The fight against the lavagore ape (2)

Clashes of fists echoed through the forest, the violent sound waves reverberating off the ancient trees. Two titanic beings, locked in combat, exchanged blows with such ferocity that the ground trembled beneath them. Each punch was like a thunderclap, scattering flocks of birds into the sky and sending ripples through the tranquil air.

In the midst of this chaos, the forest, once a peaceful sanctuary, had become a battlefield. Leaves fell like rain, and the earth cracked under the weight of the titanic struggle. Neither beast nor man showed any sign of relenting. Each impact was a declaration of dominance, a raw contest of power and survival.

On one side, a massive creature, skin glowing with molten cracks, radiated a primal heat that warped the air around it. Its roar shook the heavens, eyes glowing with fury as it towered over the landscape. On the other, a lone figure stood unshaken, his maroon-gold Mana flaring with intensity, eyes gleaming with a cold yet burning resolve.

"THIS.... IS...FUN, "Grinned Aetheris as he took a step backward from the ape; he raised his hand and created a spherically concentrated blue energy blast and hurled it toward the beast with incredible speed. The blast roared through the air, leaving a trail of sizzling energy in its wake.

The ape, sensing the danger, swung its massive arm to intercept, but the sheer force of the blast sent it skidding backward, molten cracks on its body flaring as it absorbed the brunt of the impact.

"Ro....aar..re," painfully Growled the ape as it pointed at Aetheris; it no longer had anything to lose since Aetheris killed its family, meaning its only goal was to kill Aetheris...no matter the cost.

"ROOOOOOOOAAAAARREEE!!!"Cried the ape as it looked at the sky, it used it's fingers to penetrate it's chest and crush it's heart, Aetheris with a curious expression instinctively took a step backwards.

*Rumble Rumble Rumble Rumble Rumble*

Clouds began to manifest in the sky as the ape roared; as the clouds gathered ominously, darkening the sky, the rumbling grew louder and more violent, like the heartbeat of the heavens itself. Thick arcs of lightning slithered across the sky, illuminating the battlefield in flashes of blinding white.

The temperature plummeted, and the very air felt heavy, laden with an oppressive force that made the trees groan and sway under the unseen weight.

"You... struck a bargain with The Visionary, didn't you?"murmured Aetheris as he saw the sudden surge of the ape's Aura and energy; a predatory grin appeared on his face as he looked at the ape.

Yes,The ape struck a bargain with The Visionary; in exchange for its life force and essence, it would get a temporary boost in power to kill Aetheris.

"This gift of yours needs a proper response," said Aetheris as he released his claws, and the golden-maroon Mana on his arms began to condense, wrapping around them in a fluid, shimmering layer. The energy flowed like molten metal, coating his arms and claws in a protective aura that radiated with both beauty and power.

The two beings disappeared from their spots, leaving only shimmering afterimages in their wake. In an instant, they reappeared near each other, the air around them crackling with tension as they unleashed their attacks simultaneously.

Aetheris' fist, enhanced by the golden-maroon Mana coating his arm, collided with the ape's jaw, the impact reverberating like a thunderclap through the forest. The sheer force of the strike sent shockwaves rippling through the ground, uprooting nearby trees and scattering debris into the air.

'This feeling... again, what is it? It's similar to what I felt when fighting Yuuki,' thought Aetheris as a fist landed on his face...and everything felt frozen.

<<Congratulations: You have unexpectedly comprehended and awakened martial intent < em>

Definition:

Martial Intent is the foundation of martial mastery. It represents a practitioner's deep understanding of the essence of physical combat. This includes not only techniques but the very intent to fight. A person with Martial Intent can express their fighting spirit through every move, punch, kick, or technique, giving their attacks greater impact

[Martial intent Mastery:2%]>>

"This.. this is it..this feeling" exclaimed Aetheris with a grin as he looked at the ape

"But what a shame... we were beginning to bond, Thank you and...goodbye"

Aetheris' hand began to phase as he prepared to deliver the finishing blow, his hand penetrated the ape's chest in a Swift manner giving it a quick and painless death

Aetheris slowly watched the ape fall with a gaze of respect; the ape was willing to lose everything in order to end him, something that he experienced for the first time in this world.

"Ahh, Remiel, in the Celeste dungeon, I used two abilities for the first time... what were they? "inquired Aetheris as he approached the ape and placed his hand on its chest.

<<Answer: Those two abilities are innate abilities< em>

Verocity

Ability Description:

Verocity allows the user to extract abilities, essences, and various properties from beings and objects.

This ability grants the user the power to adapt and incorporate these traits into themselves and others, enhancing their own capabilities and creating unique combinations, this ability is limited by the imagination of the user

Deconstruct

Ability Description:

Deconstruct enables the user to break down beings, objects, and materials into their fundamental components. This ability dismantles targets into cores and essences, allowing the user to study, utilize, or repurpose these basic elements for various applications.

These abilities are not absolute meaning they rely on your understanding of the object>>

"I see [Deconstruct]" murmured Aetheris as golden-maroon circuitry lines appeared on the ape before it exploded into a mist of blood

"Interesting, I guess this is my limit," said Aetheris as he saw a vial of blood essence, a heart, a glowing hide, shining red hue bones, and a core but he only approached the core as he stored the rest in his [Inventory]

" [Verocity] "

<<Notice: You have initiated [Verocity] and extracted two compatible abilities< em>

Ability Name: Molten Fists

Description: A thin aura of molten lava envelops the user's fists, significantly increasing the power of their strikes. Each punch causes lava splashes on impact, dealing moderate burn damage to nearby enemies. The molten aura gradually hardens, allowing for short bursts of armor-piercing power, but prolonged use risks overheating, requiring cooldown periods.

Ability Name: Thermal Vision

Description: This ability allows the user to detect heat signatures within a limited range, providing a basic outline of living beings through smoke and dim lighting. It can help identify nearby enemies, but thick walls or extreme distances may obscure details. Prolonged use can cause eye strain, requiring the user to take breaks to recover their vision.

>>

"Interesting another Nerfed ability huh , well I have found the location of the spring so it's time to get Vincent," said Aetheris as he vanished from the scene

...

Thank you for reading 🙏 😊