Awakening In More Ways Than One

Grimwald lifted his arm and blocked an incoming kick. As his body began to bend from the impact, he came to a shocking realization, 'He's growing stronger?!'

The effect of [Adrenaline] was kicking in! Despite its description, it wasn't as powerful as it seemed at a glance.

When Wrock took damage, it didn't increase all his Stats equally. Instead the conversion acted very similarly to Stat Points. The moment it was converted, it would be evenly distributed to his Stats.

For an example: If Wrock took 500 damage, it did not increase all his Stats by 500. Rather it distributed 500 points to all his Stats. Essentially giving himself a boost of 100 Stat points.

Regardless, the Skill was still immensely powerful. With the damage Wrock received during the battle, his Stats received a generous increase. Along with the additional 40% increase from [Battle Stance], Wrock's power nearly doubled!

His figure blurred as he delivered four swift punches. Grimwald gritted his teeth as he took the blows. Forcing his body to move he punched in an effort to counter attack.

Wrock spun to dodge the blow and retaliated with a powerful kick to the stomach. Grimwald nearly doubled over as he was forced back from the power.

"Am I still not a match now?", Wrock teased.

"It's good to know you haven't spent all this time twiddling your thumbs."

"My thumbs didn't need the exercise."

"Regardless, it's still not enough."

Grimwald clapped his hands and an illusion of four gates appeared behind him. Wrock wasn't about to let this occur without resistance. Swinging his arm embers of a blue flame trailed behind his hand. Suddenly feathers of a blue flame formed from the embers and shot forward.

{Spirit of the Phoenix: Feather Volley}!

Grimwald roared and the gates opened. A powerful energy burst forth and destroyed the feathers.

Temporarily blinded by the energy Wrock shielded his eyes. As the light dimmed Grimwald's figure came to view. His shirt was blown away, revealing an incredibly well built body. A tattoo of a large gate was on his back, chains wrapping around it. His fists suddenly gained glowing wrappings, the loose ends hovered.

Grimwald clenched his hand into a fist, "The Taoist Trail holds four gates. Fist of the Northern Gate. Palm of the Western Gate. Knee of the Eastern Gate. And Foot of the Southern Gate."

Slowly entering a stance Grimwald continued, "Upon mastering the four gates those who follow the Taoist Trail have the ability to open these Gates. Granting us a wonderful power."

Wrock watched him cautiously, "So you've opened four gates."

"To put it simply."

"Intriguing, this is where your confidence comes from?"

"No, it comes from the knowledge that you won't be able to contest with it."

As soon as Grimwald finished his sentence his figure vanished. Wrock suddenly found a fist appearing in his gut, the force sending him crashing towards the wall.

Grimwald's figure flickered as he seeming teleported behind Wrock. He then buried his knee into Wrock's back, a sickening crack could be heard.

Wrock tumbled across the ground. As he slowed to a stop he trembled as he stood, "Ugh, what a power boost."

"You understand where I'm coming from now?"

"Yeah, but it's not an impossible hurdle."

"That's where you're wrong."

Wrock suddenly lifted his arms to guard himself, blocking a powerful blow. The guard was only partially effective, for his arms suffered an exaggerated amount of damage.

Another blow delivered itself directly in the middle of his block. Then another. Blow after blow was directed towards his arms. Grimwald suddenly formed his hand into a palm and slammed it into Wrock.

[Taoist Trial Opened Gate: Palm of the West]!

Wrock's body crashed into the wall. His body felt like mush, his mind turned muddy.

The constant attacks to his arms left them feeling numb. Although he couldn't see them right now, they were no doubt battered and bruised.

Freeing himself from the clutches of the wall he slowly took in a breath. Grimwald boasted, "It's over Wrock. Although I'm impressed you've gotten this far."

"I can feel it."

"Feel what? My blows as you grow closer to death?"

"The next step."

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Wrock lifted his arms, his eyes glowing with determination, "I can feel this hurdle growing smaller by the second."

"Just die peacefully."

