Capítulo 104: Lizard's Tail (3)
Though the best course of action would be to leave everything where it was, Sebastian couldn't leave the orb in the principal's office.
He hid it on his person and made his way back to the gymnasium. He avoided the rest of the members of Lizard's Tail as he did so.
Though he scouted most of the school, he still couldn't find the item that his last two victims were talking about.
'It must be in the gymnasium.'
Sneaking past everyone was easy. None of them managed to see or detect Sebastian.
'They aren't Inheritors, after all.'
If it was someone like Amy, maybe they would detect his energy, but regular people were out of the question.
'In a sense, thanks to this thing, I was able to sneak around so easily.'
Sebastian arrived at a room near the gymnasium. It was heavily-guarded by quite a few of Lizard Tail's people but that didn't pose a problem.
If they hadn't placed so many guards, Sebastian wouldn't have thought to find this place.
—This is… different.
"This wasn't the item you saw in the past?"
—It bears no resemblance other than its function. That item was a giant bell. Each time it was rung, the Primogenitors lost their power for a time.
"A giant bell? But, this is…"
What Sebastian saw on the desk was not a bell, it was a small statue. The reason that Sebastian could tell that this was the item that was being guarded was the energy it was letting off.
—Wait, don't touch it.
Sebastian stopped his hands. Balanos appeared beside her in corporeal form once more and looked around the statue.
—This is not an item that prevents Inheritors from using their ability. It is an item that records a power embedded into it.
"Huh? Does that mean that Lizard's Tail have an Inheritor on their side that negate other Inheritor's power?!"
—Possibly.
Sebastian was shocked. The first time he encountered something like it was three months ago at the banquet that King Magnas had hosted.
The cuffs that were used to bind Marie wouldn't allow her to use her energy. She became a normal human once they bound her hands.
At that time, Sebastian was genuinely impressed.
Now, he didn't know what to feel. Some Inheritor out there is capable of stopping other Inheritors, and Sebastian
Sebastian raised his hand and covered it in flames. He swung down and was about to break the statue but was stopped.
"Oh, I can't let you do that."
"?!"
Sebastian was knocked back and his body crashed into the bookshelves at the end of the room.
"A guard…"
"Of course, who'd be stupid enough to leave something like this unguarded? That aside, how are you able to use your ability?"
Standing there was a man with maroon hair and brown skin, his eyes didn't match his hair meaning that he wasn't an Inheritor, but a regular person. His features were one common in the country south of Aurora.
'Then what did he use to send me flying?'
A normal person wouldn't be able to make someone fly across the room.
"Well, it doesn't matter since you won't be walking out of here alive."
The man put his hands into his pockets as he gave Sebastian a look.
—Valian.
"?"
—He's a Valian. Only those who wield the stigma, Inheritors, and Primogenitors can use abilities, but they're not the only ones who can control energy. There exists various warrior bloodlines but among them, the Valian reign supreme.
—Much like the Walt House, they hold the ability to strengthen their bodies, but it isn't through external energy. They can infuse their own bodies with their energy and make themselves stronger, and you can see their physiques change as well.
—Be careful. He might even be able to crush your head like a grape if he were to catch you.
"..."
Sebastian put up his guard. It would be best if he had his spear but all he had on his person was his bow and daggers. Against someone who could strengthen their body, Sebastian doubted if those could do anything.
"If you aren't coming at me… then I'll come towards you!"
The Valian charged forward and threw a punch. Sebastian could feel the wind pressure just from his one punch.
Sebastian dodged and the Valian's fist hit the wall and destroyed it.
'Crush my head like a grape? It looks even easier than that!'
Sebastian felt a cold sweat run down his back. If he had been hit by that punch, he'd die even with his energy strengthening his body. His power was comparable to the top of the Walt House's.
—You can't judge a Valian by the standards of Inheritors. They are born strong and die strong. Even Valian children are capable of lifting boulders and taking down ten men.
—The only downside to their strength is that it's limited, unlike the Walt House. Their bodies would be unable to keep up if they use too much energy. And, the more power they use, the bulkier their bodies are.
'Which means that they rely on strength rather than speed…!'
Balanos' real-time advice had always been helpful to Sebastian. There were many times that he'd have died without her advice.
Sebastian grasped the Valian's side and created an explosion in his hands.
"You pack a serious punch but unfortunately for you, it isn't enough.."
"?!"
