Heavyweight Striker

At the beginning of the year 9999.

Fenlai City, the Marquis of Three Elements' residence.

The night was dark as ink, dotted with stars. Haoyue sat cross-legged in a secret chamber, a faint magical glow swirling around him. It was the mana fluctuation unique to a Level 9 Great Mage Master, more than ten times as dense as it had been at level eight.

He had only recently broken through.

It had taken Haoyue just two and a half years to advance from Peak Eighth Rank to a Level 9 Great Mage Master. And tonight, the Hextech System, silent for many years, had finally responded again.

"Whew..."

Haoyue let out a long breath and opened his eyes. Deep in his pupils, a dark golden light flashed and vanished-the mark of his Tiger-Striped Warrior bloodline.

But at that very moment-

[Ding-]

A crisp notification suddenly rang out in his mind.

Haoyue's body trembled, and a trace of astonishment crossed his face.

He knew that sound all too well.

The Hextech System!

The last time the system had opened was when he broke through to become a level 6 mage. Now, the moment his strength crossed the threshold into level nine, the system had activated again.

"It's finally here." The corners of Haoyue's mouth lifted slightly.

As a transmigrator, this was his greatest cheat. Dragonheart, From Mind to Matter, Overflow... Together, these abilities allowed him to take on a Saint-level expert head-on as an Eighth-level Warrior and Ninth Rank Mage.

And now, an even greater power was about to arrive.

A screen of light slowly unfolded before him.

As before, three cards appeared, but these three were silver. Three silvery-white Hex icons floated before him, giving off a soft glow.

[Dive Bomb]

[Frost Wraith]

[Heavyweight Striker]

Haoyue focused on them, and the details of the three skills appeared one by one.

[Dive Bomb]

Effect: Explode on death, dealing true damage equal to 50% of health to nearby enemies.

Haoyue frowned.

This skill...

He ruled it out immediately.

"You've got to be kidding. I'm a Level 9 Great Mage Master and a descendant of a Tiger-Striped Warrior. After all the trouble I've gone through to survive this long, you expect me to think about taking someone down with me? Killing people by blowing myself up? That'd be humiliating."

A skill for a self-destruct fanatic. He had no intention of dying.

[Frost Wraith]

Effect: Automatically immobilizes nearby enemies every 7 seconds.

Haoyue looked thoughtful.

A crowd-control rune, with freezing and immobilization. It looked great for group battles. But for him-

"Control once every seven seconds? When you're fighting a Saint-level expert, they can decide the outcome in one second. This isn't much use."

He ruled that out too.

[Heavyweight Striker]

Effect: Basic attacks deal bonus damage based on 35% of the user's maximum health.

When Haoyue saw the final option, his breath caught.

Percentage-based bonus damage...

He sprang to his feet, his eyes blazing.

If this were a trash Hex he didn't want to pick, he figured he might feel like dying. But this was Heavyweight Striker!

After all, From Mind to Matter had already raised his health to a terrifying level!

Though his warrior level was only at the early stage of level 8, his spiritual energy and mage level had reached level 9, bringing his health up to the Early Saint-level!

And with that health converted into bonus damage-

Adding his original attack power, the boost from Purgatory Dragon Soul, and the bonus from Overflow-

That would be far beyond the Early Saint-level!

"You're the one!"

Haoyue made his choice without hesitation.

[Ding-]

[Hex activated: Heavyweight Striker]

[Effect: Basic attacks deal bonus damage based on 35% of maximum health]

Haoyue took a deep breath, sensing the changes in the energy within him.

Every cell seemed to grow heavier and denser. His fists, his blade, his attacks-from this moment on, every attack would carry extra killing power commensurate with his terrifying health.

From Mind to Matter had brought his health up to the Saint Realm Mid-Stage.

And Heavyweight Striker had converted that terrifying health into equally terrifying attack power.

Add the attack bonus from Purgatory Dragon Soul and the instant, no-cooldown enhancement from Overflow-

His attack power-ha, just thinking about it made him want to laugh.

"Let's try it."

Haoyue stood and loosened up his muscles and joints.

The back courtyard of the Marquis of Three Elements' residence.

Moonlight fell across the bluestone ground, coating it in a layer of silver frost.

Haoyue stood in the courtyard, looking at a stone wall ten meters away. The wall was three feet thick, built of granite, and capable of blocking a full-force strike from an ordinary Eighth-level Warrior.

"You'll do."

He raised his right fist. There was nothing fancy about it, just a simple straight punch-

A muffled bang erupted in the air!

The wind from his fist howled, carrying an indescribable weight. Though it was only a bare fist, it seemed to bear the force of a thousand tons.

"Boom!!!"

A tremendous crash rang out.

A huge crack split the three-foot-thick granite wall down the middle. It spread outward, covering the entire wall in the blink of an eye.

"Crack-"

The wall collapsed with a crash, sending fragments of stone flying and dust billowing into the air.

