They parked the car behind a set of rocks, as to not be noticed by the Knight.
They turned off the versan and got out, then went over the plan.
"Eirene, get up on top of these rocks and only shoot if I need help, I want to fight him alone".
"Ok, you sure?" She asked, as she steadied her nerves.
"Yes, I'm sure I can handle it" He said, smiling.
This was his opportunity to achieve his style, the style that would take him till Rank IX.
It had to incorporate all his abilities, his [Six Sense], [Windbound], and [Spark].
He had to rely on his [Six Sense] making sure to not let his vision, hearing, smell, and prioritize it.
Aeth needed to incorporate [Windbound] in his attacks, making sure to use just the right amount of Ethereal as to not waste any.
And then there was his [Spark] ability.
Its description was a bit vague as most where.
[Spark]
A small piece of Ethereal
As itself, it wasn't a lot of information, but now, Aeth knew a bit about Ethereal.
Ethereal was everywhere, or at least that was his theory. He thought this because of the way he gained it.
Meditating doesn't take anything from him, only his stamina, so the only way he could gain it would be from an exterior source.
Which he theorized was from the air, or not exactly the air, he theorized that Ethereal was everything, or everything was made of it.
And since he basically had a small piece of it in him, he figured he might be able to interact with it.
In fact he already was, just by meditating he was interacting with it, so in what other ways could he interact with it.
To be honest, he didn't know, honestly it could be anything or nothing at all, even so, he needed to incorporate it into his style.
Which he was about to begin making, as he walked over to the Knight, katana drawn as it stared him down.
The knight looked at him, as if pitying him, standing around two feet taller than him.
Aeth drew his pristine, white blade, as he reminded himself of the rules for his battle style.
The Knight dashed at him as it swung its sword down.
Aeth raised his blade up, blocking the swing as the knight swung again.
Aeth kept blocking, letting his [Six Sense] take control, shutting off his other senses, as he continued blocking the Knight's attacks with the help of it.
He took in the Knight's attack style, learning what parts best fit him, and what he needed to ignore, he wanted a flexible and fast style as both were the most important in the Outer World.
The Knight's style was sharp and unmoving, only blocking when he absolutely needed to, swinging slowly but with strength and deliberately.
Aeth continued using [Six Sense], slowly getting used to relying on it, as he kept blocking the Knight's swings.
The Knight though, was getting sick of this back and forward, as it swung its sword down on Aeth's head.
Aeth blocked it of course, but as he did the Knight sent a kick to his side, sending him rolling a few meters.
He quickly got up as the Knight lundged at him.
The Knight swung as Aeth held up his katana, the clash catching sparks, as steel struck steel.
Aeth wasn't worried though.
"Notus"
Aeth screamed, as he overpowered the Knight, sending its sword to the ground, ending the clash as the Knight was left defenseless.
Taking the opportunity, Aeth took a slash at the Knight's armor, hoping to damage it as much as he could.
"Notus"
He sliced up at its chest, warping its prestige black armor, as the Knight's eyes turned, glowing red like flames.
The Knight swung his fist at his face in a fit of rage.
Aeth dodged the attack with [Six Sense] catching the fist in the air, as he rotated his stance with his katana in one hand.
"Notus"
He plunged the blade in a small gap between the plated, black armor, dark red blood splattered as the Knight groaned in pain.
Aeth battle style was growing, he could feel it resonating in his soul, a battle art based on flexibility and movement more than raw power and strength.
It was like he was dancing, as he could predict the enemies movements with relative ease with [Six Sense] and could accelerate his movements with [Windbound], allowing him to make full use of the enemy's mistakes.
The Knight jumped back from him, as it picked up its sword, readying to end his life.
Aeth then prepared himself, readying his sword with two hands.
Aeth swung first, slicing down on the Knight as it blocked.
The Knight tried to kick Aeth, he sensed the attack was coming though, dodging to the left, barely missing him.
It tried to swing down again, but Aeth, instead of blocking, dodged with [Six Sense].
The Knight wasn't expecting this and was unbalanced, Aeth didnt waste the opportunity.
He dashed a step closer to the Knight, then with little effort, cut its neck open.
The Knight dropped his sword, clutching at his neck as it spilled blood, suffocating it.
As Aeth stood there watching it die, he heard a voice in his ear.
What? But it hasn't died yet?
*Congratulations Aether Torn*
*Skill [Way of the Wind] has been acquired*
What?!?! No way?!!? What for?
Skills were a lot like Abilities, they both gave the user a talent or useful quirk, only two differences were that Skills were something that was obtained not by completing your Tasks, but for training yourself, and that you didn't know which skills you could obtain in your life.
Skills were personal, like the meditation Skill Aeth was working towards, which made Atlas's question ability very useful, but Aeth didn't expect to get one so soon.
The voice then sounded in his ear again.
*Grey of higher Rank killed*
*Ethereal rewarded: 6*
Aeth then looked at the lifeless body of the Knight, its blood dying the ground red.
He was thankful to the Knight though, he had helped his battle art, gained a skill, and had given him more Ethereal, and for that he was very grateful.
Aeth then picked up its feet, and dragged the body to the versan, as the sound of metal scraped the ground.
He loaded the corpse in the trunk as Eirene hugged him.
"I'm glad your ok"
"Of course I am, I said I could handle it, didn't I" He said smiling.
"Still though, I'm glad" She said, smiling as she let go of the hug.
They get in the versan, driving back to the camp, only taking about eight minutes.
They drive in the camp, parking the car as Eirene unloaded the versan, as she felt like she'd hadn't done anything as of today.
Aeth however went to his tent, as he wanted to look at his new skill.
Atlas, Status please.
*Of course Aether Torn*
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System: Atlas
Name: Aether Torn
Position: Outcast
Ethereal: [10/20]
Abilities: [Spark] [Windbound] [Six Sense]
Skills: [Way of the Wind]
Tools: [Small Knife] [ID Card] [Starborn]
[Shadow's Curse]
Rules: [Godless]
————————-
There it was, [Way of the Wind] plain as day.
Aeth wasted no time to admire it though, as he asked Atlas for the description.
Atlas description for [Way of the Wind]
*Of course Aether Torn*
————————-
[Way if the Wind]
[Description: The wind has seen you fight and was impressed, it emparts it's will into you]
————————-
Well that wasn't any help, I still don't know what it does.
Atlas, what does [Way of the Wind] skill grant me.
*Answer, it is your battle style*
*Removing six Ethereal*
*Remaining, 4/10*
Hmm, well that's good, I thought it would grant me an Active Skill but it seems to be a Passive Skill.
Well I was working towards this goal so it's still amazing that I got it.
Aeth then got out of his tent, satisfied with his new Skill.
He then sat at the fire pit with Eirene, who had already made lunch, as it was already noon by the time they got back.
They ate, as they chatted about the fight Aeth had just won, telling her the details, but leaving out any mention of a Skill.
When they had finished eating, Aeth asked Eirene to use her [Tracking] ability again today.
She sat down, drawing a square and a diamond in the middle, as light drew from her finger.
After ten seconds the light dissipated as she got up.
"There aren't any Greys in the area".
"Ok, go chop up the Knight then, and save his armor too".
"Sure thing"
Aeth was glad that there weren't any Grey's around, as he was dead tired from fighting the Knight.
He didn't take a nap though, as he hated doing so. Instead he sat up on one of the rocks surrounding the camp, and started meditating.