As he continued through The Wrathful Strike of Ares, he saw flashes of explosive power in his mind's eye.
The techniques weren't just single strikes but a series of devastating, controlled bursts.
Every move combined raw strength with the momentum of follow-throughs,
Creating a rhythm of explosive energy that could break through even the toughest defenses.
Finally, after several minutes, he reached the last page of the manual, and a familiar Ding! sounded in his mind.
A system notification appeared before him:
[Skill Acquisition Complete]
New Active Skill: Wrathful Strike Series
Description: A sequence of explosive, chained attacks infused with divine energy, ideal for overwhelming an opponent and dismantling defenses.
The technique emphasizes rapid power bursts, allowing the user to maintain pressure and control in battle.
Effects: +25% to Attack Speed during the combo and +30% to Attack Power when chaining moves in rapid succession.
Damage increases with consecutive strikes, up to a cap of 50%.
New Passive Skill: Warrior's Resilience
Description: Grants resilience akin to warriors under Ares' blessing, increasing Rico's ability to withstand and adapt to ongoing damage in battle, sustaining his focus and control.
Effects: +15% to Endurance and +10% to Defense while using Wrathful Strike Series.
Adds resistance to stagger and knock-back effects.
Attribute Boost:
Strength: +5
Stamina: +6
Rico blinked as the information settled into him, a thrilling sense of power coursing through his veins.
His body felt stronger, his stamina greater, and his confidence surged.
He felt his readiness for combat sharpen, his muscles practically humming with the potential of these new techniques.
The Wrathful Strike Series wasn't just a weapon; it was a tool that would let him dominate the battlefield with relentless, explosive attacks.
The notification faded, but the lingering sense of this newfound power stayed with him, urging him to test his strength.
Rico glanced at the clock, feeling a surge of nerves.
"Only half an hour?" he muttered, half in disbelief.
Despite the intense information coursing through him, it felt like mere minutes had passed since he started The Wrathful Strike of Ares.
With a slight shiver of excitement and anticipation, he placed the first manual aside and reached for the next one.
Across the room, Lycus was completely absorbed in his own studies, his face set with rare intensity as he scanned his chosen manuals.
He barely noticed Rico, but Rico stole a quick look, feeling a surge of friendly competition.
The gravity in Lycus's posture—his steady eyes and the occasional crease of concentration in his brow—showed that he was as committed as ever.
Turning his focus back to his own task, Rico opened the second manual.
This one was titled Shield of Fortitude, a defensive technique that Ares's followers used to brace themselves against powerful attacks.
The parchment felt rougher here, the ink dark and deliberate, and with each page he turned,
Luna's integration continued, feeding Rico with the complex, layered techniques.
He felt the concepts of Shield of Fortitude taking root—methods to absorb impact,
to channel energy through his stance, and techniques for turning defense into counterattack.
[Skill Acquisition Complete]
New Active Skill: Shield of Fortitude
Description: A defensive stance and technique that allows the user to absorb oncoming attacks, reducing impact and creating openings for counterattacks.
Ideal for blocking explosive power or overwhelming attacks in battle.
Effects: +20% Defense while active, reducing incoming damage and absorbing force.
Counterattacks gain +15% power when executed directly after blocking an attack.
New Passive Skill: Fortified Body
Description: Develops the body's resilience to prolonged combat, allowing Rico to stand firm even under sustained pressure and protect allies when necessary.
Effects: +12% to overall Stamina and +10% resistance to physical attacks.
Attribute Boost:
Endurance: +7
Defense: +5
As the system update faded, Rico felt a surge of resilience within him, as though his body had taken on a new level of durability.
The Shield of Fortitude made him feel impenetrable, a shield as well as a weapon,
and he could already visualize how the skill would pair with Wrathful Strike in combat.
Testing out this newfound combination was all he could think about.
Eager to continue, Rico set Shield of Fortitude aside and picked up the next manual titled Dance of the Evasive Wind.
The name alone suggested agility and grace, and he felt a surge of excitement.
if Wrathful Strike of Ares empowered his offense and Shield of Fortitude strengthened his defense,
then Dance of the Evasive Wind could provide him with the evasiveness and speed he needed to become a balanced fighter.
Opening the first page, he began to read, and, as with the previous manuals, Luna absorbed the details,
Rapidly processing and transferring the intricate techniques directly into his mind.
