Abyssal Awakening-Chapter 604: Jin’s Test
Waves upon waves of arrows were fired. Most used a spear to block but after a certain wave, the arrows were timed precisely for the gaps between spins.
If one were to blindly spin the spear in order to block, they’ll ’die’ before they even realise what’s going on.
One had to observe the incoming arrows carefully. It wasn’t enough to see their initial speed either, some of them changed trajectories and speeds through the flight, disrupting the defences.
’Whoever is controlling the arrows is pretty observant.’ Alyss summarised.
At first, it may seem like these arrows were automated since there wasn’t any space for people to sit and fire the arrows.
But the more Alyss observed, the more she realised that there was human intent behind each arrow.
As more and more people stepped up to the testing chambers, the records from other zones were being updated in real time. Experience tales with novelbuddy
No one was even able to come close to the top three, which was to be expected since they didn’t have a zone of their own.
She hadn’t seen Jin’s name appear yet so she doubted that he had taken his turn yet. If he was smart, which she believed him to be, he’d take this chance to try and refine his Zone.
[I think I got it.] Cayla suddenly spoke up, surprising the two as she worked rather fast.
[The way they achieved this… supposed zero powers situation is a little scuffed but if it works it works. I’m not going to complain too much about the logistics about it since I wouldn’t have thought of doing so. Just know that it’s held together by hopes and dreams pretty much. If they were to use it in a real fight, it would break apart pretty quickly.] She sighed, writing down some notes before dismissing it.
[In summary, this chamber is like a contract in and of itself. By entering it, you enter several contracts with the chamber, all working in unison to fulfil countless conditions in order to render you ’powerless’. Contracts such as physical reinforcement reduction, energy reduction, Sigil resonance reduction and so on.
[I see about… 38? No 39 contracts within one chamber alone.]
Hearing this, Alice couldn’t help but blink her eye before furrowing her brow.
’Don’t tell me we have to break all of them in order to keep up this disguise.’
[Thankfully, you don’t have to. You see, removing or completely severing the ties to the Abyss is dangerous and frankly has a chance to just kill you immediately, as you are well aware thanks to your experiments in the north. The disguise isn’t empowering your body so even though the Abyssal energy flows through your body in order to maintain the disguise, it won’t be dispelled.
[Of course, if you get hit then try to reapply it, it won’t work since it prevents Sigils from activating.] Cayla clarified.
’I see… we should probably let Jin know then.’ Alice nodded.
With the issue of their disguises now resolved, it’s simply a matter of being able to clear this exam without being hit.
###
Folding her arms, Qiu Qiu glanced at the test takers with a neutral expression.
Most of them were simply doing whatever they could to survive the rain of arrows. There was a clear lack of preparation or plan.
Closing her eyes, she recalled the fight with Alyss. That demoness… If she was here, these arrows would be dealt with in an instant. The way she moved her body after observing the surroundings, her senses and instinct, everything was far superior to the people here.
She simply couldn’t understand why her master told her to check this place out.
There was nothing of interest for her.
"Yan Lixing, you’re up next." The instructor called out as a tall male stepped up.
Qiu Qiu had noticed that he was looking nervous a moment ago but seemed to have calmed down somewhat.
But what caught her attention was the weapon that he was using. A pair of chain blades wrapped around his arms.
She couldn’t quite recall if there was a martial art that was well known for the chain blades except for those in the south. Narrowing her gaze, Qiu Qiu tried to see if the Cult’s energy was present in his body but there was nothing.
’Nothing? Then he’s probably someone who likes the weapon then.’ She summarised.
However, she was somewhat familiar with the martial arts used by the cult. Even if he didn’t showcase the energy belonging to the cult, if he were to showcase the martial art, then she’d have some questions for him.
Stepping through the doorway, the man seemed nervous for a moment as each of his steps was slow.
But soon, he calmed down and allowed the blades to dangle next to him.
Compared to before, there was now an air of seriousness around him. It felt as though he was a blade that had just been unsheathed in battle, sending a chill down Qiu Qiu’s spine.
This focus, this lethality, even though she wasn’t facing him, she could already see that he was strong!
*CLANG!!!
As the first arrow was fired, his blade whipped towards the arrow at maximum range!
’Fast!’
Even without the usage of Sigils to empower the body, he was able to send the blades whipping towards his target accurately using just pure momentum!
