"You are coming with me."
The knight drew his silver blade and aimed it towards him.
'What a guy...'
Before he did anything else, Michael signaled the duck next to him to move away, so as not to get caught in the crossfire.
'System, show me my status.'
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Layer: King (low)
Lvl: 0/30
Name:Marss Zell Johnson (Switch)(Y/N)?
.
Race(new): Czar Beastlord Age:15
Health: 100%
Energy: 100 000/100 000
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Physique: Noble Vampire
Bloodline: Evolving Bloodline(new) (+)
Genetic Combo:none
Genetic storage: Vampire, wood elf.
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Magic essence: Gold:30% Blood:40% Ice:50% Wind 40% Dark:0% Fire:0%(new) Water:0%(new) Earth:0%(new)
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[ABILITIES] (active) (-)
(Immortal speed LvL1) (Bestial sense LvL5(+1) (Mind Breaker LvL1) (Tremor bomber LvL1)(Mad dance of power LvL2) (Aspect of the Tainted) (Tyrant's iron fist LvL 1 (Corrosive slash LvL 1(new) (Element cloak LvL 1(new) (Essence dance LvL1)
(Skill Assimilation) (Physique theft)
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[ABILITIES] (passive) (-)
(Immortal regeneration LvL1) (Engraved path) (Sulfur manipulation LvL1) (Strider's step Lvl 2(+1) (breathless LvL1) (Mental master LvL 5(+4) (Repeat Blink LvL 1) (Damage Reversal LvL1) (Beast hide LvL 5(New) (Rubber body(new)
(Genetic Drain) (Endless Evolution)
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[Titles] (+)
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[Czar Beastlord: A type of werewolf which has been infused with the blood of several mighty magical beasts. It holds an incredible amount of strenght and endurance, easily triumphing over opponents of the same layer. Other than this, they exclude an impressive corrosive liquid from their nails, and are known to possess a innate connection to the elements.]
'Looks like I have gained some new abilites after having evolved so much, however..'
'Did the new affinities come from the 'Essence varan' I fused with? And what's the plus sign next to my Bloodline?'
After finishing to read, he looked back at the knight. Preparing himself to either attack.
'I haven't really had time to work on this, but my understanding of the 'gold element' far exceeds the level required to use these two novice spells'
----------
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[Active Abilites activated]
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[Immortal speed LvL 1: triples traveling speed with the use of energy]
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[Mad dance of power LvL 2(Strike): Increases attack power by 2000% for a single strike]
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[Tyrant's iron fist LvL1: Increase the density of user's fist by 10% with the use of energy]
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[Element cloak LvL 1: Increases offensive and defensive power of spells by 10%. Activating this will slowly drain energy]
.
----------
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[Passive Abilites activated]
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[Strider's step LvL 2: User can fling himself 200 meters into any direction. Travelling speed is affected if abilites are used]
.
----------
As Michael activated all of his abilites, a type of heatwave washed of his body.
Although he did not revert back to the original beast form, all the mucles on his body crackled and expanded. Filling in the clothes he wore.
The knight's facial expression could not be seen, but deep within his dark eye holes a impressed energy was emitted.
'What an impressive lad. Indeed worthy of my young miss's hand.'
While continuing to assess Michael inside his mind, The knight carefully stancing himself properly, planning on receive the incoming attack.
As he watched Michael's body radiate an intense amount of power and strength, A sudden instance of shock broke his calm train of thougt. Left completly speechless by the next course of action the boy had taken.
"Gold Magic: Gold Clad!"
'Has he already learned a spell suitable for his rare affinity? Where do you even get those things? Did he perhaps improvise...'
It must be known that in this world, half of all essence understanding mainly revolved around dissecting and learning how elements or subjects one studied worked on a fundamental level. And as Michael came from a culture where most of the world's creations already was thoroughly explained by science, he was given a head start for the first half of most essences.
After he chanted the spell, Michael followed the visualization technique described when using the spell.
'Imagine the energy inject into your cells... turning them into gold...'
After finishing, the skin on his fist began to shine with a bright gold luster.
Even though this spell was considered a 'Novice' grade one, gold was a rare element which was many times stronger than the normal earth and metal essence.
Finishing his preparation, Michael launched himself forwards!
The spot where he previously stood was blown to pieces,as his feet punched into the already soggy earth laying there. Creating a massive dirt explosion behind his blurry body.
After ascending off the ground, a large sonic boom was created as he almost instantly broke through the sound barrier.
Not only was the spot where he stood broken into pieces, even the pond nearby rippled away, sending a small muddy tsunami over to the other end.
However, as he came closer and closer to the heavy armoured knight, something began to feel off.
'Why is this guy still not moving..?'
Just before he was about to hit his shaking gold club into the silver figure, the knight also chanted something as he blocked outwards with the flat side of his thick steel blade.
"Battle art: Balance breaker."
"Battle art: Towering stance"
Unable to fully comprehend what was said, Michael just braced himself for the impact, shooting his fist into the metal rod standing in his way.
However, as his shaking radiant fist hit it, a strange turn of events occurred.
It was as if all the power in body was shifting off away from the knight, sending him sliding away horizontally to the side.
The sudden abnormal change made the tissue inside his leading arm rip appart. Completely dispersing all the built up energy into the fragmenting bone and torn muscles.
Seeing the head on assault crumble, the knight flung his sword to the side, sending Michael flying into a nearby pine tree.
He was left completely shocked by the disparity generated from his failed attack, and It temporarily stunned him. However, Michael was instantly brought back to reality when his tumbling frame cracked itself half way through the pine needles and bark. Several sharp green splinters embedded themselves into his skin, and the impact generated from the crash reverberated into every fiber of his being.