This manual focused on intricate footwork drills and techniques designed to enhance reaction time, balance, and quick changes in direction.
He could see diagrams showing graceful steps, as well as detailed descriptions on how to shift his weight effortlessly.
He felt himself beginning to understand not just how to evade, but how to do so fluidly, as if gliding with the wind.
[Skill Acquisition Complete]
New Active Skill: Dance of the Evasive Wind
Description: A highly agile footwork technique that enables the user to evade attacks with swift, unpredictable movements.
When activated, Rico's movements become fluid and harder to anticipate, allowing him to dodge or sidestep attacks with heightened agility.
Effects: +20% to Evasion Rate, +15% to Movement Speed while active, with a slight reduction in stamina usage while evading.
New Passive Skill: Nimble Reflexes
Description: Improves reaction time and spatial awareness, granting Rico an instinctual understanding of enemy movement patterns and attack rhythms.
Effects: +10% to Reaction Speed, +12% to Dodge Efficiency, and quicker recovery from evasion maneuvers.
Attribute Boost:
Agility: +8
Reaction Speed: +5
As the information settled in, Rico felt the newfound lightness in his steps and an intuitive sense of the rhythm of battle.
His mind filled with visions of dodging attacks with ease, slipping through even the smallest gaps in his opponent's defenses.
Now, with Wrathful Strike of Ares, Shield of Fortitude, and Dance of the Evasive Wind,
Rico felt complete—a well-rounded warrior ready to unleash both fury and finesse in combat.
With his excitement rising, Rico reached for the next manual: Divine Power Harnessing.
Unlike the previous manuals, this one looked almost sacred, with intricate designs on its cover and thick, worn pages.
As he opened it, the manual seemed to radiate a gentle warmth, carrying a solemn weight.
Divine Power Harnessing was not just a skill manual;
it was a guide—a structured prayer that taught the ways of gathering and controlling divine energy, the essence of heaven itself.
Rico felt drawn in by the reverent tone of the words, and he focused, taking in each line carefully.
The moment he began, Luna took over, absorbing the manual's teachings at a deep, meditative pace.
It detailed breathing exercises, focusing techniques, and hand gestures,
all aimed at collecting divine energy from the surroundings, which could then be stored and channeled as needed.
The guide also taught methods to "seal" divine power within, ensuring he could tap into it even during moments of weakness.
[Skill Acquisition Complete]
New Active Skill: Divine Power Gathering
Description: A concentration technique that allows Rico to draw in divine energy from his surroundings, replenishing his reserves.
When used in combat, it allows him to regain strength and infuse attacks or defenses with extra divine power, enhancing their potency.
Effects: +25% Energy Recovery Rate during use, minor defensive boost while gathering.
New Passive Skill: Divine Reservoir
Description: Enables Rico to store larger amounts of divine energy within his body, which can be accessed at any time, even if he is fatigued or low on stamina.
Effects: +30% Maximum Divine Energy Capacity, improved endurance under divine-powered abilities.
Attribute Boost:
Divine energy: +30
Endurance: +8
As the information from Divine Power Harnessing settled within him, Rico could feel the steady, calming pulse of divine energy humming through his veins.
It was as if he had tapped into a wellspring of strength, one that was now his to draw upon whenever he needed.
Wow, this is awesome. I'll stop here for today, Rico thought with a sigh of satisfaction, placing the manuals back in the table drawer.
He threw himself onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling with a faint smile.
At this point, Lycus noticed Rico's behavior.
He just paged through and now he's sleeping? He's an interesting one—maybe he's just tired,
Lycus thought, turning his attention back to the manual he was studying.
Meanwhile, Rico turned his thoughts inward.
"Luna, since you were using Gauge today, does that mean you can use my other skills too?"
he asked, recalling how the skill had activated during training.
[No, I can't gauge is a passive's skill that your body uses instinctively ,]
came Luna's succinct reply.
"Well, that was a bit cold," Rico muttered, noting the shortness of her answer.
Just as he was about to ask her another question, a loud notification rang in his mind.
!!!
[Blessing of Ares Integration Complete]
All skills and abilities associated with the Blessing of Ares have been fully activated.
[Due to the effects of the Blessing of Ares, Holy Magic has been transformed into Holy Aura.]