Exquisite Mana Control I

"..."

My current template was a surprise to me. I hurriedly went through it all, and genuinely, I was impressed.

All the while, the opponent had already appeared, and was ready for battle. It was child-like, and humanoid like all the other spirits I met. They were cute.

It's body was made up of transparent gray matter. So transparent, one could barely see through its existence.

It seemed like it was blending in with the world, without even trying to. Such an impressive constitution.

It's expression was also null. No anger, no joy, no serenity, just blank. I could not think of a proper description for it, but it was blank.

Not even a dead person's expression was as blank as this spirit. Nor a completely broken person inside-out could compare.

"Well. Let's just end this." Big brother Damien said from the side. His voice contained a hint of disappointment, but it was barely obvious.

"No, wait." I stopped him.

"Hm?"

"Can I..." I took a very deep breathe of air, and determination flashed threw my face. Or that is what I thought was observable through my expression. "Can I fight it?"

I finally suggested.

"..."

I know I was not really that strong, but I believe I could at least try. It was better than nothing after all. So, I wanted to hear his opinion on this matter.

"Sure." He nodded. Then he added, "Have you obtained the three other Stats?"

I nodded my head with a, "Yes." And he began explaining them to me. More like a brief summary.

"INT or Intelligence there, stands for magical damage. And WIS or Wisdom, represents magic defense. Ignore the AFF or Affinity for now. Anyway, for the current you, it's useless. But always keep that in mind." He added.

I see. So that's what it stands for?

I am guessing STR stands for physical damage, or just my pure physical might. Then AGI was for my speed and response? And END for physical damage defense?

I asked him for verification, and he nodded with a light smile of approval. I get it now. Thank you, and Damien...

I won't disappoint you.

"..."

He did not respond to my words. He just stood there, his hands crossed before his chest and watched me walk towards the spirit.

Whoo~

This will be a bit hectic, but hey, it's not like I've never been trained for combat sports or anything. I'm not that stiff. Physically nor mentally.

I checked my soroundings, and asserted that there was enough space for tens of people. And the environment was just an open space, the mountains being tens of meters back.

Everything was perfect.

The only factor I should be careful of, is the spirit's ability. I know nothing of it for now, hence I must be careful at all times.

"..."

"..."

We both stared at each other for a moment. And as if in synchronization, we both burst towards one another at frightening subsonic speed.

I was able to burst forth with all my might, covering tens of meters with a step. The spirit likewise did the same, but I was still faster.

Yet still cautious.

I was able to reach it first, and hurriedly stretched out my hand to grab onto it. Of course, I was ready for any ability it would unleash.

Hence, my hands were laid with Mana, slightly causing invisible blue waves of hue to twist around my palm.

Not sure how devastating it would be, but surely... it would deal some intended damage. Especially to a spirit.

Right?

*** Narrative ***

Damien watched as Juliette walked towards the spirit. His expression was null, or rather stoic. But deep within his eyes, was a blazing will of curiosity.

He knew her too well.

She might not have had the constitution to be a warrior, or had the determination to be one back then, but now, she did.

The circumstances they were sorounded with, and exposed to the past thirteen minutes, have changed her. As well as the enhancement from the level ups.

Her body was now pretty much stronger than even third generational humans. She also had the wonderful new power of Mana.

Adding on the teachings she had from his parents and himself, she was at least capable of self defense. Of course, even fighting to an extent was possible.

Thus he was not that much worried.

Especially so, when the opponents here did not have much experience themselves. In simple terms, this was the newbie stage, and she would be alright.

'Hopefully.' He added within his thoughts, not the least doubtful that she would win. Yet still watching her every movement carefully, just in case.

Damien continued watching as Juliette rushed towards the Voidborne spirit. 'Oh? She decided on frontal attack?' He thought, curious on how the battle would develop.

Meanwhile, Juliette continued her charge towards the spirit. And the spirit itself rushed over towards her as well. Both were like bulls charging towards each other in terms of momentum.

Or more likely, a bull and a calf.

Juliette was larger, and faster than the spirit. Hence she reached the spirit first, and threw a palm strike towards her opponent.

Damien could feel the otherworldly aura around her palm, which he attested to Mana. Her talent with Mana was proven in this lifetime as well, mastering it in just minutes.

He continued watching the battle.

The spirit did not think much about the palm strike, and casually avoided it by sidestepping towards the left.

"..."

Damien could see the flaw in the spirit's mentality. Unlike the angel, and the first spirit, it was clearly not as intelligent and thoughtful.

The most probable move would have been to stay back, and let the opponent reach it first. Of course, Juliette might have changed her tactic, were she to realize that the opponent was smart.

Unfortunately for it, it was not smart.

Right as her palm strike missed its target, Juliette did not falter. She slightly pulled back towards the opposite direction the spirit side-stepped to.

This way, she had more time to fix her posture. But most importantly, she had done her part, and only had to wait for the opponent to bite the bait.

And it did.

Just as Juliette pulled back, with a slightly flustered expression, the spirit pushed on. It attacked with a barrage of fists and kicks towards Juliette.

Who managed to barely dodge the majority of the attacks, a few striking her. Damien all the while, watched in silence, hands crossed, expression cold.

Juliette though, continued being pushed back. Her expression unsightly. A mixture of pain, and annoyance clear to anyone watching.

The spirit also continued its relentless attacks. That was so, until Juliette unexpectedly avoided a rather casual punch from the spirit.

"..."

When it felt its fist not make contact with the opponent's flesh, the spirit's mind temporarily went blank. As far as it knew, the same punch that it threw, had always landed on its target.

So why did it not land now? Was the opponent getting used to its attack pattern?

It thought, and settled on that thought.

Pity, for Juliette had long since stretched out her hand towards the small arm of the spirit. It's arm was black, and slightly transparent, giving out the impression that this spirit was ghostly.

But even then, even when everyone knew that spirits were clearly intangible. Even when Juliette also knew that from experience, she still attempted to grab the little guy's hand.

And contrary to expectations... she succeeded. Even she did not expect this to work, but it did.

'Indeed. Mana is one of the few ways a person, or rather, a mortal could interact with spirits or even ghosts. Under normal circumstances, without Mana, it's impossible.' Damien thought, but did not say it out loud.

He was glad Juliette was learning more about spirits by herself, and also Mana. She was adapting. Instead of just fighting, she was also gaining experience.

'It works.' Juliette was also quite happy of her discovery. But happiness aside, she knew that she was still in the midst of a battle.

Hence the moment she grabbed onto the spirit's arm, she only paused briefly, then forcefully turned it to face her direction.

When the still-shocked spirit was forced to turn around, and before it could register what was going on, a powerful palm strike hit straight on the center of its chest.

The Mana, the single unit of Mana circulating around her palm was sent through the spirit's body, and delt more damage, enhancing her strength by 0,1%.

"..."

The spirit was forced two to three steps back, and then slightly trembled. Realization struck it, as the palm strike woke it up completely.

It was hit!!

It was actually hit by a mortal!!

Clearly infuriated by the gall of the women before it, the spirit looked up at her defiantly. Unfortunately for god knows who, Juliette was a ruthless young woman too.

She always tapped into her feminine energy, but she was still raised by a family of murderers. She had a bit of blood thirst within her.

...!!!

The spirit was met with a barrage of palm combos. On its chest, on its face, on its shoulders, on its stomach... was palm, palm, and more palms. It was not spared at all.