Chapter 4: Locking Target
"The motion of all things in the world follows a distinct context and trajectory," Tucker remembered reading this sentence on some spcial media platform in his previous life. Initially, he struggled to grasp its true meaning, but today, it was no longer an abstract concept but a tangible reality.
In his current state, Tucker could perceive that everything around him existed as complex patterns of stationary veins and trajectories. Veins represented the static aspects, while trajectories captured the dynamic elements of their surroundings. These lines of veins and trajectories extended through the surrounding space.
Tucker's newfound talent allowed him to precisely comprehend the subtle shifts in the trajectory and context of any point. He couldn't help but wonder, "Is this what they mean by an S-level extraordinary talent?"
With the "vein" and "trajectory" flawlessly presented before his eyes, Tucker began to examine his surroundings carefully.
Behind him, Carlos attempted to dodge a rolling vein and trajectory by veering left, but Tucker anticipated his move. "This guy wants to dodge left because I'm on the left, trying to use me as a shield," Tucker realized. "You're still trying to outmaneuver me at this point? Well, I'll move right and directly predict your prediction. Oh, and that human faced snake, it seems to have stabilized its veins with no attack trajectory. It's still cautious, but this gives me more time to harness my unique talent and absorb the results of its transformation."
In contrast to before, when it was challenging to anticipate the opponent's attacks, Tucker now possessed "dynamic vision" to discern the world's movements. This alleviated much of the pressure on his mind.
"My spells also follow their own veins and trajectories," Tucker contemplated. "By accurately aligning my attacks with the enemy's trajectory and veins, I can create a perfect intersection, akin to opening a lock that target opponents weakness."
Tucker's eyes narrowed as he realized that his attacks could not only hit the target but could also be precisely target their weekness. He found an opportunity to stage a comeback.
"First, I can accurately predict the trajectory of the opponent's attack," Tucker noted. "As long as I can respond by timely evadeing the attack, I can avoid the opponent's assault. Secondly..."
Tucker's precise vision settled on the human faced snake ghost, ultimately locking onto its eyes. "Aim for its eyes!"
With S-level [Accuracy], he could target with the precision of a lock. Missing the eyes, mouth, throat, or other vulnerable spots would be a missed opportunity. The eyes of the human faced snake were its weak point.
"Carlos, it's about to attack," Tucker alerted.
Carlos, still wondering how Tucker knew about the impending attack, barely had time to react before the human faced snake ghost lunged at them like a cannonball.
"Oh, damn!" Carlos exclaimed. Tucker's evasive movements and the creature's attack were synchronized. Although Carlos was slower, Tucker's reminder enabled him to dodge the impending blow.
With a resounding "Bang!" echoing through the crypt passage, Carlos rolled to the ground, recognizing the familiar sound of gunshots.
It was the Thorn Bullet, a gesture spell used by Wizard Tucker. While not incredibly powerful, it was both convenient and swift, allowing him to respond with a simple hand movement.
As the gunfire ceased, the violent roars of the human-faced snake reverberated through the cave passage, sounding like a crashing wave.
"Go!" Carlos was about to warn Tucker when he saw that Tucker was already sprinting ahead. Carlos hurriedly followed, with the enraged stone snake ghost with a human face hot on their heels.
The creature's right eye had been obliterated, leaving a gruesome bloody cavity, staining its once-delicate face with blood and replacing it with a deranged and icy hatred. It pursued them frantically.
Tucker reflected on his earlier shot. Despite the adversary's high-speed trajectory, Tucker had perfectly intercepted it. His plan was straightforward: align his spell's trajectory with the opponent's movement. The trajectories had connected and converged.
Tucker only needed to attack and let "Accuracy" do the rest. His S-level accuracy, standing at 478%, didn't disappoint. With level 9 gesture witchcraft and the bullet tentacles, he could precisely target the enemy's eyeballs.
"Extraordinary creatures, particularly those who've survived dangerous environments through lethal combat, possess robust extraordinary bodies. A level 9 thorn bullet can severely damage a second-order extraordinary creature at level 28 or 29. That's impressive," Tucker mused as he sprinted, occasionally glancing back.
The human-faced snake's life veins had been torn apart, its vitality rapidly draining. This injury had driven it to madness and relentless pursuit.
The gap between them was closing fast. "Tucker, that creature is catching up," Carlos warned.
As the human-faced snake ghost drew nearer, Tucker steadied his right hand in a pistol stance. Gathering source energy, he hurled his arm back. The level 9 gesture spell, fire thorn bullet, struck once more.
Tucker didn't even need to look back. At this close range, his "precise vision" wasn't necessary to lock onto the enemy. He felt the veins and trajectories without needing to see them.
"Bang!" Gunfire erupted again. A piercing shriek combined with the sound of the massive snake rolling on the ground. The stone snake ghost had lost its second eye.
This spectacle left Carlos utterly dumbfounded. "Can you still hit the target like that? Are you even looking?" he exclaimed.
Those stories and biographies of outstanding rangers would hardly dare to depict such feats.
"How did you manage to hit it?" Carlos inquired, puzzled by the incredible accuracy of Tucker's attacks.
"Nothing but practice and familiarity," Tucker replied, casting a casual glance at the defeated human-faced snake. He could see that Carlos was curious but refrained from probing further, understanding that it wasn't polite to delve into someone else's secrets.
Inside the crypt passage, the severely injured human-faced snake, now blind and unable to fight, struggled weakly to move its snake-like body. Several spell "fire oil bombs" were cast upon it, causing the flames to consume it, hastening its demise.
Witnessing the ease with which they dispatched the second-level human-faced stone snake ghost left Carlos in disbelief. This creature was of a much higher level than they were, and he had initially feared they would become its meal.
However, Tucker's two straightforward "Thorn Bullet" spells had eliminated this formidable second-order extraordinary creature. It was not just incredible; it was outright astonishing. While theoretically, targeting weak points could produce such results, weak spots are usually small and well-defended, making accurate hits challenging.
With the death of the second-order human faced snake, its snake-like body rapidly turned to stone. Atop its head emerged a thumb-sized crystal, known as the "Human Faced Snake Crystal." When extraordinary creatures perish, their extraordinary sequence frameworks condense into these valuable crystals, which are a sought-after material for advancing within the extraordinary ranks.
Tucker carefully stowed the "Human Faced Snake Crystal" in a small iron box, both recognizing its value and appreciating the financial rewards it would bring.
As they contemplated their next move, their options appeared before them like a stark, challenging question: to retreat or to press onward.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone