Chapter 135: Defiance and perseverance
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Chapter 135: Defiance and perseverance
Lvl Up : [Balance] lvl 11,12
AGI +2
DEXT +4
Lvl Up: [Parry] lvl 11,12
STR+2
Lvl Up: [Battle Flow] lvl 10
PERC +1
DEXT +2
Lvl Up : [Dodge] lvl 19
AGI +1
Lvl Up: [Perforation Resistance] lvl 19
CONST +1
Lvl Up: [Atomos] lvl 2,3
CONST +6
Lvl Up: [Star Iron Body] lvl 26,27,28
CONST +9
Lvl Up: [Focus] lvl 35
PERC +1
VIVA +1
DEXT +1
Lvl Up : [Unrelenting Thrust] lvl 8,9
STR +6
Lvl Up: [Hemorrhage Resistance] lvl 14,15
VIT +2
Lvl up: [Gravity Resistance] lvl 10,11
CONST +6
Lvl Up: [Spear Slash] lvl 10,11
STR +2
Priam's muscles groaned under the strain. Even Sphinx's focused demeanor couldn't coax a laugh out of him anymore. His friend had steadily increased the gravity's intensity, and Priam could feel the influence of this fundamental force on every cell of his body. The distraction of the fight had prevented him from fully grasping the phenomenon, but his body was adapting on its own. His Titles, Talents, skills, and his newfound race were synergizing, compelling his cells to evolve.
His bones were densifying, bolstering his constitution. His blood and marrow were stimulated, evolving with each passing moment, fueling his vitality. His muscle fibers would break before repairing, amplifying his strength. The saying "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" had never been truer.
Except even death strengthened Priam.
An hour into the spar, the gravity had reached thirty times Earth's. Five minutes later, Kazuki called off the match. After blocking another charge from Priam, his arms trembled.
"This is my limit," he said.
"Already tired?" Priam taunted.
"Your constitution surpasses mine," Kazuki acknowledged.
Priam's nascent smile froze upon hearing the rest of the sentence. "However, you must press on. If you want to unlock Micro, you have to push your limits. Do you guys do strength training on your planet?"
"...Yes," Priam replied after spitting out some blood. The hoplite hadn't held back all his strikes, and Priam suffered from several internal hemorrhages. "But I'm not a big fan..."
He'd frequented a few gyms on Earth, but without consistency. Fitness bored him when there wasn't a system capable of perfectly evaluating his progress and shattering the ceiling of human limits.
"The worse you are, the less you like it. Now that you can do ten thousand pull-ups in a row, you'll appreciate it."
The argument made sense.
"Start with fifty push-ups," Kazuki announced.
"I'm not sure it's the best way to build muscle," Priam remarked.
"Definitely not, but that's not why you're here. You're here to push your body to its limits and feel the pain in every cell."
Priam sighed before assuming the position. As he prepared to execute his first push-up, Kazuki stopped him to correct his form. Once satisfied, the hoplite gave him the green light.
Priam descended for the first time. Focused on [Fitness], he smiled as he performed the physical exercise. Despite the increased gravity and his fatigue, his powerful muscles managed to lift him back up. He began a second descent. Then a third.
The seconds ticked by, and the monotony of the training allowed Priam's mind to ponder. What was the goal of this exercise? Kazuki wanted to wear him down, but more importantly, to familiarize him with his body. Thanks to Micro, Priam could discern which muscles were working the hardest. [Human Anatomy] labeled them: pectoralis major, deltoid, and triceps.
Lvl Up: [Fitness] lvl 14
STR +1
Smiling, Priam continued his push-ups. Once finished, Kazuki gave him variations. Fifty Diamond push-ups, fifty archer push-ups, fifty flying push-ups, and of course, fifty Sphinx push-ups.
Lvl Up: [Fitness] lvl 15
STR +1
Lvl up: [Gravity Resistance] lvl 12
CONST +3
With each repetition, Priam's smile widened. Despite the heightened gravity, fatigue seemed unable to grip him. Deep within him was an endless wellspring of energy. This energy regenerated his muscle cells, repaired micro-fissures in his bones, and kept his hearts beating. No, its the opposite! The source of his vitality came from his hearts. The draconic one seemed to possess inexhaustible energy, while the High Human one compelled his cells to evolve.This chapter was first shared on the Ñøv€lß1n platform.
Lvl Up: [Fitness] lvl 16
STR +1
Using Micro to monitor his body's condition, Priam smiled. He could feel his strength increasing in real time. [Fitness] taught him how to best apply his knowledge and dexterity to perform perfect push-ups, and the exercise was building his muscles. The System - or was it a skill? - altered the aethereal code of his cells to allow them to evolve beyond terrestrial biology. This was how his STR attribute progressed. When Priam reached the necessary level of knowledge and power, the System notified him of his progress.
I'll retain my attributes even without the System. The Concepts provided him with the tools to optimize his strength and knowledge. The notifications weren't rewards, just... notifications
Micro shook. Understanding his body had brought Priam closer to his evolution.
Lvl Up: [Fitness] lvl 17
STR +1
"You're almost there. Now let's fight," Kazuki suggested.
Priam let go of the pull-up branch. He tried to cushion his fall, but his legs gave out, and he crashed to the ground. Yet, he was smiling. He could almost touch Micro.
I'm almost there.
His brain reconnected. Mobilizing his tired muscles, Priam stood up. His movements were slow, and moving was now a torment. Without a word, he summoned Promesse before turning.
The hoplite advanced, free from any constraints - Sphinx only targeted Priam. The hoplite's gait had changed, and Priam's instincts growled. Kazuki was fully utilizing Micro to move, and every one of his movements carried a preternatural fluidity.
One word came to Priam to describe this power: graceful.
The Champion hoplite raised his spear. Blood glistened on its tip. My blood.
Exhausted, Priam went into a defensive stance. He was now using half his brain and half Micro to move.
Without giving him time to experiment, Kazuki dashed towards him. When the opponents were less than three meters apart, the hoplite thrust. Priam barely dodged to the side and counterattacked. Some of his movements were calculated, using his skills and his Agility. Others were instinctive. Ignoring his notifications, Priam focused on the fight and on Micro.
Thrust, Thrust, Slash, Thrust!
The hoplite blocked and stepped back, taken aback by the ferocity of the assault.
Priam waited for this moment to raise his spear. He feinted to the right, and Kazuki stepped left, weakening his stance. Using his last reserves of strength, Priam launched Promesse. The spear flew through the air, ready to pierce his opponent.
At the last moment, Kazuki growled, and his eyes changed color. Promesse froze in the air as Kazuki advanced. Priam tried to call his spear back, but it didn't respond. What?!
The simple wooden spear threatened to gut him, and Priam roared. He couldn't lose now. He had trained too hard and for too long. Fatigue overwhelmed his mind, but his pride raged. He wanted to win.
Priam raised his hand to block, but Kazuki accelerated further. In an instant, Priam understood he wouldn't have time to grab the opponent's spear. Defeat was approaching, and its arrival ignited Priam's wrath.
Instinctively channeling Micro, Priam ordered his hearts to increase their pace. His left arm accelerated, and Priam opened his hand. A fraction of a second later, the wooden spear impaled his palm.
Kazuki's eyes widened as he saw the spear trapped in Priam's hand. He tried to dislodge it, but it was too late. Priam closed his right hand and prepared to punch. His left hand began to smoke as the hoplite's Mastery tried to free him. A lost cause.
A glint appeared in Kazuki's eyes. The Champion hoplite had pride too. He wanted to win. Closing his own fist, he punched, backed by all the power of his Supremacy. Caught up in the fight, the hoplite didn't even attempt to hold back his blow.
Domain felt a shockwave form in front of Kazuki's fist, and time slowed.
Priam understood he was about to lose. Despite the gravity increasing his weight, despite his physical attributes, despite his Skills and Titles, he was going to lose. Kazuki's attack was perfect and would kill him. He would come back, but he would have lost.
His will refused this reality. Gathering his resolve, he focused his mind and touched the aetheral field of Micro. His Supremacy shook. Priam understood.
His mind resonated with this power. His hearts pulsed with greater intensity than ever before, unleashing phenomenal energy.
Faced with the impending death from Kazuki's attack, Priam roared in defiance.
One heart exploded. Two fists collided.
The flower slowly straightened, supported by Dishnu's magic. Before long, its petals regained their luster, and the drya let out a satisfied sigh. There was nothing quite like a thriving forest.
Beneath them, the roots of nearby trees sensed a tremor. An explosion?
Dishnu turned towards its source, falling into a thoughtful silence for a few moments. It was the direction of Log-a-rhythm.
The drya sighed, hoping the commotion wouldn't draw the attention of any lurking monsters. In Elysium, attracting unwanted notice could be deadly.
Should I go?
After a few seconds of contemplation, the drya shook its head. It was the guardian of the entire forest, and they all relied on it. It couldn't afford to play favorites.
Dishnu's good spirits waned as it leaned towards another ailing flower. There was so much work to be done...
Status: (Average value for a Homo sapiens male before integration: PHY 10 / MEN 10 / META 0)
PHYSICAL:
Strength 398 (+21)
Constitution 646 (+41)
Agility 404 (+6)
Vitality 511 (+3)
Perception 574 (+3)
MENTAL:
Vivacity 322 (+1)
Dexterity 412 (+11)
Memory 127
Willpower 599
Charisma 418
META:
Meta-affinity 326
Meta-focus 241
Meta-endurance 173
Meta-perception 107
Meta-chance 216
Meta-authority 12
Potential: 803 (+51)
Tier 0
[He Who Eludes Death] charge: PRIMED.
[Tribulation]: Four Tribulations pending.
Future Tribulations delayed until:
Time: 176 days 14 hours 35 minutes 56 seconds.
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
Chapter 135: Defiance and perseverance
Lvl Up : [Balance] lvl 11,12
AGI +2
DEXT +4
Lvl Up: [Parry] lvl 11,12
STR+2
Lvl Up: [Battle Flow] lvl 10
PERC +1
DEXT +2
Lvl Up : [Dodge] lvl 19
AGI +1
Lvl Up: [Perforation Resistance] lvl 19
CONST +1
Lvl Up: [Atomos] lvl 2,3
CONST +6
Lvl Up: [Star Iron Body] lvl 26,27,28
CONST +9
Lvl Up: [Focus] lvl 35
PERC +1
VIVA +1
DEXT +1
Lvl Up : [Unrelenting Thrust] lvl 8,9
STR +6
Lvl Up: [Hemorrhage Resistance] lvl 14,15
VIT +2
Lvl up: [Gravity Resistance] lvl 10,11
CONST +6
Lvl Up: [Spear Slash] lvl 10,11
STR +2
Priam's muscles groaned under the strain. Even Sphinx's focused demeanor couldn't coax a laugh out of him anymore. His friend had steadily increased the gravity's intensity, and Priam could feel the influence of this fundamental force on every cell of his body. The distraction of the fight had prevented him from fully grasping the phenomenon, but his body was adapting on its own. His Titles, Talents, skills, and his newfound race were synergizing, compelling his cells to evolve.
His bones were densifying, bolstering his constitution. His blood and marrow were stimulated, evolving with each passing moment, fueling his vitality. His muscle fibers would break before repairing, amplifying his strength. The saying "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" had never been truer.
Except even death strengthened Priam.
An hour into the spar, the gravity had reached thirty times Earth's. Five minutes later, Kazuki called off the match. After blocking another charge from Priam, his arms trembled.
"This is my limit," he said.
"Already tired?" Priam taunted.
"Your constitution surpasses mine," Kazuki acknowledged.
Priam's nascent smile froze upon hearing the rest of the sentence. "However, you must press on. If you want to unlock Micro, you have to push your limits. Do you guys do strength training on your planet?"
"...Yes," Priam replied after spitting out some blood. The hoplite hadn't held back all his strikes, and Priam suffered from several internal hemorrhages. "But I'm not a big fan..."
He'd frequented a few gyms on Earth, but without consistency. Fitness bored him when there wasn't a system capable of perfectly evaluating his progress and shattering the ceiling of human limits.
"The worse you are, the less you like it. Now that you can do ten thousand pull-ups in a row, you'll appreciate it."
The argument made sense.
"Start with fifty push-ups," Kazuki announced.
