novelhk Chapter 244: Abyssal Explorer
Chapter 244: Abyssal Explorer
Chapter 244: Abyssal Explorer
“What did you learn from the fight?” asked Kazuki.
“My saber struggled to pierce its scales,” Gallad reported.
The former instructor nodded, eyes on the shredded corpse of the amphiptere. The winged serpent had ambushed the two hoplites as they explored the city. Knowing his rival had a penchant for slaying draconic creatures, Kazuki had first tried to repel the beast before realizing it was rabid and killing it was necessary.
“Draconic talents are formidable.” The Hoplite Champion had no trouble breaching the creature's defenses, but his build was tailored for armor-piercing. “What else?”
“Considering the size of this beast, it's not an adult. The creature Blueberry is cooking is at least four times larger... This world is dangerous, even for Titan-class warriors,” Gallad said, frowning. He was disappointed but too disciplined to deny the truth. “Yet, data from the Reunion suggests I should be able to handle most Tier 1s without issue.”
“I felt more resistance piercing this serpent's scales than Eleha's skin,” Kazuki said, kneeling to touch the amphiptere's scales. They were still tough, but much less so than during the fight. “The harsh environment forces the inhabitants to push their limits to reach Tier 1. It's good training for us.”
Gallad nodded. “We will fight to pave the way, sir. What's our next move?”
“Let's keep exploring. We can't leave such powerful enemies near the rift.”
If Priam had wanted to kill every amphiptere, he would have done so. The two hoplites continued exploring the ruins for almost two hours without encountering any new adversaries.
“According to the Guardian of Secrets, draconic creatures breed like rabbits, yet this city is empty,” Gallad noted.
“It's possible a certain density of aether is needed for these creatures to reproduce easily. Or something is culling them,” Kazuki replied, eyeing the two buildings at the city's heart.
The warriors headed toward the first building, which resembled a temple. Priam had likely visited it already, as two enormous winged serpent corpses lay inside. After analyzing the hall to better understand the amphipteres' strengths and weaknesses, they moved to the second structure. Its double doors were titanic, nearly ten meters high, but dwarfed by the edifice's towers, some of which reached two hundred meters.
Pausing at the entrance, the warriors surveyed the lobby. The monumental room was tall enough to comfortably fit Log-a-rhythm and nearly a hundred meters long. Colorful statues and purple tapestries filled the space. Besides the opulent decor that had weathered time well, Kazuki's eyes were drawn to the hundreds of skeletons littering the floor.
“Amphipteres died here,” Gallad stated the obvious.
“The question is: were they hunted or did they come here voluntarily?”
Kazuki scanned for traps and found nothing.
The corpses were scattered haphazardly, some piled on top of others. Only the staircase at the lobby's far end, leading to the building's core, was free of remains.
“Permission to scout ahead.”
“Permission denied. Go inform Hyshana and bring back all the soldiers on break,” Kazuki ordered. “Tell them to bring their mechs.”
Gallad saluted, then left without another word. The hoplites weren't obligated to help Priam invade this world, but compensation might tempt them. Something tells me this building hides interesting secrets...
Kazuki surveyed the lobby without stepping inside. The doors could shut behind him, and he refused to die foolishly.
His gaze returned to the remains. While the flesh had decayed, leaving only traces on the floor, the bones had endured. Kazuki noticed they were far from intact. Some had been crushed, sliced, pierced, or burned... others had simply vanished.
Each amphiptere had perished in violent conflict. But against what adversary?
A faint noise alerted Kazuki, who leapt back. The doors slammed shut, nearly pushing him inside. A trap.
Summoning his spear, the hoplite prepared for battle.
Five minutes passed with the doors remaining closed. The enemy was cautious.
Kazuki pointed his spear at the heavy stone doors. In a fluid motion, he channeled maximum energy from his feet to his shoulders and struck the stone. The air vibrated, and the shockwave swept the ground before the building.
The door remained intact.
Kazuki's face showed no disappointment or frustration. Mobilizing Micro II and Spear Mastery II, he repeated the attack. The impact shook the ground, and a fragment of stone chipped off the door.
Stretching his wrists, sore from the shock, the Spear Virtuoso contemplated improvements. He could enhance penetration by focusing his Mastery on the spear tip rather than the blade. With a stationary target, he could plant his feet firmly, drawing more power from the ground. Agility was unnecessary; the strike needed to be powerful, not swift. Micro II could overclock other muscles while reinforcing his wrists.
I could also take inspiration from Priam and his high-intensity barrage...
