[Info] You have selected the skill *Mana Body Strengthening*. May your body be strong enough to face all your endeavors.
Returning in 5... 4...
I didn't even notice the countdown starting as I discovered new knowledge inside of me. There wasn't any 'flooding' of knowledge, or transitions or all of that. It was as if I knew the skill all along. Well... Theoretically atleast.
Disregarding the intricacies, readied myself, making sure that I won't get caught off guard when I return back.
2...
1...
*sha!*
Light flashed before a subtle pause was held to wait for my vision returned, the majestic clock in the sky acting like a sun the only thing able to move, as the pause continued for a third of a second.
And then, time resumed. Without delay, I assumed a fighting stance, doing a quick scan of my surroundings to make sure everything was as it was. I made my way to help the others. By the looks of it, we were just outside of a small town. Similarly, Inside the town itself, battles took place, each having their own life and death battle. The players having no clue as to what's happening, but even then, the majority of the players succeeded with their own battles.
Seeing as the majority of the Players were at the level of ranked fighters or Mercenaries, I instantly readjusted my plan. Rather than aiming to coordinate with those nearest to me, I my way towards the incoming soldiers. These were the soldiers who manage to kill finish their duels roughly the same time as I was.
Having no reliable way to gauge anything, I resolved myself to not underestimate any of them. Sprinting towards the middle of the three soldoers, I activated *Mana Body Strengthening*, feeling mana drain from My Origin Core that I instinctively know beside my heart, my dash sped even faster as I felt power rushing from all over my body.
Dodging an arrow to the side, I sprinted lower completely evading what it looks to be a sphere of water. As if alive, the sphere of water stretched into tentacles grabbing ahold of my feet as it freezed itself, catching me off guard, but even the meter thick tentacle wasn't enough to obstruct my power enhanced body.
Moving from side to side I dodged projectile after projectile, I made my way to the Caster only to be almost bashed by the shield of the guard, my reflexes as well as inherited battle Experience kicking in I stopped briefly on my feet, completely evading the Shield Bash, before crouching low, and two leaps later, I was right in front of the Mage. The mage tried to fight me off, his body also enhanced by mana. But He was no match, my body as well as close combat experience out matching his.
With three swift motions I cut the mage's left hand, his right leg, before stabbing through his heart and then to the side through his core, before rolling to the side to dodge an arrow far faster than it should have, and sprint towards the now distancing archer.
Noticing that I've already spent almost half of my mana in that brief exchange, I subconsciously thinned the mana that was leaking from my Core, imagining slightly rotating a valve my various parts of my body.
'Haaaaaah! Phew...'
Taking a deep breath, I reassed the situation, the archer seems to be keen in keeping his distance from me, while the Guardian from behind directly followed behind me, not caring about the arrows in the slightest. Seconds later I was able to keep up to the archer, repeating my tactic during the first fight I threw the dagger aiming it on the archer's vitals, only for the archer to turn around, his bow gone, now replaced by two daggers as he lunged at me just as I've committed to my throw. Even without looking behind, I could hear the guardian also closing in on me. Both of my enemies attacks coordinated and far more synchronized to my liking.
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The now archer turned assassin smirked with bloodlust as he leaped towards me, confident with he'll either be able to take me out with his surprise attack, or hold me long enough for the guardian behind me to bash my head.
"Now that's just foolish of you."
My voice turned cold as I smiled. The ever dangerous close combat fight being the comfort zone that I needed from this heart squeezing exchange. The assassin hearing me distracted for a moment. Taking advantage of the opportunity, I empowered my body with another 30 percent of my mana, before discarding my blade to the side, my experience in the World Arena proving to be useful as I crouched even lower to dodge twin knives, only this time there was no sense to do submissions, rotating my body upward, I grabbed the surprised assassin from his neck, and in a circular motion, swung and slammed his head towards the Bullduzing Guardians shield using all of my greatly enhanced strength.
Bang! A loud sound hammered in the fields, as flesh and steel collided. Blood splattered everywhere, the guardian slightly tilting his shield a little to the side to see, only to find his vision somehow flying to the ground as I had already cut his head off using both the mess as well as his blindspot to rush to his side and get a clean blow.
I took a deep breath to recuperate. Both mana and stamina slowly recovering as I surveyed the area. The smell of blood overpowering everything as they stained both my clothes and my soul. My conviction confused if I should be impressed or horrified of what I've just done.
