A Novel Concept - A death a day, MC will live anyway!-Chapter 348: Measure Thrice, Cut Twice
Oasis trembled as much from the intensity of the fight as from the roars of the spectators. The crafters had long since backed away from Blueberry and Sphinx, whose deafening cheers rivaled the front row of a metal concert. No one held it against them—every soul present was reveling in Kazuki’s performance. Even the typically reserved hoplites lent their voices to the chorus, rallying behind their Champion. Anyone who had ever been captivated by a boxing match or a martial arts showdown understood the satisfaction of watching their favorite warrior trade blow for blow with a worthy opponent.
At the heart of the clamor, Priam stood silent, transfixed by the duel between the two weaponmasters. Beyond the ferocity of their exchanges, it was the fluidity of their movements and the purpose behind each strike that left him in awe. Many humans revered their Champion as a grandmaster, but as Priam watched the ruthless duel between these two martial artists, he realized just how far he still had to go to truly master the way of the spear.
And I might never get there…
Spear Mastery was a tall mountain. Compared to a prodigy like Kazuki, Priam’s relative lack of natural talent with weapons became painfully clear. Even with [Hoplite Warpath], Taishi’s gift from beyond the grave, his martial talent was still two steps behind. Where an average human needed ten thousand repetitions to internalize a stance, Priam could master it in ten. The Hoplite Champion needed only a glance. Could Priam ever hope to match his friend when, in addition to his dedication and talent, Kazuki had at least a hundred thousand hours of training on him?
It seemed impossible.
As admiration threatened to give way to despair, a beast inside Priam stirred. The ambient aether was coiling toward him, his second heart palpitated, and spectral scales rippled across his skin. A discomfort both spiritual and physical seized him, and he paled as a part of himself rebelled. His draconic bloodline was becoming unstable, seething at its host.
“You good?” Jasmine’s voice cut through the haze.
“Yeah, sorry.”
Priam activated [Chimera] to wrestle control of his own body, then grimaced as his draconic instinct informed him that the mythical Talent was, at best, a stopgap. The real issue ran deeper. It’s not just that a dragon is arrogant, he realized. It’s that it cannot accept defeat, nor even conceive of surrender. Losing confidence in himself meant losing the right to purify this bloodline.
Some aspects of dragonhood—like a compulsive need to hoard—could be circumvented, but its nobility was essential. The realization nearly made Priam laugh. Back in school, his academic superiority had occasionally fed his arrogance, and it had taken him years to temper it. Now, the laws of the dragon demanded he nurture his pride. The reason behind this commandment was crystal clear: How can I reach the Zenith if I don’t believe I’m the best? How can I be free if someone stands above me?
The thoughts resonated with the beast inside him, rekindling his infamous competitiveness. Ultimately, Priam hadn’t chosen this bloodline by accident—and the reverse was just as true. The drive to stand at the pinnacle burned in both the Juggernaut and the supreme beast.
Some are born with more talent, more resources, or more time, but this universe is vast, aether is infinite, and I have faith in myself. If I’ve managed to surpass so many of my rivals, I can overtake Rohan or Kazuki too!
The mere thought of that future sent fire coursing through his veins, and Priam focused on the legendary battle he wished he were fighting. His competitive spirit roared, demanding that he become worthy of stepping onto that ring. Eyes wide, Priam studied every motion, every strike, determined to learn.
“You showed me your Concept,” Rohan grinned. “Now, here’s mine—Cut.”
Priam’s hair stood on end as he heard the Concept’s invocation. A parallel thought prepared to channel [Kinetic Sovereignty] to shield those around him. There would be no collateral damage on his watch.
It was unnecessary. Rohan wielded Cut with as much finesse as Priam did Pyro. Perhaps more. Kazuki alone bore the brunt of a name as sharp as a blade. A heartbeat later, the warrior was on one knee, his torso punctured by three deep wounds. As Sphinx and Rose inhaled sharply, their worry palpable, Kazuki spun, unleashing a whirlwind of steel that forced Rohan back. The feline warrior landed several meters away, breathless but unscathed.
