40 A New Skill

Once again, I controlled the Brute Energy of our surroundings to gather and fill up the invisible container inside me.

Then after it stabilized, I gathered it in my hand. Unlike the Physique Boost which only consisted of a small ball of stabilized Brute Energy, this one was at least ten times its size.

Just like how Augmented Skills were supposed to be created, I made a mental image on how this large ball of stabilized Brute Energy into something that will serve its purpose.

What I wanted is something that can dispel any type of Augmented Skills or Halo. Maybe someone already made something like this as their Augmented Skill but what I'm creating is a higher version of that, probably even higher than a Halo. This one will consist of pure stabilized Brute Energy.

Well, I still don't really get how a Halo works, I have to experience that myself before I can be sure of it.

Everything here was relying on Brute Energy, so my ability to control it was probably the strongest skill to ever exist. If I exercise a higher control towards it, maybe it can also affect the Brute Energy inside every existence that relies on it. But that is currently impossible and I have a hunch that if I really did that, the World's Will will reject my existence in this world.

I will be considered as a more serious threat than the Invading World.

I see. This Adaptability. It's not as mediocre as it seems. This is probably why it's too hard to improve this. If I continue improving it not only will I be able to control the inherent energy of a world, I might also be able to deprive anyone of it.

For now, I have to stop thinking about that and focus on what I set out to do. Dispel the enemy's Halo skill that was confusing us.

The large ball of stabilized Brute Energy on my hand slowly changed its shape. I need this to be something I can shoot accurately and only to my target. Then I guess, that's the shape I have to go to.

A bow.

Well, I have an inspiration from that certain anime. The bow is made from Spirit Energy that can shoot Spirit Arrows.

Remembering its design, the large ball of energy turned its shape to a longbow, because of its stabilized nature, the image in my head was perfectly replicated.

There's one drawback though, it only has 5 arrows.

With that large amount of Brute Energy, I can only shoot it 5 times. But right now, it's enough.

The three ladies were still holding off the 5 identical enemies and they're truly at a disadvantage. If not for the enhancement and the Physique Boost, they will probably be overwhelmed by now.

Those identical Corrupted Barbarians have all sorts of Augmented Skills which were being sent unpredictably. They could block it but because they didn't know what would be used next, it became harder to take advantage.

"Now!"

I shouted at them.

Upon hearing my voice, Ophelia, Erin and Avelin all jumped back and the enemies revealed themselves in front of me.

Wielding the bow made from the stabilized Brute Energy, I nocked the five arrows and shot them all at once.

I don't have any experience at shooting a bow but yeah, this is my Adaptability working its wonders again. The five arrows shot straight towards their targets. The unprepared Corrupted Barbarians who were not expecting a ranged attack this close hastily raised their identical weapons to block it.

They would have succeeded at blocking if not for the special nature of those arrows.

As soon as it touched their weapons, the arrows made from compressed stabilized Brute Energy seeped into their weapons like water. From the point of contact, it immediately spread throughout. Like a snake coiling through its target, it immediately enveloped not only the weapon but also everything connected to it. In other words, even if they successfully blocked it, it still spread out and covered their whole bodies in a blink.

Every one of them was affected except the Saint Realm.

Well, nothing's wrong with his appearance after all but the feeling of that energy running through his skin made him jump back in fright.

Immediately, the effect was made apparent. The identical appearances of the four Augmented Realm barbarians were dispelled.

Their original appearances which were too different from that Saint Realm were revealed to our eyes.

"W-what did you do?!"

The Corrupted Saint Realm shouted in anger. It was, after all, his Halo. To be dispelled like that by mere arrows that he didn't know whether it's an Augmented Skill or not, he became furious. And frightened.

It was an unprecedented skill that even Augmented Skill or a Halo were inferior with.

He's probably too proud of that skill of his which helped him and his underlings defeat many opponents by confusing them.

Now that their real appearances were revealed, the three ladies behind me immediately marked their target.

Before the Saint Realm could think of using his Halo again, Ophelia killed one of them using her own Halo skill which was clearly an offensive-type while they're still confused at what happened.

Then Erin injured the other one, while Avelin was blocked by her target.

Well, they're not as fast nor as strong as Ophelia that's why the results were different but this is already a satisfying outcome. 

The Saint Realm and his three underlings immediately fell back and disappeared from the battlefield. To where they will go, I don't know.

I thought of finishing them off but to retreat despite his anger, that Saint Realm is a decisive barbarian.

"Sorry, Daisuke."

Avelin apologized when she went back to my side.

"Don't mind it. You did well."

I patted her head before turning to the other two.

We're still on the battlefield and we were supposed to finish up on this side to move to the next one.

We might be doing well here but the others aren't fairing well. Some underestimated the Corrupted Barbarians when they detected their current realms or some were really weak compared to their enemies.

Now that the troublesome group of Corrupted Barbarians retreated, most Corrupted Barbarians under them followed suit which only leaves us with the Thornhogs and other Wild Beasts that were mixed in.

Well, maybe we'll be able to see them again after we moved from here. The battle is about to reach the climax, Old Man Reol was still battling it out with the two King Realm beasts. I haven't seen a fight of that level yet and I want to see what's different about the King Realms if being a Saint lets you have a Halo, what would it be like to be a King?

We fell back from the frontline and started helping the troubled squads.

Soon enough the remaining Wild Beasts and some Corrupted Barbarians who failed to retreat were all killed.

And as soon as we went back to rest, the messenger was already waiting there for me.

This guy. Can't he wait until after we rested?

"General, an urgent message. One of the Berserker Thornhogs was killed by Commander Reol, all the Generals that were spread out were told to finish off their enemies to join the Southwestern Front for a final battle against the enemies."

The messenger swiftly left after delivering his message.

As expected of the Old Man who's hiding his real prowess.

So the order was to join him in the middle of the battlefield? Ah. But these guys…

I looked sideways and saw the struggling tribesmen and slaves fighting off their enemies without their General.

"Let's go and help them."

I stood up and declared.

Well, they will be wiped out soon if I leave them there, so it's better to absorb them into our ranks before continuing on to the middle.

Ophelia relayed my orders and the response I got was a cheer from them.

Err. So they really wanted to help them. Most of the troops were slaves like them after all, they mostly know each other.

"Daisuke, you're becoming more and more like a real General."

Erin commented.

I don't know what she's talking about. What does she mean by becoming a real General? Was there a distinction about it?

She's a soldier so she probably already joined a war before and under a real General of an army. But what're the criteria for being a real deal?

I'll ask her later after the battle is over. Even with the time of rest we're taking and the Physique Boosts, our stamina was still being drained.

Well, with their whole life that was mostly filled battles, most of them still look energetic and hyped up. Some of them even reached the threshold to breakthrough from their current realm.

"Alright. Let's end the battle on this side and join up with the Old Man."

Taking out the Orb again. There's still a few minutes before the cooldown ends. This will be the final battle here so I will cover all of us and quickly finish this to join the main battlefield.

The system message about naming that new skill was still blinking in the corner of my eyes.

Well, I don't know what name will suit that. I'll think about it later. My naming skill is too poor that I'm worried it will have a name that's too bland. Even if it's only me who can see that, I want it to have a grander name.

Ah. As if I could think a better name.