Time glided out of the arena with an air of nonchalance, concluding the initial bout. As officials swarmed the Colossal, their assessment deemed him at minimal risk of injury. Did Time spare him? The announcer's voice boomed, "Incredible! Time stands at a level beyond compare! For those without the gift, our screens will replay the fight! Yes, that screen you see right there! As it plays, we'll take a brief administrative break—give us twenty minutes for the next fight!"
Aroha, her hands on her head, voiced her confusion. "This doesn't add up at all!" I reached out, gripping her hand in an attempt to comfort her. She reciprocated, a hint of calmness settling in. "You know I can't visually track your movements now, Oren. Time appears stronger than you, but my 'ability' lets me gauge them through their stats. The screen moved, and I was only able to see Time's strength. It spiked to 300. I don't understand how."
I asked, "Could you see his skill?" She shook her head. "No, anything beyond Level 2 remains hidden. Why didn't you try your Peeking skill?" I sighed, explaining, "It only works if I have a direct line of sight. Any significant movement disrupts the skill." Aroha's demeanor softened as she suggested, "Want to grab a bite before the next match?" I could tell this was racking on her mind. I nodded, a small grin forming. "Sure thing."
Exiting the arena, the lingering astonishment over Time's unparalleled display of strength buzzed in conversations all around. I could hear them. Some were interested, some were ecstatic, but they all liked it in some way. The mystery behind Time's abilities left everyone in a trance.
Making my way towards the amenities, I fumbled for my phone, itching to uncover the history behind the colosseum. Word had it that it sprung up a few years after the advent of the Gift, initially hosting low-stakes fights. However, our school had practically commandeered it for the past couple of years, elevating the clashes the building could withstand to higher levels, thanks to the mysterious black material embedded within its structure. Tony needed to know about this discovery.
While waiting in line for some pizza, Aroha and I continued our conversation. "How's school treating you this last week?" I inquired, curious about her experience. She reassured me, highlighting the relaxed atmosphere, "Oh, it's going well. The school is much more relaxing this week, and tests are mostly done, so there's that." It sounded reassuring. Then she asked about what I wanted, "Your usual? A cheese?" I nodded in agreement. Amidst our conversation, a familiar voice joined in, "Cheese? Count me in." Could that be Tony? Glancing over my shoulder, I spotted him, dressed casually and joining the queue. "Where've you been? The tournament's already kicked off," I quizzed him. Tony laughed, "Forgot our chat from yesterday?" Ah, right. That jolted my memory.
"Hey, Oren, how's your training been?" Tony's voice echoed across the training area as he darted around. "Not bad, why do you ask?" I replied, focusing on the sparring. With a swift left jab, I aimed for Tony, but he effortlessly dodged, countering with a precise hit to my liver. The impact dropped me to my knees. He's still faster than I anticipated. As Tony prepared for a finishing overhand right, I activated Speed Booster. This time, I could keep up, reacting swiftly to his movement. I refused to let him get the upper hand again. This was my chance to turn the tables!
----------------------------------------
Soul: 180 (-20)
Skills:
Lvl. 1 Speed Booster - Increase your speed by 150% for three seconds. 20 soul to use, one minute cooldown. (Activated) The one minute cooldown has commenced.
----------------------------------------
On the ground, I executed a ponteira kick aimed right under his jaw. Just as our strikes were about to connect, both of us halted, and Tony extended his hand towards me. He acknowledged, "That was a ponteira kick, right? It could've caught me off guard. That's not a move you had in your arsenal before. Even if it was, you couldn't have used it in that stance." Adapting mid-combat is essential; you never know the twists a fight may take, so mastering strikes from disadvantaged positions is crucial. I nodded in appreciation, firmly clasping his hand. "Yeah, it was. Thanks for noticing."
