God-Tier Extraction Talent: Reincarnated in a Game-like World! Chapter 557: Becoming a Martial Artist

Gabriel retraced his steps through the same narrow side passage he had taken earlier, his footfalls now softer as the ancient pressure receded behind him.

While the shard remained secured within his inventory, the peculiar reaction triggered by his Extraction talent lingered in his thoughts more profoundly than the knight’s parting words.

An intense desire to draw it out and utilize his talent on it immediately surged within him.

This compulsion proved unexpectedly potent, especially given that the shard held crucial information regarding the 'Core Suppressing Spike'. Nevertheless, he was still within the confines of the Buried God’s Tomb, and employing his unique ability on an artifact of such antiquity in this perilous location could leave him dangerously exposed at the most inopportune moment.

’This is not the place. If it pulls me into something akin to that memory fragment, I might meet my end before I even comprehend what has transpired.’

Taking a slow breath, Gabriel deliberately modulated his breathing and resumed his advance.

The side route remained as constricted as before, yet the atmosphere within had undergone a discernible transformation. The yin pocket he had navigated earlier had intensified, and the presence of dead qi now exerted a more formidable pressure, causing the surrounding walls to feel as though they were closing in, despite the passage’s dimensions remaining unchanged.

His internal mana flickered momentarily.

A slight frown creased Gabriel’s brow beneath his mask, stemming not from apprehension, but from vexation. This tomb was rapidly deteriorating, and if its auxiliary passages were already altering so drastically, the main corridors were likely becoming exponentially more hazardous.

As he traversed the dense qi, another idea began to form in his mind.

His gaze drifted towards the adjacent wall.

The stone here was ancient, frigid, and permeated by the same potent energy that suffused the tomb. Since it contained qi and had endured for untold eons, it presented a potential target for his extraction ability.

Gabriel halted his movement and placed his palm flat against the cold stone surface.

"Extract," he whispered, the command barely audible.

Almost instantaneously, a subtle system prompt materialized before his eyes.

[Do you wish to extract from Ancient Tomb Wall? Cost: 50 EP]

Gabriel’s attention remained fixed on the prompt for a fleeting half-second before he gave his assent.

"Yes."

A faint tremor coursed through the wall beneath his hand, and subsequently, three selectable options materialized in his field of vision.

[Iron Body Palm Technique]

[Minor Grave Qi Circulation Method]

[Class Fragment: Martial Artist]

Gabriel’s eyes scanned the presented choices deliberately.

The first option detailed a martial arts skill, likely an offensive palm technique designed for close-quarters combat, which utilized qi to enhance physical strength and deliver powerful strikes. While seemingly practical, he recognized that its application without a foundational understanding would be akin to wielding a weapon without mastering its intricacies.

The second option appeared significantly less advantageous.

A cultivation method would be invaluable to those adhering to the Tianlan system, but Gabriel himself was not a cultivator. Attempting to learn it now, without dedicating the necessary time to establish a proper foundation, would merely squander the potential benefits of the extraction.

His focus ultimately settled upon the third option.

Presently, he possessed only two established classes: his primary Berserker class and his Demonic Exorcist subclass. Acquiring a Martial Artist class fragment, even a low-tier one, could potentially augment his capacity to withstand and negate the oppressive qi within the tomb.

"Choose Martial Artist."

The system interface flashed briefly.

The transformation was immediate and subtle.

Gabriel’s body did not erupt with power, nor did he experience the jarring, painful metamorphosis often associated with prior class advancements. Instead, an internal recalibration occurred silently, as though a dormant sensory faculty had been awakened and directed towards a previously underutilized aspect of his perception.

The surrounding qi became perceptibly clearer.

It retained its oppressive nature, its chilling coldness, and its inherent danger, yet he no longer felt as though he were wading through an antagonistic force actively repelling his presence. He could now faintly, yet distinctly, discern its flow, and his body instinctively adapted to harmonize with a minor portion of it, rather than confronting the entirety head-on.

A new notification from the system appeared.