Modified Eclipse Reaver second form + third form!
A hybrid of both speed and momentum.
Since it was just arrows, Jin didn’t need the power to destroy them.
’Much like casting, martial arts work in threes. What you decide to increase causes one to decrease. Speed and efficiency cause power to decrease and so on. Alyss’s modified Eclipse Reaver is one where all three forms are interchangeable. Change it based on your requirements.’ Jin recalled Alice’s lesson as he stomped down and whipped both blades around him, blocking three more arrows.
False Fangs + Falling Shadow!
*BANG!!!
Using misdirection to change the course of the arrows, Jin destroyed them all using Falling Shadow.
Even though his Zone was still incomplete, doing something like this was possible!
However, there was something that he noticed while parrying these arrows.
They’re slow!
Compared to Alice’s needles, blade attacks and arrows, these were easy to see! Not only that, but there wasn’t a risk of death!
A confident smile appeared on Jin’s face. What he can understand he didn’t need to fear.
’Feel their gaze, sense the trajectory and intercept!’
*CLANG!!!
Twisting his body, Jin twirled the chain blades around the arena, creating a maelstrom of arrows that failed to even reach him!
But without his Sigils, he could already feel the exhaustion approaching. His muscles couldn’t handle the continuous movements of the modified marital arts without the reinforcement of Abyss Blood.
Therefore, he needed more efficiency to last as long as possible.
Right now, he was exhausting himself to expand his range to the max but that wasn’t necessary.
’Condense the boundary, figure out my reaction range, don’t think just act. Trust in my understanding of the martial arts. The principle behind each move, the prickle on my skin as the arrows approach.’
Tilting his head to the side, Jin dodged an arrow as he parried two more with a wave of his blade.
Taking a deep breath, he calmed his mind.
Without the fear of death brought forth by Alice, he was able to fully focus on the trajectory. Though facing the fear of death wasn’t bad by any means.
After all, these arrows that would’ve made him panic in the past seemed like child’s play after Alice’s training!
2 meters.
A boundary was slowly being established around him. Chains and blades met every arrow that approached the two meter radius with Jin making sure to conserve as much stamina as possible.
Dodge what could be dodged, parry what couldn’t be dodged.
He reduced the usage of throwing his blades out as much as possible since it put a strain on his arms. Instead, he wielded them as simple blades while the chains would assist in creating a formless boundary around him.
3 meters.
Jin could feel a slight change in the movement of the arrows.
Some would try to breach his defences by changing paths at the last moment, forcing him to dodge.
Layered defence, that’s what he needed. An alternating layer of chains and blades to block the arrows. Better yet, he could redirect the arrows back to reduce their numbers but that was not the goal of this test nor was it the goal of his own training.
4 meters.
Sweat dripped down Jin’s face as his stamina approached the bottom. Yet a smile could be seen on his face.
He was beginning to refine his efficiency. Rather than one move to deal with one arrow, he was now focusing on his own blade path.
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What kind of slash does he need to take out as many arrows as possible? There were times when he even allowed certain arrows to get closer so that he could wipe them out in one go!
3 meters.
His range was being suppressed as the arrows were now stronger than before. He needed more power in order to parry them thus causing his range to decrease.
*BANG!!!
Quickly tilting his head, an arrow flew past him from behind and embedded itself deep into the ground.
An annoyed smile appeared on Jin’s face as he narrowed his gaze.
They were finally using power in their attacks! However…
Compared to Alice…
It was still weak!
*CLANG!!!!
Twisting his body, Jin cleaved towards the next arrow as the two attacks collided, pushing each other back.
This gap in his defence proved to be brutal as Jin’s eyes widened.
Time seemed to stop as there were two arrows already in front of him with three on their way behind him.
He recalled what Alice said before.
How he thought too much before each movement. Trust in his senses, trust in his knowledge. As his experience increases, this should become second nature for him.
Closing his eyes, Jin decided to trust in the training that Alice put him through.
*BANG!!!
Grabbing the first arrow, Jin slashed up, cutting up the second arrow.
Twisting his body to avoid the third, he threw the arrow that he caught towards the fourth. And as the fifth arrow approached, he opened his eyes and caught the arrow before it could hit his shoulder.
It was weak but for a split moment, Jin felt a change in his zone. As though everything within a 3 meter boundary was clear as day for him.
Passive Zone!
