The lilin had been so engrossed in their task they hadn't noticed the bandit baring down on them despite how loudly the bastard was roaring a war cry. The fuck are you doing Creative ? I've been helping create the worlds first fireball spell. So don't you bitch at me. I am having trouble maintaining our skills.

The pain from the buck shot to the leg had been greatly mitigated by adrenaline but it was still the most intense agony of Maik's life. The addition of a machete to the arm surpassed the lilins pain threshold by a significant enough margin as to break their mental synergy as mild panic started to settle in.

The panic only got worse when the bandit yanked the weapon free of Maik's arm and all the lilin could think about was tending to the new wound as the left hand clamped down on the bone deep cut.

Enough ! Analytical was forcefully directed back to managing Chi skills. Creative was bitch slapped and directed to focus on their surroundings. Primal was booted from the drivers seat and tasked with managing special traits. Meanwhile, Body politic took over in the divers seat.

The lilin roared in both pain and defiance as they gripped the injured limb. Maik rolled onto their back before using their good leg to launch a Chi force projection stomp up into the machete wielding bandits face just before he could make another swing. Again and again the lilin spammed the same attack but after the 3ed attacked the lilin needed to move. Dodge right ! Now !

There was no hesitation only action as the left leg stomped down to propel Maik backwards and to the left just in time to avoid a flaming axe strike. It seems the brute got board with screaming in pain and is after us again. This does not bode well. Tactical evaluation ?

Maik's surroundings were a mess of injured or unmoving bodies. Only a couple people still standing on either side of the conflict remained, aside from Maik and the brute and Maik only half counted as being on their feet. Then a new factor entered Maik's range of perception. A humanoid ? Massive. Must be at least 8 feet tall... Is that Eugene ?

The giant Mexican charged across the battlefield, taking one of the 2 remaining bandit underlings out with a backhand swing of the barbell he wielded like a thin, extra long club. It seemed that the fire was making it difficult for the brute was see very well and he barely noticed the, now, giant sized form of Eugene in time to block the strike with the handles of both axes.

Greg had been hurting all over so he activated the third and final charge of the Tier 6 Surging vitality skill. His veins bulged with the stored energy as it flooded his body with restorative energies and he was elated with the result. His Tier 5 special trait Elemental resistance had just advanced to the Intermediate level as a result of overcoming his current predicament.

He went from being blinded by the flames to only needing to squint to see, though his vision was still pretty bad. He also went from not being able to breath at all without ruining his lungs to it just being difficult and lightly burning his lungs. He was still impaired but now he could find his pray. And if he could find his pray he could fight end them.

The damn pretty boy was still dodging but it was only a matter of time now. Even Greg had burned though 3 quarters of his massive Chi pool, which he knew was at least 3 times the size of others in the hoard. So pretty boy must be running on empty by now. But what is that ? Ohh Shit !

The force of the strike pushed the brute back far enough to leave 2 foot long ruts in the grass but he held. However, Eugene wasn't done. As soon the the giant felt his attack being rebuffed he shifted his weight and punted the brute in the side with his right leg. Except the brute was in a sturdy stance and remained rooted. It was clear now that Eugene's initial strike had been greatly amplified by his momentum and surprise.

The brute swings his right ave around, aiming to bury the head into Eugene's left knee but mid swing the attack gets deflected by a Chi force projection kick from Maik. This gives Eugene the time needed to reposition and take another swing with the bar bell. They start trading blows. Eugene acting as the front man while Maik throws out ranged attacks of opportunity to keep the brute off balance.

Greg is having the time of his life. He has never felt so alive as he does in this moment. With the two of them working together they were slowly gaining the advantage on Greg but at the same time the fire was burning out and after just 4 exchanges they had reached equilibrium. Neither side lost nor gained ground for 2 strikes but the big guy was clearly not used to his body. Greg takes back the initiative.

The situation was quickly becoming desperate. Sure Maik had a minor regeneration special trait but it wasn't nearly at the level of a certain yellow spandex wearing super hero from the movies. only 54 seconds had passed sense Maik's hand was half cut off and at the current rate of repair, it should be healed up enough to use that hand in roughly another 2 1/4 minutes.

Maik had 2977 Chi left but could only push so much Chi into any given skill. Maik actually needed higher tier skills that utilized more of their impressive reserves at this point. That static spark.