[You have learned Qi Manipulation LV.1]

Gabriel raised his hand and tentatively drew forth a wispy tendril of qi from the ambient air.

Initially, the strand maneuvered around his fingers with a degree of clumsiness, but after a few moments, it coalesced into a thin, sustained line before dissipating. Although the control was rudimentary, it was nonetheless control.

’Not bad.’

After briefly experimenting with his newfound ability, he resumed his journey.

The efficacy of his new skill became increasingly apparent with each step. While the dense yin pocket still exerted its pressure, he could now channel a subtle veil of qi around his form, thereby mitigating the direct strain on his mana reserves and facilitating his passage through the corridor.

Several minutes later, the distinct sounds of combat drifted towards his ears.

The clash of metal against bone echoed from somewhere ahead. An explosive spell impacted against stone. A command was barked out, followed by a loud curse, and then a monstrous screech in response.

Gabriel extended his senses forward, quickly pinpointing the origin of the commotion.

It was ChaosKnight.

They were in close proximity, and judging by the multitude of agitated movements he detected, their engagement was far from easy. Several members exhibited diminished presence, and more than one individual appeared to be wounded.

Gabriel moved into a less concentrated area of the passage and placed a hand against a fissure in the wall directly before him.

The gap was exceedingly narrow, far too tight for most individuals, yet with a subtle shift of his shoulders, his body slid through. A few fragments of stone scraped against his coat, but he proceeded without losing any momentum.

On the other side, ChaosCleric almost let his staff fall.

The man had been directing a spell towards the front when Gabriel emerged from the wall's fissure directly beside him. His fingers slackened, his eyes widened, and the staff drooped so abruptly that the spell coalescing at its tip nearly dissipated.

"What in the world?"

Gabriel averted his gaze towards him with a composed expression. "Be cautious. You nearly struck your own foot."

ChaosCleric’s face contorted momentarily before a flicker of recognition dawned. "White Phantom? How are you emerging from the wall like some sort of ghastly tomb dweller?"

Before Gabriel could offer a reply, a skeletal monstrosity shattered one of the foremost barriers, forcing two ChaosKnight members to stagger back. One sustained a bleeding wound on his arm, while the other struggled to maintain a firm grip on his weapon.

BANG!!!

The beast impacted the ground, gouging a hole the size of a basin into the stone, before lifting its fractured head once more. Its bones were a darker hue than the creatures encountered nearer the entrance, and the palpable dead qi surrounding its form writhed with increased violence.

Gabriel’s attention swept across the unfolding combat.

ChaosKnight was ensnared in a perilous engagement. Several members bore injuries, and even those still standing appeared visibly strained. IceQueen fought near the fray's center, her visage icier than usual, yet her respiration was demonstrably heavier as she simultaneously managed the defensive formation and launched offensive spells. Vv stood at the vanguard, his immense sword held aloft.

The armored combatant had single-handedly repelled two monstrous entities, but the numerous scratches marring his armor and the slight hesitation in his movements indicated that the tomb's oppressive aura was impacting even Vv. The remaining combatants fared worse, and the guide, looking decidedly pale, gestured towards another approaching wave emerging from the deeper passage.

ChaosCleric swallowed hard and tightened his hold on his staff. "They've grown stronger since the last encounter. This place is utter madness."

A creature lunged at Gabriel from his left flank.

Gabriel did not draw his blade. His hand moved with preemptive swiftness, seizing the monster by its skull just before it could bite. With a decisive twist, he slammed its head into the adjacent wall.

CRACK!!!

Bone splintered, dark ichor splattered the stone surface, and the creature’s lifeless body collapsed harmlessly at his feet.

Gabriel’s gaze fixed upon the deeper corridor, from which additional monstrous figures were advancing, emanating a more potent pressure than their predecessors. Their levels had evidently increased, and the surrounding dead qi was denser, almost forming a subtle shroud around their decaying forms.

His eyes narrowed, and he acknowledged with a nod.

"Indeed, they are more formidable."

Yet, he remained unfazed.

...This signified progression, and that, in turn, meant only one thing: they were drawing nearer to the innermost depths of this place.