Maya's eyes widened as she read the System's notification. Stunned by the news, she reacted a fraction of a second too late and Kenzo's saber stopped just a milliter short of her eye. The warrior hadn't held back, Maya had simply prepared the ground. Multiple threads, all thinner than a hair, were blocking the saber blade. These wires were stretched across the duel zone, and Maya's opponent spent his ti getting tangled up in them.
In the private training room, the two adversaries looked at each other for a mont. Without warning, Maya activated a skill and a storm of wires was unleashed. Hundreds of wires swirled around the swordsman. The eye of Maya's cyclone was the most dangerous place. Kenzo tried to defend himself, but the attack was omnidirectional.
A few light wounds began to appear as the swordsman's defensive style began to be overwheld. A second later, the warrior was immobilized: hundreds of razor-sharp wires held him at bay. One of the greatest rcenary fighters had just been easily defeated.
Maya smiled and Kenzo returned her smile.
"End of training," Maya announced, fetching a towel to wipe off her sweat. A dozen fights stopped in the next few seconds and the rcenaries left the sand arena.
Maya always insisted on selecting a sandy arena. Moving around in the sand was tiring, even more so when gravity artificially increased. In this new aether-filled world, physical exercise was never finished. The harder the training, the better the results and the greater the skills level up. Maya had already evolved [Athletics] and [Fitness] into rare skills thanks to her iron discipline and rigorous training.
"Still, it's not enough to catch up with that monster..." murmured Maya.
"Excuse , Leader?" asked Kenzo.
"Nothing. I want everyone in the conference room in five minutes," declared Maya before heading for the showers.
"YES!"
Five minutes later, Maya entered the conference room. Twenty-three rcenaries were present. All were fighters, even those in administrative positions. Humankind had around a hundred rcenaries, but Maya only took the best with her. Only the elite team was currently absent, busy trying to defeat a Viscount. Maya was confident they would succeed before the end of the eting.
The rcenary Leader walked around the central table and sat down. She took a second to organize her thoughts before speaking.
"I won't keep you long. You've all seen the global announcent. Priam, humanitys champion, has received a second Completion. This ti, he survived after resisting the wrath of a god."
Maya marked a second of silence.
"In light of this news, a policy change is in order. The rcenaries are neutral, but we are not pacifists. Quoting from the System, 'Priam Azura refused to obey the tyranny of a minor god.' Which ans he was attacked first. The Cult of Viracocha - since that's them we're talking about - lost its right to neutrality. Paolo, what are our options?" Maya asked her assistant.
He stood up and pretended to read a file. Maya rolled her eyes. She knew her assistant knew its contents by heart.
"An attack on the Champion of Humanity is an attack on humanity. If the majority of this assembly agrees, we can order a Hunt."
Exclamations erupted as Paolo sat back. For two minutes, various rcenaries shouted to be heard. The question wasn't whether they should remain neutral - they all admired Maya enough to join her.
The real question was whether they should start a Hunt: the total annihilation of the Cult. It ant actively invading Viracocha to execute Anatole and all allied factions - including the most important, the Revenants.
After two minutes of heated debate, Maya clapped her hands and the assembly fell silent.
"I think most of these questions are pointless," she said. "Priam is at direct war with the Revenants. They've practically rged with the Cult of Viracocha. At least Anatole is the leader of both factions. This war is the crucible in which Priam will be reforged. If he succeeds, we'll have an exceptional champion. If not, the Revenants will be weakened," said Maya. She swept her gaze over the assembly.
"In the anti, let's focus on our objectives. We have no ti to lose. If humanity survives this Reunion, later will co the eting of Civilizations. We must be ready."
The assistant opened his notebook. "Concerning the Revenants, our final position?"
"No Hunt," Maya decided. "But they are declared enemies of the rcenaries and will be executed on sight. Any faction that collaborates with them will suffer the consequences."
Status: (Average value for a Homo sapiens male before integration: PHY 10 / N 10 / TA 0)
PHYSICAL:
Strength 130
Constitution 197
Agility 146
Vitality 212
Perception 279
NTAL:
Vivacity 168
Dexterity 153
mory 38
Willpower 187
Charisma 135
TA:
ta-affinity 118
ta-focus 85
ta-endurance 61
ta-perception 7
ta-chance 114
Potential: 736
Tier 0
[He Who Eludes Death] charge: PRID.
[Tribulation]: Tribulations are coming.
Ti: 24 hours 2 minutes 16 seconds.
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