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
Tony's concern surfaced, "But your strength and speed aren't at the level to compare to the other participants." Seeking to reassure him, I replied earnestly, "Tomorrow, my base speed and strength will surpass seventy. Trust me. With boosters, I could even hit the low hundreds." It was crucial to convey my progress and confidence in preparation for what lay ahead. Rising to my feet, we stood face to face. "I mean, that might just work. Tomorrow's the day you've been training for, so head home and gather your thoughts," Tony advised. "Yes, sir. I'll see you later," I affirmed respectfully. Stepping out of the space, that marked the end of our conversation.
Tony leaned in, his voice barely audible except to the strong Gifted, asking, "Did you manage to boost your stats?" I replied confidently, "Yeah, got them up to 76 in speed and 70 in strength." His hushed tone signaled significance, "Good. That means the final stage is here. Win the tournament, then come back to me after you get scouted by the Headmaster. We'll deal with him together. Keep me updated through text." I nodded in agreement, "Understood, sir." Aroha's voice snapped me back to the present, "Hey, Oren, it's our turn." Right, the pizza. We swiftly ordered our slices—two cheese and pepperoni each—before heading back to our seats. Aroha opted for water, her preference was fine by me.
Aroha dined gracefully, exuding a refined air that accentuated her feminine charm. She neatly arranged a few napkins while I paid little attention to such details; it was just pizza, after all, and I didn't give it much thought. As we ate, my mind wandered, pondering two plausible scenarios regarding Time's skill. The first seemed more pragmatic—a skill concealing his stats from others' views or perhaps functioning as a power limiter. The second, a more unconventional notion, involved a skill that catapulted his stats to unprecedented levels. Regardless of the scenario, the baffling truth remained: his stats held steady at an astonishing 300.
The announcer's voice resonated once more, filling the arena, "Ladies and gentlemen, get ready for the second fight! Rank Two: The Heart, versus Rank Six: Silent Storm! Step onto the stage, gentlemen!" Two figures, similar in stature to mine, made their entrance. Aroha and I observed their behavior closely. One of the fighters consistently took the left side while the other favored the right. Silent Storm, draped in a dark hoodie, shrouded his features, barely discernible. In contrast, The Heart exuded a picturesque appearance—like a character plucked from anime—with his blonde hair and noble attire. I heard girls screaming in joy from the other side of the stadium. Ignoring that, I took a peek at The Heart's stats, eager to compare them with Time's.
----------------------------------------
Soul: 240 (-10)
Skills:
Lvl. 2 Peeking - Peek into other's stats and skills by squinting really hard. 10 soul to use, thirty minute cooldown. (Activated) The thirty minute cooldown has commenced.
----------------------------------------
Name: Adalard Callan
Strength: 168
Speed: 163
Defense: 20%
Soul: 100
Skills:
Lvl. 3 Noblesse Oblige (Passive) - Act on "nobility" to gain stats. Becoming more honorable, righteous, and fair will allow you to surpass your peers by leaps and bounds. Fail to do so, and you will lose power as consequence.
Lvl. 1 Looks (Passive) - Your appearance is improved significantly.
----------------------------------------
The moment I laid eyes on him, I recognized the rarity—a person with two skills. The second one didn't seem particularly effective in combat, more of a possible fleeting distraction. Adalard's voice boomed, resonating through the arena, "I acknowledge my opponent as incredibly strong, perhaps someone that could beat me! I hope we have a good fight!" In a sly move, just before the screen vanished, his strength ticked up by one. Cheeky bastard, gaining strength from that declaration? Level 3 skills truly reside in a league of their own.
As my attention shifted to Silent Storm, if his attire were anything to go by, he might have reliance on guerrilla strategies or some weapon that allows him to hurt gifted. His invisibility to me raised questions about the kind of skill he possessed, leaving us with no choice but to remain vigilant and observant. These two fighters presented potential adversaries, and it was time to dissect and analyze their approaches. "Show me your strength, so I can beat you!" I silently urged, gearing up for the unfolding spectacle in the arena.