With confidence that we can kill the werewolf, we kept grinding. Going to wolves den, and every other day allowing Bushido to clear outside, so others could have the goblin cave for themselves.
It was hard, especially with how difficult the battle with the boss was. Each time it would end in the same manner despite our efforts and ideas on how to end it quicker. The monstrous regeneration was something we just couldn't deal with when the boss had enough energy to fight back.
He was a unit. Only severe blood loss was working in slowing him down enough to allow me to cut off the head.
Trouble in the city got slowly worse. Hatta eventually had to back down from occupying the rat's territory. He ended up allowing other groups to clear out the provoked horde of rats every other day, but the nest remained in Wuxia's hands.
Talking with Nadia became hard since Aisha would refuse me entrance to the Velvet Lotus. During the times I actually was in the city, my traitorous girlfriend would be too busy with her duties. I ended up getting few messages across through Hailwic and Alice on the day when they would be guarding the entrance in the early mornings, or bouncing people off by night.
Nothing stupid, or fancy. Just simple questions how are she and Tam doing. In this way, I found out that Nadia scared by what happened to me, and now rarely got out of the club. Only with an escort if she had to.
I felt like all this separation is making our relationship die slowly, and I felt bad about it. Those thoughts every time got pushed out by the facts of her betrayal. I kept telling myself it was her fault, not mine but the feeling remained.
I ended up collecting a nice chunk of points. 804 500 from my own share, and also another 500 000 from Will's since he owed me. With that, I was finally able to unlock one of the classes I was aiming for. I was not sure which one but eventually decided to settle for 'Shadow soldier'.
This unlocked three new skills. 'Shadow fusion', 'Void essence', 'Void manipulation'. They all had the usual cost, except the Void essence. I started by getting all of them to the second upgrade, but since the essence was not 1000 points I ended up upgrading it hundred times before I realized how dumb it could be. Then I obviously stopped.
After, I decided to go with Will to his room, and test out new powers. I would do it alone, somewhere in the city, but it was already dark outside, and I needed some light.
- Ok, show what you got - he said sitting relaxed on the couch.
I was standing in front of him.
- Ok. Let's see...
At first, I used void manipulation. I really didn't know how it worked, so I just focused on a point in space in front of me, and focused with one arm stretched out. A second later something unexpected happened, and I freaked out.
Smoke came out of my hand. It looked like I was slowly disappearing, just like monsters did in this strange world. That's why I panicked and stopped before anything else could happen.
- Holy shit. You ok? - Will asked, halfway up from the couch.
- Yeah... - I mumbled out looking at my perfectly fine hand.
Then I focused again, just slightly less, on the same point in space, and used the skill. Just as before smoke came out, and it looked like its just disappearing in the air. My hand remained intact, so I kept going, and a moment later ball of pure darkness fused in the place I was focusing on.
- The fuck is that? - Will asked leaning towards it.
- To be honest... I have no idea - I said, then moved towards it, to eventually touch it with my fingers.
It was a strange feeling. I could touch it, but also kinda couldn't. The surface was so smooth, like nothing I felt before like there was no friction at all. Then I used a bit of force, but the ball in the air wouldn't move. Eventually, I hit it harder, and hardest to the point I broke it with a punch. It turned to smoke and disappeared.
- What the heck is that skill? - Will asked. - It looks pretty useless.
- Yeah. I need to test it more.
I focused again and made another ball. This time smaller, more condensed, and tried to move it. It worked like a charm. I had a moving space marble.
You probably are thinking about using it like a bullet right now, but that was impossible, since moving it required a lot of concentration from me, and the whole process was very damn slow. Like pushing it with my own hand, with no rush.
- Does it have to be a ball? - Will asked suddenly.
His words made me think, and I actually attempted to turn the damn ball into a different shape. For starters into a cube.
Again, worked. Now I had a flying cube. Which led me to another idea. I closed my eyes and imagined my weapon in my hand. The pudao I was fighting with. I moment later I could feel it.
But just like with the ball at first, I couldn't move it. It was there, firmly occupying the space. There was also another issue. The handle was so damn slippery, I actually couldn't hold onto it properly.
- Fuck.
- What? What's wrong? You just made an amazing weapon... of... darkness?
- I can.t use it. I have to concentrate to move it. It's like glued to space itself Useless...
- Can't you glue it to your hand then?
- Huh...
He made me think again, and I tried making it stick to my hand. It worked. Now I had my own weapon at my disposal every time I wanted it. It was still worse than my regular one, but at least I didn't have to carry it.
I proceeded to further testing, trying to infuse it with ki, but that didn't work at all. With a real weapon, I could feel it and slip the energy inside, but with this created thing, it felt like nothings there.
Then we tried to use it for cutting. Will had some empty bottles and put one on the table. I swung the new pudao, and it smoothly went thru the bottle, cutting into half at an angle. The cut itself was incredibly clean.
