Time Manipulation

On the vast desert where only orange sand scattered across the land. A small figure could hardly be seen from afar. His clothes were already wrinkled and stained by specks of dust, while a bead size of perspiration kept cascading down on his face. This figure was none other belonged to Luke Lewis, who was already wandering in the desert for around half an hour.

Wiping the sweats that rolled down onto his eyes, Luke murmured tiredly, "Even without fighting, I'm afraid I'd go fainting here."

<User status: Slightly Exhausted (due to lack of water and scorching temperature)>

<All stat reduced by 20%>

<SP, HP, FP regeneration has been reduced by 50%>

At this moment of fatigued, Luke finally able to see something. It was a lake surrounded by a few coconut trees. As if being seduced, Luke gulped hard and gradually hastened his pace against the lake.

But no matter how much Luke took a step forward. Their distance didn't closen and even looked like distancing.

"This.." Luke paused at his step and scanned his surrounding.

"Is this what they call Fata Morgana?" Luke muttered in uncertainty. He never experienced a thing like this, so Luke quite doubtful at his judgment.

Luke didn't want to waste his precious energy on chasing something that is not certain whether it's real or not. Hence, he turned sideways intending to move in another direction.

1 Step.

2 Step.

3 Step.

~Swoosh~

The lake portrait gradually disappeared along with the wind. As the lake is gone, a figure slowly emerged from the initial lake place.

"Didn't expect there's a person who was able to break from my illusion temptation." A man's voice sounded in the quiet desert.

Luke stopped in his track, and cautiously turned around, "So, it was all illusion?"

He didn't expect it was a human-made illusion.

"Yep. There are already a couple of people that fell under my illusion. You're my third target and the only one who was able to break free from my ability." Stated the man.

Now Luke observes it. The man's appearance is like he came from a battle. It could be seen obviously from the few cuts on his clothes.

"So, should I flattered hearing that?" Luke smiled while his eyes darted from side to side, trying to make sure he's not trapped in the man illusion.

"Definitely." The man let out a proud smile before adding, "I have a suggestion here, wanna hear it?"

"Sure."

"Instead of fighting meaninglessly, why don't we cooperate? It'd raise our chance of getting through the top 64." The man explained as he smiled.

Luke pondered for a moment. It was really a great offer that Luke almost agreed to his idea immediately. But after experiencing many things from his past life, Luke was not a naive person anymore. So, Luke asked the only question been weighing his heart, "How would I know you will never stab me on the back?"

This time the man went silent. It continued for a minute before he looked up and seriously said, "I'm a man of my words. You can't trust anyone but me."

'Seriously? Is this man joking?' Luke voiced his complaint inwardly.

As he about to speak, Luke feels a dangerous sensation coming from his left side. He quickly moved his body backward, and a sharp piercing wind brushed his left cheek slightly.

As if being scratched by a knife, a clear cut appeared on Luke's left cheek while a little blood began slipped out from it. He lightly brushes the wound with his thumb and stared warily at the direction where the wind came from.

In a moment, a muscular figure gradually appears as he stared back at Luke with his ferocious gaze. Luke immediately knew the reason behind the sudden attack. The attacker was none other than the senior he kept provoked since yesterday.

"Hehe, where are you planned to go now, little mouse?" A tone of fury within his voice couldn't be hidden from everyone's ears.

'Shit! In the arena where thousand people present, how misfortune I'm to be able to encounter with this guy!'

"Senior, why don't we keep our grudge for now." Reply Luke, then he pointed at the guy not far away from him, "There's another person here. Do you want him to take advantage of our battle?"

As Luke talked, he also activated examine skills on his senior.

<Examine Succesful>

<Name: Jodar Yell>

<Age: 20>

<Ability: Wind Control (Rank B)>

<Rank: Transcender Rank Ninth>

Jodar finally stopped his steps and wrinkled his forehead at the guy Luke pointed at. The man immediately realized he was brought up onto the mess he oblivious with. Without dilly dally, he quickly spoke up, "I'm not going to intervene on your resentment, brother. I'll just walk away from this spot far far away."

"Hey! What about our cooperate then?" Luke couldn't help but voiced out. Didn't this person say he was the man of words? Would he shamelessly lick his own saliva?

As Luke expected, the man look conflicted. Before Luke starts rejoicing that he at least got an ally, the man suddenly dashed toward another direction as he shouted, "Sorry, brother! Just treat I didn't say anything before."

"Damn it!" Luke cursed and began tensing up his muscles.

"Look's like this will be the end of you," Jodar exclaimed as he began rushing toward Luke. While doing so, the surrounding air fluctuation turned to Luke's direction. As a result, the man got boosted by the air, and his pace became faster.

