Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high!

Rose's face still wore that smile which blazed like flames, her wheat-colored skin glistening with crystalline beads of sweat through her shorts and tank top, rugged and sexy, "Long time no see."

"No idle chatter allowed!"

Both glanced at the instructor standing to the side, his demeanor cold and aloof. Under their collective gaze, the instructor kept his eyes unfazed, as if the matter was none of his concern, "Don't be so brazen."

"..."

Bai E looked at Rose, joy also flickering in his eyes upon seeing a familiar face.

Indeed, it had been a long time since they last met, putting aside last night's party. This was their first meeting since the new recruits' training trial.

Above her head... Level 3 Combat Specialization.

Her progress was fierce; she was a formidable opponent.

Rose flexed her wrists, her joy unhidden, "I've wanted to punch you for a long time!"

Bai E didn't beat around the bush, "Come on."

When facing Bai E, Rose was always the one to initiate the attack.

With a light shout, she closed in swiftly.

Bai E didn't wait passively either. If technique was lacking, then attitude had to be correct.

Throw a punch first, to test her mettle.

Rose, too, had the intention to test Bai E, incorporating some force-dissipating techniques as she countered Bai E's punch head-on.

"Tsk~"

Her military boots scuffed the ground, retreating several steps swiftly. Rose's eyes sparkled with excitement as she looked at Bai E, "So fierce."

Bai E shook his fist, feeling little feedback.

Most of the force had been deflected. No matter how strong the punch, if it didn't hit, it was useless. That was the purpose of technique.

Rose, seemingly unaffected by the punch, pounced again like a mountain cat—agile in movement, her figure swaying between attacks, sometimes east, sometimes west, with no telegraphing of her strikes.

Even with punches that had a shorter swing, she still managed to deliver an impressive force.

Bai E could only passively use his instincts to block her moves, completely on the defensive for the moment.

Before long, he had taken a few hits, but luckily the force wasn't substantial, causing only a slight soreness in the muscles of the impacted areas.

"You can't fight them like this..."

Amidst her attacks, Rose's voice slightly trembled.

Bai E kept silent, continuously observing the habits in Rose's attacks.

He wasn't just a big brute who relied on brute strength. Observing, mimicking, and learning was always the best method to improve oneself.

Got it!

Crossing his arms, Bai E captured Rose's muscular forearm with his muscles for the first time.

"√" The corner of Rose's mouth curved in a wicked smirk. With a twist of her body, her arm suddenly spun, forcing her punch through the restraint of Bai E's arms and breaking into his guard.

"Bang!"

Under the not-so-heavy sound, Bai E clutched his slightly stuffy chest and stepped back twice, his eyes filled with admiration as he looked at Rose.

So impressive... to virtually leave him powerless, even though his attributes were far better.

If Rose was already this challenging, what about those veterans with superior techniques and attributes?

Fortunately, he had encountered her first...

Bai E knew that Rose had been holding back all along. A real crippling blow wouldn't be like today's sparring, where every move was pulled. It would be far more dangerous.

She was... deliberately practicing with him.

[You observed the target's close-quarters combat routines and effectively blocked their attacks several times, gaining +5 Combat Mastery experience (+1).]

[You have acquired "Level 1 Combat Specialization," and also gained 1 Potential Point.]

[Combat Specialization (Level 1): Strike Power +2%, Evasion +1%, Blocking +1%.]

[Current Combat Mastery experience 4/300, at 300 points, you can master "Level 2 Combat Specialization."]

The moment specialization took form, a clearer understanding weaved into Bai E's mind, and his footwork, which had felt detached during battle, finally seemed willing to obey his commands.

Footwork is the bond that connects offense and defense, blending two strategies that once fought independently into one unified approach.

From 0 to 1, is always the greatest leap in progress.

Shaking off the soreness in his arms, Bai E smiled calmly at Rose, "Now, it's my turn."

Even a Level 1 specialization was a qualitative change for Bai E.

Already superior in physical attributes to Rose, combined with the burst from Overlimit Drive, a mere increase in technique could lead to a drastically different display of strength.

The collision of muscles was fiery; Rose's wheat-colored skin blushed, and she felt somewhat softened after being hit several times in the abdomen and other areas by Bai E.

Compared to other fights, the battle between the two looked milder, thoroughly embodying the spirit of sparring.

In the mutual enhancement, they determined the final victor, an unspoken understanding between Bai E and Rose.

"Huff~ Huff~"

Rose breathed heavily, her flushed face steaming from the evaporating sweat, looking hazy as if she were intoxicated. The tightly pulled wolf-tail hairstyle had come loose due to the intense activity.

Her eyes were firmly fixed on Bai E, whose two hands were pressing down on her own achingly numb wrists, and his expressionless face was close at hand.

Still... so expressionless!

Clenching her teeth, her right foot pushed off fiercely, and with a thrust of her lower body, Rose tried to launch one final counterattack.

She flipped into the air, her powerful thighs attempting to clamp around Bai E's neck and deliver a lethal scissor kick, but her severely drained strength made her movement slightly sluggish.

With just a violent throw, Rose was powerfully hurled away by Bai E.

"Ugh!" The moment she hit the ground, Rose arched her chest and let out an involuntary muffled grunt, like a struggling carp.

[You perfectly dismantled your opponent's combat routine in close-range fighting, seizing the final victory and gaining +25 Combat Mastery experience (+5).]

[Current Combat Mastery experience 34/300; at 300 points, you can master "Level 2 Combat Specialization."]

[You dealt 3 points of strike damage to the target! Causing the target to enter the "Exhaustion" and "Light Injury" state.]

The effect of Overlimit Drive claims to enhance combat or agility weapons mastery training efficiency by 20%, but its actual performance seems to do more than just provide an extra 20% experience; in actual combat, it also made it easier for Bai E to acquire basic combat experience.

The speed of improvement is much faster than before, to a certain extent compensating for Bai E's otherwise unremarkable combat talent.

The instructor, unable to bear watching and turning his face away, finally walked over quickly and announced loudly,

Chapter Read:

"95B27, wins!"

After making the announcement, he shook his head and sighed softly, "You two better actually be competing... "

[Side Quest—Finals, progress updated; current reward: +300 Universal Experience.]

Hearing the instructor's soft complaint, Bai E and Rose, lying on the ground completely exhausted and unable to move, shared a smile.

"Someone lift her off the field."

"Cheer up." Along the way of being carried, Rose gestured with her mouth.

"Goodbye." Bai E also smiled softly at her.

[Your body is eagerly pleading for quick recovery, triggering the conversion of reserve energy sources into action. (Overlimit Drive working...)]

[Physical recovery at 10%...]

[Physical recovery at 30%...]