Sebastian had expected him to be blown away but the Valian hadn't even moved from his spot. Though his clothes blackened slightly and his hair was messy, there were no visible injuries on his person.
Without waiting for his response, Sebastian retreated to the door. Using his strength, the Valian could charge straight at him, but it would be difficult for him to turn so quickly.
Just then, the doors opened and Sebastian was met with the sight of over a dozen guards pointing their weapons at him.
"Looks like our fun's over."
The Valian shrugged and the members of Lizard's Tail began circling Sebastian.
—Use my armor and knock down the Valian.
"Fire!"
"Balanos!"
At the same time the weapons fired, Sebastian's body was covered in Balanos' Soul Armor. With the limited time placed on him, he ran towards the Valian and readied his fist.
"Do you think that's going to do any—UGH?!"
The Valian raised his arm to block. He expected the same strength that Sebastian had used earlier but the attack he received was many times stronger.
The floor under him caved in but his arm hadn't broken. It was a frightening body.
"HAHAHA! Now it's getting interesting."
Contrary to Sebastian's expectation, the Valian only laughed.
—As expected of a warrior lineage, they're all addicted to combat.
Balanos scoffed and Sebastian prepared another attack. He launched a flurry of fists at the Valian, all the while ignoring the members of Lizard's Tail who were shooting at him from behind.
"Don't think this is my limit!"
The Valian yelled out. His arms suddenly expanded in size and his body soon followed. Before, each attack made him take a step back but now, he was equal with Sebastian.
The two trade blow for blow with neither side showing any signs of losing. Even the wind was in chaos from just the sheer power behind their attacks.
"We can't get close!"
"Retreat! The Valian will handle it!"
The members of Lizard's Tail quickly understood that they wouldn't be able to help the Valian and surrounded the entrance of the room.
"HA!"
The Valian grabbed Sebastian's arms and slammed him into the table behind him. Then, he stomped on Sebastian and let him sink into the floor.
"Ugh…!"
Sebastian groaned and tripped the Valian. Then he launched a kick at the Valian's body while he was down and sent him crashing through the wall.
With the exception of Ptelea, it was the first time that Sebastian had fought someone with the armor without being able to defeat them.
When he had gone hunting in the forest, he killed each beast with a single hit. Some took two, while some took three. But, in the end, none of the beasts in Aurum Forest had a chance against Balanos' Soul Armor.
'That means his body's at least as strong as a peak Caster beast!'
It might even exceed that.
Currently, though Balanos' armor was weakened, it was still able to overwhelm a Caster beast. Even though Sebastian had hit the Valian dozens of times, he still didn't have any notable wounds to speak of.
"HAHAHAHA!"
The Valian laughed again and using the floor as leverage, he leaped at Sebastian and sent the both of them flying through the doors and into the hallway.
BOOM BOOM BOOM
How many walls had they broken down in their clash with neither gaining advantage over the other? Each of their attacks were enough to turn a human into a pulp yet neither of them caved in.
—It won't be long until the armor wears off, you have to escape immediately.
Sebastian wholeheartedly agreed. As he was now, he wouldn't be able to win against the Valian, even with his armor on. Without it, he'd just be toyed around with.
"What's wrong?! Your attacks are getting… weaker!"
The Valian hit Sebastian on the helmet another time.
"Then… just go down already!"
Sebastian retaliated by slamming his forehead into the Valian's nose. The two of them traded more blows but the power behind each successive one became weaker and weaker.
It came to the point that the two of them were gasping for breath.
—Escape now. The armor will disappear at any second.
"F*ck…"
"Have you reached your limit?"
"Haven't you reached it as well?"
The Valian mocked him but Sebastian answered back.
"I've already accomplished my goal."
The Valian's goal was to stop Sebastian from destroying the statue. Now that they were both exhausted, he wouldn't be able to go back.
"Ha…"
Sebastian dropped down on one knee as his armor disappeared. Though he still had plenty of energy in his stigma, his stamina was completely drained.
"It's my win—!"
As the Valian raised his fist to end Sebastian, a giant flame engulfed him.
"AAAAAAH!"
That flame melted the walls and swallowed the Valian whole. Though Sebastian didn't know if the Valian died, he definitely suffered some major burns.
Sebastian turned his head to the melted wall leading outside. Standing atop a pillar of flames, there, Jonathan looked over Sebastian.
"Father!"
Estado de energía semanal
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