The battle raged on, a dance of power and deception within the inky void. Lilith, her elements of wind, space, and lightning weaving a deadly tapestry, pushed him to his limits. Noah, fueled by the power of Lord of Night and his enhanced senses, fought back with relentless determination. The determination to win, to use this opportunity to progress.
The training ground became a battleground, the darkness a canvas on which their powers clashed. Neither side gained a clear advantage, the ebb and flow of the fight a testament to their formidable skills. But slowly, almost imperceptibly, the tide began to turn.
Noah, fueled by the adrenaline of the fight and the ever-present warnings from Unprecedented Sense, began to anticipate Lilith's attacks. He used his telekinesis to disrupt her portals before they fully formed, deflected her lightning bolts with well-timed bursts of darkness, and used the darkness itself to mask his movements.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he saw his chance. Lilith, momentarily caught off guard by a series of telekinetic shoves, stumbled back. Seizing the opportunity, Noah surged forward, a surge of power coursing through him. His fist, empowered by the darkness, slammed into her chest with surprising force.
Bang!
The impact sent a shockwave through the air, the sound echoing through the training ground despite the darkness. Lilith stumbled back, a gasp escaping her lips. For the first time in the fight, a flicker of surprise crossed her face.
The darkness began to dissipate, the faint light of dawn creeping in from the edges of the training ground. Noah, panting heavily, stood before her, his vision adjusting to the returning light. Lilith, catching her breath, stared back at him, a mixture of emotions swirling in her eyes.
"Seems the ice queen can be melted after all," Noah said with a ragged breath, a hint of a challenge lingering in his voice.
Lilith remained silent for a moment, then a slow smile spread across her face. It wasn't the cold, aloof smile he was used to, but a genuine one, filled with a grudging respect and feelings proud of Noah's progress.
Exhausted but exhilarated, Noah reached down and offered Lilith a hand up.
"Truce?" he asked with a grin, a hint of amusement sparkling in his eyes despite his ragged breaths.
Lilith hesitated for a moment, the memory of the intense fight and the surprising warmth of his touch lingering in her mind.
Then, with a sigh that spoke volumes, she took his hand. As she pulled herself to her feet, their eyes met, and for a fleeting moment, a spark of something deeper than competition flickered between them.
They both gulped down large swallows from the water bottles Noah had produced, the cool liquid momentarily pushing back the ache in their muscles. Then, with a silent agreement, they settled down back-to-back, leaning against the training ground wall.
The sounds of other trainees filled the air – the clash of steel, the rhythmic thud of kicks and punches. But Noah and Lilith were a world apart, lost in their own thoughts, the echo of their recent battle still thrumming in their veins.
"That was..." Noah began, searching for the right words.
"Intense."
"Indeed," Lilith replied, her voice a breathy whisper.
"You've improved considerably, Noah."
A satisfied smirk played on his lips.
"Likewise, Lilith. Your control over the elements is... impressive."
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the unspoken words hanging heavy in the air.
Finally, Noah broke the silence.
"So," he began, his voice tinged with a hint of amusement.
"Ready for another round... sometime soon?"
Lilith's lips curved into a genuine smile, a sight that sent a thrill coursing through him.
After waking up it was time to check the system's new features but first Noah decided to check his status window.
■Status Window
Name: Noah Adler
Rank: Expert
Level 44
Class: Angel of Death
Title: Goblin Slayer
◇◇◇◇◇
☆Stats☆
Mana: 106
Strength: 115
Intelligence: 98
Dexterity: 115
Luck: 89
Stat Points: 0
Coins: 15060G
◇◇◇◇◇
☆Skills☆
Common Skill: {Basic Swordsmanship},{Basic Close Combat} {Presence Detection} {Master of Weapons} {Mana's Armor Lvl 1} {Shadow Steps Level 1} {Blood Flowers} {Splitting Ripple Slash LVl 1} {Fangs of Insanity} {Flame Art} {Telekinesis Lv1} {Unprecedented Sense LV1}
Exclusive Skills: {Seal of Death} {Night of Death} {Lord of the Night}
◇◇◇◇◇
☆Runes ☆
{Basic Strength},{Basic Speed} {Angel of Death}
■
"Well, I've managed to accumulate a substantial sum of fifteen thousand gold coins. While it may seem like a significant amount, I fear that it might not be sufficient to acquire the things I truly desire," Noah expressed, a tinge of sadness evident in his voice.
It would be great if there was an alternative way to craft gold coins instead of relying solely on missions.
Noah dismissed the thought and shook his head. Now wasn't the time to ponder on alternate methods of obtaining gold coins. There was something more pressing at hand - exploring the system's latest features. Perhaps there was something incredible waiting for him to discover.