4-09: Gold-Plated Mud (1/4)

4-09: Gold-Plated Mud (1/4)

Id intended to destroy your arm entirely, but it appears breaking the bones was the most I could do.Follow current novels at novelhall.com)

Johann seemed to have checked his bodys condition with his eyes once again, and he spoke proudly about being able to accomplish that much despite what his words suggested.

I cant believe youve actually progressed far enough in that research to use it!

Lilisha said in exclaim as though to find fault with him for having fallen so low.

The alchemists movements had changed significantly. He was no longer relying purely on his physical abilities like he did earlier.

Even the princess could tell that that high kick earlier was perfectly executed.

Above all, he was able to send Shinichi flying even after Shinichi defended himself.

You took the memories and experience of other peoples brains and made them your own! Its a dangerous but simple forbidden technique to raise Skill, but more importantly Where did you steal those five brains! Answer me, Johann!

Ka ka ka, Im surprised you can still scream so well in a situation like this, Princess. Are you trying to buy time for the brat to heal himself? Well, I dont mind. He waited for me, so I can do that much for him as well.

Already, the princess did not see this man as her great grandfather or a king, referring to him without the proper honorifics, but the man himself did not seem to care.

He even correctly saw through her intentions, but he leisurely chose to give the boy time.

As youve surmised, these five brains are the best among all the brains Ive acquired! The Sonic Sword, the Veteran Hunter, the Hero of the Arena, the Genius of Magic Battlefield, the Legendary Thief. By gathering all of their abilities and experiences, I was able to raise my Skill to A-!

Johann trembled as he revealed the power that he has acquired.

Though this body of his would not last long, such Skill has already encroached into the realm of heroes.

With such power, even ten minutes was too long, and the princess, upon realizing the significance of that, gulped and whipped out the Status Card.

StrengthAAStaminaB-ResistanceAAAgilityA+ManaAAA+SkillA-

Thats!

The Skill in Status also served as a rough indicator of the overall ability of a person, for it showed just how much they could tap into each attribute.

At B Rank, one could unleash about 80% of their full potential, while at A Rank, one could fully tap into their abilities.

But S Rank was even more remarkable, for it allowed one to draw out three times or more of the base ranks abilities.

But

Against a lopsided opponent whose only redeeming point is their Skill, you can just raise all of your attributes, Johann said.

And the unbalanced fighter will lose out because of the overall difference in stats! The Princess said.

Even if one could draw out three times the power of Strength D with Skill S, it still wont be able to compare to the 100% of Strength AA that Skill A- could draw.

The base levels were just too different. Even if one could increase their strength by three times, they still cant defeat someone with a base level that was a hundred or a thousand times superior.

Nu, what!?

In the next moment, Johanns body was flipped over. He had tried to exert more force, but his opponent pulled back, and before he could get a handle on what was happening, he found himself slammed into the ground and on his back, completely clueless as to what had just transpired.

Damn you!

Shinichis foot was about to finish the job, but Johann jumped back and successfully avoided it, only to find himself staggering as he supported his head from the pain.

Ku, what was that just now!? My arms were suddenly pulled, and before I knew it I was suddenly on my back?

Johann was confused, but the boy just laughed.

At A- you should be able to at least tell that much. Especially since it was really nothing more than an impromptu katate no seoi-nage (one-handed shoulder throw).

A kata what? The heck is that!?

Shinichi intentionally used the Japanese name of that technique to annoy him, but there was no denying that it was Johanns weakness.

Youre really dumb, arent you? Why dont you use that head of yours that youre so proud of and realize that any weakness you could think of could be thought of by S Rank too. Did you really think I wouldnt have an answer to an answer you could come up with?

I see! Wait! Why didnt I realize that until now!?

If anything, the fact that you could even realize it was only because of your Skill rank. In the end, youre a scholar who knows nothing about fighting. A third-rate fighter that fails to realize that your theories are just that, theories.

It was essential to predict the actions of your opponent and understand your own weakness in combat, but Johann lacked vigilance in that regard. He was just too naive. A seasoned warrior would have suspected a trap in the face of such obvious openings, but he was a king that never stood in the front lines and a twisted scholar that knew the pen more than the sword.

That may be so, but Ive learned that move already! I wont lose a second time!

Be that as it may, at Skill A-, he could completely understand a technique like that after just experiencing it once.

And if he used that understanding to predict similar techniques and actions, he could come up with the right countermeasures; however

Judo, Karate, Tea ceremony, Aikido, Muay Thai, Kenjutsu, Jujutsu, Professional wrestling, Sumo, Boxing, Systema, Waltz, Samba, Capoeira, Kabuki, Tennis.

But the next words that Shinichi uttered left Johann speechless.

After all, not one of the brains hes stolen understood Japanese.

Hah? What are you saying!? Are you cursing me!? Cant you speak Falandian!?

How many martial arts do you think my hometown has?

What!? Dont tell me! All of those are martial arts!?

Oh, by the way, some of those have no relation to martial arts, but I wonder if you could tell which ones are which?

Damn you!!