The Idea formed in the lilins head. A throwback to thier D&D days. There was no time to think about it. Only act. The lilin launched one more Chi fore projection at the brute and then put all their focus into forming the new skill while advancing.

Victory was within his Grasp. Greg had just managed to draw blood from the giant and within another 3 swipes he would cut the massive man down to size. Greg braced himself for another of those annoying invisible strikes but it didn't come. Curiously he spared a glance to see what the pretty boy was ups too. Why was he limping his way over ? Then Greg's eyes went wide as a rather familiar arch of electricity flitted between the pretty boys fingers.

First Maik assumed the Apan Mudra with their left hand and then pushed the Chi flow in a circular pattern. through the middle and ring fingers and into the thumb before feeding back around again. Each rotation building more and more energy until a steady arch was flitting in the air within the circle. Maik tried to give the energy a more complex structure but it was just moving so fast and with such force that it was all the lilin could do to contain the swirling disk of concentrated static electricity that shown within their grasp.

The brute tried to block, to intercept the incoming attack but Eugene seemed to realize that Maik was making some new crazy magic shit up again, as usual. So the giant put his faith in whatever new reality defying bullshit his friend was pulling out of thin air and redoubled his efforts. Eugene grunted in pain when he received a vicious cut to the left get for his trouble but didn't flinch in giving it his all to buy the window Maik needed.

The brute swung his right ave towards Maik while the left was still blocking Eugene's strike. It was so close, but the lilin just barely managed to reach past the weapon and make contact with the brutes wrist an instant before the axe head would have sank into the right side of Maik's chest.

Greg had been delayed by the giant but it was too late. His axe was going to cleave the pretty boys chest wide open and there was..... The next thing Greg knew they were hitting the ground and everything was fuzzy. He knew he was hurt pretty bad. But for some reason he couldn't understand how or why. A deep thud resounds through his whole being and he looses vision out of his right eye. His body was shaking with violent spasms and there was so much pain. Then it just ended.

Maik had released all the stored energy of the attack directly into the brutes arm and the shock stunned him for several precious seconds. All of his muscles had locked up too. As a result the axe head only went in quarter of an inch. The important thing was that this gave Eugene enough time to wind up a full swing with the barbell that connected with the side of the brutes head. The second strike cracked the guys skull and the third spit it open. The energy that flowed into Maik was so dense that they felt invigorated by it.

Stacy and the rest of the cavalry arrived soon after and started helping the two with their injuries. Maik bit down on a rag while buck shot pellets were dug out of their leg before it could fully heal over and they started tending to the others. Of the 12 people in Maik's squad only 7 survived. Thankfully David was among them though he was pretty low on blood. Eugene shrank back down to his regular 6' 4" self from the 8' 5" giant he had been and everyone got bandaged up.

The group James and Skip was with called for assistance over the radio half way though and half of the cavalry, including Stacy, road off to provide aid. Even after they road off Maik used one hand to apply Minor healing on Eugene while Minor regeneration patched the lilin up. It was agony to listen to the sounds of battle in the distance, knowing that Maik's friends were in trouble, but the lilin needed to patch them self up first.

After what seemed like an eternity that only lasted a little over 4 minutes both Maik and Eugene were back on their feet. Maik Checked their notifications and Chi reserves.

Tier 5 skill advanced - Chi Item infusion - Intermediate

Tier 5 skill advanced - Chi Force projection - Intermediate

Tier 4 skill advanced - Chi projection - Effective

Tier 6 skill Acquired - Minor stun - Beginner

Charge a surge of high voltage electricity with a minor level of amperage. Can be discharged into any conductive substance and works well to overload the nervous system of a target. High probability to rending the Target stunned. Stunned duration various based on target constitution and resistance.

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Impressive. I'm not going to complain. We took a lot of damage though. The enemy was heavily focused on pure combat and used weapons that made full effect of his higher attributes. Are you suggesting that we need to specialize ? I like keeping options open. We are versatile but up against a pure specialist we seem to be struggling. Be it illusionists or battle brutes. So ! That's what companions are for, no ? We did work well together. Eugene was very brave back there. Speaking of. The battles not over.

Maik still had 2297 Chi left in the tank plenty to spread some more mayhem among the bandit rank and there was still the sound of battle in the distance. Eugene and Maik locked eyes, nodded and set off. The super sized Mexican expanded back into his giant form and Maik empowered every stride with Chi force projection. The result was that they were actually faster then most of the horses, save for the one who now had golden hair and looked like a horse body builder.

