Faer sat cross-legged on the weathered wooden floor of the shrine, his brow furrowed in deep contemplation. The events of the past few weeks played through his mind like a disjointed film reel, each scene more surreal and unsettling than the last.
First, it was the armless demon, a being of raw power and malevolence that had nearly torn him apart. Then the Reaper, a specter of death itself, relentless and implacable in its pursuit. Shiki, the enigmatic monk with abilities far beyond mortal ken. Ayame, the oni princess who moved with the grace of a dancer and the ferocity of a storm. And finally, the gas station attendant, an entity that broke reality and flexed on reality in a way Faer didn't think was possible.
Each encounter had pushed Faer to his limits and beyond, forcing him to confront the harsh truth of his own inadequacy. For all his strength, all his speed and skill, he was still outmatched by the forces arrayed against him.
A bitter laugh escaped his lips, echoing hollowly in the empty shrine. What was next, he wondered? An elevator attendant kicking him down a flight of stairs? A limousine VIP throwing him out of a moving car? The absurdity of it all was enough to make him want to scream.
But beneath the frustration and the self-deprecating humor, a cold, hard knot of determination settled in Faer's gut. He couldn't keep going on like this, throwing himself against the wall and hoping for a different result. That way lay only madness and despair.
No, he needed to change his approach, to find a new way forward. So he had to change something about the approach he was taking. To begin with, what was a quest and why are Conflict Points actually important for him?
The quest determination was one Faer didn't have answer to, it was either related to the mechanic of the system or something that he was investigating, and the distribution of said quests was something he didn't understand all that well either.
Conflict Points on the other hand seemed to be a bit simpler, stir up trouble, get a reward… and maybe fix trouble and get a reward for that too…
Since that was one of the only things that he could think of that would have gotten Conflict points that he has been consistently rewarded for. A sudden flicker of blue light caught Faer's eye, and he glanced down at the translucent window that had appeared before him.
【Quest: Free Money..? You have now discovered that certain entities can give you conflict points outright. Figure out if this is different from the typical method of receiving conflict points. Reward: Quest: Knowledge is Power 1 of ?】
A heartbeat later, the window shifted, morphing into a new message.
【Quest: Free Money..?: Quest Complete. Reward: Quest: Knowledge is Power: You are finally starting to ask the right questions. Or at least think about the right things. Figure out the limitations of your stats. Reward: +1 to all stats, Quest: Knowledge is Power II.】
SIghing at the systems' automatic response to his inquiry couldn't help but wish he had asked more questions before he had been sent here. But half the problem with not having his original name is that he has none of the context of what he knows. Which sounds like a complicated way of saying he has amnesia, only the knowledge no longer existed within him.
Just echoes. And with those echoes the skills that had been built over the course of a lifetime but contradictory enough none of the…
The…
What would he even call it?
He only had approximate closeness to his original body but with none of the memories and a tampered personality.
There lies the crux of the situation, or at least part of it. Faer was sure that at some point or another that he realized that his stat gains were in no way personalized from where he started. Or rather it was better to say the stats where he started but his stats grew at a level that anyone would have when they scale to averages and add them from there. They were flat, which also meant that when he started, someone figured out what a metric of one was and compared him to it. If one was average then he was adding average human potential to it.
Faer's gaze fell upon his intelligence stat, the number that seemed to defy all conventional wisdom. If it scaled with his actual cognitive abilities, he mused, he should have been able to unravel the secrets of the universe with a mere glance. But instead, it seemed tied to his reaction time, his ability to perceive and process the world around him at an accelerated rate.
…
Supernatural aside, that is… possibly, but it didn't make much sense to have his intelligence scale to his reaction time and dexterity scale separately to his ability to move his body… did it?
Was that what they were supposed to do? Or was it supposed to be his ability to learn, to have more time to actually see what is going and train his reflexes the first time through. If that was the case then he probably should be trying to dump into his intelligence so he could have more time to see what was going on.
…
What was that not the revelation he was supposed to be having?
Okay…
What about endurance, it increased his HP by 4 every time he got a point, with levels adding 15, right? So what was that supposed to really say or do? He was confident that he was shot, he would still bleed, and maybe die depending on placement. The truck wreck he pulled himself out of spoke well enough for that.
But then there was the fact that he wrecked the truck in the first place, normal humans get smeared across the road in a red mess if they are lucky and more often than not in a pink and skin toned colored mess. But he didn't. He was torn up, impaled and burned, but he was fine.
Was endurance some hodge podge mix between the ability to be hurt and retain consciousness and add some kind of extra durability? Was the scale for that to some kind of base line durability too?
How do you increase durability without making some kind of modification to density as well? Or was it something else, some kind of manipulation of the value of what his durability is vs what it should be?
…
Nothing?
Strength seemed to be the one thing he did understand, given that he could see the kind of metric that they were comparing.
…
Luck, how the hell was he supposed to approach that? Hell he would have a better approach to magic if he said that he probably had a higher base stat because he meditated or something. And that was something he literally had no way of knowing considering that he only has third hand knowledge of his past.
【Quest: Knowledge is Power: Complete: Reward: +1 to all stats, Quest: Knowledge is Power II.】
【Quest: Knowledge is Power II: Hitting the books sure is hard, too bad all that diligence didn't really make you smarter. Get one stat to 25.】
Furrowing his brow, Faer couldn't help but let out a sigh of frustration, it wasn't just the fact that everything was obtuse with the system, but Faer was sure that there were things about this system that were being deliberately held back from him.
Was the purpose just to see him suffer through everything as he tries to make heads or tales of things?
「Summary」
【Name: Faer Jaecar】
【Level 17】
『HP: 488/488 10hp/hr』
『MP: 103/103, (31*21)651/651),(242*1)242=1,001』
『Str: 15』
『Agi: 15(25.5)』
『End: 24』
『Int: 13(160fps)』
『Mag: 18』
『Dex: 10』
『Luk: 8』
Available Stat Points: 25
Conflict Points:7115
【Skills】
【Inventory】
Well to start with he should probably bring endurance and intelligence up to 25, and dexterity up 23. If any of the speed demons he had fought were a sign of things to come then he was plainly too slow.
【Name: Faer Jaecar】
【Level 17】
『HP: 493/493 10hp/hr』
『MP: 103/103, (31*21)651/651),(242*1)242=1,001』
『Str: 15』
『Agi: 15(25.5)』
『End: 25』
『Int: 25(280fps)』
『Mag: 18』
『Dex: 23』
『Luk: 8』
Available Stat Points: 0
Conflict Points:7115
【Skills】
【Inventory】
【Perk Gained: Healthy Body: Gain an extra HP point for every endurance gained.】
【Perk Gained: Hawk Eye: Gain 30 extra FPS】
Although there was a massive jump in fidelity of his reaction time, which easily allowed him to see the beats of Pixie's wings, Faer wasn't sure if what he had was enough. It was probably enough to make him look uncoordinated compared to where he was, especially with his top speed being about 26x times faster than the average human.
But, was that enough?
Because if there was any indicator to it not being anywhere near close, it was likely the gas station attendant situation, just earlier that night. Sure, he hadn't been grievously hurt but that fact was he hadn't seen that attack coming at all. And having twice the reaction time probably wasn't going to fix that either.
Maybe four times but not three…
Well then again there was also the conflict store.
「Open Store」
In front of him a transparent screen opened up. Still just as long and even more confusing than it was the first time around but there were way more options here than he originally expected to be available to him.
【Conflict Store】
【System Experience Module】 - Grants the user a means to measure one's growth until the next level. CP 600
【Limiter Destruction】 - Everyone has a limit of what they are capable of. When you reach yours, this will let you push past this Cost 3000000 CP
【Z-Target】 - Focuses the mind's eye to highlight combatants and increases target tracking. Costs 700 CP.-
【Aero-kinesis】 - Grants the development of wind-based abilities, compatible with most systems of magic. Costs 400 CP.
【Renewal 2】 - Grants low-tier regeneration for most minor wounds at 30 HP/hour. Amputated limbs take a minimum of 4 days to regrow, reattachment may vary. Costs 700 CP.-
【Expanded System Module】 - Grants access to a more complete version of the System UI. Costs 500 CP.
【Added Potential (Persona)】 - Grants access to a Spiritual Summon based on the closest mythological anagram. Not recommended due to ID loss. Costs 1000 CP with a 90% discount.
