Chapter 29: 5 Categories

  That terrifying Death's Scythe fell just like that. And Aaron only even used one talent.

  Out of seven talents he has.

  I watched Aaron on screen waving his hands to shoo away the dust flying from the destruction around him.

  He really deserves to be my favorite character! He's too perfect. Appearance, personality, strength, everything's at a different level. Even my dad also likes that character.

  Almost no fws.

  But what makes him truly terrifying isn't just that perfection. What's truly terrifying... is his talent.

  Aaron has a total of seven talents. One unique talent, one innate talent, and five potential talents.

  That's a really insane number!

  For comparison, the main protagonist of this animation has so far only mastered three talents. There's not even a sign of a fourth talent appearing, because his potential seems to have reached its limit.

  Ironically, the main character is actually far worse off compared to a side character.

  When I first understood the power system in that animation, I thought maybe the Immersion I have might be an innate talent.

  But it doesn't seem possible that animation references the real world. Besides, innate talents are known to be very strong. Ranking second after unique talents. And they usually have certain symptoms.

  Whereas my Immersion has no symptoms at all.

  Moreover, from the history books I've read, talents are only divided into three categories, not five like in that animation.

  But even though it's not connected to the real world, I'm very serious about studying the power system in that animation. Somehow, understanding it feels really fun.

  The more I study it, the more things I realize about that story. One of them, people are really right.

  Often side characters or vilins are made far cooler and stronger than the main character. Even, their personalities sometimes feel better than protagonists who like to board random buses.

  But even though the protagonist's personality isn't that great, his luck is very high. Who would've thought that traveling food vendor couple he saved the other day turns out to be connected to one of the seven greatest vilins of humanity? And now they're friends.

  What amazing plot luck.

  However, my thoughts quickly returned to the previous fight.

  Death's Scythe... Did he really lose that easily?

  "He's not really dead?" I mumbled quietly. As if answering my doubt...

  "Kuh... hahahaha..."

  His hoarse ughter broke out in the middle of the ruins. The figure that should've already fallen slowly rose. His mad ughter broke out again in the middle of the building debris.

  Aaron just watched him while stroking his chin.

  "You can still stand?"

  "Stand?" He grinned widely. "Don't say boring things like that... I'm only just getting started."

  The bck scythe in his hand lifted. His body trembled as he concentrated all his strength. In an instant, he charged at Aaron with power clearly at a different level from before. His speed this time far more devastating, leaving small explosions at every step.

  Pale Cyan traces remained in the air when his scythe swing shot fast. Leaving thin shadows almost impossible for ordinary eyes to catch.

  Aaron looked at that scythe calmly. His body moved fluidly, combining speed and technique talents. His steps left thin Pale Cyan lines on the floor.

  Meanwhile, his sword wrapped in a Pale Silver gleaming blue aura followed the scythe's trajectory with perfect precision. Parrying every incoming attack.

  They exchanged blows at a speed that made the TV screen almost vibrate.

  I even had to lower the TV volume so my mom wouldn't appear. If she knew I was watching such a violent scene, long lectures would rain down on my days.

  Death's Scythe really deserves to be called top tier. Every scythe swing carried real pressure, forcing Aaron to adjust every step. For the first time, I saw Aaron furrow his brow.

  Even so, in the animation, all their movements could still be seen. From Pale Cyan traces in the air to Pale Silver fshes when Aaron's sword parried that deadly attack until sparking fire.

  But imagine if this was in the real world. What would be visible might only be fshes of Pale Cyan, Pale Silver, and Deep Crimson when they exchange attacks.

  His arm muscles tensed when swinging the scythe. Veins in his skin glowed faintly, and thin cracks appeared on the floor when his foot stepped.

  A faint Deep Crimson aura enveloped his arm, indicating he'd already used at least three talents.

  That bck scythe spun wildly. Every swing left Dark Cyan traces in the air. As if night itself was dancing at the tip of his scythe.

  Dust and debris flew when the scythe tip sshed, bringing a terrifying aura of death. As if every blow could shake the adrenaline of anyone watching.

  I looked at the man who had already lost his right hand.

  Despite severe injury, his body stayed upright. His skin gleamed faintly in Gunmetal, giving an impression of solidity and unshakeability.

  Four talents! This vilin has four talents?

  From wounds that should be severe, thin warm steam rose slowly. As if his body was holding back from bleeding out. Despite injury, he kept advancing without hesitation, making every following attack feel increasingly terrifying.

  A strange choice.

  In a situation like that, anyone sane would definitely run away. Especially when the opponent is Aaron. But this man instead got even more intense.

  Even from the screen it was clearly visible. Aaron was actually holding back.

