For the next three hours, Victor ran himself through every technique he could execute physically in the real world:
Frost Bloom Palm: He slammed his open hand into the mana pillar, coating it in an icy sheen. With every strike, he tried to replicate the slowing qi effect. In-game, it would cripple circulation. Here? The impact left a frost dent but didn't cause any real disruption.
He was hoping it would make mana harder to channel or something.
Shadow Crescent Strike: He slashed in an arc, trying to call forth the black phantom crescent that could phase through solids. The air vibrated faintly, the shadow formed, but it fizzled.
Phantom Mirage Step: His footwork blurred, trailing afterimages, but only three copies formed. "Still not fast enough," he muttered. In Ascendant Realms, he could make ten.
---
Victor stopped and fell onto his back with bis chest heaving.
