Sighing, I look around. It's been a few hours now I believe, maybe a bit more, since everyone is trying to catch some sleep. I should probably do the same, but my finger currently pressed onto the plus symbol doesn't seem to like the idea.
Here we are again... Second status.
[Training Puppet Lv.4]
Age : 0
Mortal Cultivation : Martial Rookie (Second Rate)
Mortal Title : Second Rate Martial Artist
HP | ⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿ | (0.35 / 0.35)
DT | ⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿ | (0.35 / 0.35)
STR : ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ F-
SPD : ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ F-
END : ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ F-
SEN : ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ F-
SOUL : ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ N
WISD : ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ F-
LUCK : ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ N
Skill : Magnitude Blast - Lv.5
Same as always... nice to see you old pal.
I bring my fists up and prepare. This one will be my victory. Being third rate myself, my stat advantage, which can now be fully utilized, only skyrocketed my chances exponentially.
The shadow comes closer, before a shockwave erupts from its feet. What the- Its red glowing eyes appear before my very own, my guard pierced through by a scorching heat. "Furghck!" Trying to curse my pain away, I'm blasted away with gritted teeth.
I can't believe this. Second status!
[Evolved Training Puppet Lv.4]
Age : 0
Mortal Cultivation : Martial Rookie (Second Rate)
Mortal Title : Second Rate Martial Artist
HP | ⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿ | (0.35 / 0.35)
DT↑ | ⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿ | (0.70 / 0.70)
STR : ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ F-
SPD : ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ F-
END : ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ F-
SEN : ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ F-
SOUL : ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ N
WISD : ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ F-
LUCK : ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ N
Skills : Magnitude Blast - Lv.5, Crimson Arts - Lv.1
"What's going on?!" I remembered the puppet to have done that before, but even then it did not act to this degree... is it because I'm a threat now?
"Tell me! System!"
[You have found a rare opponent! Rewards are proportional to the difficulty.]
Rare? Doesn't seem rare to me! That's twice already! Are you playing with me?!
I put the thought behind and struggle my arms up again. My forearms are bloodied and bruised, purple and red. "Come here!" It's fine, I can beat this idiot. Isn't it just a puppet? I went from nothing to third rate with the previous rewards, I'm kind of curious about this one.
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With a smile, adrenaline pumping throughout my veins, I lunge forward. Immediately, as I get closer, it seems the puppet did also. A shadow comes into view before a spark of pain.
Then nothing.
"WHAT?!" I shout from within my cell.
"Just shut the fuck up!"
"Bro shut up..."
"Shut your mouth bitch! People are tryna sleep in here for fuck's sake!!"
"Imma chop your fucking legs off if you talk again!!!"
I ignore them, clutching my head.
I didn't even see what happened... I just saw a fist? I guess it was...
"Silence in there!" A baton is dragged against the bars, meanwhile I press the button again. Nah, nah, nah... there's no way! That's bullshit!
I land into the world of whiteness, only to meet a shadow. After a quick peek I'm disappointed. Maybe it needs to fight a little. But after a couple of light exchanges, nothing. The heat of the battle and the humiliation of such a loss made me forget about it being rare. Well, 'rare'.
Well at least it's a fair fight now. And clear from its shift in stance, the puppet also thinks so. Will it actually show proper martial prowess now? It better, otherwise the fight will be too easy.
I smirk and take a step, followed by another, and another. We slowly but meticulously get closer to one another.
Thirty or so seconds later, we just stand there, within range. Thinking of attacking, it makes the first move. A simple right jab to my chest. With my guard up, I let it hit me. Except it doesn't.
Still observing the shadow, its jab turns into a feint which then becomes a right haymaker. Noticing the wide movement, I frown and probe it with a right jab myself, aimed at the forehead. "Wh-" My vision twists? It takes a moment, but I feel my entire being fall down. This bastard swept my feet! Not only that, but my head is falling toward its haymaker! Thankfully being third rate now, my body didn't react, therefore keeping my arms up. Otherwise I would've tried to catch my fall and gotten my face slammed down, buried under.
The punch comes but it retracts again. Fuck.
Fuck, that's for sure. "Oof..." Due to this I fall on my side, and the ground sure isn't as soft as it is reflective. But with my stats it's just a weird sensation, nothing more. What isn't just a sensation though, is the shadow's leg crashing down on my right flank. "Oh pfffuck..." I didn't have enough time to lower my right elbow, so it directly hit my kidney area.
Thankfully I have ribs, as everyone should. Not so thankfully, I sense the familiar heat. "Oh don't- argh!" I spit some saliva and endure the shockwave shattering my ribs and piercing my kidney.
Why is it so much harder to stay calm against this stupid puppet?!
How come I didn't see its legs? Against the B-Rank dude, I was much calmer, meticulous and calculating. But against this shadowy puppet, it's like I can't keep my composure. My every move is read perfectly.
It's like... wait? I glare at it and try to catch its retreating leg. "Fuck." I can't get to it, but I have enough time to kick the ground and retreat. Surprisingly, it doesn't follow. I get to my feet and wobble around a bit. Looking down, I hold my right flank, bleeding out liters at a time. This fucker really blew a hole in my body!
I begin to sweat, slowly putting both forearms up into a guard. Let's refresh!
"Come." This time I'll see for sure. I don't expect to win, especially not now. However, I hold no fear of losing either. Eyes... Did I figure it out? Only one way to find out. I glare at the puppet's entire being.
My pupils dilate, and the shadow remains immobile.
I get a little closer, and when within range, attempt to irritate a response. But nothing. Were my moves too obvious? Did it read my intentions?
It's finally time. I focus my eyes and my pupils constrict. My vision is occupied by its left leg. The moment I do, a sudden pushing force lands on my left temple. My previously lowered eyes look up, to the left. Only to see a large shadowy presence before darkness overrules my mind.
Waking up onto the shitty bench called a bed, I'm not disappointed.
I was right... the second rate puppet reads my eyes. If I focus, it will know. Would keeping them nearly shut work? Should I just try and bulldoze it?
Now that I knew, the challenge was gone.
Back in, the shadow oozes from the ground. This figure... I'll beat y- "Huh?" Are... are its eyes red? Second status?
I look down, reading the prompt. Indeed it is. The evolved puppet came back. My gaze shifts from the prompt to the world in front of me, filled with dark blue smoke and a blazing red light encompassing it all. "Fu-"
Okay, third time's the charm.
I don't even think about the puppet spawning as evolved right off the bat earlier, I just focus, making sure it isn't-
"Rare... RARE MY FUCKING ASS!!!"
So yes, in short, it's another one.
Should I even ask the system...
I put my guard up and let a tear roll down my paling cheeks. My pupils dilate, taking in the entirety of this opponent. "Come..." A surge in brightness, a red, almost pink light flashing all over its body. An erupting dread emanated, strangling my body.
We are a mere five meters apart. In the blink of an eye, the crimson hue turns stronger, more pink, before fading away into afterimages. I don't need more to know what's about to happen next.
Opening my eyes, my gaze reaches for the ceiling. "What am I supposed to do?"
I try and try again, but it always is this stupid evolved puppet. Why? What did I do?
About to give up for the night, I hear something, before a blue light clutches at my face.
[You are worthy. The difficulty finally awakened, forcing you to improve faster. The key to everything will always remain within Immortality.]
[Relax your flesh until it collapses, clear your mind until it maintains peace, rest your heart until it reaches purity.]
[Be it Dark Energy or Qi, both are one and the same. No matter which you visualize, obsess over its eternal presence.]
"....."
Ah~
A break doesn't sound so bad. Should I... yeah, why not?
Sighing away my frustration, I sit cross-legged, not flexible enough for the lotus yet, and relax my tense muscles. It's weird.
At first I crumble, going overboard with it, but soon find a balance. The harder I try to relax while keeping myself steady, the stranger it feels. Like a rush of adrenaline that almost hurts. It is ever growing yet so stable. Like a torrent of energy. The feet and shins were the easiest. It only took a moment for me to manifest it.
It isn't really painful, but very uncomfortable. So esoteric... this sensation...
The longer I keep it going, the harder it gets.
After ten minutes, I open my eyes and check my status without really looking, just making sure I'm not injured. Nothing changed health-wise, it's still full at a glance. But after reading the earlier prompts, realized I missed one.
[You have sensed Qi! Your body will be cleared of Mana, resetting your existence.]
"Resetting my what?"