- Damn - said Will upon witnessing that. - With this, we can just cut the damn werewolf in half.
- Maybe...
- Wait. I have an idea!
And he rushed to get something from under his bed. It was an old sword he no longer needed.
- Let's try it - he said.
We both swung, but upon clashing my pudao turned to smoke.
- Fuck. It's useless after all - he concluded.
- Yeah... Maybe if I upgrade the skill.
It seemed like those whole void creations lacked enough sturdiness compared to good old steel, but there was potential. I just needed a shit ton of points. Again...
With this skill out of the way, we still had the other one to test. Shadow fusion.
- Let's try the other skill.
- Sure - Will agreed, reclaiming his spot on the couch.
This time with a sword on his lap.
I closed my eyes, and concentrated, then activated the skill. It made me feel strange. Like something alien just forced itself into my own body. I opened my eyes and looked at the palms of my hands. Nothing looked different.
Then Will just laughed.
- Wow Peter. You just turned emo.
- What?
- Your lips. They are almost black.
He leaned forward, to look closer, putting the sword on the table.
- And your eyes. Your iris turned black in both eyes. Do you feel any different?
- No... Not really.
- Check your mover. Are you faster, stringer?
- I can do it here. You want me to wreck your room?
- How about a little duel? Or maybe not... I might be curious, but I'm also tired...
- Yeah. Let's test it out during tomorrow's hunt.
- The werewolf will be an amazing punching bag.
- I'll try it first at the regular wolves. I don't want to be ripped into pieces if something goes south.
Will smiled.
- Ok, then tomorrow. Do you have anything more to show off?
- No. That's all.
- Ok. Then get the hell out. I want to sleep.
I laughed, and after saying my goodbyes, left.
The new powers were nothing groundbreaking, but they left me with a feeling of progress. There was some potential in them. Something that really could be useful in the assassination of Blue. The moment of confrontation was approaching. Slowly, but steadily.
I swung by the device, bought some food for a late dinner, and then headed home. After a couple of minutes, I got one more idea about my new powers. I once again used shadow fusion, and then shadow walk, just to move few steps ahead.
As always my vision for a moment turned completely black, but during the short visit into the void, its presence didn't overwhelm me like before. It was still definitely there, just I was no longer an intruder.
The day came to an end with 1 539 261 points remaining on my account.
With confidence that we can kill the werewolf, we kept grinding. Going to wolves den, and every other day allowing Bushido to clear outside, so others could have the goblin cave for themselves.
It was hard, especially with how difficult the battle with the boss was. Each time it would end in the same manner despite our efforts and ideas on how to end it quicker. The monstrous regeneration was something we just couldn't deal with when the boss had enough energy to fight back.
He was a unit. Only severe blood loss was working in slowing him down enough to allow me to cut off the head.
Trouble in the city got slowly worse. Hatta eventually had to back down from occupying the rat's territory. He ended up allowing other groups to clear out the provoked horde of rats every other day, but the nest remained in Wuxia's hands.
Talking with Nadia became hard since Aisha would refuse me entrance to the Velvet Lotus. During the times I actually was in the city, my traitorous girlfriend would be too busy with her duties. I ended up getting few messages across through Hailwic and Alice on the day when they would be guarding the entrance in the early mornings, or bouncing people off by night.
Nothing stupid, or fancy. Just simple questions how are she and Tam doing. In this way, I found out that Nadia scared by what happened to me, and now rarely got out of the club. Only with an escort if she had to.
I felt like all this separation is making our relationship die slowly, and I felt bad about it. Those thoughts every time got pushed out by the facts of her betrayal. I kept telling myself it was her fault, not mine but the feeling remained.
I ended up collecting a nice chunk of points. 804 500 from my own share, and also another 500 000 from Will's since he owed me. With that, I was finally able to unlock one of the classes I was aiming for. I was not sure which one but eventually decided to settle for 'Shadow soldier'.
This unlocked three new skills. 'Shadow fusion', 'Void essence', 'Void manipulation'. They all had the usual cost, except the Void essence. I started by getting all of them to the second upgrade, but since the essence was not 1000 points I ended up upgrading it hundred times before I realized how dumb it could be. Then I obviously stopped.
After, I decided to go with Will to his room, and test out new powers. I would do it alone, somewhere in the city, but it was already dark outside, and I needed some light.
- Ok, show what you got - he said sitting relaxed on the couch.
I was standing in front of him.
- Ok. Let's see...
At first, I used void manipulation. I really didn't know how it worked, so I just focused on a point in space in front of me, and focused with one arm stretched out. A second later something unexpected happened, and I freaked out.
Smoke came out of my hand. It looked like I was slowly disappearing, just like monsters did in this strange world. That's why I panicked and stopped before anything else could happen.
