章節 221: Ashenreach IV
Valen's next move was almost poetic in its lethal intent. He unsheathed a dagger, dark aura swirling around it like a living shroud. But this time, something was different. The air itself hummed with an eerie resonance, a vibration that seemed to echo through the marrow of my bones.
The dagger wasn't just coated in enhanced dark aura—it was resonating.
'Arthur…' Luna's voice brushed my mind, calm but edged with concern.
'I know,' I replied, a pulse of adrenaline surging through me. This is dangerous.
Resonance. A level I had glimpsed by sheer, reckless fortune when fighting Jack but had never been able to replicate since. It was a mastery beyond Intent, where blade and wielder moved as one, each strike not just an extension of the body but an extension of the soul itself. For me, true Resonance was still a distant goal—a year, maybe more, before I could command it at will.
Valen's eyes met mine, dark and unwavering, as if to say, *Show me what you can truly do.* The weight of his challenge was suffocating, pressing down like an iron gauntlet. He spun the dagger in his fingers, the resonating hum growing louder, a song of battle and shadow.
I tightened my grip on my sword, feeling the static crackle of lightning aura dance along the blade. Mythic Body surged within me, lending strength to my limbs, while Lucent Harmony drew in ambient mana, weaving it into my defenses. But would it be enough against this?
He moved, and the world shrank to the sharp, cutting arc of his blade. The resonating dagger slashed through the air with a scream that set my teeth on edge, a sound so keen it seemed to pierce the fabric of reality itself.
With a burst of mana, I pivoted, swinging my blade up to meet his. The clash of steel was like the toll of a colossal bell, the impact sending shockwaves down my arm. The force nearly drove me to my knees, and I gritted my teeth as I felt the familiar, fierce burn of overstrained muscles.
'Now, Arthur,' Luna's voice urged, calm but insistent.
I closed my eyes for the briefest moment, recalling the memory of that accidental Resonance, that instant when the sword became more than a weapon—it became an extension of my will. I reached deep within, past the fatigue, past the tremors of doubt. The aura around my blade intensified, flickering with the hesitant glow of something more.
Valen's eyes narrowed, sensing the change. His second strike came, faster than the first, a whirling blur of resonating energy that left dark, shimmering trails in its wake.
I inhaled sharply and pushed, the lightning aura around my blade flaring as I willed it to resonate, to match the song of his attack. The clash was thunderous, a crackling storm of light and shadow as my blade caught his mid-swing.
For a split second, I felt it—a whisper of Resonance, a connection just beyond my grasp. But it was enough. The force of my parry held, and Valen's blade recoiled.
He stepped back, his lips curving into a thin smile that didn't reach his eyes. "You're closer than I thought," he said, voice low and approving.
I exhaled, my breath shaky but steady, as I met his gaze. "I'm not done yet," I managed, though my body screamed otherwise. The eighth attack was imminent, and I had to be ready.
"This should be enough for you to pass," Valen muttered, though a glint of challenge still sparkled in his dark eyes. "But I want to see your limit."
I exhaled, each breath feeling like fire in my lungs. The weight of his words settled over me, heavy as stone. There was no room for hesitation. If he wanted to test my boundaries, I would show him just how far they stretched.
I steadied myself, my hand tightening on the hilt of my blade as I prepared the technique that could make or break this test: *God Flash: Absolute.* A move born out of desperation, honed through countless hours in the training halls of Mythos Academy, and fueled by an unyielding need to overcome the insurmountable. It was not a technique to be wielded lightly; it demanded everything, a dance on the edge of exhaustion and willpower.
The air around me crackled, the hum of lightning energy sharpening to an electric crescendo. Threads of mana coiled tighter, gathering at my blade until it glowed with an incandescent radiance that threatened to blind. The world slowed, each heartbeat a drumbeat in a vast, echoing silence. Even the watching necromantic guards and distant echoes of court life seemed to hush, as if the universe itself leaned in to see the outcome.
Valen's gaze didn't waver, his smile fading into a mask of measured expectation. He lifted his dagger, and it resonated, the sound vibrating through the marrow of my bones. His ninth attack came, a blur of dark brilliance wrapped in the hum of mastery that only a Radiant-ranker could command.
Time snapped forward, and I moved. God Flash: Absolute was not just speed, not just power. It was the manifestation of intent sharpened to its breaking point. I surged forward, my blade cutting through the space between us in a blaze of white and electric blue.
Our blades met, the clash a symphony of light and shadow that roared in my ears. My vision blurred as the surge of mana jolted through my body, every nerve alive with pain and triumph. The impact cracked the ground beneath us, sending fissures spidering out like a desperate map.
The dagger's resonant hum faltered for just a heartbeat. It was enough. Enough to deflect the strike, to hold my ground against a force that should have overwhelmed me.
Valen stepped back, his eyes wide, not with shock, but with something akin to pride. The silence that followed was heavy, the kind that spoke louder than applause.
"You've shown me more than I expected," he said, voice low and thoughtful. He lowered his weapon, the challenge in his eyes softening, if only a little. "But can you withstand the final blow?"
I swallowed hard, every muscle trembling as I raised my blade once more, my breath coming in ragged gasps. "I suppose we're about to find out," I said, forcing a grin despite the fire in my veins.
Valen's gaze softened for a moment, a flicker of something more passing through his eyes before his face returned to its usual stoicism. He raised one hand, and with a fluid gesture, a towering necromantic Death Knight materialized beside me. The air around it was cold, charged with the dark, ancient magic that pulsed in sync with its lifeless heart. Its hollow eyes, dark as night, seemed to assess me in silence.
"This is for your protection," Valen explained, his tone even but edged with gravity. "This Death Knight is Immortal-rank. Consider it an extra layer of insurance."
The implication of his words wasn't lost on me. If Valen felt the need for such a precaution, then this final test was more than dangerous—it was on the cusp of lethal. A chill that had nothing to do with the Death Knight crept down my spine.
'He's taking no chances,' I realized, the thought an odd blend of reassurance and dread. The King of the West was not known for sentimentality, so this show of care spoke volumes. It wasn't just a test; it was a demonstration, one that would push me to the precipice of my abilities.
"Understood," I said, steeling myself as the Death Knight's silent presence loomed at my side. Its obsidian armor gleamed with a dark sheen, a silent promise of intervention if fate turned against me.
Valen's eyes narrowed, the challenge in them rekindled. The air grew heavy as he summoned the dark aura once more, this time thicker, pulsating with a power that resonated deep within my core. I shifted my stance, feeling every ounce of tension crackle through my limbs.
"Let's see how far you can truly go," Valen declared, raising his dagger, its edge shimmering with both enhanced dark aura and the unmistakable hum of resonance.
I swallowed, my pulse thundering in my ears. This was it—the moment that would either prove my resolve or shatter it. Taking a deep breath, I focused, channeling every ounce of mana, will, and intent into my blade.
"Come then," I whispered, more to myself than to him, as the storm descended.
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票