Escape (2/2)

When Jason reached level 10, the same red screen came into existence.

[Level 9 > 10]

[2 Stat points given.]

[Magic Requirement unlocked!]

[Affinity:...]

[Loading]

[Affinity: Wind]

'I see...'

Back in the cell, Jason did read a bit about the magic affinities and how they're portrayed.

The fire was described as the most offensive affinity. Its destructiveness is immaculate for any warrior.

Water, however, was depicted as the perfect defense. Not only could they use the tremendous amount of water in the ocean or just any water, but they could also use the moisture in the air as a source of water.

Using the moisture would cost a lot more mana than usual, but risking mana to increase spells was a battle-deciding factor in most cases.

The more natural water used in an attack decreased the mana consumption when using a spell, so it's possible a caster can cast two water balls only using the total mana usage of one.

For something like a water ball, the only mana utilized would be simply controlling it if you used the water from a pool or other body of water.

Conjuring water from the fabric of mana itself would cost more mana from the user.

Therefore giving water users a superior mana capacity compared to other affinities.

Earth was possibly the best support affinity.

Earth users could muster walls, mini houses, and much more using nature near them.

To control such things, the user will require a far more exceptional Earth affinity.

And finally wind. The most balanced overall affinity. You can enhance the speed and power of your blows at once, change the trajectory of projectiles, and even create bullets of wind to obliterate your opponent.

Each affinity has a counter. So how do you overwhelm this counter?

Be stronger than your opponent.

Wind contains oxygen, so what would happen if you disperse all the wind in a certain area, ridding it of oxygen?

The fireball would dissipate instantly.

Jason believed in such things, yet doing that would be much harder than thinking of it.

Not just did he just obtain magic, but he had an awful magic affinity... His magic stat is a 2.

This put him at an unimaginable low compared to every other mage out there.

He wasn't average.

He was far below average.

Jason didn't dare to employ any spells. He would defeat him the same he did everyone else.

With his sword and body.

In a second, he closed half the distance between the two with a dash, his sword prepped behind his back inclined to cut down his foe.

Being a mage merely a day into the apocalypse not only proved his extraordinary talent but his strength in other aspects.

This was true for both Jason and Caiden, the mage.

Caiden extended a sole finger at the path Jason was taking and conjured a more minuscule version of the fireball, flinging it at Jason.

The blinding orb of fire cut through the air, narrowly skimming past Jason who was already 5 meters away from Caiden now.

Realizing his magic wouldn't work in such a close vicinity, he flourished a short sword decorated with lavish etched designs on the hilt, giving it a feeling of royalty.

Bringing the sword to his hip, he jabbed forward, contesting Jason's defense with quick and persistent attacks.

All had speed but lacked the power to have any serious harm to Jason.

Jason steadily walked forward, blocking the nimble blows of Caiden, accumulating only a few cuts on his arms and hands.

Jason was more potent in every aspect. Strength. Speed. Physique.

What he lacked was experience.

Not only were the fast and simple blows getting faster by the second, but Caiden also started feinting attacks which gave Jason deep gashes on his torso and shoulders.

'Both points agility!'

Jason purposely reserved the last 2 stat points if he were to get in another difficult fight.

By doing so, he could identify his weakness amid battle and increase his chances of surviving.

And he realized what it was, Intelligence.

Intelligence overall improved almost everything in a person's brain.

Hand-eye coordination, motor functions, the thread of thoughts, thinking speed, analyze speed. It increases resistance to delusions and deceptions.

Upgrading his intelligence will help him be cognizant of feints, and it overall will help him during the midst of battle.

Upgrading your intelligence is like heightening the proficiency of your entire brain.

Simultaneously, Jason's battle prowess skyrocketed.

Feints became nothing to him.

Beforehand Caiden was already slow, but now that Jason can recognize feints, Caiden stood no chance of winning.

Jason's brain ran many concurrent thoughts with his battle.

Weak spots?

Gaps?

Weaknesses?

Feint or no feint?

All are analyzed in a seconds time.

Jason connected a calf kick, momentarily distracting Caiden; All that was to seal his death.

