Bab 423: Mountains Beyond Mountains
Arthur's battle against Seraphina had been a showcase of control—a masterclass in precision and dominance. At no point had the scales tipped in her favor. It was a poignant reminder of the gulf between them, starkly emphasized when Arthur's God Flash obliterated her martial movement with dispassionate ease.
The clash between Lucifer and Ren, however, carried its own weight—a similar thread of domination, yet distinct in its execution.
These two were no strangers to rivalry. For years, Lucifer and Ren had been touted as equals—or near enough that the distinction hardly mattered. Their past encounters, including the previous Sovereign's Tournaments, had been fierce and closely fought. Even when the victor was clear, it never felt one-sided.
But this time, it was different.
No longer was there an illusion of parity between them. No longer did Ren stand as Lucifer's equal, or even his close competitor. From the very first exchange, the truth had become painfully clear.
Lucifer was on a different level entirely.
The air in the arena seemed to tremble as Lucifer's Sword Heart thumped steadily in his chest. With each beat, particles of mana were transmuted into streams of astral energy, weaving themselves into his every movement. His sword arced forward, a strike imbued with multiple elements, clashing against Ren's hastily raised fist.
The sound of impact resonated across the arena like a thunderclap, a shockwave rippling outward as Ren staggered back, his arm falling limp at his side. His violet eyes, usually brimming with unshakable confidence, now flickered with disbelief.
Ren had known—of course, he had known—that Lucifer was stronger than him. That much had always been true. But this? This overwhelming disparity? It was unlike anything he had encountered since their first year at Mythos Academy.
He clenched his teeth, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. Ren had worked tirelessly to bridge the gap between them after Lucifer had unlocked his second Gift. And for a time, he had succeeded, closing the chasm to the point where their last finalist match had felt competitive, if not evenly matched. But now, the chasm had returned, wider and more daunting than ever.
'What changed?' Ren thought, a flicker of desperation creeping into his mind. He struck out with his left fist, wrapped in astral energy, the movement swift and precise. But Lucifer didn't flinch. A seven-circle defensive spell materialized around him, absorbing the impact effortlessly.
Lucifer's verdant eyes remained calm, a sharp contrast to the storm of astral energy that swirled around him. Yet within that calm lay something else—something dangerous. A predator's focus. An unyielding intent.
Lucifer stepped forward, his movements measured but unstoppable, his muscles coiling as astral energy surged through his veins, amplifying his every action. Ren's senses screamed in alarm, danger erupting in his nerves like fire. His God's Eyes flared to life, analyzing Lucifer's approach with relentless precision, tracking every micro-movement, every shift in weight.
And still, it wasn't enough.
Lucifer's own God's Eyes mirrored the power of Ren's, their abilities clashing invisibly, a battle of perception and anticipation layered atop their physical conflict. Ren might as well have been trying to outpace a shadow. Every time he thought he had found an opening, Lucifer was already there, countering, overwhelming.
Lucifer's sword lashed out again, a blade of verdant astral energy that cleaved through the space between them. Ren twisted, narrowly avoiding a direct hit, but the pressure of the attack forced him to retreat. His feet slid across the arena floor, his breathing ragged.
'What is he seeing?' Ren thought, his mind racing. What was Lucifer perceiving through those emerald eyes? What vision of the battle did he have that made Ren's every move feel so inadequate?
"Ren," Lucifer said, his voice cutting through the din of the arena like a blade. It wasn't taunting or mocking. It was calm, almost gentle, and somehow that made it worse. "You're not my match."
The challenge in his words ignited something in Ren. He gritted his teeth and surged forward, drawing on every ounce of strength, every lesson learned, every movement mastered. He unleashed the second movement of Void Fist: Gravity Crush, a strike that compressed the very space around Lucifer, attempting to pin him in place.
Lucifer didn't evade. Instead, his sword swept upward, cleaving through the gravitational force as though it were paper. The sheer audacity of the maneuver sent a chill through Ren's spine.
And then Lucifer was upon him, his sword flashing faster than Ren could react. The flat of the blade struck Ren's side with the force of a cannon, sending him skidding across the arena floor.
Ren pushed himself up, his vision swimming. He refused to fall. Not here. Not like this.
But Lucifer's dominance was absolute.
"You've improved," Lucifer said, his tone still maddeningly even. "But it's not enough."
Ren's eyes narrowed. "Not yet."
The two clashed again, and the crowd roared as the battle reached its crescendo. But for all his grit, for all his effort, Ren could not overcome the mountain before him. Lucifer stood at the peak, unshaken and unmoving.
When the final strike came, it was swift and decisive. Ren crumpled to one knee, his breath coming in shallow gasps. The arena fell silent, the outcome undeniable.
"Winner: Lucifer Windward!" the announcer's voice rang out, met by a cacophony of cheers and applause.
Lucifer lowered his blade, his expression unreadable as he turned to Ren. "You've come far," he said quietly, his words carrying a strange weight. "Don't stop."
Ren didn't respond, but something flickered in his gaze—something that promised this wasn't the end. As Lucifer walked away, Ren remained on his knee, staring at the ground as he processed the battle.
________________________________________________________________________________
"He's improved," I muttered under my breath, a slow smile curling across my lips. The room was quiet save for the faint hum of the television, where Lucifer's match replayed in sharp, almost brutal clarity. Each strike of his blade, each calculated movement, seemed to resonate with an unspoken power. A testament to his growth.
Luna sat beside me, her small, childlike legs swinging idly off the edge of the chair. Her galaxy eyes, sharp despite her appearance, were fixed on the screen. "He's strong, Arthur," she said simply, her voice tinged with quiet awe.
I stood, brushing a hand through my hair to smooth it back, the familiar gesture grounding me. "So, the protagonist finally awakened," I said, pacing to the window. The world outside was bathed in the fading light of the evening, but my mind was elsewhere, lingering on the scene unfolding on the screen.
"Awakened?" Luna echoed, tilting her head in curiosity. Her gaze remained unbroken, watching as Lucifer's sword carved through his opponent's defenses with almost unnatural precision.
I nodded, turning back to her. "I didn't fully understand it at first," I admitted, "but it's similar to mind metamorphosis. Only... it happened without an anchor. And unintentionally."
Her feet stilled, the casual rhythm of her movement replaced by something heavier. "That's..." She frowned, her youthful features contorting with disbelief. "That's crazy."
"Crazy, yes," I agreed, my eyes returning to the screen. "And yet, there it is."
Lucifer Windward. His movements were sharper now, his strikes carrying a weight they hadn't before. It wasn't just skill; it was clarity. Purpose. A shift that could only be described as profound. I had anchored the three girls—Cecilia, Rachel, Seraphina—through their mind metamorphoses, guiding their chaotic thoughts into something refined. But Lucifer? He had done it alone.
The sheer improbability of it was staggering.
"Likely when he scaled the Wall," I continued, my voice thoughtful. "When he formed his Sword Heart from his Sword Resonance."
Luna's gaze finally broke from the television, her golden eyes meeting mine. "No anchor. Unintentional." She blinked, processing the implications. "The perks of a protagonist, huh?"
I chuckled softly, crossing my arms as I leaned against the window frame. "The perks indeed," I said. The words carried no bitterness, only intrigue. "It's rare to see someone break through the way he has. But now..." My smile widened, a sharp edge to it. "Now he has to prove it."
Luna tilted her head again, a question unspoken in her eyes.
"Show me whether that's enough, genius," I murmured.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone