Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Those Who Follow the Prophecy (5)
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[I'm about to faint from shock. What the hell is that technique? I get that it's an extension of Astral Projection, but is something like this even possible?]
Zeta emerged unscathed from the cloud of dust. Azel didn't respond, focusing entirely on regulating his breathing.
Astral Projection.
It was one of the more advanced training methods for Spirit Order practitioners honing their minds.
The mind is completely detached from the body and made to move independently. Various organs mimicking those of the body are manifested, allowing the astral form to retain the sensation of being alive even after separation from the flesh.
This process was so difficult that few Spirit Order practitioners ever succeeded. Zeta's ability to use Spirit Order even as an Undying stemmed from his mastery of this technique's extensions.
Azel's cloning technique 'Dance of Shadows,' which created fully corporeal duplicates, followed the same principle. However, manifesting the sensation of life in an astral body was on a different level from having completely separate clones exert physical influence.
Zeta had been a high-ranking Spirit Order practitioner in life and maintained that level even now. Yet the technique Azel had demonstrated was utterly incomprehensible to him.
[If you won't tell me, I'll have to figure it out myself. But I truly can't wrap my head around it. How can someone with such power be so... lacking in strength?]
Azel didn't wait for him to finish. The moment his breathing steadied, he charged with Flash Step.
Four images of Azel appeared around Zeta.
Boom!
An explosion rang out as Zeta was sent flying. They were so precise and vivid that distinguishing the real one was impossible. Zeta pierced three at once—one with his sword, two with bursts of dark mana force.
But the last one struck his body. And one of the Azels he'd thought he'd slain burst through the dark mana force to smash into him.
'This is it!'
In that instant, Azel's heart pounded wildly, spewing forth mana force.
Even in his desperate gasps for breath moments ago, Azel hadn't wasted a second. A racing heart meant vibrating Life Rings. The body's agony craving oxygen was also a chance to draw out massive quantities of mana force—far beyond what Azel's current vessel could contain. It swirled in a torrent.
'Breath of the Stars!'
White flames erupted to annihilate the Undying. They exploded along the sword's charging trajectory.
Roooaaar!
A storm of White Flame raged. Azel, accelerated beyond his limits, broke through Zeta's defenses and unleashed a barrage of strikes like a downpour.
Thudududududu!
No matter how sturdy the bizarre armor, it had its limits. If he poured everything into shattering it...
[What a pity.]
...But a genuinely regretful voice leaked from Zeta amid the frenzy of blows.
Whooooom!
Crimson darkness exploded with Zeta at the center.
Azel's White Flame was swept up and extinguished in an instant, like a candle in a typhoon.
Azel's movements froze for a split second. Zeta didn't miss it.
[Why does someone with such astonishing skill lack power?]
Zeta's sword flew at him. Azel's reaction, stiffened from resisting the curse's invading darkness, was a beat too slow.
That gap proved fatal.
Until now, Azel had never taken Zeta's strikes head-on. The raw strength gap was too vast, and Zeta's blade was a demon sword infused with powerful magic. He'd always parried at angles, deflecting to protect his own sword. But not this time.
Clang!
Azel's sword snapped and flew off. Before he could react, Zeta's blow struck his body.
Boom!
An explosion rang out as Azel was hurled away.
'Damn it, you...!'
His body slammed into the ground, bounced high, and crashed into a tree.
An impact that would kill an ordinary man instantly. But even then, Azel used Spirit Order to mitigate the shock and cling to life.
'No...'
Azel forcibly held onto his fading consciousness.
His worst fears had come true. In spars with Kairen, Azel had predicted this outcome if they ever fought all-out to kill each other.
And now, against Zeta instead of Kairen, that prediction had hit the mark.
A master could dodge fierce thrusts with skill alone. But skill alone couldn't hold back a flood.
He lacked power.
Even if a three-year-old child wielded the world's finest technique, they couldn't beat a fully trained and armored adult. The gap between Azel and Zeta was that immense.
"How is it?"
A boy's voice came from in front of Azel, who was straining to rise. It was Lennon, who had been watching.
[I don't know.]
"...Then wasn't this pointless? We just made an enemy for nothing."
[But I see value in watching him more.]
"Hmm. Alright? Then next time, we'll test him with someone else."
[Give him time.]
"Well, he'll need time to recover..."
[More than that. Only then will we see his true worth.]
"Is that opinion based on evidence?"
