Andrew furiously rounded the wolf in a hurry, but with the wolf being faster this didnt work. Andrew gritted his teeth as he gave up with being defensive and charged formward head on once more.
Raising his axes he dove forward raising them both above his head, inviting the wolf to strike his wide open vitals.
The wolf took the opportunity with glee as he dashed forward towards Andrews stomach, using it's speed to outperform what he thought to be Adrews agility.
'Gotcha' ANdrew cracked a wide smile as he looked at the light blue-grey blur charged forward.
'Item transport'
Andrew comanded his axes to charge downwards as fast as he could, causing his arms to strain in defiance as they were nearly pulled out of their sockets.
But they were saved by a red resistance as the aes collided with the unexpecting wolf
GRAAAAAA
The wolf let out a deafening howl as Andrew jammed both of his axes into its back with such force that Andrew felt the wolf's bones being crushed due to the sheer force of the strike. Andrew continued to command the axes downwards as he fell down from his jump. His legs dangling in place as Andrew remained suspended midair using just his arm strength to hold himself up there connected by the axes.
The wolf continued to howl in pain as he lost control of his two front limbs which contorted in spasms. The beast used it's hindlegs to fling himself over trying to rid his back of it's assailant. But Andrew was not having it, holding on even as the wolf started it's own summersault in self defense. Hoping the idea of crushing it's enemy under it's own weight worked.
Andrew watched the world around him spin rapidly as it was now the wolf who was on top of him, he felt air rush past his ears so fast that it caused his ears to ring. His back caved in as he felt his back crash into the ground. Using item transport to push the axes up and using his own back strength to keep the wolf in the air as it howled in pain again.
The axes plunged deeper and deeper as the wolfs weight caused gravity to push him down onto the axes. Andrew had to lock his shoulders to prevent from letting go of the axes as the wolf scrambled left and right to try and free itself from it's death. But Andrew held on and after a couple of minutes the beasts movements slowly came to a stop.
—----------
Congratulations! Duel won!
Reward: all stat points.
Rewards transferring...
—----------
Andrew looked at the message with a rush of joy and maneuvered himself and his axes out from under the wolf, which remained there on the ground without dissolving. In a hurry he opened up his stats to see his bounty.
—----------
Andrew smith (space and light user)
Str: 56
Int: 29
Cha:8
dex :60
Bonus stats:
Wis: 30
Mana : 124/300
Spells:
[Item transport (level 1): allows movement of objects telepathically][Light distortion(max) : distort the color of anything you see)][Eyes of the impervious(level 1)(upgradable)(evolvable): Cause short movement impairment in enemies you glare at]
Passives: [Perseverance until blood (Level 1): Constantly increase damage output while you remain unharmed in combat.][ Mind of god (Unique)(passive):User is now impervious to any mind status effect that isn't stronger than him with a scale of 3xINT.]
[Reward not claimed]
—----------
Andrew looked at his stats with hurrieying breaths in excitement. His eyes drifted over the vastly increased numbers in excitement, this was single handedly the biggest increase in stats he has ever heard as humans were usually not allowed to fight to the death and were to proud to give up too much of their own work.
"I wonder how fast i would gain stats if every enemy i fought did this." Andrew murmured to himself.
'Wait, why dont i get stat points if i kill something without a duel? With this increase why isnt every person doing this instead? Wouldnt this be greatly beneficial to everyone too constantly duel against monsters?' Andrew thought to himself once again.
[simple, most people are part of a faction so why would they want their enemy to be more powerful if they win? It's stupid too risk everything for your enemy. Even if you initiate the battle the opponent will be highly against the idea. As your world is like an infant in most peoples eyes, not many teams of people are grouping together. As for why you dont get stats for battles that arnt initiated, it's because that wouldnt be a battle of strength. If you want to sneak attack, you can initiate one for an extended period of time and then slice their throat.]]
"Thats fair, but what about beasts? Why not go against them?" Andrew asked his system as he cleaned up his axes and swiped dirt off of his shirt.
[did you not forget your previous encounter with your "teacher" Folen? He's clearly part beast but he is also vastly intelligent enough to realize that everything is not the best option. Once beasts gain a certain amount of intelligence they realize this and will soon stop, you are at a level where you do not realize this yet. But you dont usually fight to the death, and most people would rather die than lose everything.]
