Kapitel 33: Chapter 32: Trials 3/3
Surpassed 650 stones, here's the bonus chapter.
Next: 800
----
The clone moved first, its blade a blur as it closed the distance in an instant. I barely managed to raise my katana to block, but the force behind the strike was immense. My arms shook violently as the clash echoed through the arena.
Before I could fully brace myself, the clone twisted its blade with precision, breaking the lock and slashing across my chest.
Blood sprayed into the air as I was sent flying backward, crashing into the ground with a heavy thud. My chest burned, and my arms felt numb, trembling uncontrollably as I tried to push myself up.
---
[HP: 1409/2800]
---
"That bastard..." I muttered, spitting blood to the side as I staggered to my feet. The clone stood there, unmoving, watching me like a predator eyeing its prey. It had used Critical Hit, I realized. The strike had ignored my defense entirely, tearing through me like butter.
I tightened my grip on the katana, adjusting my stance. "So, you can pull that off consistently, huh?" My voice carried an edge of frustration. I knew I had the same passive skill, but the difference was glaring: the clone could activate it at will, while I had to rely on pure chance.
"Fuck!"
The clone dashed forward again, its blade slicing through the air with deadly precision. I raised my weapon, catching the strike at an angle to deflect it. The impact sent me skidding back, my feet dragging across the ground as I tried to stabilize myself. The clone pressed forward, its movements relentless and fluid.
It swung horizontally, and I ducked just in time, the blade cutting a few strands of my hair. I countered with a quick upward slash, but the clone twisted its body mid-movement, dodging effortlessly before slamming an elbow into my jaw. The impact rattled my brain, disorienting me, and I barely had time to react as it followed up with a powerful kick to my ribs.
---
[HP: 767/2800]
---
I hit the ground hard, gasping for air as pain radiated through my body. This was bad, really bad. Every movement the clone made was precise, calculated. It wasn't just stronger than me; it was smarter. I needed a plan, and I needed it fast.
The clone didn't give me time to recover, charging forward with its katana raised high. My instincts screamed at me to dodge, but instead, I deflected the attack at the last second, angling my blade to redirect the force. The strike missed me by inches, and for the first time, I wasn't bleeding.
I blinked, surprised. The deflection had worked.
I grinned through the pain, gripping my katana tightly. "Alright, let's try this again."
The clone came at me with a flurry of strikes, its blade moving in unpredictable patterns. I focused solely on deflecting, using the flat of my blade to redirect the attacks. My movements became sharper, more precise, as I adjusted to its rhythm. Each clash sent vibrations up my arms, but I held firm, refusing to let it break through my defense.
The clone's strikes were relentless, each one faster and more forceful than the last. It spun in a blur, delivering a diagonal slash aimed at my shoulder. I sidestepped, tilting my katana just enough to deflect the blow. The clone countered immediately with a low sweep, forcing me to jump back to avoid losing my legs.
Despite my success in deflecting, the clone wasn't stupid. It adapted quickly, mixing in elbows, knees, and kicks to throw me off. A spinning back kick caught me in the stomach, sending me stumbling backward. The clone capitalized on my momentary lapse, closing the distance with a thrust aimed at my chest.
I twisted my body, the blade grazing my side but not piercing me. My heart pounded in my chest as I realized how close I'd come to death.
---
[HP: 421/2800]
---
This stalemate continued for what felt like hours. Every time I thought I had the upper hand, the clone would counter with a move I hadn't anticipated. My body was drenched in sweat, my muscles screaming in protest, but I couldn't stop now. I had to win.
As we clashed again, I began to notice something. The clone's Critical Hits weren't just random bursts of power. There was a pattern, a moment before the strike, where its muscles seemed to compress, coiling like a spring ready to snap. It wasn't just skill; it was control. Precise control over its body.
The realization hit me like a freight train. Critical Hit wasn't just some random chance ability. It was a technique, a way to compress and channel all the strength in your body into a single, devastating blow.
I gritted my teeth, dodging a downward slash as I tried to replicate the motion. I focused on my muscles, feeling them tense and coil, but the strike that followed was clumsy and weak. The clone didn't even flinch, countering with a horizontal slash that I barely deflected.
---
[HP: 279/2800]
---
"Come on, think!" I yelled, frustration boiling over. I closed my eyes for a split second, shutting out the pain and chaos around me. I focused on the memory of the clone's movements, the way it compressed its muscles, the exact moment it released that stored energy.
I inhaled deeply, my grip on the katana tightening. As the clone lunged at me again, I sidestepped and slashed horizontally, channeling everything I'd learned. My blade glowed faintly for a split second, and the strike connected with a deafening clang.
The clone staggered back, a deep gash across its chest. Its expression remained emotionless, but I could feel its intensity increase.
---
[Critical Hit: 25%]
---
I smirked, blood dripping from the corner of my mouth. "Gotcha."
The battle shifted after that. Every deflection, every dodge, every counterstrike was another opportunity to refine the technique. The clone pushed me harder, its attacks growing more erratic and unpredictable, but I adapted. Slowly but surely, the system's progress bar climbed.
---
[Critical Hit: 54%]
[Critical Hit: 71%]
---
The final clash was a blur of steel and sweat. The clone came at me with everything it had, its blade moving faster than ever before. But this time, I was ready. I compressed my muscles, feeling the tension build like a coiled spring, and released it in a single, devastating slash.
---
[Critical Hit: 100%]
[Skill Acquired: Critical Hit]
---
My blade cut clean through the clone's chest, splitting it diagonally. The clone froze, its katana slipping from its fingers as its body began to disintegrate into particles. I stood there, panting heavily, my katana still raised as the arena fell silent.
The system chimed, its voice cold and detached.
---
[Congratulations. Passive Skills Acquired: Critical Hit, Weapon Mastery.]
---
I dropped to my knees, my body trembling from exhaustion. Blood dripped onto the arena floor, pooling beneath me. But for the first time in what felt like an eternity, I smiled.
"I did it…"
----
1154 words.
Patreon: Mr_Graythorn
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein