Chapter 171: Kazuki vs Ève
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Chapter 171: Kazuki vs Ève
Kazuki scrutinized his opponent with unwavering focus. veor Ophia, as she preferred to be calledwas a petite young woman, at least from the perspective of a titan-class hoplite. In reality, she stood twenty centimeters taller than Rose or Mirscella, resembling more of a high human than an ordinary one.
However, looks could be deceiving. Priam had informed Kazuki that ve concealed her true face. Only her golden eyes were authentic and even that wasn't certain.
Yet, despite Kazuki's heightened perception and state-of-the-art mecha sensors, he couldn't penetrate the illusion. It was dangerous because it meant she could also disguise an attack. His defense would be useless if he tried to block a chest strike while she aimed for his head.
Even worse, ve might be nothing more than an illusion. The hoplite entertained every possibility, never one to underestimate an opponent. Let's see what Hyshana thinks about this.
The warrior stretched before closing in on his adversary. Officially, it was just a friendly spar, but Priam had told Kazuki the truth. ve was in cahoots with a Tier 4 individual with unknown objectives. The treatment they had inflicted on Priam proved their hostility. Their rival's intentions were less clear, but she had orchestrated a trap for Priam and Sphinx to serve her interests.
Sphinx... The child had carved a place in the hoplite's heart through antics and cuteness. As his emotions threatened to interfere with his mission, Kazuki regained focus.
"If you're ready, we might as well start," he proposed as he approached ve. She nodded toward him and then winked at Rose.
"We'll finish this conversation later."
"Okay!"
The teenager seemed to appreciate ve, as the newcomer appeared close to her age and more open than Jasmine or Myuri.
Two minutes later, Kazuki stood at one end of the Forum, facing ve. Created by the System, the public square was an ideal training ground as it was virtually indestructible. All base residents with no urgent missions had gathered to witness the duel. Ophia or ve was the fourth rival to join the base, and everyone wondered about her capabilities.
"I'll count from three," announced Priam. "Three."
Kazuki gripped his spear, ready to strike. He grimaced internally as he felt his wounds flare up. His quadruple Tribulation had nearly bested him, and he wasn't fully healed yet. He pushed aside his pointless reflections; war waited for no hoplite.
"Two."
The hoplite gathered his Wind Concept, determined to catch his opponent off guard. ve winked at him.
"One."
Kazuki summoned Micro II, Mastery, and Domain. The trio of Supremacies triggered, synergizing to surpass the mere sum of their abilities. His soul pulsed, his will concentrated into a perfect martial form.
"Zero."
The ground shook as the hoplite shot forward like a bullet. No supersonic bang ensued; the wind accompanied the warrior. A fraction of a second later, the tip of his spear pierced Eve's eye. A spray of blood blossomed, transforming into a swarm of butterflies. The cloud rushed toward Kazuki, who grimaced; each wing could cut his skin.
Summoning a gust, he rid himself of the pests before striking again. His rival's body became transparent. His weapon sank into it before slowing down. The hoplite stepped back just a moment before the humanoid form exploded.
Kazuki landed ten meters back, groaning. His left eyebrow was damaged, blood flowing freely. He summoned Micro II, swiftly closing the wound. A few seconds later, nothing remained of the gash.
Eve appeared before him, and the warrior thrust. His spear penetrated the flesh without resistance, and the illusion vanished. Kazuki furrowed his brow before feeling his weight increase. Damn!
He observed the ground and cursed. A ten-meter-diameter rune had just appeared around him. Gravity increased, and the Champion roared. Gathering his strength, he dashed out of the danger zone. The next moment, the rune disappeared.
She can summon illusory runes.
It was bad news; it meant ve could freely use the ambient aether. Kazuki would run out of resources before her.
I have to end this.
He already had to locate his opponent. [Odyssey] would reveal her position, but tarnishing his legend with a spar was a bad move. There has to be simpler solutions. [Taunt].
Kazuki's charismatic aura detected a killing intent on his left. He dashed and thrust. At the Forum's edge, ve appeared, the hoplite spear planted in her throat. His rival flashed a smile, ignoring her wound, before countering with a punch.
Kazuki's heightened senses perceived no danger. He tried to step back, but ve's fist seemed inevitable. Reality stretched as the distance between the hoplite and the attack diminished. He couldnt flee. Finally, the blow connected.