"Seems like most people have their priorities mixed up." Andrew shook his head to himself as he looked back at his status screen.
"Well, now at least i know what im going to pick for the reward.
[would you like to claim reward?]
"Yes"
A familiar screen appeared before him in a blue blur.
--------------
Congratulations on being the first clear!
Pick a reward
1)Mimic spell
2)Passive: deaths will
3) stat bonus of +3
--------------
"Ill take the passive skill please" Andrew said to the unknown listener.
It has always amazed him how you could basically talk to yourself and watch as something change according to whatever you think or say. Without any source to where they are getting the command.
--------------
skill received: Passive:deaths will
Deaths will (Passive)(upgradable): The aspect of death has become so feared by mortals it has now gained its own magical form. it feeds off of the fear of mortals, constantly getting stronger and more powerful. The power granted by deaths will is not your own as it is manifested by an mysterious entity
When the opponent has status (feared) , grant a damage bonus based on souls harvested.
Deals 2 extra damage for every soul harvested
Harvest souls: when the enemy has status (feared) and is killed while feared death consumes the fear of the defeated enemy, gaining strength and power.
Souls harvested: 0
--------------
"Hot danm, now this is what im talking about." Andrew read the text in front of him with an exasperated expression, this was the most broken spell he has ever heard of.
The fact that he could practically infinitely scale his damage output if his opponents were fearful of him was practically unreal. But the only issue was how to get them to be fearful, as when an enemy is stronger than him he doubt they would be fearful of him. But even so, all he had too do is get them to sweat at his name and he would gain power.
One issue he had though was to start this power off, this was literally like a snowball rolling down a mountain.
Andrew nodded to himself as he swiped the screen out of view, But many things still raced in his mind. Most of them were him celebrating like a small child as he had to prevent himself from grinning like a madman as he walked along the lake bed to try and spot some more wolves to complete the basic trail requirements.
It didnt take long at all for him to spot one, but this one was unusual. Normally wolves walk in a group, so too see one by itself laying on it's side covered by a large brush was shocking. Andrew was still quite a bit away when he first spotted the wolf but he could tell that some wolves were bound to be in the surrounding area.
Andrew approached the beast slowly and with caution, preparing for a surprise jump attack from a nearby bush or too see a couple more furthur into the forest. But he saw nothing as he neared closely enough for the wolf to eventually hear his approaching footsteps. It's ears flipped around and his body lurched up in reflex to the noise. It's snout squeezed as it growled at him.
'Alright, lets test this out.' Andrew thought as he pulled up another screen to the side of his view.
--------------
Eyes of the impervious: Allows the user to intimidate opponents by giving the user an authoritative aura.
Causes slight impairment to opponent depending on int stat difference between user and target
When being used dex is decreased by 40%, causing you to not go any faster than a jog.
--------------
His vision turned red as he walked towards the wolf whos growling was stopped sharply into a yelp as it's ears went from aggressive to passive as it cowered into the brush behind it.
--------------
Opponent is now frozen.
Opponent is now feared
--------------
Andrew wondered if the new appearance of effects was because of his sharp increase in stat difference between him and the wolf in front of him.
'Well, i did practically double them' ANdrew thought to himself as he ran forward and swiftly executed the lone wolf.
Before when trying to kill wolves his axe would meet some resistance and if it wasnt in a weakened area he would get any instant progress. But he was still way above a wolfs level, but after the massive boost Andrew noted that his axe felt like it barely hit anything as he lobbed the wolf in half.
--------------
Soul harvested. Souls harvested: 1
--------------
"Nice" Andrew grinned, thinking about how infinitely scaling abilities were an invaluable commodity in any game he played. Thinking he had struck a jackpot.
[while you are partially correct in that aspect, they are not all powerful. You have to remember, if you managed to get one so easily, whos to say that others wont?]
"Plot armor"
[....]
"..."
Andrew stood in silence after his blunt answer, waiting for a response from the system.
[no, i can assure you that it's not all black and white. You have to remember that this power is not your own and it's basically being borrowed until whatever is using you gets on it's own feet,]
Andrew pouted in thought, he hadnt thought of that. He had read over the fact that the power was not infact his, but the side affect of infinite scaling has blinded him. For all he knew it could be going to this random villain or it could be going down the endless pit of nothing.