As I got closer to him, he stabbed his spear towards me. I dodged it by swaying my body, the tip of the spear missing my head just a few inches away.

I countered by throwing a right hook, but my fist just met empty air as he had already moved backwards, keeping the distance between us.

The side of the spear whipped towards me, smashing my left side. "Guh!" I painfully groaned, my brain producing the sensation on what it would have felt like if that was a real spear.

I braced myself and inched closer, attempting to take away his reach advantage. However, he cleverly didn't gave me any leeway and kept me at bay.

He sent thrust after thrust with his spear, with me dodging all the while, my stamina being drained as I moved around.

'Look for an opening. If you can't, then create one!'

I ducked as the spear tip once again stabbed, aiming to make a hole at my forehead. I lunged towards him, closer enough to rob him of his advantage and make my punches assault him.

A kick found it's way towards my stomach, catapulting me backwards.

I immediately balanced myself up, and avoided a stab.

'Right! Don't expect your enemies to fight just with their weapons. Always think that they'll use another method. And you can do that yourself. Be flexible!'

My feet kicked the dirt ground, hurling dirt at him. Simultaneously, I once again lunged towards him, my left fist already unleashed as it travelled towards his abdomen.

A knee welcomed my face while I charged, hitting me square in the nose.

I recoiled back, while he mouthed the words "Amateur."

I took several steps back, away from his spear's reach, trying to give myself some respite and catch my breathing. My reserves now low, and any second I'd be a sitting duck.

But he never allowed me. This time he was the one who charged at me. Barrages of sharp spear tip assaulted me. Small cuts appeared at my body as I tried my hardest to dodge, utilizing every footwork I've learnt for the past 2 years.

His spearmanship is both fast and flexible, for it slither it's way towards me, it's trajectory unpredictable.

A spear thrust suddenly appeared at my  left side, leaving a deep gash at my abdomen as I dodged far too late.

'Snap! Be more aware of your surroundings! Don't look at his hands, look at his upper chest or the base of his neck!'

My eyes locked at his upper body, intently looking for hints that would give away his next moves. 

'His right shoulder subtly moved!' – Without waiting for the attack to be finalized, I dipped and dashed towards him.

However, my vision darkened as a fist was already at my face.

'Crap! A feint!'

With my charging momentum I wasn't able to stop, so I subtly tilted my head, his fist just grazed past me. His eyes widened for he didn't expected me to dodge that.

He threw a follow up spear thrust to prevent me from advancing. However, this time, I wouldn't allow him to do so.

Both my hands – with an open palm –, gracefully danced and whirled around the shaft of his spear. Slithering it's way like flowing water, fluid and unimpeded!

Even though it was just an empty shell, it still did the job for what I am facing is an ordinary spear thrust with no aura whatsoever.

Factoring in the speed, strength, and mass of the spear thrust plus my own body, I adjusted my form rightfully so!

My flowing palm and the vicious thrust collided!

I let my arms as formless and soft as water, dampening the brunt force of the thrust and then simultaneously redirected it towards the ground!

It's spear tip plunged deeply at the earth. And without hesitation, I dashed onwards! My feet stepped foot in a radius where my time as an in-fighter would shine!

A left fist arched in the air, fast and confident, striking directly his right rib where the liver is!

The force of that left hook travelled down to his muscles, then to his liver. His face contorted in pain, whilst he gritted his teeth not to fall.

Another fist struck out, my right throwing a low uppercut. It rose upward with unrelenting speed, aiming to cut off his chances of ever having a family, as the sound of eggs' breaking resounded!

His eyes rolled up, only whites could be seen while saliva dripped at his agape mouth.

I struck once more, throwing a right cross locking onto his exposed chin!

Flesh clashed against flesh, bones against bones! As my knuckles and his chin crashed with each other!

Another one released from me, as another fist struck out. However, my left's middle finger is outstretched, poking from the rest of my clenched finger, acting like a dagger and stabbed straight at his eyes!

Blood and goo spurted about! Whilst his scream of agony echoed.

He slumped down, his knees hit the ground while I spun on my heels, no remorse and hesitation.

All my weight leaned at my left foot, while my right travelled in the air as I spun clockwise!

Defenseless, he could only watch as my right heel slammed at his temple, sealing the deal!

I heavily panted, grasping for air, my whole body bathe on my own pool of sweat. Whilst the imaginary opponent I created and the cuts all vanished.

"Haaa… haaa… haaa…" I breathed heavily, then – "huuu…." Exhaled.

It took all I had not to slumped and sprawl on the ground.

My mind went back to what had just happened while I catch my breathing.

There was a lot of flaw on that fight. My movements are too reckless and obvious. I even wasted a lot of energy just by dodging, that is a fatal mistake given my physique and the amount of stamina I have.

I also wasn't able to distinguish real against fake, and immediately pounced when an opportunity was given without scrutinizing every angle first.

There was also a lot of injuries inflicted on me. If that was real, just a few of those would have surely fell me immediately.

Also, that dodge at the end and that redirection. If that was real, I wonder if I'll be able to pull off the same.

Besides, would that liver blow really disorganized him like that with this body of mine?

There was a lot to factor in, and I could only sigh in regret that I couldn't practice it on a real person. Surely, it would help me develop my own fighting style further and faster.

Nevertheless, I was happy at the results of my fighting style.

Precise and efficient.

That is what I was aiming for. The essence of my fighting style was to efficiently and swiftly execute an opponent with minimal use of force.

Attacking the eyes, nose, chin, throat, groin and other parts of the human body that are vulnerable and easy to penetrate, is the main focal point of my fighting style.

It is the conclusion I came up with in response to my lacking strength in knocking an opponent out with just brute strength.

Hence, I opted for fast and precise strikes rather than fancy ones. But just getting close enough to enact it already drained my energy, so how can I call it efficient and less draining?

'I have to be more agile. More adaptable. More discerning.' – I thought to myself.

'There's more work to be done, huh?'

But, for my fighting style to improve those flaws, what I needed is an actual opponent. Not an enemy created by me since I can control them, but someone who have their own will.

'Well, that is a tough one. Where can I even find one?'

Scratching my head, I dried myself for a while before heading off into Old Baba's tavern to have a meal.