Transmigrated into a villain, I personally tore apart the shackles of fate.

Chapter 125 Instant Refinement

In this world, there are things we are given from birth that play a vital role in our lives and have profound significance.

However, most of the time, we don't learn how to use these talents in the most efficient way. For example, a person may possess great strength, but may not be able to utilize it to its fullest potential.

As we grow and mature in life, our nature drives us to develop and evolve. In this process, we gradually learn to better utilize our innate abilities. This aligns perfectly with my "Perception and Insight" trait.

This characteristic allows me to learn the essence of the "things" I observe and study much faster than the average person.

For years, I've honed my dagger skills, archery abilities, and mana control, while also using these abilities to observe the behavior of others. However, as I've delved deeper into utilizing these abilities, I've come to realize that their applications extend far beyond combat or weapon handling.

In my daily life, it has also benefited me greatly. For example, how to run with the optimal posture, how to prepare a meal quickly, how to scan my surroundings to gain a favorable position, or how to achieve peak physical condition through stretching and training...

The only limitation of my personality is how I think and how I break through my own limitations.

During my sparring session with Ethan, I realized something. He seemed to anticipate my movements almost instinctively. It was as if he wasn't relying on thinking about how to dodge or block my attacks, but rather something deeper was driving his body.

'He's really the main character.'

These words echoed in my mind. Such talent was something I had never encountered before, and this was precisely what set Ethan apart from everyone else in this world. If he were the protagonist of this world, then he was destined to be extraordinary, and that was gradually becoming apparent.

His talent in combat was obvious, but what exactly was this talent? I pondered it repeatedly, and finally came to the answer: it was what the fighters of this world called "illusion."

Not everyone knows about "Phantom"; only a select few melee fighters are familiar with it. Those who possess this talent can instinctively "sense" their weapons, as if they know what to do before they even act. If this were a game, this talent would be like a "cheat code."

Identifying a capability and understanding how it works are two completely different things, especially when it involves “concepts” that cannot be directly observed with the naked eye.

As he continued to parry Ethan's attacks and was hit by him, a thought suddenly popped into his head: "What if I could sense how he did it?"

This hypothesis was like a spark, igniting my thoughts. If I could somehow understand Ethan's "phantom," it would mean I could also master it, and even create a way to counter it.

And so, for me, the second phase of the sparring began. As I was forced back by Ethan's spear, my mind went blank, and I felt all my efforts were in vain. However, as the fight continued, some vague perceptions gradually emerged.

It was as if some invisible guidance was telling me when to defend and when to attack. But this perception was incomplete; I still couldn't fully keep up with Ethan's movements and the trajectory of his spear.

Until that moment, when his spear thrust at me with a "triple claw strike," I "sensed" it at the instant of the third thrust. My dagger moved instinctively, precisely parrying the attack. I seemed to glimpse a "phantom" in that instant.

But is that enough? If Ethan and I had the same abilities, he would definitely be able to counter my next attack.

Immediately afterwards, another "perception" appeared in my mind, completely different from the previous one. To verify this feeling, my body reacted naturally.

First came a palm strike, followed by a dagger attack. I instinctively realized that Ethan couldn't perceive this move, let alone understand it. Because this was my own interpretation of "Phantom," my unique understanding of how to counter it.

......

“You should never stop doubting, Ethan,” I said, pulling the dagger away from his neck.

"Ouch." My arm trembled with pain, and my body was exhausted from the continuous sparring. My poor physical condition was now on full display.

“Should I never stop doubting?” Ethan repeated softly, grabbing his spear and pointing the tip at the ground. “You’re right,” he smiled slightly. “I think nothing in this world is invincible.”

Unlike me, Ethan didn't seem too tired or badly injured. I did hit him a few times, but I couldn't break through his defenses or inflict enough damage.

"So, shall we call it a day?" Ethan asked, looking at my arm.

"Hmm," I replied. Although I could drink a bottle of medicine to heal myself, I needed to think about some things right now and didn't want to continue the conversation.

