Immediately, Jason felt an enormous pressure suppressing his body as he began sweating profusely, feeling pain in his chest, not being able to move his muscles, and feeling massive fear of what stood ahead of him.
Artis struggled to stay upright, wincing as pain shot through his mind. 'Dammit, I made a mistake. The gap between us is too wide…So Dominating Aura also depends on the level as well, if my enemy is stronger, it won't work! In this case, there are only three steps before Dominating Aura fails. The recoil… it's affecting both of us!'
Jason, despite the pressure keeping him down, tried to stand up, stumbling in return as he clenched his jaw, keeping his right foot down trying to raise his head.
One Step!
Immediately, he felt the pressure rising again as he stumbled, about to fall.
Two Step!
Three Step!
Just at the third step, the pressure instantly disappeared. Jason gasped, drawing ragged breaths as clarity returned to his eyes. But in the very next moment, he found himself captured in a flame of vortex spinning around him as the heat of flame mercilessly tore his defenses apart.
'Not good!' grumbled Jason as he raised his metallic pads to defend himself from the impact of the flames.
The flames hit the pads, causing steam to rise blocking his whole view. Artis, not missing this opportunity lunged forward using [Flash Step] to get behind him, raising his fists, preparing himself to use [Mach Punch]. Jason, regaining his senses turned around to clash his pads with the upcoming fist.
But to his surprise, the hit didn't connect at all leaving it stuck in the air as he felt a barfing sense of pain in his abdomen region seeing Artis was not behind him but in front of him.
Misdirection! Artis did get behind him for a moment but used his [Misdirection] to trick Jason's senses for a moment to get ahead of him and connect his [Mach Punch] right at the abdomen region.
Jason stumbled, eyes wide as he gasped, "-Ghk! But how…". Artis didn't let him catch his breath as he launched a barrage of punches and kicks towards his direction not letting him catch a moment of breath as he ducked down to attack his jaw. Jason moved to block it but failed since Artis turned around his body and gave a precise leg sweep causing Jason to lose balance and fall.
Artis got on top of him and took out his knife keeping it close to Jason's neck, his breath gasping loudly as both the fighters looked at each other with respect in their eyes.
Jason smiled as he looked at Artis, "I give up It's your victory."
The system hearing declared Artis as the winner, "The winner is- Artis!"
As soon as the announcement was made and the barrier around them disappeared, Artis let himself catch a moment of breath, his chest heaving from exhaustion, allowing himself a small smile as he looked up in relief. The blade in his hand lowered, and he offered a hand to his fallen opponent.
Jason, still catching his breath and wincing from the pain in his abdomen, looked up at Artis and chuckled hoarsely. "You don't hold back, do you?" He reached up, accepting Artis's hand, and with a firm pull, stood back up on shaky legs.
Artis chuckled, "You were a tough opponent, I had to finish you off fast for my and my body's sake. Hell, your punches can crack boulders, I almost felt like I was about to die taking those punches head-on!"
Jason chuckled loudly as he raised his hand, "Yeah, that was a good practice match...even if I lost...Haaah! I will practice more to counter those illusions! Hoorah!!"
Artis couldn't help but sigh as he drank one of the healing potions that were kept beside the arenas as he felt fully recovered.
...
East Ferrous Laboratories, 9:15 AM
After the duel, Artis stayed for almost an hour in the Arena talking to others about their skills, building up his stamina, and trying out new moves to add to his arsenal. He also learned how to use a knife more effectively. Similarly, he realized by leveling up, his strength grew a little bit and that his skills and abilities got a buff.
Misdirection can affect people's senses for a few moments more now.
Mach Punch and [Record] had increased in strength and the skills recorded with the help of [Record] had increased in their time limit by one second.
Looking at his hands with a complex look, he clenched his fists and went to reception again.
Maya greeted Artis with a bright smile as he approached, a hint of curiosity in her eyes. "Looks like you had quite the battle out there. So you want to take on another mission or do you want to meet the Professor, I just got the call that he wants to see you."
"Professor wants to see me? Is it another mission?" asked Artis, leaning forward and resting his arms curiously.
Maya shrugged her shoulders as she answered in a playful tone, "I don't know. He doesn't tell me everything either you know. Go ask him yourself!"
Artis nodded, and started walking towards Professor's room. The hallways of East Ferrous Laboratories buzzed with the soft hum of machinery and the clicking of heels against metal flooring. Artis felt a mixture of curiosity and tension as he made his way down the sterile corridor, his mind replaying the recent battle and the training he did.
Knocking at the Professor's cabin, he heard a deep, "Enter."
Artis pushed open the door and saw Professor Javier busy with the documents as if he was searching for some key information as he looked up. His face was tired, seemingly that he hadn't slept much properly.
