I brought my sword down, capitalizing on the opening Seraphina had left me. She had no choice but to pull her blade back, sacrificing her attack to defend herself.
Clang!
The sharp ring of steel against steel echoed across the training ground, as my resonating enhanced aura clashed against Seraphina's intent-infused enhanced aura. The force of it reverberated through her arms, and with a grimace, she was forced to release her grip.
"It's my loss," she said, her crystalline blue eyes meeting mine, her breaths coming heavy and labored.
"You're getting better," I said with a light smile, reaching out to help her to her feet. "You're not far off from Sword Resonance."
"Yet the gap between us feels so big," she replied, her tone heavy with frustration.
I just smiled, letting her words hang in the air. Seraphina was growing stronger—faster than most would ever believe. At this rate, she would reach mid Integration-rank in just a few months. More than that, her skill and mastery would allow her to skip a level and take on a normal high Integration-ranker. For someone her age, that was nothing short of remarkable.
Skipping mana ranks was no small feat. The further one climbed, the harder it became. Only those with exceptional talent and the ability to transcend their limits could hope to achieve it.
Of course, my journey to higher levels had been anything but ordinary. Art had ensured that. Under his guidance—and relentless pressure—I had been forced to push beyond the limits of logic and rank. He was someone who, with a low Integration-rank body and Sword Resonance, could defeat a low Ascendant-ranker. The gap between us back then had been a canyon.
Now? Things were different.
For me, pseudo-astral energy had become the great equalizer. Its raw, unparalleled power allowed me to break the natural boundaries of rank. My current strength was a testament to that—a force few could match, let alone surpass.
Even so, I couldn't help but let my thoughts wander. 'The current Lucifer should be capable of defeating a low Ascendant-ranker if he gave it his all,' I mused, thinking of my rival and friend. He was pushing his limits too, and the day when we would clash again was fast approaching.
Seraphina adjusted her grip on her sword, pulling me back to the present. "You were thinking about something," she said, her lips curling into a faint, knowing smile.
"Just how strong you're getting," I replied, earning a scoff and a roll of her eyes.
"The gap still feels impossible," she muttered again, but there was a flicker of determination behind her words.
I shrugged, meeting her gaze. "It only feels that way because you haven't caught up yet."
"Well, I don't really mind being weaker than my husband," Seraphina said, her face as stoic as ever, though her words hit with the precision of a well-placed strike.
I nearly dropped my sword. My cheeks burned, and for a moment, I could do nothing but gape at her blatant statement. "Y-you can't just say things like that," I stammered, averting my gaze.
She tilted her head slightly, her crystalline blue eyes calm and unbothered. "Why not? It's the truth, isn't it?"
Since deciding to fight for the East and with Seraphina serving as the princess of Mount Hua, we'd naturally been spending a lot of time together. Yet no amount of swordplay or shared battles could prepare me for moments like this.
I rubbed the back of my neck, hoping to steer the conversation to safer ground. "You know, Cecilia and Rachel aren't here to hear you say things like that," I muttered, though my voice carried a tinge of longing.
Seraphina didn't miss it, her gaze softening slightly. "Do you miss them?"
"Yeah," I admitted. "Texts and calls just aren't the same as being with them. But it's not like they can come here—not with their overprotective parents." I sighed. It wasn't just the distance that made their absence palpable; it was the stark contrast to the closeness I now shared with Seraphina.
"I hope the war cools down in a few months," I said, trying to shake off the lingering melancholy.
Seraphina nodded, her silver hair glinting in the sunlight. "So do I."
The Mount Hua side of the war was holding strong, largely thanks to Mo Zenith's leadership. The Kagu family had also turned the tide in their favor now that Selene Kagu had returned to command the Void Vanguard. Yet something about that didn't sit right with me.
How had Selene come back? She'd been locked in battle with Alyssara Velcroix—a Radiant-ranker who was, by all accounts, a level above her.
"It doesn't add up," I murmured to myself.
"You're not wrong," Luna chimed in, her voice echoing faintly in my mind.
"What do you think happened?" I asked her.
"At the very least, Selene Kagu should've been gravely injured—lucky to escape with her life," Luna replied. Her tone carried the same disbelief that had been gnawing at me.
