Duel!; My name is...;

As they were walking towards the place of the duel many students glanced over them. They didn't know the deal between them, but they knew how Kerren looked like. He was a "star" of this university, a student who confronted the teachers in their own field of work!

He, of course, wasn't that big of a deal since he only debated with them, he didn't fight any or anything like that, he mainly approached those he could beat without a problem - magic theory teachers! Due to that, most of the students of his and some other years have already seen him do that, since magic theory classes were one of the most important ones even for those who chose a physical path. One needed to control mana to use skills, after all. Not all of them, of course, but you get what i mean, right?

The duo looked somewhat strange from the perspective of onlooker. Why would THAT Kerren follow some random girl, more than that - why did he have a book in his hands? Kerren wasn't stupid enough to walk around with that book not even hiding what it truly was, so he obviously concealed it's true nature with some speells. They weren't great since he needed to control the spell at all times, concealing something moving and stationary were two completely different things!

But, it was enough to "hide" the book from all of them. Even the teachers couldn't see it's "true form". Thus allowing him to read it freely. Why did he even do that? He didn't want to waste time. Time neede to learn a unique skill book wasn't short by any means. Of course, as soon as he opened it we would get it as a skill, if it was a passive one - great, he wouldn't even need to do anything for it to for, thus allowing him to use it immediately... But if it was active?

Also, how do you understand if it's active or passive in the first place? You must know what the skill does! How to do that? Read the book! Thus, he did just that. As he progressed he understood that this was a barrier type of skill that didn't require constant activation, but a large supply of mana to work properly. One of its greatest advantages was that the mana needed to supply it and mana needed for activation were equally low!

You might also questions yourself "Didn't you say that one could simply learn the skill?". Yes, i did. The system really did ask a person to confirm if they wanted to add it, destroying the book afterwards no matter what he chose... But it did it once the "Realization" of a person who held it was high enough, Kerren was trying to achieve just that by reading it.

Then how did he learn "Neverfat" from his previous life instantly? The book only had one page, telling people to not eat like pigs, and since Kerren didn't eat a lot and looked like a malnourished plant - he could learn it right away, he could never get fat with his lifestyle...

Anyway... most of the barrier-shields needed a lot more mana to active and then could easily be supplied with it, thus focring many mages to suffer a constant loss of mana to protect themselves. This one wasn't like that! Meaning that he could activate it for a split second to block whatever attacked him and then "turn it off" right afterwards, not losing any mana at all!

This skill was a great addition to his strength! He was deeply moved, since the girl didn't just take a skill that would be useless for him, he actually gave him a good one! Now, he only needed a somewhat advanced healing spell to be fully self-sufficient, allowing him to peck at some lower-leveled dungeons alone. He was, of course, somewhat far from that. He needed to increase his mana pool after all, but that was easier said than done.

The whole problem with mana was that it couldn't be advanced like muscles, for example. If one could train to become stronger physically, with mana it was completely impossible. Well, it was not, but Kerren didn't know that. There were actual mana-training methods, but Kerren and the rest of his world didn't even have a clue. The only method for them was using special methods to do that. Potions, special crystals or coins were all things used in his previous life. In this life, however? The only option for mages was having lots of crystals or potions to supply mana when needed. It was barbaric.

As for Kerren? He had a relatively big mana pool, and since his spells didn't consume a lot of mana at all - he could fight a decently-long battle, which wasn't the case for other mages. They couldn't even dream about doing so with resupplying their mana pool.

Of course, there were exceptions to that rule. Some of the strongest mages of this world either held a skill that allowed them to absorb mana from somewhere, be it bodies, surroundings or simply other people, or a skill that greatly increased their mana pool. How, you ask? Well, this world had many secrets, and now that Kerren knew that to learn a skill one could simply know its contents, like he got his "Advanced Mana Control", he understood the severity of his problems - he didn't know anything at all! He thought that people got them randomly or something! It was a common mistake, but the "higher-ups" didn't want to fix it... Why would they?

