Domain

volume 2 upgrade specialist interval chapter 32 - a few tests

Having just finished assessing my body in the mirror I looked towards Gareth. With his new enhancement, he had changed considerable. Being as he got his racial enhancement it changed his appearance greatly.

Most noticeable was the black mist covering his body. If he was in a dark area then even with my enhanced senses I would struggle to see him. Other than the mist, his body had shrunk considerably. That wasn't to say he looked weaker. If anything his muscles looked like they contained great power.

Unlike me who had gained my strength through enhancements, Gareth already had a soldiers body. That meant with the increase in his stats his body had broken through the limits of humans.

His short buzz cut brown hair had grown longer. Much more than mine it now reached his lower back. The colour had turned jet black, further hiding his presence.

Lastly, his eyes had turned crimson red. He did truly look like a shadow demon.

Solomon: looks like it's not only me that has changed.

Walking in front of the mirror Gareth looked at himself. Seeing his new appearance he was amazed.

Gareth: whoa, I really do look like a demon.

At this point, Alice appeared. She like the both of us had changed considerably.

Her body was slightly glowing, making her look ethereal. She had grown a couple of inches, making her around 6 foot tall. Her hair had turned from peach blonde to vibrant green. It had also grown to her shoulders.

Her eyes had also turned bright green, shining with a mysterious energy.

Solomon: wow.

Seeing me staring at her she started to blush.

Alice: what is it?

Gareth: you should look at yourself in the mirror.

Only just noticing Gareth she was surprised.

Alice: agh, Gareth, you’re here. You look so different.

Walking in front of the mirror Alice looked at herself.

Alice: oh, well that's new.

Now understanding my reaction Alice looked at me.

Alice: do you like my new look?

She walked to stand in front of me, looking upwards. With her new appearance, she was both incredibly cute and sexy.

Solomon: you're very cute.

Saying so I pulled her into me, embracing her. I heard her speak into my chest, almost inaudibly.

Alice: thank you.

After a few second she pulled away from my embrace, the usual rose tint in her cheeks.

Solomon: I've changed the guild plane a bit. Let me show you around.

With the addition of Alice and Gareth, the space had grown another 10 percent, making the walls slightly wider.

Leading Alice and Gareth through into the other rooms I explained what they were.

Gareth: while we're here should we test out our new abilities.

He looked at me for confirmation.

Alice: I'd be up for it.

Alice confirmed her agreement, also looking to me for confirmation.

Solomon: let's go for it.

Walking over to the arena we began to test our powers.

Gareth: I'll start. I've got a decent upgrade in my physical strength.

Saying so he drew a sword.

Solomon: I'll be your opponent. Test you new strength against me. That way I can also see my increase in strength.

Though I hadn't checked my stats I was sure my strength had increased considerably.

Pulling out my scimitar I squared off against Gareth. After circling for a few second Gareth dashed at me. Hefting his sword overhead he brought it in a downward slash. Putting my weight on my back leg I held up my sword to block the attack.

As the swords clashed the full strength of his attack pushed down on me. Feeling the strength it was around equal to a mid soul personage. Judging in terms of ranks he was around middle G rank.

However, my strength was greater. Pushing back I offset his balance, moving in slashed at his exposed chest. Reacting quickly he blocked the attack with the pommel of his sword. Like this, we exchanged attacks back and forth. Judging his strength to be mid G rank made my strength around Late G rank.

I was definitely not anywhere near F rank, but against G ranks I could hold my own. After a few minutes, I decided to end it. I went in for a horizontal slash, placing all of my strength into it. Though Gareth managed to block it, he couldn't deal with the extra strength behind the attack. Falling to the floor his sword was sent flying away.

Gareth: looks like I've lost, good match.

Solomon: likewise. Is there anything else you want to test?

Gareth: there is one more thing if your willing to spar again.

I was hoping he'd be up for another spar. I still had my new racial skill to test.

Solomon: sure, I'll warn you though, I'm going to test my new racial skill.

Taking positions again we got ready to spar. Once again holding his sword Gareth activated his bloodline. Like it said in the enhancement he could turn into a demonic for, increasing his strength.

As he activated his abilities, the black mist that cloaked his body began to writhe. As I watched the mist increased in size and thickness, enveloping him. After 20 seconds the mist completely shrouded his body.

Gareth: AAAAAAARGGGHHH.

From inside the mist, he let forth out a bellow. with the shout the mist dissipated from his body, revealing his new form. His hair was floating near his head, having grown extremely long. From his head grew two lightning bolt shaped black horns.

Other than this his whole body had grown larger, making him almost as tall as me. The strength he exuded now was incomparable to before. His strength had at least tripled.

