"Master!"
Asher lowered his head in front of his master to show his respect, even though she had told him many times that he didn't need to.
"Ash," she said softly, walking up to him and tousling his hair. Her fingers began to comb through it, a gesture she couldn't quite explain but felt entirely natural. Asher always enjoyed when she did this, and she loved the sense of warmth it brought her.
"Master, let's spar!" Asher said, his face bright with eagerness. He was excited to test out his new powers. Veylnn smiled at his request, knowing how much he enjoyed their bouts. She could also sense he was on the brink of another breakthrough, though he seemed unaware of it.
With a gentle grip, she took his hand, and they vanished from the room, leaving it empty.
A moment later, they appeared in a training arena—a pristine, circular coliseum crafted from smooth, white stone. The towering walls gleamed under the soft sunlight, while the floor was covered in freshly fallen snow, untouched except for the crisp footprints of past duels. Icicles hung from the stone archways above, glimmering like crystal in the cold air. Tall marble statues of heroic warriors stood around the edges, their forms draped in a light dusting of snow. The entire space felt serene and untouched, the silence broken only by the soft crunch of snow beneath their feet.
System
[Scanning Host Info...]
[Status]
Name: Asher Nii Raven
Race: ?????
Age: 15
Bloodline: Absolute Demon God
Realm: Peak Master Realm
Potential: Absolute
Strength: 3000
Agility: 3000
Mana: 3000
Stamina: 3000
Dexterity: 3000
[Special Skills]
[God of Time's Left Eye]
[Absolute Hellfire] Reduced
[Locked]
[Locked]
[Locked]
[Inventory]
Adept Healing Potion x5
Adept Stamina Potion x10
Ascendant Rank Sword
Ascendant Rank Spear
Ascendant Rank Dagger
Asher called out to the system to see if the Eye of the Time God boosted his stats. His heart sank when he saw he was at the Peak Master Realm and could break through at any moment. He hadn't expected a full power boost from a mere eye, but Asher overlooked one crucial fact: it was a god's eye. What he didn't realize was that his long-sealed power was beginning to unseal.
Standing on the opposite side of the arena was Veylnn, patiently waiting for Asher to draw his weapon. She had taught him a multitude of weapons, but the sword was his strongest. As expected, he soon summoned the Ascendant Rank Sword from his inventory. It was a gift from Veylnn, fortified with powerful runes—a sleek black blade with highlights of gold shimmering from the inscriptions.
Asher took his stance, and so did Veylnn. In an instant, he dashed toward her with a speed rivaling that of a fighter jet. Appearing before Veylnn, he swung his sword down, only to be met with disappointment.
Clank!
Veylnn blocked the strike effortlessly with one finger, the impact sending Asher flying backward. He skidded across the arena, leaving a trail of sliding footprints in the snow. Determined, he dashed toward her again, this time planning to swing his sword at her back just as he dashed behind her. But Veylnn tracked his movements with ease, not even bothering to turn around. She kicked backward into Asher's gut, sending him crashing into the wall, leaving a silhouette in the stone.
Asher fell to the ground, landing on his knees, already feeling worn out. Not waiting to catch his breath, he leaped twenty feet into the air and came crashing down on top of his master, swinging his sword in a spinning motion, creating a tornado-like figure around him.
As Veylnn prepared to block the incoming attack, something unexpected happened.
"[Timebind]"
The world around Asher shifted to black and white, the snow freezing in midair as he spun toward Veylnn. But what shocked Asher the most wasn't how he had stopped time—it was that his master was still tracking his movements in the air, her eyes never leaving him even in this suspended state. Just before his attack landed, a stick appeared in her hand. With a casual swing, she sent Asher soaring back into the air.
Not giving him any time to react, she jumped after him, swinging again and forcing him into a defensive posture.
Clink!
Clank!
Loud sounds echoed throughout the arena as the two focused solely on their next moves. Asher's left eye throbbed, drawing energy from him, and if he hadn't been at the Peak Master Realm, he likely would have fainted already.
I should only use that power in dire situations.
Still on the defensive, Asher began to summon his black flames around his weapon.
"[Absolute Hellfire]"
His sword glowed with black flames, hints of purple swirling within, melting the snow beneath them. Veylnn swung her stick at Asher, sending him crashing down into the snow. He fought to maintain his balance while falling and landed with a loud bang, creating a mini crater below him. Despite the impact, Asher seemed fine, though he now knelt on one knee, breath coming in ragged gasps.
Standing up again, he intensified the black flames around his sword and leaped at the now-falling Veylnn, swinging fiercely as the flames grew brighter with each strike. Veylnn defended against every attack effortlessly with her stick. However, with each swing, she was pushed back just a little further. A smile crept across her face, proud of his growth. Though she was using only 10% of her power, she was pleased with his progress.
Asher swung relentlessly, and soon the flames had intensified enough for him to use a technique Veylnn had taught him.
"[Moonlit Arc]"
The flames concentrated around the entire blade, making the black fire as dense as a star and as hot as hell itself. He slashed in a horizontal manner, and the air around him seemed to warp with the motion, all the snow in the arena melting as he struck. Reality appeared as if it might crack under the force of his attack.
Veylnn smiled at the display, but she reminded herself that this was just a spar. As the stick turned to ash in her hand, she moved her fingers ever so slightly, catching the blade with just two fingers.
"Damn it," Asher muttered, crashing to the arena floor once more.
Veylnn appeared beside him a moment later, performing her usual post-spar ritual.
"[Rejuvenate]"
Golden energy enveloped Asher's body, healing his surface wounds and replenishing his stamina. Though his breath remained slightly ragged, he would be fine soon enough.
"You did a good job," Veylnn said, her charming smile lighting up her features—a smile she rarely showed, and one she reserved only for Asher.