Chapter 94: The Last Night
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Chapter 94: The Last Night
Congratulations! Meteor Punch (I) Meteor Punch (II)
Meteor Punch (II): When meteors fall from space, they cause exponentially more damage than their size would indicate. Your punches can carry the same effect. Overdraw your bodys potential and combine it with your Dao of the Fist to unleash a devastating attack. Shoot out your punch like a meteor.
The skill description hadnt changed much; just a single sentence at the end. However, Jack could now shoot out his punches like meteors. He looked at his fist for a moment, lost in thought.
He didnt feel like fighting from range, actually. As useful as this new ability would be, he would rather save it for when needed, and dive head-first into the action when he could.
He had to experiment, but first
Sorry, Li Xiang, he said, bowing slightly to the old martial artist. I lost control of my strength for a moment.
He expected a fierce rebuttal. After all, Li Xiang valued honor above all. He did not expect the light-hearted laughter that emerged from the old mans throat.
There is no problem. Losing is no dishonor. You are stronger. I cannot complain.
Jack smiled. He reached out a hand, and Li Xiang grabbed it to stand.
Was this the breakthrough you wanted? he asked curiously.
Jack shook his head. No. But it is a breakthrough.
Go on, disciple, Master Shol chimed in. Test it.
Jack smiled, turned, and punched. He poured his Dao into his fist, imbuing it with the purest essence of the Fist he could distill. It was unstoppable, undodgeable, inviolable. Whatever obstacle stood in his way, whatever he turned his fist at, was bound to be eradicated.
The world darkened, uncontested by other Daos. The movement of Jacks hand was imprinted on everyones mind. They only saw a purple meteor shuttling through space in a graceful arc, carrying a purple tail of stars. It was beautiful.
It shot out after a moment, dislodging from Jacks hand and following a straight line. Though the movement looked slow, it was fast like an arrow. It crashed into a wall with a massive explosion that rocked the room.
The wall itself wasnt harmedit was built to withstand E-Grade battlesbut the explosion itself had been deafening in this narrow space. Thankfully, Brock had managed to cup his ears in time. He wouldnt be caught off guard twice.
That is not the same skill my ancestor had, Master Shol said, rubbing his beard. But it is decent.
Did the breakthrough make it stronger, too? Dorman wondered.
Jack nodded.
It was hard to pinpoint the difference between the new version and the old one. It was similar to Drill, but only superficially: where Drill was more of a technical skill, Meteor Punch had evolved with the Dao.
Jack felt that his Dao was deeper, somehow, as if he had uncovered aspects of it that had been previously hidden, and he was now pouring those into the Meteor Punch as well.
He had thought the fist was meant to be merely unstoppable. That he selected a target and punched out, and the target could only get out of his way or be destroyed.
But that was a shallow interpretation. The fist was the carrier of his will. His punches were meant to land, not as a show of force. If he attacked someone but let them dodge, it was the same as being blocked. His fist had lost. And that could not be allowed to happen.
So what if someone ran away? Could something as silly as distance stop Jacks will, mounted on his fist? Was he really so constrained in his power, to only affect the world within two feet of himself?
Of course not!
And as his will to destroy had seeped deeper into his fist, it also exploded harder. Before, the explosion had just been the Dao of the Fist venting angrily. Now, it was purposeful. The difference was spiritual in nature, but so was the Dao. The power of Meteor Punch had increased significantly.
Wait.
You knew this, Jack turned to his master. You said your faction teaches the Dao of the Fist, among others. Theres no way you didnt see this coming. To you, my faults must have been clear as day. Why didnt you tell me earlier? I need every advantage I can get against Rufus.
Because the Dao is a path that must be walked by each person alone, Master Shol replied. If I had guided you too much, I would have influenced your path, and that would risk your future prospects.
Jack felt exploited.
I dont need future prospects, he protested. I need to defeat Rufus Emberheart and save my people.
Both are equally important, Master Shol replied.nôvel binz was the first platform to present this chapter.
Not to me. I would return myself to Level 1 if it meant winning tomorrow.
Hmph! You are young and foolish. I dont need to explain my actions to you.
Everyone looked at him as he spoke. Their spines stiffened, and then, they let go.
To survival, Vivi said, raising her glass.
To lifting the Systems oppression, the Sage replied as enigmatically as always, raising his glass too.
