Derrick and Blithe confronted each other with clear intent to kill. Derrick took a defensive position while Blithe leaned forward and asserted his dominance with a wave of violent spirituality. Both men understood that any conversation between them is meaningless. Neither side was willing to open up to the other and listen to their perspective. As such, their differences could only be resolved through strength.
Derrick's plan was to purposely disrupt the flow of his spirituality to create fake "openings" that his opponent would exploit. He would then counter attack with a fully-empowered blow of his original application ability, [Overflow], to completely incapacitate the mad priest. He knew that such a blow would never kill him, but it was enough to at least give him some time to regroup with the others.
Blithe, however, would never fall for such a foolish trick. It was basic knowledge among combatants in The Hole that an opponent's intentions and movement can be read through their spiritual flow. Amateur Magic users often telegraph their attacks by concentrating their spirituality into a medium before they launch the attack, but skillful individuals can use faint sporadic changes in their spiritual flow to make their attacks more unpredictable. As a Rank 5 Soldier, Blithe had seen his fair share of tricks, and Derrick was a bad liar.
The long silence in the room was suddenly shattered when Blithe took the initiative and attacked Derrick Foster. He pressed his toes deep into the ground, shattering the thick layer of stone before launching the fragments forwards with a single kick. The shards of stone flew through the air like piercing bullets, but Derrick dodged the majority of the stones. He was only left with a few holes riddled through his right arm that easily regenerated.
Despite Derrick’s nimble evasion, Blithe was always one step ahead. Derrick was forced onto the defensive as Blithe’s rapid assault overwhelmed his perception. The unnatural dexterity and predictive ability of Blithe was not simply due to extensive combat experience, but an application ability!
[Bloodhound] - an application ability that allows Blithe to gather any and all information about a particular target or large area via sense of smell. From a target’s sex, tribe, habitat, ancestry, and DNA to their smallest habits and proclivities, no piece of information is secure against Blithe.
This ability gives Blithe a constant advantage against the young Derrick, as Blithe is familiar with every single habit and evasive maneuver Derrick would make in advance. It is practically a weaker version of future-sight.
Derrick couldn’t keep up with the Solari’s relentless attacks. With each attack he unleashed, Blithe unleashed a deadly counter. His lungs were punctured, his fingers were bent backwards, and his limbs were cut off with deadly precision. However, he used his regeneration to his advantage by producing corpse bombs with every counter. At the exact moment of injury, Derrick intentionally overwhelmed his healing factor to create miniature explosions from his own body. They moderately damaged Blithe, but it wasn’t enough to truly put him down.
Tsk, he’s predicting my every move. If I stick to ordinary hand-to-hand combat, I’ll be killed!
He changed his approach to combat upon gauging the difference in power between the enemy and himself. He disabled his spirit-flames, along with his body-enhancement magic, and expanded his ‘Authority’ with the necessary hand signs.
An 'Authority' has three distinct functions—protection, isolation, and amplification. Protection is the most common application of an 'Authority'. Erecting a defensive barrier is far more energy-efficient than enhancing ones own technique with amplification or trapping an opponent in with isolation.
However, Derrick was in no position to defend himself or trap Blithe Tellow. His only option was to press the attack.
As Derrick stood his ground and steeled himself for battle, he enhanced his application ability to its maximum capabilities. His true application did not lie within the explosions themselves, but in his abnormal regeneration. Within his ‘Authority,’ [Garden of Everlasting Paradise - Eden], Derrick is effectively immortal.
Blithe noticed the intense, blooming energy within Derrick and countered with his own defensive ‘Authority.’ Rather than enhancing his innate technique, he formed a thin, moldable barrier around himself in the form of a miniature ‘Authority.’
An ‘Authority’ hm? The hand signs and barrier formation is still incomplete, but erecting an ‘Authority’ is an impressive feat regardless. I’ll disrupt his technique with my own ‘Authority’ and finish him off with a decapitating slice. He won’t be able to maintain his form without his brain managing his spiritual flow.
Blithe wasted no time in closing the distance. He unleashed a flurry of crushing blows onto Derrick, yet the boy regenerated even faster from the damage. It almost seemed instantaneous.
“…?!”
Suddenly, he felt a strange sensation crept onto his ankle. Something restrained, disturbing his focus and allowing Derrick to counter attack.
Though Derrick’s punch knocked him off balance, it wasn’t enough to cause him significant damage. He shook himself free from the bind and looked down at the object in question.
It…was a hand?
Pow!