Jason slammed the hilt of his iron longsword on Caiden's forehead, knocking him backward onto the grass floor.

His sword was lost as he fell, flying near Jason's foot.

Jason hunched and picked up the sword, shortly after amazing its immaculate etchings that ranged from the hilt all the way to the peak of the blade.

Jason expressed a cold smile, and a maniacal glint appeared in his eyes.

"I've decided. I'll kill you with the very blade you wield."

Caiden stood up. He tottered uncontrollably, nearly falling over many times.

Another kick connected with his midriff, expelling all the breath from his lungs.

He flopped onto his side, gasping and violently coughing.

Jason brandished his sword in a wide arc, flawlessly flaunting the beauty the sword possessed.

"Just fucking die."

In a blink of an eye, the sword pierced through Caiden's neck. It was visible from the other side as it gruesomely protruded out of his neck.

He gurgled and gagged on his own blood.

He wriggled and wept as his life crescively drifted with each cough.

Soon enough, the last breath departed from his mouth, leaving a lifeless corpse on the scarlet grass.

Not wanting to savor the sight anymore, Jason pushed his sword forward, splitting Caidens head in a vertical line. A brutal sight to behold.

[Level 12 Player Caiden Santiago Slain]

[500 XP Rewarded]

[100 Bonus XP Rewarded; Level differential]

[692/745 XP To Level 11]

'One more kill...' If he gets another kill he'll advance to level 12, and he'll receive another 12 stat points for the deal he made with the system.

Men and women rushed out, of the house. A stampede of fury soldiers pulled out their weapons, approaching Jason with malicious intent.

'I don't think I will be able to...'

Jason had an explosive start in the forest.

His speed was top-notch.

He weaved through trees, his evolved agility making it seem like he was a running-back the way he maneuvered through the forest.

Not long after he escaped the crew of people and finally received his long-awaited rewards.

[Deal Complete.]

[Double Stat points rewarded. x10]

[Level 11]

[692/745 XP]

[45/50 HP]

[11 Strength]

[11 Agility]

[8 Stamina]

[9 Intelligence]

[2 Magic]

[2 Mana]

'My stats are at the peak or above human limits...

[Strength 11 > 14]

[Agility 11 > 14]

[Intelligence 9 > 10]

[Magic 2 > 4]

[Mana 2 > 3]

Jason admired his new stats.

[Level 11]

[692/745 XP]

[45/50 HP]

[14 Strength]

[14 Agility]

[8 Stamina]

[10 Intelligence]

[4 Magic]

[3 Mana]

And just like that, Jason had incredible stats, he'd be competent enough to hold himself off versus a Suljar for a minute or two before dying now.

'Where the hell do I find that girl?'

Jason steadily advanced through the forest, paying meticulous attention to the ground to see any footpaths or irregularities.

If it wasn't for Jason wanting to see the infant, he would've long since left the house, and he wouldn't have even battled Caiden.

He would have stayed further longer. He could defeat most if not all of them, but at once?

He could assumably fight 2 or 3 at a moment before being overpowered. There was no way in hell he could fight that many with his current strength.

He ventured further into the woods, yet these kinks on the ground became more scarce, nature becoming what it truly was.

The rancid sensation only expanded in Jason's gut the less he found, and the more natural the forest was.

All he needed was a sliver of hope.

An arrow, prints, a path, anything!

Yet dread downed upon him, and a full hour later he was left with nothing.

No baby, no Mia.

Night descended and so did the hopes of finding the two.

He slid under a tree, finally catching his breath.

For ours straight he went on an extensive search but to no avail.

And he was well aware that the people from the group were in the forest searching for him also.

In such a dire situation, would he really be able to get any rest?

A yell traveled throughout the forest, spooking the birds.

A flock of crows flew past the trees, all away from one direction.

Instantly, many men and women ran sprinted toward the sound, and so did Jason.

At the source of the yell stood a lone near-naked man, numerous bodies left in his wake.

"Hugo, give it up."

A man near fitting the criteria Jason fathomed about earlier, a beast of the human race.

Hugo.