James's breath came in short, sharp bursts as he parried another of Rick's relentless attacks. The sound of their combat was rhythmic and constant, seemingly showing them being equal, but he knew the truth. Every time he blocked a blow, his bones rattled, and he had to send more mana into his limbs to keep fighting in an unsustainable, deathly spiral. James could feel the strain in his muscles, the weariness creeping into his limbs, but he pushed it away, focusing on the duel.
As he narrowly dodged a particularly vicious swing, his gaze flickered briefly towards Mr. Bethany, who stood at the arena's edge. The man was conversing quietly with a group of individuals who, judging by their attire and demeanor, were high-ranking members of the Awakener Association.
James caught his eye for a fraction of a second, getting a short nod of encouragement and a glance towards his interlocutors and in that brief exchange, he understood.
This was more than a test of combat skill; at least for him and his companions, Rick had been forewarned. That meant whoever had done so wanted to get something out of this fight, and the most likely thing it could be was they wanted more information about the Dawn Initiative’s first team. Possibly to figure out how they had managed to defeat Callum Wright while a full Awakening tier below him.
It should have been much bigger news, but with the KLF attacks, the dissolution of the Radiant Guild had gone by almost unremarked upon. Still, it wouldn’t be weird if some were curious about it, especially given what had happened that night.
We still know nothing about who might have leaked our operation’s information.
The realization sharpened James's focus. He couldn't afford to merely survive this fight; he needed to demonstrate his worth, to show that he and his team could face challenges like the one they had overcome with Callum Wright.
Rick came at him again, a barrage of strikes that forced James back step by step. But James had begun to adapt to Rick's rhythm, anticipating his movements and countering with increasing precision. He leveraged his Thakinetic Empowerment, not directly confronting Rick's strength, but to enhance his own agility and reaction time.
He was still on the back foot, but the fight had almost reached a stall. Just like he couldn’t do anything to harm Rick, the examiner seemingly couldn’t catch him.
The audience was captivated, their earlier silence replaced by murmurs of intrigue and respect. James could feel their eyes on him, analyzing his every move. It was exhausting, exhilarating, and terrifying all at once. His friends were watching, though, and while he couldn’t afford to turn his attention to them, he knew he’d feel all their support if he did so.
This knowledge bolstered James's resolve. He couldn't let his team down, not when they had come so far together. He had to push his limits to show his physical prowess and the strategic thinking and adaptability that had seen them through their previous challenges.
The duel continued, a test of endurance as much as skill, just like Tea had predicted. James's strikes were precise, aimed not to incapacitate - knowing he could not seriously injure his opponent even if he tried - but to demonstrate his tactical acumen. He targeted Rick's guard, looking for openings, creating them when he found none.
But Rick was evidently an experienced fighter, his defenses nearly impenetrable. He absorbed James's attacks with a seasoned warrior's grace, countering with a ferocity that left no room for error. More than once, he sidestepped an attack and entered James’ guard, only to let him retreat without pressing, frustratingly smiling with a hint of mockery.
James's arms ached, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. He knew he couldn't keep this up much longer. Rick also seemed to sense this, a predatory glint in his eye as he pressed his advantage.
Then, in a moment of clarity amidst the chaos, James saw his opportunity. It was a risk, a maneuver that left him exposed, but it was his best chance. James sidestepped and spun as Rick lunged, using his momentum to deliver a blow aimed at the man's side.
He then did something he had avoided so far, simply because he hadn’t wanted to show off his skills to strangers, but he was getting too annoyed with the constant toying to care.
Mana built up in his core, flowed through his arm into his fist, and was released into a single blow, exploding in contact with the air, sending Rick flying back a few feet, having taken him by surprise. It was a minor victory, but a victory nonetheless.
The crowd responded with a collective intake of breath, the tension palpable. Rick regained his footing, a look of surprise and respect flickering across his face. He nodded at James in acknowledgment of his skill.
"You've got guts.” He grumbled, steadying himself. "But let's see how you handle this.”
All at once, James realized any hope he might have still harbored of winning was gone. Lightning crackled around his opponent, his eyes illuminated by the electricity visibly flowing through his limbs. This, evidently, was Rick Martinez’s Talent, and the fact he had fought so far without using it was a testament to his training.
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James quickly realized that Rick was a Lightning Brawler, his hand-to-hand combat augmented with lightning-based abilities.
Before he could react, James was folded in half by a powerful punch and launched back several feet, rolling to a stop before the glowing purple barrier that delineated the ring.
Electricity coursed through his limbs, forcing him to spasm for a couple of seconds, until he got himself under control.
Unsteadily, he rose, looking warily at his opponent, who was waiting for him.
Rick came for him again as soon as he was up, though not with the same devastating strength. The arena lit up with each of his strikes, the air sizzling with energy. James struggled to keep up, the shock of each hit traveling through his body, jarring his nerves.
