Strength is not something possessed by all humans.A decent few are nothing more than weaklings,they possess no upper body muscle,are slow and have low resistance to pain.
However one does not need to physically buffed to be able to kill a human.
In reality a killing strike isn't one that is strong enough to deal enough damage to the body that it renders the human lifeless.
A killing strike is actually one that was aimed at exactly the right spot in the human body,that strength isn't required to cause death.The only factor required is precision.
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"So you risked your arm just to protect your stomach?"
"Your making it sound like it was a foolish decision."
"Whether or not it was foolish depends on your reasoning behind it."
"Well you technically weren't aiming at my stomach."
"Oh really?"
"More precisely you were aiming at my Solar-plexus."
"You're gonna have to expatiate."
"The solar plexus is located right between the chest and the nombril.It's a much softer area for a human to target.Being hit directly there could severely hinder a person's ability to breathe.Hitting the solar-plexus is especially effective of the victim was breathing-in at the time of impact."
Matthew answered the guy whilst wondering if it were some kind of test.He thought that the guy attacked that area because he was aware of the fact that it was a weak spot in the human body.He was beginning to think that it was just a coincidence until the stranger began to clap.
"Bravo! Bravo!To think I was beginning to think you were just another illiterate but here you are,talking about killing techniques with such know-how.I didn't expect to run into someone like you in this place."said the stranger whilst boasting a smile and clapping.
"Someone like me?"
"Yeah,not everyone has access to such knowledge.Tell me—what clan are you from?"
"I'm sorry but—"
"Yeah you're totally right—it's not my place to ask you if you don't feel like sharing.Would you atleast be willing to share your title or would that also be a pass?"
"Uhm— I'll pass…I think."
"That's a shame.My name is Daniel by the way."
Daniel stretches his hands towards Matthew and shows him a wide grin,flashing his shiny white teeth.
Matthew took his hand and shook it.He wasn't all too enthusiastic about doing so but did due to the fact that Daniel was right now his only ticket out of here.
Matthew also reasoned that he shouldn't make an enemy of Daniel as he seemed much faster and possibly stronger.He thought it'd be best to play it careful.
Even though Matthew didn't show it,just like any other human he felt fear,he just would never show it neither would he ever admit it.
He was also sensible enough to to understand his limits but would never let anyone know that he couldn't achieve something.It was how he had been trained and it was now a habit.
"My name is Matthew."Replied Matthew to Daniel whilst stretching his hand to accept Daniel's handshake.
"Nice to meet you Matthew."replies Daniel before proceeding to ask Matthew a question.
"What are you even doing in Minsua Manor anyways?How did you get in?"
"I'm actually not all that sure about that."
"Well no matter,with me and you together,it's should be as easy as pie to get out of here."
Daniel then begins to walk towards the doorway that Matthew seemed to be unable to pass through.
Daniel walked up to the door and looked at it with intent,it was as if he was examining it with his bright red eyes.
"I see now."
"What is it?" Asked Matthew
"The aura around this place,it's feels so real and yet the room itself manages to feel as fake as possible at the same time."
"I don't quite understand."
"I mean just take a look around,does everything seem like how you'd expect them to be."
When Daniel asked him this,Matthew was urged to inspect this place.It didn't take him long to see that the broken air-vent was fixed.
"You're right,The vent has somehow been repaired."
Hearing this,Daniel went towards the now fixed vent and stared upwards at it.
"Any ideas on what's happening."asked Matthew.
"Yeah,this might have something to do with illusions."
"Illusions?"
"Come on I don't think I have to explain that to you,it's just some Deciever playing around with his techniques."
"Okay…I guess"
Matthew didn't want to risk telling Daniel that he was clueless on what he was saying.He wanted Daniel to keep on believing that he(Matthew) was what he(Daniel) believed that he was.
"I do have to admit that this illusion really is something,isn't it Matthew?"
"U-uhm yeah…it is."