Haoyue stood where he was and drew back his fist, his expression calm.

But deep in his eyes, barely concealed excitement flickered.

He hadn't even used Battle-qi in that punch. It was nothing but physical strength combined with Heavyweight Striker's passive effect.

One strike shattered the wall.

What if he attacked with all his strength?

What if he transformed into a Tiger-Striped Warrior first?

Haoyue took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement.

His combat power had soared.

This was a true qualitative transformation.

Before, although he could fight a Saint-level expert with the three Dragon Souls and Overflow, it had been more of a trick-wearing his opponent down with unlimited instant-cast magic and terrifying health. Attack power had always been his weakness.

But now things were different.

With Heavyweight Striker, every one of his attacks would carry Saint-level damage.

From now on, he was no longer a mere "meat shield."

He was a true all-rounder, strong in both attack and defense!

[Hextech System]

Host: Haoyue Bolei

Age: 25

Warrior level: 8th-level Warrior (early stage)

Mage level: Level 9 mage (early stage)

Spiritual energy: Level 9

Battle-qi: Level 8

Health: Equivalent to a Saint Realm Mid-Stage warrior

Activated Hexes:

[Dragonheart] (Prismatic · passive)

Ocean Dragon Soul: Energy recovery +5%/second, health recovery +5%, water affinity +500%

Purgatory Dragon Soul: Magic damage +50%, fire affinity +500%, 30% chance to trigger 50% bonus damage.

Mountain Dragon Soul: Defense +50%, earth affinity +500%, shield equal to 20% of maximum health

[From Mind to Matter] (Silver · passive)

Health increased by 50% of total energy

[Overflow]

Energy consumption doubles, but damage, shields, and healing are increased based on maximum energy. Current damage increase is 5% of maximum energy.

[From Mind to Matter + Overflow] synergy effect: [Archmage] Spells require no incantations and have no cooldown!

[Heavyweight Striker]

Effect: Basic attacks deal bonus damage based on 35% of the user's maximum health.

"Brother Haoyue!"

Early in the morning, Haoyue was leafing through an ancient book in his study when a familiar voice called from outside.

It was Linley.

Haoyue put down the book and went out to greet him.

In the courtyard stood a youth dressed in fitted black clothes, a long blade on his back and the Coiling Dragon Ring on his hand. A small black Shadow Mouse perched on his shoulder, curiously surveying the surroundings with bright black eyes.

Bebe.

"Linley, what brings you here today?" Haoyue asked with a smile.

Linley scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed. "Brother Haoyue, I came to tell you that I'm getting ready to go to the Magical Beasts Mountain Range."

"The Magical Beasts Mountain Range?"

Haoyue's heart stirred, but he showed nothing on his face.

"I kept putting it off because of what happened with Alice," Linley said frankly. "Now I've finally put it behind me, and it's time I went out to temper myself. I think if I want to break through and advance further, I need real combat."

Haoyue nodded.

"How are your preparations going?"

"My magic is at level seven now, and I'm a warrior at the peak of level five. Bebe can scout and fight for me now. He's even a little stronger than I am. The center of the Magical Beasts Mountain Range is dangerous, but it's just right for training."

"All right. Since you've made up your mind, be careful on the way." Haoyue patted Linley on the shoulder. "If you really can't handle it, come back. Don't push yourself."

"Don't worry, Brother Haoyue. I know my limits."

Linley grinned, then turned and left.

Haoyue watched him disappear beyond the gates. The smile gradually faded from his face, and he turned and went back to his room.

A few days later.

The Magical Beasts Mountain Range.

The Spined Ironclad Dragon.

Haoyue stood alone in the crown of a giant tree, gazing into the distance.

He remembered now: on this trip to the Magical Beasts Mountain Range, Linley would use the dragon blood of a peak level 9 Spined Ironclad Dragon to activate his Dragonblood Warrior bloodline.

But...

"What if he used the blood of a Saint-level dragon to activate it? Would it be stronger?"

A thoughtful light flashed in Haoyue's eyes.

For a Dragonblood Warrior's Bloodline Awakening, the higher the dragon's level, the stronger the power after awakening ought to be.

In the original story, Linley used the blood of a Peak Ninth Rank Spined Ironclad Dragon to activate his bloodline.

But what if he used a Saint-level dragon instead?

"Worth a try."

Haoyue clenched his fists.

He couldn't stand by and watch Linley use a less-than-optimal solution to activate his bloodline.

As his brother, he wanted to give Linley the best.

"Just wait, little Linley."

Haoyue's figure flickered, and he vanished from the treetop.

Haoyue headed into the Magical Beasts Mountain Range once again.

With his level 9 mage cultivation and Saint-level health and defense, he should have no great trouble making his way deep into the central region of the Magical Beasts Mountain Range.

The key was to find a Saint-level dragon before Linley encountered the Spined Ironclad Dragon.

Time was short.

Haoyue quickened his pace.