He gently clenched his fist and then released it, feeling the contraction and relaxation of his muscles, every sensory experience as clear as reality.
"Welcome back, human." A deep and familiar voice came from behind.
Ron turned around to see a tall tiger-man standing at the other end of the arena.
Aksa’s image was even more realistic than last time, his fur shimmering with natural luster under the sunlight.
The amber eyes were gleaming coldly, no longer possessing that stiffness peculiar to simulated modeling.
"Master Aksa, it’s been a while." Ron slightly nodded.
"It seems I was right; your aura has become much stronger."
The tiger-man weapon master walked closer, looking Ron up and down:
"Last time we parted, you already showed rare talent, but now... you are filled with a deeper power."
Ron slightly nodded: "I have been promoted to an Official Wizard."
"I see." Aksa realized, eyes showing deep respect:
"No wonder you could reconstruct this training space so perfectly. I feel my consciousness being nurtured and restored, even more complete than before. Truly an astonishing achievement, human."
"I’m glad to see you again.
You may not know, but I chose you as the core of the Simulation Battle Device after careful consideration."
"Oh?" The tiger-man’s eyebrows raised slightly, revealing curiosity.
Ron paced slowly in the arena:
"Last time we spoke, we had a great talk, and I asked your willingness; you expressed a desire to help. This kind of voluntary partnership often yields better results."
He paused momentarily, looking into Aksa’s eyes:
"But what interests me most is that as a Weapon Master, you represent a career path I am extremely interested in."
A surprise flickered in the tiger-man’s eyes, he shook his head somewhat unbelievingly:
"I get it, you want not only to train here but also to try becoming a Weapon Master?
Such a choice... really doesn’t seem like something a wizard would make."
"Multiple development paths promote each other better, don’t they?" Ron smiled slightly, not explaining too much.
"Indeed." Seeing this, Aksa just nodded:
"Your thinking is broader than most humans.
However, before we discuss this topic, I’m curious how strong you are now?
Would you like to, as last time, understand each other through actual combat?"
Ron gently extended his right hand.
With a flash of silver light, a longsword appeared in his hand from nowhere.
The sword was simple in design but exquisite, emitting a cold radiance, a training sword he had specially crafted for himself after coming to the Crystal Tower.
The Ironwood Sword that accompanied him through the tough apprenticeship period had been sealed away, remaining only as a memory.
Seeing this, Aksa also drew from behind the giant sword almost as tall as a man.
The blade was covered with ancient and mysterious shaman prayers, each representing some special enhancement.
The current Aksa was not the castrated version from the crude simulation device of the Black Mist School.
"Last time, you displayed amazing combat talent, letting me thoroughly enjoy myself."
The tiger-man weapon master assumed a combat position, amber eyes sparkling with excitement:
"This time, let me see what heights you can reach as an Official Wizard!"
As soon as the words were spoken, Aksa charged towards Ron like a golden lightning bolt.
The giant sword traced a dazzling arc, aiming straight for the head.
This strike was swift and precise, imbued with the explosive power and ferocity unique to the tiger-man.
However, to Aksa’s surprise, Ron didn’t even make an obvious evasive move.
He merely sidestepped slightly, like a reed gently swaying in the morning breeze, causing the powerful and weighty strike to completely miss.
At the instant Aksa’s giant sword swung through empty space, the longsword was already flashing like a silver lightning bolt, striking towards the tiger-man’s throat.
Aksa instinctively raised his sword to block, but due to an unstable center of gravity, he was a beat too slow.
His keen battle sense allowed him to adjust his posture in time, but the sword tip still lightly touched his fur, leaving an almost imperceptible mark.
"First move broke through the defense."
Ron withdrew his sword, thinking silently:
"It seems that after becoming an Official Wizard, my reaction speed and physical coordination indeed had a qualitative leap."
Aksa narrowed his eyes, his expression becoming more serious:
"Don’t be too complacent, human. This is far from my full strength."
The tiger-man launched another attack, this time more ferocious, attempting to break through Ron’s defense from various directions.
Yet, no matter how Aksa changed his attack routes, Ron always anticipated his intentions half a step ahead, either evading or blocking, responding with ease.
The spiritual perception that elevated after his promotion allowed him to predict the attack direction from the opponent’s muscle movements and changes in gaze.
Combined with the Insight brought by the "Sharpness Unveiled" trait, every move Aksa made seemed as if it had been rehearsed in front of Ron in advance, rendering them ineffective.
The exchange lasted about ten minutes, Aksa’s movements became faster, attacks more aggressive, but always incapable of posing an effective threat to Ron.
In contrast, every counterattack by Ron was precise and efficient, like a scalpel cutting into the gaps in the opponent’s defense.
"Enough!" Aksa suddenly took two steps back, raising his hand to signal a stop:
"Your progress... exceeds my imagination."
"If you add the magic you excel at, I’m afraid I wouldn’t last even a single round."