire] title? But still… isn't this too outrageous?'

Zen couldn't believe this fact because in the novels that he had read, gaining proficiency over something was really hard. Unless the protagonist had a talent that focuses on making it easy for its user to gain proficiency over something.

Even in the games that he played, gaining skill proficiency was known by everyone to be a pain in the ass.

But now, looking at his [Cold Weapon Mastery] skill's proficiency, he couldn't help but think otherwise.

It was at this time that the door to the building sounded, making Zen raise his head.

The sun rays shone over his face, making him squint his eyes as he looked at Arthur who had just exited the dilapidated building.

One must remember that the place where they were training was a courtyard at the back of the dilapidated building, meaning that it was outdoors.

"Hey! Why are you still laying on the ground? Don't you feel hot?"

Arthur shouted lightly as he walked towards Zen with a carefree attitude while carrying a tray of bread and milk.

Hearing his teacher's words, Zen could not help but roll his eyes, "Well, whose fault do you think is this?"

However, feeling the heat from the ground made of bricks, he felt as if he was on a sizzling plate. So he got up and walked over to a nearby bench to rest.

Arthur smiled as he put the tray of food on the table in front of the bench and sat across Zen.

Looking at Arthur who was happily eating, Zen asked, "Is it easy to gain skill proficiency?"

Arthur looked at him and replied, "No, let's use the amount of hours that we trained earlier as a comparison. A normal person, on their own, can at most gain around 7% proficiency with the time that we spent on training earlier."

"Of course, there are also variables such as the person's innate talent, potential, comprehension ability, whether there is someone to guide them, and many more. Why do you ask?"

Hearing this, Zen sheepishly replied, "Well, you see… the [Cold Weapon Mastery] skill that you gave me…"

"What about it??"

"Well… it's proficiency is at 96%..."

Pfffft!!!

Arthur suddenly threw up the milk that he was in his mouth all over Zen as he widened his eyes.

Zen, who was covered in milk, speechlessly looked at his teacher.

Coming to his senses, Arthur lightly coughed in order to cover up his embarrassment and to maintain his image.

"What's the matter, teacher?"

"Oh, nothing. I just choked up on the milk."

After helping Zen wipe the milk on his face, Arthur sat back down and calmed himself before speaking.

"Is it true that you have 96% proficiency in the skill that I gave you?"

"Yes, teacher. Do you want me to show it to you?"

Arthur stopped Zen hurriedly and said, "Remember that you shouldn't show others anything about your status panel. Understood?"

Zen nodded innocently and asked, "Then what about the proficiency?"

Satisfied at Zen's obedience, Arthur thought for a while and said, "Just like the variables that I said earlier, it must be because of your potential and my guidance, as well as the bonus from the title I gave you."

Feeling that it made sense and that it was impossible for it to be something else, Zen was convinced.

However, he did not notice Arthur's strange look.

'What the fuck is that monstrous potential… 96% proficiency in just a few hours!? Even if it's just the beginner realm, it's still so much more powerful than any creature I've ever seen before!"