The bone pulsated from the pure energy, as if it was gaining sentience. It throbbed rhythmically, almost in sync with the chaos around us. The lightning, a mix of white and red, crackled. I grasped the sword tightly, feeling its weight and the power coursing through it, crushing it around my fist until my knuckles turned white. There, now I have a grip. His massive fist crashed down with the force of a sledgehammer, aiming directly towards my cranium. I raised the sword just in time, the bone clanging loudly as I blocked the blow. His fist bounced back, and I saw specks of blood where the blade had grazed his skin. Without hesitation, I dashed in, tucking the sword to my side for a more strategic approach.
Facing up, I saw multiple spikes made of bone protruding from his form, snaking their way towards me with deadly intent. I slashed the air, the blade singing as it cut through a few of the bone spikes. Two more came at me from my left and right simultaneously. I swung the sword in a wide arc, cutting through the one on the right, then immediately backflipped to evade the one on the left. Successfully dodging, I landed in a crouch, my eyes never leaving him. The bone spikes crashed into the ground with a thunderous impact, stabbing deep into the Earth and sending shards of rock flying. I stood and faced War again. His form was even more imposing, his features twisted in fury and his eyes burning with a relentless rage. The energy around him seemed to intensify.
His muscles moved unnaturally, each ripple of sinew moving with a life of its own. He raised his right hand slowly. Grasping his fist in a swift, decisive motion, he crushed something unseen within his grasp. When he opened his palm, small bone boulders tumbled out. Small for him, perhaps, but each one was the size of my head. He transferred some of the bone boulders to his left hand, his movements deliberate and menacing, and charged up a throw. His body leaned back, gathering momentum, and then he hurled the first boulder with incredible force. I stood firm, planting my heel into the ground for stability. As the boulders came hurtling towards me, I cut every one that came my way, my sword moving in a blur of motion. But one got through, smashing into my shoulder with a bone-crushing impact. The pain was immediate and intense. That's... not comforting. Grimacing, I flexed my shoulder, willing myself to stop the bleeding through muscle contraction.
He yelled in frustration, "How?!" His voice echoed with a mixture of rage and disbelief. Ignoring his yell, I pressed forward with effort. He fired more spikes, each one landing just short of its mark. I saw an opportunity and seized it, stepping on one of the bone spikes that had embedded itself in the ground. The force launched me into the sky, propelling me only a few yards from his head. Twisting my sword in mid-air, I aligned myself with his massive form. As I reached eye level with him, I extended my arm with precision and focus. The bone and flesh of his skull were mere stopgaps, offering little resistance. My sword cut clean through the midsection of his brain, slicing with a sickening ease.
I finally made it to the other side, and I fell slowly toward the ground, my descent almost surreal. I landed in conjunction with his giant form, the impact resonating through the earth with a loud thud. The sound echoed across the sand, a deafening announcement of his defeat. More people will arrive shortly, drawn by the commotion. I fell to my knees, the adrenaline fading and the exhaustion hitting me all at once. I was reeling from the encounter, my body and mind struggling to process the magnitude of what had just transpired. He was... strong. Stronger than I had anticipated. Using nearly every skill I possessed to win, pushing myself to the very limits. As I caught my breath, I reminded myself of why I had fought so fiercely. Time for my long-awaited rewards.
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Quest 14: Warring Head (COMPLETED)
This is your final quest.
Rewards:
10000 points
+150 Strength
+Item: Manna Flask
Tips:
None.
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I summoned the Book into my hands, feeling its ancient weight settle safely upon my palm. Its cover was beautiful. I don't need to upgrade myself anymore. What I need right now is more buffs. I could feel the potential within the Book, ready to be unleashed. I took a deep breath and focused, addressing the System with a clear and authoritative tone, "Combine Momentum, Acceleration, and Eternal Onslaught." The three skills merging into one potent enhancement. Momentum's activity, Acceleration's passiveness, and Eternal Onslaught's relentless force intertwined, forming a new, unparalleled skill.
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
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Points: 118
Combined Skill:
Lvl. ??? Accelerated Impulsion Onslaught - Attack in a rapid series of blows. Each blow increases your strength and speed immensely. You also passively gain strength and speed for a short while after the attack ends. 100 soul to use, then 20 soul per second, one month cooldown.
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Good, good... I looked to my left. The System manifested with a shimmering status screen, its holographic interface hovering in mid-air.
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Health: 3000 (-1000)
Strength: 2486 (-300)
Speed: 3000 (-300)
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Alright, it's time I move on. Hearing a percussion-like sound, I listened intently. It's coming from... War's body? Walking toward his massive form, which hadn't lost its giant proportions even in death, I circled around his left arm. The noise grew louder with each step. It's coming from inside his muscle. I created a spear hand, my fingers forming a sharp point, and stabbed into the dense muscle. Fidgeting around, I felt a metallic object embedded deep within. Grasping it firmly, I pulled with all my strength until I wrenched it free. It's a radio? Holding it up to my ear, I listened intently and heard a voice crackle through the static, "War, this is your last chance. Come in or we will go to you." We? They must mean everyone else. They have every road blocked, after all. Panic surged briefly as I tried to recall what War sounded like. What did he sound like? Think! Childish! Yes, his voice had a strange, almost childish tone to it. I cleared my throat, trying to mimic his unique cadence and pitch. Pressing the transmit button on the radio, I did my best impression, "This is War. Why are you bothering me?"
Putting on my best impression of War's voice, I clicked the talk button and said, "Calm down, calm down. Oren Hashigana hasn't come down this road yet. That's all. Bye." The voice on the other end responded promptly, "Yes, I understand, sir." The mumbling that followed was insignificant, and I breathed a sigh of relief. I can sneak by them. If they do come here, I'll make it seem like I died. To complete the ruse, I threw my torn robes a few feet from War's body and kicked dirt over them, creating a makeshift decoy. It might distract them for a short while, giving me enough time to finish my fight. Satisfied with my deception, I turned away from the scene and began my journey toward the inner city of Las Vegas.
On my way, I summoned the new item I obtained. It softly materialized into my hand—a glass jar filled with what appeared to be unidentifiable bread. I inspected it closely, trying to discern its nature and purpose. The glass jar was clear, allowing me to see the contents inside. The bread was unlike anything I had seen before—strange in texture and color, with an otherworldly glow emanating faintly from within. Its smell was oddly familiar, yet completely foreign.
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Item: Manna Flask
Description: An ancient flask of Manna. The shard has a holy effect. The effect completely regenerates your soul and removes the cooldown of all skills. One time use.
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Thank God this came through at such an opportune time. Opening the cork of the glass jar, I grasped a piece of the strange, unidentifiable bread and ate it without hesitation. To my surprise, it was quite tasty, with a flavor that was both familiar and exotic.
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Soul: 750 (+670)
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Finally in the main plaza, I had an eerie feeling. Carefully making my way through the deserted area, I scanned my surroundings. The place was abandoned, devoid of life. It was unusual; typically, there would be lackeys or guards protecting such an important part of the city, but there was no one in sight. "That's because I don't need protection." a voice echoed behind me. Startled, I turned swiftly and threw my arm like a whip. The force of my punch devastated nearby buildings, creating a cacophony of destruction. As the dust settled, I saw a man standing calmly amidst the rubble, clad in a cape and casual clothing. This was the one. This was...
He put his hands into his pockets and regarded me with an air of nonchalance. Watching him, I felt captivated by his presence and speech. He spoke with a voice that was as charismatic as the devil himself, saying, "Welcome to the city of vice, Oren."