To strength, Dorman added.
To magic, Edgar said, laughing.
To victory, Jack finished, raising his glass and tipping it over. Everyone else followed. He wasnt drinking Dao-infused alcohol, so it wouldnt affect him at all. He had to remain in top shape.
The night flowed lazily. They exchanged stories about their past. Dorman entertained them with stories of his school life, finally peeking out of his shell a little, and Edgar performed a magic light show. The Sage gossiped other people in the barhe hadnt overheard anything, but he knewand told them funny trivia about the galaxy.
Vivi described scenes from her revolutionthe pleasant ones. She told them all about the great banquet theyd hosted to celebrate their victory, about the piss-drunk soldiers playing stupid pranks on each other. She had a sharp edge to her, one that sometimes caught Jack off-guard, but one he didnt dislike.
He didnt speak much that night. He mostly let the others talk, occasionally interceding with witty comments. It was a fun night. They laughed a lot, and his heart, that been tied into a knot, could finally let loose. For a few hours, he forgot the burdens on his shoulders and was simply a guy living his best life.
When midnight struck, Jack stood. I have to go now, he said. You keep having fun; just dont be late tomorrow. Ill need your cheers.
You bet! Edgar replied, smiling.
Ill go too, Vivi said, standing up. She wore a strapless white shirt, one that looked good on her.
They left together, walking towards the participants district.
This isnt the way to your hotel, Jack said with a smile.
I know, she replied. But if this is your last night in this world, I cant let you spend it alone, can I?
He laughed. Theres no way this will be my last night here, he responded.
You never know. She winked at him, and they laughed again.
***
The arena was packed harder than ever. Jack stood in the center of the stage, preparing himself for what was to come. He was at his peak. He was ready. His Dao Roots were both flaring. Whether he won or lost, he knew he would have done his best.
Looking around, it felt like every single person in Integration City had come. Many people were standing, unable to find a seat, and the wandering merchants had disappeared as they couldnt cross the crowd.
As this was the final, even the C-Grade Planetary Overseer was attending. She sat on a solitary throne close to the front of the arena, everyone pushed sixty feet around her. The only ones who were allowed close were Vocrich, the vampire of the Hand of God, and the ghost-like immortals. They all sat three rows below the overseer.
Every immortal who had taken a disciple was still here, even if their disciple had been eliminated from the tournament. They had been allowed to leave the participants district, where they were normally confined, just for this fight.
Jack saw his master watching sternly from a seat under the lioness. He also saw the lizard archmage, the cloud worm, the ascetic, and the five immortals of the Animal Kingdom, one for each scion. The leonine immortal sat proudly next to the Planetary Overseer, only one step below her.
Everybody else was present, too. The Flame River, the Ice Peak, the scions, all of Jacks allies, Karvahul, as well as every important person of Earth. Most of the tournament participants had remained, too, and Jack recognized a few faces hed spanked in the first part of the tournament.
He smiled fondly at the memoryit was a welcome break from the tension that threatened to break him. He hadnt forgotten that every single person on Earth was probably watching. The pressure was insane. Standing there without shivering was so difficult he had to use his Dao Roots to steady himself.
The head judge flew over the arena. She seemed straighter today, more formal.
Honored Planetary Overseer, distinguished immortals, brave merchants, and people of planet Earth-387, she declared officially. Today is the last day of this planets Integration Tournament. 987 fighters emerged from the planets population of eight billion, and of those, only the strongest two remain. The winner of todays final will be the face of the planet, a badge of its honor, and proof of its strength.
The crowd cheered loudly. Of course, she was only saying those things to raise up the Animal Kingdom, since Rufus Emberheart was expected to win, but everyone loved a good show.
Jack didnt mind. He knew the odds were against him, but he was confident that he at least had a chance. He would either win or go down swinging. He was ready. He looked for Rufus in the stands but didnt find him, even though the scion curtain was open.
Then, let the final battle begin! the head judge raised her voice. Rufus Emberheart and the Dao of Supremacy versus Jack Rust and the Dao of the Fist!
The crowd cheered hard.
Jack was already in the arena, and before Rufus could come down, he raised his fist. The people cheered even harder. Almost everyone present wanted him to win. He savored this knowledge.
Then, he settled down, waiting for his opponent to arrive.
