--- Akira ---
"...I must say, I'm quite impressed."
I stood there, lightning crackling around me, arcing through the air and sending sparks flying in all directions as I gazed up at the vast blue sky.
The barrier I had created was in tatters, a gaping hole marring its once flawless surface.
Through it, sunlight streamed in, casting a warm glow over the area. But for me, it felt like a sudden chill, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over me.
Too fast.
It all happened, too fast.
In less than an instant, she shattered the barrier, rescued the three Knights of Rounds from imminent death, and intercepted Alexia's attack, triggering a powerful explosion that rendered her incapacitated.
But she didn't stop there. Her intention was clear: to kill Alexia.
If I had been even half a second slower, Alexia would have been dead.
...
Even though I was consumed by anger and struggling against my urges, I couldn't allow it to overpower me. Despite the inner voice urging me to eliminate her immediately, the rational part of my mind held me back.
After I halted her attack, she remained still, making no attempt to retaliate. Her lightning crackled in a fierce contest against mine, almost as if it refused to coexist with my own.
This suggests that she may have intended to engage in a brief conversation, at the very least.
This is a crucial opportunity to gather information about the enemy.
"I have to ask, why did you allow your Cult to be decimated, instead of eliminating us when you had the chance?"
After extensive research into Elemental Manipulation, I discovered a fundamental principle that I could apply: channeling lightning within my body to significantly boost my overall speed.
With both my mind and body meeting the necessary conditions to handle this technique, I've surpassed the limits of a typical supernatural being in terms of speed, whether it's physical movement or mental processing speed.
This newfound ability gives me confidence that I can respond to any threat swiftly and effectively.
That was the reason I was at least confident I could deal with anything that came our way before anything could happen.
Looking at Alexia right now, though, the blood within my veins boiled in anger.
If I didn't understand this crucial part of the elements and trained with it...
I wouldn't even have been able to see her die before my very eyes.
No matter how much I pleaded for her to prioritize her safety, I knew Alexia wouldn't budge.
In anticipation of potential dangers beyond her control, I ensured she wore the best armor I had crafted and kept our protective rings always on...
Despite implementing numerous layers of safety measures, this tragic outcome still unfolded.
My only wish was for you to not get hurt.
In the end, I failed.
Thanks to the combination of [Mind's Dominion] and the heightened reaction speed induced by my Lightning manipulation, I processed my thoughts with remarkable efficiency. Only when I felt somewhat satisfied did I shift my focus to the conversation at hand.
However, her response caught me completely off guard. It was far from what I had anticipated or imagined.
"...You, the Being that negates causality, cannot possibly understand our aims," she said, her voice dripping with disdain.
Being... that negates causality?
What does that even mean?
I have too little information to understand what she's talking about—
Before I could even begin to decipher her cryptic statement, she blurred into motion, a swift and unexpected movement that caught me off guard.
Instincts screamed within me, urging me to raise my defenses, but it was futile. In the blink of an eye, she was upon me, her presence looming ominously close.
"That being said, the fact you dare to use Lightning in my presence, means you really have no idea who you're up against, Child." she sneered.
Her hand reached out, a seemingly innocuous gesture that sent a jolt of dread coursing through me. And then, with a touch as light as a feather, everything changed.
A sensation, foreign yet unmistakable, surged through me.
It was as if a string, invisible yet binding, had been abruptly severed, leaving me adrift in a sea of chaos.
The Lightning I had just wielded turned against me, its power betraying its master and tearing through my body.
A searing and relentless pain surged through me, ripping through every fiber of my being as the electricity coursed unchecked through my veins. Despite any resistance I thought I had built up against Lightning, it seemed nonexistent right now.
Just as I began to gather my Magical Power, her fist connected with my chest, sending a shockwave of pain through my body.
I was launched into the air like a ragdoll, the force of the blow causing me to cough up blood. The world around me became a chaotic blur as I was sent hurtling through the cityscape, colliding with building after building.
Each impact felt like a sledgehammer to my already battered body, shattering bones and tearing through flesh. I could feel the warm trickle of blood running down my face, my vision growing hazy as I struggled to stay conscious.
At one point, the sound of shattering glass and crumbling concrete filled my ears as I continued to careen through the city, even leaving the barrier's area, leaving a trail of destruction in my wake.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I came to a stop, my back slamming into a solid wall with a sickening crunch.
I slid down to the ground, my body feeling like it had been put through a meat grinder. Every breath I took sent sharp pains shooting through my chest, and I could taste the metallic tang of blood in my mouth.
That bitch, she really gave it her all.
'...Fuck, she's still faster than me.'
That's going to be a problem.
Even so, it's not one I cannot overcome.
But... I'll need to use every single hand at my disposal.
Just when I was about to activate [Overload] and trigger my [Regeneration], though...
[Your Talent [Sword] is being awoken by the Lightning Element coursing through your veins in an attempt to kill you]
[Your Talent [Elemental Manipulation] is trembling!]
[Your Talent [Mana] is trembling!]
[Your Talent [Body] is trembling!]
.
.
.
[Your Talent [Sword] is furious!]
[The Chains binding your Talent [Sword] have been forcefully suppressed]
[The Lightning Authority binding you has been cut down and is being absorbed]
[Your Skill [Perfect Human Body] is hungrily devouring the Lightning Authority]
[Lightning Authority: .1%]
[Lightning Authority: .2%]
[Lightning Authority: .5%]
.
.
.
[Lightning Authority: 3%]
[Note: Once this value reaches 100%, the Trial Taker [Akira Bashira] will gain the Lightning Authority along with the Resistance-Type Passive Skill [Lightning Resistance]]
...Oh.
That changes everything.
---
Author's Note:
This is the beginning of the final boss fight!!
I've tried a somewhat different writing style today, any thoughts on that??
Tell me if you're liking the novel so far, or if you have anything to tell me about it. I'm open to any form of criticism!
If you want, join my discord server or Patreon, so that you may now when I post, participate in polls... you know, the usual stuff!
Thanks for reading this far :)