"Artis," said Professor looking like he would crumble any moment, "Here you are...Good good, just the man I was looking for..."
"Professor..." Artis asked, with a hint of concern in his voice, "Do you want my help clearing this mess...?"
Professor shook his head, "No need...I actually called you here for a reason. Today I want you to go to Central Library and find some books I want and in the meantime I want you to stay there and meet someone for me."
"Meet someone?"
Professor nodded and added with a smile, "An important person that I want you to meet. It would be beneficial for you and her if both of you could meet."
Artis said nothing for a while, his mind silent before accepting this mission, "...Alright Professor, when I am supposed to meet that person?"
"11 AM. She will arrive there shortly. I will tell both of you what you look like so there won't be any more confusion when you meet each other."
"Couldn't you give me her picture now so that there is no confusion later?"
Professor looked around for a moment as he did a fake cough, "N-No, I can't right now. For reasons..."
"And you can't tell me what that reason is?"
Professor nodded his head, "That's right. But a meeting with that person will help you a lot!"
Artis thought for a while before nodding, "Alright Professor, I'll meet with that person if you want me to. It just better be worth it! And here, take the list of the books I want to get. Hand it over to the librarian and say my name. That will solve all other problems that might come later."
Artis nodded as he took the list and headed outside of the lab. Outside of the lab, he put the location of the Central Library on his X-transceiver as it made his life a lot easier, and following the map he headed there.
...
It took 15 minutes for him to get there. The Central Library was in front of him. The Central Library stood like a grand monument, with towering stone pillars and large arched windows that cast shimmering sunlight onto the polished marble steps. Its exterior was an intricate fusion of old-world design and modern engineering, seamlessly blending aesthetics with functionality. Scholars, students, and operatives alike entered and exited with stacks of books or digital tablets, each person carrying a piece of knowledge away with them.
Artis took a deep breath as he entered the library pushing the wooden door. The scent of aged books and faint traces of ozone from the digital screens filled his senses. Rows of bookshelves stretched endlessly, their surfaces lined with ancient tomes and sleek holographic displays that glowed softly. The interior was vast, with high ceilings painted with celestial murals and interspersed with hanging chandeliers that emitted a warm, golden light.
Artis walked to the main reception desk where a stern-looking librarian, an older man with half-moon glasses perched on the bridge of his nose, greeted him with a raised brow.
"May I help you?" the librarian asked, voice clipped and formal.
Artis handed over the list with Professor Javier's name scrawled at the top. "The professor sent me. He said you'd know what to do."
The librarian scanned the list, and nodded his head, "Ah, yes. Follow me."
Artis was led down the main aisle and up a spiraling staircase to a section labeled "Arcane Histories and Theoretical Constructs." The librarian pointed to a row of shelves filled with thick, dusty volumes.
He got up the ladder and dropped 3 heavy books and 2 light books that were around 500-600 pages and said, "These are the books that Professor Shiina wants. And if you want to stay here, you are free to do so. Just remember, it's 10 Grands for an entry fee."
With saying that, the librarian left, leaving Artis behind as he stared at the books and sighed, "Just what are these books that Professor wants to read?"
He picked up one of the books that read, "History of Spirit Beasts and How were they created." "Ferrum City and its Culture." "Different Types of Shadow Skills Recorded in History."
With a sigh, he stacked the books neatly on the side table, picking up Different Types of Shadow Skills Recorded in History. Flipping through the yellowed pages, he saw intricate diagrams of combat stances, notes in margins by scholars long past, and illustrations of shadowy figures blending into the background or unleashing dark tendrils. The complexity made his head spin.
"Yeah, maybe I should pick up a book that will actually benefit me..."
With that in mind, Artis searched around the aisle, looking for any book he might like where his eyes caught the title of a book that interested him, "History Of Griselda Empire And Its Fall."
Artis picked up the book and felt its hardcover as he checked its few pages. The Empire was the previous name of Aurosia continent and how its Empress, Empress Griselda ruled this empire with an iron fist and how her downfall came to be.
Interested in this book, Artis kept it by his side as he searched for more books. He caught the titles of books like, "How To Fight." "Dalion and Saria- Two Entities that Shaped the World." and much more.
As he was checking more aisles, "That is one interesting book you have chosen," A cute voice from a lady spoke behind him all of a sudden spooking him a little.
Artis spun around, eyes wide with surprise as he took in the sight of the speaker. A lady with blonde hair and a thin figure, a round face with sharp features as she looked at him with her red ruby eyes, arms crossed with a scowl on her face. A person he was familiar with as he bumped into her yesterday!
"So you are the new guy everyone wants me to meet, huh? Well, talk about a surprise, we meet again!"