Uphill

I do remember throwing several punches towards the whip-wielding Pro-Hero, but I definitely remember being flung away much more.

As I tumbled across the asphalt, flying past Manami and Kazuho, and flying into the Haneyama Bookstore, all I could do is accept the situation.

She was stronger than me, clearly faster than me, and had more battlefield experience than me. She was my superior in every sense of the word. Being twice my age didn't heighten my chances of success either.

But she wasn't omnipotent.

No one was.

So I'd just have to hit her with something she couldn't expect and couldn't defend against.

That'd be easier said than done, but eh, everything I do is.

As I rose from my spot and shrugged off the HP I'd lost from being blown away, I ordered my two Elementals to create a barrier of ice around the two unconscious girls.

I cracked my neck before looking around the ruined bookstore absentmindedly.

If there was ever a place to get a random but fitting power-up, it'd be here.

I combed through everything with my nine eyes, hoping to see even one skill book that could help my chances against Midnight.

I could feel a stupid grin rising to my face as I noticed something. With some help from Electricity Manipulation, the book flew to my hand.

[Would you like to learn the skill book: "The Ruthless Winds of Fate, by Tokotachi"?]

He just keeps popping up, huh?

If I ever met him, I'd have to thank him.

For now, I'd have to win.

The book vanished within my grasp as the knowledge flowed into my mind.

The skill was like the other elemental skills I gained. I could achieve various things with no extra cost beyond the base skill unless I wanted more strenuous moves. And hey, that worked out, I needed minor moves more than major ones anyways.

With the winds, the sea, and the lightning within my grasp, I thought I just may've had a chance.

I Dashed out of the messy bookstore, Leaping atop the conjured ice dome. I looked down at the injured Pro-Hero, silently wishing I could afford to underestimate her.

We locked eyes, and I leaped at her before any conversation could begin.

I Flew through the air, and it shattered in my wake. My body was unnaturally guided by Electromagnetic waves and the wind moving as one.

Before I could get close to the hero, her whip was moving faster than I should've been able to react. However, Sense Danger pulled through and sent an alarming jolt through my body.

I was pulled to the ground a beat faster than gravity could take me, the air rushing around me as purple sparks rustled endlessly. The ground cracked as I moved from my spot, Flying to my right to barely avoid the whip that was coming for me.

Water came up on both sides of me, freezing to protective ice with a fleeting thought. I bent down for a fraction of a moment before I could feel the wind begging for me to move.

I listened to the whispers of the wind and moved, Azure Dragon's Dash, Azure Dragon's Flight, Mana Empowerment, Martial Arts Mastery, Electricity Manipulation, Water Manipulation, Leap, Parkour, and my newest Air Manipulation all stacking atop one another to push me fast enough to surprise Midnight.

As her eyes widened, I used her surprise for my benefit, remembering exactly what I'd done against Mt. Lady and repeating it.

My hands flowed with the power of Seiryu himself before I Slammed my fists into the Pro-Hero's chest. I added everything I could to every blow, hoping each of them could be the last. Her feet started to rise from the ground as my punches passed a dozen in succession.

My hopes were quickly stomped out as my opponent's thorny whip wrapped around my neck and flung me back towards the ice dome. I flipped through the air, landing softly despite all the power behind Midnight's throw.

I launched off the ice before gravity could take hold of me. I dashed across the cracked road, suddenly shocked as―

Midnight's whip grab me by my leg and flung me around in a wide circle. Sense Danger tried to warn me, but it was just a bit too late.

My body was slung into the ground, and I could feel bones shattering before the pain faded and left a chunk of missing HP. I very quickly came to terms with not being able to take another blow like that and adapted to not… die.

I rolled back, flipping up to my feet as I expanded my Electric senses. I copied that feeling to create a field of air to warn me of similar things.

The former was far larger than the latter, but two levels of defense could only be better than one level.

I got to test out my new barriers incredibly fast, feeling Midnight's dominatrix inspired weapon racing towards me. It cracked through the Electricity Field, then Sense Danger went off.

A wave stopped the whip in its tracks, freezing around it. I met Midnight's eyes as she pulled her whip for a moment before stopping and dropping the handle.

My 51 Intelligence and 50 Wisdom was supposed to make me smarter, but sometimes I doubted if that was the case. Today was a perfect example that I still didn't have the mind for the best decisions at times.

I could only do what I thought was best. That's all I could ever do, my best.

Sometimes, just sometimes, my best paid off.

[Due to excessive exercise, Dexterity has increased by 1.]

I'd been desperately trying to level up Dexterity all day. I thought that all my running might've been worth something, no matter how small, and this was it.

I pulled Azure Dragon's Ascension from my Inventory before absorbing the skill book.

[Azure Dragon's Ascension (Active & Passive) Lv. 1 | MP: 1000]

Myth tells of a soul that transcends the limits of time and space to find a new body. Once the soul has reconnected with the body, Seiryu may rearise. The penultimate technique of the legendary Azure Dragon, the King of the East. This skill momentarily dramatically increases the user's sensitivity and control over mana.

Actively allows the user to manipulate mana within a 10-meter range, beyond the limitations of the hands.

500% Increase to mana attack damage.

500% Increase to mana attack speed.

Additional 1000 MP per minute.

"Seiryu, or whoever you are, give up! Other Pros will be here in a matter of minutes!" Midnight ordered, but I just laughed.

"I guess I'll have to end things a bit faster than that, huh?" I grinned, feeling just a bit cockier.