Chapter 201
I took Ragnata with me whenever I trained.
‘After focusing on Akies Victima as my main combat technique, I neglected learning other techniques.’
Akies Victima was a meta combat technique. Combat systems like meta techniques served to enhance subordinate techniques rather than functioning as combat techniques themselves.
I slowly balanced on one finger, performing a handstand. My body halted in a perfect vertical position, as if rooted to the ground. In that state, I closed my eyes and sank into thought.
‘Ever since my proficiency in Akies Victima increased, my personal training has been lacking. My combat technique repertoire has remained at the level I learned as a cadet.’
In particular, areas outside my primary focus were relatively underdeveloped compared to those of fighters at my level.
‘As a cadet, choosing to specialize and focus was the right decision. There wasn’t even enough time to master a single field at an elite level.’
But now, things were different. I had to elevate other abilities to a first-rate level as well.
My close-quarters combat skills were strong enough that, with equal equipment, I wouldn’t be at a disadvantage against anyone. In terms of pure melee combat, even without Akies Victima, there were few who could match me.
‘Should I start learning techniques in my weaker areas as well?’
For example, marksmanship and sniping. Expanding my skill set would give me more options in battle.
‘Since I favored close combat, I often took unnecessary risks, and my concentration drained more quickly.’
The high-speed evasive maneuvers inherent to close combat consumed a significant amount of stamina and focus. If I kept fighting like that, I’d wear myself out too quickly.
‘I need to bring even the abilities that didn’t suit my aptitude or preferences up to an elite level. It’s time to take care of my neglected assignments.’
Ever since stepping deeper into the Empire’s shadows, it had been difficult to focus on personal enhancement training. Even the little free time I had was spent honing Akies Victima.
I opened my eyes, concluding my thoughts. Ragnata sat in her wheelchair before me.
“Luka, why do you think you lost to me in the Empire?”
Resting her chin on her hand, Ragnata posed the question. She ate snake-skin crackers one by one while sipping her drink. The way she tilted her glass was elegant, like a well-bred noble.
“The difference in pure skill and experience.”
“Exactly. As expected of an Akies Victima user, you understand it well. If you were to fight me again back then, how would you make up for that difference?”
“Well, since I can’t artificially increase my experience, I’d have to refine my skills.”
I answered as I pushed off the floor with both hands, smoothly bringing my feet back to the ground and straightening my posture. Not a single unnecessary movement—flawless execution.
My sense of balance was excellent today as well.
"Your Akies Victima is at a high level. But even if you refine it further, the increase in combat power will be minimal. If you want to improve your skills..."
I wanted to get straight to the point.
"I get it. You're telling me to expand my effective options. To practice things like marksmanship and assassination techniques until I can use them properly."
"That’s what I did. I learned and absorbed everything I could. But you can’t do the same."
I frowned. No one had ever flatly told me that I couldn’t do something when it came to fighting. I had always believed I was naturally gifted in combat.
"Wow. That’s the first time I’ve ever heard someone say I lack talent. That’s refreshing."
"Talent isn’t just about how fast you achieve something. Oh, and you're not flexible enough to master Akies Victima perfectly. Actually, I’d be more suited for it. If I had undergone the same level of nervous system chemical processing as you and had been exposed to Akies Victima during my growth period, I would have surpassed you."
I barely managed to suppress the surge of irritation. It pissed me off. But then again, this was exactly why I kept Ragnata around—to hear things like this.
"And why is that?"
"One of Akies Victima’s defining traits is adaptability, like water. Water naturally takes the most appropriate form to match its environment."
Ragnata swirled a bottle of liquor, a snake coiled inside it.
"I know that already."
"Then you should also know that Akies Victima works the same way. It adapts fluidly to opponents and situations, creating the optimal conditions in any combat scenario. Drop it into any organization or group, and it will settle into the most fitting position. But that’s not who you are. While you had all the right conditions to learn Akies Victima quickly, you lack the temperament to truly master it."
I widened my eyes. My thoughts spiraled into overdrive. I had never considered this before.
"It sounds like a weak excuse, but my mentor never pointed out anything about my temperament."
"That’s because they were also an Akies Victima user. They would have adapted to you, becoming the ideal mentor for your specific nature. And temperament is innate—it’s not something that can be changed. So what would be the point of pointing it out...?"
Ragnata activated a hologram on the wall and began writing something with her finger.
I waited for her words. Moments like this made me feel like a student. Maybe Ragnata really was a teacher after all.
"…You don't possess the abnormal observational abilities unique to Akies Victima. So when you face an opponent, you quickly categorize them based on major traits and visible information. You classify a warrior’s temperament into five main types."
Ragnata drew five circles, then pushed two of them aside to the left.
"You divide close-combat temperaments into two categories. One is the pleasure killer type, and the other is the honor-seeker type. You're an honor-seeker. Of course, everyone has a mix of both to some degree. The key is which one dominates."
As she spoke, Ragnata wrote inside the circles. It seemed like a habit of hers to explain while writing.
"I get it. The closer the distance, the more intensely one feels the act of taking a life with their own hands. That’s why pleasure killers prefer bare hands or blades. They always want to finish things in the way they enjoy most."
As soon as I heard it, their tendencies immediately came to mind.
