As Payne leapt out of the arena with surprising agility, I assessed Fina's opponent.
("|Analyze|.") [Solace]
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Name: Orthos
Race: Human
Class: Barbarian
Gender: Male
Age: 42
Level: 200
Health: 20000/20000
Mana: 10000/10000
Strength: 6800 (+2000)
Agility: 4000 (+2000)
Intelligence: 600
Willpower: 2000
Status: Stable
Skills: |Fleeting Steps Lv. 9| |Raging Tide Lv. 9| |Liquid Barricade Lv. 7| |Liquid Cannon Lv. 7| |Liquid Bullet Lv. 9| |Crushing Blow Lv. 8| |Power Boost Lv. 6| |Lightness Lv. 8| |Endure Lv. 8| |Intimidate Lv. 6| |Telekinesis Lv 4| |Trap Bubble Lv. 6| |Cutting Edge Lv. 7| |Rebound Lv. 5| |Cloud Cover Lv. 3| |Item Box Lv. 6|
Unique Skill: |Giant's Might Lv. 8| |Accumulation Expulsion Lv. 9|
Titles: |Champion of Metus|
True Titles: N/A
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
("Damn, he's actually strong- And what the hell is that +2000 shit?") [Solace]
Most of my opponents usually were a little more hyped up than they actually were, but this guy was level 200. Not only that, he had one of the largest skill pools I've seen. The first being Jukhan, of course.
("Is that from |Giant's Might|? Is that a passive |Skill|? Hold on, I've gotta check if I have one of those.") [Solace]
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Name: Solace
Race: Forsaken Great Spirit
Gender: ???
Age: ???
Level: 122
Health: 15800/15800
Mana: 1/1
Demonic Energy: 11/11
Strength: 4052
Agility: 3380
Intelligence: 2838
Willpower: 3780
Status: Stable
Skills: |Mystic Tongue Lv. 9| |Analyze Lv. 19| |Appraisal Resistance Lv. 1| |Liquid Bullet Lv. 3| |Ashen Arrow Lv. 6| |Flame Cannon Lv. 3| |Wind Edge Lv. 4| |Cleanse Lv. 1| |Kindle Lv. 1| |Night Vision Lv. 4| |Earthen Shield Lv. 1| |Reinforce Lv. 4| |Paralyze Lv. 1| |Mimic Lv. 6| |Status Concealment Lv. 1| |Item Box Lv. 7| |Sound Interference Lv. 1| |Enchant Flame Lv. 1| |Fire Resistance Lv. 10| |Blazing Fist Lv. 2| |Liquid Barrage Lv. 1| |Convergence Lv. 1| |Shock Resistance Lv. 6| |Wardrobe Lv.1| |Mana Detection Lv. 1| |Mana Breathing Lv.3| |Terra Javelin Lv. 2| |Imbue Alarm Lv. 1| |Cold Resistance Lv. 5| |Mental Fortitude Lv. 11| |Nausea Resistance Lv. 3| |Temperance Lv. 12| |Doppelganger Lv. 1| |Explosion Arts Lv. 1| |Vortex Arts Lv. 1| |Piercing Blow Lv. 1| |Poison Immunity Lv. 1| |Corrosion Resistance Lv. 3| |Enchant Lightning Lv. 1| |Pain Resistance Lv. 9| |Elara Lv. 1| |Revolving Shell Arts Lv. 1| |Liquid Cannon Lv. 1| |Small Cure Lv. 2| |Liquid Blast Lv. 1| |Thunderbolt Lance Lv. 3| |Grygand Lv. 2| |Heat Resistance Lv. 2| |Preservation Lv. 1| |Remove Odor Lv. 1| |Holy Resistance Lv. 1| |Tide Reaver Arts: Stolen Cascade Lv. 1| |Wise Walk Lv. 1| |Roaming Undisturbed Lv. 1| |Crescent Slash Lv. 1|
Unique Skill: |Unbound Mortal Lv. 1|
Titles: |Contracted Spirit Of The Unfortunate Summoner| |Unresting Experience Trainer| |Challenger Of The Strong| |Pitiful Disciple| |Liberator| |Guinea Pig|
True Titles: |Divine Beast Slayer|
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
I know it's been a while since I've looked at my status, but DAMN did I have a lot of |Skills|.
("Wait, this dude is up on me by almost 80 levels?") [Solace]
Not only was my levels lacking, I unfortunately did not have any passive |Skills| to bolster my strength.
"Will you not be taking the first move?." [Orthos]
Orthos summoned a double sided battle axe out of thin air before aiming it at Fina.
"I don't have a weapon. You'd attack me without a way to defend myself?" [Fina]
"You would question my honor? As a heretic?" [Orthos]
Orthos laughed.
"You would be right about that. |Fleeting Steps|." [Orthos]
Moving as if gliding on the ground, Orthos closed the distance.
("No you don't!") [Solace]
Stepping out of my invisibility, I intercepted in my spirit form.
"A spirit?!" [Orthos]
"Solace?!" [Fina]
I forced Orthos into blocking as I struck his axe with my fist. The steel rang from the force, causing Orthos to slide back a few meters.
"A spirit can exert this much physical strength…?" [Orthos]
He looked surprised, but not cautious.
