Chapter 28: Testing
Enopy stepped into the center of the room and spoke clearly:
"Human Hologram Opponent, Rank One Peak Stage."
A flash of blue energy flickered, and a humanoid figure materialized before him—featureless and calm, awaiting command.
"Go over there and fight me like this," Enopy said, pointing to the far side of the room. He tossed a cognition orb toward the hologram—inside it, memories of his battle with Dontavius swirled.
The orb collided with the blue figure, and its appearance instantly shifted, becoming an exact replica of Dontavius.
Without hesitation, it charged at Enopy.
Enopy leapt back, eyes flashing with intensity—a Fear Strike. No outward movement was visible, yet the hologram froze for two seconds, stunned by the pressure.
In that sliver of time, Enopy appeared at its side and launched a devastating kick. The hologram smashed into the wall, leaving behind a crater.
It recovered swiftly, leaping from the wall to strike. But Enopy's eyes flashed again—Dizzy. The figure faltered, staggering erratically and veering straight into the wall.
It regained its balance quickly and lunged once more.
But Enopy was faster.
He struck it with Venom Strike, sending it crashing to the ground. The toxic aura spread across its form—until the hologram, manipulating its illusory energy, compressed the venom into one spot, halting the spread.
Rising again, it launched into the air with a kick aimed at Enopy—but something tugged at its legs. It looked down to see a gum-like substance anchoring it mid-air.
It hit the floor with force, only to sink into it as if it were water.
Then the water turned solid.
The figure inhaled to stabilize—but immediately began choking. Green mist filled the air. Its illusions failed; it restricted its breathing as its system reeled.
And Enopy was nowhere in sight.
Without warning, the hologram was flung toward the wall—then intercepted mid-flight by a blazing kick that sent it careening into the ceiling.
It flipped midair, launched downward again, but met a sea of fire below. It screamed silently, thrashing through green smoke, only to be struck again.
And again.
And again.
Each hit came faster, heavier, and stronger. Every flash of flame built momentum, layering intensity.
"This next one will kill it," Enopy thought as flames burst from his feet.
He dashed forward.
His final strike—a flame-wreathed kick—tore the hologram's head from its body. The blue figure shimmered, then disintegrated.
From all sides, a mechanical voice echoed:
"Clean up and repair mode: ON."
Vents opened in the floor. Toxic gas hissed as it was sucked away, clearing the air. The scorched floor began to slowly reform.
Enopy walked up the stairs, his mind already reviewing every technique.
"Fear Strike is useful, but weak—Dizzy stalls better. Venom Strike's easy to counter, unless masked. Gum's good for trapping, but the stretch leaves room for escape. Paired with Drown, though, it's lethal—especially with Toxic Gas. That gas works best in enclosed rooms, but a heatwave can distort air, so maybe it has outdoor use too... Fire Pool, Burst, and Gas work well together. I wonder what the rest of my abilities can do..."
He entered the kitchen area, turned off the stove, and grabbed a massive bowl and utensils.
The pot still steamed faintly. He scooped out a heaping ladle of soup—then five more.
Seated at the table, he unfurled a slip of paper—handwritten by Dontavius. A list of items that might aid his journey:
Dontavius' List:
Aura Core: Stores aura
Fragrance Core: Stores scent/fragrance
Supplements: Flowers and animals that enhance cultivation
Energy Restorer: Speeds core recovery. Becomes ineffective over time with frequent use
Cognition Orb: Stores thoughts/memories for others to access
Information Crystal: Scans books, objects, and appraises them for future access
Power Appraiser: Measures power level within 20 feet
Enopy's eyes locked onto one item in particular.
"Ah—the Energy Restorer."
He summoned a handful of smooth, oval-shaped objects from his space ring.
Crushing one in his hand, he felt a surge of energy flood his core. It filled quickly—halfway in seconds—then stopped.
He crushed another. His core was soon full.
"Efficient. But dangerous if overused," he muttered, sealing the remaining restorers back into his ring.
His gaze turned to the next item:
"The Information Crystal."
A small, blue shard emerged from the ring—one side flat, the other sharply pointed.
"Empty?" he muttered. Curious, he walked to the bookshelf and pointed the crystal at it.
"Scan," he commanded mentally.
A blue beam shot from the tip, washing across the books. Then it vanished.
Enopy pressed the crystal to his forehead and sent his consciousness inside.
Book titles lined his mind. He entered one and instantly saw the full contents—page after page, copied perfectly.
He frowned.
"I don't want to read an entire book just to find one useful sentence. Wait..."
A new thought struck him.
"System, scan this crystal and summarize all important information."
The system's voice responded in his mind—cold and emotionless:
"Acknowledged. Scan will take one day. Maintain contact near forehead."
"Understood. Begin."
He projected a thin stream of aura to hold the crystal in place while he returned to his food.
As he sipped his now-cold soup, he sighed again.
"I should fill these fragrance and aura cores next. If I'm going to move fast, I can't be stingy with the energy restorers... But I'll need to balance it so I don't grow immune too fast."