Chapter 441 101.1 - Dakota Hellen
Chapter 441 101.1 – Dakota Hellen
There were many different classes in the world.
And being an Awakened who had fought on the frontlines for a long time, Dakota had seen her fair share of classes on her own.
But, different from how everyone thought, having a unique class was not something that was always beneficial.
Especially in places like the military. Since that place puts more importance on the system than an individual strength, in the military, the importance was on numbers; thus, most of the time, those with general and common occupations would be taken there.
Even then, there were still many unique occupations. Just like herself and the unit she was in. After all, being a [Martial Artist] was not a common thing in the military as most of the soldiers either used a sword, spear, or bow.
That was why she was assigned to a unit that was filled with people just like herself. People with unique occupations and weapons.
Dakota reminisced about her time in the military, a period that had shaped her into the person she is today. Her unit was a motley crew of individuals with unique abilities and even more unique personalities.
There was Lieutenant Seraph, a [Battlemage] whose mastery over both physical combat and elemental magic made him a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield. He could switch seamlessly between casting devastating spells and engaging in close-quarters combat, often turning the tide of battle single-handedly.
Then there was Corporal Ingrid, a [Thrower] who specialized in using throwing weapons with deadly precision. Her arsenal ranged from throwing knives to custom-made explosives, and she could hit a target from an impressive distance. Ingrid’s keen eye and quick reflexes made her an invaluable asset during skirmishes and ambushes.
Private Jaxon, known as the [Hallucinator], had the rare ability to create powerful illusions that could confuse and disorient the enemy. His mental prowess allowed him to manipulate the perceptions of others, making them see things that weren’t there. Jaxon’s abilities were often used to create diversions or to provide cover for the unit’s movements.
But out of all the unique individuals she had served with, there was one person who stood out the most—a young man named Elias. He was both the luckiest and unluckiest person Dakota had ever met.
Because of his class.
[Weapon Master]
But why was he lucky and unlucky at the same time? What was the reason for such a thing?
Dakota thought back to Elias and his journey as a [Weapon Master]. For someone in this class, their abilities were both a blessing and a curse.
The class offered unparalleled versatility and the potential to master any weapon, but it came with significant challenges that made it incredibly difficult to advance.
The primary issue for a [Weapon Master] was finding a suitable [Combat Art]. Most combat arts were specialized for a single type of weapon, designed to maximize the efficiency and power of that weapon.
This specialization meant that a swordsman could fully devote themselves to mastering the sword, and a bowman could hone their archery skills to perfection. Each combat art was intricately tied to the specific nuances of its weapon, allowing practitioners to achieve extraordinary levels of proficiency.
However, for a [Weapon Master], this specialization was a double-edged sword. Since they needed to be proficient with multiple weapons, finding or creating a [Combat Art] that could encompass all their skills was nearly impossible. Most combat arts simply weren’t versatile enough to support the broad skill set required by a [Weapon Master].
Moreover, the efficiency of combat arts was closely correlated to the level of the practitioner’s occupation. As someone leveled up their occupation, their understanding and effectiveness with their chosen combat art would naturally increase.
This synergy between occupation level and combat art mastery was crucial for becoming a top-tier fighter.
But the path of a [Weapon Master] was different. To level up their occupation, they needed to develop proficiency with multiple weapons, each requiring deep understanding and practice. This meant that advancing as a [Weapon Master] required exponentially more effort compared to someone specializing in a single weapon.
For every level a swordsman could gain, focusing solely on the sword, a [Weapon Master] would need to divide their time and effort among numerous weapons, potentially requiring five to ten times more effort to achieve the same level of advancement.
This dual nature made the [Weapon Master] class both a boon and a burden. It was perfect for those starting their journey, offering the flexibility to learn and experiment with all paths open. But as they advanced, the same flexibility chained them, demanding immense dedication and perseverance to make meaningful progress.
That was also the reason why the advancement of the Weapon Master class was unknown.
A Mage could become an Archmage for an advanced and final class.
A Sorcerer could become a Magus.
A Witch could advance to a Supreme Witch.
A Swordsman could become a Swordmaster, etc.….
There are many occupations with their advancements known. But that was not the case for the weapon master, as while already rare, they were also hard to advance.
The [Weapon Master] class was highly related to one’s talent for comprehension and ability to learn.
This was why Dakota could see Elias in this kid. Astron had the same dedication, waking up early to train and pushing himself beyond his limits. It was this similarity that sparked Dakota’s interest in him even more.