After leveling up, Luke's "Control" skill already improved drastically. He didn't need to see and control every target movement he saw. The current him is capable of creating a small space like a cube and control the target inside of it.

After their distance closed up, Luke forwarded both of his hand and made a gesture of grasp with his two palms.

*Bam*

As if being crushed, Jodar feet sank down to the sand below, and his body slightly bends down as if resisting something heavy.

"W-What kind of ability is this??" The man said while grinding his teeth.

Luke was also in no good situation since this movement took a quite amount of his FP. His face gradually turned paler, but his grasp was still locked and firm. While activating his skill, Luke didn't merely watch without doing anything. On the contrary, Luke slowly but surely closing their distance.

Luke didn't dare to risk fighting Jodar head-on since he knew the man's ability was wind control. With that ability, the man clearly had a high chance to defeat him in the place where sand accumulated. He could throw a bunch of sands over his face, and Luke could retaliate nothing against it.

But with this surprise attack, Jodar was caught off guard and couldn't use his ability. If he dares to utilize his ability recklessly, his concentrate would definitely be split up, and this time his whole body would collapse on the sand.

When their distance close enough to exchange physical contact. Luke smiled with his pale face, "I won," he then proceeds raised his leg, and swung it over Jodar chin.

At this moment, Jodar position was kneeling with both knees already touched the ground, while both his hands were pressed against the sand. Just as Luke's leg about to reach Jodar chin. An air suddenly surged up from below the sand ascending onto the top and immediately clashed against Luke's leg.

Luke's leg got threw off in an instant. He took a few steps back to stabilize his balance and quickly to adjust his fighting stance again. He then stared cautiously at Jodar, who currently began rose up from his previous embarrassing posture.

Luke once again make up a grasping gesture intending to crush Jodar once more but failed after Jodar suddenly moved in fast speed. After avoiding Luke's ability, Jodar didn't stop and continued his movement by moving fast to Luke's front side. He then brandished his right fist and directed it over Luke's chest. Luke didn't lack any reaction and accepted Jodar fist by his own fist.

*Bam*

When their fist collided. The impact causing the air around them to blow up and make their hair fluttering in the wind. Afterward, they retract their hands at the same time and start launching another attack.

"Control!"

"Wind Blade!"

Both men cast their own spell, and as a result, Luke's clothes get tattered as if being cut by something sharp. Whereas the Jodar movement suddenly stopped as if being entangled by something. Ignoring his own injuries, Luke lifted his legs and approach Jodar rapidly and directly punched his fist into Jodar face.

Jodar was struggling badly to move his limbs, but it was as if he got chained. He didn't have control over his own body and could only sluggishly move after witnessing Luke's approach. At that moment, Jodar knew it was too late since he could feel an intense pain coming from his cheek.

In a fury moment, Luke exerted all his strength to that punch of him, which successfully managed to send Jodar's body flying.

Jodar body flown like a broken kite and streaked across the sand. As his body finally bumped on the ground, his conscience began slipped bit by bit, and eventually he fell into a stupor state.

Panting hardly trying to catch a breath, Luke slowly loosened his tense muscles started walking tiredly to Jodar's body. Since their grudges weren't deep enough to think of killing each other. Luke grabbed Jodar badge and pressed the surrender button on it. The badges start emitting light, and Jodar's body immediately gets wrapped in white light. The white light only lasted for a few seconds before completely dissipated along with Jodar's body.

"He must be get teleported to the safe zone," Luke muttered faintly as a system notice magically appeared once more before his sight.

<You've defeated Jodar>

<You've rewarded by 500 EXP>

<You've received 50 AP>

<Your physical strength increased by fighting>

<STR automatically increased by 2 points>

<Your durability and dexterity increased>

<VIT and DEX automatically increased by 3 points>

<CONGRATULATIONS>

<You've reached level 10>

<You've been granted 5 Stat Points>

<You've unlocked a new skill>

A joy surged forth on Luke's face as he impatiently opened the skill tab.

<Time Manipulation>

<Granting the user to manipulate the time>

<Not Learned>

'Manipulating time?' Luke wondered.

<Congratulations>

<You've learned "Time Manipulation" skill>

<Time Manipulation>

<Rank 9>

<AP: 0/1000>

<Allow the user to manipulate time by accelerating it, slowing it, and stopping it>

<Accelerating Time>

<Require: Level 10>

<Slowing Time>

<Require: Level 20>

<Stopping time>

<Require: Level 30>

Without any prior warning, a rock that initially resides beside Jodar's body changed into a man figure.

'Illusion!!' A bell ringing in Luke's mind as his eyes caught the man about to attack him.

Luke's eyes went cold, and with almost an emotionless voice, he chanted lowly, "Time Manipulation: Double Accel!"