- Holy shit. You ok? - Will asked, halfway up from the couch.
- Yeah... - I mumbled out looking at my perfectly fine hand.
Then I focused again, just slightly less, on the same point in space, and used the skill. Just as before smoke came out, and it looked like its just disappearing in the air. My hand remained intact, so I kept going, and a moment later ball of pure darkness fused in the place I was focusing on.
- The fuck is that? - Will asked leaning towards it.
- To be honest... I have no idea - I said, then moved towards it, to eventually touch it with my fingers.
It was a strange feeling. I could touch it, but also kinda couldn't. The surface was so smooth, like nothing I felt before like there was no friction at all. Then I used a bit of force, but the ball in the air wouldn't move. Eventually, I hit it harder, and hardest to the point I broke it with a punch. It turned to smoke and disappeared.
- What the heck is that skill? - Will asked. - It looks pretty useless.
- Yeah. I need to test it more.
I focused again and made another ball. This time smaller, more condensed, and tried to move it. It worked like a charm. I had a moving space marble.
You probably are thinking about using it like a bullet right now, but that was impossible, since moving it required a lot of concentration from me, and the whole process was very damn slow. Like pushing it with my own hand, with no rush.
- Does it have to be a ball? - Will asked suddenly.
His words made me think, and I actually attempted to turn the damn ball into a different shape. For starters into a cube.
Again, worked. Now I had a flying cube. Which led me to another idea. I closed my eyes and imagined my weapon in my hand. The pudao I was fighting with. I moment later I could feel it.
But just like with the ball at first, I couldn't move it. It was there, firmly occupying the space. There was also another issue. The handle was so damn slippery, I actually couldn't hold onto it properly.
- Fuck.
- What? What's wrong? You just made an amazing weapon... of... darkness?
- I can.t use it. I have to concentrate to move it. It's like glued to space itself Useless...
- Can't you glue it to your hand then?
- Huh...
He made me think again, and I tried making it stick to my hand. It worked. Now I had my own weapon at my disposal every time I wanted it. It was still worse than my regular one, but at least I didn't have to carry it.
I proceeded to further testing, trying to infuse it with ki, but that didn't work at all. With a real weapon, I could feel it and slip the energy inside, but with this created thing, it felt like nothings there.
Then we tried to use it for cutting. Will had some empty bottles and put one on the table. I swung the new pudao, and it smoothly went thru the bottle, cutting into half at an angle. The cut itself was incredibly clean.
- Damn - said Will upon witnessing that. - With this, we can just cut the damn werewolf in half.
- Maybe...
- Wait. I have an idea!
And he rushed to get something from under his bed. It was an old sword he no longer needed.
- Let's try it - he said.
We both swung, but upon clashing my pudao turned to smoke.
- Fuck. It's useless after all - he concluded.
- Yeah... Maybe if I upgrade the skill.
It seemed like those whole void creations lacked enough sturdiness compared to good old steel, but there was potential. I just needed a shit ton of points. Again...
With this skill out of the way, we still had the other one to test. Shadow fusion.
- Let's try the other skill.
- Sure - Will agreed, reclaiming his spot on the couch.
This time with a sword on his lap.
I closed my eyes, and concentrated, then activated the skill. It made me feel strange. Like something alien just forced itself into my own body. I opened my eyes and looked at the palms of my hands. Nothing looked different.
Then Will just laughed.
- Wow Peter. You just turned emo.
- What?
- Your lips. They are almost black.
He leaned forward, to look closer, putting the sword on the table.
- And your eyes. Your iris turned black in both eyes. Do you feel any different?
- No... Not really.
- Check your mover. Are you faster, stringer?
- I can do it here. You want me to wreck your room?
- How about a little duel? Or maybe not... I might be curious, but I'm also tired...
- Yeah. Let's test it out during tomorrow's hunt.
- The werewolf will be an amazing punching bag.
- I'll try it first at the regular wolves. I don't want to be ripped into pieces if something goes south.
Will smiled.
- Ok, then tomorrow. Do you have anything more to show off?
- No. That's all.
- Ok. Then get the hell out. I want to sleep.
I laughed, and after saying my goodbyes, left.
The new powers were nothing groundbreaking, but they left me with a feeling of progress. There was some potential in them. Something that really could be useful in the assassination of Blue. The moment of confrontation was approaching. Slowly, but steadily.
I swung by the device, bought some food for a late dinner, and then headed home. After a couple of minutes, I got one more idea about my new powers. I once again used shadow fusion, and then shadow walk, just to move few steps ahead.
As always my vision for a moment turned completely black, but during the short visit into the void, its presence didn't overwhelm me like before. It was still definitely there, just I was no longer an intruder.
The day came to an end with 1 539 261 points remaining on my account.
