Combat Sense has leveled up. The player has gained a new level of mastery over this ability.
Strength +1
Agility +1
Instinct +1
As John fought, he grew stronger and more confident in his abilities. A prolonged battle like this was a good opportunity for him to practice circulating his mana. When he needed to dash forward rapidly, he sent mana to his legs. When he needed to quicken his sword, he sent mana down his arm and through his core.
He refined the technique, growing more and more confident. By channeling mana in quick bursts, he was able to achieve greater results while expending less energy. Another notification bell rang.
Player’s ability Basic Energy Circulation has evolved into Focused Energy Circulation!
Focused Energy Circulation (Uncommon) (Level 1) - The user has achieved finer control over their mana, allowing them to more efficiently enhance specific body parts for increased speed, strength, and recovery with minimal mana use.
John channeled mana into his arms, meeting Deratus’ axe with a solid parry. Not long ago, the impact would have rattled his entire body—now, his hands barely trembled. Seizing the opening, he flicked his gladius towards his opponent’s neck.
Deratus was fast, twisting just in time to turn a fatal strike into a shallow cut. The two warriors separated, momentarily stunned. John’s gaze locked onto the thin trail of blood trickling down his opponent’s throat—his first real wound on his opponent.
Grinding his teeth, Deratus wiped his neck, only for fresh blood to seep through his fingers. His expression darkened. He could no longer afford to hold back. With John’s rapid growth, hesitation meant defeat. Mana surged through his body in a precise pattern, and a wave of heat radiated from him. He stomped the ground, flames surging to life around his axe.
John took a moment to steady himself, but he could feel the storm building—his opponent was preparing a devastating strike. The thought of retreating crossed his mind, but he dismissed it just as quickly. He couldn't abandon the two human prisoners, chained and helpless at the mercy of these dark elves.
Exhaling, he sheathed his sword, his fingers resting lightly on the hilt as he began channeling mana into it. His mind replayed his earlier failure—he had assumed his Flash Draw was as fast as it would ever need to be. He had been naive. It had been fast, but not fast enough. It needed to be swifter and sharper. Unstoppable.
As he gathered mana, he visualized the attack again and again, running through each movement in his mind. Whether it was due to his recent growth in swordsmanship or something deeper clicking into place, new insights surfaced—subtle shifts in his grip, the angle of his draw, the flow of his mana. Adjustments so small they had once escaped him, yet now they felt obvious.
A chime echoed in his mind.
Flash Draw has leveled up. The player has gained a new level of mastery over this ability.
Flash Draw has leveled up. The player has gained a new level of mastery over this ability.
Deratus roared as he hoisted his axe overhead, stomping forward with crushing force. Mana surged around him, igniting into searing flames that wreathed his weapon. He closed the distance in an instant, his strike plummeting down like a falling star.
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John remained calm, remaining still as he continued to gather and condense mana until the very last second. It wasn’t until his opponent was within range and almost upon him that he suddenly burst into movement, drawing his blade and slashing upwards in one smooth, fluid motion.
A brilliant arc of light split the night sky. The sheer radiance silenced the forest, momentarily blinding any who dared to look. Yet, to John, it was nothing but clarity.
He knew he had not missed this time. A crescent of light pierced Deratus’ body, extending beyond the range of John’s blade. A heavy thud followed as Deratus collapsed, his outstretched arm severed and half his torso cleaved apart. His axe lost all power, clattering to the floor.
Then came a burst of pain as John suddenly felt an impact on the back of his left shoulder. He turned his head, surprised to see an arrow buried in his flesh.
His gaze snapped to a distant ridge, where an elf stood hunched over, hands clutching his eyes, his bow already fallen to the ground. Below him on the forest floor was one of their human prisoners - the boy.
John’s thoughts flickered. Where was the girl?
He turned back to his fallen opponent, staring in silence as the life faded from his eyes.
He glanced at his notifications.
Player has defeated Deratus Vaerndal - Level 24.
Player has leveled up!
Player has leveled up!
Player has leveled up!
John turned back to the archer, who had now recovered his sight and was fumbling to retrieve his bow. Sheathing his sword, he strode toward him with measured steps.
The elf, trembling with fear, struggled to nock an arrow. His fingers shook, his breath came in ragged gasps. At last, he managed to draw, forcing mana into his next attack—but his panic made the flow unstable, his energy scattered.
John was now less than ten paces away from him. The elf’s fear broke. Desperate, he loosed the arrow.
Rather than shying away, John continued to advance. With a metallic chime that sang in the night air, John drew his sword. His blade sliced the arrow in two, sending the two sections careening in opposite directions.
Combat Sense has leveled up. The player has gained a new level of mastery over this ability.
John felt a flicker of surprise. He had felt he could do it, but that had been easier than expected. He had not used Flash Draw. In fact, he had used very little mana. It was pure technique. His sharpened instincts, heightened stats, and Combat Sense had all aligned in that single moment.
Thalorien stared at John, wide-eyed.
Human - Level 11
This human had only just begun his journey through the System’s tutorial, yet he had slain Deratus—a warrior trained from childhood, respected within their domain. And now, as John advanced, unshaken and with an arrow protruding from his shoulder, Thalorien felt a cold dread creep into his bones.
Each step the human took felt like death itself drawing closer.
Panic seized him. His gaze flicked down to the chained human boy at his feet. Desperation took hold. With a vicious kick, he sent the boy tumbling down the ridge toward John, the child groaning in pain as he rolled.
Thalorien didn’t wait to see what happened next. He turned and ran, flooding mana into his legs, burning through his energy in a frantic bid to escape. The forest blurred around him as he moved. He ran and ran until his mana was nearly depleted.
Finally, he staggered to a stop, pressing his back against a tree as he fought to steady his breath. His ears strained for any sign that he was being followed. Silence. Maybe he had gotten away.
Then - a branch snapped.
His head jerked up, and he found himself looking into the eyes of the human girl. She was still chained, yet somehow, she had managed to clamber onto the tree above him. Wide-eyed with fear, she froze under his gaze.
Perhaps his luck wasn’t so bad after all.
A slow, cruel grin spread across his face.
He would take her back to the High Lord, and she would serve as proof of what had occurred this night.