Chapter 263: Endless Affinity

Jacob had been on Mars before, which was how he recognized the terrain almost immediately, yet he could not figure out why this was one of the arenas. Why use a planet that is within Earth’s solar system?

There were a lot of things in the Tower that did not make complete sense to him. He figured that the terrains always gave one of the fighters an advantage.

Luckily, Jacob could increase his advantage, no matter where he stepped. He immediately conceived a gravity affinity using the Dao of Creation. This allowed him to walk and move his body as quickly as he would if it were any other place.

Then he used his affinity for air to surround himself with particles of breathable oxygen infinitely. He was no longer restrained by movement or breathing. He now coordinated himself as he would if he were on Earth or in the Daven Heaven Continent.

…

Jacob had visited Earth more times than he could count. It was his first home, and as such, he couldn’t forget it. He had even gone to visit his past mother. Granted, the time between him dying and reincarnating was only about a week, and as such, his Earth mother was still alive.

Jacob had felt bad in moments when he remembered he actually left no message for her and disappeared suddenly. Thankfully, she had moved on. She was a young woman, about 30-plus, and she had gotten pregnant with him as a teenager.

When Jacob did not return home that night, she sulked for about two years before deciding to move on with her life, and now she was a grandmother of two beautiful children.

Jacob was pleased anytime he saw her.

Earth had not changed drastically from the time he was there. The technology had only improved a little. The people were ultimately still the same, from the bottom of the barrel to the tip of the top. Corrupt and selfish.

Jacob had planned inwardly to somehow change the world, and he could do it all with a thought, but he would wait.

…

Just as expected, not long after Jacob had landed on the planet, a portal opened just a few meters ahead of him, and a man stepped out.

This man was unusual in a way that stood out. He was tall, just as tall as Jacob was. He had long, white, flowing hair and a white, silky beard that flowed all the way to his chest.

The man’s skin was pitch black, and his eyes were as white as a fluorescent light. This man made no sound; he just seemed to be in control of everything around him.

The space, the air, the gravity. It all seemed to bow down to him as he squeezed his palms, knuckles cracking under pressure.

Romstad watched with a careful gaze until the words eventually left his mouth: “This person looks like he could pose a problem. Let’s see how Jacob handles it.”

Elyssara, on the other hand, was giggling with her clones, playing with them as though she were a little girl. Romstad rolled his eyes at her. He did not even care to know what kind of deal she made with Jacob to get his clones; all that mattered was that she wasn’t his sponsor.

…

Jacob and the man stared at each other, utterly speechless in the void for a moment, until the man’s voice echoed across the expanse of space. His voice was majestic and commanding; his muscles flexed even when he talked.

“I am Arafat Zandoss. I hail from a planet called Dysporia, and I will be your opponent today.” The dark-skinned man spoke with indignation, flashing a set of teeth that were just as white as his eyes. “You present yourself well, stranger. I gather you are very powerful, and as such, I will be very careful with you.”

“There’s really no need, please. Come at me with everything you have.” Jacob raised a hand. He had already appraised this man and found his affinity to be quite troublesome. Albeit one he can handle.

This man, Arafat Zandross, was from a tribe of people called the Dysporians, a race scorned and abandoned by their ancestors as a result of their sins in the past. Half of their entire nation had collapsed due to a deadly war with aliens known popularly as Kragg. Slimy green monsters that possessed catastrophic body modifications that made them dangerous in any part of the universe.

The Dystopians fought back and managed to seize their country back from the Kragg, but it was not without consequence, as 70% of their race was wiped out.

Arafat, a surviving soldier, ventured out into the galaxy and sought reprieve, not just for himself but for his people. What he met would forever alter his life and path. He was fortunate enough to run into a galaxy ruler, who blessed him with an affinity known as ‘Endless.’

The Endless Affinity was one that defied the very concept of limitations. It was an affinity born from continuation, possessing the ability to endlessly regenerate, endlessly evolve, and endlessly expand. Its wielder could recover from injuries that would cripple ordinary cultivators, replenish their energy without reaching exhaustion, and continuously push their body and cultivation beyond their previous limits.

What made the Endless Affinity truly terrifying, however, was not its overwhelming strength, but its potential. There was no predetermined peak to its growth. So long as the wielder continued to cultivate, fight, and comprehend the laws of the world, their strength could continue to rise.

Even their techniques could be affected by the affinity. Energy could be replenished, attacks could continue long after they should have dissipated, and barriers could constantly regenerate after being destroyed.

With this power, Arafat went on to start a rebuild in his nation. Joined by the other Dystopians, they would only build a semblance of what remained in their world.

…

“What a bold request.” Arafat chuckled, even his chuckles bellowed across the expanse of space. “Are you sure you can handle the full brunt of my power, stranger?”

“My name is Jacob, Jacob Ironfell, not stranger.” Jacob placed his hand on his chest as though he were making a declaration. “I just thought it would be good to get to know the first man that would be defeating you in this Tower.”

“…” Arafat stood silent for a moment, and then he began to laugh, almost maniacally, while his palms were attached to his belly. “You are a hoot, Jacob. I am going to enjoy this so much.”

“So will I.” Jacob smiled.

Both men looked at each other and stood in fighting positions. Arafat’s eyes were already glowing, but Jacob had a faint glint in his bluish-gold eyes.

…

The crowd watched keenly. They could hear what both men were talking about and the introductions that they both made. But the names of either man, or where he was from, did not concern them very much.

They were only there for the action. A lot of them had seen so much action that anything below par made them uninterested, and as such, they would just leave the arena entirely.

Jacob knew that physically, this man was on the same level as him, but it didn’t matter. If they were on the same level, then dodging the man’s attacks would be fairly easy, and even if he did get hit a couple of times, it would not be of any consequence.

Jacob went over so many outcomes. He could break down the man’s DNA using Decay, like he did to Leena, but the man had endless regeneration, and as such, the effects of Decay would only last about a few seconds. He needed a permanent solution.

But every permanent solution he arrived at would only make the battle end too quickly.

He wanted to give the people a show. Maybe do something on a galactic scale before he goes ahead to sever the man’s connection to his Endless Affinity and end his ascension in the Tower.

…

The ground beneath Jacob began to tremble. Arafat followed in turn. The entire planet was shaking now. Pieces of rubble started to levitate, unrestrained by the gravity that was now bending around them.

Both men had grins on their faces, their eyes flashing with hunger and excitement.

“It was nice to get to know you, Jacob. I have a feeling that this would be my most favorite battle ever.” Arafat said above the sound of the vibrations. His fists had begun to glow in a white hue, and he was surrounded by a powerful aura.

“Won’t even make the top 5 for me.” Jacob lied, with a mischievous grin on his face.

Arafat laughed again.

In less than a nanosecond, both their fists had already collided powerfully in the air.

The impact was loud and powerful. It sent waves skidding across the surface of Mars, strong enough to crack the entire planet in half.

The battle had only just begun. They both looked into each other’s eyes, and with a grunt from Arafat, a dozen more attacks followed…