They arrived to find that the battle had divulged into the fierce melee with Jame's and Zak engaging the enemies elites wile Skip providing support. As Maik advanced the lesser fay let out a strange yet melodic sound. In the next instant one of the bandits suddenly looked confused and swung his machete at empty air. This gave Jame's and opening to move in and clobber the bandit with his metal bat. Still the bandit managed to block the strike with his arm so it wasn't a deciding blow.

Meanwhile Zack and Russel was working with the cavalry to harass another 2 elites, keeping them from helping the one James and Skip had separated from the rest. The remaining bandit grunts were fighting with what was left of 2ed militia. A sinking feeling struck Maik and the lilin voiced the concern. "Where the Fuck are the 3ed militia ?"

The grimace the rider gave Maik was all the answer they would get before a bullet whizzed past his head, making both mount and rider duck. Looking over they saw that the enemy was about to get reinforcements. Maik grit their teeth and looked to Eugene "I need a moment." The giant clenched every muscle in his face but nodded. Their were 3 trucks barring down on them and they would reach the battle all too soon.

Main assumed a horse stance while both hands formed Apan Mudra pose. The lilin forced the energy with reckless abandon. MORE ! We need more. She can't do any more captain, I'm giving you all shes got. MOOORE ! Attempting to fuse the two streams. As soon as both circles were formed Maik then brought their hands together to try and interpose the circles over one another to start forming a larger ball. It kinda was a half way success.

the much larger sort of ball of electricity bucked and kicked in the lilins grasp and Maik realized they were going to loose control when lightning arches started running up and down the lilins arms.

Maik could totally feel their limbs being cooked by the rampant energy but Just before Maik completely lost control they pointed their arms at the closest truck. The driver was making a hard right turn, probably to run away. But it was too late. The truck had come close enough that Maik could have reached it even if Chi projection was still at the Intermediate level.

Maik used chi projection and Aura projection to provide a path for the energy to take on its way towards the vehicle. Maik's mind felt like it was sizzling and full of static as they directed that lightning as best as they could. The lilin could feel electrifying pain in their aura from the focus on the rampant energy as it was lead to and inside the gas tank.

The fuel was ignited within and more arches ran up the frame, stunning all 6 of the bandits in the bed of the truck. They lost their footing and tumbled out of the truck as the driver completely lost control when the front left tire was shot out by the rider. It flipped, caught fire and crushing several of its former passengers in the time it took Maik to gasp in relief that they were no longer being fired by their own attack.

The other 2 trucks decided to give the trio a wider birth. Just then the rest of the cavalry got close enough to engage and the trucks seemed to decide that they would be better off taking on the cowboys rather than the lightning wielder.

Good thing too. Maik pretty much slumped to their knees while panting heavily. That was too close. Worth it. Its hard to argue with results.

Eugene and the rider were already on the move, heading out to help the other riders take on the 2 trucks of bandits while Maik recovered. Behind the lilin, James and Skip managed a precise combo that started with Skip using an auric effect and ended with James knee capping the elite bandit with one swing and then clocking the guy in the temple with the return swing. They both set upon the bandit at once to finish him off quickly after that.

The sight give Maik an idea. Sure our arms are out of commission be we still have auric effects. We can still totally wreck these dirt bags. An interesting idea. One that might even be possible. especially given recent developments.

Tier 4 skill advanced - Chi body infusion - Effective

With both arms dangling at their sides the lilin sped off after the giant and rider while expanding their aura to the max.

As it turns out, the cavalry were way better marksman while on the move then the bandits. Even though the riders were on horse back and the bandits were in a tuck beds. The riders also aimed for the tires of the vehicles, quickly grinding them to a halt in the soft earth of the field they were fighting on. This gave the riders valuable time to pick off several of the bandits while they were off balance from getting knocked around.

Unfortunately, while the riders aim was decent, they were still using saddle rifles and those weapon simply didn't have the DPS needed to take down a bunch of magically enhanced bandits with regeneration skills. So one horse after another started going down once the bandits managed to get their shit together.

Unfortunately for the bandits a couple of actual cultivators crashed into their ranks one after the other. Eugene had hefted his barbell and thrown it like a spear. It didn't matter that the tip was dull with how much momentum something that heavy had and it pinned one of the bandits to the ground after impaling them through the chest. Eugene pulled the 2 larges hatchets he had looted out next and started going to town on one clump of bandits.

