The MC should have used those points he'd earned for improvement; however, it's still strange to me that he'd lose so quickly, given he was able to defeat those other 2 masters without much difficulty. It feels like the author is giving the opponent plot armor so that the assassin is forced to reveal her feelings for him, and for him to then miraculously recover enough to win the fight. I swear, this series plays out like a video game, lol.