The crowd held its breath as the two combatants sized each other up. A heartbeat later, they lunged at each other once more, their pace redoubling. Sparks rained down as a spear met a sword once, twice—a hundred times.
Priam’s eyes widened, struggling to track the martial display. Rohan moved nearly twice as fast as he had during their spar in Back in Time. Despite the Juggernaut’s sharpened perception, most of the attacks escaped him. Damn!
As he narrowed his gaze in frustration, his shadow stirred. It rose, twisting and solidifying into the slender form of a young woman.
“Their shadows exist in two dimensions; they don’t,” Jasmine murmured through their link. “I need my eyes to observe the nuances of this fight.”
“You can see anything? Because right now, his agility outpaces my perception,” Priam muttered, eyes still locked on the clash. He could only see Rohan’s strikes when they were slowed down by Kazuki’s parries.
“Who would’ve thought that a build centered on constitution and vitality would struggle to follow a high-speed fight?” Jasmine teased.
“I’ve got my Domain for that.”
“Kazuki does too, and it’s great… in a melee. A long-range sniper would tear you apart.” She hesitated. “I might be able to share what I see. Hold on…"
[Incoming data stream from Subsystem A. Accept?]
Without a second thought, Priam accepted the request and was immediately overwhelmed by a flood of information. Gaining access to Jasmine’s senses meant an extra pair of eyes and ears and more—it was disorienting, like suddenly existing in two bodies at once. Another human would have needed days to adapt to these new sensations; not Priam.
Using his draconic sharpness, he assigned his secondary thought process to filter the feed Jasmine was sending. The sensation of ubiquity—existing in two places at once—was strange and inefficient. Ordering his add-on to handle the incoming signals, he retained only the eagle-like vision and shadow perception of the assassin.
His lips curled into a smirk as the fight sharpened into clarity. Kazuki and Rohan still moved at breakneck speed, but now, Priam could track their motions. Better yet, by overlaying his own stream with Jasmine’s, he realized she was focusing on details he would have otherwise ignored.
Having spent half her life training to kill, the assassin’s experience surpassed his own, and Priam honed in on what she found interesting. The first thing he noticed was that they paid attention to different aspects of the fight. Instead of watching the clash of spear and sword, Jasmine read the fighters’ stances
Kazuki stood firm, planting his feet to leverage his weight, delivering bone-shattering strikes while maintaining perfect balance. Rohan, far lighter, was bouncing constantly, relying on momentum to compensate for the raw power he lacked. Judging by his pale face and labored breathing, his stamina was waning. His strategy won’t last.
Lvl Up: [Balance] lvl 19
AGI +1
DEXT +2
Lvl Up: [Battle Footwork] lvl 33
AGI +2
DEXT +1
Priam smiled as the System validated his insights. What would have taken hours of training and analysis had crystallized in seconds of observation. Of course, his rapid progress stemmed from [Hoplite Warpath], Micro, Spear Mastery, and Jasmine’s experience, and would need tempering—but he wasn’t going to complain about level-ups. Nothing beats training with geniuses to grow fast!
For a fleeting moment, Priam wondered if this was why the Concepts had gathered ten Champions from across space and time. Before he could dwell on the thought, Rohan dodged an attack from Kazuki that carved a deep furrow into the earth. Without Log-a-rhythm’s roots reinforcing the ground, the clearing would have been devastated.
“No direct clashes. Noted,” Rohan grinned as he weaved through three more strikes. His speed wasn’t just a result of monstrous physical attributes and an advantageous feline anatomy—it was also the product of a honed technique.
An ideal skill? Priam focused as he studied the swordmaster’s movements. Rohan constantly leaned forward to keep his center of gravity low. It ensured that each leap barely lifted him off the ground, thus reducing the vulnerability of airborne movement. Without a Concept or a specialized skill, changing trajectory mid-air was impossible, leaving an opening for a patient adversary. Rohan denied Kazuki such opportunities.