[No. But that's my feeling.]
"Hmm..."
[Even if we tested him with someone else now, we wouldn't gain certainty.]
"Well, since you tested him yourself and say so, we'll do that."
[We're leaving. I've been out too long.]
"Wait, you filthy skullhead..."
Azel glared at Zeta, panting. Zeta turned to look at him.
[I'll give you a chance for revenge next time. Rest now, test subject. As long as you live, you'll have plenty of time.]
Darkness poured from him then, swallowing Azel.
'Ah, those damn... bastards...'
With that thought, Azel lost consciousness.
7
Azel's consciousness drifted back to long ago, a time when he was still young and immature.
'A dream.'
Azel knew it immediately. Though unintended, the longing on his mind before sleep had guided his consciousness here.
"What do you think humans need to beat Dragon Demon Hybrids?"
The question came from a burly middle-aged man. Azel was tall, but this man was nearly a head taller. His skin was brown, his features strikingly exotic to Azel, and he sported a thick black beard.
He was Azel's third master, Riglen.
Wielding twin curved swords, he had been the most terrifying high-ranking Spirit Order practitioner Azel had ever known. Born to desert royalty, his kingdom fell to the Dragon Demon King's army, after which he shone in the Nadik Imperial forces.
Azel, a knight without a lord, fought alongside Riglen and was captivated by his valor and righteousness. He possessed the dignity and grace of royalty, a hero who struck fear into the Dragon Demon King's army.
Seeing potential in Azel to bring hope to people in this dark age, Riglen took the wandering mercenary under his wing and taught him techniques his previous masters hadn't.
Azel said,
"Dragon Demon Armaments, right?"
Ultimate weapons forged from dragon power and souls as material—Dragon Demon Armaments.
They stood at the pinnacle of what Spirit Order practitioners aspired to, and those who wielded them were rare. Each one could stand toe-to-toe with the Dragon Demon King's elite.
Riglen was one such. He'd slain eight dragons in battle, earning a pair of Dragon Demon Swords as his reward.
Riglen shook his head.
"No."
"Then what?"
"Something simpler. Strength."
Dragon Demon Hybrids were born with bodies overwhelmingly superior to humans. Even as slender women, adults possessed monstrous strength to tear beasts apart bare-handed.
They were lightning-fast without training. When they killed, ordinary folk couldn't even see their movements.
They had superhuman senses to control these gifts. And they wielded dragon mana force surpassing human archmages, superior even to mana in nature.
Thus, even untrained Dragon Demon Hybrids could take on a hundred humans.
"Imagine those beings honing martial arts, mastering Dragon Spirit Arts, delving into magic. To most humans, standing before them is like being practice dummies waiting for slaughter."
Skill alone couldn't match them. Power was needed.
What good was hitting them if they shrugged it off unscathed?
What good was blocking if your defense shattered anyway?
"To face them, you must surpass the so-called limits of ordinary humans. That's the bare minimum. You need to be monstrously strong and lightning-quick just to start."
"Apart from the Dragon Slaying Ritual, does such an answer exist?"
Winning the Dragon Slaying Ritual strengthened the body with dragon power—a magical key expanding training's limits.
Riglen had transcended human limits through eight such rituals. But that wasn't all. To even attempt it, one needed the power to beat a dragon first. Meeting that condition meant you could already face Dragon Demon Hybrids.
Riglen said,
"Azel, your masters were exceptional men. You prove it. It's a shame I never met Barf alive. He taught you extreme sensory acuity. But he couldn't pass on everything he knew. That's my role."
Through Barf's mad teachings, Azel had gained senses surpassing most Spirit Order practitioners. But high-ranking techniques were too profound and vast for youth and talent alone.
"You've mastered strengthening the mind excellently. I have nothing more to teach there, just minor tips. But for body strengthening, I have much to share. The issue is it won't happen overnight. Building a sturdy body demands time."
"The point is surviving until then."
"Yes."
Bwooooo—!
A horn blared in the distance.
The signal of approaching enemies. Fortress troops bustled, preparing to face the Dragon Demon King's army.
Riglen climbed to the ramparts, saying,
"We can't hole up like ancient warriors training in peace. I won't let hundreds or thousands die just to build your strength."
"I never asked for that."
"Survive until you learn everything from me. That's the only promise I want as your master. Will you?"
"Sure, why not."
Azel smiled.
But the promise went unbroken—not by Azel, but by Riglen.