Priam was observing Kazuki's training. A few ters away, the hoplite warrior seamlessly executed movents with his spear. Watching the warrior expertly command his weapon and master every muscle in his body, Priam was filled with awe. There was a primal power in the hoplite's attacks that captivated him.
I want to reach that level.
For several days now, Priam had felt he was on the cusp of reaching the Micro I and was burning with the desire to achieve it. The Supremacy seed to offer not just attributes, but a preternatural mastery of the body.
There was a fundantal difference between a bodybuilder capable of lifting a hundred kilograms with sheer brute strength and an MMA fighter possessing the sa power. In a life-or-death battle, the bodybuilder would lose in ninety-nine percent of cases.
Micro further amplified this percentage.
In the background, [Priam's System] ticulously analyzed every move of the hoplite. Priam knew that his key to rapid progress was to stand on the shoulders of giants. By emulating Kazuki's techniques and skills, he aid to catch up before surpassing him.
The hoplite warrior accelerated, creating gusts of wind with effortless movents, and Priam couldn't help but smile as his perception kept up. His eyes were fixed on his rival, while [Broad-spectrum vision] and [Echolocalisation] tracked every muscle tension of the spearmaster.
A few minutes later, [Priam's System] buzzed. His skill had just compiled one of the hoplite's techniques: [Spear Slash]...
Ti to warm up.
In the heights of Log-a-rhythm, Priam and Kazuki stood on a platform created by the tree. The seven-ter radius disk dominated the clearing. Despite Camouflage, Priam had asked his tree not to raise the platform too high. If Dishnu could pierce Log-a-rhythm's camouflage, other rivals could too. There was no need to advertise their position. Above the disk was a low branch where Sphinx sharpened her claws.
Shirtless, Priam and Kazuki locked eyes. After a few monts, Kazuki nodded.
"We're going to face off until you unlock Micro I or die. The secondary goal is to use your body to the fullest and increase your mastery of the spear. I would advise against using aether skills."
Priam nodded. The rules were simple, and they suited him just fine. According to Kazuki, ten percent of Hoplites erged from this kind of combat having unlocked Micro. The rest died. [He Who Eludes Death] or not, Priam refused to lose.
He took his stance and glanced at Sphinx. "Who are you betting on, Sphinx?" he grinned.
"On you! You're the best at dying," his friend replied, her voice filled with excitent.
"... Thanks I guess?"
"You're welco!"
"Ready?" Kazuki asked.
Instead of answering, Priam closed his eyes. [Focus]. The world slowed, and secondary thoughts faded away. Nothing mattered except Prosse and Kazuki. Priam opened his eyes, and Kazuki took a combat stance.
The arena trembled as Priam's foot pressed firmly against it. [Battle Footwork].
Lvl Up: [Battle Footwork] lvl 3
AGI 2
DEXT 1
The next instant, Priam reappeared in front of his opponent and used [Unrelenting Thrust]. Calmly, Kazuki struck the shaft of Prosse just below its tip, deflecting the blow. Prosse missed the hoplite's ear by a hair, but he kept his cool.
Priam's left foot absorbed his montum. Without using [Kinetic Control], Priam physically converted the remaining acceleration into a whipping kick. Kazuki blocked, and the impact forced him back. Priam pressed his advantage with [Spear Slash]. His left hand advanced on the shaft, while his rear hand retreated. Taking a step forward, he swung Prosse in a horizontal arc. Any other arc would have allowed Kazuki to sidestep, but a mid-level horizontal attack forced him to either step back or parry.
The hoplite chose the latter option. Bringing his spear close to his body, he planted his feet and absorbed the impact with the shaft. The slash pushed him back a few centiters while Priam took a defensive stance.
Lvl Up: [Spear Slash] lvl 7
STR 1
"Your technique is good, but you should have kept attacking.
"If I had done that, I would have lost my balance," Priam remarked.
"It's dangerous if you're fighting multiple enemies. But in a one-on-one, your opponent will be in an even more precarious position. You can't win a tough fight without putting yourself at risk."
Priam nodded. "Hum, not wrong."
"I'm coming."
Seeing Priam adopt a defensive posture, Kazuki attacked. He's serious now. Thanks to his Domain, Priam felt all the force Kazuki had put into his weapon. In a real fight, he would have stopped the attack by absorbing its kinetic energy, but that didn't make sense here. He was here to progress physically.
The enemy's spear tip approached. A basic thrust. In a low guard, Priam deflected the weapon from his opponent.
Lvl Up: [Parry] lvl 5
STR 1
With a flick of the wrist, Kazuki swept his spear under Priam's and doubled his thrust. His weapon too far away, Priam had no choice but to leap backward. At the sa ti, a vibration ran through his Domain. The Champion hoplite's speed tripled, and his spear bit into Priam's right thigh.
"Fuck. What was that?" Priam said as he landed.
Kazuki stepped back, breathing heavily. "Micro."
"What? It looked like you had overclocked your body."
"I did. What did you do wrong?"
"I parried too wide," Priam analyzed.
"Exactly. Always keep the tip of your spear between you and your opponent if you don't want them to go above or below your weapon."
It was the threat of Prosse's sharp tip that kept his opponent at bay. Priam nodded and got back into position. The wound inflicted by the hoplite was inconsequential, and [Hemorrhage Resistance] was already closing it up.
Kazuki launched himself again, attempting to thrust at Priam's face. Priam blocked from below with Prosse and forced both spears into the air. The threat of Kazuki's weapon was nullified, and Priam lunged forward, thrusting toward the hoplite's neck. Kazuki didn't have ti to retract his weapon, and he decided to block the attack with his right hand.
Priam assessed his opponent in an instant. His perception revealed an opening at the hoplite's groin. At the last mont, Priam redirected Prosse. Kazuki's eyes widened before he roared. Priam's Domain felt a new vibration - his heart! - as Kazuki's skin turned red. Just as Prosse threatened to castrate him, the hoplite countered with a supersonic kick.
Priam shot back like a cannonball before absorbing his speed. He landed at the other end of the platform, a smile on his lips.
"It was close. Your descendants were lucky on this one," he teased.
"I see I've been too lenient," Kazuki smiled coldly.
The two opponents leaped at each other.
Status: (Average value for a Homo sapiens male before integration: PHY 10 / N 10 / TA 0)
PHYSICAL:
Strength 377 ( 20)
Constitution 605 ( 1)
Agility 398 ( 15)
Vitality 508
Perception 571 ( 5)
NTAL:
Vivacity 321 ( 8)
Dexterity 401 ( 17)
mory 127 ( 3)
Willpower 599
Charisma 418
TA:
ta-affinity 326
ta-focus 241 ( 8)
ta-endurance 173
ta-perception 107
ta-chance 216
ta-authority 12
Potential: 752 ( 51)
Tier 0
[He Who Eludes Death] charge: PRID.
[Tribulation]: Four Tribulations pending.
Future Tribulations delayed until:
Ti: 176 days 17 hours 56 minutes 48 seconds.
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