"See you later." After Ethan finished speaking, I grabbed my backpack, endured the pain, and left the room, heading towards my own.

......

“What a strange fellow,” Ethan murmured, a look of deep attraction in his eyes. “But this is truly an eye-opener for me.”

Having just grasped the mystery of "perception," Ethan was as excited as a child who had found a new toy. But now, his excitement was gradually subsiding.

“They are your enemies, aren’t they?” He raised his spear again, muttering to himself as he opened an app on his watch.

“I really want to know what happened to you.” His curiosity grew stronger, but Ethan wasn’t the kind of person who would ignore boundaries because of curiosity.

"Let's talk about it when you're ready to open up."

[Single-player training mode activated. Stage 5. Starting in 10 seconds.]

......

[Tribe: Sir, all the items you requested to be sold have been sold.]

I sat in my room, browsing messages from the special hacker group I had hired.

[Very good. Were there any obstacles encountered during the process, or any signs that you might be being tracked?]

[Horde: No, sir. We confirm there is nothing suspicious. As per your instructions, we sold the dungeon materials you provided under the name of the "Black" family, and even their own employees couldn't distinguish the real from the fake.]

【Great. Leave the money in that account, and I'll contact you again when I need it.】

[Clan: Understood.]

After closing the message, I looked down at the gun in my hand and a slight smile appeared on my lips.

"Funds are slowly flowing in."

I gave some relatively easy-to-obtain items and materials to the tribe and entrusted them to sell them.

"Two hundred thousand walers, not bad."

Although Irina generously gave me 150,000 walers, which isn't a lot by comparison, it was enough for an investment.

"With the funds that Emily's Guild will soon pay out, it should be enough for me to play around in the stock market for a while."

My "perceptual insight" allows me to understand the essence of things more quickly, and this also applies to stock market analysis.

Although the stock market is like a high-risk gambling den, as I delve deeper into its study, I gradually master its intricacies.

"I should be able to earn a lot by the end of this semester."

With this thought in mind, I began to wander in the stock market, and bedtime quietly approached.

......

The college playground was bustling with activity, the practical class area packed with students. Some looked sleepy, while others seemed incredibly excited.

The students gathered in small groups, discussing the recent joint instance practice in hushed tones.

"Sigh, I came in last place in the joint dungeon. I hope I can do better this time," a student said with a hint of worry.

Another student chimed in, "I heard the grading was particularly strict last time, and I don't want to get a low score again."

The third student said with a hint of pride, "I did pretty well last time, and this time I'm going to try for a perfect score."

Their tone was filled with determination and anxiety as they discussed past performances and the upcoming practical lessons.

A drowsy student yawned and said lazily, "What's the point of striving for high scores? They can't measure our true abilities."

Another student joked, "These words don't carry much weight coming from someone ranked 43rd."

Julia stretched casually. "I don't need to convince anyone, I just want to sleep."

Her companion asked curiously, "What were you doing last night?"

Julia smiled. "I'm playing that new game."

"What new game? Tell me!"

"It's that game where you can fight to your heart's content."

Just as the students were chatting, a dignified voice suddenly rang out.

"Notice!"

Professor Eleanor's arrival silenced the entire room instantly.

"As you all know, the midterm exams are just around the corner, and we are about to enter the second half of the semester." Professor Eleanor's voice was calm and powerful, firmly capturing the students' attention.

“As the semester progresses,” she continued, glancing at the students present, “your sparring partners will be adjusted. This change is designed to enhance your training and provide you with broader practical experience.”

A murmur of excitement rose among the students, filled with anticipation for the prospect of facing their new partners.

“I encourage all of you to seize this opportunity to challenge yourselves,” Professor Eleanor’s tone softened slightly, “to embrace new opponents and strategies. It is through this diversity that you can grow and progress.”

She paused, then sternly reminded him, "Also, this doesn't mean you can neglect your studies. Midterms are coming up, and your academic performance is just as important. Don't underestimate the value of knowledge in battle."

With a final word of encouragement, Professor Eleanor held up the list in her hand.

"Now, I will announce everyone's sparring partners for today."