25 "what are you even?" (chapter 25)

Chapter 25

Their movements became a blur, an intricate tapestry of offense and defense woven beneath the celestial canopy. Oliver, sensing Elektra's trajectory, executed a spinning kick that connected with a resounding thud. Elektra, undeterred, flipped backward, regaining her footing with feline agility.

The moonlit glade became an arena of focused intensity. The fighters' bodies weaved through the shadows, leaving fleeting imprints in the moonlight. Elektra, recognizing the need for a strategic shift, retrieved a pair of sai from concealed holsters. The weapons gleamed ominously in the night as she twirled them expertly, adding a lethal edge to her assault.

Oliver, despite the danger posed by the bladed weapons, remained unfazed. His heightened sense of hearing allowed him to anticipate the whistling strikes of the sai. As Elektra lunged forward, weapons flashing, Oliver's movements became a masterful display of evasion, each roll and twist showcasing the symbiotic relationship between his enhanced instincts and the dance of combat.

The confrontation reached a crescendo, and the air hung heavy with the scent of combat. Small wounds adorned Oliver's body like badges of honor, the result of Elektra's relentless assault. Yet, the injuries didn't slow him; instead, they seemed to stoke the fires within him. His heartbeat resonated like a war drum, and the blood coursing through his veins grew hotter with each passing moment.

Elektra, her eyes keenly observing Oliver's transformation, halted her assault. She watched as Oliver, seemingly unfazed by the cuts and bruises, extended his hand with his palm facing up. His other hand folded protectively over his abdomen, creating an almost ceremonial stance amid the chaos of battle.

As the moonlight filtered through the dense foliage, a peculiar phenomenon unfolded. Oliver's muscles twitched and expanded, a surge of power rippling beneath his skin. His hair, reacting to some unseen force, extended visibly, as if reaching for the ambient energy in the ancient forest. The atmosphere crackled with an otherworldly energy.

Oliver drew in a deep breath, his chest expanding as he embraced the transformative force surging within him. His veins pulsed with vitality, the red hue of his skin intensifying, the hot blood rushed through his veins. It was a mesmerizing display of raw, untapped power, a culmination of the symbiotic infusion and the latent Asgardian dragon influence.

Elektra, typically composed and unflinching, found herself momentarily awestruck. The clearing seemed to pulse with energy as he breathed. Observing the changes, Elektra sighed as she said, "What are you even?" causing Oliver to shrug as he removed his blindfold, "I still have no idea, but whatever it is, it looks like I will need to constantly push myself," before he looked at Elektra and asked, "So, do I pass the test?" The assassin sighed, "Yes, now at least you won't die when someone with the same strength as you and knows a little about martial arts tries to kill you," before she stopped leaning on the trunk of the tree which had several markings.

They both stared at each other for a while before Elektra approached him. She gazed into his eyes for a minute, hoping to catch something, but she didn't, causing her to sigh once more as she turned around, saying, "I hope you remember our deal, Oliver, because I am going to come and collect soon," before walking away. No goodbyes, no words of encouragement, nothing, which made sense since one was a trained assassin, and the other lacked complete social etiquette, nor did he know how to say goodbye to others since he didn't have to worry about.

Oliver turned around and packed everything useful from the camp before walking for several minutes on foot. After finding himself a cave, he entered his shell home, which looked untouched as he hadn't used it for most of the time in the last couple of months. In fact, he only came here to store, option out items, and remove options from them before returning back out. "Now that learning martial arts and how to assassinate people is out of the way, it's time to get back on track, making items," he thought.

Oliver wanted to make his own items using the materials he had gathered. After settling all the things from the camp, Oliver approached a metal bowl containing ice crystals. The ice generated a chilling aura that froze the bowl and several test tubes inside. Strangely, in the same metal bowl as the freezing ice crystal, there were a couple of test tubes containing the blood of the red dragon that Oliver wanted to preserve. He picked up one of the test tubes, which was still hot despite the freezing temperature, saying, "Guess it's still dragon's blood," before placing it back down. He then approached a box with piles of rocks on it and took out a couple of glowing rocks.

[ Name: Darkforge Ore ]

[ Grade: Blue ]

[ Description: A chunk of iron ore extracted from the depths of a dark cave in the Savage Lands. The ore emanates a mysterious energy, forged in the harsh conditions of its subterranean home. ]

[ Option 1: +55% resistance to magical attacks (Rank: E) (Passive) ]

[ Option 2: +50% durability to crafted items (Rank: E) (Passive) ]

[ Durability: 100% ]

[ Name: Cryoheart Crystal ]

[ Grade: Blue ]

[ Description: This ancient ice crystal, unearthed from the depths of a primeval ice mountain in the Savage Lands, possesses an otherworldly power. The frigid aura it exudes hints at the eons it spent locked in the heart of glacial isolation. ]

[ Option 1: Absolute Frost (Rank: E) (Active) - Unleashes an intense wave of cold energy in the surroundings, freezing anything within a short radius. ]

[ Option 2: Cryogenic Enchantment (Rank: E) (Passive) - Grants the ability to enchant objects with cryogenic properties, allowing them to freeze upon contact with the crystal. ]

[ Durability: 90% ]

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A/N well another short chapter, hope you guys like it.

PS: who do you think would win, Oliver or ghost rider (of course he cant kill the spirit of vengeance....YET), and how long would either of them last?