Blithe was hit with yet another punch to his face. Then it was his stomach, then the knees, then his right arm. For the first time, he was overwhelmed in combat.
In a desperate attempt at regaining control of the fight, he leaped backwards, separating himself from Derrick. He took a moment to regain his breath before looking at the boy in awe.
Blithe’s eyes widened in astonishment as he observed the three identical Derricks standing before him. His mind raced to comprehend the sudden duplication, his thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and disbelief.
This technique…is it duplication?! I’ll admit that it’s an impressive skill. This ‘Authority’ seems to extend the target of his regeneration outward, allowing him to create very clones at will.
Undeterred by Derrick’s oppressive technique, Blithe recited a familiar chant to enhance the effects of [Bloodhound]. “Flashing Light. Crashing Waves. Erratic Purification. Invisible World.” Upon uttering the incantation, his spirituality erupted like a volcano. The vast volume of spiritual energy was enough to weigh down Derrick, even in his own ‘Authority.’
The mad priest wiped the blood from his nose before saying, “I’m going to kill you.”
Derrick, under the intoxicating effects of adrenaline, replied with a confident smirk, “Try me.”
As the three Derricks stood before him, Blithe tensed, his muscles coiled like springs as he prepared for the onslaught. With a burst of speed, the clones lunged forward in unison, their movements synchronized with eerie precision.
Blithe's instincts kicked into overdrive as he met the first clone head-on, his fists a blur as he unleashed a barrage of devastating blows. With each strike, he shattered the illusionary form of Derrick, dispersing it into nothingness.
But even as he dispatched one clone, the other two closed in, their attacks relentless and unforgiving. Blithe fought with all his might, his movements fluid and calculated as he dodged and countered with pinpoint accuracy.
The air crackled with energy as the battle raged on, each clash sending shockwaves rippling through the ‘Authority.’ Derrick’s barrier, and his effective immortality, would last no longer than 30 seconds. Blithe's strength and speed were unmatched, but the sheer number of clones threatened to overwhelm him at every turn.
Just when it seemed like he was on the brink of exhaustion, Blithe saw an opening—a faint glimmer of hesitation in one of the clones' eyes. With lightning-fast reflexes, he seized the opportunity, feinting to the left before launching a devastating counterattack. The clone's defenses crumbled in an instant, unable to withstand the ferocity of Blithe's assault. With a resounding crash, it dissipated into nothingness, leaving only one Derrick remaining.
This child…he has managed to make me use my full power. If I do not end this decisively, then I’ll be the one to die!
The two combatants prepared for their final attack. Derrick leaned in for a right straight, and Blithe did the same.
This boy is a fool. Does he not know that my fist will reach him first? Even with his incredible regeneration, my defensive ‘Authority’ will completely disrupt his healing, killing him in the process. Just as Blithe decided that victory was assured, a sudden “unease” enveloped his mind. However, he shrugged off the feeling as irrational. Hesitation now would mean defeat.
Blithe’s strike hit the boy first. The intense force tore his skin and sent his teeth flying. However, Derrick shifted his body weight downwards at the last moment, redirecting some of the force away from him.
I knew it! An obvious faint, but it’s too slow! Your spiritual reserves are next to zero. I win! Blithe readied himself for his last attack. As his fist came crashing towards the earth, Derrick seemingly vanished from sight.
"?!"
Derrick’s position was unnaturally low. He didn’t even bother using his hands to defend against the attack because he knew such a thing would be pointless. If he truly wanted to survive this fight, then he needed to gamble his life.
[What are you willing to gain and what are you willing to lose?]
The familiar words of Elizabeth Abraham danced in his mind.
I think I understand what you mean, Elizabeth. This gamble…really is thrilling. It is terrifying.
In an instant, Derrick twisted his body as fast as he could and performed an inverted kick over his head. He used his two hands to support his body as his left foot sliced through the air like a stingray’s strike. In the human world, the technique was known as “Rabo de arraia."
Though Blithe believed that Derrick was defenseless, he was only half right. Derrick purposely directed his spirituality from his body and concentrated his energy entirely in his left leg, allowing for a one-hit kill.
The kick tore through the air as his heel crashed into the mad priest’s face. The impact contorted his face, sending the man flying through numerous walls.
With the end of the gamble, Derrick emerged victorious, his ‘Authority’ dissipating into the ether as he stood alone in the aftermath of the fierce battle. Using his latent abilities, he sensed a spark of spirituality still flowing inside of the formidable Blithe Tellow.
You’re still alive, so give your actions some thought while you have the chance.
Derrick and Blithe confronted each other with clear intent to kill. Derrick took a defensive position while Blithe leaned forward and asserted his dominance with a wave of violent spirituality. Both men understood that any conversation between them is meaningless. Neither side was willing to open up to the other and listen to their perspective. As such, their differences could only be resolved through strength.
Derrick's plan was to purposely disrupt the flow of his spirituality to create fake "openings" that his opponent would exploit. He would then counter attack with a fully-empowered blow of his original application ability, [Overflow], to completely incapacitate the mad priest. He knew that such a blow would never kill him, but it was enough to at least give him some time to regroup with the others.
Blithe, however, would never fall for such a foolish trick. It was basic knowledge among combatants in The Hole that an opponent's intentions and movement can be read through their spiritual flow. Amateur Magic users often telegraph their attacks by concentrating their spirituality into a medium before they launch the attack, but skillful individuals can use faint sporadic changes in their spiritual flow to make their attacks more unpredictable. As a Rank 5 Soldier, Blithe had seen his fair share of tricks, and Derrick was a bad liar.
The long silence in the room was suddenly shattered when Blithe took the initiative and attacked Derrick Foster. He pressed his toes deep into the ground, shattering the thick layer of stone before launching the fragments forwards with a single kick. The shards of stone flew through the air like piercing bullets, but Derrick dodged the majority of the stones. He was only left with a few holes riddled through his right arm that easily regenerated.
Despite Derrick’s nimble evasion, Blithe was always one step ahead. Derrick was forced onto the defensive as Blithe’s rapid assault overwhelmed his perception. The unnatural dexterity and predictive ability of Blithe was not simply due to extensive combat experience, but an application ability!
[Bloodhound] - an application ability that allows Blithe to gather any and all information about a particular target or large area via sense of smell. From a target’s sex, tribe, habitat, ancestry, and DNA to their smallest habits and proclivities, no piece of information is secure against Blithe.
This ability gives Blithe a constant advantage against the young Derrick, as Blithe is familiar with every single habit and evasive maneuver Derrick would make in advance. It is practically a weaker version of future-sight.
Derrick couldn’t keep up with the Solari’s relentless attacks. With each attack he unleashed, Blithe unleashed a deadly counter. His lungs were punctured, his fingers were bent backwards, and his limbs were cut off with deadly precision. However, he used his regeneration to his advantage by producing corpse bombs with every counter. At the exact moment of injury, Derrick intentionally overwhelmed his healing factor to create miniature explosions from his own body. They moderately damaged Blithe, but it wasn’t enough to truly put him down.
Tsk, he’s predicting my every move. If I stick to ordinary hand-to-hand combat, I’ll be killed!
He changed his approach to combat upon gauging the difference in power between the enemy and himself. He disabled his spirit-flames, along with his body-enhancement magic, and expanded his ‘Authority’ with the necessary hand signs.
An 'Authority' has three distinct functions—protection, isolation, and amplification. Protection is the most common application of an 'Authority'. Erecting a defensive barrier is far more energy-efficient than enhancing ones own technique with amplification or trapping an opponent in with isolation.
However, Derrick was in no position to defend himself or trap Blithe Tellow. His only option was to press the attack.
As Derrick stood his ground and steeled himself for battle, he enhanced his application ability to its maximum capabilities. His true application did not lie within the explosions themselves, but in his abnormal regeneration. Within his ‘Authority,’ [Garden of Everlasting Paradise - Eden], Derrick is effectively immortal.
Blithe noticed the intense, blooming energy within Derrick and countered with his own defensive ‘Authority.’ Rather than enhancing his innate technique, he formed a thin, moldable barrier around himself in the form of a miniature ‘Authority.’
An ‘Authority’ hm? The hand signs and barrier formation is still incomplete, but erecting an ‘Authority’ is an impressive feat regardless. I’ll disrupt his technique with my own ‘Authority’ and finish him off with a decapitating slice. He won’t be able to maintain his form without his brain managing his spiritual flow.
Blithe wasted no time in closing the distance. He unleashed a flurry of crushing blows onto Derrick, yet the boy regenerated even faster from the damage. It almost seemed instantaneous.
“…?!”
Suddenly, he felt a strange sensation crept onto his ankle. Something restrained, disturbing his focus and allowing Derrick to counter attack.
Though Derrick’s punch knocked him off balance, it wasn’t enough to cause him significant damage. He shook himself free from the bind and looked down at the object in question.
It…was a hand?
Pow!
