Chapter 60: Ch - 60 Sparing?
While Swayam was deep in thought, reflecting on Oliver's words, Oliver helped Barry remove the arrows from his back. Then he walked over to Swayam and tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention, which he did with ease.
Though Swayam seemed lost in thought, his enhanced senses kept him fully aware of his surroundings. He wasn't truly distracted.
After getting his attention, Oliver looked at Swayam with a curious glint in his eyes and spoke in a calm tone, "After I figured out your identity and subtly got Felicity to reveal some things about your abilities, I learned about your super strength, speed, endurance, defense, healing, and most intriguingly, your creative thinking and adaptive intelligence. Your body and mind are like a sponge, able to absorb and replicate everything you see. That made me curious. I want to spar with you, to understand just how much of that knowledge and skill you can apply in practice."
With that, Oliver began walking toward an open area. "Follow me," he said.
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Oliver and Swayam faced each other in an open clearing. Oliver was eager to see if Felicity's praise of Swayam's abilities was warranted. Swayam, meanwhile, was curious about Oliver's sudden decision to spar, but he agreed to it. He took a casual, relaxed stance.
Observing Swayam's stance, Oliver immediately noticed that, despite his sturdy physique, Swayam hadn't practiced much martial arts—his stance had too many openings. However, since the goal was to test Swayam's capabilities and adaptability, Oliver didn't correct him. Instead, he took his own fighting stance, watching to see if Swayam would learn from it. Sure enough, Swayam subconsciously imitated Oliver's stance and, after a few adjustments, took a much-improved posture.
This confirmed for Oliver that Felicity's praise was true—Swayam was indeed highly adaptive.
Although this was supposed to be a simple sparring match, Oliver felt a surge of excitement upon seeing Swayam's rapid improvement. Despite his enthusiasm, Oliver remained composed and asked, "Are you ready?"
Swayam, fully focused and aware of Oliver's experience as a seasoned fighter, nodded in agreement.
Without hesitation, Oliver lunged forward, his fists flying in quick, controlled strikes to test Swayam's reactions. To his surprise, Swayam effortlessly sidestepped and deflected each blow with uncanny precision, his movements almost too perfect.
Barry, observing from the sidelines with his super speed, watched as Oliver feinted a punch but instead went for a leg sweep—a tactic designed to trip up inexperienced fighters. But Swayam didn't just react; he anticipated. Shifting his foot slightly, he twisted his body and countered with a kick that was an almost perfect replica of Oliver's movement, but sharper and more fluid.
Oliver barely dodged the kick and, with a glint of excitement in his eyes, said, "Interesting. Your imitation and adaptability are truly incredible."
Swayam refrained from responding, knowing that Oliver had not yet taken the spar seriously. He could sense that Oliver was only now starting to get serious.
And he was right. This time, Oliver attacked with more intensity. He unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks, each move drawn from years of training and experience. Swayam, however, adapted on the fly—absorbing, processing, and countering each new strike with improved precision. It wasn't just imitation; it was evolution. Every block became a parry, every dodge a repositioning for the next attack.
Swayam's endurance was quickly apparent. Despite Oliver's relentless assault, Swayam remained unfazed, his breathing steady. At one point, Oliver managed to land a solid punch to Swayam's ribs—a blow that would have winded a normal person. But Swayam, with his nearly impenetrable physique, barely flinched. Instead, he shifted his weight and countered with a knee aimed at Oliver's side—a move not part of Oliver's repertoire.
"You're good," Oliver said, momentarily catching his breath and stepping back. "But let's see how you handle something you haven't seen before."
In a flash, Oliver launched a small taser arrow hidden in his sleeve directly at Swayam. It was designed to incapacitate, but Swayam moved with incredible speed, sidestepping the arrow with ease.
Then, in a blur, Swayam closed the distance between them. His speed caught Oliver off guard—he hadn't expected him to be so fast. More impressively, Swayam anticipated Oliver's reactions. When Oliver ducked and spun to avoid a punch, Swayam had already adjusted, landing a solid blow to Oliver's side that sent him stumbling backward.
Swayam didn't press the attack. Instead, he stood still, adopting an improved combat stance.
As Oliver rose to his feet and dusted off his clothes, he couldn't suppress the grin spreading across his face. His blood was pumping with excitement. This wasn't just a sparring match anymore—it was a battle of minds, and Swayam was proving to be far more than just a brawler. He was evolving with every second, creating new solutions to every challenge Oliver threw at him.
The sparring continued, growing more intense with each exchange. Oliver shifted styles—from boxing to jiu-jitsu to escrima—throwing complex combinations at Swayam. But Swayam countered them all, matching Oliver's styles and refining them. Where Oliver threw a punch, Swayam responded with two. Where Oliver attempted a joint lock, Swayam escaped before it could even fully set in. Swayam's mind was always three steps ahead, not just reacting but innovating.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, Oliver raised his hand, signaling for a pause. Breathing heavily, he said, "That's enough for now."
Swayam, still full of energy and eager to continue, attempted to provoke Oliver. "You sure? I was just getting started."
Oliver saw through Swayam's attempt and chuckled. "Trust me, you've already impressed me. You've got a lot of potential, Sam. But there's more to fighting than just adapting. You need experience and instincts. Those take time to develop."
Realizing it had been his adrenaline talking, Swayam calmed himself, aided by the Pathokinesis ability he had acquired. He nodded toward Oliver and thanked him, "Thanks for sparring with me and helping me train, Oliver."
Oliver nodded in acknowledgment and walked toward Barry, who had been watching the entire match unfold.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone