Chapter 1 - Varian (1/2)
Chapter 1 - Varian
"I won't bedown at Varian in front
"The thought isposture His lean build was reflected on the polished stage surface
The crowd seated around the stage was only increasing as ti Hall wasn't popular for its duels Today was an exception
The maid robots served refreshraphic screen It depicted the duelists with great attention to detail
This match was not the same as the usual Awakeners duel
An unawakened challenged Level 1 Body Awakener to a duel! It was crazy in itself, but the Training Hall supporting the unawakened fanned the flames and the news spread like wildfire
"Are you kidding h school girl asked her friend who dragged her to join the audience
"It's true Varian joined the Hall a year ago, but his combat instincts are unrivalled Hall Master himself commented he could even reach level 4 should he awaken and becolued to the screen
"Are you sure it's not a sca—"
"Match begins" The AI referee announced Everyone gazed intensely at the screen At the Unawakened
Varian was unfazed by the attention He maintained his trained posture and took a deep breath, awaiting his opponent's move
He could take down a dozen norainst Unawakened
However, he knew his limits Based on physical attributes alone, Body Awakeners dwarfed hier than the best boxers, faster than the quickest athletes, and more resilient than the best swih a level 1 Body Awakener like his opponent was not strong to the point of dodging bullets or blocking knives, he was a force to reckon with for a nor down a level 1 Body Awakener, but defeating thehost shi+p
Varian knew all this, but he wasto win, it'd be by using his strength over weakness — his co practice and skills honed on broken bones in endless fights
The Awakener in front had none of those He was a neakened and prided too much in his inherent power and disdained all cultivated prowess
The opponent finally moved At a speed beyond normal human's reach, he dashed in front of Varian and punched at his chin
The audience gasped as they awaited the inevitable But before the punch was even thrown, Varian had already dodged and returned the punch
'Boom!'
His opponent took a step back and covered his bleeding nose
A Level 1 Body Awakener's physical attributes were higher than normal humans But that didn't
"Don't underestied at him as he aimed his kick at Varian's chest
"You're too easy to read" Varian replied and swerved to the right and kicked his opponent's back, causing him to crash into the floor
Boom!
The kick alone would keep a nor but normal
His opponent was back to his feet in the nextattacks on Varian Any attack, if connected, would break Varian's bones, but they all failed to touch him by a hair's breadth
Despite the power they were packing, they were uncoordinated and full of loopholes
"Punch to the solar plexus, kick to uts, and elbow to my ribs" Varian read his opponent's attacks just as he threw thele one of the, he didn't look overwhelmed
It always seee the attack, but it repeated again and again
"damn it! You son of a bi—" a sharp punch to his chin sent hiet up, he was kicked in the ribs
Varian's previously calm face isted He punched his opponent's face and kept on kicking his ribs, breaking them one by one
Click!
Click!
Click!
His opponent thrashed on the ground and struggled to get up, but every single attempt was countered by another calculated strike which kept his with his inhus nearly broke as the snapping sound of his bones resounded throughout the stage He gritted his teeth and endured the pain Physical pain like this was nothing
Both ounding the other deeply, and the duel turned into an endurance ave in to pain
The Audience startedas they were already sure who'd lose — Varian
It was because the pain Varian had to face would be far greater with the difference in their attributes There was no way he was going to win
"They lied to you… even though it was pretty good for Varian to coirl stood up from her seat and a few others followed suit
"Wait!" her friend insisted, and the girl gave her an annoyed glance But she decided to stay Theto end at any second, anyway
She carelessly glanced at the screen and the next second, she gaped at the ridiculous scene
Varian's legs were severely injured, but the frequency of his attacks didn't change He kept kicking his opponent with his bloodied legs His opponent's attacks gradually died down and finally, he fainted
"Varian Wins!" the AI referee announced, halting the audience leaving the hall in their tracks
Starting at the screen, everyone gawked at the unbelievable An awakener trashed by unawakened
The joke of the day became an irrefutable truth
"Next ti kill you" Varian looked at the bloodied opponent and descended the stage
He couldn't walk properly because of his al a trail of blood, mostly his opponent's
The audience looked at hiainst an Awakener and pity that he would never be one
Everyone awakened by the age of 16 in one of the Divine Paths, or Paths in short Divine paths were classified into one of three groups — Divergents, Elementalists and Dimensionals
Varian's opponent today was an awakener in Body path
Body Path was part of Divergent Group It was also the path Varian wanted to awaken in during his childhood
But all of that was a mere pipedream now He turned 18 today
"Only if talented people like hiainst Abyssals and survive" the girl sighed
"Yeah Perhaps he could even reach Sovereign level" Her friend shook her head in pity
"Pfft Sovereign? You girls are exaggerating too much Human federation has 8 planets and 50 billion people But howlared at them
"They are the protectors of hu them with this unawakened trash" He condemned