CHAPTER 198: 2nd Segment. (Part-4)

Those with the Martial category Innate Talents are a bunch that operate differently from the Elemental and Weapon category ones since they had to cultivate their bodies.

That involves a complex process of absorbing Spirit Energy in nature into their dantain, using that to nurture their body to sustain 'Martial Aura'. The higher the grade of the Martial Innate Talent, the easier the absorption process.

Just like those with a Weapon Innate Talent could use Weapon Auras, such as Sword Aura, Dagger Aura, etc., the Martial Innate Talent users could use the aforementioned Martial Aura.

However, unlike the Weapon Auras, which could only be used on a Weapon, the Martial Aura could be used on the body, making it as strong as a weapon. That was why anyone that picked a fight with a Martial Innate Talent user would try their hardest to avoid a close combat fight.

Among the Martial Innate Talents, it's rare to find those with some kind of element ingrained into them. Even though such an occurrence was not as rare as awakening a bloodline, it was still pretty rare.

Henry's Grade-8 Martial Innate Talent, , was one such case since it has had the Blaze element ingrained within.

Blaze isn't just any common element but a variant of the higher element 'Flame'. However, unlike the nonchalant usage of an Elemental Innate Talent user, he could only utilise it through the Martial Aura.

Although there exist ways to use it as a projectile attack, the range would be too short, limiting the possible field for attacking.

Henry's Innate Talent was no exception to that, but the skills he came up with had made him pretty much unrivalled in close range, especially when his opponent faced trouble landing a strike on him.

Upon activating the Stage-3 , a coral-red Aura enveloped Henry's entire body, giving him a 15% boost to Strength, Agility and Endurance attributes along with improving base attack damage and defence to a whole new level

That wasn't all; he added another skill on top of that, something he came up with by himself.

After all, the Elemental, Weapon and Martial Innate Talent users don't have the luxury to access Innate Exclusive Skills like Variant and Unique Category Innate Talent users.

However, that could barely be considered a weakness since the flexibility to create skill circuits was higher for those three Category Innate Talent users.

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Lv.25 : Every uninterrupted pulse temporarily increases base attack damage by 2.5%. (Can only stack up to a maximum of 100 Blaze Pulses.)

Cost: 100 Spirit Energy/minute

Prerequisite: Can only be used as long as the Blaze Martial Aura is activated.

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As soon as Henry activated it, a thick pulse emerged at the center of his chest and began traversing to every corner of his body.

But he paid no heed to it and assumed a boxing stance on the spot as his opponent rushed towards him.

He waited until Pompa's fist almost reached him, but just as it was about to land on his face, Henry slipped to his right and countered with two consecutive right hooks.

The first was to his opponent's gut and the second to the head, which sent Pompa sliding on the Stage a few meters away. For a split second, Pompa couldn't think straight from the concussion.

Henry didn't take that opportunity to launch another attack and instead remained in his spot and waited for his opponent to make a move.

Meanwhile, in that single second, the pulse traversed the surface of his body all the way through before converging at the center of his chest and completing a single uninterrupted pulse.

With that, the coral-red Aura grew a tad bit brighter and thicker. It brought a slight increase in Henry's overall damage output, by 2.5%, to be precise.

On the other side, Pompa threw away the idea of rushing in blindly and approached Henry with caution.

Pompa approached without any abrupt movements and aimed to wrap his hands around Henry so that he could take his opponent down the same way he did with Tyuk from the Tilephe Team.

With that goal in mind, Pompa lunged at Henry, only for the latter to shift to his left and pivot further before punching the former's back with force greater than the earlier one.

That sent Pompa stumbling across the Stage floor all the way to the edge. He would have fallen off the Stage if not for the barrier blocking the way.

It wasn't just Pompa; even the spectators were awestruck by Henry's sharp and precise moves. They were precise to the point not an ounce of effort went into unnecessary movements.

After all, ever since Henry lost against Moro in the 2nd Assessment, he had been sparring against Moro's Avatar in the Virtual Space.

Although it was just a simulation and not Moro himself operating the Avatar, that still brought a leap in Henry's close combat prowess.

The pressure he faced against Moro wasn't something the likes of Pompa could compare.

On the other end of the Stage, Pompa picked himself up and regained his composure. He recognised the difference in combat expertise between them and didn't approach Henry anymore.

Taking advantage of his exceptional Health Regeneration speed, Pompa decided to wait it out for his Health to completely recover and use to its full extent.

That way, he would exceed a Peak Tier-3 lifeform in terms of Strength and Endurance attributes and overpower his opponent with sheer stats.

Meanwhile, Henry was amidst implementing something similar as every passing second, a 'Blaze Pulse' roamed over every corner of his body surface as the Blaze Martial Aura grew thicker and thicker.

Both sides stood still, with neither making a move at the other. They both dragged it out, waiting for their damage output to grow along with the passing of time.