Refusing My God’s Advances

Vaedos stepped forward, his form shimmering slightly as if to shake off the remnants of the storm. "Impressive," he conceded, his voice carrying a weight that acknowledged the magnitude of what had just transpired. "You wield power that rivals the tempest itself. Ember's legacy could not have found a more fitting successor, but the battle is not over."

I took a deep breath in and then put my fist up. "So, are we done with all the parole tricks now? Or am I pulling my drill back out?"

Vaedos let out a long laugh. "I have not been this entertained since I first met Ember. You wish to fight me barehanded? Are you a monk, or some kind of fighter? I have not been able to figure out what type of blessing gives you such strange but limited abilities."

This was my turn to laugh. "Fighter? Not by choice, but I make do. But you want to know what my class is?" I asked, and then paused, tapping the end of my nose, and then I put up my hand. "Wait a minute, let me check!"

Vaedos blinked at me with a stunned look. "You don't even know your own class?!"

"Hey! I could have done my next class change but I forgot, and I just got this new class the other day," I explained, but this only made the golem look exasperated as I opened my status. "Ha! That's right, I am a Techno-Mage Engineer!"

"Your a what? A mage that wants to fist-fight with a divine crystal golem?!" Vaedos demanded, almost sounding offended.

"Yes, I mean, as long as you don't cheat and slap me with your good bag of shit status effects when you start losing," I replied, crossing my arms.

I was tired, but this bastard had put me through the wringer. I was going to teach this bugger a lesson for having so many different phases! There was also the fact that my drill was just as bad as his touch, and if I was honest, I don't think this guy stands a chance against it. So, part of my desire was to make him pay, the other was out of respect for him being as strong as he was.

Vaedos looked at me and then nodded. As he did, white light replaced the purple and blue one coming from his body. "Again, I would just like to say you are the most interesting human that I have ever met. Regardless of how this fight ends, you have earned my respect."

I smiled and nodded, unequipping my clothes as I walked up to the now radiant golem, putting my fist up. I had nothing but my socks, shoes, and britches, but I was ready to throw down. In my last life, I would have never dreamed of doing something like this, but this felt more like a video game to me than real life.

I knew I could die, and I wasn't invincible, but I didn't feel worried as the golem raised his fists. I was getting stronger, but this was just the first step. I had to push harder, train more, and get stronger.

Both of us tipped our heads, and Vaedos threw the first punch, a jab that I weaved into to drive an uppercut up. Vaedos's other hand stopped it, and then drove a swift counterpunch into my side. The impact was like being hit by a freight train made of crystal; it sent me staggering back, gasping for air. Despite the pain, I couldn't help but smile. This was the challenge I had been looking for.

Vaedos didn't let up. He advanced with a series of blows that were both precise and powerful, each hit resonating with the force of his divine essence. I managed to dodge and weave through most of them, but the few that landed were brutal reminders of his strength. Yet, with each exchange, I felt myself adapting, learning his rhythm and timing.

As the battle continued, Vaedos's attacks became more intense, pushing me to my limits. He moved like a whirlwind, his fists and kicks a blur of motion that was almost impossible to follow. It was a dance of destruction, and I was barely keeping up. It was hard to imagine that this thing was made out of crystal when it moved as fluidly as water.

Despite my best efforts to adapt and counter, Vaedos's divine prowess proved overwhelming. His strikes became more calculated and ferocious, exploiting the slightest gaps in my defense. Each punch and kick carried the weight of mountains, the force behind them magnified by his crystalline nature. It wasn't just physical strength; there was a palpable energy that made each impact feel like a thunderclap against my body.

As the fight progressed, Vaedos managed to land a crushing blow to my chest, sending me flying backward. The air was knocked out of my lungs, and for a moment, the world blurred into a kaleidoscope of pain and dazzling cave lights. I crashed against a wall of crystal, the impact reverberating through my bones. The sound of my back against the crystal was like a gong of defeat echoing through the cavern.

Struggling to my feet, I wiped blood from my lip, staring defiantly at Vaedos. I used Restore on my body, but that wouldn't replenish my Magical Power any faster than it was already. I needed to work on diverting and parrying his attacks until I could get a better grip on his movements, but even then, it was a monumental task.

Vaedos, sensing my determination, paused momentarily, a gesture that spoke volumes in the silent language of warriors. It was as if he was acknowledging the fight wasn't just about brute strength but about heart, resilience, and the willingness to stand up no matter how many times you're knocked down.

Using this brief respite, I centered myself, focusing on my target. The lull only lasted a moment, and Vaedos charged me again, but I didn't move. I poured every ounce of concentration into every movement that the golem was making, and he began to slow down. Time started to creep around me, and by the time Vaedos reached me, his movement had been reduced to a single-digit framerate.

The oncoming first was pushed to the side, and I drove my knee up into Vaedos's chest. Time was still slowed, so his body only crept higher slowly, and I linked both fists together to hammer him down to the ground. Vaedos hit the ground, and as he bounced up from the force, I kicked him across the cave. wanting to finish this, I ran with him, and let the golem hit the wall. Then I held him there by punching him until his entire body shattered.

Suddenly, I was standing in a white room with a red glowing object in the center.