> Soundwave Infusion is the Epic level Flair, unlockable only by Soundwave Manipulation Flair users. It condenses the amplitude and intensity of sound into a single object, enabling a hit with the strength of 10% x the current level of the skill. Upon impact, the object releases sound that travels directly through the auditory system of the target, which can lead to severe dissonance, disorientation, and temporary deafness. The Stun duration can last anywhere between ten seconds and fifteen minutes, depending on the impact spot, the strength of the hit, and the adversary's sound resistance.

>

> Do note that Soundwave Infusion will turn Physical Damage into Soul Damage. Therefore, this skill is not recommended against opponents with high Soul Resistance.

Excerpt from "The Encyclopedia of Flair Skills, Volume 17 (9th edition)"

I move closer to the guardian, making sure its attention is on me. The colossal statue stares down at me with its bottomless gaping eyes, making grumbling noises as it jaw budges. I don't know how something so emotionless can send chills down my spine, but here we are.

I see the shadow of Eugene fleeting past in the corner of my eyes, then I mentally count the seconds inside my head. Ten. Nine.

The first hit is on us. I can slam on its head and Eugene stabs on the rib, the places where humans are most vulnerable.

Two. One.

"Take this, meathead!" I raise my hands over my head. With Soundwave Infusion activated, the humanoid should take 300% the damage of my normal hit. It should tumble on the ground, sprawling, lying on all four.

The spike ball hits the guardian's head with a clank. It does not move.

"Guess there isn't so much meat in your head. . ."

Then comes Eugene's iconic Speeding Bullet, which he of course lets everybody know by yelling 'Speeding Bullet'. Aiming for the rib, he twists the tip of his blade for the penetration powered Blade Twister he's so proud of. He bragged a week earlier about how he'd almost levelled it to LV 50, and how he would get a 2.5% penetration bonus once he passed that threshold.

If seems like he needed that 2.5%. Just like me, his sword is stopped right at the surface, though it looks like the tip of the blade very nearly pierced through the armor. He goes for another slash, but it doesn't seem effective neither.

We wasted our first hit. We treated a humanoid as if it was a human. It isn't.

The guardian throws a punch at my chest. I parry with my arm, but the guardian sends me several steps back. The Soul Dust mimics the hit so closely that I feel a pang of pain running through my forearm as the light bulb on it gleams red.

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"It might not seem like it, but you're breaking its armor little by little," yells Tamara from the chair.

"She's right," Lek says. "That's about 30% of armor you've knocked off. So this humanoid has about 18,000 armor."

"How much HP do I have left?" I ask Lek.

"Let me flash your stats in simulation mode. . . 22,000 HP." SCs use a different menu for simulation mode, gauging the changes in Soul Dust levels inside our suits.

"Its normal hit did 3,000 damage? It hits hard."

I glance over to Lek who's wobbling in the space between me and Eugene. Eugene's stat menu comes into focus.

Name Eugene De Lavet Level 53 Breed Human Type N/A Health 18,475/18,475 Attack 1,336 (+9%) [1,456.24] Human Speed LV 113 Human Strength LV 47 (+5%) [49.35] Shortsword Expertise LV 65 Longsword Expertise LV 52 Blade Twister LV 48 Sword Flick LV 50 Speeding Bullet LV 33 Flair N/A

The creature turns sideway and tries to pull Eugene in into a bearhug. The cheeky red-haired guy shakes away its pursuit with ease. The dungeon guard throws a punch, but only meets thin air. I swing my flail at its arm, and it comes back to face me.

"The whole point is to not let it hit you!" Tamara says.

No. The whole point is to let it hit me. That's what flit-and-jab is about.

The guardian lurches forward. I jump a few steps back and use my mental strength to set up a Sonic Barrier, a practically invisible barrier that can only be detected by the waviness of the air surrounding it. The guardian raises its arms up and ram its elbow into my protective shield. It goes in again, but the barrier stands.

"That's an Elbow Slam," informs Lek. "More preparation, but 25% extra damage."

My barrier can only withstand another two hits, but it should be enough for us. Eugene is going to rush in from a corner, any moment now.

And there he is, jumping between the icy thorns, the sharp edge of the sword facing the ground as he dashes. His speed is still remarkable even without Speeding Bullet.

Flit-and-jab. After he comes in, I'll go on the offensive.

Eugene comes in low, aiming for the leg. He has this foolhardy smile of someone who knows he's gotten it right. He's only two meters away. There's no way it's going to be a miss.

Until the guardian raises its feet.

The earth shakes as the humanoid stomps on the ground. The ice thorns around him breaks, shattering on the ground. My barrier shatters. Eugene is sent backward, falling on his back. Blue lights glow all over his body.

"Oops. Let me register that," says Lek as he turns to Eugene. "That's a Colossal Stomp. You're dumb, bro, to think that a protector doesn't have an AOE to deal with some sneaky hit 'round the back."

"I had it! I only need another second!" Eugene sits up then throws his hands into the air.

"That flit-and-jab was just a little slow. I guess time really is flitting." Lek winks as he says.

Eugene groans, "Great time for puns, you dumbbell!"

I raise my flail. This protector is durable, but slow. It seems like we can wear it out, run it out of stamina too.

If my guess is correct, this is the best time to strike.

"Lower your stance!" Tamara yells again. I do as told, and smash into the guardian's knee. No apparent damage done.

The humanoid lets out a rumble and throws a punch. I reel the flail towards its fist, stopping the guardian on its track. The noise of impact sounds like an explosion.

It knocks me a few steps back. When I look at its fist, I see a fracture underneath the rocks, along with a few cracks as its knuckles start to crumble.

Found the weak spot.