【Lunar Negation】 - The power to negate lunar energy. Cost 1300 CP
【 Imperceptibility】the ability to be completely undetectable and imperceptible. CP 2000
【Spiritual Sound Manipulation】- The power to generate and manipulate spiritual sound. CP 400
【Enraenra Physiology】The power to use the abilities of Enraenra. CP 6000
【Digitigrade Legs】The power to possess legs capable of digitigrade locomotion. Heh, Furry. CP 6000
【Negation】The power to negate anything. CP 7000000
【Enhanced Revolution】The power to revolve around a point with control, precision and balance. CP 2000
【Aura】The outward expression of the soul made physically manifest CP 5000
【Aura】The internal energy that all beings have, used to create unbreaking bonds between CP 4000
【Negative Forces Manipulation】The power to manipulate all forms of negativity. CP 80000
【Cancellation Bypassing】The power to bypass/ignore cancellations. CP 10000
【Knife Manipulation】- You've always liked sharp things. Now Knives will do and move in ways that you could only imagine before CP 800-
【Max Power Mode】-Double your physical state for one minute. 5 minute cool down. CP 2500
【Hanma Physiology】 - From the moment you were born, it was determined that you were the strongest. 10000% physical growth rate. CP 100000
【Chakra】 - Grants the user an energy nervous system that combine spiritual and physical Energy. Capacity scales from END and MAG. 200000
【Like this?】- you are now a better teacher, gain stats/experience faster when training someone. CP 700-
【Up Your Sleeve】- now you always have an extra disposable weapon, so long as the move is hidden, pull extra non healing items from inventory. CP 400-
【?】-CP?
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【?】-CP?
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【?】-CP?
【?】-CP?
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【?】-CP?
Faer stared at the glowing screen before him, his eyes roving over the list of powers and abilities that stretched out in a dizzying array. Each one promised untold potential, a key to unlocking the mysteries of the universe and bending reality to his will. And yet, each one came with a price, a toll measured in the ephemeral currency of Conflict Points.
He couldn't help but feel a flicker of frustration, a twinge of annoyance at the sheer opacity of the system. What was the logic behind these prices, these arbitrary values assigned to the building blocks of his power? Was there some greater pattern at work, some hidden meaning that he had yet to decipher?
Or was it all just a game, a cosmic joke played at his expense by forces beyond his comprehension?
Faer shook his head, banishing the errant thoughts. He couldn't afford to get lost in existential angst, not now. Not when he had a chance to seize the power he so desperately needed, to close the yawning gulf between himself and the threats that lurked in the shadows.
His gaze fell upon the first item on the list, the System Experience Module. A way to measure his growth, to quantify the ineffable process of his own evolution. It was tempting, in a way. A chance to bring some order to the chaos, to impose a semblance of structure on the wild and unpredictable nature of his existence.
But was it worth the cost? 600 Conflict Points, a sizable chunk of his hard-earned resources. And for what? A glorified progress bar, a digital pat on the back for a job well done?
No, Faer decided. He had more pressing concerns, more immediate needs that demanded his attention.
His eyes skipped down the list, alighting on the next entry. Limiter Destruction, a tantalizing promise of power beyond the bounds of mortal limitation. The price was staggering, an almost inconceivable sum that dwarfed anything else on offer.
But the potential... the sheer, raw potential of it was enough to make Faer's heart race, his mind reel with the possibilities. To shatter the chains that bound him, to transcend the petty constraints of flesh and bone and become something more, something greater...
It was a heady thought, a dizzying vision of godhood that danced at the edges of his consciousness. But it was a distant dream, a far-off goal that lay beyond the horizon of his current means. He would have to content himself with lesser prizes, with the incremental steps that would lead him ever closer to that ultimate destination.
Z-Target, now that was an ability with immediate applications. A way to focus his mind, to sharpen his perceptions and track his foes with unerring precision. In the heat of battle, when the world was a blur of motion and mayhem, such a skill could mean the difference between life and death.
And at 700 Conflict Points, it was a steal, a bargain that he would be foolish to pass up.
Faer's finger hovered over the purchase button, a hair's breadth away from committing to the choice. But something held him back, a nagging sense of doubt that whispered in the back of his mind.
Was this really the best use of his points? Were there other options, other paths that he had yet to consider?
His gaze drifted further down the list, skimming over the lesser abilities and upgrades. Aero-kinesis, a tempting prospect for one who had always dreamed of touching the sky. Renewal 2, a chance to accelerate his healing, to mend the wounds that accumulated with each passing battle. The Expanded System Module, a promise of greater insight into the arcane workings of his own existence.
Each one had its merits, each one sang a siren song of power and potential. But Faer knew that he couldn't have them all, that he would have to choose, to prioritize and strategize and weigh the costs against the benefits.
It was a daunting task, a burden that weighed heavy on his shoulders. But it was a burden he would bear gladly, a price he would pay without hesitation. For in this strange and savage world, power was the only currency that mattered, the only measure of a man's worth.
And Faer was determined to be rich beyond measure, to amass a fortune in the coin of conflict and conquest.
His eyes fell upon the next entry, and a slow, predatory smile spread across his face. Added Potential (Persona), a chance to tap into the same well of power that Arisato and his companions drew upon. A spiritual summon, a manifestation of the soul given form and function.
The price was steep, but the discount... the discount was too good to pass up. A mere 100 Conflict Points, a fraction of what he had expected to pay for such a boon.
But even as his finger moved to confirm the purchase, a flicker of warning flashed through his mind. Not recommended due to ID loss, the description read. A cryptic warning, a hint of the dangers that lay in wait for those who trod the path of the Persona user.
Faer hesitated, torn between the desire for power and the fear of the unknown. To lose oneself, to surrender the very essence of one's identity... was any amount of power worth such a price?
In the end, he moved on, his gaze skipping over the entry as if it had never been. There would be other opportunities, other chances to seize the reins of his own destiny. He couldn't afford to falter now, to let doubt and uncertainty cloud his judgment.
Further down the list, a pair of entries caught his eye. Knife Manipulation and Up Your Sleeve, two abilities that seemed tailor-made for his preferred style of combat. The power to control his blades with a thought, to imbue them with properties beyond the ken of mortal metallurgy. And the convenience of always having a weapon at hand, of being able to pull a trick from thin air and catch his foes off guard.
At 800 and 400 Conflict Points respectively, they were a steal, a package deal that he would be foolish to refuse. Faer could already feel his mind racing with the possibilities, with the new strategies and tactics that such abilities would open up.
No more scrambling for a dropped knife in the heat of battle, no more fumbling with a sheath or a holster at a crucial moment. He would be a whirlwind of steel and shadow, a force of nature that could not be stopped or contained.
And then there was Max Power Mode, the trump card that could turn the tide of any battle. Double his physical abilities for a brief, shining moment of absolute dominance. The power to crush his foes with a single blow, to shatter their defenses and leave them broken at his feet.
The price was steep, but the potential... the potential was limitless. With such an ability at his command, Faer knew that he could take on any foe, face any challenge with unwavering confidence.
He could feel the points burning a hole in his pocket, the weight of the decisions that lay before him. But even as he agonized over the choices, a flicker of movement caught his eye, a shimmer of light that danced at the edges of his vision.
Faer turned, his gaze falling upon the translucent form of Pixie, her wings beating a steady rhythm as she hovered at his shoulder. Her eyes were fixed on the screen, her expression one of mingled wonder and apprehension.
"Quite the selection you've got there, Fae-Jae," she murmured, her voice soft and pensive. "Dangerous toys, for dangerous boys."
He didn't know she could see the screens too.
Hiding his surprise, Faer snorted, a wry smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Jealous, Pix?" he asked, his tone light and teasing. "Afraid I might replace you with a shiny new summon?"
Pixie huffed, her wings fluttering in annoyance. "Hardly," she scoffed, tossing her head with an air of wounded pride. "I'm one of a kind, and don't you forget it."
But beneath the bravado, the young adult could sense a flicker of genuine concern, a hint of the bond that had grown between them over the course of their trials and tribulations. Pixie might be a capricious creature, a wild and unpredictable force of nature, but she was also his companion, his partner in this mad and maddening world.
For whatever that counted for.
"Relax," he said, his voice soft and reassuring. "I'm not going anywhere, and neither are you. We're in this together, for better or for worse."
Pixie's expression softened, a flicker of warmth dancing in her eyes. "I know," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just... I worry about you sometimes, Fae-Jae. I worry that you'll lose yourself in all this, that you'll forget what really matters."
He didn't think they were really that close, but it did make him feel something, breath caught in Faer's throat, his heart clenching with a sudden, fierce emotion. It was a sentiment he had never expected to hear from Pixie, a confession of vulnerability that cut him to the core.
He supposed one good turn deserves another.
But it was also a reminder, a tether that kept him grounded, that held him fast against the siren song of power and ambition. He couldn't afford to lose sight of who he was- is now, of the tentative bonds that he had forged.
"I won't forget," he said, his voice rough with emotion. He still wasn't… good at bonding.
Pixie nodded, her eyes shining with a fierce, proud light. "I'll hold you to that, Fae-Jae," she said, her voice ringing with the weight of an oath. "And if you ever start to slip, ever start to lose your way... I'll be there to drag you back, kicking and screaming if I have to."
Faer laughed, a short, sharp bark of amusement that echoed in the stillness of the shrine. "I'd expect nothing less," he said, his tone warm and affectionate. "After all, what are friends for?"
A gamble, he didn't know if they were… not with her tendency to disappear on him.