Well, u've already guessed it, right? I was talking so much because they were just walking... Yeah, you got used to it, didn't ya?

As they were approaching the place the duel will be heald at, Kerren still hid his nose in the book. Sadly, he couldn't learn it before the duel started. Doesn't matter how high of understanding level he had in mana control, this skill was unique as it allowed to transform anything into mana! A rock hit him? Hello, kinetic energy! Welcome to my mana pool! Was that a spell that enemy launched? I can just steal your mana! Temperature? Well, that was harded, but still - welcome aboard.

Those were just examples, Great Absorbtion Shield could absord ANYTHING that the shield itself blocked and convert it into mana. It could block damage and resupply mana! Those were the two things Kerren needed! As if she knew what that was exactly... Kerren didn't think anything about it, but if he realized that he himself has been played? Well, what would he think?

What do i mean by played? Do you really think that it was an accident that he was given a skill he needed the most? The one that fixed two of his problems alone? Dream on! That wasn't a coincidence at all! Whoever gave the book to the girl knew what he or she was doing! How, you ask? How would i know!? I dont even know them yet, maybe they're gods or something like that? Maybe they were prophets or divinators? I dont know, whatever that is - they're insanely powerful and had great background, being able to give away such a book.

...

-We're here -- the girl said, looking back at Kerren -- Maybe you should finally look at me, now that we're about to fight? -- she felt somewhat strange... She was a good-looking girl and every person around her knew that, but Kerren only had a few glances? Okay, she would understand if he looked at her from time to time because everyone did that, it was normal, but... Kerren didn't... She would think that he was gay if she didn't get water splashed on her back then...

It's not like she wanted attention, it's that she could notice it coming from other people, and either Kerren didn't look at her at all, sticking to the book completely, or he did it so well she couldn't even notice, whatever it was - she was in awe. It was rare to find a man who didn't gaze at her forms from time to time, even teachers did that! Of course, looking was ""fine"" for her, but if they tried to approach her? Last one that tried got his d*ck cut off. I'm not even joking or exaggerating.

- Hey? Kerren, are you even listening to me? -- she spoke again, not seeing any reacting from the guy -- Helllooooo mr. sleepy head? -- she came closer to him, but he didn't react to that.

That greatly upset her, thus, since they were already on the arena - she attacked with her fist!!!

Kerren didn't even bother dodging, he simply pushed himself back with his "skills", that was basic mana usage but could rival a skill, it was an easier version of his "Flight" spell he invented back in the purgatory. Of course, it didn't allow him to flight, but it could do many wonderous things, such as helping him to dodge without actually moving!

- Huh? Oh, so that's how you want to play! -- she grinned, as if she understood what Kerren did. She actually didn't, it was a somewhat automatic response from him, he was fully immersed in the book right now and didn't want to be bothered, the girl, however, thought that it was a challenge from him - hit me, if you can!

Thus, she started attacking him left and right, Kerren dodged every single attack of hers, but that didn't worsen her mood - he was actually laughing sometimes! Her attack could make even a B rank hunter sweat sometimes, but he was dodging them so easily! How is that possible!?

Truth is... B rank hunters now were just D rank back in Kerren's previous life... It was two grades above him but the only difference between them was the amount of "stats" they had... Techniques and speed weren't that great, Kerren fought them from time to time in first place, so even without mana he could beat her easily. He was prepared for much more than that, he was prepared for a C class of his previous life at the very least!

Thankfully, she wasn't as strong. So, if he actually had time to think now, he would think about the fact that such a person was able to give him a unique book! One that was perfect for him! He was either insanely lucky, or there were bigger things at play than he could imagine!..

As the fight went on, Kerren absorbed most of his mana already. The girl was sweating. She barraged him with attacks, forcing to use all of his mana, but since that dodge skill didn't use a lot in the first place - she miscalculated. She bet on high mana-usage of said skill and that he will lose all of his mana before she got tired or lost hers... She was wrong.