And waited. And waited. And half a minute later, Rufus was still nowhere to be seen.
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Chapter 94: The Last Night
Congratulations! Meteor Punch (I) Meteor Punch (II)
Meteor Punch (II): When meteors fall from space, they cause exponentially more damage than their size would indicate. Your punches can carry the same effect. Overdraw your bodys potential and combine it with your Dao of the Fist to unleash a devastating attack. Shoot out your punch like a meteor.
The skill description hadnt changed much; just a single sentence at the end. However, Jack could now shoot out his punches like meteors. He looked at his fist for a moment, lost in thought.
He didnt feel like fighting from range, actually. As useful as this new ability would be, he would rather save it for when needed, and dive head-first into the action when he could.
He had to experiment, but first
Sorry, Li Xiang, he said, bowing slightly to the old martial artist. I lost control of my strength for a moment.
He expected a fierce rebuttal. After all, Li Xiang valued honor above all. He did not expect the light-hearted laughter that emerged from the old mans throat.
There is no problem. Losing is no dishonor. You are stronger. I cannot complain.
Jack smiled. He reached out a hand, and Li Xiang grabbed it to stand.
Was this the breakthrough you wanted? he asked curiously.
Jack shook his head. No. But it is a breakthrough.
Go on, disciple, Master Shol chimed in. Test it.
Jack smiled, turned, and punched. He poured his Dao into his fist, imbuing it with the purest essence of the Fist he could distill. It was unstoppable, undodgeable, inviolable. Whatever obstacle stood in his way, whatever he turned his fist at, was bound to be eradicated.
The world darkened, uncontested by other Daos. The movement of Jacks hand was imprinted on everyones mind. They only saw a purple meteor shuttling through space in a graceful arc, carrying a purple tail of stars. It was beautiful.
It shot out after a moment, dislodging from Jacks hand and following a straight line. Though the movement looked slow, it was fast like an arrow. It crashed into a wall with a massive explosion that rocked the room.
The wall itself wasnt harmedit was built to withstand E-Grade battlesbut the explosion itself had been deafening in this narrow space. Thankfully, Brock had managed to cup his ears in time. He wouldnt be caught off guard twice.
That is not the same skill my ancestor had, Master Shol said, rubbing his beard. But it is decent.
Did the breakthrough make it stronger, too? Dorman wondered.
Jack nodded.
It was hard to pinpoint the difference between the new version and the old one. It was similar to Drill, but only superficially: where Drill was more of a technical skill, Meteor Punch had evolved with the Dao.
Jack felt that his Dao was deeper, somehow, as if he had uncovered aspects of it that had been previously hidden, and he was now pouring those into the Meteor Punch as well.
He had thought the fist was meant to be merely unstoppable. That he selected a target and punched out, and the target could only get out of his way or be destroyed.
But that was a shallow interpretation. The fist was the carrier of his will. His punches were meant to land, not as a show of force. If he attacked someone but let them dodge, it was the same as being blocked. His fist had lost. And that could not be allowed to happen.
So what if someone ran away? Could something as silly as distance stop Jacks will, mounted on his fist? Was he really so constrained in his power, to only affect the world within two feet of himself?
Of course not!
And as his will to destroy had seeped deeper into his fist, it also exploded harder. Before, the explosion had just been the Dao of the Fist venting angrily. Now, it was purposeful. The difference was spiritual in nature, but so was the Dao. The power of Meteor Punch had increased significantly.
Wait.
You knew this, Jack turned to his master. You said your faction teaches the Dao of the Fist, among others. Theres no way you didnt see this coming. To you, my faults must have been clear as day. Why didnt you tell me earlier? I need every advantage I can get against Rufus.
Because the Dao is a path that must be walked by each person alone, Master Shol replied. If I had guided you too much, I would have influenced your path, and that would risk your future prospects.
Jack felt exploited.
I dont need future prospects, he protested. I need to defeat Rufus Emberheart and save my people.
Both are equally important, Master Shol replied.nôvel binz was the first platform to present this chapter.
Not to me. I would return myself to Level 1 if it meant winning tomorrow.
Hmph! You are young and foolish. I dont need to explain my actions to you.
Everyone looked at him as he spoke. Their spines stiffened, and then, they let go.
To survival, Vivi said, raising her glass.
To lifting the Systems oppression, the Sage replied as enigmatically as always, raising his glass too.
To strength, Dorman added.
To magic, Edgar said, laughing.
To victory, Jack finished, raising his glass and tipping it over. Everyone else followed. He wasnt drinking Dao-infused alcohol, so it wouldnt affect him at all. He had to remain in top shape.
The night flowed lazily. They exchanged stories about their past. Dorman entertained them with stories of his school life, finally peeking out of his shell a little, and Edgar performed a magic light show. The Sage gossiped other people in the barhe hadnt overheard anything, but he knewand told them funny trivia about the galaxy.
Vivi described scenes from her revolutionthe pleasant ones. She told them all about the great banquet theyd hosted to celebrate their victory, about the piss-drunk soldiers playing stupid pranks on each other. She had a sharp edge to her, one that sometimes caught Jack off-guard, but one he didnt dislike.
He didnt speak much that night. He mostly let the others talk, occasionally interceding with witty comments. It was a fun night. They laughed a lot, and his heart, that been tied into a knot, could finally let loose. For a few hours, he forgot the burdens on his shoulders and was simply a guy living his best life.
When midnight struck, Jack stood. I have to go now, he said. You keep having fun; just dont be late tomorrow. Ill need your cheers.
You bet! Edgar replied, smiling.
Ill go too, Vivi said, standing up. She wore a strapless white shirt, one that looked good on her.
They left together, walking towards the participants district.
This isnt the way to your hotel, Jack said with a smile.
I know, she replied. But if this is your last night in this world, I cant let you spend it alone, can I?
He laughed. Theres no way this will be my last night here, he responded.
You never know. She winked at him, and they laughed again.
***
The arena was packed harder than ever. Jack stood in the center of the stage, preparing himself for what was to come. He was at his peak. He was ready. His Dao Roots were both flaring. Whether he won or lost, he knew he would have done his best.
Looking around, it felt like every single person in Integration City had come. Many people were standing, unable to find a seat, and the wandering merchants had disappeared as they couldnt cross the crowd.
As this was the final, even the C-Grade Planetary Overseer was attending. She sat on a solitary throne close to the front of the arena, everyone pushed sixty feet around her. The only ones who were allowed close were Vocrich, the vampire of the Hand of God, and the ghost-like immortals. They all sat three rows below the overseer.
Every immortal who had taken a disciple was still here, even if their disciple had been eliminated from the tournament. They had been allowed to leave the participants district, where they were normally confined, just for this fight.
Jack saw his master watching sternly from a seat under the lioness. He also saw the lizard archmage, the cloud worm, the ascetic, and the five immortals of the Animal Kingdom, one for each scion. The leonine immortal sat proudly next to the Planetary Overseer, only one step below her.
Everybody else was present, too. The Flame River, the Ice Peak, the scions, all of Jacks allies, Karvahul, as well as every important person of Earth. Most of the tournament participants had remained, too, and Jack recognized a few faces hed spanked in the first part of the tournament.
He smiled fondly at the memoryit was a welcome break from the tension that threatened to break him. He hadnt forgotten that every single person on Earth was probably watching. The pressure was insane. Standing there without shivering was so difficult he had to use his Dao Roots to steady himself.
The head judge flew over the arena. She seemed straighter today, more formal.
Honored Planetary Overseer, distinguished immortals, brave merchants, and people of planet Earth-387, she declared officially. Today is the last day of this planets Integration Tournament. 987 fighters emerged from the planets population of eight billion, and of those, only the strongest two remain. The winner of todays final will be the face of the planet, a badge of its honor, and proof of its strength.
The crowd cheered loudly. Of course, she was only saying those things to raise up the Animal Kingdom, since Rufus Emberheart was expected to win, but everyone loved a good show.
Jack didnt mind. He knew the odds were against him, but he was confident that he at least had a chance. He would either win or go down swinging. He was ready. He looked for Rufus in the stands but didnt find him, even though the scion curtain was open.
Then, let the final battle begin! the head judge raised her voice. Rufus Emberheart and the Dao of Supremacy versus Jack Rust and the Dao of the Fist!
The crowd cheered hard.
Jack was already in the arena, and before Rufus could come down, he raised his fist. The people cheered even harder. Almost everyone present wanted him to win. He savored this knowledge.
Then, he settled down, waiting for his opponent to arrive.
And waited. And waited. And half a minute later, Rufus was still nowhere to be seen.
Chapter 94: The Last NightCongratulations! Meteor Punch I Meteor Punch IIMeteor Punch II: When meteors fall from space, they cause exponentially more damage than their size would indicate. Your punches can carry the same effect. Overdraw your bodys potential and combine it with your Dao of the Fist to unleash a devastating attack. Shoot out your punch like a meteor.The skill description hadnt changed much; just a single sentence at the end. However, Jack could now shoot out his punches like meteors. He looked at his fist for a moment, lost in thought.He didnt feel like fighting from range, actually. As useful as this new ability would be, he would rather save it for when needed, and dive head-first into the action when he could.He had to experiment, but firstSorry, Li Xiang, he said, bowing slightly to the old martial artist. I lost control of my strength for a moment.He expected a fierce rebuttal. After all, Li Xiang valued honor above all. He did not expect the light-hearted laughter that emerged from the old mans throat.There is no problem. Losing is no dishonor. You are stronger. I cannot complain.Jack smiled. He reached out a hand, and Li Xiang grabbed it to stand.Was this the breakthrough you wanted? he asked curiously.Jack shook his head. No. But it is a breakthrough.Go on, disciple, Master Shol chimed in. Test it.Jack smiled, turned, and punched. He poured his Dao into his fist, imbuing it with the purest essence of the Fist he could distill. It was unstoppable, undodgeable, inviolable. Whatever obstacle stood in his way, whatever he turned his fist at, was bound to be eradicated.The world darkened, uncontested by other Daos. The movement of Jacks hand was imprinted on everyones mind. They only saw a purple meteor shuttling through space in a graceful arc, carrying a purple tail of stars. It was beautiful.It shot out after a moment, dislodging from Jacks hand and following a straight line. Though the movement looked slow, it was fast like an arrow. It crashed into a wall with a massive explosion that rocked the room.The wall itself wasnt harmedit was built to withstand E-Grade battlesbut the explosion itself had been deafening in this narrow space. Thankfully, Brock had managed to cup his ears in time. He wouldnt be caught off guard twice.That is not the same skill my ancestor had, Master Shol said, rubbing his beard. But it is decent.Did the breakthrough make it stronger, too? Dorman wondered.Jack nodded.It was hard to pinpoint the difference between the new version and the old one. It was similar to Drill, but only superficially: where Drill was more of a technical skill, Meteor Punch had evolved with the Dao.Jack felt that his Dao was deeper, somehow, as if he had uncovered aspects of it that had been previously hidden, and he was now pouring those into the Meteor Punch as well.He had thought the fist was meant to be merely unstoppable. That he selected a target and punched out, and the target could only get out of his way or be destroyed.But that was a shallow interpretation. The fist was the carrier of his will. His punches were meant to land, not as a show of force. If he attacked someone but let them dodge, it was the same as being blocked. His fist had lost. And that could not be allowed to happen.So what if someone ran away? Could something as silly as distance stop Jacks will, mounted on his fist? Was he really so constrained in his power, to only affect the world within two feet of himself?Of course not!And as his will to destroy had seeped deeper into his fist, it also exploded harder. Before, the explosion had just been the Dao of the Fist venting angrily. Now, it was purposeful. The difference was spiritual in nature, but so was the Dao. The power of Meteor Punch had increased significantly.Wait.You knew this, Jack turned to his master. You said your faction teaches the Dao of the Fist, among others. Theres no way you didnt see this coming. To you, my faults must have been clear as day. Why didnt you tell me earlier? I need every advantage I can get against Rufus.Because the Dao is a path that must be walked by each person alone, Master Shol replied. If I had guided you too much, I would have influenced your path, and that would risk your future prospects.Jack felt exploited.I dont need future prospects, he protested. I need to defeat Rufus Emberheart and save my people.Both are equally important, Master Shol replied.novel binz was the first platform to present this chapter.Not to me. I would return myself to Level 1 if it meant winning tomorrow.Hmph! You are young and foolish. I dont need to explain my actions to you.Everyone looked at him as he spoke. Their spines stiffened, and then, they let go.To survival, Vivi said, raising her glass.To lifting the Systems oppression, the Sage replied as enigmatically as always, raising his glass too.To strength, Dorman added.To magic, Edgar said, laughing.To