Orion inhaled as he got into a stance. Because of his new Class, he would have to explore a new approach to his battles. And what better time than during an actual fight.
He gritted his teeth as the bullet lodged into his arm was pushed out by his squirming muscles before the hole began to close up on its own at a visible pace. Which was remarkable since his Constitution attribute was definitely not that high yet. Clearly his [Transcendent Regeneration] passive skill was doing its job quite well.
Unfortunately his enemies had reached him before the injury was fully healed. Still, at least it wouldn't affect his performance mid-fight.
His eyes focused on the man on the right wielding a knife coated with a purple energy and his [Void Sight] got to work, producing a holographic panel before him.
_
Name: Unknown
Class: Unknown
Ether Scale: Lower Stage, 1st Stratum
Cumulative Attribute: 207
Skills:
Poison Infusion (Level 1)
_
Orion's eyes narrowed as he read through the system prompt, realizing how useful the [Void Sight] skill really was. Just the information on his opponent's [Poison Infusion] alone was enough to help him during the fight. This made him wonder how strong of a being that wolf was to grant him such powers. And why.
The werewolf suddenly twisted his body the moment his opponent's got into range, bending his stomach inward as the lean man with the [Poison Infusion] skill swung forward with his knife. However his action easily allowed the more burly looking man to punch out at his face, forcing him to raise his hands in a desperate attempt to block.
"Khk!" Orion grunted as a burst of pain erupted from his left elbow, the body part that had endured most of the blow's force. He didn't let the pain distract him though, his body bending to the side just as another gunshot rang out.
His body was left open once again and the lean man didn't hesitate to capitalize on it. Thrusting forward with his knife only to be obstructed by a swipe of Orion's claws. The werewolf made sure to allow only his claws make contact with the poisoned knife and skillfully avoid any cut on his skin. He knew how badly the situation could get if he allowed it to.
_
Name: Unknown
Class: Unknown
Ether Scale: Lower Stage, 1st Stratum
Cumulative Attribute: 219
Skills:
Eagle Eyes (Level 2)
_
Name: Unknown
Class: Unknown
Ether Scale: Lower Stage, 1st Stratum
Cumulative Attribute: 194
Skills:
Empower (Level 1)
_
'Goddammit!' Orion inwardly cursed as he was forced to dodge another bullet while enduring yet another punch from the burly man. 'These three all have Attributes ranging around the 200s and are annoyingly good at their team work. How am I so unlucky to have met these three just as the Apocalypse starts?!'
The trio moved in tandem, attacking him in sync as if they had practiced for years. Which was entirely possible. He would always suffer an attack no matter how much he dodged and soon he found himself retreating back in the direction of the building he had just left. The same building which was probably now teeming with a frightening amount of mutated rats within it. Luckily he had always managed to avoid the poisoned knife, else he reckoned the fight would be basically concluded at that point.
He cursed once more as he clashed with the burly man's fists before clawing at the knife of the lean one. However, this time, he was unable to dodge the next bullet fast enough, allowing that hateful woman to land a shot on his shoulder, making him grunt in pain.
'I have no fucking choice now.' At this point, Orion threw all caution to the wind knowing that if they went on, the group of three would inevitably win against him. His mind latched on to the unfamiliar skill engraved into his soul and activated it. "[Dark Manipulation]"
Immediately a gloomy and mildly unsettling feeling washed over Orion's body before a mass of dark gas appeared around him. He fought against the emotion his power evoked and quickly took control over the gas, the rate at which his Ether was burnt through told him he didn't have much time.
The three assailants barely had time to react when two beams of dark energy shot towards the lean man and the woman with the gun. The woman found it easier to react, she was a bit far from Orion after all. She managed to prevent the beam from tearing through her heart and instead suffered a hole torn through her side, exposing a bit of her ribcage.
The lean man, on the other hand, was not so lucky. He was too close to Orion when the attack was launched, allowing the dark beam to pierce through his left chest, causing his steps to falter before falling to the ground leaking out a frightening amount of blood.
"You fucking bastard!" The burly man went mad with rage, increasing his attack power and releasing devastating punches that ruffled Orion's hair even when he dodged.
The latter created another dark beam and shot it at his enemy. It hit. The mad man didn't even bother trying to dodge it and focused all his power on trying to hit Orion just once. But it seemed the man's Constitution was not as pitiful as his companions'. The attack had only dug a few inches into the man's skin before dissipating.
Yet that sight didn't faze Orion. In fact, a smile appeared on his face before he suddenly dashed towards the man. 'If your Strength and Constitution are so high, it means your Agility is basically nonexistent then!'
His body bent to the side to dodge another powerful punch, allowing the raging wind it created blow at his dark hair. Once he reached the man's side, he slid on his knees before clawing at the man's right ankle, causing him to yelp in pain and disrupting his chain of attacks.
That disruption was all Orion needed. He kicked off the ground and brought his claws to the bewildered man's throat, ending his life once and for all. He then rolled on the floor the moment his feet touched the ground, expertly dodging another of the slightly recovering gunner's attacks.
Orion rose his hands and exhausted most of his remaining Ether to create three more beams of darkness that shot at the woman. She sneered and dodged to the side, moving away from their trajectory. Yet the sneer on her lips froze as Orion suddenly gestured with his hand and used up the last of his Ether to change the direction of a dark beam, allowing it to pierce through her heart turning her into a lifeless corpse.
Seeing this, the werewolf relaxed his tense muscles, catching his breath as he stared at the three dead bodies before sighing, his resolve flaring as he spoke. "Wherever my feet may lead me to, I don't know. But I'll gain make sure to gain more insights and power to be able to stand at the pinnacle of power."
At this point, a golden energy left their bodies before flowing into his body and prompting the system's appearance.
_
112 Ether points gained
_
Orion's eyes narrowed at this prompt, glaring at the system while thoughts raced within his mind. 'I don't know what you want, wolf. But don't expect me to go down without a fight.'
A sudden squeak soon jolted him, awakening him from his deep thought while a feeling of dread made a bucket load of sweat soak his back. Orion quickly rushed to the dead body of the woman and picked the bag by her side, not even checking its content before he took off running, not wishing in the slightest bit to see the cause of the commotion behind him.