Pixie grinned, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Keeping your sorry ass in line, apparently," she quipped, her tone light and playful. "And don't you forget it."
Putting his doubts aside, Faer shook his head, a smile tugging at his lips as he turned his attention back to the screen. The choices that lay before him hadn't changed, the prices and the promises as stark and unyielding as ever.
With a final, decisive nod, Faer made his choices, his finger tapping out a rapid staccato on the glowing screen. Knife Manipulation, Up Your Sleeve, Max Power Mode, the keys to a new and terrifying arsenal of abilities.
And with each purchase, he felt a surge of power, a rush of energy that coursed through his veins like molten fire. His circuits blazed with renewed purpose, his muscles coiled with the promise of untold strength.
That or it was all in his head and was just getting high on his own hype again.
With a sigh, Faer dismisses the tension in his body. He would be using this new found strength anyways, so there was no need to get worked up.
Much like how he had the first time, Faer wasn't exactly completely sure how the mechanics of using the simulation would work. But this time, it didn't matter, unlike when he had used it earlier it wouldn't be for the purpose of gauging someone's strength or for learning something. He was here to fight.
That made things easier. Less thinking.
【Boss Run Simulation: Activated】
With a seamless shift in his surroundings Faer went from sitting in the abandoned shrine to standing in the middle of an arena. Or at least that was the vibe that Faer was receiving from this situation, the glowing led lights threw off the vibe a decent amount.
Looking around him, Faer could see that there was a colorful cast of characters looking at him in a way that almost set him on edge. In someway Faer could feel that they were strong… very strong.
Not as strong as the Reaper but much stronger than he was.
"Mr. Jaecar, I understand that you are a bit new to all of this, so let me explain."
Turning on a dime, the young man looked to see an older woman, dressed as what his mind immediately flagged as a disciplinary secretary. Blonde hair done up in a tight bun, emerald green eyes peering over a pair of purple wire frame glasses. A white blouse with a small purple cape leading into a black pencil skirt.
…
She was stronger than the Reaper he encountered…
"You shall be fighting Mr. Arc, until one of your Aura's has reached the 15% marker, as highlighted above." True to her words above her on the wall was a picture of him and who he presumed was "Mr. Arc," a blond young man with deep ocean blue eyes.
Setting his gaze opposite to where he was Faer could see the young man. His opponent's upper torso was dressed in a black t-shirt hoodie with a slap job of armor amounting to an attempt at pauldrons and a cuirass with his forearms adorned with tanned orange leather bracers and fingerless gloves. Finishing his outfit blue jeans and a pair of converse shoes.
Overall, Faer had to give his attempt at armoring himself a 3.5/10. It was clear that he was working on a budget, given the wear and tear of the armor.
Squaring off with him, his opponent, Arc, awkwardly pulled his sword from his sheathe and turned the sheathe into a shield.
"You may begin."
Faer decided he would take this slow. Focusing Faer reached and…
【Z-Target】
It was like his focus had sharpened in a way it couldn't have before. It was almost like tunnel vision, only Faer could switch between what he was focusing on… Better yet, he didn't need to use his eyes to see.
It made no sense, but it did make enough sense for Faer to use here and now. Arc, seeing that his opponent wasn't going to rush him down and making no moves to approach, took to the offensive.
The blond young man was laughably slow. Or maybe slow wasn't right… He lacked the nuanced approach of a seasoned fighter. Which is why as he approached with a shield bash that blocked his own vision, Faer jumped to the side where for a moment his guard would be open.
But Faer wasn't going to exploit that since without him having armed himself, he would likely be meeting a shield to his knuckles if his opponent had any sense.
With another quickstep Faer was now behind his opponent, and he hadn't actually been using any real amount of his speed. How disappointing. Taking half of a moment to fully set into his stance, the contractor lashed out a rear hand punch from his right hand aiming for the back of the blond boy's neck.
To the boy's credit, he had turned around… but he had turned around right into the punch, which felt different, to Faer it was hitting a wall shaped like his opponent's face instead of something like flesh.
There was a white ripple beneath his fist for a moment, but Faer put it out of his mind Arc wasn't really recovering, so stepping into a lead hand jab, and hook to the face the contractor abandoned his combination as something warned him. The darker young adult automatically backflipped out of range of a half thought out retaliation. Hands up in a guard, Faer tucked his chin and darted back in to exploit the opened guard of the boy.
Earlier he had been holding back how hard he was hitting, now he wouldn't. Faer led with a hook to the kidney, stepping in the direction where his opponent would stumble as he registered the impact. Meeting him on his right Faer ducked beneath the lashing out blade, jabbing the arm upward with his right hand before moving into a handspring spinning axe kick that the boy barely managed to defend his shield.
