I ran as fast as I could, my feet pounding against the ground as I slid downward, my momentum carrying me with unstoppable force. Thana leapt to the side, his movements agile and precise, but I was onto him, refusing to let him escape. I punched his ankle with all my strength, feeling the bones twist under the impact. As he staggered, I spun swiftly, sweeping my leg under him with a powerful arc. Thana's balance gave way, and he fell hard on his back, the air rushing out of him in a gasp.
Not wasting a second, I planted my arms behind me, using them as a springboard to flip into the air. Suspended above Thana, I raised my leg, chambering my knee. Just as I was about to strike, Thana twisted his body with incredible speed, dodging at the last second. My foot stamped down, creating a huge indent in the concrete where he had just been. He's still faster than me, I realized, frustration boiling inside.
Thana sprang back up, his movements fluid as he drop-kicked the air in front of me. I swerved to the side, narrowly evading the blow that would have knocked the wind out of me. Determined to keep the pressure on, I pursued him relentlessly, launching a barrage of attacks. Each punch and kick was met with a formidable guard, Thana's arms absorbing the impact with a strength that seemed unyielding. His muscles swelled from the strain, yet he held his ground. Then, in a smart move, let go of his guard, his arms flowing to the wind like rippling water. Thana angled his left leg in the air, forming an acute angle as he aimed his kick downward. His foot came hurtling towards me with precision and power. I raised my forearm to block the attack, but the force behind his kick was immense, sending a jolt of pain through my arm. Huffing for a moment, I regained my composure and swerved to the side, delivering a swift back kick to his thigh. Thana wobbled slightly, and I seized the opportunity.
Placing my hands on the ground, I executed a stingray kick, striking him with the back of my heel. My blow connected perfectly with his temple, the impact reverberating through his skull. Thana's head snapped, but instead of crumpling, he used the momentum to his advantage. In an impressive display of skill, he mimicked my move, delivering a stingray kick of his own. This time, I was unable to follow the flow of force. His heel collided with my temple, sending me reeling. I fell to the ground immediately with a resounding thud, the impact echoing in my ears. Pain radiated through my skull as blood began to pool around my body, staining the concrete beneath me. For a brief moment, the world seemed to spin, my vision blurring as I struggled to push through the agony.
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Soul: 7310 (-50)
Skills:
Lvl. 3 Lazarus - After being given a fatal blow or when your health becomes 0, revive with half of your health restored and an increase to all your stats. 80 soul to use, one month cooldown. (Activated) The one month cooldown has commenced.
Stats:
Health: 10000 (+10000)
Strength: 13070 (+6070)
Speed: 15020 (+7020)
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Thana grabbed me by the neck, his grip like a vice as he forced me up from the cold ground. My feet dangled for a moment before I struggled quickly, lifting my leg to front kick him. Thana parried the blow with surprising speed, deflecting my leg to the right. He spit out a bit of blood, his lips curling into a grimace. He could barely block that. Seizing the opportunity, I charged forward, chambering my elbow for a powerful strike. I delivered a heavy left hook to his cheek, my fist landing perfectly on target. Thana's head twisted, and he rolled from the recoil. Not giving him a moment to recover, I watched as he spun and regained his balance, kneeling on the ground. I pursued him with no hesitation. As soon as Thana looked up, I launched a fierce kick to his chin. His teeth chattered from the force, and he flew backward into the wall.
The impact was tremendous, and Thana broke completely through the wall, disappearing into the cloud of smoke and rubble. The debris obscured my vision, but I could hear the faint sounds of crumbling concrete and shifting stones. My breathing was heavy, each inhale and exhale ragged. For a moment, I stood still, eyes scanning the smoky haze for any sign of movement. I knew Thana wasn't finished yet. I then saw a hand grasp the concrete, its fingers curling with determination. It was definitely Thana's. How can he still move? I could hear Thana whisper, "You... you little..." Little what? Little brat? You're only a few years older than me.
Curiosity and caution mingled within me as I walked over to the edge, peering down to get a better look. Thana's hand shot out, grasping my shirt. Before I could react, he yanked me off the building. I fell past him, the wind roaring in my ears as the ground rushed up to meet me. Thana looked down at me, a fierce malice in his eyes as he began to crawl his way back up to the room. As I plummeted, I spun in mid-air, reorienting myself towards the wall. Desperation fueled my movements. I punched the pole, the only non-glass part of the building, with all my strength. My fist completely pierced through it, and I clung to the metal with all my might. My arm burned with the effort as I pushed against the pole, forcing my ascent. My muscles strained, but I was determined not to let Thana have the upper hand. Using the pole as leverage, I propelled myself upwards, flying up a few hundred feet in a single bound. As I neared the hole we had made in the wall, I reached out and grasped the edge. My fingers dug into the concrete, and I hauled myself up, my body trembling from the exertion.
As I pulled myself up, Thana crushed my fingers with a vicious stomp. Pain shot through my hand, and I knew my bones and joints were definitely broken. Ignoring the searing agony, I charged up a right straight, focusing all my energy into the punch. I fired it off with everything I had, and the sheer force of the wind it generated pushed Thana back, giving me the crucial moment I needed to fully make my way up. In an instant, I appeared behind him, moving faster than he could react. With a powerful haymaker, I struck him hard, and he flew to the side, helpless against the force of my blow. A trail of blood followed his trajectory, staining the air with droplets of red. Thana landed on his stomach, facing the floor, his body seemingly lifeless. I walked up to him, standing over him menacingly, my breath heavy with exertion and determination. I still have a lot of time, I thought, ready to finish this.
Suddenly, black flames erupted across Thana's body, enveloping him in a dark, fiery aura. He gripped the ground with such force that it cracked and shattered beneath his fingers. Slowly, he began to rise, his movements jerky and unnatural, like a puppet on strings. His eyes burned with a malevolent intensity as he stood before me, the black flames licking at his skin. I jumped back, wary of the transformation taking place before my eyes. Thana's power was growing, and I had to be cautious. The air around us crackled with energy, and I could feel the heat from the black flames even from a distance.
There were many things Thana could be doing, but it was clear he was powering up. Time had done something similar before, but with Thana, it felt different. No, there was only one explanation. He's recovering all the stats he's given to others. Thana's black flame engulfed him, drawing inward like a vacuum, intensifying the aura around him. I yelled to the sky, psyching myself up for the confrontation ahead. With a determined roar, I ran in, swiping away the flames with a forceful hand. My palm encased his shirt collar, gripping tightly as I pulled him closer.
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I delivered a powerful punch to his cheek, feeling the satisfying crunch of impact. Thana followed the force of the blow. As he absorbed the power, he turned back to me with a twisted smile. "Just f*****g die already, Oren Hashigana!" he exclaimed, his voice deep with anger. I smiled back, a fierce resolve burning in my eyes. "You don't know how many times I've heard that." I retorted. The battle was reaching its peak. The black flames danced around us, casting eerie shadows on the walls, as the air violent. I tightened my grip on his collar, ready to deliver another strike. This was it—the moment that would determine the outcome of our fierce battle.
Thana retaliated with a swift punch to my nose, the impact sharp and precise. Pain exploded across my face, and I felt the warm trickle of blood as it started to flow. Ignoring the discomfort, I clenched my fist and delivered a solid punch to his forehead, putting all my strength into the blow. Thana didn't flinch. He tanked the hit, his expression unchanging, the black flames around him flaring even brighter. His eyes locked onto mine, and I could see the determination burning within them. Blood trickled down my face, mixing with the sweat and grime of battle, but I refused to back down.
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Health: 9000 (-1000)
Strength: 14000 (+200)
Speed: 16000 (+200)
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Thana's next punch landed squarely on my pectoral, the force of the blow causing immediate swelling. Pain radiated through my chest, each breath becoming a reminder of the hit I'd taken. But I couldn't afford to show weakness. Summoning my resolve, I countered with a quick jab to his nose. My fist connected solidly, and I saw a brief flicker of pain in his eyes as blood started to stream from his nostrils. His nose bled freely now, mirroring my own injuries.
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Health: 8000 (-1000)
Strength: 14400 (+400)
Speed: 16400 (+400)
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I landed a sharp hook to Thana's cheek, the indent causing him to spit out blood. His head snapped to the side from the force of the blow, but he quickly regained his composure, a defiant glint in his eyes. In retaliation, Thana struck my liver with a powerful haymaker. Pain exploded through my abdomen, and I felt my strength drain from my leg momentarily. I gritted my teeth, fighting through the pain as I staggered back a step. The intensity of our battle was taking its toll on both of us. Thana's black flames flickered around him further. My lightning exploded as a response.
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Health: 7000 (-1000)
Strength: 15000 (+600)
Speed: 17000 (+600)
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I twisted my arm, maneuvering it to poke Thana in his eye. The sudden, precise strike caught him off guard. His eye burst, and Thana screamed in agony, clutching at his injured eye with one hand. Blinded by pain and rage, Thana swung wildly with a haymaker, aiming to strike me down. I reacted swiftly, catching his fist in my palm before it could connect with its full force. He struggled and wriggled in my grip, attempting to break free. After a tense moment, I released his fist, allowing him to stumble back. Thana wobbled, disoriented and unable to see clearly. He put up a defensive guard, trying to protect himself as best as he could in his impaired state. The black flames around him flickered, their intensity wavering slightly in response to his distress.
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Strength: 15800 (+800)
Speed: 17800 (+800)
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Thana leaned back, retreating from the onslaught of punches, I seized the opportunity to press my advantage. I barraged him with a flurry of punches, striking him all over his body. Each blow landed with force, driving him back further. I aimed for his ribs, his stomach, his chest—anywhere I could reach. Thana grunted with each hit, his guard beginning to falter under the relentless assault. The black flames around him flickered erratically, his focus on defense weakening.
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Strength: 16600 (+800)
Speed: 18600 (+800)
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I continued my relentless barrage, not giving Thana a moment to recover or catch his breath. Punch after punch landed on his body, each strike driven by virtue. Thana staggered backward, retreating further under the relentless assault. With each step he took back, I closed the distance, maintaining the pressure. Sweat dripped down my forehead, mingling with the blood and grime from the fight. Thana's defenses were gone.
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Strength: 18600 (+2000)
Speed: 20600 (+2000)
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Thana was losing under the relentless barrage of punches. I pressed my advantage, my strikes landing on his body with brutal efficiency. With each blow, I targeted his joints, breaking them one by one. His body convulsed with pain, but I didn't let up. My speed surpassed light itself manifold, my movements becoming one with the air as I continued. The hits were formless, a flurry of strikes raining down on Thana without mercy. He staggered back, desperate to escape the onslaught. Thana leapt back toward the hole he had created earlier, kicking up dirt and debris in his haste. Smoke blurred my vision momentarily, but I remained focused. I swiped through the air, gathering my energy and charging my final attack.
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Soul: 6500 (-500)
Skills:
Lvl. ??? Unstoppable Omega Critical Hit - Harness all of the power in the galaxy to deliver a formless attack that breaks reality. 500 soul to use, one month cooldown. (Activated) The one month cooldown has commenced.
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Fortunately, as Thana fell down from the opening, I unleashed the strike to end all strikes, hitting him squarely in the chin. The force of my punch created a ripple in reality, distorting the sky and causing a shockwave that was visible for miles. The wind immediately picked up, swirling into a storm in the air, and rain began to fall heavily. Above, the clouds parted into two across the Earth, an unprecedented event that even the International Space Station detected, registering tremors felt in space. Reality was changed for a short moment.
Thana's body fell, I looked down at him, witnessing a phenomenon I had never seen before. His form began to disintegrate, dissipating into nothingness. But even as he faded away, I heard his voice, weak and filled with resignation. "Demonhood, I welcome you." were his last words, spoken in the faintest of whispers. I hope you got what you wanted. I stood there, catching my breath as the rain poured down around me. In the air, a final status screen emerged.
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The 'Gift' has been extinguished. You have lost access to the System as per the rules. Good job.
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I sat there, catching my breath, feeling the weight of everything that had transpired. My palm opened, instinctively trying to summon the Book, but nothing appeared. My clothes shifted back to their normal colors, a stark contrast to the chaos that had just unfolded. I fell to my knees, panting heavily. I wasn't covered in blood, but my soul felt battered and weary. That... was not fun.
Suddenly, the door behind me cracked open, and I turned to see a hooded figure standing there. Who was he? He rummaged around in his pocket, pulling out a handgun. He pointed it at me, his eyes filled with sorrow. "You... you just did something." he stated, his voice filled with a mix of awe and apprehension. "Something?" I echoed, confusion burrowing. With his other hand, the hooded figure pierced the air in a strong motion, though not superhuman. The hooded figure yelled in frustration, "Why? Why is my superhuman power gone?!" I laughed, despite the seriousness of the situation. His face twisted in shock at my response. "The gift? It's gone." I explained calmly. "Thana? He's dead too." His eyes widened, and he slid the rack on the gun, chambering a round with deadly intent. "Well, you're going to follow him." he growled.