Chapter 1206 Reaching the Elemental Attunement Stage
Michael expertly dangled the invitation before Jin, allowing him to scrutinize it closely.
"Do you think Death would play games like people?" he asked, his voice carrying an edge of reason that pierced through the chaos of the moment.
Jin's eyes darted between the invitation and Michael, his mind a whirlwind of confusion and conflict. The legitimacy of the invitation was undeniable, casting a shadow of doubt over the orders he believed to have received from his god. The realization that he might have been manipulated was dawning on him, yet the gravity of his devotion to Death made him hesitate, torn between allegiance and truth.
"Damn it," Observing the unfolding scene, Shar growled under her breath.
Suddenly, as if snapping out of his internal struggle, Jin shook his head, his decision made.
"I can't take any chances with this," he declared before lunging forward with his dagger aimed at Michael.
In a display of exceptional agility, Michael bent backward, narrowly avoiding the blade by mere inches. In a fluid motion, he counterattacked, delivering a powerful kick to Jin's head. The force of the impact sent Jin crashing through several trees, shattering them in his wake. This single move showcased Michael's immense physical strength, a testament to his prowess as a combatant.
Looking at the scene, Shar's eyes widened as she witnessed the immense strength displayed by the young man before her. At that moment, she knew he was far from ordinary. But suddenly, a chilling realization struck her – the young woman who had been with him was nowhere to be seen.
Yet, before Shar could even begin to process this, the young man lunged at her with astonishing speed. His fists, engulfed in dark flames, cut through the green flames of her protective barrier like it was made of mere paper. His punch landed squarely on Shar's chin, sending her flying back with incredible force.
In the blink of an eye, as Shar was hurled through the air, Gaya descended upon her with the grace and silence of a shadow. Invisible in her armor, Gaya swiftly snatched Shar's staff right from her grasp. Then, with a powerful leap, she retreated and tossed the staff into Michael's hand.
The entire sequence of events unfolded with such speed and precision that by the time Shar managed to pull herself up from where she had plowed into the ground, she was met with the sight of her own staff, now in the hands of her adversary.
Shar stood there, disheveled and disoriented, staring at Michael holding her staff – the source of her power and connection to Morbus.
Meanwhile, Michael looked at the staff with a mischievous chuckle, clearly amused by the turn of events. Shar, on the other hand, was fuming with anger.
"Give me back my staff, you insolent child!" she yelled, her voice laced with venomous fury.
"I will flay you alive!" She threatened him with dire consequences, but Michael was unfazed.
Firmly grasping the staff, Michael activated his Energy Devourer ability, intending to absorb the artifact. The system notifications began to chime in his head, announcing the conversion of experience points.
[Experience points converted 10,000]
[Experience points converted 15,000]
…
The small orb of green crystallized worship energy within the staff started to vaporize, its essence flowing into Michael through his hands.
Shar's eyes widened in horror as she watched her source of power being drained away.
"Stop! You don't know what you're doing!" she screamed, her voice echoing through the forest.
As Shar lunged towards Michael in a desperate attempt to retrieve her staff, Gaya intervened with remarkable precision. She fired a volley of explosive arrows around Shar, creating a series of blasts that knocked the old woman off her feet and halted her advance.
After several seconds of absorbing the energy, Michael nonchalantly tossed the now depleted staff aside. The system notifications continued to ring triumphantly in his head, acknowledging his accomplishment and leveling up.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully being a badass. The reward is 25,000 Badass points]
[Congratulations to the Host for reaching the Elemental Attunement Realm]
Michael stood there, a new level of power coursing through him, while Shar lay disoriented and weakened from the explosions.
On the other side,?Jin wiped the blood from his mouth and regained his composure. He retrieved an emerald green potion from his belt, quickly downing it. The liquid worked its magic, mending his wounds.
"That was one hell of a kick," he muttered, acknowledging Michael's strength.
Without further delay, Jin charged toward Michael, determined to rescue Shar. His movements were swift, a blend of agility and purpose, fueled by the potion he had just consumed.
Simultaneously, Shar, disheveled with her hair in disarray and robes torn from Gaya's explosive arrows, made a beeline for Michael as well. Her face was a mask of rage and desperation, knowing that her staff, her source of power, was now in enemy hands.
Meanwhile, Gaya skillfully retreated into the shadows. She used the cloak of darkness and invisibility armor to vanish from sight, becoming an unseen guardian ready to strike if necessary.
In a whirl of motion, Michael deftly kicked the energy-depleted staff towards Shar. The old woman, her eyes wide with disbelief, caught it, only to realize that the worship energy she had painstakingly gathered over decades had been siphoned away in mere seconds. Her face twisted with rage and frustration, Shar screamed obscenities, her voice echoing through the forest.
