Chapters (122)
- Tower Climber
- Jakob Tanner
- Contents
- Newsletter
- Dedication
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- 8
- 9
- 10
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- 101
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- 104
- 105
- 106
- 107
- 108
- 109
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Max ignored the boy as much as he could. He needed to think through a plan. There must be some way to break through this ability.
Cyrus lifted up his scalpel, grinning.
The boy was close enough to stab Max now in any artery or spot he wanted.
Cyrus pulled his arm back, clutching the scalpel.
“Another reason most people don’t die of stab wounds,” said Cyrus. “Is that many fail to penetrate the important arteries. That’s because so many people are amateurs. You need a good thrust to cut through flesh and puncture a blood vessel.”
So that was his plan, Max thought. Cyrus was going to stab him in the most important artery and let him bleed to death as he tried to fight back and win the match.
“Time to die,” said Cyrus.
The boy thrust his scalpel forward.
This was it.
Cyrus’s eye bulged in shock. His whole body squirmed in anguish.
His scalpel was inches away from Max, but the sharp silver blade never reached the boy’s flesh.
Cyrus’ scalpel and hand were frozen inches away from Max’s stomach.
“Your rare trait is pretty cool,” said Max. “Its just got one weakness. Itself.”
89
Sakura had both of her hands on the glass as she watched the battle with panicked concern.
Cyrus was about to stab Max and then—
Nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
The two student climbers were just standing there, frozen.
“Interesting,” said the climber president, scratching his chin. “Max has escaped defeat, but now the battle has come to an impasse.”
Sakura looked closer to the ground.
Ah, I see, she thought. Clever thinking, Max. Use Cyrus’ own trait against him.
* * *
Cyrus squirmed in front of Max.
Max took a moment to catch his breath. The scalpel that was going to kill him was only inches away from his flesh.
Max only figured out how to save himself at the very last second. He realized that Cyrus’ trait while paralyzing him, still allowed him to breath and speak. Did that mean he could do other things as well? Like trigger his own trait? That was when he realized he could now utilize Cyrus’ own bind ability and paralyze his opponent.
It was a very interesting ability Max realized. The way it worked was simple. A string of mana emanated from your finger like the thread of a spider’s web and then it froze anyone in place who touched it.
Cyrus kept squirming, frozen in place, trying to break the hold.
The audience began to get bored at the two of them just standing there. They started to heckle and boo.
The match had come to an impasse. How long it would stay like this, Max wasn’t sure. He still didn’t completely know the full functionality of Cyrus’ trait. How long did the paralysis last for?
“Give up now,” shouted Cyrus. “Give up. You’re only delaying the inevitable.”
Inevitable.