She turned her attention back to Astron, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. “A [Weapon Master], huh? That explains a lot.”
Astron nodded, his expression serious. “Yes, ma’am.”
Dakota’s eyes softened slightly. “It’s not an easy path. You need to have a strong talent for comprehension and a relentless drive to learn. Many have tried, but few succeed.”
“Indeed. But I am confident.”
Seeing those purple eyes filled with glint, she felt amused. ‘This Trainee seems to be a bit cheeky, isn’t he?’ “Ho?” She raised her eyebrows, looking at him.
“Ho?” She raised her eyebrows, looking at him. She pulled out her tablet and glanced at the examination file. “If you’re that confident, you wouldn’t mind a little change in the examination, would you?”
Astron tilted his head slightly to the left, curiosity evident on his face. “What do you mean by that, ma’am?”
Dakota’s smile widened. “Normally, you’d only be tested in your main weapons. But since your class is a [Weapon Master], different from how it’s registered here, wouldn’t it be fair for us to test a variety of weapons?”
Astron didn’t answer immediately, but Dakota could see the gears turning in his mind. She could tell he was considering the implications of revealing all his skills in front of other cadets.
“If you’re concerned about showing everything to the other cadets, that’s fine,” Dakota continued, her tone thoughtful. “We can start the examination a bit earlier if you prefer.”
As she spoke, she sized him up from top to bottom. His body had already recovered to some extent, and the sweat that had covered him had disappeared.
A body that is toned is fair enough. Since the training clothes were made from a special fiber, they clasped together directly to the body. Hence, she could observe.
“An early examination?” Astron repeated, weighing the idea. “That could work.”
‘Not bad. She can pick up those minute details quite well. I had been hinting that I was hiding my class from other people, and she actually picked it up.’
Dakota nodded approvingly. “Good. You’ll be tested in a variety of weapons to assess your versatility as a [Weapon Master].” She said, looking at her watch. “It is now 5.45 A.M. We will start at 6. Is that okay for you?”
“I have no problems with that.”
“You don’t need to worry about the weapons. I will deal with everything.”
“I see.”
Dakota gave him a final nod before heading toward the equipment room. As she walked, she mentally reviewed the weapons she would select for the test. She wanted to ensure a comprehensive assessment of Astron’s skills, challenging him with a variety of weapon types.
*********
‘So, this is Dakota Hellen.’
As Dakota left to prepare for the examination, I took a moment to process our encounter. She was not a character from the game, which meant I had no prior knowledge of her. But even without that advantage, I could glean quite a bit from our brief interaction.
‘Her posture, her movements, and the way she carries herself…’
There was a certain way that she had clothed and carried herself that made me think she was trying to act with an allure.
‘She had a rigid life, and looking for a bit of an attention?’
This was my first speculation. It was not something that concerned me, as this was her personal choice, so I did not judge.
But aside from her intentions, Dakota’s bodysuit clung to her well-trained physique, accentuating her athletic build. Her stride was powerful and deliberate, radiating confidence and authority. Every step was measured, and her eyes were sharp, taking in every detail of her surroundings. It was clear she was accustomed to command and discipline.
‘Definitely military background.’
Her tone was firm but not unkind, suggesting she was used to giving and getting orders and expecting them to be followed. The way she analyzed my movements and the ease with which she suggested modifying the examination indicated she was experienced in evaluating combat skills.
‘She’s been on the front lines before.’
From the slight deformities in her knuckles, elbows, knees, and the bottom part of her palms, it was evident she was a close combatant. Those kinds of marks were the result of years of intense training and real combat experience, the kind that only someone who regularly fought with their body would have.
Even though her body-tight suit did a really good job covering that part, such small details would not get passed by my eyes.
‘A [Martial Artist].’
Her ability to pick up on my hints and her quick thinking suggested she was not just a brute-force fighter but also someone with a keen mind.
She understood the importance of tactics and strategy, which made her a formidable opponent and an even more formidable instructor.
And more important than others, it looked like she had a prior encounter with my occupation.
‘This examination will be interesting.’
This was the first time.
I was curious to see how she would test me and what kind of weapons she would select. Her approach hinted at a thorough and challenging assessment, which was exactly what I needed to gauge my current abilities and push my limits.
‘No point in holding back. This is an opportunity to learn and grow.’
With that thought, I focused on calming my mind and preparing for the upcoming examination.
‘Maybe I can even learn from a martial artist as well.’
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