Shar, now consumed by fury, swung her staff wildly at Michael. Her movements were erratic and desperate, a stark contrast to her earlier composure. Michael, with a smirk on his face, effortlessly dodged each of her attacks. His agility and reflexes were a sight to behold, making it clear that he was toying with her.
Meanwhile, Jin re-entered the fray. He lunged at Michael with renewed vigor, his every move calculated and precise. But Michael was always a step ahead, sidestepping Jin's strikes with ease. The contrast between Jin's focused aggression and Michael's relaxed demeanor only highlighted Michael's superiority in combat.
As Shar continued her relentless but futile assault, Michael taunted her.
"Is that all you've got, old lady?" he chuckled, effortlessly evading her blows.
"I thought worshippers of Morbus were tougher than this."
Jin, his frustration mounting, attempted to flank Michael, but to no avail. Michael's keen awareness of his surroundings allowed him to counter Jin's every move. He parried, ducked, and weaved, making the skilled assassin look like an amateur.
Shar, now panting from exertion, glared at Michael with hatred.
"You'll pay for this, you insolent brat!" she screeched, swinging her staff with all her might.
"I'm sorry, I don't carry change for small transactions." Michael, with a grin, replied. His comment only served to infuriate Shar further.
As the battle raged on, Michael's approach shifted. He began to meet Shar's wild attacks with a brutal force of his own. Each of his strikes was precise and powerful, designed to push her to her limits. Despite her age and experience, Shar was no match for Michael's raw strength and skill.
Michael's attacks on Shar were merciless. He delivered a series of bone-crushing blows that left her staggering.
"Come on, Shar. Move that old boney ass," he taunted, his voice laced with mockery. Shar, her face twisted in pain and anger, tried to retaliate, but her efforts were clumsy in comparison.
Meanwhile, Jin, who had been watching for an opening, saw his chance and charged at Michael with renewed determination. But Michael was ready for him. With a swift movement, he countered Jin's attack, sending a shockwave of force that threw Jin off balance.
Jin, now airborne, tried to regain his composure, but Michael was relentless. He launched into the air, meeting Jin with a flurry of punches and kicks that resonated through the forest. The sound of their collision was thunderous, echoing off the trees.
"Is that all, Jin? I was expecting more from an assassin like yourself," Michael sneered, landing a particularly heavy blow that sent Jin crashing to the ground. Jin lay there, gasping for air, his body aching from the impact.
Seeing Jin's defeat, Shar attempted to use the opportunity to attack Michael from behind. But Michael was already one step ahead. He spun around, delivering a powerful backhand that sent Shar reeling.
"You two really need to coordinate better," he chided, almost playfully.
The brutality of Michael's attacks left no doubt about his prowess. He was not just fighting; he was dominating the battle. Shar and Jin, both formidable in their own right, were reduced to mere playthings in his hands.
As the fight continued, Michael's strikes grew more savage. Every punch and kick was a demonstration of his superior strength and skill. Shar and Jin were on the defensive, barely able to keep up with his relentless assault.
Michael's combat style shifted as he was careful not to kill her even though he could have easily. If he killed her, it would draw Morbus's wrath and the God of Plagues wasn't known for his kindness. So Michael engaged Shar with a series of calculated and devastating strikes. Each move was a careful balance between aggression and restraint.
Trying to match Michael's ferocity, Shar swung her staff with all her might, but Michael was always a step ahead. He dodged her attacks with an almost casual grace.
As Shar lunged forward with a wild swing, but Michael effortlessly sidestepped, grabbed her wrist, and twisted it sharply, forcing her to drop the staff.
"You really should consider retiring," he teased, pushing her away with a flick of his wrist.
Once Shar stumbled back, Michael turned his attention to Jin, who had recovered and was ready to rejoin the fight. Jin charged, daggers in hand, aiming for a lethal strike. Michael, however, anticipated his move and caught Jin's wrist mid-air. With a fluid motion, he twisted Jin's arm and delivered a stylish spinning kick that sent Jin crashing into a nearby tree.
"You're going to have to do better than that," Michael chided, his voice dripping with mockery. Jin, wincing in pain, struggled to get back on his feet.
In the midst of the chaos, Michael subtly allowed the Spyder to crawl up his sleeve. With a swift movement, he flicked the Spyder onto Shar, who was too preoccupied with regaining her balance to notice the tiny creature. The Spyder quickly found its way to a concealed spot on Shar's robe.
Michael resumed his assault on Shar, driving her back with a barrage of punches. Shar, now desperate, tried to fend him off with crude, uncoordinated strikes.
"Be better," Michael taunted, his words sharp as his blows.
As the fight drew close, Michael delivered a final, crushing blow to Shar, knocking her to the ground. She lay there, defeated and gasping for air. Michael stepped back, a satisfied grin on his face.
"Both of you, stay down," he said, turning to leave.
"Enjoy the little time you have old bitch…You are going to die soon," Michael grinned devilishly as he walked away.
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