Chapter 320: The Test
The training ground fell silent as Kai’s War Lance came into existence, manifesting out of thin air with a pulse of Spirit Energy.
[ War Lance ]
[ Grade: Mid ]
[ Type: Piercing Lance ]
[ Effects: +30% Piercing Damage. Attacks ignore 20% of enemy defense. Effective against armored and shielded targets. ]
[ Secondary Effect: Perfect Thrust - repeated strikes on the same point increase penetration chance. After three consecutive hits on the same spot, the next thrust guarantees armor break. Cooldown: 1 second.
Activation Cost: 15 Spirit Energy per activation ]
[ Durability: 100/100 ]
The weapon was not too large, but it looked a bit too dangerous... Jackson’s eyes focused slightly, but he didn’t flinch.
"Good," Jackson said as he stretched his shoulders. "Show me what you can do."
Kai tightened his grip, feeling the familiar weight settle into his hands.
His passive titles stirred within him....
Strongest One was strengthening his attributes...
Guardian was hardening his physique, protecting him from harm...
And Trailblazer was helping his growth.
He could feel the Intimidation Aura that came with the Title Effect spread outward, but Jackson, Level 61, was unaffected.
Jackson moved first.
His steps were swift, clearly unusual for his physique!
He was heavy, yet the movement was perfect!
Kai didn’t know it yet, but the man didn’t even activate his Gene Skills... instead, he had only used a footwork he had trained for years!
Soon, his fists clenched as he planned to strike Kai from the side!
Still, Kai had high sensitivity to Spirit Energy. Because of that, he recognized it immediately... this man was relying on pure combat arts, honed techniques rather than genetic enhancements!
The clash began.
Kai activated his Titan Step in response.
His body moved so fast that his momentum surged and he blurred across the steel floor. The War Lance thrust forward in a perfect line, piercing through the air!
Whoosh~
Jackson turned at the last instant, his footwork still perfect and he actually redirected the lance with a palm strike that deflected its trajectory.
Bam!
The impact reverberated, but Jackson’s stance remained unbroken.
Kai pulled back as he now had an idea how fast his opponent was.
’He’s reading my movements...’
Jackson countered with a sudden advance. His fists moved in a rhythm... three strikes in rapid succession, each heavier than the last.
Kai blocked the first with the shaft of his lance, sidestepped the second, but the third carried crushing force.
Boom!
It slammed into his chest, sending him sliding back across the floor.
Crasshhh...
Kain felt the pain but his Guardian title absorbed much of the damage. His body endured, and as a matter of fact, his stamina was recovering faster than expected.
He then exhaled sharply, steadying himself.
"Not bad," Jackson said calmly. "But you’ll need more than speed."
Kai’s eyes shone... And soon, he activated Spirit Dominion...
A concussive wave of Spirit Energy erupted outward, smashing chains of force that struck toward Jackson.
The resonance destabilized the air, reducing his opponent’s accuracy, while spectral bindings attempted to immobilize him...
This was definitely effective if the skills were used against low-level survivors.
But against Jackson, the most it could do was delay the man.
Jackson’s black eyes flared.
He moved swiftly, using precise footwork to slip through the chains.
His movements were incredibly fast!
It was not Gene Skills, but sheer mastery of combat arts.
He closed the distance, and tried to struck Kai’s body once more!
But Kai leapt upward, activating High Jump. His body soared five meters into the air, evading the crushing blows.
’That would’ve been painful...’
Kai thought to himself.
Even if he wasn’t cleanly hit just yet, he knew very well what would happen if he let Jackson land a hit on him.
’I’m sure I can’t win this but might as well show everything I’ve got.’
Since his main trump card was S-Rank Atom and his Infinite Gift Pack System, he didn’t really mind having all his Gene Skills and Gene Weapons exposed.
"Ha!"
From above, he thrust the War Lance downward, channeling Perfect Thrust.
The weapon pierced toward Jackson’s shoulder, striking the same point twice in rapid succession.
Jackson grunted, shifting his stance to absorb the impact.
Bam!
The third strike landed, triggering the armor‑break effect. His defense cracked, a shallow wound opening across his shoulder.
Kai landed lightly, pressing the advantage.
His lance blurred, piercing again and again, each thrust ignoring a portion of Jackson’s defense.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The steel floor rang with the rhythm of his strikes.
But Jackson was not even sweating at this point!
He just wanted to see how much Kai would struggle!
Still, he realized the Gene Weapon’s effect after his fifth strike!
He couldn’t let Kai continue hitting the same spot, or his Lance might really punch a hole in his body!
"Well done..." Jackson said as he shifted his stance.
Soon, he exhaled, and his Spirit Energy condensed even further.
Then, Kai watched as the man’s fists moved in a spiral pattern, deflecting the lance with minimal motion.
Each strike carried a powerful force, and it was building momentum!
On the third impact, the force exploded outward, sending Kai staggering back.
Boom!
Kai’s chest burned, but Great Protection Skill dulled the pain.
His fused passive skill hardened his body, allowing him to withstand blows that would cripple others.
Seeing how he was still able to stand, Jackson finally looked really impressed!
"You’re tough."
Jackson said, clearly acknowledging Kai’s ability to withstand numerous hits. Because of that, Jackson’s eyes lit up. It wasn’t just because of excitement, it was greed!
"Hahaha... This is perfect. You rely too much on your Gene Skills. What happens when your Spirit runs dry? I will need to train you from now on!"
Kai smirked. "Train me? I don’t think that’s necessary."
He surged forward again, activating Titan Step once more.
His body blurred, closing the gap instantly.
The War Lance thrust forward, piercing Jackson’s defenses.
"Yes! You need a teacher!"
Jackson laughed as he turned his body, redirecting the strike with his forearm, but Kai followed through with another thrust, then another, hammering the same point.
Finally, the Perfect Thrust effect triggered again, breaking through Jackson’s guard.
Blood welled, but Jackson’s expression remained calm.
He already knew the lance’s special ability...
So he then retaliated with a sweeping kick!
Bam!
Kai blocked the kick with the shaft of his lance, but the force sent him sliding back.
The battle raged on...
Kai unleashed Spirit Dominion again, chains lashing outward, destabilizing Jackson’s rhythm.
This time, the bindings caught him for a brief moment.
Kai seized the opening, thrusting the War Lance three times in rapid succession. The armor‑break triggered, piercing deeper into Jackson’s defenses... This time, however, it didn’t pierce through his muscles as he had prepared enough Spirit Energy to protect his body.
Still, Jackson roared as he broke free with sheer force!
Bam!
His fists hammered down and soon, one of his blows detonated against Kai’s chest, sending him crashing into the steel floor!
Kai coughed...
It was painful, but his Titles were keeping him alive!
He then rose slowly, as he was determined to do more than this!
Jackson’s black eyes gleamed. "You’re strong. Stronger than most below Level 40. But strength alone isn’t enough. Show me something else... Something that will at least keep you alive against A-Grade Machines of the A.I. Army."
"A-Grade? Well... I’m not sure about that... but try me."
Kai tightened his grip on the War Lance.
Soon, his Spirit Energy surged.
After taking a deep breath... He charged forward relying on Titan Step!
Whom~
As soon as he got closer, he used his War Lance with a thrust!
***
Jackson braced himself as Kai’s War Lance shot forward... With a step to the right, Jackson deflected the strike...
He used his forearm to absorb most of the impact. But Kai didn’t press further with the lance. Instead, he let the weapon dissolve into Spirit Energy, abandoning it mid‑combat.
Jackson’s black eyes squinted.
’You’re switching weapons?’ He thought.
Kai’s Spirit flared, and soon, a new manifestation surged around his right arm.
Plates of dark alloy locked into place, forming a gauntlet that pulsed with strange sound.
[ Gene Weapon Awakened: Strength Gauntlet ]
[ Grade: Mid ]
[ Type: Resonance Gauntlet ]
[ Effects: +25% Physique Enhancement. Greatly increases grip strength, striking force, and melee damage output. ]
[ Secondary Effect: Brutal Impact – next melee strike deals +50% bonus damage and knocks enemies backward. Cooldown: 3 seconds. Energy Cost: 10 Spirit Energy per activation ]
[ Durability: 100/100 ]
Kai flexed his fingers, feeling raw power surge through his arm. His physique strengthened instantly...
"Let’s see how you handle this," Kai muttered.
He activated Brutal Impact.
Spirit Energy surged into the gauntlet, glowing faintly as the effect primed itself.
At the same moment, Kai struck...
Boom!
The punch connected with Jackson’s guard, detonating with explosive power.
The impact sent shockwaves across the training ground, forcing Jackson to slide several meters backward.
Despite the 20 level difference, Kai had actually done it!
Jackson’s stance held, but his expression was different. There was a tinge of surprise crossing his face...
"You pass!"
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