"I'm not sure it's the best way to build muscle," Priam remarked.
"Definitely not, but that's not why you're here. You're here to push your body to its limits and feel the pain in every cell."
Priam sighed before assuming the position. As he prepared to execute his first push-up, Kazuki stopped him to correct his form. Once satisfied, the hoplite gave him the green light.
Priam descended for the first time. Focused on [Fitness], he smiled as he performed the physical exercise. Despite the increased gravity and his fatigue, his powerful muscles managed to lift him back up. He began a second descent. Then a third.
The seconds ticked by, and the monotony of the training allowed Priam's mind to ponder. What was the goal of this exercise? Kazuki wanted to wear him down, but more importantly, to familiarize him with his body. Thanks to Micro, Priam could discern which muscles were working the hardest. [Human Anatomy] labeled them: pectoralis major, deltoid, and triceps.
Lvl Up: [Fitness] lvl 14
STR +1
Smiling, Priam continued his push-ups. Once finished, Kazuki gave him variations. Fifty Diamond push-ups, fifty archer push-ups, fifty flying push-ups, and of course, fifty Sphinx push-ups.
Lvl Up: [Fitness] lvl 15
STR +1
Lvl up: [Gravity Resistance] lvl 12
CONST +3
With each repetition, Priam's smile widened. Despite the heightened gravity, fatigue seemed unable to grip him. Deep within him was an endless wellspring of energy. This energy regenerated his muscle cells, repaired micro-fissures in his bones, and kept his hearts beating. No, its the opposite! The source of his vitality came from his hearts. The draconic one seemed to possess inexhaustible energy, while the High Human one compelled his cells to evolve.This chapter was first shared on the Ñøv€lß1n platform.
Lvl Up: [Fitness] lvl 16
STR +1
Using Micro to monitor his body's condition, Priam smiled. He could feel his strength increasing in real time. [Fitness] taught him how to best apply his knowledge and dexterity to perform perfect push-ups, and the exercise was building his muscles. The System - or was it a skill? - altered the aethereal code of his cells to allow them to evolve beyond terrestrial biology. This was how his STR attribute progressed. When Priam reached the necessary level of knowledge and power, the System notified him of his progress.
I'll retain my attributes even without the System. The Concepts provided him with the tools to optimize his strength and knowledge. The notifications weren't rewards, just... notifications
Micro shook. Understanding his body had brought Priam closer to his evolution.
Lvl Up: [Fitness] lvl 17
STR +1
"You're almost there. Now let's fight," Kazuki suggested.
Priam let go of the pull-up branch. He tried to cushion his fall, but his legs gave out, and he crashed to the ground. Yet, he was smiling. He could almost touch Micro.
I'm almost there.
His brain reconnected. Mobilizing his tired muscles, Priam stood up. His movements were slow, and moving was now a torment. Without a word, he summoned Promesse before turning.
The hoplite advanced, free from any constraints - Sphinx only targeted Priam. The hoplite's gait had changed, and Priam's instincts growled. Kazuki was fully utilizing Micro to move, and every one of his movements carried a preternatural fluidity.
One word came to Priam to describe this power: graceful.
The Champion hoplite raised his spear. Blood glistened on its tip. My blood.
Exhausted, Priam went into a defensive stance. He was now using half his brain and half Micro to move.
Without giving him time to experiment, Kazuki dashed towards him. When the opponents were less than three meters apart, the hoplite thrust. Priam barely dodged to the side and counterattacked. Some of his movements were calculated, using his skills and his Agility. Others were instinctive. Ignoring his notifications, Priam focused on the fight and on Micro.
Thrust, Thrust, Slash, Thrust!
The hoplite blocked and stepped back, taken aback by the ferocity of the assault.
Priam waited for this moment to raise his spear. He feinted to the right, and Kazuki stepped left, weakening his stance. Using his last reserves of strength, Priam launched Promesse. The spear flew through the air, ready to pierce his opponent.
At the last moment, Kazuki growled, and his eyes changed color. Promesse froze in the air as Kazuki advanced. Priam tried to call his spear back, but it didn't respond. What?!
The simple wooden spear threatened to gut him, and Priam roared. He couldn't lose now. He had trained too hard and for too long. Fatigue overwhelmed his mind, but his pride raged. He wanted to win.