Grimwald's figure flickered and reappeared next to Wrock. As he threw a fist he noticed a slight change to Wrock's reactions. Before he seemed to react purely on instinct, but now he watched Wrock's eyes examine his movements.

Wrock glided his hand against Grimwald's arm. As it approached their face Wrock was hit with Grimwald's knee.

Stumbling backwards Wrock struggled to set himself straight. His legs quivered for a brief moment. As he managed to prevent himself from tipping over, he caught a glimpse of Grimwald's fist heading for his face.

Suddenly things clicked. The flaws became apparent in the simple movement. Wrock felt the air swirl around him, he could hear and see the muscle movement in Grimwald's basic attack. He could also see the flaws.

Finally he was able to fuse both his innate ability to see flaws and {Hyperfocused Battle Intensity}. This fusion gave birth to something entirely new. Something that could easily contend with {Absolute Territory}.

Moving his body Wrock dodged the blow and delivered a swift kick in return. Grimwald was stunned at the sudden change and retreated back, "What did you do?!"

"I truly must thank you Grimwald. Your kidnapping allowed me to get into touch with Spirit again. And this battle showed me the next step in my improvement. You're a mystery box full of goodies. I've gained nothing but benefits."

"What are you on about?"

"With the way I am now, suddenly fighting you isn't such an impossible task."

"Ha! Nothing but bluffs!"

Grimwald suddenly turned into tons of afterimages. They formed as he grew closer, such an approach would be undoubtedly confusing for any ordinary individual.

Wrock gently lifted his hand, the back of his palm brush against Grimwald's leg. Grimwald had attacked with a flying kick, but this did not go unnoticed.

Gently guiding the kick away Wrock balled his other hand into a fist. Embers floated around it and suddenly ignited into a roaring blue flame. Wrock thrust his fist forward and made solid contact with Grimwald's stomach, the flames exploding in response.

{Spirit of the Phoenix: Rising Sun}.

Grimwald was sent flying into the wall, and crashed through several. When he finally came to a stop, his body was covered in rubble and he was unmoving.

Wrock took a breath, "Incredible."

Dusting off his clothes Wrock prepared himself to jump upwards. He had to join in the battle against Perina after all.

"Where do you think you're going?!"

A fist forced its way through Wrock's stomach. Forming a hole that certainly wasn't a pleasant sight. Wrock's eyes widened, not because of the fist that punched through his stomach.

Rather it was the familiar blue aura around the fist!

~ ~ ~

"As expected you survived.", Akiol smiled faintly as he spoke these words.

Nemmy descended from above, her rapier sparkling. Fragments of light appeared around her, and shot forward.

Akiol pointed Stars in front of him. A small blackhole appeared and began to absorb the incoming projectiles. Nemmy thrust her rapier forward, aiming to pierce through Akiol's heart. As the weapon soared, it came into contact with a strange energy.

Akiol had swung Stars to counter the strike, but before the two weapons managed to touch he had activated one of Stars' new abilities.

A blackhole formed between the two weapons, somehow stopping them from completely touching.

This ability took the effect of a blackhole to a different direction. The premise behind this ability was that the blackhole was 'absorbing the force behind the attack'. Essentially reducing the momentum to zero and eliminating the danger.

A Skill not without its limits of course, but Akiol had yet to see the limit.

The blackhole vanished. Akiol followed up quickly by closing the distance and slashing the torso of Nemmy. She grunted in pain, but instead of retreating she dashed to the side and began circling around Akiol.

"It's the end for you!"

Nemmy's figure vibrated and she split into three. They then charged forward and released a barrage of thrusts. It seemed like it was raining sparkles from the speed.

Being attacked from three different angles Akiol lifted Stars into a stance. His face turned cold and emotionless, and his body remained on full alert.

The moment the rapiers reached the distance to start harming Akiol, he began to move. His body moved faintly, his arm swinging constantly. Sparks formed from the impacts, littering the floor.

Using {Absolute Territory} Akiol was defending himself against every attack. From deflecting some to dodging others by a hair. Compared to Nemmy's incredibly fast movements, Akiol seemed slow. Like he was moving through jelly. Despite this, he remained unharmed.

