[Bonus chapter] Match Finale.

*Clang!*

Unlike before the pacing of the fight had completely changed. Things were going way more quicker.

*Clang!* *Clang!* *Clang!*

Parry after parry, Asper made sure to stay in close while thrusting and striking at every few openings, however none of his attacks had managed to hit.

*Slash!* *Slash!*

On the other hand, the man seemed way faster and accurate than before. He was no longer holding back on Asper.

Cuts began forming around Asper's bodies as they continued to exchange attacks.

<Adapted to attack pattern>

*WHAM!*

Upon hearing the notification Asper suddenly landed a rising kick causing the man's head and chin to full back. Or so it seemed, he pulled his head back in the last moment to soften the impact.

Without noticing, Asper went for the opening only to end up nearly colliding with the edge of his blade which had come in from the sides.

*Swoosh!*

Asper stepped back to avoid it but still ended up being grazed on his brows. This surprised him as he had seen it coming thanks to the adaptation.

*Clang!* *Clang!*

They clashed, over and over. Each and every time, Asper perfectly parrying by swinging in the opposite direction.

*Clang!* *Sway*

Asper who was being pushed back was standing his ground. Blocking any threatening attacks while swaying at the minor ones.

'Now!'

Within the exchange of attacks, for a moment, just a split moment, Asper saw an opening around the man's neck.

He didn't hesitate to take it.

*Thrust* *Slash!* *Thrust!* *Slash!* *Thrust!* *Slash!*

Three consecutive thrusts, all of them hit. The man quickly stepped back once he noticed the blood spilling down the side of his throat.

'What-'

Asper suddenly pushed in, thrusting his knife right at the man's chest. The man seeing this, mid-step, swung both of his short swords simultaneously at Asper's hand, aiming to cut them off before the blade could reach, however.

*Swipe!*

His arms swung, knives swiped through and cut through the air. His eyes widened once he realized that it hadn't come into contact with Asper's arms, it was a fake all along which was done in order to get him open.

Because he had swung both arms, he was open wide from the waist down, being mid-step there was no way he could dodge. Seeing this, Asper knew it was now or never.

Asper placed all his strength and power onto the sole of his right foot as he gripped tightly onto his dagger.

'It's not too late, I can still-'

In that instant.

*Step!* *Crack*

Asper vanished.

*Pierce*

The man's thought was interrupted as Asper's knife suddenly dug deep into his heart.

Confused, he slowly looked down only to see Asper's figure close to his chest with a knife embedded within him.

With the little amount of strength remaining in him, he gripped tightly onto his short swords before swinging them down at Asper's still figure in an attempt to take him out with him.

However, without so much as looking, Asper stopped the swing which was coming from behind by using the tilt of both of his daggers. There was barely any power on the swing so it wasn't any threat to him.

*Cough*

The man gushed out blood from his mouth before looking over at where Asper had taken his step. Once he did, his eyes widened.

There was the a mark of Asper's feet left stamped on the ground right where he had taken his step.

"No wonder that… Last move seemed familiar… You imitated it…" The man muttered with the blood flowing out of his mouth.

"Yeah…" Asper muttered as he looked over where the man had first used his skill. There two much larger stamps left on the cracked ground. It was much bigger than Asper's little stamp. "Although it was nothing like yours." Replied Asper.

"Haha… Is that so… I've never been able to do it while moving before… I still haven't mastered my aura and magic flow." Said the man with a smile before dropping to his knees.

'Aura and magic flow? So those were the two flows of energy he used when he executed the move? I was able to do it subconsciously thanks to the system but… I doubt I'll be able to do it again.' Asper thought to himself.

Asper the remembered something as he remained leaned in towards the man, it had been bugging him the whole time so now was the best time to ask.

"Why didn't you use your skill?" Asper asked

The man had used a self-made skill and had solely relied on his sword techniques and two different flows of energy when fighting Asper.

Other than that, his strength felt human. Asper could see the flow thanks to the system, whenever he It almost felt as if he hadn't used the flow, his strength felt only a little bit bigger than Asper's.

It was strange, if the man could increase his strength with an energy flow and also had the system to improve his speed and power. How was it that Asper was able to keep up with him? Was it because Asper solely placed points on agility? No, that wasn't it.

It almost felt like the man hadn't used a single stat point to boost his stats. It was as if he was only fighting with what he had trained on his own.

Not to mention how every artifact came with a skill, Asper didn't see him use any skills oat all. Maybe he used one and Asper didn't realize? Either way, if that wasn't the case and he simply chose not to, why did he do it?

"I wanted to… Win by… Relying on my own power…"

Those were the man's last words before his eyes shut.

<Match concluded>

"Is that so…" Asper muttered before laying down man down and shutting his eyes. "Sorry…" Asper added as he slowly got up leaving the man's body resting on the floor.

<You have gained 47410 exp!>

<Defeated an Artifact user>

<Gained User's Artifact Skill!>

<You have levelled up!>

<You have levelled up!>

<You have…>

Asper ignored the notifications and took in a deep breath before slowly letting it out.

'So there were people like him in the world… Guess the world really is a big place.' Asper thought to himself.

<First phase of class change completed>

<Commencing Second Phase>