Priam raised his hand to block, but Kazuki accelerated further. In an instant, Priam understood he wouldn't have time to grab the opponent's spear. Defeat was approaching, and its arrival ignited Priam's wrath.
Instinctively channeling Micro, Priam ordered his hearts to increase their pace. His left arm accelerated, and Priam opened his hand. A fraction of a second later, the wooden spear impaled his palm.
Kazuki's eyes widened as he saw the spear trapped in Priam's hand. He tried to dislodge it, but it was too late. Priam closed his right hand and prepared to punch. His left hand began to smoke as the hoplite's Mastery tried to free him. A lost cause.
A glint appeared in Kazuki's eyes. The Champion hoplite had pride too. He wanted to win. Closing his own fist, he punched, backed by all the power of his Supremacy. Caught up in the fight, the hoplite didn't even attempt to hold back his blow.
Domain felt a shockwave form in front of Kazuki's fist, and time slowed.
Priam understood he was about to lose. Despite the gravity increasing his weight, despite his physical attributes, despite his Skills and Titles, he was going to lose. Kazuki's attack was perfect and would kill him. He would come back, but he would have lost.
His will refused this reality. Gathering his resolve, he focused his mind and touched the aetheral field of Micro. His Supremacy shook. Priam understood.
His mind resonated with this power. His hearts pulsed with greater intensity than ever before, unleashing phenomenal energy.
Faced with the impending death from Kazuki's attack, Priam roared in defiance.
One heart exploded. Two fists collided.
The flower slowly straightened, supported by Dishnu's magic. Before long, its petals regained their luster, and the drya let out a satisfied sigh. There was nothing quite like a thriving forest.
Beneath them, the roots of nearby trees sensed a tremor. An explosion?
Dishnu turned towards its source, falling into a thoughtful silence for a few moments. It was the direction of Log-a-rhythm.
The drya sighed, hoping the commotion wouldn't draw the attention of any lurking monsters. In Elysium, attracting unwanted notice could be deadly.
Should I go?
After a few seconds of contemplation, the drya shook its head. It was the guardian of the entire forest, and they all relied on it. It couldn't afford to play favorites.
Dishnu's good spirits waned as it leaned towards another ailing flower. There was so much work to be done...
Status: (Average value for a Homo sapiens male before integration: PHY 10 / MEN 10 / META 0)
PHYSICAL:
Strength 398 (+21)
Constitution 646 (+41)
Agility 404 (+6)
Vitality 511 (+3)
Perception 574 (+3)
MENTAL:
Vivacity 322 (+1)
Dexterity 412 (+11)
Memory 127
Willpower 599
Charisma 418
META:
Meta-affinity 326
Meta-focus 241
Meta-endurance 173
Meta-perception 107
Meta-chance 216
Meta-authority 12
Potential: 803 (+51)
Tier 0
[He Who Eludes Death] charge: PRIMED.
[Tribulation]: Four Tribulations pending.
Future Tribulations delayed until:
Time: 176 days 14 hours 35 minutes 56 seconds.
