Dual System: Ascension of A Nameless Nobody

Knowing that this situation, once thought dreadful, had potential within it, he readied himself, wiping the blood from his nose as he raised his hands, taking to an orthodox boxing stance.

"Alright! Ready for round two!?" Maverick asked, raring to go.

"Yeah!"

What ensued, despite his resolve being now ironclad, was a beating more than he'd ever suffered in his life. Though he fought with renewed confidence and boxing proficiency of his own, Maverick was on a different level.

It seemed that challenging Maverick on his own turf, using boxing for himself, dragged out the fiery passion of the champion-class fighter.

As he tried weaving through the bullet jabs that came his way like a shotgun blast of pullets, he managed to get through the first couple before being knocked around by the rest of the blows.

Still, despite the overwhelming difference, slowly but surely, he began to slip through, countering with his own blows, though they were dodged or simply tanked by the massive man.

"If you're going to come at me with boxing, you better treat it right!" Maverick shouted, "It's all about finesse! Precision! Power! Speed!"

That's more than one thing…! He thought.

After being forced to dodge through a storm of blows, he slipped through an opening as the soles of his boots slid across the stone floor, tossing a blow at the same moment another came from Maverick.

They both landed; his knuckles hitting the dark-skinned boxer's cheek as the man's gauntlets slammed into his cheek. Though they both landed a blow in unison, there was a world of difference between their effectiveness as the blow from Maverick's fist blew a mixture of blood and saliva from his mouth. On the other hand, Maverick laughed through the hit he received.

[Martial Arts Proficiency: Boxing: +1 | 4/9999]

Spitting out the blood swirling in his cheek, he tossed his coat off before delving back into the unending battle within his dreams.

"That's right! I like that fire!" Maverick boomed.

[Martial Arts Proficiency: Boxing: +1 | 5/9999]

After figuring out the true nature of the dream, and that it was for his growth, he found himself beginning to enjoy the training; though it was hardly 'sparring' as he used everything at his disposal and Maverick struck him with full-strength.

There was one other thing that soothed his soul when clashing fists with Maverick; that smile across the boxing champion's lips–the man was truly enjoying himself. Though it may have only been a simulation built within the foundation of his dreams, it felt somewhat relieving to see the man he killed laughing and having fun.

[Martial Arts Proficiency: Boxing: +1 | 6/9999]

[New Technique(s) Acquired: Parry]

"Ngh!" Maverick grunted, picking up the pace.

The further his proficiency in boxing rose, the more techniques he developed and the more natural his movements became; soon he was bobbing his head instinctively, knowing from his own natural proficiency what strikes were coming.

As a straight came his way, he quickly used his hand to parry the blow, knocking Maverick's hand down and canceling the assault.

"--!" Maverick looked surprised.

[Martial Arts Proficiency: Boxing: +1 | 7/9999]

[New Technique(s) Acquired: Burst Jab]

As blows came in from Maverick, instead of simply dodging in the way he was experienced as an assassin, he slipped and rolled, countering with crosses and hooks of his own.

He was still within the realm in which his proficiencies had yet to grant him mystical abilities, but what he had just acquired bordered on the supernatural–the "Burst Jab."

As the champion boxer threw some test jabs his way, causing him to stay his distance as Maverick had the advantage in reach, he slipped through, unleashing this new technique.

[Burst Jab]

It was a single jab thrown forward, launched at high-speeds, however, where it differed from the norm was the resulting consequence of the movement.

THWACK. THWACK. THWACK. THWACK.

–Four impacts, all from a single jab.

"--?" Maverick was confused.

Though it wasn't a technique that delivered hefty damage, it was colossal in its speed and stopping power.

[Martial Arts Proficiency: Boxing: +1 | 8/9999]

I'm getting it, he thought, I'm approaching 'world-class'!

It was the reality of his Sage System; that which optimized skills to otherworldly, supernatural proportions–while Maverick King was at the pinnacle of boxing skill as far as human development went, with every passing moment, Jeong-Hui ventured closer to that threshold, opting to step past it entirely.

BA-DUMP. BA-DUMP. BA-DUMP.

Inside of his chest, his heart was beating like a dream, resounding in his ears as he could feel the warmth of his blood pumping through his veins as if he were living and breathing in reality at that very moment.

He had already realized it, but there was no waking up from this dream–at least not the natural way, anyway.

I probably have to defeat Maverick before I'm allowed to wake up, he thought, what a slave driver my System is…Still, this "Dreamer System"--an ability like this? I'll take it.

What drove him to press on, not to wake from this hyper realistic dream of pain, blood, and sweat was not to wake up from it, but to continue evolving from it; garnering the strength to survive was his highest priority. It was that strength that would lead him to his desired future.

"--Don't get cocky!" Maverick shouted.

"Pyuh!"

Still, his rise so far didn't make him untouchable; even a slight misstep allowed him to be caught by a cross-hook-uppercut combination from the vastly powerful boxing champion.

And just a single time being caught was enough to be laid into by the gargantuan striking power that Maverick possessed.

It was through this methodology of training through his own dreams that Jeong-Hui ascended at a rate unlike anything before.

Whether it was increasing his martial arts proficiencies against the likes of Maverick or other trained foes, or his assassin proficiency while reliving agonizing memories, he evolved at a monstrous pace. This was the efficacy of the [Dreamer System], tuned to the maximum.