The spell affecting Kazuki's perception shattered. When he managed to move away, he discovered with astonishment a hole in his chest. The punch had erased the flesh it had come into contact with, and his heart was almost exposed.
A different opponent would have succumbed to pain, but Kazuki was a trained warrior. He knew he couldn't afford to get caught up in his opponent's game. Without giving fear a foothold, he doubled his attack to disrupt his opponent's rhythm.
His spear described a deadly arc, enhanced by Micro II and Mastery. The blade was surrounded by a coppery halo as it slashed towards his rival. In normal circumstances, the hoplite instructor wouldn't have used such a devastating attack in a spar, but ve was an enemy, and he wanted to check her abilities.
If she was too weak to withstand it... No one will mourn her.
The formidable blade only bit air; ve had disappeared. The Champion grimaced as a stream of blood gushed from the hole in his chest. The hemorrhage was too severe for Micro II to handle quickly.
The young woman reappeared a few meters away and had to dodge a wind blade. She vanished again as Kazuki summoned a tornado centered on him. He wasn't going to play cat and mouse. The Forum was soon swept by violent winds, augmented by a Concept. The cyclone sang of death, revealing that the hoplite had reached the Symphony.
Focused, Kazuki scanned the battleground for ve. Nothing. The young woman seemed to have vanished.
"This kind of technique won't work against me," a voice said, seemingly from nowhere.
Kazuki blinked, then furrowed his brow. There, less than a meter away from him, stood ve. Winds capable of cutting oaks passed through her without harming her.
The warrior didn't let himself be intimidated. With a thrust, he sought blood. Activating Micro II and Mastery, he pierced the young woman's chest. She shook her head, amused.
She's not there. ve wasn't a warrior. If she ignored his blows, it was because he wasn't hitting her. I have to find her...
Kazuki closed his eyes before deactivating his Concept, Domain, and Mastery. It was madness, but his Tribulations had taught him that sometimes one had to abandon all retreat options to win.
The hoplite warrior, spear in hand, focused entirely on Micro II. A clarity enveloped him. With senses heightened and instincts alert, Kazuki opened himself to the world.
The wind on his skin, the warmth of the suns, and the clamor of the spectators were recorded and then ignored. Suddenly, he noticed a problem. The temperature sensed by his brain was slightly different from that measured by Micro. Kazuki traced the error before understanding.
His senses were altered.
His instinct trembled, and the hoplite executed a side step to dodge an attack. His muscles contracted and then relaxed. His body moved fifty-three centimeters instead of the sixty planned, and the attack tore through his right Achilles' heel.
Yet, Kazuki smiled. ve was in front of him, but the attack had come from behind. He had been injured, but he had understood his opponent's game.
The warrior turned with his valid leg, and his arm moved like a snake. A few centimeters from his target, his brain ordered his muscles to stop the attack. Micro II bypassed the order and continued the strike. His hand closed in the void.
Really?
His instinct told him to tighten, and the hoplite obeyed. He squeezed, eyes closed, while the wind whispered the approach of a devastating attack. Ignoring the information, Kazuki continued to close his hand even as an arm pierced his heart.
The young man gave the phoenix a confused look, who chuckled.
"You're alive, aware of the risks, and more powerful than before. Be proud, learn your lesson, but don't forget there's no easy path to the Zenith. That being said, two days must be a record. It took me almost four months, and I was born with a gold spoon in my mouth."
"How does one reach Unity without risk?" Priam asked. He couldn't solve everything by dying. Even though it has worked quite well so far...
"You progress gradually, using your Potential to simulate a partial Unity. You select Merits that reduce the distance or consume resources and concept fragments. The list is long, but in a word: you take your time."
Mistwalker, one of Priam's Merits, allowed him to ride his mist. It was undoubtedly one of the many Merits capable of helping someone reach Unity more easily.
"We'll discuss it again when you've refined your Fire Concept to reach Tier 1. For now, tell me how you resisted the Fallen."
"A Fallen?"
"The false god. It should be a weak Tier 4, but their conversion ability is formidable."
"They didn't look weak to me."
"Any self-respecting Tier 4 should have been able to peel your soul without giving you a chance. Their soul quality is Tier 4, but I'm sure its volume doesn't follow. We'll talk about that later, I'm curious how you resisted him."
"Oh, I created a kind of system that assists me..."
