Rosie blinked again.
Luka reappeared several feet to her left, arms crossed, smirking.
"Yeah... that'll work."
"That..." Rosie looked back and forth between the decoy and the real Luka.
The illusion shimred briefly, then faded.
She let out a soft sigh.
"I wish my skill tree had sothing like that. What a sha."
Luka rolled his eyes.
'Be grateful for your skill tree,' he thought.
'You're a heroine. You've got so of the most overpowered ranger skills possible—just like every other important character in this damn ga-like world.'
It was truly unfair…
He had the urge to bite down on a handkerchief in frustration, but of course… he didn't have one.
Before Luka could wallow in jealousy too long—
Rosie suddenly perked up, a spark of energy flashing in her eyes.
"Ah! I have a good idea."
It was the first ti in what felt like forever that she actually smiled—
Even if just a small one.
"Do I want to know?" Luka raised a brow.
Rosie ignored him.
"I'm guessing you're not satisfied with just goblins. I an—" she gave him a look, "—you didn't even break a sweat."
Luka blinked, checking himself.
Not a drop.
"…I guess you're right."
"Um, I know I'm right." Rosie smirked.
"So how about we find you sothing stronger to fight? Sothing more challenging. You get the XP, I get the entertainnt. Total win-win. Not just for my amusent..."
She really wanted to see more of his skills.
'This isn't just so small-ti connection—this could turn into sothing massive!'
Rosie was thinking of the future!
Luka squinted at her.
"...Mostly for your amusent."
Rosie, completely unbothered.
"Of course."
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Luka sighed.
He didn't have ti to waste.
After all, he still had to deal with the zombies at the Knights' Graveyard.
But he also couldn't say no to more XP.
Especially when it was literally in the sa room.
With a dead-serious expression, Luka muttered, "Throw whatever you want at . XP is XP."
Rosie didn't hesitate.
She strolled over to the control lever, her eyes shifting to a particular cage off to the side.
Luka followed her gaze—and saw it.
Standing motionless was a Battle Dummy.
It wore a basic iron chestplate and clutched an equally unimpressive iron sword in its wooden hand.
"Ouch," Luka mumbled. "This one's actually going to make sweat…"
"You'll be fine," Rosie replied casually.
With that, she pulled the lever.
The cage door opened with a groan—but the Battle Dummy didn't move.
As Luka approached, he ntally braced himself.
'The mont I get close, it's going to co to life…'
He was right.
The instant he entered its range, the Training Dummy jerked unnaturally to life and swung its sword in a wild arc.
Its movents were stiff and jerky, like a puppet with tangled strings.
Luka quickly hopped back a few steps, narrowing his eyes.
"Tch. It's sloppy… but it'll hit like a mule if I'm not careful."
The Battle Dummy clanked forward, dragging its sword like it weighed a hundred pounds, but even with its awkwardness—
Luka could feel it—
'This thing had been enchanted for combat.'
The wooden legs of the Battle Dummy were covered in scrapes, its chestplate dented and scratched, and even its face had deep slashes carved into it.
This thing had been through countless fights.
aning…
It had learned.
That's what made this monster so dangerous.
Battle Dummies weren't just a mindless puppets.
It adapted.
'Still... I'd win,' Luka thought, brushing the little anxiety off his shoulders.
Even if it carried the experiences of better warriors, he was confident.
He drew his Soulreaper Dagger, exhaled, and crept forward—more cautiously this ti, unlike the quick movent he had done with the goblins.
Just like before, the mont he entered its range, the Battle Dummy reacted.
The iron sword swung again.
But this ti, it wasn't the sa sloppy motion.
It lunged, its wooden body bending forward mid-swing.
It had learned from Luka's last retreat.
"Tch—" he clicked his tongue, already shifting his weight for a dodge.
As the sword grazed past his side—
Luka slipped out of its arc and retaliated, swinging his dagger in a sharp arc.
But just before it could land, the Battle Dummy jerked its body unnaturally, dodging the strike with a sudden, jarring twist.
At the sa ti, it swung its iron sword in a sweeping motion from the side.
Luka reacted instantly—
Jumping over the blade in one fluid motion.
As the sword whooshed beneath him, he countered mid-air, driving his Soulreaper Dagger downward.
The blade struck the Battle Dummy's neck, leaving a visible gash—and for a second, black mist hissed from the spot.
But it didn't flinch.
Of course it didn't.
It wasn't alive.
It had no fear.
The fear mist ant nothing to it.
Luka didn't waste ti watching it dissipate.
His focus narrowed.
'I need to take its head off.'
That was the only way.
As Luka landed—
The Battle Dummy spun without delay—its sword slicing through the air.
Luka ducked just in ti, the iron blade whistling past his hair.
It didn't stop there.
The sword pulled back.
Then imdiately swung upward.
'A trap.'
If he'd jumped, it would've skewered him.
Luka lunged forward, closing the gap in a heartbeat.
He slamd into the Battle Dummy with a shoulder tackle, knocking the wooden construct off balance.
It hit the ground with a hollow thud.
Luka was already on top of it, dagger flashing down.
He slashed across its throat.
Splinters flew.
The Battle Dummy, unbothered, swung its sword.
Luka barely raised his dagger in ti to block.
Clang!
"Shit!"
The force rattled up Luka's arm.
His grip trembled.
He bit his lip hard, his body straining—he was losing the power struggle.
The Battle Dummy had brute strength on its side.
Gritting his teeth, Luka kicked off the ground and jumped back.
The Battle Dummy began to twitch and jerk, its limbs awkwardly scrambling to rise.
Its movents were erratic—but still deadly.
Luka's eyes narrowed.
'It's adapting faster now… I need to end this soon.'
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