Still, this situation worked to our advantage. The East outnumbered the enemy in Radiant-rankers. If my master, the Martial King, could hold off Caladros long enough, we could win decisively.
Even after two weeks, their battle raged on. Fights between Radiant-rankers were rarely swift. Both warriors would test, probe, retreat, and counter—neither willing to risk a finishing move too early. It was a dance of caution and overwhelming power, each step capable of shaking the world.
But if Magnus could endure, Mo Zenith or Selene Kagu could join him, tipping the balance in our favor.
Victory hinged on time, endurance, and a little luck. And maybe, just maybe, the Martial King could remind the Vampire Monarch why he was humanity's strongest shield.
A familiar presence prickled against my senses, instantly souring my mood. I clenched my jaw, my hand instinctively tightening around my sword's hilt.
Seraphina's expression mirrored my own discomfort, her normally serene face twisting in distaste as we turned to face the approaching figure.
Sun Zenith.
He strode toward us, his gait confident, the weight of his power evident with every step. At the cusp of reaching the peak of Ascendant-rank, Sun was undeniably stronger than me. That fact didn't sit well, no matter how much I tried to rationalize it.
Sun was one of those rare individuals for whom skipping levels in combat was almost impossible. His mastery and raw strength were simply too overwhelming. Even with all my advantages, I'd need to reach at least low Ascendant-rank to consider challenging him.
And by then, Sun would undoubtedly have grown even stronger.
The thought gnawed at me. I recalled whispers of his future battles—how even Lucifer at Immortal-rank, with his Legendary-grade sword and immense talent, barely eked out a victory against a high Immortal-rank Sun. That was with Sun's growth continuing unchecked.
"We have deployment orders," Sun announced curtly, his gaze briefly locking with mine before he sent a message to my comms.
I opened the holographic display on my phone. The deployment details flickered to life before me, their meaning sinking in quickly.
Reinforcements for Hwaeryun.
The city where Starcrest Academy once stood, and beneath which the underground vampire city had been discovered.
"Seraphina's not coming?" I asked, glancing at her.
Sun shook his head. "I'll be leading the forces there."
That tracked. Hwaeryun was a crucial battleground, and Mo Zenith clearly saw it as an opportunity to test Sun further. A vampire stronghold meant a Vampire Ancestor—a low Immortal-rank foe, the perfect opponent for someone nearing the threshold of Immortal-rank.
I couldn't help but smirk grimly at the strategy. "Looks like Mo wants to give you experience before you cross over."
Sun didn't reply, his face impassive. His focus was already on the task ahead, and I envied his single-minded determination. Mo's approach was clear—sharpen Sun's skills against a low Immortal-rank enemy before allowing him to break through.
I pocketed my phone, my thoughts heavy. Reinforcing Hwaeryun wouldn't just be a test for Sun. It would be a reminder for me—of just how far I still had to go.
"We'll also have reinforcements from the North," Sun said, his tone steady and focused. "Princess Kathyln Creighton, the 8-circle mage, will be leading them. Princess Rachel Creighton and Prince Lucifer Windward are also on their way."
I nodded, processing his words. 'So, things really are heating up in Hwaeryun.'
Kathyln Creighton's name carried weight, even among the Immortal-rankers of our time. At twenty-five, she had nearly reached mid Immortal-rank—the peak of her potential, as far as anyone could tell. She was a prodigy, though not one destined to surpass the boundaries of greatness the way a few others might. But in a battle like this, her power was far from insignificant.
Hwaeryun already had two Immortal-rankers stationed there. Adding Kathyln, Rachel, and Lucifer to the mix? That was a serious escalation. It wasn't just about reinforcing a position; this was a gathering of power designed for a decisive blow.
Something big is about to go down.
Even as I mulled over the implications, a flicker of excitement crept into my thoughts. I was eager to see Rachel again—and Lucifer. It had been too long, and I was curious, no, hungry to see how much they'd grown. Both of them had been exceptional before. By now, they must have honed their skills even further, their abilities sharpened by the relentless march of war.
And Rachel… I couldn't deny the warmth that spread through me at the thought of her. It wasn't just her talent or her resolve. It was her presence—steadfast and calming in a way that few others could manage. I missed her. Not just as a comrade, but as someone who had become an integral part of my life.