As Priam explained, the Phoenix cooled down. In phoenix language, it was a bad sign.
"Is there a problem?"
"Yes and no. This kind of assistant was the specialty of a mighty clantheir primogenitor was a Tier 9. A few million years ago, they disappeared. They resurfaced during a Universal War, lobotomized and serving a Primordial of the Depths. He had created a virus capable of taking control of their Assistant."
"... I'll avoid clicking on weird links."
"I sense you're trying to make a joke, but be careful with your add-on. Few Tier 0s can penetrate your soul to take control, but you're not just facing Tier 0s. This Fallen could discover the truth if they ever get their hands on you again. I suppose you don't plan on running as far away as possible while you still can?"
Priam clenched his fist.
"Not without Sphinx."
Status: (Average value for a Homo sapiens male before integration: PHY 10 / MEN 10 / META 0)
PHYSICAL:
Strength 420
Constitution 794
Agility 446
Vitality 680
Perception 654
MENTAL:
Vivacity 383
Dexterity 475
Memory 218
Willpower 832
Charisma 499
META:
Meta-affinity 408
Meta-focus 326
Meta-endurance 256
Meta-perception 201
Meta-chance 230
Meta-authority 15
Potential: 3427
Tier 0
[He Who Eludes Death] charge: PRIMED.
Necromoon Event: 2 days, 17 hours, and 19 minutes.
[Tribulation]: Six Tribulations pending.
Future Tribulations delayed until:
Time: 172 days 19 hours 2 minutes 56 seconds.
Next thresholds: 12 attributes > 400 / 6 attribute > 600 / 3 attributes > 800
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
Chapter 171: Kazuki vs Ève
Kazuki scrutinized his opponent with unwavering focus. veor Ophia, as she preferred to be calledwas a petite young woman, at least from the perspective of a titan-class hoplite. In reality, she stood twenty centimeters taller than Rose or Mirscella, resembling more of a high human than an ordinary one.
However, looks could be deceiving. Priam had informed Kazuki that ve concealed her true face. Only her golden eyes were authentic and even that wasn't certain.
Yet, despite Kazuki's heightened perception and state-of-the-art mecha sensors, he couldn't penetrate the illusion. It was dangerous because it meant she could also disguise an attack. His defense would be useless if he tried to block a chest strike while she aimed for his head.
Even worse, ve might be nothing more than an illusion. The hoplite entertained every possibility, never one to underestimate an opponent. Let's see what Hyshana thinks about this.
The warrior stretched before closing in on his adversary. Officially, it was just a friendly spar, but Priam had told Kazuki the truth. ve was in cahoots with a Tier 4 individual with unknown objectives. The treatment they had inflicted on Priam proved their hostility. Their rival's intentions were less clear, but she had orchestrated a trap for Priam and Sphinx to serve her interests.
Sphinx... The child had carved a place in the hoplite's heart through antics and cuteness. As his emotions threatened to interfere with his mission, Kazuki regained focus.
"If you're ready, we might as well start," he proposed as he approached ve. She nodded toward him and then winked at Rose.
"We'll finish this conversation later."
"Okay!"
The teenager seemed to appreciate ve, as the newcomer appeared close to her age and more open than Jasmine or Myuri.
Two minutes later, Kazuki stood at one end of the Forum, facing ve. Created by the System, the public square was an ideal training ground as it was virtually indestructible. All base residents with no urgent missions had gathered to witness the duel. Ophia or ve was the fourth rival to join the base, and everyone wondered about her capabilities.
"I'll count from three," announced Priam. "Three."
Kazuki gripped his spear, ready to strike. He grimaced internally as he felt his wounds flare up. His quadruple Tribulation had nearly bested him, and he wasn't fully healed yet. He pushed aside his pointless reflections; war waited for no hoplite.
"Two."
The hoplite gathered his Wind Concept, determined to catch his opponent off guard. ve winked at him.
"One."
Kazuki summoned Micro II, Mastery, and Domain. The trio of Supremacies triggered, synergizing to surpass the mere sum of their abilities. His soul pulsed, his will concentrated into a perfect martial form.
"Zero."
The ground shook as the hoplite shot forward like a bullet. No supersonic bang ensued; the wind accompanied the warrior. A fraction of a second later, the tip of his spear pierced Eve's eye. A spray of blood blossomed, transforming into a swarm of butterflies. The cloud rushed toward Kazuki, who grimaced; each wing could cut his skin.