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Lvl Up: [Matrix Dodge] lvl 32
AGI +2
DEXT +1
It was through Jasmine’s perspective that Priam caught another detail in Rohan’s technique. Somehow, his feet barely sank into the soft earth despite the force behind his movements. Priam’s eyes widened as he cross-referenced this observation with Log-a-rhythm’s root network.
“He’s placing his feet where the roots are just beneath the surface! That way, he avoids sinking into the ground.”
The Aelbe was maximizing his environment to enhance his mobility.
Lvl Up: [Art of Movement] Lvl 38
AGI +1
PERC +1
DEXT +1
“He’s good,” Jasmine admitted. “I’ll have to train before the tournament if I want a clean victory...”
“You’ll beat his ass. Ah, the warm-up is over.”
Kazuki locked eyes with Priam, silently seeking guidance on how to proceed. Priam hesitated. Through Jasmine’s sight, he could tell that the young master Aelbe was holding back. And if there was one thing he had learned, it was that Elysium was merciless to the weak—and so were its inhabitants.
“Wipe that fucking grin off his face. Show him our strength.”
The green light was silent, but Kazuki read his lips. Summoning and merging with his bound armor, he soon towered over the clearing at four meters tall. The sheer presence of the flesh-and-steel titan sent a hush through the spectators. In solemn silence, he spoke a single name.
“Wind.”
As if it had been waiting to be called, the wind answered. A heartbeat after the word left Kazuki’s lips, gusts surged forward, forcing spectators to step back. A second heartbeat, and Log-a-rhythm’s branches groaned under the force. A third, and a howling tornado consumed the heart of the clearing.
Raising a hand, Priam activated [Kinetic Sovereignty], creating a bubble of stillness to shield his allies. Actions spoke louder than words, and the Juggernaut smiled as none of them showed a hint of fear. He was protecting them, and in their minds, failure was not an option. His deeds over the past weeks had earned their unwavering trust.
“I can’t see shit,” Rose muttered.
“Language,” said Alain.
Priam chuckled. To the spectators, a towering column of dust, dirt, and stone blocked all visibility. The lack of light even blinded Jasmine’s shadow sense, prompting Priam to close his eyes. It was time for his newest Concept to shine.
Within the cyclone’s eye, he felt two distinct breaths. One was deep, slow, and steady, like a forge. The other was light, short, and explosive, like a tiger ready to pounce.
The first breath ended, and the exhale began. Like the tide receding, the tornado withdrew skyward, carrying Rohan with it. The Aelbe’s light body was slammed against the dome of Oasis, then was pinned there by winds fiercer than the worst terrestrial storms.
Despite the elemental chaos, Priam had eyes only for Kazuki. The hoplite gathered his breath, his body locked in an impossibly taut stance. Above, his storm had carved through the clouds, revealing the stars. Commanded by the Warrior, the fury of the winds were condensing into a gigantic blade hanging over Oasis like a titanic Sword of Damocles. As the gales shimmered with the energy of Kazuki’s Spear Mastery, Priam realized he was witnessing the genesis of a mythical skill.
This was an attack far too powerful for a spar, and Priam knew it wasn’t meant for Rohan—it was meant for him. Kazuki was reminding him that he was a Champion too, and that they were rivals. You won’t wait for me to lower my guard before surpassing me, will you, my friend? I'm not the only one pouring my soul into this new world, Priam thought, gazing at the impending cataclysm.
“[The Wind Connects Heaven and Earth],” Hyshana murmured.
Kazuki’s living armor tensed, channeling energy from his toes to his right arm through his steel-woven muscles and bones. As his fibers strained to their limit, he hurled his metal spear skyward. At the same moment, the colossal wind lance descended with the wrath of a divine judgment.
The two attacks would met at a single point—Rohan.
Through Jasmine’s feed, Priam saw the Aelbe draw a second sword. A manic, almost feral grin revealed his feline canines, while his pupils slit like a predator’s. A victor of ten Tribulations, his pride demanded he prove his skill.
“[Measure thrice, cut twice].”
