Versatile System-Chapter 46: Training with Caroline - 2

The world seemed to spin for a fraction of a second, and in the blink of an eye, the position had completely reversed.

Trevor felt the rush of air, a blur of movement he couldn’t track, and then the sudden, hard impact of the floor against his back.

He lay there for a moment, stunned, his eyes wide and fixed intently on Caroline. He was reeling from the shock—how on earth was he on the floor?

He had been a hundred percent sure he had found her opening. He had timed the strike perfectly. Or so he thought.

"You tried, Trevor, but there is something vital you need to understand about combat,"

Caroline said, her voice calm and steady as she walked over and reached down to help him up.

"You can’t only be thinking about yourself and your own moves. If you only focus on your plan, you become predictable. You have to be thinking about your opponent—what are they thinking? What is their plan?"

She pulled him to his feet with surprising strength, a small smile plastered on her face.

"I saw exactly how you were fighting. You were being so defensive, and the way you kept staring at my neck... it was obvious you were hunting for a specific opening. So, I gave it to you."

Trevor wiped a bit of dust from his shirt, listening closely.

"I’m not dumb, Trevor," she continued, her expression turning more serious.

"I knew you would go all-in the moment you saw a chance. That was your entire strategy. So, when I switched my tactics mid-battle, you thought I was just following your plan.

You walked right into the trap because you weren’t watching me; you were only watching the opening I wanted you to see."

She stepped closer, her gaze piercing. "In combat, you have to be flexible in your planning but rigid in your execution. If you aren’t, you’ll always end up on the floor," she said, her smile returning like a flash of lightning, "let’s go again."

"Are you out of your mind?" Trevor asked, his eyes widening in pure amazement. His jaw still ached, and his brain hadn’t even fully processed how he’d been intercepted mid-air, yet she was already calling for the next round.

Twenty minutes later, Trevor was a complete wreck. He lay spread-eagled in the middle of her room, his chest heaving as he struggled to pull air into his lungs.

It was beyond embarrassing. No matter what trick he tried or how much he increased his speed, he couldn’t touch her.

She was too smooth, too precise, and her movements were so accurate it felt like she was reading his mind. He had barely landed a single glancing blow the entire time.

Deep down, Trevor cursed his own lack of experience. He was a Level 12 with massive stat boosts, yet this girl was dismantling him through pure skill.

Just as Caroline was opening her mouth to demand another round, a soft, firm knock echoed at the door.

Trevor let out a long, desperate sigh of relief. Saved by the bell.

"Come in!" Caroline called out, looking down at Trevor with a playful glint in her eyes while he stayed flat on his back, trying to stop his world from spinning.

A woman in her mid-thirties, dressed in a sharp maid’s uniform, entered the room. She carried a massive tray filled with an array of exotic dishes—golden fries, marinated meats, and delicacies Trevor couldn’t even name.

Even back in the days when Trevor’s family was wealthy, they had never eaten like this.

He watched the tray as if it were a holy relic.

He was certain that a single spread like this must have cost a fortune—maybe even a million dollars.

And the most shocking part? This was just a casual serving for a guest. He couldn’t even fathom what the Roseman family ate for a formal holiday.

This is how the top-tier hunters live, he thought with a silent, heavy sigh.

The woman walked majestically across the room to the dining table on the far side and set the tray down.

It was a masterpiece of culinary art, complete with wine, fresh fruit juices, and a suitable dessert.

far more than two people could ever finish such exotic meal. The maid gave a slight, respectful bow to both Trevor and Caroline before silently exiting the room.

"Well, you clearly have a lot to learn,"

Caroline said, walking toward the table.

"Come on, we can talk more over dinner."

Trevor scrambled up and followed her, the heavenly aroma of the food acting like a magnet.

As he sat down, he got his first close look at the plates.

He felt a fresh wave of shock. The table was covered in assorted carbs, fish, marinated rice, and perfectly grilled pork.

But it was the dishware that caught his eye—the plates looked like they belonged in a museum.

They were plated in gold, with precious stones inlaid around the edges in shimmering rings.

The value of the plates alone probably exceeded everything Trevor had in his bank account.

"Make yourself comfortable," Caroline gestured, starting to serve herself.

Trevor didn’t need to be told twice.

Every bite felt like a literal explosion of flavor, his taste buds working overtime to process the spices.

He tried to eat with some level of dignity, not wanting to look like a starving animal, even though he was famished.

Caroline, meanwhile, picked at her food with the casual ease of someone who was born into this luxury. "Your combat has potential, Trevor... but we have a mountain of work left to do."

Trevor nodded as he chewed, watching her closely. He still couldn’t understand how someone could act so normal while eating a meal this incredible.

"You need to build the right habits," she said, looking him dead in the eyes. "In a real battle, your reactions need to be instantaneous.

You have to live with the knowledge that some fights will end with one of you dying.

You have to fight and watch them at the same time—analyze their plan while you execute your own." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

She leaned forward, her voice dropping to a whisper.

"Right now, it feels complicated to you because you’re thinking too much. You have to practice until it becomes a reflex. That’s when you truly level up. Until you do that, you won’t unlock your combat power stats."

Trevor felt a sting of frustration. He hadn’t realized he was quite this far behind.

Caroline noticed his expression and let out a soft sigh, her face softening.

"Well, we can work on the technical stuff later. For now, you’ve worked hard today.

Don’t you think we should have some fun?"

A mischievous smile spread across her face.

She stood up, walked over to Trevor, and grabbed his hand, dragging him toward the large, plush bed.

Before he could say a word, she gave him a playful push that sent him tumbling onto the mattress.

She stood over him, looking down with a sparkle in her eyes, and calmly began to unbutton her top.