After falling to the ground, he looked up at the carefree iron solider. Not even suffering from any side effects from his charge.
'W...What was that?!'
Feeling his damaged body sink into the mud, he was frantically trying to think of how he could have so easily been handled.
'Aren't I in the lower king layer? How could such an attack possibly stop me!?'
Altough he tried to hide his shook behind the newly arriving pain, he could not hide his true thought from the veteran expert eyeing him down.
"You are indeed strong. Stronger than any other normal person I have ever had to face..."
"Too bad you only have a novice spell and some strengthening skills. I would recommend you to practice some sort of combat art, but with such a rare magic affinity, you wouldn't need to in a few years."
"I sense that your energy level is at the...Low king? Not bad at all. Only, there is more to this world than having a lot of power to waste."
Hearing those words made his already mediocre poker face fall apart. Starring with the knight with wide eyes.
'I have to run.'
He stood up again from the ground, and although his clothes were dirty and ripped, his arm was healing at a discernible rate.
Positioning his body towards Jingwei, he planned on picking him up and fly out of here. However...
"I can tell what you are thinking...Sir Marss."
After regaining his balance for only a couple of seconds, Michael once again felt a bad sizling brew inside his stomach.
'SHIT!! STRIDER'S STE..'
"Sword art: Wound wave."
Not even being able to take a single step, a silver beam was shot out from the knights sword as he swung it sideways.
When it came in contact with his body, Several light gashes slightly tore his skin. However, they were not enough to properly immobilize him.
"Oh? You are much tougher than I thought...."
Sadly for the knight, Michael took this opportunity to thrown himself towards Jingewei and pick him up. Not even a second after scooping the yellow cabbage into his embrace, he then launched himself away.
"Very tough, but even more naive..."
The knight raised the tip of his sword towards the fleeing boy while he silently chanted something again.
"Sword art: Nail shrapnel."
The sword in his hand gave of a faint glow. Followed by this, a nail the size of its edge was shot towards the fleeing Michael.
The silver nail wastly outsped him, and just as he was about to fly into the woods, it drilled itself into his shoulder balde. Piercing through his body.
"AAARGGHH!"
Being pierced through mid flight sendt his body down into the mud like a crashing helicopter. Spinning wildy in the air and then abruptly slamming down with a hard knock.
Michael slid over the wet dirt while holding onto Jingwei. Several branches and rocks hammered themselves into his clothing and skin. Soon, most of his bare upper body was left with small wound marks and slashes all over.
'....I wish my regeneration was better.."
Most of the scars healed slowly, and he found himself looking down at the bird held in his embrace.
"Are you okay, little boy..?"
Tucked inside his arms, Jingwei laid still. Not responding or moving to his call.
"Little boy..?"
Michael had a innate connection to his familiars, allowing him to sense how they felt at different times. And right now, he didn't pick any signal up from the duck.
Turning him around, he found a large gash on the side of his body where some blue and red blood dripped out. He must have gotten hit by the ranged attack.
Michael felt something inside him slowly break down while as be watched his companion bleed out.
"JINGWEI!!!"
Memories of the childhood back on earth flashed before his eyes. The days where he was always alone, left to rot by the scum which haunted his dreams.
After coming to this world, he had been able to somewhat rebuild his emotions through the sacrifice of Marss. Making him able to form bonds of trust and attachments to others once again.
However, this recovery was far too weak at the moment, and could not support the sudden shock of losing something.
The bandage patch which surrounded his broken heart started to violently deformed itself. Not only influenced by what had unfolded, but also due to some sort of primal rage mixing with Michael's ability to reason.
The resurfacing emotions bubbling up inside his mind seem to also have been affected by the unkown instinct. They each gained their own vile trait of bestial madness, causing them to madly fight each other for dominance. It turned the repairing rift into a hot iron brand, searing it's way through his soul.
The fragile patch could not handle the strain, and all his previously built-in mental fortitude temporarily crumbled away.
While the unstable reactions flowed through his veins, Michael stanced himself on his knees, remembered the discipline built up throughout his years of torment.
His scarred upper body had regenerated itself fully. His skin reflected the weak light falling from the cloudy sky, shining upon the torn cloth pants still covering him.
As he knelt on the ground, a moist forrest breeze pulled some of his thick black hair with it as it traveled. The weak wind directed itself at a rustling sound coming from behind him. Originating from the clunking heavily armour the knight had equipped.
"You got pretty far. But I am not planning on wasting more time..."
He ignored the approaching presence. Trying to comfort himself with the memories of his family from earth. Sadly, even they could not supress the madness erupting from within his body.
The knight approached his kneeling figure and looked down at the duck before them.
"Looks like I got the bird too...But I can still sense that it lives, so you shouldn't need to worry."
The heavily armoured individual walked through the muddy greenery. Planning on snatching him and then leaving this forsaken forrest wasteland.
However, as he stetched out his plated fingers towards the boy's back, Michael twisted his neck all the way around. Letting his face meet the outstretched hand.
"What the?!"
Very taken aback by this, the knight backed away a couple of steps. Letting his silver feet paint the ground with his large footsteps.
He wanted to ask the kid if something was wrong, but a short-lived fear sowed its seed within his mind.
'What was that? Do I feel threatened by this kid?'
However, before he could finish his thoughts, Michael began to madly laugh with his head still in the abnormal position.
"hahahahahaha"
The knight backed further away when he heard the laughter. His previous instance of fear returned itself, much more engraved this time.
"H..Hey kid?"
Michael started shaking uncontrollably and his skin turned into a black hide. The two maddened eyes rolled back into his skull as the rest of his body wrung itself towards the masked knight. Symmetrically lining itself with the twisted head once again.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA"
[Ability Activated]
[Aspect of the Tainted]