Ankit ordered his clone to use full power and also use the Water Needle technique to strike him.
Ankit then activated the water series technique, Deep Ocean Mist Shield.
Deep Ocean Mist Shield (Defensive):
Creates a dense mist barrier that absorbs damage and obscures vision. Allows survival in deep ocean depths by converting water into breathable oxygen. Can rebound incoming attacks with amplified force.
Previously, this technique used elements in nature to create the shield, but now Ankit used his water-type essence flow to make it and used the elements in nature to also amplify the shield.
This amplified the technique's power; now the shield was 50 times stronger than before.
And Ankit could also amplify other water series techniques. And the same would happen with fire series techniques.
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Ankit's clone attacked with full power, and the needle shot through the air like a sharpened spear, charged with the relentless force of condensed water Essence Flow.
As the needle collided with the shield, a thunderous impact echoed, rippling through the surrounding air.
The shield quickly absorbed the needle's force, but the force of this attack was enough to crack the shield.
The shield, after absorbing the force, quickly rebounded it toward the clone, and the clone didn't have time to react before it was destroyed by the needle.
The needle, after destroying the clone, tore through the air toward the vast underground lake. Its path was swift and precise, the sharp edge cutting the stillness with a sharp hiss.
The needle slashed the air, leaving shimmering trails of water-type condensed Essence Flow in its wake.
The needle collided with the lake surface, and the impact rippled the lake water upward, causing rain to happen.
The part where the needle collided had a deep hole in it, 1 km deep.
Ankit was astonished because if the Ankit clone had the same power as Ankit, the needle would definitely have destroyed the shield completely.
Ankit also reasoned that this power was understandable and became possible because of the needle's concentrated power.
Ankit then assessed his strength by lifting a 40-ton boulder from the lake. And he could lift that boulder easily.
Then he assessed his speed by crossing the 250 km length in just 5 minutes underwater with the help of Flow Step.
Flow Step (Movement):
Ankit moves gracefully by riding currents of water Essence beneath his feet, enabling silent, swift glides over surfaces and short-distance water-based teleportation.
He assessed his jumping power...
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After assessing his strength, Ankit concluded that his overall power had increased.
His strength: 40 tons
His defense: Survive tank shell + multiple RPG hits
His destructive power: Demolish several city blocks, heavy missile strike
His speed: Hypersonic speed (2,200 km/h) - 2x fighter jet velocity
His sensing power: 30 km
His jumping power: 6 km
And if Ankit used techniques, he could amplify his strength, speed, defense...
Take the previous example of using the mist shield: Ankit had survived that water needle attack, and the power of that water needle was several times more powerful than 5 tank shells combined.
Ankit had also found that his lifespan was 1,000 years.
He reasoned that this level of difference (250 years difference) was caused by his water elemental body.
The water elemental body was very powerful. It not only increased his power but also made Ankit immune to physical attacks.
If Ankit had used this body during the testing, his strength would definitely have been much more powerful.
And his strength and power had increased so much, nearly double, because he had combined many steps in this Substage 1.
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After assessing his strength, Ankit used Terra Glide.
His body shimmered and blurred as he slipped beneath the surface, becoming one with the subterranean veins. The terrain shifted around him in a silent dance as he flowed effortlessly through the earth's embrace.
Minutes later, Ankit emerged unscathed outside his hut, the earth sealing seamlessly behind him as if he had never passed through.
Ankit then called his parents and told them he would be coming home tomorrow, and they didn't need to worry.
Ankit then closed his eyes to sleep. Because of his continuous 22 days of cultivation, Ankit was tired.
So he wanted some rest. But before going to sleep, Ankit made his clone play Free Fire, bought the 4th elite pass, and do rank push.
This day was 26 August, 2018.
Now Ankit didn't have to worry about his gaming. His clone would do that.
Then Ankit went to sleep.
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Ankit's clone opened Free Fire and first bought the elite pass. Then he invited Yash, Sumit, and Gyan to play with him in the new rank season.
Yash, Sumit, and Gyan were surprised because Ankit hadn't played for many days.
Then Ankit's clone played with them.
The clone chatted and joked with them the same as Ankit. They didn't suspect anything—that this was Ankit's clone, not Ankit himself.
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Ankit awoke after 10 hours and found that his clone was playing with Amit in duo vs squad. Because Gyan, Yash, and Sumit got tired, they exited the game.
But Ankit's clone could stay conscious until his sacral core got empty, but the clone hadn't used any powers and just sat in one place, so it didn't consume much essence flow.
And the consumption got recovered by his clone.
Ankit then told his clone to make breakfast for him, and Ankit went to freshen up.
After freshening up, Ankit saw his clone playing while making food with his powers.
Ankit was satisfied and said, "Yes, this is the life. I don't have to do all the work."
Ankit then prepared to go home. He left behind his clone to guard the hut and play Free Fire.