Summoning a gust, he rid himself of the pests before striking again. His rival's body became transparent. His weapon sank into it before slowing down. The hoplite stepped back just a moment before the humanoid form exploded.
Kazuki landed ten meters back, groaning. His left eyebrow was damaged, blood flowing freely. He summoned Micro II, swiftly closing the wound. A few seconds later, nothing remained of the gash.
Eve appeared before him, and the warrior thrust. His spear penetrated the flesh without resistance, and the illusion vanished. Kazuki furrowed his brow before feeling his weight increase. Damn!
He observed the ground and cursed. A ten-meter-diameter rune had just appeared around him. Gravity increased, and the Champion roared. Gathering his strength, he dashed out of the danger zone. The next moment, the rune disappeared.
She can summon illusory runes.
It was bad news; it meant ve could freely use the ambient aether. Kazuki would run out of resources before her.
I have to end this.
He already had to locate his opponent. [Odyssey] would reveal her position, but tarnishing his legend with a spar was a bad move. There has to be simpler solutions. [Taunt].
Kazuki's charismatic aura detected a killing intent on his left. He dashed and thrust. At the Forum's edge, ve appeared, the hoplite spear planted in her throat. His rival flashed a smile, ignoring her wound, before countering with a punch.
Kazuki's heightened senses perceived no danger. He tried to step back, but ve's fist seemed inevitable. Reality stretched as the distance between the hoplite and the attack diminished. He couldnt flee. Finally, the blow connected.
The spell affecting Kazuki's perception shattered. When he managed to move away, he discovered with astonishment a hole in his chest. The punch had erased the flesh it had come into contact with, and his heart was almost exposed.
A different opponent would have succumbed to pain, but Kazuki was a trained warrior. He knew he couldn't afford to get caught up in his opponent's game. Without giving fear a foothold, he doubled his attack to disrupt his opponent's rhythm.
His spear described a deadly arc, enhanced by Micro II and Mastery. The blade was surrounded by a coppery halo as it slashed towards his rival. In normal circumstances, the hoplite instructor wouldn't have used such a devastating attack in a spar, but ve was an enemy, and he wanted to check her abilities.
If she was too weak to withstand it... No one will mourn her.
The formidable blade only bit air; ve had disappeared. The Champion grimaced as a stream of blood gushed from the hole in his chest. The hemorrhage was too severe for Micro II to handle quickly.
The young woman reappeared a few meters away and had to dodge a wind blade. She vanished again as Kazuki summoned a tornado centered on him. He wasn't going to play cat and mouse. The Forum was soon swept by violent winds, augmented by a Concept. The cyclone sang of death, revealing that the hoplite had reached the Symphony.
Focused, Kazuki scanned the battleground for ve. Nothing. The young woman seemed to have vanished.
"This kind of technique won't work against me," a voice said, seemingly from nowhere.
Kazuki blinked, then furrowed his brow. There, less than a meter away from him, stood ve. Winds capable of cutting oaks passed through her without harming her.
The warrior didn't let himself be intimidated. With a thrust, he sought blood. Activating Micro II and Mastery, he pierced the young woman's chest. She shook her head, amused.
She's not there. ve wasn't a warrior. If she ignored his blows, it was because he wasn't hitting her. I have to find her...
Kazuki closed his eyes before deactivating his Concept, Domain, and Mastery. It was madness, but his Tribulations had taught him that sometimes one had to abandon all retreat options to win.
The hoplite warrior, spear in hand, focused entirely on Micro II. A clarity enveloped him. With senses heightened and instincts alert, Kazuki opened himself to the world.
The wind on his skin, the warmth of the suns, and the clamor of the spectators were recorded and then ignored. Suddenly, he noticed a problem. The temperature sensed by his brain was slightly different from that measured by Micro. Kazuki traced the error before understanding.
His senses were altered.
His instinct trembled, and the hoplite executed a side step to dodge an attack. His muscles contracted and then relaxed. His body moved fifty-three centimeters instead of the sixty planned, and the attack tore through his right Achilles' heel.
Yet, Kazuki smiled. ve was in front of him, but the attack had come from behind. He had been injured, but he had understood his opponent's game.
The warrior turned with his valid leg, and his arm moved like a snake. A few centimeters from his target, his brain ordered his muscles to stop the attack. Micro II bypassed the order and continued the strike. His hand closed in the void.
Really?
His instinct told him to tighten, and the hoplite obeyed. He squeezed, eyes closed, while the wind whispered the approach of a devastating attack. Ignoring the information, Kazuki continued to close his hand even as an arm pierced his heart.
The young man gave the phoenix a confused look, who chuckled.
"You're alive, aware of the risks, and more powerful than before. Be proud, learn your lesson, but don't forget there's no easy path to the Zenith. That being said, two days must be a record. It took me almost four months, and I was born with a gold spoon in my mouth."
"How does one reach Unity without risk?" Priam asked. He couldn't solve everything by dying. Even though it has worked quite well so far...
"You progress gradually, using your Potential to simulate a partial Unity. You select Merits that reduce the distance or consume resources and concept fragments. The list is long, but in a word: you take your time."
Mistwalker, one of Priam's Merits, allowed him to ride his mist. It was undoubtedly one of the many Merits capable of helping someone reach Unity more easily.
"We'll discuss it again when you've refined your Fire Concept to reach Tier 1. For now, tell me how you resisted the Fallen."
"A Fallen?"
"The false god. It should be a weak Tier 4, but their conversion ability is formidable."
"They didn't look weak to me."
"Any self-respecting Tier 4 should have been able to peel your soul without giving you a chance. Their soul quality is Tier 4, but I'm sure its volume doesn't follow. We'll talk about that later, I'm curious how you resisted him."
"Oh, I created a kind of system that assists me..."
As Priam explained, the Phoenix cooled down. In phoenix language, it was a bad sign.
"Is there a problem?"
"Yes and no. This kind of assistant was the specialty of a mighty clantheir primogenitor was a Tier 9. A few million years ago, they disappeared. They resurfaced during a Universal War, lobotomized and serving a Primordial of the Depths. He had created a virus capable of taking control of their Assistant."
"... I'll avoid clicking on weird links."
"I sense you're trying to make a joke, but be careful with your add-on. Few Tier 0s can penetrate your soul to take control, but you're not just facing Tier 0s. This Fallen could discover the truth if they ever get their hands on you again. I suppose you don't plan on running as far away as possible while you still can?"
Priam clenched his fist.
"Not without Sphinx."
Status: (Average value for a Homo sapiens male before integration: PHY 10 / MEN 10 / META 0)
PHYSICAL:
Strength 420
Constitution 794
Agility 446
Vitality 680
Perception 654
MENTAL:
Vivacity 383
Dexterity 475
Memory 218
Willpower 832
Charisma 499
META:
Meta-affinity 408
Meta-focus 326
Meta-endurance 256
Meta-perception 201
Meta-chance 230
Meta-authority 15
Potential: 3427
Tier 0
[He Who Eludes Death] charge: PRIMED.
Necromoon Event: 2 days, 17 hours, and 19 minutes.
[Tribulation]: Six Tribulations pending.
Future Tribulations delayed until:
Time: 172 days 19 hours 2 minutes 56 seconds.
Next thresholds: 12 attributes > 400 / 6 attribute > 600 / 3 attributes > 800
Chapter 171: Kazuki vs EveKazuki scrutinized his opponent with unwavering focus. veor Ophia, as she preferred to be calledwas a petite young woman, at least from the perspective of a titan-class hoplite. In reality, she stood twenty centimeters taller than Rose or Mirscella, resembling more of a high human than an ordinary one.However, looks could be deceiving. Priam had informed Kazuki that ve concealed her true face. Only her golden eyes were authentic and even that wasn't certain.Yet, despite Kazuki's heightened perception and state-of-the-art mecha sensors, he couldn't penetrate the illusion. It was dangerous because it meant she could also disguise an attack. His defense would be useless if he tried to block a chest strike while she aimed for his head.Even worse, ve might be nothing more than an illusion. The hoplite entertained every possibility, never one to underestimate an opponent. Let's see what Hyshana thinks about this.The warrior stretched before closing in on his adversary. Officially, it was just a friendly spar, but Priam had told Kazuki the truth. ve was in cahoots with a Tier 4 individual with unknown objectives. The treatment they had inflicted on Priam proved their hostility. Their rival's intentions were less clear, but she had orchestrated a trap for Priam and Sphinx to serve her interests.Sphinx... The child had carved a place in the hoplite's heart through antics and cuteness. As his emotions threatened to interfere with his mission, Kazuki regained focus."If you're ready, we might as well start," he proposed as he approached ve. She nodded toward him and then