-Vol 5: A New Life-

-Corrosion Vs Destruction(1)-

“What a surprise! Your skill seems to resemble mine…a coincidence?” the youth started to speak with his deep voice that had a hint of the baritone in it. Except for that small bit of wonder, there was no change in his emotions. Its as if he regarded Kenshin as a speck of dust to whim he can blow away anytime he wants.

Having learned his lesson earlier, Kenshin wasn’t about to take this man lightly. He brought his system and scanned him.

[No. 5][Human]

[Level 64]

[HP: 700][MP: 300]

[ATK: 54][DEF: 59][AGI:80] [PHY: 70][INT: 140][WIS: 59]

[Skills]

* El Veri Lv 17[6MP/Use][deals 45 poison damage/sec for 10 seconds]

* El Veri Mist Lv 14[10MP/use][deals 20 poison damage/sec for minute]

The system’s assessment made Kenshin sweat. He was now very much sure that this racket had a pretty big backer. A level 64 wasn’t someone that could easily found anywhere, and this teen seemed to be just a lackey of someone. To top it all, he seemed to be a magic skill user, since he had INT and WIS. Besides a huge power, who could order around a magic skill user of such a high level?

For a second Kenshin had the thought to catch him and interrogate, but he scrapped that idea soon after. There was no saying if he would be even able to make this man stay with him when the fight truly starts. Because leaving aside the stats, their levels were almost the same. Moreover, this person’s skill level was way higher than all his skills. Unless he uses all his skills in his arsenal or spams his Divine skill, there was no saying if he can even kill the guy. As of right now, since he was in disguise, he was limited to Vibration magic, Destruction magic, and Intent. He can also use his [Opposites] discreetly, but that’s it.

Thinking of this, he raised his hands again and conjured two big arrows. Both of them were aiming at No 5’s shoulders. Then slowly the arrows started to spin at a very high speed, with just a thought he sent one of them flying at the teen. While executing a skill requires MP, precise control and manipulation require INT and WIS, more specifically WIS. The higher one’s WIS, the more divergently they can use their skills. For a magic skill user, their skills usage were only limited to their imaginations. Sometimes, the damage of skill increases according to how they use their skill after all.

Take this spinning arrow, for example; it can only deal a 100 damage and an additional 20 damage/sec as DoT. But if he tweaks it a little and makes it a spinning arrow, the damage would undoubtedly increase. Kenshin didn’t know how much the damage would increase, but he was sure at least a 50% increase was given. Additionally, another factor also affects the damage value, its speed. The speed at which the arrow was spinning and the speed at which it was sent flying also somewhat increases the damage value.

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The arrow took a quarter of a second to reach the young man who was startled at his opponent's sudden attack and wasn’t prepared to defend at all. But he was a veteran of such battles, even more, his mind registered what was happening, his body as already leaning back like a blow to avoid the arrow. Although the young man dodged at the neck of time, the arrow still grazed his forehead, making a deep line which gradually turned purple and skin peeled off as if it's melting.

Kenshin observed at least 50 HP was shaved off that young man at the same time, DoT was also dealing a 5 damage/sec. A look of panic flashed on the young man’s face before he opened a bottle from his belt and chugged the content. The wound healed at speed visible to the naked eye. For a second the eyes of the young man flashed in ruthless light, but he suppressed it forcefully. He no longer underestimated his enemy, this one was clearly stronger than anyone he had faced before. Although he was angry for being defeated at their initial encounter, a look of exhilaration flashed on his face.

Kenshin couldn’t help but groan when he recognized the face of the young man. It was a look of battle maniacs when they encounter a worthy opponent. Kenshin felt that these kind of opponents were really a pain in the ass to deal with. If he didn’t finish them off, they would surely intrude upon their private life. In animes and games, most of the time, the Mcs would be tormented repeatedly just because they left such characters loose when they had the chance to finish them off. Kenshin obviously didn’t want to have such a pitiful outcome too, so he was determined to finish off all his enemies, sparing none ever. He didn’t believe in fantasies like changing the wicked to the path of light.

Although the young man didn’t gain any HP, the DoT of his skill was neutralized by that drink. Kenshin shook his head at his blunder, he couldn’t stop on time and let the young man recover. Kenshin could easily buy HP potion and other potion from his system store, but that wasn't the case for others. They could only get the potions at a high price and that too at a limited supply per person. The reason for that being the lack of an alchemist, and the drop rate on the dungeons wasn’t that high. Till now the existing farmaceuticals weren't able to replicate the effect of these potions, the most they could achieve was dilute it to an acceptable range.

“You are powerful! I have underestimated you…that won't happen again.” The young man named No 5 muttered and then his hands turned purple all of a sudden. With a flash of purple light, a viscous purple liquid dripped out of his fingers before rapidly hardening and forming into the shape of needles. Kenshin had already experienced the effect of such needles, so he made preparations.

With a flick of his wrists, the young man sent these five needles flying at a very high speed towards Kenshin. Although the needles were very fast, Kenshin was clearly able to follow it. Calculating the distance and speed, he just made minimal movement and avoided the needles by sidestepping to his right. Before he could relax, his danger senses tingled when he observed the needles changing their trajectory and coming for him from his back.

‘He could remotely control their movements?’ Kenshin was surprised at such a useful ability. Having no other way, he could only continue to sidestep. Although it was good and all, he soon found a problem. The young man added another five needles, and this time it formed another direction. It was during that time Kenshin finally realized, the young man didn’t control these needles, rather they seemed to have a homing effect. The reason why Kenshin having a hard time was because of the nature of the skill’s effect. Poison was a very obscure ability after all. With the homing effect of these needles, the pressure just increased another fold to Kenshin.

The battle just got a lot more complicated.