"Take more of my blows, kid!" the cloaked man bellowed, dashing forward with a roar. His war axe carved the air in a wide arc.
SWOOSH
Tempest stepped in, dodging the cloaked man's sweep as he brandished his sword and striking it towards his chest like a spear, the other ready to block incoming attacks from his flank. Seeing this, the cloaked man sidestepped as he spun without pause, borrowing the momentum from his spin, the cloaked man swunged downward towards tempest.
DANG
Tempest caught the war axe head on, the ground beneath him cracked, a testament on how heavy the axe is. He caught the blade by crossing his swords. But blocking such an attack was not without a price, more blood vessels ruptured beneath Tempest's skin. The strain in holding this attack was taking a toll on Tempest's body, but even more so with his mental energy. After all, he was only able to hang on due to his willpower. In this short exchange, a panel abrubtly appeared before him and disappeared briefly just as it appeared.
[Notice]
You have learned parry.
This short exchange was proof on how weak is Tempest's virtual body, sure the system can simulate his body but it is unable to simulate its toughness. The bodies of martial artists can't be underestimated but such endurance is meaningless in this world. They have to start from scratch if they wish to make their virtual bodies stronger.
After Tempest blocked the attack, the cloaked man backed off a few feet back, he then dashed straight and jumped toward him with a roar while raising his war axe high. The ground on which he jumped from caved a few meters in. Tempest watched all these unfold while catching his breath, when the cloaked man was nearing on him, he rolled to the side as the cloaked man landed, sending a wave of dust cloud around. Simultaneously, Tempest brandished his twin swords, sending a hundred strikes toward the cloaked man before he could recover.
In the same breath, he backed off 5 yards away, for what though? Well Tempest have already pushed the limits his virtual body can handle. His sight was blurring all around as the fatique was finally taking a toll on him, while blood was unendingly flowing out from the pores of his arms.
[Notice]
You have created skill [Hundred Strikes]
[Hundred Strikes] (1)
Send a hundred strikes to your opponent in one second, dealing 15% more physical damage.
[Notice]
Your body have Improved greatly. Your stats have increased by 10.
[Statistics]
Strength: 13
Endurance: 12
Agility: 15
Multiple panels appeared before him in quick succession and faded after the system felt Tempest have fully absorbed the information. His endurance and agility have one extra point due to him successfully blocking the cloaked man's ambush. All players start with the same stats, no special privellages or whatsoever. To visualize, imagine the average punch force is 60 - 80kg and the transfer force is 10 - 30kg as the strength stat, if it is risen to one point, the difference is worlds apart. The punch force would double from 60 - 80kg to 120 - 160kg, and the transfer force would be 20 - 60kg.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
With all these aside, Tempest is still heavily injured. He was kneeling in the ground gasping for air while mentally complaining. 'We only exchanged a few moves and this body have already collapsed?!' He was inwardly raising and hammering his fist against the system. "Kid, you actually scratched me" a voice sounded in front of him as he saw a bloodied figure in the distance, cuts were all around him but the bleeding has long ended. 'You call that a scratch?!' Tempest inwardly screamed in disbelief as he looked at the cloaked man, still gasping for air. As if reading his thoughts "Its just surface injury, nothing serious" the cloaked man replied while grinning.
[Unique Quest Complete] (2/5)
Survive 3 exchange from the cloaked man.
[Unique Quest Complete] (3/5)
Arouse his fighting spirit.
Total Quest Reward:
2 reputation, 270 exp, Ring of Resistance.
A milky light enveloped Tempest briefly before disappearing. In the same breath, a ring materialized in his right index finger. It was inconspicious looking and midnight blue in color.
[Notice]
You have leveled up. 10x
[Ring of Resistance] (Crystal-Gold Rank)
Increase defenses by 50%
Reduce damage taken by 25%
Active Skill: Iron Will
Breaks free from any restrictive skill below while being immune to damage. Has a chance to break free from Epic Rank restrictive skills.
Duration: ten seconds
Cooldown: one minute and thirty seconds.
Active Skill: Clarity
Breaks free from any illusion or mental attacks, increases mental clarity and Increases resistance to illusion magic.
Duration: twenty-five seconds
Cooldown: five minutes
As these series of panels appeared one after another, it disappeared after a couple of moments. Panels never stay for too long when the player is in a combat state. And players get full heal if they successfully level up, a bonus regeneration status if they level up more than once and the status effect stacks. Right now, Tempest is back at his peak condition but his gloomy expression says otherwise. "Oho, it seems like you evolved in the middle of our duel!" The cloaked man said as he slowly walked towards Tempest, his grin becoming wider and wider the more he closed in to him, he was still in a kneeling position.
[Regeneration] (Duration: Ten minutes)
Greatly enhances the player's healing capabilities and regrows limbs.
Seeing this panel, Tempest's expression became even gloomier. "Come, let's fight more!" The cloaked man brandished his war axe as he dashed towards him. 'Crap, why did I even follow this guy?!?' Tempest inwardly complained, he jerked back up and in the same breath he sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the cloaked man's war axe. Tempest then sent a rapid slash behind the cloaked man in quick succession, without pause the cloaked man quickly turned around blocking Tempest's strikes using the massive blade of his war axe.
[Notice]
You have learned the skill [Rapid Slash]
[Rapid Slash] (1)
Sends multiple strikes in quick succession, depends on the player's agility.
These two panels briefly appeared and disappeared just as fast as it appeared. The two parties backed away from each other as they had a staring showdown, whoever relaxed the slightest bit will lose in this exchange. Tempest, the unlucky beginner he is first relaxed, how can he help it? He's still getting used to this new body. The cloaked man saw this and immediately dashed forward, brandishing his war axe, how can he let this opportunity go? Even a lion uses its full strength in catching a rabbit. Tempest immediately used [Parry], he knew full well the mistake he made.
PENG
Sparks came flying around as Tempest's twin blades and the cloaked man's war axe collided once more. Tempest gritted his teeth, his arms were numb once more but it was faring better than their earlier clash, of course this numb feeling immediately disappeared as the status effect hadn't ended yet.
[Regeneration] (Duration: nine minutes and fifty-six seconds)
Fine-Copper Rank
Sharp-Iron Rank
Mist-Bronze Rank
Winter-Silver Rank
Deep-Gold Rank
Crystal-Gold Rank
Epic Rank
Legendary Rank