("So my strength isn't enough to be dangerous for him.") [Solace]
"I heard that you were unable to summon your spirit, but that appears to be a lie." [Orthos]
Fina remained silent.
"Since you've called on your spirit, it is only fair that I respond in kind. Stand beside me, Tribula!" [Orthos]
"Warning: You are in the presence of a |Greater Spirit|." [Spirit Guide]
I immediately felt the instinctual pressure press down on me. However, that wasn't going to be something that stopped me.
("Today, I will kill this man.") [Solace]
Master once told me that power is a force through will. With that in mind, I made a statement that I turned into a promise for my resolve.
("It's probably just some kind of psychological thing, but I hope it works.") [Solace]
Now it was Orthos and a full sized humanoid spirit. The spirit was a tall muscular man, much like its master.
"Tribula, handle the spirit!" [Orthos]
With that command, Orthos made a beeline towards Fina.
("That rat!") [Solace]
I tried to cut him off, but Orthos' spirit stepped in between.
"I'm sorry, little one." [???]
It's been a while, but I can recognize a spirit's voice when I hear it. Tribula raised his hand, leading to our fists colliding.
("Get out of my way!") [Solace]
I tried to push past Tribula, yet I found it too difficult due to the gap of strength in evolution. I anxiously glanced at Fina's way mid-combat, only to see that Orthos was already upon her.
"|Raging Tide|!" [Orthos]
Water emerged from the blade of his axe, trailing behind as he swung downwards at Fina.
"Fina!" [Solace]
Contrary to my expectations, Fina nimbly evaded and circled behind him. She then aimed a finger at the back of Orthos' head whilst mumbling something under her breath.
"|Liquid Bullet|." [Fina]
Firing out a droplet of water, the liquid curved around Orthos' head and joined the waves conjured by his |Raging Tide|.
"Using water against me?! You fool!" [Orthos]
Rotating his waist, Orthos spun his axe back at Fina.
"Infect and override. Consider all rules void, |Takeover|." [Fina]
Fina flicked her finger downward, forcing Orthos' axe to abruptly change course into the ground.
"What?!" [Orthos]
As he looked at Fina with surprise, he found a palm inches away from his face.
"|Flame Cannon|!" [Fina]
A ball of flame engulfed Orthos' head. However, Orthos ignored it as he swung his fist at Fina.
"You damn heretic!" [Orthos]
Fina leapt back with both hands raised.
"Collected frozen views, |Icicle Rain|!" [Fina]
Shards of ice spewed out of her hands, shattering against Orthos' skin on impact. This put out the flames on Orthos' head, but it also froze the water around his axe, leading to it being stuck in the ground along with his hand.
("I've never seen her move like this before!") [Solace]
Maybe because her mana has increased since I gave her my mana core, Fina was able to cast more powerful spells. Either that or she was just holding out on us since she had to conserve mana crystals to cast spells. In any case, Fina took this chance to continue chanting.
"Born with strength. Tempered by flame. Honorbound sanctum. I call on the promise forged between the mountain and the valley. |Flame Dragon's Might|." [Fina]
The corporeal form of a large dragon's head appeared behind Fina, rearing itself as flaming tongues escaped the gaps of its teeth.
"You're calling upon an elite class spell?!" [Orthos]
As if to answer in Fina's place, the dragon unleashed a torrent of fire.
"|Liquid Barricade|!" [Orthos]
A wall of water emerged before him, yet began to evaporate rapidly against the dragon's flames.
"|Endure|!" [Orthos]
Casting one skill before the water vanished, Orthos was consumed by the flames. Even though I could feel the blistering heat from this distance, I didn't think that it was enough to kill him.
"Impossible! Did our champion fall to that heretic's attack, or is there still a chance for triumph!" [Payne]
As the flames died down and the dragon head faded, all there was left was steam. I could see Fina stumble considering that spell likely took most of her mana. We stared at the steam cloud waiting for movement.
("...Is he really dead?") [Solace]
Is what I thought until I noticed Orthos' |Greater Spirit| still there.
("Wait, what happens to the spirit after their master dies?") [Solace]
Chances are, they disappear. If that were the case…
("Orthos is still alive!") [Solace]
The steam cloud cut open as Orthos' ax flew at Fina.
"Wha-?!" [Fina]
Catching Fina off guard, the axe took her arm as she attempted to dodge.
"Urgh!" [Fina]
Clenching her teeth, she made eye contact with Orthos.
"Damn… I thought I had you with that one." [Orthos]
There stood Orthos, a bit hunched over and covered with severe burns on his left side.. Instead of his skin looking charred, it looked like he was boiled alive. Which is pretty much what happened.
("The ice that chained him down probably protected his right side from the flames. Either that or he sacrificed his left side for the right.") [Solace]
Fina and Orthos stared at each other before opening their hands towards a specific direction.
"|Telekinesis|." [Orthos] [Fina]
Casting that |Skill| led to Orthos' axe returning to him, and Fina's arm returning to her. She then reattached her arm before casting a healing spell. While that was happening, Orthos cast his unique skill |Accumulation Expulsion|. This made it so he shed his skin, returning him to his peak physique and essentially removing all his injuries.
("Broken ass |Skill| right there.") [Solace]
As Fina and Orthos were about to resume combat, I had a sudden thought.
("This is a damn good opportunity to steal some |Skills|.") [Solace]