Age of Asura [Progression, LitRPG, Apocalypse]

Uruvi brought up her screen before her and opened the map. ‘Arya. Draw us the quickest path to Chandini Bar.’

A bright yellow line appeared on the screen that twisted its way around the corners of the narrow street before coming to a stop. “We should be able to make it there in fifteen or so minutes,” she said.

They quickly dashed forward, making their way through the narrow streets at a brisk pace.

“You think the bosses would have known by now?” asked Rambha.

“Can't say, but we should keep our eyes peeled for any ambush,” said Ashwin.

The streets were lined with short brick houses, which appeared to be falling apart. The pavement alternated between slabs of granite and wet mud with uneven footing. Uruvi’s eyes continuously scanned the path before them. The dead silence of the place made her more anxious than it should have. Her eyes constantly glanced at the houses and their doors. Some were sealed shut, others were open and led into darkness, while still others were smashed down with red stains decorating them. ‘Is no one left here?’

Her mind seemed to have drifted at the worst time possible. She heard shouts of her name from behind when her Third Eye opened. She felt the air around her heat up, and in the corner of her eye, she saw a faint golden glint appear. “Barricade!” she shouted as she put her hands up, blocking the punch. The shield shattered the instant it came up, throwing her through a metal fence and into a large empty room.

She pushed herself off the cold concrete floor and looked up to see a tall figure leapt over her and landed a few feet away from her. The room was cold and dark, with the only source of light being the hole in the wall she had left behind. Ashwin appeared at the hole, which stood a few feet above the ground.

“Uruvi! Are you okay?” he asked.

Her eyes were locked onto her opponent, who was adjusting his golden gauntlets. “I am fine. You guys move on. I will catch up.”

He hesitated for a moment. “Fine. But come back soon,” he said and disappeared.

“Oh, you are a wild one,” said her opponent. “Let's see what level you are?”

She took the pause to quickly study her opponent. A short, lean man with tanned brown skin and short black hair. He had a clean shave, and his shabby clothes were covered in layers of fabric that were cut haphazardly. A health bar appeared over his head along with the number 17. ‘Ah shit…’

He let out an annoyed growl and said, “only 15? Ah! Fuck!” He let out a sigh as his shoulder dropped. “Let’s get this over with.”

She reigned in her annoyance. ‘Oh, I will show you who is an easy target.’ She pulled out her club, which earned her a chuckle from her opponent.

He raised his fists, ready to rumble, while locking his eyes onto his target.

She shut her eyes and used her skill, Calm Mind. The world turned dark, but she could still sense his presence as he lunged at her. All the noise in her mind quelled as she was pulled back into reality.

“Barricade,” she said as her eyes snapped open.

Her opponent ran right into her shield and bounced back. He cursed out loud before smashing the shield with his fist.

She saw an easy opening and immediately swung her club at his torso. The metal shaft smacked into his torso, causing him to let out a loud grunt. His health dipped slightly. She spun around and swung the club back at him, but he blocked it with his gauntlets. ‘Why isn’t he using his shield?’ He pushed the club back before coming at her with another punch.

“Barricade!” she said again, but this time he was ready.

He smashed the shield with his first punch and lunged at her with his left fist. She parried his punch and spun clockwise, slamming her club into his torso again. He let out a grunt, but pushed forward, sending a flurry of punches her way.

She immediately leapt back, trying to put some distance between them, but her opponent didn’t give her a chance. ‘Time to up the ante.’ Red aura flared around her, draining her health bar. Her opponent’s movement appeared to slow down. She saw a window between his punches, which was just long enough for her to use. She blocked his first punch with the stick of her club, but the power was enough to push her back and knock 5 percent of her health. As he switched to his other fist, she spun the club and smashed the head into his stomach, interrupting his rhythm and knocking him back. The 12-second countdown began.

Glowing red spots appeared over his body, including his shoulders, knees, groin, and nape. She first aimed her swing at his left knee, smashing it from the side. The force was strong enough to make him buckle. He quickly countered it with a swift kick from his other leg, catching her by surprise. She spun away from the kick and said, “barricade!”

She proceeded to deliver an onslaught of swings with her club, hitting the weak spots on his limbs with precision, sparing his two most sensitive spots. She finished her sequence with a powerful thunderclap that threw him across the room and into the wall on the other side.

Blood oozed down the wounds that covered his body. He pushed himself off the wall with a faint chuckle. “Not bad… not bad at all.”

Her eyes glanced at his health bar, which had shrunk by 30 percent. ‘Seriously? That is all?’

He rolled his shoulder with an audible crack. “But you are weak.”

“Hmph! Says the guy who only punches.” She noticed that his health bar was recovering slowly. ‘Did he cast rejuvenate?’

“I do what I am good at.”

“Right… Tell me this? Are you also into believing the salvation nonsense?” she asked.

“No idea what you are talking about.”

“Really? Are you just a fighting junky then?”

“Yes mam!” He said with a giant smile on his face. “As I said, I do what I am good at.”

She let out a chuckle. ‘I'd better be careful. He definitely has more tricks up his sleeve.’ His health bar was back up to 80 percent.

The two lunged at each other, their weapons at the ready. She swung her club first, but was parried by a quick punch. He threw a quick jab at her stomach, which she powered through, and smashed his knee with her club.

“Barricade!” she shouted, blocking his punch.

“Coward!” he shouted in raging fury as he smashed her shield.

Golden hue covered her as she dropped beneath his attack and smashed her fist into his jaw. The punch was strong enough to throw him back onto the ground, letting her leap over him and bring her club down onto his chest. His health bar dropped below 70 percent. ‘Damn, he is tough! Did he just put all his points into his body?’

He tapped his gauntlet onto the ground, and then a ball of fire exploded from his hand. She immediately backed up and rolled away just as the fire was about to consume her. The intense heat vanished in a second. She stood back up and looked at her opponent in shock. ‘What was that?’

He slowly got back up on his feet, cursing under his breath. His gauntlets were on fire, but they didn’t seem to touch him.

‘What the hell? He got a blessing?’ She felt her heart beating against her chest. “Where did you get a blessing from?”

“Argh! Questions and questions.”

“Answer me, jackass!” She quickly realized it may not have been the best move.

“Over my dead body.” He threw his fist at her. A giant fireball shot out from his fist and travelled straight towards her.

“Barricade!” she shouted, just as the fireball reached her. It exploded on contact with her shield, saving her. The shield held on, only to be shattered by a punch from her opponent. Red aura enveloped her as she began to dodge his attacks. The heat from the gauntlets began to make her sweat. Her skin felt like it was burning every time his fist reached her. For a brief moment, she felt like his speed had increased, nearly overwhelming her.

He jumped up into the air and brought his fist down onto her with a wide grin. She quickly crossed her arms and casted a shield.

The dark room was lit up by a bright fireball, creating enough wind pressure to blow the metal roof off the house. A cloud of dust filled the room. Uruvi crawled away, gasping for air. “Rejuvenate,” she whispered as she got back up on her feet.

As the dust settled, she saw his shadow approaching her.

“You are weak,” he said. He stopped a few paces from her; his gauntlet was still on fire. “You had plenty of opportunity to hit me in my weak spots, but… You are not here to kill.”

“I guess that doesn’t change anything?” she asked, naively.

“No. Just makes it easier for me to kill you.” He raised his fists, ready for round three.

‘Can’t argue with that.’ She dropped the club onto the ground and pulled out her axe.

The move earned her a wide grin from her opponent, who replied, “That is more like it! Let’s see what you are really made of!”