  From the start, he only used technique-type and speed-type potential talents. As if deliberately leaving an opening so that man could retreat and save himself.

  However, that man was blind to Aaron's good intentions.

  Death's Scythe kept advancing without hesitation. He ughed wildly while swinging his scythe again and again.

  As if he was indeed seeking his own death. Or maybe he wanted to die in the greatest battle of his life.

  Or maybe he has an innate talent? Innate talents are indeed known to affect their owner's mentality. Seeing his mad ughter, it's hard not to think that talent is pulling him deeper into madness.

  If he indeed has an innate talent, that means during this fight he's already used five talents at once.

  Five talents, and he's still overwhelmed facing Aaron who's only using three.

  The protagonist is lucky to have strong friends. If this Death's Scythe successfully attacked the protagonist, he'd definitely be dead already!

  But... still.

  It feels sad seeing that seemingly tough new character quickly defeated by a far mightier opponent. Making him seem weak.

  I'm sure many people will think that character is weak without knowing he has five talents.

  The final result doesn't need expining.

  Aaron, combining strength, speed, and technique talents, managed to end the fight. On the thirtieth ssh. He hadn't even brought out his unique talent yet.

  That vilin returned to God Orien's embrace to receive 72 virgins in heaven.

  After that, the episode ended too.

  ? ? ?

  Back the next day. Recess time.

  I sat in the corner of css, pretending to read a book. Actually I was observing Julian.

  He wasn't pying like the other kids. He sat at his desk, practicing writing letters. Over and over. Until his writing was neat. He even ignored invitations to py.

  His dedication started making me shiver.

  Not long after, Vina, a quite active girl, approached him.

  "Julian, aren't you pying?"

  Julian shook his head without lifting his head. "No. I want to practice first."

  "Why? It's recess."

  Julian stopped briefly, then smiled slightly. "Because I'm not a genius like Sera. So I have to work harder."

  Instantly, my hand holding the book suddenly trembled. I stared at him from afar, not believing what I just heard.

  Not a genius? You say you're NOT A GENIUS?!

  Then what am I?! Isn't it clear that you're the real genius! I'm the one who should have a big advantage. But you, who's just an ordinary kindergarten kid, can chase me with terrifying speed just with "hard work"?!

  That's clearly talent!

  I bit my lower lip and stared at the floor.

  The peak happened in the third month.

  Ms. Ida brought something new. A simple Rubik's cube. A 2x2 version for kids. Bright colors, size perfect for small hands.

  "Children, this is called a Rubik's cube. Try turning it and matching the colors!"

  The kids immediately fought over them. I got one too.

  I turned it. Scrambled it. Then tried assembling it again. In my old life, I'd pyed with a 3x3 Rubik's. So the 2x2 should be easy.

  Should be.

  But turns out it's harder than I thought. My small hands struggled to turn with precision. The algorithms I remember are vague. And worst of all.

  I'm impatient. I want to sm and throw this box.

  Ten minutes. Fifteen minutes.

  I'm still not done.

  Several kids already gave up and pyed other things. Some threw their Rubik's to the corner of css. I almost followed their lead, but my pride was still hanging by a thread at my fingertips.

  However, then an enthusiastic shout was heard.

  "Ms. Ida! I'm done!"

  Julian's voice.

  I looked up quickly.

  Julian stood in front of Ms. Ida, raising his Rubik's high. All sides already neatly arranged. Same color on each side.

  Ms. Ida cpped. "Wow! Julian is amazing! You finished first!"

  The other friends cpped too.

  Julian smiled widely, then turned toward me.

  His eyes met mine.

  And for the first time, I finally realized. He's on top. I'm below.

  That feeling became even more real when the four of us pyed together that afternoon after coming home from school.

  "Julian's so amazing!" excimed Annie while jumping around. "That colorful thing kept spinning and spinning, I got dizzy instead!"

  "Yeah, Julian's really amazing!" agreed Bombom while chewing crackers. "Sera's amazing too, but earlier Julian was a bit faster, right?"

  "Hehe, I just practiced. Sera's better than me," Julian answered humbly, but his eyes gnced toward me.

  Not a mocking gnce, but a gnce demanding acknowledgment.

  I could only stay silent beside them. Up front, Annie and Bombom ughed cheerfully, not realizing that between their two friends, a chasm of rivalry had just been created.

  Embarrassing. If reincarnation protagonists saw me, they might ugh at me for becoming a failed reincarnation.

  I looked at the bright sky with clenched hands.

  Okay, Julian. You want to py serious? Let's py serious.

  Indeed, no matter what, you're only five years old? I don't care!

  A true man never underestimates his opponent. Even if that opponent can still wet himself watching scary movies.