Chapter 53: Life Lessons
The Anima immediately felt a shiver run down its spine as it saw those eyes, and it unconsciously made a decision not to charge straight for Mark. Instead, it dashed to the side, attempting to blindside Mark from behind. It charged at Mark again and released a punch that would have destroyed a mountain, but Mark put his hand up and easily caught the punch in his grip!
Boom!
A massive wind pressure rose from the point of contact, and Mark's hair was blown back from the intensity. Mark squeezed down on the monster's arm, and the monster screeched as it tried to pull its arm back. But no matter what it tried, it couldn't make Mark loosen his grip.
After killing the Monkey Anima, Mark was able to gain 100 skill points. Mark sent all of his skill points straight to his Full Body Constitution, and his previous constitution, Soldier Ant Constitution, evolved into a new one called Raiju Thunder God.
[Raiju Thunder God: This constitution skill enhances the practitioner's entire body, imbuing them with the electrifying power of a thunder god, allowing heightened speed, strength, and the ability to discharge electricity in combat.]
Effects:
- Full Body Augmentation x20
- Stunner [Enemies one rank below the User will receive an automatic 2-second Stun effect upon first contact with the User]
(A/N: The Full Body Augmentation Skill measures how much power Mark's body can hold, it is not a multiplier for his power. The previous full-body constitution only strengthened his body to ten times its mortal limits, and this constitution takes it one step further.)
...
SUPERHUMAN SYSTEM
Name: Mark Vanitas
Race: Human
Title: [He Who Perseveres Through Hell. [+10% increase to all stats.]]
Rank: A [2120/3000]
Affiliation: True Good
Unused Stat Points: 160
Unused Skill Points: 50
...
Strength: 820 [+82] [+80]
Stamina: 650 [+65] [+58]
Agility: 650 [+65] [+13]
Durability: 510 [+51]
Mana: 260 [+26]
[System stats are greatly unbalanced, and the User is advised to improve the lacking stat to ensure proper growth.]
...
[SKILL TREE]
-> Full Body Constitution: This is a unique skill tree enabling the user to systematically enhance and fortify every aspect of their physical form, elevating strength and resilience to unprecedented levels!
Current Full Body Constitution: Raiju Thunder God: 1/200
[Raiju Thunder God: This constitution skill enhances the User's entire body, imbuing them with the electrifying power of a thunder god, granting heightened speed, strength, and the ability to manipulate and discharge electricity in combat.]
Effects:
- Full Body Augmentation x20
- Stunner [Enemies one rank below the User will receive an automatic 2-second Stun effect upon first contact with the User]
-> Mana Circulation: Mana Circulation is a skill enabling the user to enhance the efficiency of mana distribution throughout their body, optimizing energy flow for heightened senses and greater strength.
Current Mana Circulation Stage: F Rank [11/100]
[Stat Improvements Due to Application of Mana]
Strength: +6%
Stamina: +6%
Agility: +2%
-> Taunting: This Skill lures enemies with a lower Rank towards the User, diverting their attention from all distractions and encouraging aggressive engagement!
Current Taunting Variation: Call of the Night Wolves [F Rank [1/100]]
Probability of successful Taunting Based on Level: 20%
-> Blunt Force Trauma: This skill heightens the probability of landing a critical hit as the user delivers consecutive successful punches to the enemy, harnessing the cumulative impact for devastating effectiveness! Critical Attacks deal +100% extra damage to the enemy!
Current Rank: F Rank [51/100]
Probability of landing a Critical Attack: +3% for every successful consecutive hit.
...
Mark grinned and dragged the Anima closer as electricity began to spark around him! The stunning effect of his full body constitution didn't activate, but the Anima still felt an intense jolt of electricity that immediately made it try to pull back in shock!
"Let me teach you some life lessons, Ant. One; you should never get this close to a brawler."
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Three consecutive punches slammed into the Anima's stomach, and it felt its feet leave the ground as it was carried into the air from the force of the punches! The Anima immediately tried to perform an axe kick to take Mark's head off, but Mark ducked under the kick and used the momentum of the movement to stretch out the arm he was already holding.
"Lesson two; Don't ever give a brawler your arm!"
Crack!
Rip!
The sound of bone breaking and flesh tearing resonated across the entire region as Mark ripped the arm he had been holding out from the socket! The Anima screamed in pain as it stumbled back from Mark and held its stump in pain. Mark looked down at the hand that he took from the Anima before he scoffed and began to walk towards the Anima with a foreboding aura around him.
"Damn human scum!"
The Anima screeched as it charged for Mark with a vengeful gaze, but Mark easily dodged around the monster's attack and used its torn arm to slam it in the face! The monster flew back, and it tried to rush to its feet, but it was not fast enough to stop a massive kick from Mark that slammed into its back and sent it to the ground!
The Anima screeched at Mark threateningly as it rushed to its feet and shot off. Mark prepared to block in case the anima was planning to attack, but the Anima immediately changed trajectory at the last moment and shot off into the forest as it realized that Mark was far stronger than it.
It would not be sensible to fight against Mark in a straight fight, so it needed to draw Mark down into the tunnel so the other Anima in the tunnel could help it!
Boom!
The Anima was blindsided by a sudden impact, and it flew through a tree at the side as it was thrown off its feet. Mark jumped towards the monster with a mad look in his eyes as he used the Anima's torn arm to smash its head in!
Boom!
Another great tremor echoed through the forest, and Mark just continued the onslaught as he relentlessly beat the Anima! He grabbed the Anima by its head when it tried to escape, and he slammed its face into a tree!
The Anima struggled in Mark's grip until it managed to finally loosen Mark's grip, and it turned around and spat a toxic substance out!
Hiss!
Mark immediately jumped back in surprise as the liquid oozed out from the Anima's mouth and sprayed over his stomach. He looked down at his abs where the spit touched him and waited to see if there would be any effects, but thankfully his constitution was too strong for the spit to penetrate, and it just oozed off him. Mark then watched as the Anima bolted off once more.
He narrowed his eyes for a moment and thought about chasing after it, but then a better idea crossed Mark's head, and he allowed himself to relax as he began to jog after the Anima.
Mark was certain that the Anima would try to go back to a place where there were reinforcements. And it was most likely the same place where they kept their prisoners. Mark didn't know how large the underground tunnels were, but if the tunnels covered the entire island, then it would be impossible for him to find Arit in that maze.
It would be far more sensible for him to just allow the Anima to take him as close as possible to the center of the maze.
"Lesson three: Always stay one step ahead of the enemy."