Slumbering Sloth

[Weapon Arts]

[Double Axe Arts: Level 3-->Level 4]

(Axemanship)(New!)

(Axe Throwing)

(Consecutive Slashes)

(Axe Domain)(New!)

Vikram weaved his body through the multiple knives and spells that were thrown at him. Vikram was far from avoiding everything that was flung at him. In truth, he was failing at it miserably, but the pain that was surging through his body kept him from remembering where the spells and knife were flung at him. 

Vikram had maxed out all his stats to 5, and tried to break through, but was instead sucked dry from a black hole from within because he was missing a core key part of the cultivation...

Probably.

Vikram didn't know what he was missing at this stage, he had only broken through in his axe arts because he had gained guidance from Kayala and Brunus, and he had maxed out his stats. 

Vikram was lost. 

**********************

Vikram wiped the sweat from his face with a towel, feeling the rough fabric scrape against his skin. He pushed his wooden axe into the weapon rack and slumped onto the mat, his body heavy with exhaustion. The rigorous training had taken its toll, and he was teetering on the edge of delirium.

His mind was a swirling fog of fatigue, and he knew that any hope of a breakthrough in his weapon arts was out of reach tonight. He had just recently broken through and was in the process of establishing his axe domain arts, a technique he had been working on diligently with the reference material provided by Kayala.

Kayala's notes had been thorough and detailed, outlining the intricate process of developing an axe domain—a personal space where his mastery over the axe could manifest with unparalleled precision and control.

"You're growing too fast in weapon arts. Slow down and condense what you have learned." 

Kayala stretched her body, feeling the satisfying pull of her muscles as she tossed the wooden axe aside. The training session had been intense, and she could see the exhaustion etched on Vikram's face. He breathed heavily and nodded weakly in acknowledgment, clearly drained from the relentless practice.

Even though Vikram gave a slight nod, but his mind was elsewhere. He was consumed by thoughts of the upcoming battle and how to break through the encirclement of the Neu's, Mages, and Zombies.

The memory of their last encounter haunted him, a grim reminder of his shortcomings. He needed a strategy, a way to harness his newly developing axe domain arts to turn the tide in his favor.

"What are you thinking about so seriously?" 

Kayala asked and sat down on the mat. 

"What is the difference between an ordinary man and a man that is focused on cultivation?" Vikram asked absent-mindedly. 

"Are you asking the difference between a mortal and a Walker?" Kayaka asked as she blinked and looked at Vikram. 

"Mmmm," Vikram nodded weakly and Kayala thought for a moment. "There are many differences, mainly that the former are weak compared to the latter."

Vikram shook his head, "That's not it. I need a fundamental difference." Kayala scratched her head as she thought hard about the subject. 

"It's energy," Brunus opened the door with two coffee cups. "What?" Vikram asked puzzledly, and Brunus continued. "The difference between a mortal and a Walker," Vikram's eyes widened as Brunus continued. 

"It's the ability to harness the energy, and after this week, you all will be assembled in the hall to choose a scripture for cultivation," Vikram stood up with difficulty and asked again. 

"So, any cultivation has the ability to harness energy." 

Brunus nodded, and Vikram slapped his face as he realized something. "I'll see you guys later," Vikram bolted off as he ran swiftly towards his room.

'How could I have been so dumb,' 

Vikram had always believed that the primary strength of a barbarian character lay in their immense physical power. He had read countless accounts and seen numerous examples of body cultivators relying solely on brute strength to defeat their opponents. The image of a barbarian smashing through adversaries with sheer muscle was ingrained in his mind.

However, his recent experiences and the guidance from Kayala and Brunus started to shift his perspective. He began to understand that there was more to the barbarian's prowess than just physical might. This revelation became clearer when he delved into the concept of 'Beast Blood Energy' or 'BBe,' a term he had coined.

Beast Blood Energy, as Vikram now realized, was not merely an abstract idea but a crucial element in the power dynamics of the Barbarian that he was, right now, playing.

It wasn't just about having a strong body; it was about harnessing the latent energy within, the primal force that could amplify their abilities beyond the limits of mere muscle and bone.

Vikram, ever the perfectionist, had always been irked by the inconsistency in the abbreviation 'BBe'—the last letter being lowercase annoyed him to no end. As a result, he had often dismissed the concept out of sheer irritation.

But now, with a newfound understanding, he saw the lowercase 'e' for what it truly was: a representation of the energy that was fundamental to a Barbarian's strength.

The thought struck him profoundly: if he had achieved such formidable power without tapping into this energy, what would his potential be when he fully embraced it?

He paused, and moved forward with renewed vigor. The strength he had experienced so far was merely the baseline, his natural Barbarian abilities without any augmentation.

The prospect of actively using Beast Blood Energy to amplify his strength filled him with a mix of awe and exhilaration. The possibilities were endless, and his mind raced with the potential applications of this newfound power.

A shiver ran down his spine, but this time it wasn't from fear or exhaustion—it was pure, unadulterated excitement. The idea of unlocking a deeper level of his abilities ignited a fire within him. Without wasting another moment, Vikram sprang to his feet, the rush of adrenaline propelling him forward. He needed to test this,

Vikram deviated from his usual route as he went to the restroom, but before he went to enter, he heard some weird noises. 

"It aain't 'ere, you hummie, 'ou been too ouerdening"

The guy's voice was harsh, almost inhuman, and the guy's accent was almost alien, he was so puzzled that it took a moment to piece together what he had said. 

It was probably along the lines of 'It isn't here, you human, you have been ordering me too much.' 

"Listen here, you green shit, do what I said, if you lose that, then there would be no you on the battlefield!" 

Vikram hesitated at the door of the restroom. He was almost certain that a senior officer was inside, and the officer seemed to be upset about something. The last thing Vikram wanted was to inadvertently provoke the officer's ire, especially given the urgent nature of his visit.

However, the call of nature was too pressing to ignore. Summoning his courage, Vikram pushed the door open and stepped inside. To his surprise, the room was not occupied by a senior officer but by a single individual—the same guy who had raised his hand to ask Kayala a question earlier.

The man had rough features and was glaring at Vikram with clear hostility. The tension in the room was palpable, and Vikram could feel the weight of the man's stare. He glanced around, confirming that they were alone, and then turned his attention back to the man.

Vikram paused for a second. 

Was he getting delirious? Did he sniff something that he was not supposed to?