Systemless in a Parallel World

'He really went all out...'

Zayn tapped his expanding pouches with a heavy sigh. He didn't actually think that it was possible that supplies for a four-month long training would cost him his entire fortune but sadly they did empty his pockets.

It was pretty shocking but it was not as if he was too bothered about it. He knew that the investment would be worth it and that his strength would increase drastically with all the potions, highly nutritional medicinal solutions, and well-preserved meat of monsters that had been in possession of one Soulring.

Consuming the meat that had been treated in a special way to preserve it for several months and infused with lots of soul particles would be more than enough to advance Zayn's strength slowly. Even with his low talent, Zayn would be able to absorb the soul particles from having the special meat every single day. Annexing such particles wouldn't take long, which meant that he didn't have to waste several hours every single day in a pitiful attempt to absorb enough soul particles until his second soulframe was nearly filled.

The expensive meat worth rations that would last four months cost him ten gold thalers, which was plain extortion. Zayn could have gone hunting for a day or two with his Spirits in order to absorb the amount of soul particles he would receive from the well-preserved special meat, but that would be too suspicious.

Even if Merlin were to trust him completely, Zayn didn't feel like sharing everything with his martial arts teacher. There was simply no need to expose his secrets with others right now.

Furthermore, the meat was certainly worth the price because it was said to provide him with the necessary nutrition, including creating and protein, to grow faster. Because Zayn was still in puberty, it was necessary for him to strengthen his muscles and bones. Over the past few years, it had been quite difficult to build up a properly trained body.

Right now, he was lean and his muscles were decently honed, but that was already it. Zayn was far from having a ripped physique, and Merlin intended to make up for it with his training and the expensive goods they would use to unleash every bit of potential inside his body.

Once they returned to the Dojo, they stored the meat, potions, and other goods neatly to ensure that they wouldn't lose any of their potency over the next few months.

"What are we starting with?" Zayn asked, unable to hide the excitement coursing through his body. He followed Merlin who walked into the large area of the dojo's training space.

Merlin noted Zayn's reaction and he nodded his head in satisfaction. It was good that passion burned deep inside him. As long as the blazing flame of passion would keep burning fiercely, Zayn was bound to progress rapidly. That was also why it was necessary to find out how passionate Zayn was and if his flame was an everlasting flame or just a torchlight that would extinguish after a while.

"Just fight me first!" He said while stretching out his hand. A large saber, with a long and wide blade, materialized in his hand. The Saber blade was more than 80 centimeters long, curved, and close to six centimeters in width. It could be wielded with both hands, which was a little bit difficult for Merlin as he had only one arm. However, that was the only advantage Zayn could find in the predicament he seemed to have been pulled into.

"Just a fight?" He asked Merlin, who nodded his head once again.

"Yes, just a fight. I need to evaluate your current capabilities, your talent, instincts, what flaws you have turned into your habits when teaching yourself how to fight, and much more," Merlin clarified before adding, "I will have to fix your flaws and get a rough understanding of where I have to start teaching you."

"Okay," Zayn merely responded while unsheathing the Dragontale Twin Sabers which he retrieved from his expanding pouch.

"We will fight without any soul particles," Merlin added a rule while changing his stance, "Go!"

The moment Merlin declared the start of the battle, Zayn burst forward. He didn't even think as his body automatically leaned forward. His acceleration was terrific and it was only a short moment later that he reached Merlin's range. Zayn slashed at Merlin's weapon hand with his right hand while adjusting his left arm, ready to initiate a quick follow-up attack with the other Dragontale Saber he grasped tightly.

However, Merlin didn't even think of being lenient and giving him an opportunity to attack a second time. He moved his saber only a little, adjusting the angle by a few degrees before he slashed out with a rapid motion.

Zayn could barely follow the trajectory of the saber that collided with the Dragontale Saber he held in his right hand. The force of the collision was more than enough to harm him greatly. The impact traveled along the entire blade and the recoil hit his right hand hard. Zayn's grip loosened and he was on the verge of letting go of the saber but it was already too late. Merlin's brute force had been enough to interfere in Zayn's momentum and forcefully alter it.

Nonetheless, Zayn was trying to adjust to the sudden change in the battle's pace. Merlin's saber was still to his right. That gave Zayn the leeway to tilt the Dragontale Saber in his left to slash out. The azure-blue blade whizzed rapidly through the air. It was just about to reach Merlin's shoulder when the Adventurer took a sudden step backward.

The attack missed the target completely and the momentum of the slash couldn't be stopped either. Zayn was trying to use the forcefully altered momentum combined with the momentum of his slash to twirl around his own axis with a rapid motion.

But his momentum was forcefully halted the moment Merlin kicked out, smashing Zayn to the ground even before he could finish his pirouette.

Zayn groaned as he landed on the ground, still holding onto the Dragontale Twin Sabers.

Merlin towered above Zayn, looking at him coldly with a single word escaping his mouth.

"Again!"