victory, Jack finished, raising his glass and tipping it over. Everyone else followed. He wasnt drinking Dao-infused alcohol, so it wouldnt affect him at all. He had to remain in top shape.The night flowed lazily. They exchanged stories about their past. Dorman entertained them with stories of his school life, finally peeking out of his shell a little, and Edgar performed a magic light show. The Sage gossiped other people in the barhe hadnt overheard anything, but he knewand told them funny trivia about the galaxy.Vivi described scenes from her revolutionthe pleasant ones. She told them all about the great banquet theyd hosted to celebrate their victory, about the piss-drunk soldiers playing stupid pranks on each other. She had a sharp edge to her, one that sometimes caught Jack off-guard, but one he didnt dislike.He didnt speak much that night. He mostly let the others talk, occasionally interceding with witty comments. It was a fun night. They laughed a lot, and his heart, that been tied into a knot, could finally let loose. For a few hours, he forgot the burdens on his shoulders and was simply a guy living his best life.When midnight struck, Jack stood. I have to go now, he said. You keep having fun; just dont be late tomorrow. Ill need your cheers.You bet! Edgar replied, smiling.Ill go too, Vivi said, standing up. She wore a strapless white shirt, one that looked good on her.They left together, walking towards the participants district.This isnt the way to your hotel, Jack said with a smile.I know, she replied. But if this is your last night in this world, I cant let you spend it alone, can I?He laughed. Theres no way this will be my last night here, he responded.You never know. She winked at him, and they laughed again.***The arena was packed harder than ever. Jack stood in the center of the stage, preparing himself for what was to come. He was at his peak. He was ready. His Dao Roots were both flaring. Whether he won or lost, he knew he would have done his best.Looking around, it felt like every single person in Integration City had come. Many people were standing, unable to find a seat, and the wandering merchants had disappeared as they couldnt cross the crowd.As this was the final, even the C-Grade Planetary Overseer was attending. She sat on a solitary throne close to the front of the arena, everyone pushed sixty feet around her. The only ones who were allowed close were Vocrich, the vampire of the Hand of God, and the ghost-like immortals. They all sat three rows below the overseer.Every immortal who had taken a disciple was still here, even if their disciple had been eliminated from the tournament. They had been allowed to leave the participants district, where they were normally confined, just for this fight.Jack saw his master watching sternly from a seat under the lioness. He also saw the lizard archmage, the cloud worm, the ascetic, and the five immortals of the Animal Kingdom, one for each scion. The leonine immortal sat proudly next to the Planetary Overseer, only one step below her.Everybody else was present, too. The Flame River, the Ice Peak, the scions, all of Jacks allies, Karvahul, as well as every important person of Earth. Most of the tournament participants had remained, too, and Jack recognized a few faces hed spanked in the first part of the tournament.He smiled fondly at the memoryit was a welcome break from the tension that threatened to break him. He hadnt forgotten that every single person on Earth was probably watching. The pressure was insane. Standing there without shivering was so difficult he had to use his Dao Roots to steady himself.The head judge flew over the arena. She seemed straighter today, more formal.Honored Planetary Overseer, distinguished immortals, brave merchants, and people of planet Earth-387, she declared officially. Today is the last day of this planets Integration Tournament. 987 fighters emerged from the planets population of eight billion, and of those, only the strongest two remain. The winner of todays final will be the face of the planet, a badge of its honor, and proof of its strength.The crowd cheered loudly. Of course, she was only saying those things to raise up the Animal Kingdom, since Rufus Emberheart was expected to win, but everyone loved a good show.Jack didnt mind. He knew the odds were against him, but he was confident that he at least had a chance. He would either win or go down swinging. He was ready. He looked for Rufus in the stands but didnt find him, even though the scion curtain was open.Then, let the final battle begin! the head judge raised her voice. Rufus Emberheart and the Dao of Supremacy versus Jack Rust and the Dao of the Fist!The crowd cheered hard.Jack was already in the arena, and before Rufus could come down, he raised his fist. The people cheered even harder. Almost everyone present wanted him to win. He savored this knowledge.Then, he settled down, waiting for his opponent to arrive.And waited. And waited. And half a minute later, Rufus was still nowhere to be seen.