Ragnata nodded and continued her explanation.
"See? You understood right away. That’s why this kind of categorization is useful for predicting opponents without requiring detailed observation. You should know honor-seekers better than anyone. They have no interest in the weak and burn even brighter when facing the strong. Sometimes, they even abandon advantageous situations just to test their skills against a worthy opponent. They’re the most irrational type. That’s why their survival rate is low, and their numbers are small. But strangely enough, when you look at high-level fighters, this category makes up the majority."
"Because if they survive, they become stronger the fastest."
I had to admit, Ragnata’s categorization was convenient. It made me recall the powerful fighters who had readily accepted my challenges. I had instinctively known they would accept a direct confrontation, which was why I had discarded my guns and weapons first.
"And I also divide long-range preference types into two categories. Of course, this is based on my personal criteria. A good student should add their own insights. After all, surpassing one's teacher is always a welcome sight."
Ragnata grouped two more circles to the right and finished writing inside them.
‘Wise Coward, Cold Strategist.’
The names were straightforward. I understood their meanings immediately.
"The majority of people fall into the category of wise cowards. They prioritize their own safety and survival over victory or mission success. It’s an obvious statement, but there are few strong individuals among cowards. On the other hand, cold strategists, despite also favoring long-range combat, don’t do so out of a desire for self-preservation. They prefer to take in the bigger picture, maintaining a wider field of vision for strategic decision-making. Close combat naturally narrows one’s perspective. These individuals merely prefer ranged combat, but if necessary, they can handle melee weapons proficiently. They also have a high potential to become excellent commanders."
Ragnata wrote the word "strong" and ranked the categories.
'Honor-seeker, Cold Strategist, Pleasure Killer, Wise Coward.'
She explained that the strongest individuals were most commonly found in this order.
"The strength of honor-seekers lies in their depth of resilience. Through sheer force of will and extreme perseverance, they often exceed their own limits in battle. However, their tendency to take risks is also a major flaw. Even when they recognize a trap, if it piques their interest, they'll walk into it just to test their own skills."
"Hmm. That does sting a little."
I didn’t deny it. I couldn’t. I knew my own tendencies well. If luck hadn’t been on my side, I’d have been dead long ago.
"Cold strategists, on the other hand, have excellent balance. They take calculated risks and know when to retreat. But they have a critical weakness. Because they are highly rational, they lack madness. Their decisions are predictable since they never make reckless, unpredictable moves. That shortcoming puts them at a disadvantage in crucial moments. Furthermore, this category struggles the most with learning Akies Victima. To throw oneself into the chaotic, unpredictable flow of battle, a certain degree of madness is necessary."
That was Ilay’s temperament. But I couldn’t fully accept it.
"Your classification is flawed. Cold logic and irrational madness can coexist."
I recalled Ilay’s erratic speech and the occasional glimmers of unhinged intensity he displayed.
"Don't be so impatient. Just listen. There’s still one last category."
Ragnata wrote inside the remaining circle.
'Versatile Type.'
I mouthed the words silently, and Ragnata pointed to herself.
"…I’m the prime example of a versatile type. I can switch combat styles and weapons depending on the situation. If all abilities are equally mediocre, you’re just ordinary. But if all abilities reach the pinnacle, that’s versatility. It’s the best fit for Akies Victima. In the end, it all comes back to the idea that the highest virtue is like water—supreme goodness is like water itself."
Ragnata murmured the words as if reciting poetry.
I thought of Kinuan. He didn’t fit into the categories of honor-seeker, pleasure killer, wise coward, or cold strategist. He, too, was a versatile type.
Aside from Ragnata, the only other people I knew who fit this category were Kinuan, Noel Mullizcane, and Ilay Carthica. I was probably right about that.
"So basically, you're saying being a versatile type is the best. Was this just an excuse to brag about yourself? Seriously."
I grumbled, and Ragnata laughed. She took another sip of her drink before continuing.
"Temperamental superiority doesn’t guarantee individual excellence, Luka. And this is just an arbitrary classification, a personal bias I use to make my predictions more convenient. Experience-based biases help reduce the brain’s cognitive load."
"And what if that bias is wrong? Wouldn’t it backfire on you?"
"It would. But I’ve never been wrong. I’m still alive, aren’t I?"
I chuckled at Ragnata’s confidence. It wasn’t a scoff—it was admiration.
"…So what about my training direction?"
"Trying to develop a versatile skill set doesn’t suit your temperament. Even if you put effort into learning marksmanship, when the critical moment comes, you’ll still end up drawing your sword and charging in. Like I said earlier, for you, repetition is key. Through repeated training, elevate your advanced combat techniques until they become your basics. For example, take something like ballistic trajectory prediction—a skill that consumes a lot of focus—and train it to the point where it becomes an unconscious combat reflex."
I tilted my head, deep in thought. The more I tried to make sense of what she was saying, the deeper my frown became.
"Hey, have you lost your mind? What kind of ridiculous bullshit—"
Ragnata smirked, amusement clear in her narrowed eyes.
…It wasn’t bullshit. Damn it.
"For reference, I accomplished it at your age."
My stomach churned. Yeah, she was right. My temperament was a problem. Even knowing it was provocation, I couldn’t ignore it.