Chapter 232 - 232 - Evaluation [ Part 1 ]
'If he could harness his powers correctly and master higher-level spells, he could become a formidable force on the battlefield—one unlike anything seen since the days of darkness,' Adam mused, casting brief glances at William, who stood silently, awaiting his assessment.
While Adam was processing the future events with low clarity, William on the other hand was still excited as he thought about the previous battle they had a moment ago.
'Damn! I didn't think the fight would actually become so aggressive suddenly. Without much notice, Adam just punched me around like I was his personal punching bag.'
'But still even though the match was basically one sided, It was something I enjoyed very much.'
'Not the getting beat part, NO. I am not a masochist. I can leave that to other much more deserving people.'
'I am talking about the fun. The exhilarating feeling I felt when I was able to dodge that punch that Adam threw at me, the moment when I was able to dodge not just one but also other many that didn't stop coming after me, the time when I was able to punch him.'
'Especially that time, Not only was it the most shocking but it was also the most fun I ever had since that time I blew up the Nierman gang members.'
Thinking about the Nierman Gang Members, William suddenlt felt his face darkening as he thought, 'Did I really just put the execution of those people and punching Adam at the same category.'
After a prolonged silence, Adam exhaled deeply before addressing William. "Alright, you can stop casting spells now. I've got a fairly accurate estimation of your abilities—and your weaknesses."
William's anticipation grew as he moved closer, eager to hear Adam's evaluation.
"Let's start with your weaknesses," Adam began, focusing on what he deemed most critical.
"To put it bluntly, you're reckless. Not only that, but you're also easily angered."
"Take, for instance, the times I struck you. I could see your anger flare up, clouding your judgment and overtaking you. In that state, you foolishly charged at me without considering the repercussions."
"Repercussions that had dangerous results. Not ones you could have easily escaped from."
William listened, understanding Adam's point, but responded, "I know, but it was just a sparring match. I didn't think much of it. And, honestly, you did hit me a bit too hard. I can still feel the pain from those hits," he said, rubbing several sore spots on his body.
He was able to feel the pain coursing through his body as he slightly touched the several spots on his body where he was hit.
Adam nodded but countered, "You're right, but that doesn't mean you should take it lightly. I told you from the start to treat this like a real life-or-death situation."
"Now, consider what might have happened if this had been a real fight and you made such impulsive decisions. What do you think? Would your opponent have shown mercy?"
"Would you have been able to defend against something like that?"
"Would your opponents have given you the time to heal yourself from such a damage?"
Before William could respond, Adam continued, "No, they wouldn't have. They would've exploited the opening, and you'd likely be dead. So, next time, think carefully about the consequences of your actions before you act. Do you understand?"
William nodded but added, "I know what you're saying is true, and my actions were rash, but… I've never been in a serious fight, so I didn't think about those things while sparring with you."
Adam understood and reflected, 'Yeah, I need to see it from his perspective, too. Not everyone grows up in an environment where survival instincts are second nature,' Adam thought, recalling the darker times of his past.
'Man, I need to get a grip before my past starts to consume me again. I could really use a cigarette,' Adam concluded before turning back to William.
"I understand where you're coming from, and I'll let it slide this time. But remember, from now on, every action you take could have serious consequences," Adam said sternly, as William nodded and asked, "So, is that all of my weaknesses?"
"No, there are more, but for now, I'll focus on the two most significant: your recklessness, and your overconfidence."
William looked puzzled, unsure of what Adam meant by overconfidence. To him it didn't seem like he had done anything that could be called overconfident.
"You know exactly what I mean. Remember when you dodged my first attack?" Adam asked, and William immediately recalled the moment, realizing what Adam was getting at. Embarrassed, he looked away.
"That's it. You got cocky after dodging that first move, and that arrogance could be deadly in a real fight."
"Yeah, I'm really embarrassed about that," William admitted sincerely, but then he tried to defend himself. "But you have to admit, even though I was cocky, I fought much better afterward."
He paused, sensing something was off, then asked, "Actually, why was I able to fight so much better after that?"
"So, you finally noticed," Adam said with a smirk, recognizing William's confusion.
"Before I explain, was the skill you activated around that time called 'Enhanced Senses'?" William nodded.
"I don't need to explain what that skill does since you're already familiar with it. But after activating it, your body entered an adrenaline-fueled state after dodging my punch. Something unexpected happened."
"For a few moments, your body subconsciously triggered that effect whenever a punch or kick from me could have caused you serious harm."
"What? But I don't recall anything like that happening," William said, bewildered.
"Of course, you wouldn't. Your body was reacting instinctively, entering a survival mode. That's why you managed to dodge most of my attacks without even realizing it," Adam explained.
William fell silent, processing this new insight. It felt as though a new world had opened up before him, disguised as a mere dodging skill.
"So, I can dodge any attack now?" he asked, hopeful.
"No, not exactly," Adam corrected him. "What happened earlier was due to the adrenaline-like effect your body experienced. Without that, I don't see any reason for it to happen again."
"So… I can't do that anymore?" William asked, crestfallen.
"Not necessarily," Adam said, piquing William's interest. "If you upgrade that skill to a higher level, there's a possibility you could replicate that feat. But even then, it would still be quite challenging."
William felt encouraged, contemplating the idea of enhancing the skill to its maximum potential. Adam noticed the determination in William's eyes and thought, 'Yeah, that look tells me he's going to push that skill to the limit.'
'But if he can truly master that effect… who knows how powerful he might become.'
"So, that sums up your weaknesses," Adam said, drawing William's attention.
"Now, let's discuss your strengths."
"There don't seem to be many," William interjected, expecting the worst.
"Well, it's not that there aren't any. It's just that what you have can only be utilized in limited ways," Adam explained.
"For example, your Light Attribute is something rare, and even then, only a select few can master it."
"If used for healing, it could be incredibly valuable. But it lacks the raw strength you seem to favor."