Gritting his teeth, Faer pushed downward on the arm and pulled his damaged knife out of his inventory, launching two copies of the blade in rapid succession at the blond boy.
Rolling forward as he lands, Faer pulled his evoker out, and shot a single spirit gun round at the blond boy, who barely managed to throw himself to the side as the attack violently destroyed a decent amount of the arena.
Putting the weapon away, Faer stole a glance at the meter beneath their names. Whatever aura was, he hadn't seemed to have lost any of his while Jaune seemed to have lost 15% of his… so he had a lot of durability but not a lot of skill…
「Sukukaja」
The familiar sensation of his body becoming more limber and agile hit Faer, and he began to realize that he might actually go too far… This power that was within his grasp was completely ridiculous.
With Z-target and Sukukaja, Faer had to guess that he might be able to handle 80% of his full lateral speed. More than that, apply it in other directions too…
Good.
For a moment Faer leaned down as if he was using sprinter's blocks. Then he took off…
There was a loud boom in his ears but Faer didn't focus on that, rather on his opponent, with a leaping double kick to the face. Faer had aimed so that he would really only clip his opponent, since aiming directly would put them into grappling range and that wasn't what he needed at the moment.
Sliding past the boy on three limbs past the crater he had created with his earlier attack, the contractor immediately reversed his momentum coming in for another hit, a low slide tackle that had been moving just as fast as his previous attack.
For Arc the attack had been unreactable, swept into the air, Faer moved again and sent a mule kick into the small of his back before rapidly throwing another two knives into his back, before running and jumping off the walls of the arena.
Smashing a punch into the left side of the blond's temple which had left him starting to spin. Landing against the wall, Faer threw two more knives into Jaune.
As Arc went high enough to reach double his height Faer decided enough was enough. Focusing, Faer jumped higher than Jaune and flipped into an axe kick that immediately slammed the boy into the ground, and that was from his perspective…
Landing, Faer could feel it… He was getting pumped…
"That's enough…" And just like that he felt as if he was blue balled… Looking over to the teacher who he had yet to have a name for Faer released a breath and with it the effects of Sukukaja.
Though he still felt like was focusing too much… oh wait, that was Z-target.
【Z-Target】
What an incredible ability.
"As you can see, intelligent usage of Aura can be used to mimic the effects of other semblances, not to the same degree in terms of nuance but here, Mr. Jaecar achieved the same effect of having a similar semblance to Ms. Rose despite not having a semblance listed on file."
The blonde woman turned her gaze to his fallen opponent. "Mr. Arc, despite your opponent clearly out classing you, keep in mind that there is always a way for more stationary fighters to keep up with faster ones. Consider trying to make your movement more efficient so you don't need to move as far as a faster fighter to keep up. Polish up your defensive foot, and try to establish control over a small area the next time you find yourself out matched."
Turning her gaze to Faer, the teacher fixed him with a small smile. "Mr. Jaecar, you are a credit to your ability to use aura so effectively. It's not often that I see someone with an Aura of your size know how to use it with the precision of one with small reserves."
What the fuck was Aura… Is what he would say if he didn't think that they might be talking about the ability from the conflict store. He wouldn't say that he was sold on buying it but it was an interesting display.
【Boss Defeated: Unlocked RWBY Boss gauntlet 1.】
【Reward: Sword and Shield Nihil Insert】
【Moving to next boss in: 5】
【4】
【3】
【2】
【1】
As the countdown reached zero, Faer felt a sudden shift in the air around him, a prickling sensation at the back of his neck that set his instincts screaming. The arena seemed to warp and twist, the colors bleeding together like a kaleidoscope gone mad. For a moment, he was weightless, suspended in a void of swirling light and shadow.
And then, with a lurch that left his stomach churning, he found himself standing on solid ground once more. But it was not the same arena he had left behind, not the same stage upon which he had fought and triumphed.
No, this was something different, something alien and unsettling. The air was thick with the cloying scent of roses, a sickly sweet perfume that clung to the back of his throat and made his head spin. The walls were a riot of thorny vines and blood-red petals, a twisted parody of a garden in full bloom.
And at the center of it all, standing with a casual grace that belied the danger in her eyes, was a girl. She was small, almost delicate, with a heart-shaped face and wide, innocent eyes that gleamed like polished silver. Her hair was short and dark, shot through with streaks of crimson that matched the hood of her cloak.
