Chapter 88: E+ Wind Talent

<You have devoured Mid-Silver beast, Harpy>

<You have evolved the talent: Wind(F -> E+)>

<The Harpy(Mid Silver) is available for transformation>

<+6 Intelligence>

—

<Human: Ethan Brandon>

<Rank: Low-Silver>

<Talents: Speed (E+), Crystal Hardening (E+), Wind (E+), Protective Shield (F), Accuracy Enhancement (F+), Regeneration (F+), Dagger Wield (F-), Water (F+), Fire (F+), Mental Enhancement (F)>

<Transformations: Shadowfang Wolf (Peak-Bronze), Razorback Boar (Peak-Bronze), Black Beetle (Peak-Bronze), Brown Bear (Peak-Bronze), Crystal Ape (Mid-Silver), Panther (Mid-Silver), Silver Serpent (Mid-Silver), Harpy (Mid-Silver)>

<Level 4>

<Health Points: 1560> <Mana Points: 1780>

<Strength: 155> <Agility: 158> <Intelligence: 178> <Vitality: 156>

<Free Attributes: 15>

<Skills: Basic Footwork (Novice – 40%)>

—

Power surged through Ethan as the Harpy’s essence integrated with his own.

The evolved Wind talent brought with it a profound understanding.

I have fifteen attributes to allocate. This fight will be tough without using everything I have…

Pure physical power had limitations against the behemoth’s armour. But intelligence opened new avenues—more complex talent combinations, increased mana efficiency, and more.

I will place all of them into Intelligence. This gives me maximum versatility, especially since I just acquired the wind talent, which has better damage output than my daggers.

The attributes enhanced him, his mana pool deepened, and reservoirs now capable of sustaining longer talent usages.

<Intelligence: 178>

The behemoth charged with earth-shaking fury, crystalline claws carving furrows in broken stone. Each footfall sent tremors through the ruined district, dust clouds rising in its wake.

Time to test the new capabilities.

Ethan raised his hand, his wind talent activating.

Air shifted around the charging monster, creating invisible barriers that disrupted its momentum. The beast staggered as crosswinds hammered it from three directions simultaneously.

It was not enough to stop the charge. But enough to throw off its timing.

Ruan struck first.

His spear met the beast’s armour with thunderous impact, sparks cascading where the weapon failed to penetrate defensive plating.

Barely a scratch. As expected.

Zhao followed with lightning-enhanced thrust, electrical discharge crackling across the behemoth’s flanks. The creature roared—more annoyance than pain—as it swung massive claws toward her position.

She rolled clear, her armour scraping against broken stone. The attack missed by centimetres, crushing the space she’d occupied moments before.

Ethan positioned himself at optimal striking distance, Wind talent creating localised pressure differentials that enhanced his mobility.

He moved like liquid mercury, speed and wind talents combining to increase his speed even further.

At a good range, he sent several wind blades towards the behemoth. Whilst he struck with his daggers at the same time.

The attacks were difficult to defend against since they came from different angles at the same time.

The wound opened three millimetres deeper than before.

Despite the shallow wound, Ethan smirked.

You’re not invincible, big boy.

The behemoth’s retaliation came as a sweep of its massive tail.

Ethan’s Wind talent stopped the attack just enough, turning a killing blow into a glancing impact.

Crystal Hardening absorbed most damage, but the force still sent him tumbling across shattered pavement. He rolled to his feet immediately, already calculating the next approach vector.

“How are you moving like that?” Zhao gasped between lightning strikes that barely scorched armor plating.

No point hiding it now. Fourth talent revealed—fifth won’t matter. Besides, they will know as we keep fighting.

“Wind manipulation,” Ethan replied, gathering compressed air around his daggers. “Focus on keeping it distracted.”

He launched another assault. The enhanced impacts drove his weapons fractionally deeper into the same vulnerable joints.

Cumulative damage. Death by a thousand cuts.

The behemoth sensed the threat, prioritising Ethan despite the other two Silver-ranks attacking its flanks. Massive claws sought his position with increasing accuracy, intelligence flashing behind multiple eyes tracking his movement.

It’s learning and adapting. Silver rank monsters are very smart…

Wind currents shifted around Ethan as he evaded, creating miniature cyclones that disrupted the monster’s depth perception. Dust and debris swirled in, masking his actual position while presenting false targets.

The behemoth struck at empty air, his talons meeting resistance where none should exist. Confusion flickered across its alien features as attacks failed to connect with their intended prey.

Ethan struck during the monster’s moment of uncertainty.

Clink!

Each wound remained shallow individually, but the accumulation began to show.

One eye-stalk drooped slightly, severed through repeated attacks.

Ruan pressed his advantage, blade finding gaps Ethan had created. “The armour’s weakening where you’ve been striking!”

“Maintain pressure on those points,” Ethan instructed, already moving to his next target.

The strategy worked.

Three Silver-ranks attacking in coordination, but only one capable of meaningful damage. Ruan and Zhao served as mobile anchors, preventing the behemoth from focusing entirely on its primary threat.

The behemoth’s movements grew increasingly erratic as damage accumulated beyond its ability to naturally heal.

Two more eye-stalks lost coordination.

Ethan escalated his assault, using his wind talent to create pressure waves that enhanced each strike. His daggers moved faster than the eye could track

Almost there. Just need the right opening.

Across the ruined plaza, Ezekiel and the monkey had reached the limits of endurance. Both bled from dozens of wounds, their energies flickering with exhaustion that bordered on depletion.

The monkey’s staff intercepted another axe strike, but the wooden weapon showed signs of stress. Hairline cracks spread from repeated impacts with silver-enhanced steel.

“Getting tired, little lord?” The creature grinned through bloodied teeth, though its movements lacked its earlier fluidity.

Ezekiel’s response came as a horizontal slash that opened another gash across the monkey’s ribs. “You’re bleeding more than I am.”

Truth. But not by much.

Their battle had devolved into an endurance contest—who could sustain injury longer before critical systems failed. Each exchange drew more blood, weakened defenses further.

The monkey’s next attack targeted the gap in Ezekiel’s damaged armor, staff seeking the vulnerable flesh beneath cracked plates. Steel rang against wood with force that shattered nearby windows.

“Your city burns while you indulge personal vendettas,” it taunted between strikes.

“My city endures,” Ezekiel countered, axe carving through air with visible distortion. “Your forces die one by one.”

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