The Absolute: Humanity's Second Chance

*** Narrative ***

Damien watched as Juliette walked towards the spirit. His expression was null, or rather stoic. But deep within his eyes, was a blazing will of curiosity.

He knew her too well.

She might not have had the constitution to be a warrior, or had the determination to be one back then, but now, she did.

The circumstances they were sorounded with, and exposed to the past thirteen minutes, have changed her. As well as the enhancement from the level ups.

Her body was now pretty much stronger than even third generational humans. She also had the wonderful new power of Mana.

Adding on the teachings she had from his parents and himself, she was at least capable of self defense. Of course, even fighting to an extent.

Thus he was not that much worried.

Especially so, when the opponents here did not have much experience themselves. In simple terms, this was the newbie stage, and she would be alright.

'Hopefully.' He added within his thoughts, not the least doubtful that she would win. Yet still watching her every movement carefully, just in case.

Damien continued watching as Juliette rushed towards the Voidborne spirit. 'Oh? She decided on frontal attack?' He thought, curious on how the battle would develop.

Meanwhile, Juliette continued her charge towards the spirit. And the spirit itself rushed over towards her as well. Both were like bulls charging towards each other in terms of momentum.

Or more likely, a bull and a calf.

Juliette was larger, and faster than the spirit. Hence she reached the spirit first, and threw a palm strike towards her opponent.

Damien could feel the otherworldly aura around her palm, which he attested to Mana. Her talent with Mana was proven in this lifetime as well, mastering it in just minutes.

He continued watching the battle.

The spirit did not think much about the palm strike, and casually avoided it by sidestepping towards the left.

"..."

Damien could see the flaw in the spirit's mentality. Unlike the angel, and the first spirit, it was clearly not as intelligent and thoughtful.

The most probable move would have been to stay back, and let the opponent reach it first. Of course, Juliette might have changed her tactic, were she to realize that the opponent was smart.

Unfortunately for it, it was not smart.

Right as her palm strike missed its target, Juliette did not falter. She slightly pulled back towards the opposite direction the spirit side-stepped to.

This way, she had more time to fix her posture. But most importantly, she had done her part, and only had to wait for the opponent to bite the bait.

And it did.

Just as Juliette pulled back, with a slightly flustered expression, the spirit pushed on. It attacked with a barrage of fists and kicks towards Juliette.

Who managed to barely dodge the majority of the attacks, a few striking her. Damien all the while, watched in silence, hands crossed, expression cold.

Juliette though, continued being pushed back. Her expression unsightly. A mixture of pain, and annoyance clear to anyone watching.

The spirit also continued its relentless attacks. That was so, until Juliette unexpectedly avoided a rather casual punch from the spirit.

"..."

When it felt its fist not make contact with the opponent's flesh, the spirit's mind temporarily went blank. As far as it knew, the same punch that it threw, had always landed on its target.

So why did it not land now? Was the opponent getting used to its attack pattern?

It thought, and settled on that thought.

Pity, for Juliette had long since stretched out her hand towards the small arm of the spirit. It's arm was black, and slightly transparent, giving out the impression that this spirit was ghostly.

But even then, even when everyone knew that spirits were clearly intangible. Even when Juliette also knew that from experience, she still attempted to grab the little guy's hand.

And contrary to expectations... she succeeded. Even she did not expect this to work, but it did.

'Indeed. Mana is one of the few ways a person, or rather, a mortal could interact with spirits or even ghosts. Under normal circumstances, without Mana, it's impossible.'

Damien thought, but did not say it.

He was glad Juliette was learning more about spirits by herself, and also Mana. She was adapting. Instead of just fighting, she was also gaining experience.

'It works.' Juliette was also quite happy of her discovery. But happiness aside, she knew that she was still in the midst of a battle.

Hence the moment she grabbed onto the spirit's arm, she only paused briefly, then forcefully turned it to face her direction.

When the still-shocked spirit was forced to turn around, and before it could register what was going on, a powerful palm strike hit straight center on its chest.

The Mana, the single unit of Mana circulating around her palm was sent through the spirit's body, and delt more damage, enhancing her strength by 0,1%.

"..."

The spirit was forced two to three steps back, and then slightly trembled. Realization struck it, as the palm strike woke it up completely.

It was hit!!

It was actually hit by a mortal!!

Clearly infuriated by the gall of the women before it, the spirit looked up at her defiantly. Unfortunately for god knows who, Juliette was a ruthless young woman.

...!!!

The spirit was met with a barrage of palm combos. On its chest, on its face, on its shoulders, on its stomach, was palm, palm, and more palms. It was not spared at all.

'Ha!! Ha!! Ha!! Ha!!' Juliette recited the 'melody' She usually sang whenever she practiced martial arts as a child. Each soft cry followed by a palm strike.

Of course, the spirit would not take disrespect lying down. It was a being with an Ability. A god among mortals. Who does this woman think she was?

With those thoughts, it immediately disregarded the pain and combos that Juliette was fishing out, and sent a vertical hand sweep towards her.

The hand was not directly target at her, but her direction. It cut through the air in front of her, and Juliette felt her intuition kick in.

She hurriedly dodged to the side. Her body rolled a meter or two away from the spirit.

And once up, she retreated even more, her gaze wary and cautious. She then realized the lethality of this spirit's attack.

'An invisible blade?' Juliette thought. Her eyes were on the area she previous stood at. And there, she could see a small gash thirty centimeters deep stretching out for five meters.

"..."

Had she been struck by that, she wouldn't be here right now. She would actually be split in two. Just the thought gave her shivers, let alone experiencing it.

"..."

The spirit also did not speak, and turned directly towards Juliette. It's teeth were gnashed together in anger. And it's expression was twisted and sinister.

Juliette knew that she had made it mad. But what did it matter? This was a death match. Only one amongst them was coming out alive.

'According to big brother, these things should have low leveled Abilities.' Juliette thought, her eyes intently staring at the spirit, in case it sneakily attacked.

As for when Damien said that to her, he never did. But when he exposed the angel, he did mention the limit of uses when it comes to Abilities.

And how if they were not Unique or Ultimate grade, they were useless. She remembered everything clearly, and applied it to her current opponent.

'In other words, this spirit can only slash out three to five times. And as it used up one chance, it's left to two or four times. I have to be extra careful.'

She continued her thoughts.

And the next moment, she moved.

She sprinted towards the spirit. The distance between them was very minimal, and with her speed, she could cross it instantly.

But the Void borne spirit also had fast responses. The moment she moved, it raised its hand as fast and as hastily as it possibly could, cutting the air horizontally.

But Juliette had expected that.

Hence the moment she raised her leg to move, she immediately pushed herself aside instead. The instantaneous invisible blade flashed past her, blowing her hair aside.

'That's either one or three chances left.' She thought with a smug. She was aware of how angry the spirit was, but also aware of how cautious it was of her.

Also, how nervous it was.

Her fast and unpredictable action right now, was to stimulate its instinctive response mechanism and its fear. And as nervous as it was, it would not be able to clearly assess her intention.

The reason why it was outsmarted.

"...!!!"

The spirit was even more angry, yet also more afraid. It felt like an open book in front of Juliette, whose gaze was subconsciously predatory.

"..."

Both parties stared at each other in silence appraising one another. One being fearful and cautious of the other, yet the other was just indifferent towards the former.

As Juliette had the stare down against the spirit, Damien behind them, could see that her hand was hidden behind her back.

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