Essence

"FUCK!"

Prince shot out of the stream like a bullet, shrapnel and stones raining down around him.

He gained impressive air before he finally landed on the river bank, barraged with notifications.

You have comprehended the Dao Node of Martial Arts.

Congratulations! You are one of the first 100 on your planet to comprehend a Dao. As a result, you have received the following title: Planetary Dao Prodigy (100)

You have acquired the Dao Skill: Thunderous Palm (I) (Active)

[Dao] Thunderous Palm (I) (Active): Concentrate your Essence into a deadly palm strike akin to clapping thunder, distilled with understanding.

Prince could feel his new understanding radiating throughout his body. The way he walked, talked, even the way he thought. It felt closer to his... Dao. His path. Which was one of martial arts.

He felt reborn, as if his whole being had been reconstructed.

Unarmed Striking (II) has evolved into [Normal] Martial Arts (I)

[Normal] Martial Arts (I)(Passive): Majorly increases reflexes, durability, and observation skills related to Martial Arts. Also grants a precise understanding of Martial Arts and incredible adaptability. 

Prince stared at these screens for a few seconds. Then he waved them away. Prince summoned up his status.

Attribute Screen - Prince Collins

Species: Human

Faction: N/A

Class: Martial Warrior 

Subclass: Champion of Victorious Fighting

Titles: Planetary Frontrunner (1000), Planetary Dao Prodigy (100)

Grade: F

Dao: Node of Martial Arts

Level: 17

Strength: 32

Endurance: 27

Dexterity: 32

Vitality: 24

Mental: 23

Wisdom: 21

Free Points: 24

Prince felt himself get grounded as he stared at his status screen. Numbers going up always did that to you.

Prince wanted to split it equally.

Some might argue a 'Jack of all trades is a master of none', but they don't know the full phrase.

'A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.'

Prince poured ten points into strength.

Now he would have to be careful with his remaining fourteen. He gave four to endurance, which was lagging behind.

He then gave dexterity eight and gave two to vitality.

He didn't really mind about mental and wisdom, as they were rising slowly but surely. And his class would give him way more points as well, anyway.

Prince threw off what was left of his hoodie. It had just been a few scraps. Now those scraps were soaked wet and damp and it was stringy and-

Prince just decided to put it out of its misery.

The same with the shirt he had wore underneath. He put that away as well.

That just left him as a lean bulk of chiseled muscle that wore nothing but sweatpants. 

Sick. Prince thought. I always wanted muscles like these.

Prince then pulled up his skill screen.

Skill Screen - Prince Collins

[Normal] Martial Arts (I) (Passive): Majorly increases reflexes, durability, and observation skills related to Martial Arts. Also grants a precise understanding of Martial Arts and incredible adaptability. 

[Normal] Titan Fist (I) (Active): Pour all your energy into one singular devastating strike. Add Essence to increase the power of the strike.

[Normal] Drill (I) (Passive): Concentrate your energy into a single area, making each strike that much more powerful.

[Normal] Warrior's Will (I) (Active): Double your power temporarily for 5 minutes in exchange for 10 minutes of weakened abilities.

[Mythical] Victorious Spirit (I) (Active): Once a week, if your health drops below 1%, you can bring it back up to 1%. After recovering from that near-death experience, you gain +25% to all stats once you fight whatever killed you again.

[Mythical] The Odds Are Against Me (I) (Passive/Active): Whenever facing an opponent stronger than you, you gain a 5% increase to all stats. If you say "The Odds Are Against Me" out loud, that boost increases to 1%0.

[Dao] Thunderous Palm (I) (Active): Concentrate your Essence into a deadly palm strike akin to clapping thunder, distilled with understanding.

Prince sighed as he scrolled. He finally had skills. Except...

Prince could feel that his Essence had slowed down majorly. Where it had once been like water, his soul was now filled with a tar-like substance. And his actual soul was bound to chains that he couldn't break.

Prince mentally tugged at his Essence. 

It stirred. Slowly.

Where it passed through his body, Prince could feel that certain body part strengthen. It finally exited his hand as a small explosion, hurting his hand in the process.

Prince knew that his control had to be atrocious. He did better than this when he didn't have a class.

Prince's anger began to rise. Woodland critters scurried away, as he had begun to develop his own aura- a menacing one of bloodlust, which is what designated the prey from the predator.

I swear. Prince closed his hand into a fist. When I catch you... I'll kill you.

Prince's anger dissipated. Instead of raging blindly, he decided to let the rage burn through his veins, fuel him and let him tear through this dungeon.

So what if the System wants to put me down?

Prince crouched into a boxing stance. Suddenly he felt like he had been boxing since birth, as if he would absolutely beat any boxer from the old world without even trying.

Prince's fist extended outward in a straight. This was his pure physicality, no skills used, only aided by drill.

His fist connected with the bark of the tree he was aiming at. A tree the size of his body three times over.

His fist left a crater that went through half of the tree. 

And his fist was undamaged. 

I'll just kill the System.

Prince felt a grin coming on.

...

Empire State Building

New York City

Luke was feeling annoyed.

He was always annoyed with everything, really. He wondered why. Standing at 6'4, good looks, a well-muscled body, and a fake likeable attitude- it made sense why he was better than everyone else. 

He was at what used to be the Empire State Building of New York City. It had been turned into a dungeon called the Tower of Empires with nine levels, however. 

It had been turned into territory, a Safe Zone.

How?

Because the two cultivators at the top had conquered it.

Luke brought up a screen he had brought up many times.

You have comprehended the Dao Node of Supremacy.

Congratulations! You are one of the first 50 on your planet to comprehend a Dao. As a result, you have received the following title: Planetary Dao Genius (50)

"Tch." He muttered, slipping his hands into his pocket as he stared at the sunset on top of the best vantage point. "Not good enough."

"What do you mean not good enough?" #3 Ranker Eric Walker asked.

"There's no way an idiot like you got a Dao before me," Luke said casually, standing at the very edge. He wasn't scared of heights, nor of falling.

"You play a dangerous game." Eric barked a laugh. He was a middle-aged man, actually. He looked like a damn tank. If he was a decade younger, he would've put Luke's good looks to shame. Though he was slowly getting his youth back. "I'm about to break into the E-Grade, you know."

"Sure, sure," Luke said. "I'm taking my time. It's a new world order, after all."

"Oh, that reminds me," Eric said. "I saw something interesting. Number #89. Prince Collins. Your brother?"

Luke's eyes widened. Then he laughed. "Yeah. Would make sense for a Collins to be in the Top 100. Though not in the Top 10..."

"You're not in the top ten." Eric pointed out.

"I saw that Tou He fight on one of them System TV things," Luke said. "He's not strong. Just above me in levels. If I actually tried, I could probably beat your brother up."

"I doubt it." Eric laughed.

Luke shook his head and stepped back from the edge. "Well..."

"Let's see how the rest of this thing plays out." Luke grinned.

...