"Bang!"
"Bang!"
As the echoing reverberated through the arena, the intensity of the battle between Mister Jonas's contemplative thoughts and the fierce combat of Jacky and Grayson continued to escalate.
These two warriors, both relentless in their determination, clashed repeatedly, igniting dazzling showers of sparks that illuminated the arena.
Yet, it was evident that Jacky's unconventional weapon, a battered sword, managed to rival and even surpass Grayson's saber in terms of brilliance and the formidable true essence it emitted.
In a critical moment of the battle, Grayson's composure faltered, leading to a grievous mistake that allowed Jacky's sword to graze him.
Despite wearing impressive armor, Grayson was not prepared for the deadly true essence that permeated Jacky's weapon.
As the essence coursed through his body, his face drained of color, and he teetered on the brink of spitting blood.
Even the astute Henry couldn't help but notice the peculiar nature of the sword.
His curiosity piqued, he turned to Mister Jonas, seeking his insights.
Jonas, while tapping his fingers against his armrest in contemplation, responded, "It seems I underestimated the power of that sword. It likely falls within the lower ranks of human-step treasures." He pondered the sword's origins, wondering if it bore the mark of a masterful inscription.
Hen Portia, who had been diligently observing the battle, ventured to offer her perspective. "Master, perhaps a great inscription master engraved a symbol on this treasure," she suggested.
Jonas nodded, his curiosity growing. "I had the same suspicion. I wonder which master's craftsmanship this could be. Even if the sword is in such a deteriorated state, its ability to unleash such power..."
While the spectators speculated and conversed about the enigmatic sword, the climactic confrontation on the stage unfolded.
Injured and unable to hold back any longer, Grayson realized it was time to unleash his ultimate technique, the 'Sixth Type of the Five Sacred Mountains Saber Skill.'
Originally intended as his trump card for the final match, he had no choice but to employ it now to avoid defeat.
Grayson raised his saber high, and as he poured his entire reserve of true essence into it, he declared, "Jacky, I acknowledge your strength. You are a true master who has pushed me to the brink of swallowing my pride and resorting to my ultimate strike. Prepare to meet your match! Behold the descent of the Black Dragon from the mountains!"
With these words, Grayson's saber glowed with an imposing orange radiance, its brilliance unmistakably exceeding anything previously seen.
He aimed the saber at Jacky and delivered a devastating downward slash.
"Slannnngggg"
In that moment, ominous shades resembling the claws of a black dragon materialized in the air – this was the Black Dragon's embodiment.
Observing this, the crowd marveled at Grayson's mastery of the Gray Family's saber arts, knowing that Jacky would find it nearly impossible to withstand this mighty strike.
However, within Jacky, there was no fear, only an unwavering determination.
He tightly gripped his sword with both hands and let out a resounding roar, channeling every ounce of his remaining true essence into his weapon.
The energy within his blade had been compressed to its absolute limit, and at that moment, it erupted with overwhelming power.
A radiant light burst forth from all directions as Jacky's true essence manifested as a brilliant rainbow, streaking toward the Black Dragon's shade.
In an astonishing clash, the impossible occurred – Jacky's blade cleaved the Black Dragon's shade in half, sending Grayson hurtling offstage, blood spewing from his lips.
Henry, who had been observing with great interest, was awestruck.
True essence had transformed into a tangible force, defying all expectations. He pondered aloud, "How could this be? Jacky, at the Bone Forging boundary, just displayed an advanced technique typically reserved for those in the Pulse Condensation period or beyond."
As the dust settled on the stage, Jacky, his true essence entirely depleted, collapsed to his knees, using his sword for support.
His eyes were fixed reverently on the flames etched into the sword's inscription symbol, wondering if this remarkable power had arisen from the symbol itself.
The referee declared Jacky the victor, marking an astonishing upset.
The promising star, Grayson, had been defeated by Jacky, a relative unknown.
Henry turned to Jonas, his curiosity burning. "It appears my earlier hunch was correct. How did Jacky achieve this transformation of true essence? It seems unlikely to be a martial skill."
Jonas, still reeling from the spectacle, replied, "Indeed, it seems so. My suspicion is that it's a skill linked to the inscription symbol. Inscriptions can manipulate the flow of true essence and activate skills. In the Starlight Haven Kingdom, such techniques have been all but lost..."
"Inscription skill?" Henry's eyes widened in astonishment.
Though not an expert in inscription skills, he recalled witnessing their power during a battle eighty years ago with the Eastern Sun country.
To witness such a phenomenon once again after all these years was nothing short of extraordinary.
Deep in thought, Henry instructed subordinates, "Summon Jacky. I wish to speak with him personally."
Jacky could scarcely believe his fortune when he received an invitation to meet Warlord Hen.
It was a rare honor for an ordinary martial artist to have an audience with the revered highly dignified martial master.
Jacky met Henry humbly, kneeling before him, "Jacky pays his respects to the Warlord."
Henry motioned for Jacky to rise and proceeded to inquire, "I summoned you to ask about your sword. Where did you acquire it?"
"Warlord, I obtained this sword approximately three months ago from the enemy after a battle."
"Is that so? Let me see it."
Jacky respectfully presented his sword to Henry. As the Warlord examined it closely, he detected a subtle discord in the blade's structure.
The sword was undeniably impressive, but it was also visibly damaged.
Henry, intrigued, showed the sword to Jonas, who accepted it and began his meticulous examination.
He ran his fingers over the blade's surface, lingering on the flame-engraved inscription.
Closing his eyes, Jonas tapped into his profound knowledge of soul force.
Time seemed to stretch as Jonas immersed himself in deep contemplation.
Jacky, Henry, and Hen Portia waited in silence, anticipating his revelation.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Jonas reopened his eyes.
He handed the sword to Hen Portia, urging her to feel the craftsmanship of a master at work.
She cradled the weapon, her elegant brows furrowing as she sensed the intricate symbols and runes within.
Jonas inquired, "What do you perceive, Hen Portia?"
Struggling to comprehend the intricacies, Hen Portia confessed, "My talents are limited. I can only sense that it is filled with incredibly mysterious symbols and lines. It must be the work of a master."
Jonas nodded, his excitement evident. "It's understandable that you can't discern much. After the inscription is complete, the secret symbols and runes are concealed within the treasure. It's a challenge to decipher,especially with such complexity. But it's truly remarkable. If only there were more, I could uncover further secrets."
Jacky then offered a revelation that surprised everyone.
"Warlord, I purchased this inscription symbol myself from a shop in the city square. There were two available, but I could only afford one. If Master Jonas requires another, I am willing to return to the shop and purchase it."
Henry, intrigued by this revelation, inquired further. "You bought the inscription symbol? It wasn't originally part of the sword?"
Jacky nodded. "Correct. I personally engraved it onto the sword yesterday."
Jonas, his interest piqued, asked Jacky, "Could you tell us which shop you purchased it from?"
Jacky replied, "It was in the city square."
Jonas paused, slightly puzzled.
In his understanding, items sold in the city square typically ranged from one to two hundred gold.
How, then, could an inscription symbol of such complexity be available there? Moreover, considering Jacky's modest background, it was difficult to fathom how he could afford such an extravagant purchase.
Thus, Jonas questioned him, "From what I know, your family is of ordinary means. How did you manage to afford such an expensive inscription symbol?"
Jacky hesitated briefly before answering with candour, "Reporting to the Warlord, at the time of purchase, it was priced at 100 gold. I barely managed to afford it."
The revelation struck Jonas like a thunderbolt. He exclaimed, "One hundred gold!? It was sold for one hundred gold!?!"