Even thought her attacks were graceful and resembled a good martial artist - she had a sword on her waist! She wasn't using her full power at the time! Kerren long since noticed it, but... if she had used it, did she have any chance against him? None at all. He could simply play with her while maintaining a dignified and arrogant look. He didn't move a single muscle on his legs, he just stood there and read the book in his arms. How did he dodge then? From above it would look like a chess playet simply dragger a piece to move... Ironic, that was exactly what happened.

As even more time went by, the girl stopped using her mana - her mana pool was empty! It was a sign of his victory. Kerren didn't care about it in the slightest, of course, but he was somewhat bothered by the fact that she didn't use a single skill, nor did she take out her sword... He would give her a solid "D+" class, which wasn't real and only meant that one was above average in D class. But if she used skills and sword? He was afraid that it would be C+, it would be hard to beat her with his current strength...

Well, that is if he didn't learn this shield by the time of the fight, if he did? He'll beat her easily... If he got a constant supply of mana... He didn't know the formula after mana absorbtion. The shield part was easy, it could block "anything" as long as one had enough mana, but what about the second part!? There were no formula anywhere in the book! What a scam!

By that time, the duel could be considered over. Kerren didn't move from the place he was last seen at, the girl was saying on the groud, her face was almost white and her mana pool was empty. She was breathing heavily as if she ran a marathon, one could say that she did something even worse. Attack and missing every single time? Every single attempt? Of course, she didn't use any of her skills since Kerren also didn't use any and she could see that, but... What if she did? Would anything change?..

As she was lying down on the ground, Kerren came over, looking at ler sweaty body.

- Good enough, your body has a pass, your mind does too. -- he smiled mockingly.

- F*kk off. -- she said as she exhaled -- What was that? Instant acceleration? Did you invent that? -- she asked curiously. It wasn't a thing in this or any other world, after all.

- You could say so, yes. It's far from being complete as if i used a big more mana each time i wouldn't be able to stand on my legs properly. If you pay enough i can teach you. -- he said with proud face, grinning.

- Teach me? Isn't that a skill from a book? Dont you know that you cant teach them to others? -- It was true, as absurd as it could - it's true. Why did that work like that? I dont know, Kerren was puzzled by that too, if one's knowledge gave you a skill - why knowing the contents of a book that also gave you one did the same? It was a mystery he couldn't answer. Nor could any other people.

- Huh? No, it's basic mana-manipulation, what skills are you talking about? -- He elaborated with a puzzled expression.

- W-what? -- she said still lying on the ground -- I thought u were just hiding it, but it really wasn't a skill!? -- she stood up quite fast, looking at Kerren from above.

- Yeah, why would i waste mana on that? So what if you know what skill am i using? You weren't able to counter it. -- he said with a scorn -- Well, you didn't use any skills either, nor did you use your sword -- he added as he glanced at it...

- I have my own pride, too! Why would i use a weapon if you aren't!? It's just a duel, after all! -- she said putting her head higher.

- Whatever you say. Who told you that i'm strong? -- he finally asked the question he was most curious about.

- Oh, that? I overheard that you debated teachers and wanted to see if your actual strength was as high as your knowledge -- she grinned, as if mocking him.

- Okay, and who exactly was talking about that? -- he wasn't buying that.

- Everyone, actually. I've heard about you a lot, but you are actually stronger than they could imagine! -- she praised him -- If you can learn this skill that i gave you even teachers wont be of any threat to you! -- she praised him even more, wanting to his see shy face again.

- As if. Anyway, i'm going, farewell -- he turned away to leave. Also, about teachers... The weren't strong in his eyes, if he had enough crystals not only he can beat them - he can even kill them if he was given a reason good enough!

- Wait! -- she followed -- Wanna meet some time later? -- she asked with a somewhat shy face.

- No. I dont even know your name after all. -- Kerren didn't even look back.

- Oh! Right, ahahaha! -- she started laughing -- My name is Yusaya! -- she finally revealed her name after battling Kerren!