[Volatile Kraft detected. Warning! Damaging to host body. Initializing Body Qi Transmutation protocol. Success. Scanning host body. Optimal energy flow directed. Updating Stats]
This was the 4th time Stratos was experiencing this piercing pain. At this point, he had learnt to cope better, as he knew he would probably experience it again in the future. At least the prompts the Chip kept on playing in his mind gave him something to feel good about. It seems that he was able to survive with the only side effect being the expected pain. 'Chip, pull up my stats'
[Stratos Deshar. Strength: 5(↑9), Agility: 6(↑9), Vitality: 4(↑9) Body Qi: 9(9), Status: Energy Saturation to limit]
'Hmm, pretty substantial increase it seems. Look like I've found a way to quickly level up in the future.'
[Negative. Host body able to handle so much energy solely due to depleted state, plus relatively stronger spirit due to fused souls. Already approaching saturation, recommended to leave area immediately]
'Not that I don't want to, it's just pretty hard with people after me. I'm guessing the energy saturation is the reason for the arrows representing my inflated stats. It would probably go back down once I use that energy. Chip, recalculate danger level and the chance for me to escape successfully with my updated stats'
[Senses dampened due to volatile Kraft. Forcibly burning energy to boost performance. Scanning. Reassessing danger. Optimal route being calculated. Chances to escape using chosen route 70%. Chances likely to drop soon, recommend host act immediately]
After hearing this, Stratos didn't wait to hear the reasons for such a high chance. He immediately clenched his teeth, resisting the pain enough for him to move, before forcibly dashing out along the route highlighted. After approaching the forest edge, he took a short look back, wondering why no one had been after him. Even if they thought he died, they should have noticed his escape. But after looking back, he quickly understood and laughed before running off.
Meanwhile, the Masked Leader was quite annoyed. He thought that with two of their members dead, and their guards down, it would be quick work to take them out before they noticed anything. But he underestimated them. Even though he was on a higher step, he was the attendant of a noble lady, while they where adventurers turned assassin, having plenty of experience against both beast and man. As such, they were able to notice his killing intent immediately he made his move, giving them enough time to react and block the blow. This seemingly convenient strike then became a drawn out exchange, instead of a quick takeout.
But irregardless of their higher experience, they could only lose in the end. Even though it wasn't that rare to overcome someone higher step than you, as cultivation within the same path had a higher dependence on quality rather than step, with his status he had the advantage in both quality and realm. After all, as wandering adventurers, they were already considered talented in the Deshar County to have reached the 4th step, but he had achieved the 6th step. Before long, he began to suppress the both of them. They could feel that they were being pushed back more and more.
"Damn you! We were just going to take the reward and go quietly, but now that you've done this, we will be sure to expose this once we get out. Burning Marrow!" with little choice left, they activated their innate step skill to boost their fighting strength. But with the law quality manual they practised, they did this at the expense of their cultivation, burning the Body Qi they had already used to refine their body. Even though a practitioner didn't have access to the Arts until they reached the Earthly realm, there where many purely physical arts that practitioners on the Mortal path had access too, perfect for the body refining they did to advance through the Mortal realm.
All this was only enough to put a sneer on the Masked Leaders face though."If scum like you think having access to skills like these increase your chance of victory, I can only show you the difference between us by giving you a taste of what an innate skill is supposed to look like before your deaths. Organic Resonance!". With the greater amplification that came from a higher class skill, they had only hastened their deaths by daring to activate their skills. With a quick dash, he quickly manuveraued to the back of one assassin, before stabbing into his heart. His final partner could only gasp, before quickly turning around and attempting to flee. But before he could take 5 steps, he couldn't even think anymore before collapsing on his face, a dagger sticking out his scalp.
Before deactivating his skill, the Masked Leader quickly ran over to the now subsiding geyser. But when he went to retrieve Stratos's body, he found that it wasn't there. He couldn't help but swear under his breath before quickly rushing back to the forest to see if he could track him down. He didn't doubt that the kid would be booking his way back home right now, after all, that was the only place he associated with safety, so he quickly rushed off to intercept him.
He had rushed off for 10 minutes before a rustle could be heard back at the edge of the forest. There, Stratos could be seen crawling out from where he had hidden. Sadly, the Leader had tried to apply logic reasonable to a kid to Stratos, not knowing that his current mental age was actually older than even him. Stratos had chosen to stay back for 2 reasons. 1st, he knew that heading back was less safe as that was where they would look for him first, and he knew he might not be able to get back before being found. 2nd, he wanted to witness a fight in this world so he could better understand it and how his strength fit in here.
After checking the progress of the battle analysis the chip was running, he headed back to the bodies to do some ingrained looting, the smile of one who just escaped from death firmly planted on his face.