Holding his sword up Gareth took the initiative. Charging forward he slashed at me diagonally. He moved at a speed I couldn't even see. When I reacted he was already slashing at me.

Bringing my sword down I barely blocked the attack. Against his strength, however, I couldn't hold up. Taking several steps back I focused my senses on him. With the addition of wolves senses to my lizards, I had a very acute sense of smell and hearing.

As came at me again I pushed myself to black him, like this I held out for several minutes.

Gareth: I can only hold up for 5 more minutes, I'm going to use all my strength now.

His voice was much deeper than usual carrying with it an eerie tone. He then sped up his assault considerably. Like this, I was no longer able to take his attacks. After being forced back in an exchange I used my new racial skill.

Solomon: FUR OF THE ETERNAL MOONLIGHT!

As my instincts told me I shouted out the skills name. As it was activated half of my qi was used up. Spreading around my body it forced its way out of my meridians. Feeling this I understood why the energy had widened them before.

As the energy forced its way out it surrounded my body, empowering it. As I grew stronger my body grew larger. My body structure also changed as well. My face grew out forming a snout, my legs snapped to be shaped like a wolf legs and claws formed on my hands and feet. As well as that silver hair grew out of my body. When it had finished I was 1.5x larger than before. I also had a thick layer of silver hair covering my body. I looked like a werewolf.

My instincts told me my body would remain like this for an hour. I also felt that while I was in this state all of my stats had been doubled.

With my new body, I didn't need my sword anymore. The silver fur on my body was as strong as iron and my claws were as sharp as any sword. Dashing forwards I slashed at Gareth. Receiving it he blocked with his sword. Then while he was holding back one hand with his sword I punched him with the other.

With no other choice, he retreated. Like this, I pushed him back for the next five minutes. Unlike him, limited to attacking with only his sword, I could use any of my 4 claws. With such a huge advantage I suppressed him until his demonic form disappeared. When it did the previous mist that shrouded him was gone. I imagined the mist was caused by his energy.

Kneeling to the floor he accepted his defeat.

Gareth: I haah, I lose, haaah. You're too strong for me.

Speaking I realised my voice was distorted. It was throaty and guttural, conveying a beastly nature.

Solomon: don't be too worried about it. With your strength, you can easily hold your own against most G ranks. You were just unlucky that my powerup lasts longer than yours.

I meant what I said, though I was stronger he was still well above the average G rank. However, I was at the top of G rank. I doubted there were many G ranks who could face me head on. Also considering I could remain in this form for an hour it was really op.

Gareth: how long can you stay like this.

I imagined he was expecting something like 10 minutes.

Solomon: for half of my energy I can stay like this for 1 hour, so if I don’t use skills 2 hours

In terms of strength, Gareth was equal to the demonic bandit I met before whereas I was somewhere between the bandit and the chieftain. I thought If I had this strength in the last mission maybe I could have saved bob. It was pointless to think about now though. All I could do was not let it happen in the future.

Solomon: anyway, I still have to try my other skill. If I am in this form the power should be doubled. Can you shoot against the skill when I use it?

Gareth: sure.

He took out his gun while I performed the skill.

Like my new racial skill, it required a vocal cue.

Solomon: holy light mantle.

It required a scalable amount of qi to appear. From there, it cost more to sustain it. From my qi pool, the standard amount was 5% to create it then a further 1% per 5 seconds to keep it up. Of course, if it broke this no longer applied.

As it appeared before me I formed it into an ovular panel in front of me. Having been formed the shape couldn't change, however, it did follow me as I turned. This meant if I formed it at the start of a battle I wouldn't have to reform it unless it broke.

Solomon: test it.

Hearing my affirmation, Gareth shot one bullet at the yellowish barrier. As the bullet hit, the barrier bent slightly before returning to its shape.

Gareth; that was without energy, I could eek out a shot with energy if you want.

Solomon: if you can that would be good.

That was the most important test. There were many things I could do to block physical attacks, however energy attacks were much more dangerous.

With strain on his face, Gareth filled the required energy into the gun. I imagined he also wanted to test the cost and strength of his equipment. A small wisp of black mist floated down his arm into the barrel of the gun. The inscriptions on the gun lit up as a round was fired. The bullet moved 3x faster than usual, leaving a black trail.

As it made contact with the shield the difference was obvious. It pushed the barrier to the breaking point, just as the last bit of power left the bullet the barrier smashed.

Solomon: that’s quite a difference, how's the cost.

Ultimately the cost would determine the usage of the weapon.

Gareth: it's half a percent per bullet.

Solomon: quite good then. If I faced 200 of them I wouldn't be able to hold out.

Even with my wolf forms defence, I wouldn't survive.

Solomon: shall we move on.