"Put all my free stat points into Stamina and Agility equally."
[Your Stamina Increased: +25]
[Your Agility Increased: +25]
Everyone in the arena felt another surge of mana converging towards Sam, leaving them bewildered and causing them to look at him with a mixture of awe and confusion.
"What the hell is he doing, and how is he doing it?"
"Is he breaking through again?" The awakened couldn't help but rub their eyes repeatedly.
There were no words to explain or comprehend how or what Sam was doing.
One minute he was like any other awakened, normal, and then, out of the blue, he would break through or power up as if it were a routine occurrence.
From the students' and trainers' perspective, witnessing the mana rushing towards him and feeling his presence growing stronger, the most logical conclusion they could draw was that he was breaking through levels.
However, the truth was that since the day he awakened, he had only broken through twice.
All this time, he was merely using his free attribute points to enhance his attributes.
Because some of his attributes had become disproportionately higher than his level, it became increasingly difficult for others to accurately gauge his current level.
This discrepancy made it even more challenging to distinguish between when he was genuinely breaking through levels and when he was simply improving his attributes.
"I have a very bad feeling about this," Kaze said to Nolan, shaking his head as he watched the convergence of mana around Sam.
"These are all just tricks. Frankly, even if he is breaking through, there's no way he can beat John. Don't forget, John is one of the strongest second-years around. There's no chance a first-year can stand against him," Nolan replied with a stern expression.
"I'm just saying, what if John loses here?" Kaze asked, an uneasy smile playing on his lips.
Nolan stared at Kaze for a few seconds. "We can't afford to have one of our strongest lose to a first-year. If John loses, the Hounds and the Student Council will start to walk all over us. The Reapers will become a laughingstock. That's why it's crucial that John wins this."
All eyes were drawn to Sam, but his focus was on the screen in front of him, visible only to his eyes.
---
[Name: Sam Tatsuya/Brunheart]
[Hero Level: 18 (69%)]
[Mage level: 25 (92%)]
[Titles: An Anomaly]
[Race: Arcanian]
[Class: None]
[Contracted Beast: Anthra (Beast Ant Queen)]
{Physical Stat(s)}
Strength: 23
Agility: 54
Stamina: 54
Perception: 25
Heroic Power: 73
Mana: 73
Attribute Points: 0]
{Rare Stat(s)}
Charm: 15 (Note: 10 is the average charm level for a mortal.)
Soul Power: 12
Dark Power: 20
Holy Power: 1
[Elemental Affinity(s): Wind, Flame]
[Innate Ability: Extraction (Level:2), Eyes of Truth (Level:1), Rune Pulse (Level:1) ]
[Magic: Wind Magic, Flame Magic, Non-Elemental Magic]
[Skills: Heroic Sense, Mana Sense, Swordsmanship, Spearmanship, Spellcasting, Alchemy (Basics)]
[Techniques: Soul Animation Concealment Art (Level: 2), Infernal Bird Reincarnation Art (Level: 2), Asura Sutra (Level: 2)]
[Storage: Eclipse Sword, Elements of Suits (Complete Set), Herald's Wand, Magic Mirror, Noble Attire Set, 30 x High-Level Beast Cores, 35 x Mana Stones, ]
---
After taking a quick glance at his Status board, Sam activated his Eye of truth on John with a shine on his pupils.
---
[Name: John Connar]
[Level: 43]
[Titles: Member Of The Reaper Faction]
[Race: Arcanian]
{Physical Stat(s)}
Strength: 55
Agility: 47
Stamina: 48
Perception: 43
Heroic Power: 43]
[Innate Ability: Terra Titan]
[Skills: ...]
[Techniques: ...]
---
"His strength is a problem... and the Terra Titan ability," Sam muttered, concentrating further on the details of the Terra Titan ability.
A new screen appeared, providing more information.
[Innate Ability: Terra Titan]
[Description: Grants the ability to draw strength from the earth, exponentially increasing physical power. As long as the holder of this ability is in contact with the earth, they can draw power, fortifying and amplifying their physical strength indefinitely, and manipulate the earth energy to their will in any form.]
At that moment, Sam felt a strange sensation spreading throughout his body.
It was uncomfortable, making him feel as if something was wrong.
Ignoring the feeling, he refocused on the line of fire, tightening his grip around the Eclipse Sword.
A gentle breeze brushed against his skin, and in an instant, the line of fire extinguished with a soft puff, as if it had never existed.
Sam channeled a surge of heroic energy into the Eclipse Sword, gripping it tightly.
As the line of fire was extinguished, he assumed a Iaijutsu stance, drawing his sword swiftly from its sheath and propelling himself forward.
Right at the moment, when the blade left it's sheath, a ray of highly condensed heroic energy blasted from the blade, hurtling towards John with immense speed.
"Shit, he's fast!" John's pupils dilated, and he immediately activated his unique ability.
[Terra Titan: Ability Activated]
His aura expanded as he rapidly drew energy from the ground, covering himself in an instant.
His skin hardened just before the energy ray struck.
Using his enhanced strength and defense, John punched the ray, causing it to explode.
But in his focus on deflecting the attack, he didn't notice the figure emerging from the smoke.
Seizing the opportunity, Sam dashed out of the smoke, swinging his sword at John's torso.
The blade made a clattering noise upon impact, as if striking a metal wall.
Sam felt the resistance and jumped back just before John could land a punch on his face.
"You're fast... How the hell can you move like that? A first-year student shouldn't be this quick," John remarked, his concern evident.
A moment ago, he believed he could have ended the fight if not for Sam's agility.
Ignoring the question, Sam infused his sword with energy again, striking at John's back.
The blade failed to dent John's iron-like skin.
"He really is thick-skinned," Sam thought, amused.
Deciding to unveil a ability he had never shown before, dark flames sprouted from his arm, engulfing the Eclipse Sword.
In a flash, he appeared in front of John, striking at his neck.
"You have the same ability as that Yami guy," John observed, as he began unleashing a barrage of punches.
Energy from the earth condensed around his fists, transforming into solid rock, though his speed started to wane.
Despite the relentless punches, John couldn't land a single hit on Sam. He moved with the agility of a ghost, evading every strike effortlessly.
Sam remained silent, noting the earth energy forming around John, creating an armor-like shell.
Then the energy condensed further, forming dozens of boulders around him.
John pointed his palm at Sam, and the boulders hurtled towards him like planes about to crash into the living.
"Hmm," Sam murmured as he saw the dozens of seven-foot boulders coming at him in rapid succession.
He decided to use a technique he had possessed for some time and had trained in intensely over the past two weeks.
The Infernal Bird Reincarnation Art.
Assuming his stance, he held his sword pointing backward before beginning his movements.
As he moved, the dark purple flames on his sword transformed into crimson fire.
Like a graceful sword dancer, he initiated his dance with a sudden yet fluid motion with a burning sword in his hand.
Each step was deliberate, each swing of the sword precise.
The blade cut through the boulders with a barely audible whisper, leaving trails of glowing fire and wisps of smoke in its wake.
As he continued, his speed increased, yet his grace remained unbroken.
He spun and leaped with the agility of a dancer, each motion seamlessly transitioning into the next as he shattered boulder after boulder.
Each strike was more precise, more powerful, more fluid than the last.
It didn't matter what direction or how many boulders came at him; he maneuvered through them effortlessly, as if he had anticipated their every move.
.
.
.
[A/N: If you enjoyed this chapter, please consider supporting it with a few Power Stones. And if you absolutely loved it, you can even contribute a Golden Ticket. Your support means a lot to me! Thank you very much! - Arigato! 🙏]