Syal focused his mind, channeling his Spirit into the sword. He could feel the energy coursing through the blade, imbuing it with a faint, ethereal blue light.
As he did so, Syal realized that his Spirit was not only enhancing the sword's durable but also adding a unique property to it - increased damage output. The sword, although not yet an artifact, had transcended its mundane limitations, becoming a formidable tool in Syal's hands.
However, as Syal continued to channel his Spirit, he began to feel a creeping sense of dizziness. His vision blurred slightly, and his legs felt weak, as if the constant consumption of his Spirit was taking a toll on his physical body.
Syal knew he had to be careful not to overextend himself, but he also understood that this fight was far from over. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for the next exchange with Vincent, who was now charging towards him with a fierce battle cry.
Syal swung his Spirit-infused sword in a wide arc, aiming to strike Vincent with a powerful slash. However, Vincent was too fast, and with a swift punch, he parried the attack, sending Syal's sword flying off-target.
As the two combatants clashed, Proto dashed towards them, its metal body glowing with a faint blue light. Syal took advantage of the distraction to launch a series of swift slashes, aiming to keep Vincent at bay.
Vincent, however, was relentless, pursuing Syal with a flurry of punches and kicks. Syal dodged and weaved, using his agility to avoid the attacks, but he knew he couldn't keep this up for much longer.
Proto, sensing Syal's distress, suddenly lunged forward, its metal fists flying in a blur of motion. Vincent, caught off guard, stumbled backward, giving Syal a brief respite from the onslaught.
Syal took advantage of the reprieve to catch his breath and reassess the situation. He knew he had to come up with a new strategy if he was going to survive this fight.
As Vincent stumbled, Syal seized the opportunity to launch a clever counterattack. He controlled Proto to suddenly propel itself upward, launching Syal high into the air. At the same time, Proto began to dart around Vincent, its movements swift and erratic, aiming to confuse and disorient him.
Vincent, caught off guard, reflexively turned his attention to Proto, exchanging blows with the little robot. Syal, meanwhile, used the time bought by Proto's distraction to position himself for a gravity-enhanced slash.
As he plummeted downward, Syal focused his energy, channeling the power of gravity into his sword. He aimed his slash perfectly, striking Vincent from above with incredible force.
The impact sent Vincent flying backward, his body crashing into the ground with a loud thud. He lay there, momentarily stunned, his consciousness wavering.
As Syal landed safely nearby, he noticed that Vincent's arm was badly wounded, the flesh torn and bleeding. However, even as Syal watched, Vincent's body began to regenerate, the wound slowly closing as his inhuman physiology took over.
Syal's eyes widened in a mix of awe and concern. He knew that Vincent's regenerative abilities made him a formidable opponent, and that their fight was far from over.
The Colonel's voice rang out across the training field, echoing off the trees. "That's enough! Spar's over!"
Syal breathed a sigh of relief, his chest heaving with exhaustion. He had managed to hold his own against Vincent, but he knew he had gotten lucky. Vincent's regenerative abilities and superhuman strength made him a formidable opponent.
Vincent, still recovering from the slash, slowly got to his feet. His arm was still regenerating, but he seemed otherwise unharmed. He glanced at Syal with a mixture of curiosity and respect.
The Colonel approached them, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Well, Syal, it seems you've got some potential. But you're still a long way from being able to take on the likes of Vincent. With each of core you got, the more potent your power."
Syal nodded, feeling a sense of determination.
Syal collapsed onto the grassy field, exhausted from the intense spar. He lay there, catching his breath, as the Colonel approached them.
Vincent, still regenerating from the slash, stood tall, his eyes fixed on Syal with a mixture of curiosity and respect. The Colonel stopped in front of them, surveying the scene.
The crowd of soldiers, who had gathered to watch the spar, began to disperse, returning to their duties. The training field slowly emptied, leaving only the Colonel, Syal, and Vincent.
The Colonel's eyes narrowed as he looked at Syal. "You've got potential, kid," he said, his voice firm but measured. "But you're still raw. You need to work on your technique, your strategy..."
The Colonel pulled out a small notebook and began to scribble some notes. "Alright, let's evaluate this spar. Syal, your use of Proto was excellent. You managed to utilize its agility and speed to keep Vincent at bay."
He paused, flipping through his notes. "However, your swordplay is still lacking. You relied too heavily on brute force, rather than finesse and strategy."
"Your creativity using spirit is already very good. But you must remember to regathering all the spirit you spill. If not, you may created another artifact."
"In this state creating new artifact with takes toll on your spirit. The spirit is not regeneratively, every spirit need to be gathers, of course even you not do it. Your Artifact here will do it for you. But the maximum amount spirit you can spend will become less and less. I advice you to take some from proto. He need the spirituality indeed, but for now you needed more than it.
The Colonel turned to Vincent. "Vincent, your strength and reflexes are as impressive as ever. But you underestimated Syal's cunning and Proto's abilities. You need to work on your adaptability and situational awareness."
Syal listened intently, taking mental notes of the Colonel's feedback. He knew he had a lot to learn, and he was eager to improve.
"That's it for today. Tomorrow I will give both of you mission. Vincent lead the team. Syal act as support. Dismissed!"
***
As a Fated, Syal was accorded a special status within the military hierarchy. Unlike regular soldiers, who progressed through the ranks from Recruit to Enlist to Officer, Fateds operated outside of this traditional structure.
Instead, Fateds were considered specialists, with their own unique abilities and strengths. In terms of rank, a Fated was equivalent to an Enlist, with a certain level of autonomy and respect.
However, Fateds with Mythical professions were considered equal to Officers. These individuals wielded significant influence and authority within the military like his father and the colonel. Mostly Fated with profession inclined towards leading will act as true officer in military and government.
Syal, of course, was still far from achieving such a lofty status. His abilities, while impressive, were still developing, and he had much to learn.
For now, Syal was content to have his own room, a small but comfortable space that reflected his status as a Fated.
He accompanied by a familiar companion - Proto. The little robot stood quietly in the corner, its metal body gleaming in the soft light of the room.
Despite the intense battle with Vincent, Proto looked like new again. Syal had already begun to repair and upgrade it, using his unique ability to infuse random metal with his Spirit.
Syal had discovered that he could combine these Spirit-infused metals with Proto's existing components to fix or upgrade it. It was a handy skill, one that allowed him to keep Proto in top condition even in the face of intense battles.
Proto and Syal's resourcefulness made them a formidable team. As Syal sat on his chair, he couldn't help but feel gratful he accidentally made proto.
One of the notable upgrades Syal had made to Proto was the addition of a built-in handgun. Proto's metal fingers now had the ability to shoot bullets, giving it a significant advantage in terms of range.
Of course, the handgun still required gunpowder to function, but this was a minor limitation compared to the benefits it provided. With its new long-range capabilities, Proto could now attack enemies from a safe distance, making it an even more formidable ally in battle.
Syal was pleased with the upgrade, and he could already think of several situations where Proto's new handgun would come in handy. He made a mental note to test the upgrade further.