But for all her apparent youth, there was something about her that set Faer's teeth on edge, a sense of barely contained power that thrummed beneath her skin like a second heartbeat. She held a scythe in her hands, a wicked looking thing of curving metal and gleaming blades that seemed to drink in the light around it.
"Well, well, well," the girl said, her voice high and clear and filled with a mocking sort of amusement. "Looks like I've got a new playmate. And here I thought this was going to be just another boring day."
Faer tensed, his hand drifting instinctively towards his Evoker. But he held himself back, forced himself to take a deep breath and assess the situation with a cool, rational eye.
This was a Boss Gauntlet, he reminded himself. A test of his skills and his abilities, a chance to prove himself against the best that this strange and twisted world had to offer. And if he wanted to come out the other side in one piece, he would need to keep his wits about him, to think before he acted.
"I'm Faer," he said, his voice calm and even despite the adrenaline singing in his veins. "Faer Jaecar. And you are?"
The girl grinned, a flash of white teeth that was more predatory than friendly. "Ruby Rose," she said, giving a mocking little curtsy. "Huntress extraordinaire and resident ass-kicker of Grimm and uppity boys who think they can take me on."
Faer raised an eyebrow, a flicker of amusement tugging at the corner of his mouth despite the gravity of the situation. "Confident, aren't you?" he asked, his tone dry and sardonic.
Ruby shrugged, the motion sending ripples through her cloak. "When you're as good as I am, confidence is just a statement of fact," she said, her voice dripping with a cocky sort of self-assurance. "But enough talk. You're here to fight, right? So let's get to it."
Without warning, she moved, a blur of red and black that seemed to flicker in and out of existence like a strobe light gone haywire. Faer barely had time to blink before she was on him, her scythe a whirling dervish of steel and shadow that sought to rend and tear and slice him to ribbons.
But he was ready for her, his body moving on pure instinct and muscle memory. He ducked and wove, his limbs a blur of motion as he dodged and parried and countered with a speed and precision that would have been impossible for a lesser man.
And yet, even with all his skill, all his power, he found himself hard-pressed to keep up with the girl's relentless assault. She was fast, faster than anyone he had ever faced before, her movements a fluid dance of death and destruction that left no room for error or hesitation.
Gritting his teeth, Faer reached deep within himself, tapping into the well of power that thrummed at the core of his being. He felt his circuits flare to life, felt the familiar rush of energy that coursed through his veins like molten fire.
「Sukukaja」
The world seemed to slow down around him, each moment stretching out into an eternity of possibility. He could see the arc of Ruby's scythe, could trace the path of each gleaming blade as it sought to carve him into bloody chunks.
But more than that, he could see the openings in her defense, the tiny flaws and imperfections that even her blinding speed could not fully conceal. And he seized upon them with ruthless efficiency, his body moving in a blur of phantom blades and ghostly fists that struck with the force of a thunderbolt.
Ruby staggered back, her eyes wide with shock and pain as Faer's blows found their mark. But to her credit, she did not falter, did not crumble under the onslaught like a lesser warrior might have.
No, she merely grinned, a fierce, feral thing that sent a shiver down Faer's spine. "Not bad," she said, her voice rough and breathless. "Looks like you might be worth my time after all."
And then she was on him again, her scythe a crimson blur that seemed to come at him from every angle at once. Faer dodged and weaved, his body a coiled spring of tightly leashed power as he sought to find an opening, a chance to strike back against his relentless foe.
But Ruby was not content to let him dictate the pace of the battle. With a flicker of her wrist, she sent a barrage of razor-sharp petals flying towards him, a whirling cloud of death that sought to engulf him in a storm of blood and agony.
Faer's eyes widened, his mind racing as he sought to find a way out, a path to survival amidst the chaos. And then, with a sudden flash of inspiration, he reached for his belt, his fingers closing around the hilt of his knife.
「Knife Manipulation」
The blade seemed to come alive in his hand, a gleaming extension of his will that danced and spun with a mind of its own. He sent it flying with a flick of his wrist, a silver streak that cut through the air like a bolt of lightning.
And to his amazement, it worked. The knife sliced through the cloud of petals like a hot knife through butter, scattering them to the winds and clearing a path for him to charge through.
He took the opening without hesitation, his body a blur of motion as he closed the distance between himself and Ruby. His fists lashed out, a rapid-fire barrage of blows that sought to overwhelm her defenses and break through her guard.
But Ruby was not so easily defeated. With a snarl of rage, she brought her scythe up to block, the metal of the haft ringing like a bell as it absorbed the force of Faer's strikes. And then, with a twist of her wrist, she sent him flying back, his body crashing against the thorny walls with enough force to rattle his teeth.
Faer shook his head, his vision swimming as he struggled to regain his footing. But even through the haze of pain and disorientation, he could see Ruby advancing on him, her scythe held high and her eyes gleaming with a fierce, predatory light.
"Is that all you've got?" she taunted, her voice mocking and cruel. "I thought you were supposed to be some kind of big shot, a real contender. But it looks like you're just another wannabe, another pretender who thinks he can play with the big girls."
This cheeky girl..!
Faer's jaw clenched, a white-hot surge of anger and humiliation coursing through him at her words. How dare she, this slip of a girl, this child playing at being a warrior, question his strength, his resolve?
With a roar of defiance, Faer pushed himself off the wall, his body coiled and ready for action. He reached deep within himself, tapping into the well of power that lay at the core of his being.
「Max Power Mode」
The world seemed to explode around him, a maelstrom of light and sound and fury that threatened to consume him utterly. He could feel his muscles straining, his bones creaking under the force of his own strength as he pushed himself beyond the limits of mortal flesh.
But he embraced the pain, welcomed it like an old friend. For in that moment, he was more than human, more than a mere man playing at being a hero.
He was a force of nature, a being of pure, unfettered power that would not be denied.
With a speed that defied comprehension, he launched himself at Ruby, his body a blur of motion that seemed to flicker in and out of existence like a ghost. His fists lashed out, a rapid-fire barrage of blows that struck with the force of a thunderbolt.
And this time, Ruby could not withstand the onslaught. Her scythe shattered under the force of his blows, the metal of the haft crumpling like tinfoil in his grasp. Her aura flickered and died, the shimmering barrier that had protected her body fading away like mist in the morning sun.
She fell to her knees, her eyes wide with shock and disbelief as she stared up at Faer's towering form. "How?" she whispered, her voice hoarse and broken. "How did you...?"
Faer looked down at her, his expression unreadable. "I am Faer Jaecar," he said, his voice a low, rumbling growl that seemed to echo in the stillness of the arena. "The Wandering Hunter, the Contractor who has stared into the abyss and refused to blink. And I will not be defeated, not by you, not by anyone."
Yeah, he was feeling his own hype.
He reached down, his hand closing around Ruby's throat as he lifted her off the ground. She struggled weakly in his grasp, her hands scrabbling at his wrist in a futile attempt to break free.
But Faer's grip was unbreakable, his strength too great for even a huntress of her caliber to overcome. He squeezed, his fingers tightening around her windpipe until her eyes bulged and her face turned a sickly shade of purple.
For a long, tense moment, Ruby hung there, her body twitching and convulsing in Faer's grasp. And then, with a shuddering gasp, she went limp, her head lolling to the side as the fight drained out of her.
Faer released her, letting her crumple to the ground in a boneless heap. He took a step back, his chest heaving with exertion as the last of his Max Power Mode faded away, leaving him feeling drained and exhausted.
But even through the haze of fatigue, he could feel a sense of satisfaction, a grim sort of pride in what he had accomplished. He had faced a true challenge, a foe who had pushed him to his limits and beyond.
And he had emerged victorious, had proven himself worthy of the power that coursed through his veins.
【Boss Defeated: Ruby Rose】
【Reward: 500 conflict points】
【Moving to next boss in: 5】
【4】
【3】
【2】
【1】
As the countdown reaches zero once more, Faer blinked and found himself in a clearing this time, no that wasn't right, he found himself in a park with trees that looked thicker and stronger than anything his fragmented memory could recall.
But something was off… Instead of hearing the sound of nature, bird song, the sound of insects, or the subtle movements of rodents across the treetops Faer was met with nothing.
…!
"Dynamic Entry!" It takes everything he has to block the kick that slams into his hasty guard. It was nowhere near enough. Tumbling back, Faer catches sight of his attacker, a man in a green spandex jumpsuit wearing orange warmers and a flak jacket. It was all he could make out before his head slammed into the dirt and he found himself in an impromptu head stand.
"Lift your head young man..!" the man declared.
But it wasn't like Faer planned on staying down there in the first place, pushing himself onto his feet Faer finds himself faced with a man with a bowl haircut and two eyebrows that look more like caterpillars then eyebrows.
Combined with the rest of his outfit, he had the look of an eccentric.
"You have reached me with your endeavor to improve yourself. I can't claim to completely understand how this is happening but you have reached me: Konoha's Green Beast, MIGHT GUY!"