winked at Rose."We'll finish this conversation later.""Okay!"The teenager seemed to appreciate ve, as the newcomer appeared close to her age and more open than Jasmine or Myuri.Two minutes later, Kazuki stood at one end of the Forum, facing ve. Created by the System, the public square was an ideal training ground as it was virtually indestructible. All base residents with no urgent missions had gathered to witness the duel. Ophia or ve was the fourth rival to join the base, and everyone wondered about her capabilities."I'll count from three," announced Priam. "Three."Kazuki gripped his spear, ready to strike. He grimaced internally as he felt his wounds flare up. His quadruple Tribulation had nearly bested him, and he wasn't fully healed yet. He pushed aside his pointless reflections; war waited for no hoplite."Two."The hoplite gathered his Wind Concept, determined to catch his opponent off guard. ve winked at him."One."Kazuki summoned Micro II, Mastery, and Domain. The trio of Supremacies triggered, synergizing to surpass the mere sum of their abilities. His soul pulsed, his will concentrated into a perfect martial form."Zero."The ground shook as the hoplite shot forward like a bullet. No supersonic bang ensued; the wind accompanied the warrior. A fraction of a second later, the tip of his spear pierced Eve's eye. A spray of blood blossomed, transforming into a swarm of butterflies. The cloud rushed toward Kazuki, who grimaced; each wing could cut his skin.Summoning a gust, he rid himself of the pests before striking again. His rival's body became transparent. His weapon sank into it before slowing down. The hoplite stepped back just a moment before the humanoid form exploded.Kazuki landed ten meters back, groaning. His left eyebrow was damaged, blood flowing freely. He summoned Micro II, swiftly closing the wound. A few seconds later, nothing remained of the gash.Eve appeared before him, and the warrior thrust. His spear penetrated the flesh without resistance, and the illusion vanished. Kazuki furrowed his brow before feeling his weight increase. Damn!He observed the ground and cursed. A ten-meter-diameter rune had just appeared around him. Gravity increased, and the Champion roared. Gathering his strength, he dashed out of the danger zone. The next moment, the rune disappeared.She can summon illusory runes.It was bad news; it meant ve could freely use the ambient aether. Kazuki would run out of resources before her.I have to end this.He already had to locate his opponent. Odyssey would reveal her position, but tarnishing his legend with a spar was a bad move. There has to be simpler solutions. Taunt.Kazuki's charismatic aura detected a killing intent on his left. He dashed and thrust. At the Forum's edge, ve appeared, the hoplite spear planted in her throat. His rival flashed a smile, ignoring her wound, before countering with a punch.Kazuki's heightened senses perceived no danger. He tried to step back, but ve's fist seemed inevitable. Reality stretched as the distance between the hoplite and the attack diminished. He couldnt flee. Finally, the blow connected.The spell affecting Kazuki's perception shattered. When he managed to move away, he discovered with astonishment a hole in his chest. The punch had erased the flesh it had come into contact with, and his heart was almost exposed.A different opponent would have succumbed to pain, but Kazuki was a trained warrior. He knew he couldn't afford to get caught up in his opponent's game. Without giving fear a foothold, he doubled his attack to disrupt his opponent's rhythm.His spear described a deadly arc, enhanced by Micro II and Mastery. The blade was surrounded by a coppery halo as it slashed towards his rival. In normal circumstances, the hoplite instructor wouldn't have used such a devastating attack in a spar, but ve was an enemy, and he wanted to check her abilities.If she was too weak to withstand it... No one will mourn her.The formidable blade only bit air; ve had disappeared. The Champion grimaced as a stream of blood gushed from the hole in his chest. The hemorrhage was too severe for Micro II to handle quickly.The young woman reappeared a few meters away and had to dodge a wind blade. She vanished again as Kazuki summoned a tornado centered on him. He wasn't going to play cat and mouse. The Forum was soon swept by violent winds, augmented by a Concept. The cyclone sang of death, revealing that the hoplite had reached the Symphony.Focused, Kazuki scanned the battleground for ve. Nothing. The young woman seemed to have vanished."This kind of technique won't work against me," a voice said, seemingly from nowhere.Kazuki blinked, then furrowed his brow. There, less than a meter away from him, stood