Overwhelming Firepower

Lucen, who was exchanging blows with Varek back and forth, was getting more and more excited.

The excitement, the rush he was feeling, was more than just because of his battle-crazed state. He knew that the character he was embodying right now was also influencing his state of mind.

It was a good thing Lucen’s unyielding blessing helped him resist being fully eroded by the character’s personality.

Still, he needed this particular character’s style of fighting to impress the Stone Hawk Tribe. Not to mention, he needed to do this a few more times for the other tribes. So he needed to find a way to somehow endure.

Lucen forced himself to breathe, inhale, exhale. Each breath felt heavier than the last, as if the air itself had gained weight and pressed down on his lungs.

His heart hammered against his ribs, not from exhaustion, but from something far more dangerous, anticipation that buzzed through his nerves like wildfire.

He could feel it, trying to devour him from within. The way his body leaned forward a little too eagerly. The thought of wanting to crush the opponent in front of him.

’This is bad.’ Lucen clenched his jaw as he continued exchanging blows with Varek.

’I think I already showed them more than needed. I’ll just continue the fight as myself. I can’t continue to use Acting Adept for now. The personality of this character is too powerful.’

As Lucen was about to shift back to his normal face, a voice sounded in his mind. It was his voice, but the way he spoke, the tone was completely different.

’Why stop me? Why limit yourself like this?’

Lucen tried to push those thoughts away. He tightened his focus, forcing his attention back to the rhythm of the fight. The impact of flesh on flesh, the weight of his own breathing.

’You’re just a voice in my head. A temporary inconvenience!’ Lucen shouted in his mind as he pushed his trait Dragonkiller’s Resolve, Grit, and his unyielding blessing.

The combination of the traits and the blessing, alongside his increasing mental strength, enabled him to push out the mental grip of the personality of the character he was acting as.

Noticing the change in Lucen, Varek distanced himself from the other party and stopped attacking.

”Hm... You’ve changed again. The bloodlust and the drive you were emitting disappeared. Now all I sense is a calm within you.” Varek tilted his head, a little confused by the sudden change.

Lucen did not respond immediately, and instead, he exhaled slowly, letting the tension drain from his shoulders. Once he had calmed his mind down, he answered Varek.

”Does it matter?”

Hearing Lucen’s answer with a question, Varek smiled and dashed forward as he answered. ”No, it doesn’t!”

Varek once again started his ferocious offensive. Lucen, who had lost the skill he gained from using acting adept, was now relying on his many skills to fill in his unarmed technique.

Good thing he had a few skills that were good for this kind of fight, a few of which were battle instinct (intermediate), unarmed combat (novice), and his trait, battle-crazed.

Varek quickly realized that Lucen’s fighting pattern changed rather drastically. If before, he would block attacks and counter, this time Lucen took punches head-on without blocking and focused on attacking.

It was then that Varek noticed that Lucen’s bruises were healing fast. This was due to his skill regeneration and his traits Dragonkiller’s resolve and grit.

Seeing this just excited Varek even more as he continued attacking without bothering to think about defending as well.

This also excited the people of the Stone Hawk Tribe, watching the Einvígi. Thrall almost wanted to jump down and join in the fight, but Sir Thalos was ready to intercept him if he ever did so.

Varek laughed as another punch smashed into Lucen’s ribs. ”This is much more exciting than I ever hoped!”

Lucen took the blow head-on, feet digging into the stone as his body absorbed the impact. Pain bloomed across his side, sharp and immediate, but he did not step back.

”Glad you’re having fun!” Lucen replied as his forehead slammed into Varek’s chest. The sound made from that attack echoed like it was a drumbeat that was struck too hard.

Varek took a step back, and Lucen followed with a spinning backfist. Lucen’s fist hit Varek’s chin and made another loud booming sound.

Varek’s knees buckled a little, but then, before Lucen could move his fist away, Varek grabbed hold of Lucen’s arm that initiated the backfist.

Lucen could feel his forearm being gripped with incredible force. Varek then lifted Lucen upward, and it was at that moment that Lucen knew what was going to happen next.

