"No! Who are you to tell me what to do?" said Canny, glaring at Author.
Not backing down, Author with a tranquil mind, said.
"You have to; last time, if I remember, you were suffering mentally from exhausting your powers."
A single RPG had made him exhausted; what if he had to make two? Or maybe something out of his limits. There was no leverage in having a little experience and control over your abilities.
"So what? I can do it myself. I don't need anybody's help."
"If you could, would I be forcing you to? The world is not the same, and neither arrogance nor ignorance would be any help."
The boy didn't shout back. He quietly bit his lips, and his eyes brimmed with anger, and his face was sullen. Author had to grant it; the stubborn boy wouldn't listen to him.
Instantly, he darted away, shouting.
"I don't need help from you! Screw Off!"
Author hopelessly watched; with a resigned sigh, he thought to give up on him. The boy was too stubborn, and he wasn't sure what way would entice Canny to listen to Author.
Clyseus placed his hand on Author's shoulder, still wearing a cocky smirk. He spoke.
"You're trying to force them to be what you want without knowing them. What an irony for a person like you."
"As if you know." Said Author, shoving his hand away.
Clyseus shrugged; he was a conversationalist, and mostly he was able to change people's views about him. Even now, Canny was happier around Clyseus than Author.
"You should learn one or two things from me."
Joseph silently watched; he wasn't sure which words he should use to console Author. But the best way was to remain silent and see what happens.
Author strolled off to where Canny had headed. There was no need to rush, he told himself. But inwardly, he was not digesting it well. The time was less, and he needed everyone prepared.
The reprieve shouldn't be wasted.
Author found Canny shooting an already half-fallen wall. Gritting his teeth with every shot, not all of them were accurate. Several severely missed the target he was aiming for.
Author could tell Canny was getting tired; fatigue was taking over him. Still, the bullets kept blasting out from the magical guns. Fairly a chunk of his energy had been wasted.
He had the inkling about evolving his abilities or how to level them up. Even so, the progress was grossly slow.
Observing how viciously he was loosing bullets at the wall. The damage the wall received was minor, to the point it made the magical bullets seem like rubber balls.
"This wouldn't do; think of the target as a monster that is crawling towards you, shifting from one side to another."
Silence, he did was Author told.
Author manifested his own sword and poised it at the back of Canny's hand. Light glistened on the blade's smooth surface, making it gleam. It was sharp and jagged; a single light touch and blood trickling down his hand.
"The monster would do the damage if you missed the shot." He pointed at his own sword. "You will have a second to turn to the side where I will tell you. He can be at your left and right."
The first round would be easy; since Canny was allowed two bullets, he had to imagine the wall as Hum-slimes. Missing both shots would have a small cut on his hands.
It might hurt, but this will help him concentrate.
"Left."
BANG!
BANG!
He wasn't sure if the shots were accurate or not.
Feeling not satisfied, Author made some adjustments and added extra stuff. He took two sheets of wood and hammered them into the wall, keeping a fair distance between them.
"What do you think?" He asked Canny.
Canny aimed at them and focused.
"They are fine. What other things do you want to do?"
Somehow, he wasn't irate anymore.
Author tapped on the square, flat wood and spoke.
"Other things later; first we deal with this. On my word, you shot the one I tell. Two bullets if both missed a cut on your hand."
Canny nodded and concentrated, making his focal point the sheet of wood lodged on the walls. His ears were pricked and his mind intent.
The enemy was before him; he stood not far from them. imagining them as hum-slimes coming at him.
"You're left."
He swiftly turned to his left and shot twice. One missed, and one struck at the edge of the wood.
"Right." Author was quick to command.
Having too little time to maneuver his arms to the side, he twisted his hands and shot. one missed.
Irked by the missed aim, Canny clicked his tongue and tried again. After a fourth attempt and a tiny cut on the back of his hand, he succeeded.
He triumphantly shouted, raising his hands up high.
"Yes! I did it." It wasn't tough.
Pointing at Author, in his mocking voice he said.
"See that old man! I had done it, huh?" Folding his hand with a cocky smirk on his face he added, "Can you even do that?"
Not wanting to break the child's spirit, he carefully said.
"True, even I can't do that. You're some genius."
[Watcher 'Selfish Pig' is bored; he is complaining to the universe of cosmos.]
Watchers never liked the dull progress of a story; complaining was another way to expedite the process, but the cries of complaints were never listened to.
It was more like the cosmos would like to do as they want, and Watchers couldn't do anything.
Author was aware of this. Since he was the creator of the novel, there were several things he liked about his own creations. The rules and the foundation of the universe of cosmos. It was entirely corrupted, and watchers, who had self-believed that they were the supreme beings, were basically trapped audience, manipulated by pleasure and dreams displayed by the universe of cosmos.
But the fact didn't change; the watchers remained the most powerful beings.
Now the first step was done. Canny had to do something else.
"Instead of shooting while being still. You will move to your left and right." Author said.
Canny was learning and improving substantially faster than Author had anticipated. Moreover, Canny was building up stamina that will support him when using weapons that consume large amounts of energy.
While Canny practiced, Author kept checking his stats. The numbers were going up, and the level was increasing. If that kept going, he would master his ability on a profound level.
He still needs deep insight. Author said inwardly. The best way to know one's own ability is by knowing oneself.
There was no way of mastering something when you don't know yourself. The fact that you had to understand yourself first and then make yourself compatible with what you have and then start using them. It boosts your growth rate at an exponential pace.
Canny knew himself too well; thanks to that, he could use his abilities well. He knew what was a suitable part of his ability and what was not.
He knew what kind of weapon he needed to use with the ability he had. Adjusting the size of the gun and changing several more things, he made it far more useful than it would have been in its original size.