Blithe was hit with yet another punch to his face. Then it was his stomach, then the knees, then his right arm. For the first time, he was overwhelmed in combat.
In a desperate attempt at regaining control of the fight, he leaped backwards, separating himself from Derrick. He took a moment to regain his breath before looking at the boy in awe.
Blithe’s eyes widened in astonishment as he observed the three identical Derricks standing before him. His mind raced to comprehend the sudden duplication, his thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and disbelief.
This technique…is it duplication?! I’ll admit that it’s an impressive skill. This ‘Authority’ seems to extend the target of his regeneration outward, allowing him to create very clones at will.
Undeterred by Derrick’s oppressive technique, Blithe recited a familiar chant to enhance the effects of [Bloodhound]. “Flashing Light. Crashing Waves. Erratic Purification. Invisible World.” Upon uttering the incantation, his spirituality erupted like a volcano. The vast volume of spiritual energy was enough to weigh down Derrick, even in his own ‘Authority.’
The mad priest wiped the blood from his nose before saying, “I’m going to kill you.”
Derrick, under the intoxicating effects of adrenaline, replied with a confident smirk, “Try me.”
As the three Derricks stood before him, Blithe tensed, his muscles coiled like springs as he prepared for the onslaught. With a burst of speed, the clones lunged forward in unison, their movements synchronized with eerie precision.
Blithe's instincts kicked into overdrive as he met the first clone head-on, his fists a blur as he unleashed a barrage of devastating blows. With each strike, he shattered the illusionary form of Derrick, dispersing it into nothingness.
But even as he dispatched one clone, the other two closed in, their attacks relentless and unforgiving. Blithe fought with all his might, his movements fluid and calculated as he dodged and countered with pinpoint accuracy.
The air crackled with energy as the battle raged on, each clash sending shockwaves rippling through the ‘Authority.’ Derrick’s barrier, and his effective immortality, would last no longer than 30 seconds. Blithe's strength and speed were unmatched, but the sheer number of clones threatened to overwhelm him at every turn.
Just when it seemed like he was on the brink of exhaustion, Blithe saw an opening—a faint glimmer of hesitation in one of the clones' eyes. With lightning-fast reflexes, he seized the opportunity, feinting to the left before launching a devastating counterattack. The clone's defenses crumbled in an instant, unable to withstand the ferocity of Blithe's assault. With a resounding crash, it dissipated into nothingness, leaving only one Derrick remaining.
This child…he has managed to make me use my full power. If I do not end this decisively, then I’ll be the one to die!
The two combatants prepared for their final attack. Derrick leaned in for a right straight, and Blithe did the same.
This boy is a fool. Does he not know that my fist will reach him first? Even with his incredible regeneration, my defensive ‘Authority’ will completely disrupt his healing, killing him in the process. Just as Blithe decided that victory was assured, a sudden “unease” enveloped his mind. However, he shrugged off the feeling as irrational. Hesitation now would mean defeat.
Blithe’s strike hit the boy first. The intense force tore his skin and sent his teeth flying. However, Derrick shifted his body weight downwards at the last moment, redirecting some of the force away from him.
I knew it! An obvious faint, but it’s too slow! Your spiritual reserves are next to zero. I win! Blithe readied himself for his last attack. As his fist came crashing towards the earth, Derrick seemingly vanished from sight.
"?!"
Derrick’s position was unnaturally low. He didn’t even bother using his hands to defend against the attack because he knew such a thing would be pointless. If he truly wanted to survive this fight, then he needed to gamble his life.
[What are you willing to gain and what are you willing to lose?]
The familiar words of Elizabeth Abraham danced in his mind.
I think I understand what you mean, Elizabeth. This gamble…really is thrilling. It is terrifying.
In an instant, Derrick twisted his body as fast as he could and performed an inverted kick over his head. He used his two hands to support his body as his left foot sliced through the air like a stingray’s strike. In the human world, the technique was known as “Rabo de arraia."
Though Blithe believed that Derrick was defenseless, he was only half right. Derrick purposely directed his spirituality from his body and concentrated his energy entirely in his left leg, allowing for a one-hit kill.
The kick tore through the air as his heel crashed into the mad priest’s face. The impact contorted his face, sending the man flying through numerous walls.
With the end of the gamble, Derrick emerged victorious, his ‘Authority’ dissipating into the ether as he stood alone in the aftermath of the fierce battle. Using his latent abilities, he sensed a spark of spirituality still flowing inside of the formidable Blithe Tellow.
You’re still alive, so give your actions some thought while you have the chance.