The two extra duplicates of Nemmy quickly retracted back to the main body. Alarmed, Nemmy leapt backward to create space between them. Her face was warped from shock, "Just who are you?"

"Why does it matter who I am?"

"I'm not unfamiliar with the other side of the river. Although they're are less players on the other side, they still post frequently on the forums. Someone of your caliber would no doubt be of high fame. Yet not only are you a stranger I haven't even heard rumors of, you're the most skilled I've seen yet."

"Take me as an intruder then."

"Intruder, ha! Why are you here then?"

"I owe Nimin. I'm here to repay a debt."

"A debt?! You're going to ruin all of this for a debt?!"

"Partially, Perina attempted an attack on one of my friends. I certainly wasn't going to let it slide."

Nemmy sighed, "Then there isn't a point in trying to convince you."

"Glad we can come to an agreement. Now forgive me, but I don't plan on entertaining this duel further."

Akiol suddenly turned into several afterimages as he used {Expeditious Steps}. As he closed the distance he aimed a horizontal swing. Nemmy saw this attack and lifted her rapier to block. Her heart skipped a beat when the attack seemed to disappear the moment it touched her rapier! Suddenly a slash formed across her stomach, making her flinch.

{Apparition Strike}!

Akiol moved quickly, circling behind Nemmy his sword flashed and five more wounds appeared.

{Origami Style: Five Folds}!

An image of an old master appeared in Akiol's mind. With a faint smile Akiol thought to himself, 'I finally am strong enough to use your explosive style!'

Nemmy felt a chill form on her back, her instincts screamed at her. Yet she couldn't react fast enough!

{Cataclysm Technique: Eruption}!

A blow incredibly powerful hit Nemmy. Her vision blurred as she was sent into the air at a rapid speed.

Akiol leapt upwards alongside her. Spinning his body he launched another powerful attack!

{Cataclysm Technique: Hurricane}!

Nemmy was launched outside through the broken window. As she rotated her body throughout the air she slowed to a stop via mana. Just as she recovered she spotted Akiol above soaring directly towards her!

{Cataclysm Technique: Tornado}!

Wounds formed from all sides. Akiol swirled through the air, his movements causing the wind to kick up and form a small tornado.

Stopping above Nemmy he swung downwards with an extreme force. A loud clap sounded and nearly burst Nemmy's eardrums.

{Cataclysm Technique: Thunder}!

She slammed into the ground, coughing violently. She would've long been dead had it not been for her life-saving Skill. As the dust settled she weakly looked upwards. The sight caused a pit to form in her stomach.

A meteor descended, large enough to break the castle easily. However what happened next caused Nemmy's reaction.

Akiol charged towards the meteor, granted by Stars' Skill of course. His figure flickered and reappeared on the other side of the descending meteor. He sheathed his sword and the meteor split into hundreds of pieces.

{Origami Style: Hundred-Fold Lotus}

{Cataclysm Style Altered: Meteoric Avalanche}!

As the pieces of the meteor descended, Akiol casually stood on top of a surface made of mana. As he watched the chaos unfurl he shook his head, "The sheer power behind this style is ridiculous."

'Why don't you do that more often?!' -Stars

"I lacked the strength needed before. When I originally learned this technique I needed the power, it's not something I entirely enjoy using. Additionally. . . ah well I feel it's a disservice to the one who taught me it."

'But you have other styles you can use right?'

"Yeah, many I still can't use completely. But the ones I can I'll tap into when I need them. While I have learned from some talented people, it just doesn't feel right to use their styles like it's my own."

'So?!'

"They worked hard to create these styles, or inherit them. Yet because I was granted a title I get an opportunity to learn them just because? Should I really just use them like that?"

'I don't really understand, but it sounds like you just need to make your own style?'

"Partially. I've created a foundation for it. The way I fight normally is the ground layer of my own style. It's just that creating a unique style is infinitely harder than learning one."

'Oh. . .'

"No matter, she has to be dead from all that. I should join Nimin."

'What about the others?'

"Para ran off somewhere, and Wrock and Kan'na won't have any issues."

'Then let's go take down Perina!'