"I mean most Decievers would just use some casual illusion that most times can't even touch you.This guy however seems to have created some kind of barrier and inputted in it a top tier physical illusion.It really is something,isn't it?"
Daniel continues to walk about the room admiring the beauty and realism of the spell while talking about an array of facts about illusion spells.
He however didn't say any important fact,he was mostly just sharing trivia about illusions and he himself was under the illusion that Matthew understood every single word.
"Yo Daniel."
"Huh"
"Don't you think that's enough time spent admiring this hallway.If this is some kind of barrier,We should be trying to escape it."
"Huh…Listen Matty"says Daniel while holding Matthew's shoulder with a showing of disappointment on his countenance.
"Who's Matty?"
"I know not everyone is as gifted as me but listen,a high level illusion like this wouldn't be so easy to get pass,One would have to take their time and examine the area to pass it,so sit back and let me work my magic."Daniel said with overwhelming confidence in his abilities whilst also ignoring Matthew's question.
"Alright…I'll let the Master work."
Matthew went towards the wall and began to go squat next to it,waiting for Daniel to "work his magic."
Matthew continued to stay at the wall until he got bored and thus fell asleep.
He woke up a while later and was shocked to see that Daniel was still rummaging around the place.He decided to walk up to Daniel and ask what he had discovered.
From afar he could hear Daniel speaking but couldn't quite make out what he was saying.It was only when he got close to Daniel that he began to hear him clearly.
"…if the Deciever was physically present,I would have just attack him and we'd be out but I can't sense even the slightest hint that he's present.If he can perform illusions this powerful,he's probably controlling this remotely but I wonder—."
"Hey Daniel have you worked your magic yet?"asked Matthew while ensuring that he used air quotes to make fun of Daniel.
"Not yet but just gimme time."
"I've slept and woken up,that's plenty time.Just admit that you are clueless on what to do."
"I'm not clueless."
"Yes you are."
"No I'm not."
"Yes you are."
"Alright then!Hiw about you go ahead and find your way out of here then."
"Alright,so what I'm I looking for?"
"That's what I thought—wait hold on,What'd you just say?"
"Alright."
Daniel was shocked that Matthew agreed to working on his own.He wasn't expecting Matthew to agree which is why he requested that alternative,it was supposed to threaten Matthew into staying in the backseat.
All through Daniel's life he had always been depended upon by others.This was the first time that he had met someone who was prepared to work without him.
"You said this was an illusion right?"asked Matthew.
"Uhhh-Uhmm—Yeah that's what I said."
"So I'm guessing we just have to find something out of place then?"
"I mean yes in theory,usually an illusion wouldn't contain any inconsistency as long as the Deciever knew what he was doing,but a large scale one like this,should almost definitely contain an inconsistency.We'd have to be dealing with an extremely powerful Deciever for that not to be the case."
"Great,let's see if there is any such thing around."
"I'm sorry to burst your bubble Matthew but I've been searching for quite a while and haven't seen anything.There is no way that you'll find—."
"Found it."
"What!"
What Matthew was regarding as an inconsistency was one of the lanterns on the wall acting as the light source for the hallway.
While all the other lanterns were emitting a reddish glow,there was one which was emitting a more orangish glow.
The orange glow mixed in well with the other red glows and hence were missed by Daniel but Matthew was trained in noticing small details like this.
Matthew went towards the suspected Lantern and noticed that it was hanging loosely on the wall.He used his arm to push the lantern into a better position on the wall and it caused a door to appear out of nowhere.
The door looked more like a portal than anything but Matthew and Daniel were delighted that they got something.
"You did well Matthew."
"Nahhh,I was amazing."
"You were just lucky."
"Say what you want Danny but we both know I was amazing."
Without saying anything more Matthew jumped into the portal without Daniel.
"Matthew wait!Who's Danny—uhh whatever it's best I go in I guess.Let's see what else awaits us."