44 A Sparring Dummy
The next day arrived in the blink of an eye, and once again, Billy was the one responsible for training.
Rey didn't really mind it; as long as Billy didn't pay any special attention to him and simply performed his duties as their tutor.
Unfortunately for Rey, he was in for a rude awakening.
"Rey Skylar, step forward."
Rey didn't like it when people used his full name—especially when it was being said in a public place like this.
'Reminds me of a teacher calling me out in class...'
Why couldn't he just be left alone?
Still, if he refused to step out, he would be drawing more attention to himself.
As a result of this logic, he obeyed.
"Today we're going to be reviewing the Martial Arts techniques you have been learning and providing counters for them."
Rey felt butterflies in his stomach as he felt the gaze of everyone on him.
He still wasn't very comfortable about any of this. Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m
"After the sparring session yesterday, and the rest of it being a theoretical discussion, I have come to the conclusion that you're all lacking in a lot of areas."
At this point, no one bothered to argue with him.
Not Trisha... not Adam... and certainly not Rey.
They all knew their place as inferior students, and Billy seemed to be enjoying himself for that very reason.
"I'll be using Rey here as my training dummy for today. Or, maybe a sparring partner would be the most appropriate word to use."
'The hell...?!' Rey's thoughts echoed as he noticed Billy's sly grin.
'What's he on about now?'
"Everyone present will grab a partner. You'll be engaged in sparring with them. As for me... I'll use this one."
Billy slammed his hand on Rey's back, knowing he would tumble and fall.
In response to the slap, Rey did as expected.
"U-urgh!"
Deciding to move with the flow of the slap, he collapsed to the ground like a helpless student.
'I see what's going on now...'
'Everyone already had considerably better Skills than most denizens of this world. Instead of learning Martial Arts and it's weaknesses, it's better to adopt whatever Martial Arts technique we learn into our Skills and develop our own style.'
In essence, Rey didn't subscribe to learning fixed techniques, but to appropriate them into his own preferred method of combat.
'But... this is what we get instead.'
Rey stopped himself from sighing since he was being watched by everyone.
As he stood in front of the smirking Billy, he took the Martial Arts form that they were supposed to start with.
'He'll counter me in the most brutal way possible—humiliating me in the process.'
Rey could already see it play out, and he didn't like it at all.
'The very reason I decided to hide my powers is to avoid attention being drawn to me, and yet...'
He wasn't about to be treated like shit just for trying to fit in with everyone.
'We've been told not to use any Skills since this is a purely technical match.'
That was enough to put a smile on Rey's face.
'Let's see how it goes.'
"Alright, Rey. Why don't you begi—?"
~WHOOSH!~
Rey perfectly imitated the footwork of the Martial Arts technique that they were taught, swiftly closing the gap between himself and Billy.
"H-huh?!"
It seemed Billy was more than stunned to see Rey close the distance so quickly.
They were already mere inches from each other, and Billy was yet to move a single muscle.
'As long as no Skills are involved, I should be able to get away with this...'
~WHUUUM!~
Rey sent a blow flying to Billy's stomach, trying his best to hide the wide grin that was forming on his face.
'Why don't I show off a little?'
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