Chapter 135: Defiance and perseveranceLvl Up : Balance lvl 11,12AGI +2DEXT +4Lvl Up: Parry lvl 11,12STR+2Lvl Up: Battle Flow lvl 10PERC +1DEXT +2Lvl Up : Dodge lvl 19AGI +1Lvl Up: Perforation Resistance lvl 19CONST +1Lvl Up: Atomos lvl 2,3CONST +6Lvl Up: Star Iron Body lvl 26,27,28CONST +9Lvl Up: Focus lvl 35PERC +1VIVA +1DEXT +1Lvl Up : Unrelenting Thrust lvl 8,9STR +6Lvl Up: Hemorrhage Resistance lvl 14,15VIT +2Lvl up: Gravity Resistance lvl 10,11CONST +6Lvl Up: Spear Slash lvl 10,11STR +2Priam's muscles groaned under the strain. Even Sphinx's focused demeanor couldn't coax a laugh out of him anymore. His friend had steadily increased the gravity's intensity, and Priam could feel the influence of this fundamental force on every cell of his body. The distraction of the fight had prevented him from fully grasping the phenomenon, but his body was adapting on its own. His Titles, Talents, skills, and his newfound race were synergizing, compelling his cells to evolve.His bones were densifying, bolstering his constitution. His blood and marrow were stimulated, evolving with each passing moment, fueling his vitality. His muscle fibers would break before repairing, amplifying his strength. The saying "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" had never been truer.Except even death strengthened Priam.An hour into the spar, the gravity had reached thirty times Earth's. Five minutes later, Kazuki called off the match. After blocking another charge from Priam, his arms trembled."This is my limit," he said."Already tired?" Priam taunted."Your constitution surpasses mine," Kazuki acknowledged.Priam's nascent smile froze upon hearing the rest of the sentence. "However, you must press on. If you want to unlock Micro, you have to push your limits. Do you guys do strength training on your planet?""...Yes," Priam replied after spitting out some blood. The hoplite hadn't held back all his strikes, and Priam suffered from several internal hemorrhages. "But I'm not a big fan..."He'd frequented a few gyms on Earth, but without consistency. Fitness bored him when there wasn't a system capable of perfectly evaluating his progress and shattering the ceiling of human limits."The worse you are, the less you like it. Now that you can do ten thousand pull-ups in a row, you'll appreciate it."The argument made sense."Start with fifty push-ups," Kazuki announced."I'm not sure it's the best way to build muscle," Priam remarked."Definitely not, but that's not why you're here. You're here to push your body to its limits and feel the pain in every cell."Priam sighed before assuming the position. As he prepared to execute his first push-up, Kazuki stopped him to correct his form. Once satisfied, the hoplite gave him the green light.Priam descended for the first time. Focused on Fitness, he smiled as he performed the physical exercise. Despite the increased gravity and his fatigue, his powerful muscles managed to lift him back up. He began a second descent. Then a third.The seconds ticked by, and the monotony of the training allowed Priam's mind to ponder. What was the goal of this exercise? Kazuki wanted to wear him down, but more importantly, to familiarize him with his body. Thanks to Micro, Priam could discern which muscles were working the hardest. Human Anatomy labeled them: pectoralis major, deltoid, and triceps.Lvl Up: Fitness lvl 14STR +1Smiling, Priam continued his push-ups. Once finished, Kazuki gave him variations. Fifty Diamond push-ups, fifty archer push-ups, fifty flying push-ups, and of course, fifty Sphinx push-ups.Lvl Up: Fitness lvl 15STR +1Lvl up: Gravity Resistance lvl 12CONST +3With each repetition, Priam's smile widened. Despite the heightened gravity, fatigue seemed unable to grip him. Deep within him was an endless wellspring of energy. This energy regenerated his muscle cells, repaired micro-fissures in his bones, and kept his hearts beating. No, its the opposite! The source of his vitality came from his hearts. The draconic one seemed to possess inexhaustible energy, while the High Human one compelled his cells to evolve.This chapter was first shared on the Nvl1n platform.Lvl Up: Fitness lvl 16STR +1Using Micro to monitor his body's condition, Priam smiled. He could feel his strength increasing in real time. Fitness taught him how to best apply his knowledge and dexterity to perform perfect push-ups, and the exercise was building his muscles. The System - or was it a skill? - altered the aethereal code of his cells to allow them to evolve beyond terrestrial biology. This was how his STR attribute progressed. When Priam reached the necessary level of knowledge and power, the System notified him of his progress.I'll retain my attributes even without the System. The Concepts provided him with the tools to optimize his strength and knowledge. The notifications weren't rewards, just... notificationsMicro shook. Understanding his body had brought Priam closer to his evolution.Lvl Up: Fitness lvl 17STR +1"You're almost there. Now let's fight," Kazuki suggested.Priam let go of the pull-up branch. He tried to cushion his fall, but his legs gave out, and he crashed to the ground. Yet, he was smiling. He could almost touch Micro.I'm almost there.His brain reconnected. Mobilizing his tired muscles, Priam stood up. His movements were slow, and moving was now a torment. Without a word, he summoned Promesse before turning.The hoplite advanced, free from any constraints - Sphinx only targeted Priam. The hoplite's gait had changed, and Priam's instincts growled. Kazuki was fully utilizing Micro to move, and every one of his movements carried a preternatural fluidity.One word came to Priam to describe this power: graceful.The Champion hoplite raised his spear. Blood glistened on its tip. My blood. Exhausted, Priam went into a defensive stance. He was now using half his brain and half Micro to move.Without giving him time to experiment, Kazuki dashed towards him. When the opponents were less than three meters apart, the hoplite thrust. Priam barely dodged to the side and counterattacked. Some of his movements were calculated, using his skills and his Agility. Others were instinctive. Ignoring his notifications, Priam focused on the fight and on Micro.Thrust, Thrust, Slash, Thrust!The hoplite blocked and stepped back, taken aback by the ferocity of the assault.Priam waited for this moment to raise his spear. He feinted to the right, and Kazuki stepped left, weakening his stance. Using his last reserves of strength, Priam launched Promesse. The spear flew through the air, ready to pierce his opponent.At the last moment, Kazuki growled, and his eyes changed color. Promesse froze in the air as Kazuki advanced. Priam tried to call his spear back, but it didn't respond. What?!The simple wooden spear threatened to gut him, and Priam roared. He couldn't lose now. He had trained too hard and for too long. Fatigue overwhelmed his mind, but his pride raged. He wanted to win.Priam raised his hand to block, but Kazuki accelerated further. In an instant, Priam understood he wouldn't have time to grab the opponent's spear. Defeat was approaching, and its arrival ignited Priam's wrath.Instinctively channeling Micro, Priam ordered his hearts to increase their pace. His left arm accelerated, and Priam opened his hand. A fraction of a second later, the wooden spear impaled his palm.Kazuki's eyes widened as he saw the spear trapped in Priam's hand. He tried to dislodge it, but it was too late. Priam closed his right hand and prepared to punch. His left hand began to smoke as the hoplite's Mastery tried to free him. A lost cause.A glint appeared in Kazuki's eyes. The Champion hoplite had pride too. He wanted to win. Closing his own fist, he punched, backed by all the power of his Supremacy. Caught up in the fight, the hoplite didn't even attempt to hold back his blow.Domain felt a shockwave form in front of Kazuki's fist, and time slowed.Priam understood he was about to lose. Despite the gravity increasing his weight, despite his physical attributes, despite his Skills and Titles, he was going to lose. Kazuki's attack was perfect and would kill him. He would come back, but he would have lost.His will refused this reality. Gathering his resolve, he focused his mind and touched the aetheral field of Micro. His Supremacy shook. Priam understood.His mind resonated with this power. His hearts pulsed with greater intensity than ever before, unleashing phenomenal energy.Faced with the impending death from Kazuki's attack, Priam roared in defiance.One heart exploded. Two fists collided.The flower slowly straightened, supported by Dishnu's magic. Before long, its petals regained their luster, and the drya let out a satisfied sigh. There was nothing quite like a thriving forest.Beneath them, the roots of nearby trees sensed a tremor. An explosion?Dishnu turned towards its source, falling into a thoughtful silence for a few moments. It was the direction of Log-a-rhythm.The drya sighed, hoping the commotion wouldn't draw the attention of any lurking monsters. In Elysium, attracting unwanted notice could be deadly.Should I go?After a few seconds of contemplation, the drya shook its head. It was the guardian of the entire forest, and they all relied on it. It couldn't afford to play favorites.Dishnu's good spirits waned as it leaned towards another ailing flower. There was so much work to be done...Status: Average value for a Homo sapiens male before integration: PHY 10 / MEN 10 / META 0PHYSICAL:Strength 398 +21Constitution 646 +41Agility 404 +6 Vitality 511 +3 Perception 574 +3 MENTAL:Vivacity 322 +1Dexterity 412 +11Memory 127 Willpower 599 Charisma 418 META:Meta-affinity 326 Meta-focus 241Meta-endurance 173 Meta-perception 107 Meta-chance 216 Meta-authority 12 Potential: 803 +51Tier 0He Who Eludes Death charge: PRIMED.Tribulation: Four Tribulations pending.Future Tribulations delayed until:Time: 176 days 14 hours 35 minutes 56 seconds.
