Chapter 18: Breakthrough

"seems like I'm going to have to use it," I said wryly.

"System, activate system defense" I said.

[Warning: System defense will temporarily shut down all of host abilities to create an impenetrable defense.

Note: System defense will be deactivated once host can achieve a breakthrough in cultivation]

[Do you still wish to continue?]

[Y/N]

"Yes, continue the process," I said inwardly as I brought out some of my soul shards and placed it on the ground.

Although using a move like this was very risky since all my abilities would be unusable until I made a breakthrough in my cultivation but, I still decided to go ahead because I was already close to breaking through and had just stopped my self from doing so a long time ago. Even though I wasn't in support of using soul shards to improve my cultivation, I had no other choice but to use it since I was currently in a tight spot.

"Alright, here goes nothing," I said as I took a deep breath and started cultivating," I just hope it pays off."

~ "What!!! Is he crazy?" A student from the audience shouted, "I was already starting to become his fan but now, I'm starting to think if I made the right choice."

Normally, no normal person would dare to cultivate in the middle of a battle because if someone was to interrupt the process or forcefully stop the flow of mana within a person's body, it could cripple the person cultivation or even kill them. However, that condition only applied to 'normal' people and not people like me.

The system defense is able to withstand attacks from people whose cultivation were two levels above mine and since Prince Saniel have probably used a huge chuck of his mana, he would be trying to conserve his mana by using low level abilities.

"You bastard, how dare you look down on me?" Prince Saniel roared, "initially, I was planning to humiliate you then cripple your cultivation but since you offer your life to me, I'll gladly kill you."

"Stop spewing crap," I said angrily, "you've told me that like a million times now besides, can't you see I'm cultivating."

*Slash*, numerous cut sounds were heard as Prince Saniel attacked me frantically from all sides.

"How are you still alive?" He asked in shock after all his attack had zero effect, "are you even human?"

*Boom*, a medium shockwave spread trough out the podium as a carter was formed from where I was cultivating.

"Being an Expert stage cultivator is really nice, I feel a lot more powerful compared to before," I said as I clenched my fist and looked at the result of my punch, "but, I still have to stabilize the mana flow in my body.

[Congratulations to host for successfully breaking through]

[System defense has been deactivated, host can use all abilities again]

[System defense cooldown: 1 year]

[Host has received 100 EXP and 100 system points for successfully breaking through]

After every break through to a new cultivation stage, a person could access an infinite amount of mana temporarily but using the mana like this could cause serious internal injuries which could cause pain that was worse than experiencing death however, I had to fight Prince Saniel this way 'cause my system defense had already been deactivated and there was no way Prince Saniel will give me time to stabilize my mana.

"System shop," I called inwardly. I already had 491 system points and after breaking through, the system awarded me 100 system points so I had a total of 591 system points.

"*Sigh*, I was saving my system points for later," I grumbled as I purchased an Expert level ability from the system shop.

[Host has gotten a new ability, would host like to learn this ability?]

[Y/N]

"Yes," I said as information on how to use the ability rushed into my head.

[New ability: 'Nova link']

[Description: Allows host to absorb ability attacks damage to body and weapon. You can decide to disperse the attack damage or use it to increase your ability attack damage

Note: If body or weapon is unable to absorb attack damage, it will result in weapon being damaged or body part ripping apart]

[Cost: 100 mana per use]

[Upgrade to Master level ability: 3000 system points]

"Jackpot," I said with a grin as I read the ability description and the part about the ability being upgradable.

Although the amount of mana required to use this ability was very large, I didn't have to worry about that at least, for now since I had an almost infinite amount of mana temporarily.

"I just hope the backlash I'll experience is not too great," I muttered as I activated my 'Nova link' ability.

"Hey, Prince Saniel, you were saying something about beating me until I'm unable to use my 'big mouth' so, how did that go?" I teased.

"Shut up," he yelled as he tried to slash my head.

"Haha," I laughed as I absorbed his attack damage with my dagger, "hey Prince Saniel, here's a gift from me to you," I yelled as I used my dagger to slash back at him with 'Nova link' still activated.

*Crack*, the sound of bones breaking was heard as Prince Saniel was sent flying.

"*Cough*, you bastard," he yelled as he coughed out a large amount of blood.

The entire battle arena instantly became silent. Ever since the day Prince Saniel had joined the academy, he was always the number one student and dominated everyone and no one had ever seen him bleed however, a new student from the outer academy did not just make him bleed but still broke some bones.

"Prince Saniel surrender now or it's going to be your loss," I repeated the same words he had said to me earlier.

"I don't know how you're doing all that but just know that I, Prince Saniel, would never bow down to a lowly commoner," he yelled as he continued to engage me in combat.

*pant*, the both of us panted as we blocked our last attacks.

After fighting for a long time, we were already reaching our limits and suffering from exhaustion.

"I can't continue like this, I have to get among the top 20 if not I'm not going to make it to the main academy," I panted.

"I'll try to do something he doesn't expect," I muttered as I activated my 'Nova link" ability, "Prince Saniel, you look tired, why don't you go have a nap or something," I teased.

"Get lost," Prince Saniel said before continuing our clash.

After a lot of exchange of attacks, I couldn't feel my arms anymore since the the amount of attack damage my daggers had absorbed were already weighing me down.

"It's now or never," I muttered as I lunched myself towards him.

"Shit," he cursed as he sensed the destructive energy surging towards him, "you're not the only one here who can do things like that," he yelled as he activated a new ability he hadn't used since the beginning of our fight.

"Killer move: Nova slash," I yelled.

[Ding]

[Host has attained mid-level mastery for the ability 'Nova link']

[Host has received 50 EXP bonus]

*Boom*, a very large explosion occurred as a huge shockwave spread throughout the entire the stadium.

~ "All staff in charge of the barrier should re enforce the barrier," the instructor announced.

*Hah, help, we have to leave," the students shouted as they tried to leave they tried to leave the battle arena.

"All students should settle down, the barrier is not going to collapse," the instructor announced as soon as the teachers reinforced the barriers.

"I can't see a thing in there," the instructor muttered, "I just hope nothing happens to either of them after taking that attack head on," he said as he waited for the smoke in the podium to clear up."