One sword intercepted the metallic lance, deflecting it at the cost of a sickening crack—a bone had shattered. The second blade met the intangible wind lance, barely blocking the energy infused by Spear Mastery. The residual of the wind blasted him toward the ground, where Kazuki’s knee awaited.
At the last second, Rohan twisted midair, landing feet-first on the hoplite’s thigh. Without hesitation, he thrust for the weakest point—one of the eyes. Simultaneously, Kazuki unleashed a devastating uppercut.
Both strikes halted less than a centimeter from their targets.
“Alright, guys, I think that’s enough,” Priam said, appearing beside them. [Kinetic Sovereignty] had frozen the fight at the last moment.
“...” Kazuki nodded before stepping back. “Good fight.”
“Good fight. I won by a hair’s breadth,” Rohan grinned.
“With my strength-focused build and Micro’s overclocking, my uppercut would have torn your head from your shoulders,” came Kazuki’s robotic voice.
“And my Sword Mastery would’ve left a hole where you pretend to have a brain. But we can settle this right now if you need proof of my superiority.”
“I said stop,” Priam repeated, flexing his kinetic cage.
Rohan offered him a playful wink, and in the blink of an eye, the skill lost its hold on him. The Aelbe had severed the connection between Priam and his construct.
Surprise gave way to fury, and the Juggernaut invoked [High Aether Manipulation] to rewrite the parameters of Oasis’s protective ritual, switching the barrier’s target in an instant. The dome shifted, trapping Rohan in an impregnable sphere.
Lvl Up: [High Aether Manipulation] lvl 25
META (Affinity) +3
META (Focus) +3
META (Endurance) +3
“You stand within our domain, and our hospitality extends only to those who abide by our laws,” Priam declared, unleashing the full brunt of his charisma.
“We felines have a complicated relationship with rules,” Rohan said.
As his prisoner's breathing slowed, the Sage understood he was about to make a move. Priam’s gaze hardened. He inhaled deeply, drawing ambient aether into his draconic lung, compressing it. Rohan’s smirk remained until Priam laced his energy with [There is No Heaven]. If he were to unleash his Breath now, the cat-boy would forfeit all nine of his lives at once.
“Whoa, let’s not get hasty! I’m an ambassador.”
“Right now, you’re a threat.”
“...It’s your territory, and I abide by your refereeing,” Rohan admitted, sheathing his swords with visible effort. As he took a deep breath, his pupils returned to their round shape. “Since my last atavism, my bloodline sometimes pushes me to do... reckless things. I extend to you my most sincere apologies for my disgraceful conduct.”
Priam glanced at Kazuki, who nodded.
“And I accept them. There is an adage in my homeland that states two warriors can only become friends after crossing blades. It was a fine duel.”
“Indeed,” Rohan replied with a smile. “And in my tribe, friendship is not sealed until we have drunk together. By chance, I have brought a few liters of liquor.”
A faint smile graced Priam’s lips as he watched the tension dissipate. “I declare the match a draw. Let’s taste your alcohol.”
“Yeah!”
“Not you Sphinx.”
Status:
PHYSICAL:
Strength 854
Constitution 1 653
Agility 1 266 (+9)
Vitality 1 709
Perception 889 (+1)
MENTAL:
Vivacity (D) 634
Dexterity 792 (+5)
Memory 1 028
Willpower 1 238
Charisma 912
META:
Meta-affinity (O) 1 169 (+4)
Meta-focus 712 (+4)
Meta-endurance 1 172 (+5)
Meta-perception 667
Meta-chance 1 020
Meta-authority 627
Potential: 34 317 (+11)
Sun points: 666 860
[Tribulation]: Two Tribulations pending.
Future Tribulations delayed until:
Time: 26 days 14 hours 32 minutes 18 seconds.
Next thresholds: 12 attributes > 900 / 6 attributes > 1 200 / 3 attributes > 1 500 / 1 attribute > 1 800
Next arc already complete on Patreon if you want to find out what happens next!
/ANovelConcept