A similar scene to how a big green monster smashed a so-called puny god. Varek did not hesitate. The moment his grip locked in, he swung.

Lucen’s vision spun as his body was slammed into the stone floor with bone-shaking force. The impact detonated through the battleground, a thunderous BOOM that sent dust and stone fragments leaping in the air.

Lucen spat out a bit of blood, and before he could catch his breath, Varek yanked him back up and slammed on the ground again.

Lucen was able to endure because of the trait Grit. He knew that he couldn’t continue to endure the slamming, so he made a move. The instant Varek pulled him up for a third slam, Lucen moved.

Instead of resisting the lift, he leaned into it. His body went limp for a split second, just long enough to slip the angle of Varek’s grip.

At the same time, Lucen twisted his wrist inward and drove his thumb hard into the soft gap between Varek’s knuckles. It was not enough to break the hold, but it was enough to weaken it.

Lucen used that moment to snap his knee upward. It slammed directly into the inside of Varek’s thigh. Varek’s grip faltered for a fraction of a second.

That was all Lucen needed. Lucen wrenched his arm free, twisting with the motion instead of against it, and let himself fall, not straight down, but sideways.

He hit the ground in a roll, shoulder first, stone scraping skin as he tumbled out of range and kicked off the ground to regain distance.

He came up on one knee, breathing hard, blood dripping from his mouth onto the stone. Varek stared at his empty hand, then burst into laughter.

”Kakaka! Well, that was rather impressive. Come on then, let’s continue the fun!”

If it were possible, Lucen wanted to surrender now since he was sure that he had already proven that he was someone worthy to fight alongside. Yet he also knew if he did that, it would negate everything he had done now.

All he could do now was continue doing his best. He understood from the many exchanges they had, despite it hurting a lot, that Varek wasn’t really going at him with the intent to kill.

So at most, he would be forced to faint, but he needed to do that without looking like he was giving up.

Lucen wiped the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand and slowly pushed himself to his feet.

His legs trembled from the accumulated damage. Despite his outer bruising having healed due to his skills, his stamina was not coming back.

Each breath scraped his lungs, hot and heavy, and his vision blurred at the edges. Still, his eyes remained sharp.

Aside from Sir Thalos, this was the only other time he had been so overwhelmed by someone using only his natural physique.

’I guess I can only keep going.’ Lucen then resolved himself to do what was necessary for the sake of his plans.

Lucen and Varek once again started exchanging attacks. Varek and everyone watching, including Sir Thalos, were truly stunned by the sight they were witnessing.

Every time they thought Lucen would drop unconscious, he quickly got himself back up and continued fighting.

Lucen’s breathing became very heavy as blood flowed out of his mouth and nose. His knees were shaking, and his hands were trembling; his eyes could no longer focus as much, but he stood up ready to continue the fight.

”That outsider... No, that warrior is incredible!” One of the warriors of the Stone Hawk Tribe commented, prompting a reaction from the ones watching.

”Yes, that’s a true warrior!”

”An honorable, prideful warrior!”

”A worthy match for our chief!”

The voices rose one after another, overlapping, growing louder. The cheers grew alongside those voices.

Varek looked at Lucen in silence. Lucen stood swaying on his feet, chest heaving, blood dripping steadily from his chin to the stone below.

His arms felt like lead. His legs screamed in protest. Every instinct in his body told him to fall, but he did not. He straightened his back. He raised his fists again.

Varek raised his hand as he spoke. ”I have seen enough. You have proven your mettle as a warrior! I, Varek, chief of the Stone Hawk Tribe, acknowledge you, warrior, Lucen Thornehart! This Einvígi has ended with great success!”

The second, Varek said those words, the crowd roared in acknowledgement. The warriors pounded their chests like drums.

When Lucen heard Varek’s announcement, he showed a smile as his knees finally gave in and he was about to fall. Sir Thalos appeared beside him and helped him up.

”That was a wonderful battle, young lord.” Lucen, whose consciousness was rather hazy, answered with a chuckle.

”Yeah, I guess... It was.”