Universal Power System

The power weapons hall crackled with intensity as the battle between Alexi and Mako continued. Sparks flew out in every direction as their weapons clashed, their bodies moving with speed and precision that was borderline superhuman.

Mako's katana, now wreathed in fierce red flames, cut through the air with a hiss. He swung it with finesse, his movements a seamless blend of offensive and defensive moves.

[Fire Sword Style: Fiery Surface Slash]

Mako focused all of his strength on his grip on the katana and swung horizontally with extreme force, releasing a massive arc of fire that followed the path of the blade and went forward, aiming to burn everything in its path.

During their time training, alongside learning the basics of wielding and fighting with a katana, Magnus had also taught him the basics of how to channel one's ability through a power weapon.

Power Weapons and Armor were created from the crystals of dead beasts which was why they would often obtain an active or passive skill from the abilities or skills of the beast, the crystal belonged to.

However, the crystal itself was just an inactive core, one that could hold and manipulate mana just like the ones inside humans. The crystals were only in a state of sleep because after being removed from their host beast, they were unable to retain all the aura inside of themselves and become dormant with what little aura they still had left inside of them.

Magnus taught them how they could access the dormant aura still residing inside the power weapon by channeling their own mana into the weapon and once they were able to establish a successful connection with the weapon, they could temporarily override the dormant aura inside the weapon by releasing their own aura into it instead, reactivating the core and being able to use abilities through the weapon.

This was easier said than done as only after a month of trial and error was Mako able to establish a connection with the dormant aura inside his katana and now he was free to induce his own aura into it and make it an extension of his ability.

Magnus did give them additional details as even after establishing a connection, higher tier weapons and armor could resist the influx of foreign aura and outright reject it. This phenomenon was most common in power weapons and armor that held elemental traits that they inherited from the beast that it was forged from if the incoming aura opposed the nature of the already existing dormant aura inside the weapon or armor.

There was also the fact that each ability aura was completely different from one another and it was very difficult to control and influence it directly. This was why Mako was only able to imbue the katana with his Fire ability as he had the greatest control and mastery over it compared to his other abilities which he still hadn't fully mastered imbuing into his katana. After he was successful in using his Fire ability through his katana, Magnus began teaching him several special moves which were just advanced skills that could only be performed using a katana in combination with the Fire ability.

Instead of cowering away, Alexi ran straight toward the giant fiery arc. He slid down on the ground at the last possible moment, using his Earth ability to reduce friction against the ground and completely dodging the attack.

[Lightning Sword Style: Recursive Paralyzing Thrusts]

Purple Lightning crackled from Alexi's short swords as he cast his own skill by rapidly thrusting his dual short swords in the air in front of Mako, releasing countless Lightning Strikes at Mako in quick succession.

Mako wasn't the only one who had mastered elemental control with a power weapon as Alexi had also learned how to transfer his purple lighting into his blades.

Mako slammed his foot onto the ground with a strong amount of force, using his Earth ability to quickly raise an earth pillar that launched him forward, high up in the air.

[Fire Sword Style: Blazing Cresent Strike]

The red flames enveloping Mako's blade tripled in size as Mako flipped mid-air and used the momentum of his fall and the force of the earth pillar to land a strong vertical slash from above.

Alexi formed a cross by interlocking his two short swords together as he met Mako's attack head-on, the katana was caught by the swords, but instead of breaking through, the blade of the katana was stopped right in its tracks with what felt like hitting a brick wall as the short swords didn't move an inch as if they were glued together.

After absorbing all of Mako's momentum and stopping him in mid-air, Alexi pushed him back deflecting his attack completely.

Mako was a bit surprised but he instantly realized what had happened. Alexi had used his Magnetism ability to temporarily join the two blades together in an 'X' shape to catch his blade and deflect his attack.

This wasn't the only time Alexi had used his strongest ability as from the very beginning, he was clashing evenly against Mako even though he had lighter weapons.

The reason behind this was that he was using his magnetism ability on the metal of his blades to increase its force and speed even more.

He wanted to use his Magnetism ability on Mako's blade as well so that he could sabotage his moves and make the fight more in his favor, but due to Mako's blade being engulfed in flames, it was messing with the magnetic properties of the metal and thus wasn't responding to Alexi's magnetism ability.

After that explosive exchange of powerful techniques, the two resumed close combat with Mako's strike being met by Alexi's dual short swords, which crackled with purple lightning and hummed with an unseen magnetic force.

With a deft twist, Alexi flipped backward, creating a gap between them. He raised his hand and the ground beneath Mako's feet trembled. Spikes of earth shot upward, aiming to impale

Mako.

Reacting instantly, Mako slammed his feet into the ground, channeling his own Earth ability. A circular wall of solid rock erupted from the ground, intercepting the spikes and providing a momentary shield.

Not wasting a second, Mako leaped over the wall, his katana still glowing with an intense heat. As he descended, he unleashed another strong technique.

[Fire Sword Style: Flame Claw]

Four large blazing arcs of fire emerged from Mako's katana as he swung the katana vertically with a slight angle and aimed directly at Alexi.

Alexi responded by slamming his feet into the ground in quick succession and such fluid-like motion, that it looked like he was performing a dance step.

With each strike, he launched a small boulder into the air from deep within the earth and quickly stabbed it with his sword, transferring a massive electrical charge into the boulder.

With this, he was able to influence the boulders using his Magnetism ability, as the electricity charged the countless tiny metallic mineral particles embedded within the rock. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

The particles coalesced into a dense shield of magnetic earth, which absorbed the brunt of Mako's fiery attack. The shield glowed red-hot but held firm, protecting Alexi from the scorching flames.

As the flames dissipated, Alexi thrust his hands forward, sending the magnetic shield hurtling toward Mako. The shield fragmented into dozens of sharp shards, each one electrically

charged.

[Sprint has been activated]

[Motion Sense has been activated]

[Fire Sword Style: Flame Dance]

Mako activated both of his support skills to grant him additional agility and perception as he used a very powerful evasive technique of the Fire Sword Style which was several circular and fast movements with precise swings and slashes that provided great protection. His quick movements combined with his slashes made it look like he had summoned a whirlwind of fire that deflected the shards in all directions. The shards embedded themselves into the ground in random directions, still sizzling with residual electricity.

Seizing the moment, Mako dashed forward. He slashed at Alexi with a series of rapid strikes,

each one faster than the last. Alexi parried with his swords, the clash of their weapons once again sending sparks flying in every direction. The two were locked in a deadly dance, their movements almost too fast to follow.

Alexi saw an opening and lunged, aiming to pierce Mako's side. But Mako anticipated the move, twisting his body and using his katana to redirect the force of the strike. With his free hand, he quickly began to channel energy from the surroundings.

[Energy Stream has been activated]

Mako quickly shot a concentrated green blast of energy, hitting Alexi square in the chest and

sending him skidding backward.

Alexi landed hard, but he was quick to get back on his feet. He quickly took his stance again

but was now leaning away to his right as the energy blast had definitely inflicted some

damage on his body.

Alexi was breathing heavily as he tried to make his body recover and mute out the pain as quickly as possible but in his mind, he only had a single thought.

'How many abilities does this guy have?!'