1,000,000 Karma: My Reward Is a Quiet Life-Chapter 77: Download

The dormant crowd ignited as both challengers sparked their confrontation once more, engaging one another with unrestrained agility. Even from a distance, the rogue repeatedly swung and stabbed his daggers in various ways.

It was a confusing act for most, though Noah had a vague sense of the intent.

As they clashed, Noah immediately pulled back as the former assassin’s arms moved in a pure blur. By the sound of the air getting eviscerated, dozens, if not hundreds of slashes were performed in a single moment.

’--I almost walked right into that one. I get it now...His ability lets him repeat actions he takes, but faster? Are they stronger, too?’ Noah analyzed.

When coming to that realization, he also found the source of the rogue’s terrifying speed–

And just like that, he saw it firsthand as the initial dash almost seemed fast-forwarded five times over, closing the distance in an instant.

[The Snake’s Eye] [Tintri] [Ethereal Replication]

Chaining the skills together while dual-wielding axes, he was forced to defend himself against the replayed strikes of the assassin.

"THE MOMENTUM OF THE OFFENSE IS HELD BY VAN! HOW ARE HIS ARMS NOT TIRING FROM SWINGING THAT FAST?!"

–Twelve.

–Thirty-seven.

–Seventy-three.

In an act of futility while his pupils burned, he counted the rogue’s unending strikes, countering each with his axes until–

Van broke through.

A single moment of faltering vision disabled his heightened perception, leading the twin daggers slicing an "X" across his chest. In the same moment, a large gash cut diagonally down Van’s torso, returning the favor.

[Projection]

The transient copy of his axe swung without the need for a third hand, catching the veteran off-guard as they both stumbled back with fresh wounds.

"Not bad, kid," Van complimented.

"Same to you, old man," Noah returned with an encouraging exhale.

[Lesser Regeneration]

While his many cuts were in the process of healing, the bleeding was reduced and the pain dulled, though there was no chance of a full recovery in the midst of battle.

"Go, Noah–! Kick his ass!" From the stands, Otto shouted in support.

"You can do ittttttt!" With a red face, the timid mage yelled, defying her nature.

Reluctantly, seeming more pissed off than inspired to encourage him, the fox-man joined in with a fist clenched, "You’re the one who eliminated me, so don’t go making me look weak by losing now! You hear me?!"

[Red Engine]

As he bled from countless cuts, the more he felt his body come alive. Every drop of blood made him take a step that much quicker, squeeze his axe that much tighter, and shatter the ground beneath him that much stronger.

The burnt man dashed around, attempting to flank him while delivering another parade of a thousand cuts–

[Download]

Unblinking, unflinching, Noah saw each and every strike, reading his opponent like a book. It was completed; he understood every tick and pattern of Van. Through the whirlwind of cuts and stabs, the relentless assault of the rogue was rejected–CLANG.

Sparks flew as Van was thrown entirely off balance by the simultaneous deflection of both daggers.

’Oh, this kid...Yeah, he’s something alright–he’s got me figured out completely,’ Van accepted, though for some reason not feeling bad about it.

[Giga-Chop]

Over his shoulder, the obsidian axe grew multiple times in size in an instant, yet was wielded just as easily by Noah. In every sense, it was a daunting sight, casting a shadow from its unnecessary size.

The daggered were dropped to the ground with Van raising his hands, "I give up."

"VAN HAS CONCEDED! THE WINNER IS NOAH SOUL, ONTO THE SEMI-FINALS! WHAT AN EXHILARATING MATCH...OH, MY BLOOD IS PUMPING–!!!" 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

A sigh of relief left Noah’s lips as the axe returned to its normal size, finally able to ease after pushing his mind and body to its limit.

[EXP: +90,000]

[Level 17 Reached.] [Current Experience: 25,000/90,000]

[Body: 3000] [Spirit: 3000]

["Close-Quarters Combat" Proficiency Up +15] [190/999]

["Dueling" Proficiency Up +10] [40/100]

["Axe Mastery" Proficiency Up +10] [234/999]

["Grit" Proficiency Up +5] [70/999]

["Stamina" Proficiency +5] [117/999]

[Skill(s) Acquired: "Mimicry" | "Regeneration" | "Super Lungs"]

Immediately, he felt the effects of the ascended [Regeneration] skill as the smallest cuts began to close in his body first. As he looked at his arms, watching the wounds shut as if stitched by an unseen doctor, he found himself approached by the former assassin.

Van held his hand out, sliding his hood off to unveil his bandaged head, "That was a good match. I’ll be rooting for you to win this thing, alright?"

"Yeah, thanks," Noah accepted the gesture.

In front of the balcony overlooking the arena, the announcer shouted, "WH-WHAT SPORTSMANSHIP...! I’M TOTALLY NOT CRYING...!"

As he returned to the special waiting room, he was immediately tended to by experts in healing magic. Luckily for him, this wasn’t a case of healthcare draining him of every gold in his pocket, free of charge, assured by the Concierge.

While he sat on the seat with the two wise mages in the field of healing inspected him, they seemed entirely baffled.

"That’s strange...Your wounds are already mostly healed," the older of the two healers said, a gray fox.

The other, a dark-skinned elf inspected his body as though he were a unique specimen, "Entirely curious. Are you Blessed by a divine entity, perchance?"

"No, I just have a bit of a thing with recovering on my own, ha-ha..." He explained, though wasn’t very convincing.

After he was cleared, left with little more than superficial cuts, he was finally allowed to sit back and relax on the sofa.

Or, so he thought–

"That was super, duper cool!"

Standing in front of him the moment he eased into the cushioned seat was the pigtailed goblin girl, who looked up at him with complete giddiness. He didn’t exactly know what to make of the unexpected adoration, seeing as the pint-sized fighter was bouncing up and down, making her hair sway with each raise of her calves.

"Er, yeah, thanks?" Noah responded.

Ogatrina grinned once being recognized, "You were like "BLAM" and "CLANG"! "SWOOSH" and "WOOSH!"

"I was like that, yeah," he couldn’t help but laugh.