Taking a deep breath. I shook my head before failing to hold my grin.
'Bah who am I kidding...'
I couldn't help but silently laugh.
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... ...
Dodging to the side, I swung my blade in a wide arc, using the momentum of my sword rotate my body and throw a kick. The soldier shot across the ground. Without delay I leapt towards the soldier, dodging his panicked strike before stabbing the the mana enhanced shorter Spell Blade from the bottom of his chin to the top of the skull then quickly rolling up to a crouch to check if there are other incoming strikes before sitting my self back down to the now bloodstained grass.
Whistling a tune to myself, I went ahead and reviewed my notifications. The kill just now inevitably pushed me to finally hit Level 2. Boosting my stats by another one point. My base stats all hit 5 with Origin Core being at 5 and Origin Affinity at 3. Holding myself from impulsively distributing my Stat points, I moved on to the more interesting notifications.
[Info] *Enhanced Mana Body*
+Control, The ability to increase or decrease the effect of Enhanced Mana Body upon will.
+Overload, extend mana towards your body to a degree that surpasses what your vitality can handle. Warning: Side Effects might be varried depending on your affinity.
+Extend - Imbue Affinity, extend mana from your body to an object your touching. Applying your own affinity an object or entity.
'The skill can even track skill applications and even variations...' I thought to myself as I read the description of each added function. This was only to be expected, unlike RPG games, NOIM seems to be more like a second reality as to it being an actual game. Though the named skill variations maybe a clue to the number of possible variants and applications in NOIM. Hopefully Asgard isn't too strict with access to it's library...
Moving on to the newly discovered skill applications, Control was pretty much self explanatory, Overload however felt different to me, both logic as well as the description given by the interface hints at some sort of backlash happening upon circulating your body with too much mana. Strangely enough, I felt rather a little refreshed after overloading myself with mana. NOIM didn't count it as some sort of new skill or variant however so it must have something to do with my Affinity Itself.
A quick check to the status page didn't bore anything useful either as it only Re displayed my single skill, it's applications and variants as well my attributesinformation which seems to automatically show everytime I view the level up notification. There is however, the locked information below:
[Info] Origin Core: Type:??? - Locked until Fate's Struggle Stage(Level 20)
I'm getting a bit too eager am I? I couldn't help but laugh. The sheer excitement from being able to use various skills, concepts, as well as creating a Path for myself was enough for me to somehow accept the brutality of all of this, and now, Skill Applications, and even Variants? And I'm just beggining my journey to top it all of.
A familiar greed as well as list for power washed allover me as I took it all in. Having once reached the top of the World Arena despite only going through 13 victories really disappointed me back then.
It felt as if I've reached the ceiling, and now there isn't anything left to climb up to. This time however there's now the skies, worlds, and even realities, all beyond my current comprehension.
Just how high can I go this time?
My own 'Path' huh... Recalling my vision, I felt my self crave more power. Not only was I forced to thread a path paved by another, I also lost everything in the end.
No.
Not this time.
I will pour my heart and soul...
'Just as I've emptied mine...'
I stared wide eyed at the sky as I somehow I felt my memory reply to my own very thoughts. Feelings of sadness, grief, and frustration greater than my own bubbled over me, tears falling down my cheeks without even knowing what or why. My heart aching so bad that I wanted to do something. Or anything.
The feeling of helplessness.
Of being powerless.
Taking a deep breath, I briefly closed my eyes.
So many questions... I only knew that I need more power. Both here, and in real life. If there's even a difference between the two.
I chuckled to myseld grimly.
For now, there's only one thing to do.
And with that, I rushed towards the town reading the notifications that popped up as I did so.
*ding!*
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[Info] Congratulations on successfully intercepting the reinforcements sent by The Woles Empire. +1 to Level.
[Info] Quest - Rush towards the city to help finish off the invaders. Requirements: Clear at least the third wave to qualify. Current wave: 1/5
Reward:
+2 to Levels, Citizenship to Asgard.
Penalty:
-Failure to defend the town: -20 percent Experience points for one week.
-Failure to defend the teleportation archway: -2 Levels, -40 percent experients points for one week. Barred entry to the Kingdom of Asgard till you reach the Fate's Struggle Stage(Level 20). Permanent disqualification of right to start in Asgard.
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To be continued.