Kazuki resumed his stance and attacked again. The ground trembled, his spear vibrated, and a fragment of stone sublimated, transformed into gas like a flint being struck.
Three tries later, he doubled the fragment's size with each strike. Ten tries later, he developed a new epic skill for destroying hard materials. Forty tries later, a fist-sized hole was visible in the right door.
Sweat beaded on the tiny scales covering his skin, but the warrior was satisfied. His spear skills made progress, and that was what mattered.
When the hole reached fifty centimeters in radius, having penetrated half the door's thickness, the invisible enemy had enough. The double doors opened again, revealing a statue at the lobby's far end. Descending the stairs, the stone figure locked eyes with Kazuki.
“After all this time, the Concepts send soldiers... Isn't the fate of this fragment cruel enough?”
Rather than answer, Kazuki took a defensive stance. His instincts told him this mysterious foe was at least as powerful as Eleha. His chances of victory were slim, but the Champion refused to back down.
His defeat against Eleha had confirmed that the only way to protect his people was to become stronger.
[Symbiosis - Knightmare], [Odyssey - Legendary].
As his armor materialized around him and his Story unfolded, Kazuki identified the stranger.
[Multi-Analysis]
[Stone Sentinel - Tier 1 - Earl] - A sentinel controlled by a vengeful spirit.
The sentinel leapt. Breaking the sound barrier with its acceleration, it arrived in front of Kazuki in an instant, swinging a warhammer. The hoplite parried instinctively and countered with [Odyssey - Legendary Thrust].
His third legendary skill, boosted by Odyssey, struck the sentinel's neck. The blow sent the sentinel flying like a puppet hit by a missile.
According to his AI, the combo created by the two skills was powerful enough to decapitate Eleha if the Tier 3 allowed herself to be hit. The sentinel stood up and mended the crack with a wave of its hand. Kazuki tightened his grip. The fight would be tough.
META(Endurance) +5
The System appeared to agree.
[Kinetic Control] has reached level 60, its maximum level as an Epic skill.
Another upgrade unlocked. Three upgrades are available:
[Kinetic Domination - Legendary] - Prerequisites: Domain, [Physics - Forces], [Physics - Energies], [Adaptive Golden Meridians].
You know about subtle kinetic applications but prefer power. Shock and velocity become your main weapons. You sow great destruction on the battlefield. High upgrade potential. Potential Cost: 360.
[Chemical & Kinetic Control - Legendary] - Prerequisites: Pyro Concept (Affinity), Domain, [Physics - Matter].
Pyro grants you an affinity with thermal energy. Domain allows you to finely manipulate particles. You can now catalyze or halt certain chemical reactions. Future upgrades possible. Potential Cost: 180.
[Thermal & Kinetic Control - Legendary] - Prerequisites: Pyro Concept (Affinity), Domain, [Physics - Energies], [Physics - Matter].
Your affinity with thermal energy and Domain enable you to manipulate thermal agitation as well as the movement of molecules and atoms.You understand the role of pressure in the grand scheme of things. In your Domain, different states coexist. Impressive. High upgrade potential. Potential Cost: 360. NEW
Priam felt his heart race upon seeing the high upgrade. With this new prerequisite checked, he was sure that mastering the Pyro Concept was the final hurdle before achieving an ideal upgrade of his most versatile skill. But first...
As the ice layer shielded him from the pressure, Priam opened a passage to Concepts Archipelago. The water around him surged into the portal before a rush of air flowed from the opposite direction.
Taking a deep breath, Priam smiled as he felt his cells revive. There were few things better than taking a gulp of air just after narrowly escaping drowning.
Satisfied, he took a step forward to cross through the portal and collided with the beak of the phoenix standing at the entrance.
“Well, well... A draconic lair.”
Priam could have sworn his mentor was smiling.
Status:
PHYSICAL:
Strength 725
Constitution 1 105
Agility 864 (+22)
Vitality 1 058 (+18)
Perception 767
MENTAL:
Vivacity (D) 592 (+22)
Dexterity 657
Memory 842
Willpower 1 163
Charisma 692
META:
Meta-affinity 801
Meta-focus 409
Meta-endurance 624 (+7)
Meta-perception 340
Meta-chance 274
Meta-authority 216
Potential: 13 637 (+32)
Tier 0
Sun points: 1 481 193 (+89)
[He Who Eludes Death] charge: PRIMED
[Tribulation]: Five Tribulations pending.
Future Tribulations delayed until:
Time: 153 days 11 hours 9 minutes 40 seconds.
Next thresholds: 12 attributes > 600 / 6 attributes > 900 / 1 attribute > 1 200