It was a dazzling display, and James found himself on the defensive, barely able to parry the electrified blows. Rick's speed and power were overwhelming, his Talent having easily bridged the gap in AGI that had seen James last so far.
He gritted his teeth, calling upon every reserve of mana and willpower he possessed. He dodged and weaved, narrowly avoiding direct hits, but the strain was evident. He knew he couldn't withstand this onslaught for long.
Rick’s lighting crackled around the ring like a storm, each blow making arcs of electricity that lasted for a few seconds, further limiting James’ mobility. He realized that this was a battle of attrition he couldn't win. But he wasn't ready to give in yet.
Rick came in for another strike, electricity arcing off his fist. James braced himself, channeling his Thakinesis into his forearms, pushing the amount beyond what he normally did to reinforce. More and more mana went in, and just from the sheer amount, he ended up creating a barrier of condensed willpower.
The blow landed, and the force sent a shock through James's body, but his makeshift protection held, absorbing the brunt of the impact.
For a moment, James could only feel elation that he had once again managed to push his Talent to its limits, and discovered another application beyond what his Skills should allow.
But the sight of another fist coming his way shook him out of his self-congratulatory moment, and he tried to replicate his feat again.
This time, he had less of a warning, so the ‘barrier’ did not absorb the whole blow, but it was still much better than what he had started with.
James felt he needed to change tactics and seize control of the fight, even for a moment. As Rick pulled back for another electrified punch, James saw his opening. He channeled his mana, focusing it into a concentrated burst.
As Rick's fist hurtled forward, James launched his counterattack. The force of it collided with Rick's electrified strike, creating a spectacular explosion of light and energy that sent both fighters staggering backward.
The crowd gasped, their clash a display of incredible raw power and skill for someone not even officially at G-rank. James and Rick locked eyes, an unspoken acknowledgment of each other's abilities.
But the moment of respite was brief. Rick recovered quickly, his eyes alight with a renewed intensity. He advanced again, his movements now a blur, lightning enveloping him like a cloak. James tried to keep up, to anticipate and counter thanks to Awareness, but Rick's onslaught was relentless. Each strike was faster, harder. Despite knowing a blow was about to come, his body simply could not react soon enough.
James found himself being pushed back, his defenses crumbling under the relentless barrage. A particularly strong hit broke through his improvised shield, sending a jolt of electricity coursing through him. James's muscles seized, his vision blurring as he struggled to remain conscious.
He stumbled, trying to regain his footing, but Rick was already there, another electrified punch aimed straight at him. James braced for impact, but at the last moment, Rick pulled the punch, the crackle of electricity stopping just short of James's face.
The fight was over. Rick had won, but he hadn't sought to truly harm James. After all, it was still a test, and the lesson had been delivered.
Rick offered James a hand, helping him to his feet. "You did well.” He said, a note of respect in his voice. “I honestly didn’t expect to be forced to use this much power. Your Talent is impressive. Keep honing it.”
James, panting and sweating, managed a nod. "Thanks. You're pretty incredible yourself.”
He left the ring, slowly shuffling up the arena steps until he reached where his teammates were sitting. He dropped next to them, exhaling with a long sigh.
“That was crazy.” Lauren said, eyes wide. “It almost looked like you had it at one point.”
James huffed a laugh. “I can tell you that guy is a lot stronger than he lets on. Try to avoid tanking too many of his punches, because they fucking hurt.”
Daniel huffed a laugh as he stood up and started walking down the stairs, since no one else seemed intent on entering the ring after the showing James put on.
As he watched his teammate take his place, James felt another large presence come toward him and was unsurprised to find Mr. Bethany.
“How did I do?” He asked, not meaning just the test.
“You exceeded everyone’s expectations.” The large man said smiling. “The test results will be announced after everyone’s done, but I can tell you that if you don’t pass after a fight like that, no one else will.”
“And what about…” James gestured widely to where the other AA bureaucrats were sitting, all intently talking and gesturing to their tablets, even as they kept an eye on the fight that was just starting out.
“Oh, they were more than happy to find that the reports were not doctored. It seemed that they feared someone might have been enhancing Team 0’s performance to give the Initiative a better name, but the way you held up against someone an entire Awakening above made them rethink their stance.” The mustachioed man replied, seemingly quite smug. He had served as a trainer for them on the rare occasions Miss Walker was unavailable, after all, so he had a share of the responsibility for their performance.
As Daniel, down below, started clashing with Rick, James turned his attention to the blinking notification at the back of his mind.
He was unsurprised that his feat against Rick had earned him something, but he smiled at seeing what it was.
SKILLS
LEVEL
DESCRIPTION
Thakinetic Empowerment
9
(Active): Utilize your Willpower to temporarily raise STR - VIT - AGI.
Thakinetic Awareness
7
(Active/Passive): Expand your SENSE to feel other’s wills.
Thakinetic Resistance
9
(Active/Passive): Empower your MIND to defend yourself against foreign influences.