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[Korvus: Ember Wraith]
Rank: Lowest
Risk: High
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[System Notification]
-The opponent is holding a sword.
-Talent conditions have been met.
-[Child of Swords(S)] has been activated.
-Stats of the opponent will be reduced.
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Looking at the screen my lips curled up in excitement.
Wraiths were spiritual entities that could not be hurt by physical attacks, It was only possible to deal damage by using mana-coated attacks or magic, fortunately [Radiance] also dealt additional damage to spiritual entities.
I channeled radiance throughout my body, strengthening it to a degree much higher than with mana. It was as though time had slowed down from the flickering of the flames to the movement of the wraith.
Along with my sword Infused with radiance, I surged toward one of the smaller wraiths like lightning and immediately launched an attack.
Swish!
"Kyaaaaagh!"
I sliced through the abdomen of one wraith. It screamed and staggered back a few steps before collapsing.
Ding!
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[System Notice]
-[Radiant Edge(F)] proficiency is increasing.
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Thud!
Despite one of their comrades losing their life so pathetically, their attacks continued relentlessly. This time, three or four wraiths charged at me, surrounding me from all sides.
Whoosh!
I quickly ducked to avoid a sword. Then, I smoothly moved my body towards the open space, as if flowing like water, and delivered a sword strike.
Slash! Swish!
"Keeek!"
The power of my newly acquired [Radiance] was as potent as expected. It tore through the crowd of wraiths as if cutting through tofu.
Ding!Ding!Ding!
Pierce! Thud!
A follow-up thrust. With that simple motion, another wraith met its end.
Thwack!
Having dealt with all the wraiths, I stood exhaling loudly. Then, with a frown, I beckoned the large ember wraith with my finger.
"Come on. Are you going to just watch all day?"
"Fearless human! You are worthy to see my blade."
Contrary to his words, the ember wraith didn't charge immediately. Instead, it roared loudly.
Roaaaaar-!
'The second phase is here, it's calling more wraiths.'
The sound it emitted, filled with an ominous aura, was incredibly loud.
And then.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Right after the sound of the roar, Wraiths with sinister gleams in their eyes began to appear in droves.
"…This is absurd."
Silently observing the scene, I couldn't help but mutter in a dejected tone.
Wraiths are not my match.
Thanks to a few skirmishes, that fact had become clear. However… the number of wraiths currently visible in my sight was well over a hundred.
'Damn it. Will my stamina hold out?'
There was no time for deep contemplation. The ember wraith suddenly shouted like a thunderbolt.
"Kill that human!"
Thud, thud, thud!
The wraith horde charged towards me immediately. The large axes and swords they wielded flew towards me, unerringly aiming for vital points.
Slash! Swish!
The ensuing battle was a complete mud fight.
An endless barrage of wraith axes and swords. I responded by performing all sorts of acrobatics, like a stuntman filming an action movie, continuing the offense.
Whoosh!
When an attack came from my blind spot, I would advance forward instead. As the sharp black blade danced, space would momentarily open up. I would then jump back into it, continuing the fight.
After cutting down over seventy wraiths in this manner.
"Gasp! Gasp!"
I finally realized that my stamina was reaching its limit.
My untrained body began to scream at the sudden strain as I had already stopped using radiance on my body only infusing my sword with it to conserve it.
'Damn it!'
Every time I swung my sword, my breath caught in my throat.
Although I hadn't yet suffered any external injuries by allowing their attacks to land, the situation seemed likely to worsen, not improve.
"He's tired! The human!"
"Shut up!"
Stab!
It seemed that they too had instinctively realized that my stamina was nearing its limit. The wraith's offensive became even fiercer.
And then.
"Ugh!"
After cutting down nearly ten more wraiths, my slowed reaction finally allowed their attack to connect.
Although I managed to avoid a fatal blow by twisting my body at the last moment. The problem was that the wound on my shoulder was bleeding. It didn't look like the situation would improve; it would only worsen.
'Why are there so many?'
Gritting my teeth and swinging my sword, I screamed inwardly.
I already knew that there would be quite a few from the game. But I had never seen them gathering in such large numbers. I had already killed nearly a hundred wraiths.
Stagger!
"Ugh!"
Throughout the battle, I had aimed for the vital points of my enemies to conserve my stamina. However, the injury on top of my depleted stamina caused dizziness, making my vision go dark.
Swish! Stab!
But I would not tire, nor would I give up.
My swordsmanship shone against the wraiths who were waiting for an opening.
Eventually, I emerged victorious, my body staggered from all the fighting but I refused to go down.
The ember wraith, who had been watching my momentary loss of balance, charged at me. The sword it wielded jumped high, flying with a menacing force.
'…Is this the end?'
It felt like time was slowing down.
For a moment, I blankly stared at the charging Ember wraith.
The pounding of my heart, my ragged breathing, my extremely dilated pupils.
It was like experiencing time in slow motion. But for some reason, I felt as if warm sunlight was shining on my depleted stamina.
Click!
I tightened my grip on the sword.
The feeling of boundless power coursing through my body stole my mind.
At some point, the brilliant, radiant light had enveloped the sword had grown brighter.
Ding!
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[System Notice]
-Determination has filled your being. Your potential has begun to run amok.
-Your Radiance grows brighter.
[+O.2 to Spirit and Radiance]
-[Child of Swords(S)] is growing.
[+O.1 to Strength, Agility, and Stamina]
-[Radiant Edge(F)] proficiency has massively increased.
-[Radiant Edge(F)] has grown to F+ Rank.
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The bronze gates had already opened, I could have run away but instead, I raised my blade mimicking the man in my dream, I once again channeled Radiance into my sword and my body.
The blade of my sword getting ever so brighter I rushed towards the Ember wraith.
Clang!
As the swords met, I moved just like I had done before against my mirror self.
I pivoted on my back foot and raised my sword, angling it just right to meet the incoming strike.
Clang!
I redirected the blow, using its own force against it, the momentum caused its strike to glance off to the side.
But instead of moving closer like I had done before, I channeled radiance into my foot and jumped upwards.
Bringing my sword up I channeled all my remaining radiance into it.
In one fluid motion, I made a wide, sweeping arc with my sword as flames erupted from the blade striking at its neck.
Slash!
With almost no resistance, my blade severed its neck effortlessly in one
Its head flew and turned back into silver flames before it hit the ground, its body doing the same with both returning to the altar.
As I landed on the ground I felt my entire body shaking, now that the adrenaline was gone I felt pain all over as though I was stabbed by a thousand needles.
I quickly stabbed the sword on the ground to stabilize myself just as my legs gave out, leaving me in a kneeling position.
My vision turned blurry as my hands holding the sword continued to shake and then I heard a voice echo through the temple.
"You have proven yourself worthy!"
The Silver flame on the altar flew over and engulfed me whole. Immediately I was assaulted with pain on an entirely different level than before.
Ding!
I saw a blue screen float in front of me before I passed out, its words unreadable due to the pain.
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[System Notice]
The [Luminous Flame] has Acc....
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[Side Quest]: The City's Hidden Heart has been comp....
◈Rating: .....
◈Rewa....
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