"Mythic? Is that even possible?"
Arkas nodded.
"The classification exists in the system, which means someone, somewhere, has achieved it before. If they have, then so can you. We just need to do things that no one else has done. But can you confirm whether you received any skill when you acquired the class?"
I shook my head.
"No skills."
He paused rubbing his chin for a moment, then continued.
"That's weird. Anyway, based on what you described about the spheres, I think you're right, you should try to develop a skill from them. That will cover your offensive abilities. That just leaves movement and defense. I'll get you one of each."
He crossed his arms and looked at me.
"Now, what kind of weapon do you want?"
I didn't even need to think.
"Staff."
Arkas studied me for a moment, then nodded.
"Alright. I'll get you the best Augmented Staff the Empire has to offer, along with training videos and a single skill to start with."
'Oh, I like that.'
"Anything else?" he asked.
I shook my head.
"No, Commander."
Arkas pointed to the room and said.
"Okay then. Show me what you've got. I want to see what a legendary class is really capable of."
I turned around, eyeing the row of training puppets lined up at the far end of the arena. I walked over, inspecting them one by one.
From left to right, they started at level 20, increasing in increments of five until they reached level 80. Their color scheme shifted with their level, light gray at level 20, gradually darkening until the level 80 puppet stood in pure black.
"Not bad. Looks pretty cool," I muttered.
Behind me, Arkas stood with his arms crossed, silently watching.
I tapped my foot, considering my options. I needed a challenge, but I also didn't want to pick something too overwhelming.
After a moment of thought, I settled on a level 40 puppet. A fifteen-level gap, that was exactly what I wanted to test myself against. Maybe one day, I'd be able to push that gap even further.
I walked to the control panel and selected unarmed combat mode. The system droned as it processed my choice, and a number 40 blinked on one of the puppet's chest. Its featureless face lit up with two glowing red eyes before it stepped forward, moving toward the center of the arena.
I took a deep breath and stretched my arms, rolling my shoulders to loosen up. Then, I walked to the center as well, getting into position.
Arkas's voice rang out from behind me.
"Make it count. Let's see if the Essence spheres you talked about are worth anything in actual combat."
I nodded.
My first goal was to make the system recognize my Essence spheres as a skill. And what better way to do that than in a fight, especially against something fifteen levels higher than me?
"Start."
The moment the word left my mouth, the puppet's body bent slightly, then it launched a punch straight at my face.
Fast.
Faster than even Guro at her best.
I barely managed to raise my arms in time, crossing them to block the blow. A loud bang echoed through the arena as the impact sent me flying backward.
I landed hard but twisted my body mid-air, bending my legs and skidding a few feet before coming to a stop. My arms stung, the force of the punch still pulsing through them, but it was nothing I couldn't handle. I shook my hands to loosen the muscles.
I whispered.
"Power Up."
The Generator Core roared to life, pulling in energy from the surroundings. A steady warmth spread through my chest, indication that the core was at work..
Next, I activated [Psynapse Boost] and [Essence Shaping] in quick succession. Essence surged through my brain, sharpening my senses. The world became clearer, more detailed. Every movement, every shift in the puppet's stance, was obvious.
Taking a deep breath I rushed forward.
The puppet did the same.
It planted one foot forward, twisting its body as its other leg shot up in a precise, deadly kick aimed at my head. My eyes tracked the movement. At the last second, I bent low, allowing the strike to pass harmlessly overhead.
I stepped in. Close. Too close for it to react in time.
My right fist rocketed forward and smashed into the puppet's chest.
A solid hit.
But instead of flying backward, the puppet barely even moved. It wobbled slightly on one leg before regaining its balance.
I clicked my tongue.
"Whoa. Your defense is insane."
I'd expected it to at least stagger back a few feet. But it didn't.
My Generator Core burned hotter, working to produce more Essence. My heart pounded in rhythm with it, and I exhaled sharply.
The puppet didn't hesitate. It lunged, its metal fist streaking toward my ribs. I twisted my body just in time, but the punch still grazed my side, sending a sharp jolt of pain through me. Ignoring it, I drove an elbow into its head. A dull thunk rang out, but the puppet barely reacted.
I gritted my teeth. Its defense was ridiculous.
The puppet retaliated instantly, slamming a knee toward my stomach. I braced, tightening my core as the blow connected.
My feet skidded back from the sheer force, my breath hitching from the impact. Before I could recover, its left leg swung toward my side.
I dropped low. The kick sliced through the air where my head had been a second ago. I countered with a sweeping kick of my own, aiming to take its legs out from under it.
Boom.
The puppet staggered but didn't fall. It spun, using the momentum to hammer a backhand straight into my jaw. Stars exploded in my vision as my head snapped sideways.
I clenched my fists.
'That one hurt.'
Grinding my teeth, I stepped forward, closing the gap before it could press the attack. My knee shot up, slamming into its midsection. Again, no reaction.
Its hands latched onto my shoulders. Before I could break free, it yanked me forward and slammed its forehead into mine.
'A headbutt? Seriously.'
Pain flared through my skull. My vision blurred for half a second. That was all the time it needed.
A brutal uppercut slammed into my stomach.
I gagged, the wind knocked out of me. My body lifted off the ground for a brief moment before I crashed back down.
I rolled away just in time to avoid the stomp that followed. Pushing through the burning pain in my core, I surged forward, this time aiming for its joints.
I threw a sharp kick into its knee. The joint bent slightly, and the puppet's balance wavered. I didn't let up. I shifted closer, driving an elbow straight into its side, then pivoted and launched a spinning backfist into its head.
The puppet's head snapped to the side, but before I could press the advantage, it caught my wrist.
My eyes widened.
It wrenched my arm downward and slammed its knee into my chest. A sickening crunch echoed as pain burst across my ribs.
'Damn.'
I stumbled back, breathing heavily.
I reached inward, pulling Essence straight from my core and channeled it through my body.
The puppet steadied itself, shifting its stance. Its glowing red eyes locked onto me.
I grinned, flexing my fingers as Essence crackled and rushed within my arms.
"All right, Tin Man or Woman: let's see if you still don't get hurt."
I launched forward.
My fist shot out, a straight punch driving straight into its chest.
This time, I felt it.
The impact rippled through the metal frame, denting the surface slightly. Before the puppet could even react, I straightened my body, twisted my hips, carrying the momentum upward and slammed my shin into its ribs.
Boom.
The puppet jerked sideways from the force. Its feet barely had time to scrape against the ground before my next move.
I channeled even more Essence into my leg, twisting my entire body into a spinning side kick. My foot connected squarely with its torso.
A deep boom rang through the air.
The puppet flew.
It blasted backward, its metal body skidding across the ground before slamming into the right wall with a resounding bang.
Before I could say a word, Arkas's voice cut through the air, sharp and disappointed.
"You lost control of the objective."
I flinched slightly as he stepped forward, eyes hard.
"This wasn't a duel. You were supposed to be testing a technique. But you let your ego take over and chased a win instead of data."
I let out a breath, scratching the back of my head.
"I got too into it…"
Arkas didn't ease up.
"Getting into it is how people die. You're not here to enjoy fights, Billion. You're here to master them. Keep that in your head the next time you step forward."