ve. Winds capable of cutting oaks passed through her without harming her.The warrior didn't let himself be intimidated. With a thrust, he sought blood. Activating Micro II and Mastery, he pierced the young woman's chest. She shook her head, amused.She's not there. ve wasn't a warrior. If she ignored his blows, it was because he wasn't hitting her. I have to find her...Kazuki closed his eyes before deactivating his Concept, Domain, and Mastery. It was madness, but his Tribulations had taught him that sometimes one had to abandon all retreat options to win.The hoplite warrior, spear in hand, focused entirely on Micro II. A clarity enveloped him. With senses heightened and instincts alert, Kazuki opened himself to the world.The wind on his skin, the warmth of the suns, and the clamor of the spectators were recorded and then ignored. Suddenly, he noticed a problem. The temperature sensed by his brain was slightly different from that measured by Micro. Kazuki traced the error before understanding.His senses were altered.His instinct trembled, and the hoplite executed a side step to dodge an attack. His muscles contracted and then relaxed. His body moved fifty-three centimeters instead of the sixty planned, and the attack tore through his right Achilles' heel.Yet, Kazuki smiled. ve was in front of him, but the attack had come from behind. He had been injured, but he had understood his opponent's game.The warrior turned with his valid leg, and his arm moved like a snake. A few centimeters from his target, his brain ordered his muscles to stop the attack. Micro II bypassed the order and continued the strike. His hand closed in the void.Really?His instinct told him to tighten, and the hoplite obeyed. He squeezed, eyes closed, while the wind whispered the approach of a devastating attack. Ignoring the information, Kazuki continued to close his hand even as an arm pierced his heart.The young man gave the phoenix a confused look, who chuckled."You're alive, aware of the risks, and more powerful than before. Be proud, learn your lesson, but don't forget there's no easy path to the Zenith. That being said, two days must be a record. It took me almost four months, and I was born with a gold spoon in my mouth.""How does one reach Unity without risk?" Priam asked. He couldn't solve everything by dying. Even though it has worked quite well so far..."You progress gradually, using your Potential to simulate a partial Unity. You select Merits that reduce the distance or consume resources and concept fragments. The list is long, but in a word: you take your time."Mistwalker, one of Priam's Merits, allowed him to ride his mist. It was undoubtedly one of the many Merits capable of helping someone reach Unity more easily."We'll discuss it again when you've refined your Fire Concept to reach Tier 1. For now, tell me how you resisted the Fallen.""A Fallen?""The false god. It should be a weak Tier 4, but their conversion ability is formidable.""They didn't look weak to me.""Any self-respecting Tier 4 should have been able to peel your soul without giving you a chance. Their soul quality is Tier 4, but I'm sure its volume doesn't follow. We'll talk about that later, I'm curious how you resisted him.""Oh, I created a kind of system that assists me..."As Priam explained, the Phoenix cooled down. In phoenix language, it was a bad sign."Is there a problem?""Yes and no. This kind of assistant was the specialty of a mighty clantheir primogenitor was a Tier 9. A few million years ago, they disappeared. They resurfaced during a Universal War, lobotomized and serving a Primordial of the Depths. He had created a virus capable of taking control of their Assistant.""... I'll avoid clicking on weird links.""I sense you're trying to make a joke, but be careful with your add-on. Few Tier 0s can penetrate your soul to take control, but you're not just facing Tier 0s. This Fallen could discover the truth if they ever get their hands on you again. I suppose you don't plan on running as far away as possible while you still can?"Priam clenched his fist."Not without Sphinx."Status: Average value for a Homo sapiens male before integration: PHY 10 / MEN 10 / META 0PHYSICAL:Strength 420 Constitution 794 Agility 446 Vitality 680 Perception 654 MENTAL:Vivacity 383Dexterity 475 Memory 218Willpower 832Charisma 499 META:Meta-affinity 408 Meta-focus 326Meta-endurance 256 Meta-perception 201 Meta-chance 230Meta-authority 15Potential: 3427Tier 0He Who Eludes Death charge: PRIMED.Necromoon Event: 2 days, 17 hours, and 19 minutes.Tribulation: Six Tribulations pending.Future Tribulations delayed until:Time: 172 days 19 hours 2 minutes 56 seconds.Next thresholds: 12 attributes 400 / 6 attribute 600 / 3 attributes 800