He took a few rounds first but once he was among them it was a slaughter. Not because he was that much stronger then they were. In fact he seemed to only be a half again stronger than any one of of these bandits. But now that Eugene was in among them, while the riders were laying down highly accurate rife fire from the outside, the bandits were simply left with no cover and were quickly becoming overwhelmed.

Maik approached the second truck. Once they were within range Maik put the new theory to the test and tried to apply Stun as a directed auric effect. This turned out to be much more difficult than Maik had expected. So the lilin also boosted Intelligence for the extra computing power. Without the physical structure of the lilins hands to swirl the energy around and build up the charge Maik had to use their aura alone to control the flow and that was just proving too difficult right now.

The lilins hair stood up on end as the static charge built around them. Suddenly Maik could feel another area where the lilin could form the circle. Maik didn't realize it at the time but their body had changed throughout the battle. The canines became more pronounced, Muscles became more lean, their hair was and absolute crimson red and their facial features had grown much sharper.

The circle of energy was being formed in Maik's mouth and the lilin opened wide while using both Chi projection and auric function to extend the Stun attack out of their mouth to hit one of the bandits. A wailing roar that sounded like something between the sound Godzilla makes and an arch of lightning washed out from Maik maw as the attack struck one of the bandits. This, of course, prompted the whole lot of them instantly turn their full attention on those medium spring green blood red rimmed eyes with a mix of fear and trepidation they had forgotten they could skill feel.

They opened fire but Maik was already leaping to the side with a Chi force projection enhanced kick. Like this Maik kept moving around faster then the bandits poor aim could track. All the while firing the occasional minor stun using Chi projection. Maik had them so focused on them self that the bandits didn't even realized Eugene was upon them until their cohorts blood was splattering over each other.

By the time they got back to the others James, Zak, Russel and Skip were dog piling the last elite while the others mopped up the stragglers and or tended to the wounded, like Stacy was doing. Maik was so glad that they had hit the center truck with that run away lightning bolt attack when they saw the still burning body of a bandit being put down by 3 riders, not far from the crash. Guess that groups elite was in the truck we zapped. Fortunate.

Maik found a nice spot up against a tree and sat down to rest since all they had was about 6 and a half hundred Chi left to their name. Eugene joined Maik with a grunt. "Hell of a day huh." The super sized Mexican was back to his usual size and examining the blood that coated his hands up to the elbows with a sigh. "You doing okay ?"

The lilin raises and eye brow at their friend for asking that question. Maik tires to shrug but the pain in their partially cooked arms reminds Maik that doing so was a bad idea. "Unnn... I'll recover. I have a minor regeneration special trait. How about you ? I don't have much Chi to spare but..."

Eugene waves the offered help off. "I'm good, but that's not what I mean. You changed more this time. Not just your eyes. Are you okay mentally."

Maik furrows their brows but couldn't spare the Chi to check them self out or feel their face with their hands at the moment so could only take their friends word for it. "I could ask you the same thing..." Eugene just shrugs it off like today was nothing special and Maik shakes their head at how nothing ever seems to shake the big guy.

After a moment the lilin leans their head back against the tree before continuing. "But, I guess. I'm just kinda focusing on the good to distract myself from the bad, you know. We uhh. We lost people today. I'm just glad that it wasn't any of Our people, you know what I mean."

Eugene stared intently at Maik for a moment but the lilins eyes were closed. Eventually he spoke up with a nod. "I do know. But we did almost loose one of Our people today."

Maik tensed up at that memory, The desperate battle with the brute and how close that encounter had been, even with Eugene's help. A half sob half laugh bubbles up out of Maik before they clear their throat. "Ahem... Yeah. That was really a close call wasn't it ?" Since Maik still couldn't lift their arms without great pain they leaned to the side and shoulder bumped Eugene's arm. "Thanks for the save back there."

Eugene leaned to the side to give Maik a shoulder bump right back before lowering his face close enough so that the lilin could feel the warmth of his breath in their hair as the giant spoke. "... Any time. I'm just glad I got there in time."

Maik felt a heat rise up in them self so turned their head to look away just in case the lilin had started blushing."That's uh... Very nice of you, and um, thanks." But the super sized Mexican leaned forward and get a look at the lilins face. Their eyes met and Maik knew their worries were confirmed by the way Eugene smiled at them.