Chapter 20 [Defeating the Apostle of God's]
[Aether Valeria POV]
At the esteemed Akashic Academy, a prestigious training event brought together talented young individuals from various races to prepare for the impending war against the Abyss. I was honored to be part of this diverse group, alongside the Apostles of Jotun, Dragon, Destruction, and Beast Gods - Karl Kroner, Blaze, Emma Frost, and Leo - as well as human Prince Damien Fental. Our mission was to learn combat strategies and teamwork on Xerath Island.
During a fierce battle against powerful death skeletons, our group triumphed, but in the chaos, Damien went missing. We searched exhaustively, our hopes dwindling as the sun began to set. Just when we thought all was lost, my beacon activated, signaling a distress call. Following the beacon's guidance, we arrived at an open clearing, where we spotted a group of ten individuals, including Damien, bound and helpless.
As we approached, the group turned to face us, and my eyes widened in astonishment. Among them were six elves - three men and three women - their face hidden under fascinating mask but their ethereal presence and graceful physiques unmistakable. I had thought this race existed only in fantasy novels, yet here they were, standing before me. Their leader, a striking pink-haired girl, locked gazes with me under her Golden black mask, and I felt an unsettling shiver run down my spine. Her piercing pink eyes seemed to see right through me, leaving me breathless and intimidated. I averted my gaze, unsure how to process this unexpected encounter.
"I am Aether Valeria," I declared, trying to sound calm and composed. "The human you've captured is part of my group. Please release him, and we'll be on our way." I carefully avoided revealing my knowledge of their race, unsure of how they might react.
The golden-haired Elf stepped forward, his tone firm. "Your friend was spying on us during combat and refused to intervene, even attacking our Saintess when confronted. He'll face judgment by our people for his actions." I frowned, taken aback by the Elf's refusal. I had never been spoken to so bluntly and denied my request.
I turned to the pink-haired girl, who wore elegant clothing and seemed to command respect among her kin. "Humans must be judged by human judges. Return my ally, or else." Her response was laced with arrogance. "Or else what? He attacked me with an S-rank poison dagger, capable of killing any S-rank powerhouse. I won't let him go easily after attempting to take my life."
I sensed a strange, dangerous vibe from the pink-haired girl, unlike anything I'd experienced before. I asked my system, "Show me her status panel.
....
Name:???
race:???
Age:???
Profession:???
Attributes:???
Mana realm: ???
The system displays a status panel for the pink-haired girl, but to my frustration, every attribute is shrouded in question marks.
"System, what's going on? Why can't you show me her stats?" I ask, exasperated.
"The system is not joking with you, host," the system responds. "Then why can't you scan her? Is it because she's too powerful?" I press on.
"No, that's not it," the system replies. "Some unknown power is blocking my scanning abilities, affecting not just her but also the other members of her group."
I realize that they must possess a treasure or artifact capable of hiding their information from my system's detection. The tension between our groups escalates, and soon, the battle begins.
I find myself facing off against the pink-haired girl, who wields a bow with deadly precision. Assuming she lacks close combat skills, I attempt to close in on her. However, I soon discover that her magic skills are top-notch, and her arrows seem unstoppable, making me nearly impossible to get close to her
As I attempt to land a hit, her arrows relentlessly deflect my attacks with ease, sending me stumbling backward in a desperate bid to evade her relentless onslaught. My initial assumption about her combat prowess proves to be a gross underestimation, and I'm faced with the sobering reality that I've underestimated a formidable opponent.
At the battle's outset, I hold back my full strength, but as the fight intensifies, I discover that closing in on her without revealing my high-tier magic skills is an impossible feat. Every magic skill or art I attempt is mercilessly obliterated midway by her arrows, which seem to have a life of their own. Not a single magic attack breaches her 10-meter range, and her unpredictable movements and infinite arrows push me to the brink of despair.
[Pov End]
Akarya unleashes a quintuple arrow barrage from her bow, each one aimed directly at Aether. He attempts to deflect them with his sword, but one arrow pierces his left leg, causing him to cry out in agony. As he struggles to recover, Akarya seizes the opportunity to launch a relentless assault.
After a brief respite, Aether invokes the power of light magic to heal his injured leg. With renewed strength, he begins to chant a spell of unyielding fury, summoning a hundred light swords to manifest in the sky. As he raises his hand, the swords descend upon Akarya with unrelenting force.
But Akarya counters with an anti-magic arrow, shattering the light swords into oblivion. Undeterred, Aether conjures a wind cyclone on his right hand and a fire cyclone on his left, merging them into a colossal fire-wind tornado that hurtles towards Akarya with unstoppable ferocity.
The tornado grows in size and intensity, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake as it bears down on Akarya. The air is filled with the roar of the tornado, and the ground trembles beneath their feet as the two forces clash in a spectacular display of magic and might.
Akarya was engulfed by a maelstrom of fire-wind tornadoes, her form completely obscured by the swirling vortex of flames and air. The tornadoes had her trapped, their fiery tendrils wrapping around her like a living prison. The intense heat and turbulent winds howled around her, threatening to consume her entirely.
Aether Valeria gazed in awe as his new magic skill, Surnado, unleashed its fury upon the battlefield. The sheer destruction and power it wielded left him breathless - this was the most devastating skill he had ever possessed. And yet, he had acquired it with ease, purchasing it from a system shop as if it were a mere trinket.
But Aether's triumph was short-lived, as a sight befell him that shook his very foundations and made him question his entire existence. Akarya emerged from the heart of the Surnado, unscathed and untouched like Empress, as if the inferno had been nothing more than a gentle breeze. The realization dawned on Aether that within a ten-meter radius of Akarya, the fury of the Surnado had been rendered null and void - any fire or wind that dared approach was instantly extinguished, as if erased from reality itself.
Akarya moved with lightning speed, her form blurring as she appeared in front of Aether. With a swift and merciless motion, she seized his face and slammed his head into the ground with bone-crushing force. Aether's body was then hurled into the air like a ragdoll, subjected to a flurry of rapid-fire kicks that sent him tumbling through the air. The final kick sent him crashing into the earth with incredible force, creating a massive crater that shook the very foundations of the land.
As Aether struggled to rise, his mouth overflowed with blood, his body battered and bruised beyond recognition. He couldn't comprehend the magnitude of his defeat - Akarya's close combat prowess was so overwhelming that he couldn't even react or dodge her attacks. The sheer speed and ferocity of her assault left him reeling, his confidence shattered into a million pieces.
For the first time, Aether felt the weight of uselessness crushing him. An enemy, Akarya, had awakened a sense of despair within him, shattering his confidence. Aether, once a monstrous genius in his own right, had always triumphed over his peers. But now, he faced an opponent who eclipsed him in every aspect. Akarya was an enigma, a behemoth he couldn't comprehend, a force he couldn't touch.
As Akarya approached, her intense aura made Aether shiver. Her effortless victories over him left him reeling, doubts creeping in like a tidal wave. Fear of failure, fear of loss, fear of death - all these fears converged, threatening to consume him. Yet, Aether refused to yield. He was a reincarnator, an Apostle, the Chosen One, the Hero - defeat was an alien concept to him. With a fierce determination, he steeled himself, ready to face the onslaught, even if it meant defying the impossible.
Aether experienced a sudden epiphany, as if the universe had unveiled a hidden truth to him. His sword, now imbued with an enigmatic yet potent energy, seemed to hum with an otherworldly power. Despite the unfamiliarity of this energy, Aether felt an instinctual connection to it, as if he had always known how to harness and manipulate it. His mind and the sword's energy resonated in perfect harmony, granting him an unshakeable sense of mastery and control.
For the first time from the moment when the fight began, Akarya showed a surprised expression. Sword Intent. Aether had awakened his Sword intent or Sword will, something only the most genius of swordsmen could do, and he was so young as well.
For swordsmen, there exist three distinct realms of combat execution, each successive realm unlocking exponentially greater power and mastery. The first realm relies on physical prowess, harnessing the swordsman's bodily strength to deliver formidable attacks. The second realm transcends mere physicality, as the swordsman learns to channel their sword's aura or energy to unleash more potent strikes. The third and final realm represents the pinnacle of swordsmanship, where the practitioner taps into their sword intent or will, manifesting their unyielding spirit and unwavering focus to deliver blows of unbridled ferocity and precision.
This concept extends beyond swords, applying to all manner of weapons. A weapon's aura or energy, as well as its intent or will, are universal principles. For instance, a spear master wields a spear aura, while a sword user commands a sword aura. The abilities of a weapon's energy or intent include:
- Weapon Aura or a Energy: A skill where practitioners infuse their mana or aura into their weapon, amplifying attacks and unleashing diverse techniques. For swords, this means comprehending sword aura before progressing to sword intent.
- Weapon Intent or Will: The embodiment of a user's willpower, skill, and understanding of their weapon. This spiritual and physical manifestation enables mastery and precision. Practicing the weapon or grasping its essence can refine weapon intent.
Only a select few can grasp the elusive weapon intent and aura. Aether, unwavering in his determination, combined his sword intent with his elemental mana, aura, sword aura, and mental fortitude. With a swift gathering of his energies, he unleashed a formidable counterattack. As he swung his sword downward, his physique ability amplified the strike by 50%! "Haaaaa, I WILL NOT LOSE!" Aether bellowed, his massive assault hurtling towards Akarya.
Akarya's countenance transformed, her calm fading into a wide and charming smile under her mask. "Dimensional Oblivion!" she declared in an ethereal voice, releasing the bowstring. A ferocious, purple-tinted arrow tore through the skies, leaving a trail of spatial devastation in its wake. Reality itself was shattered, dimensions eradicated, and existence reduced to nothingness.
The ferocious arrow halted mere inches from Aether's face, its Dark but not dark mixed with white glow intensifying as it hovered in mid-air. Aether's eyes widened in disbelief as he realized his attack had been neutralized. His exhaustion finally caught up with him, and he lost consciousness, his body collapsing to the ground. As arrow's energy dissipated.
The Elves beheld the catastrophic aftermath, their eyes wide in awe. Ananya's giggles echoed through the air, her amusement palpable as she gazed upon the fallen warriors, their attempts to challenge Akarya and her ally reduced to mere futile endeavors.