Varian had fought many opponents in the short period since his awakening.
In fact, he fought so many warriors who had decades and centuries of experience behind them that it was a surprise his combat skills outclassed them.
Was it an innate talent?
A blessing of the sliver?
Or was he just doing something right he didn't really know?
Varian had no answer why. But thanks to his combat experience, he could 'feel' the battle.
If speaking was an exchange through sound, then a fight was the exchange through movements.
Every movement indicated something.
The desperation of a loser. The rage of a father. The shades of discipline.
Just like every food had its flavors, so did every fight.
Slaughter Shade's fight was a high mix of discipline and a low mix of disbelief—even until his death, that man couldn't believe he lost to someone who barely defeated his brother.