Zzzzap!
The Stormbringer whipped his nine-section flail back to his hand. Though the small boat had landed on the shore, it was still well within his attack range. He spun the lightning flail, leaving blackened scorch marks on the sand as it cracked the ground beneath him.
"Careful!" Sonia shouted, instinctively darting behind Ash as the Stormbringer took a massive step forward and whipped both flails in a scissor-like motion.
It was a move that had scarred Sonia deeply, both physically and mentally. Though it wasn't a miracle, the sheer force of the spinning flails combined with the nature of lightning made it devastatingly hard to avoid. A direct hit felt like having your pinky toe smashed against furniture—except amplified a hundredfold and accompanied by electrocution.
"Quiet. You're interrupting my contemplation of the universe's secrets," Ash quipped. He stabbed his sword into the deck of the boat, and the glowing Sword Barrier surrounding them flared with a golden hue, intercepting the scissor strike head-on.
Sizzle, crackle!
The flails tangled against the Sword Barrier, unable to penetrate. The translucent barrier shimmered, but held firm. Ash's sword, however, visibly cracked under the strain, only to repair itself moments later thanks to the Ethereal Plane's restorative nature.
"'Radiant adornments for noble visage, resplendent beauty dances like dragons.'"
The Stormbringer's bloodshot eyes deepened in hue as he chanted cryptic poetry, his body pulsating with electric arcs. With each swing of the flails, he intensified his assault on the Sword Barrier.
Sonia, now calmer, scrutinized the barrier. Upon closer inspection, she noticed its intricate details: the barrier wasn't merely a shield; it was composed of razor-sharp sword energy. It not only blocked attacks but also had a counter-offensive effect, capable of shattering enemy weapons.
In the Ethereal Plane, where weapons were manifestations of one's willpower, they could regenerate as long as the wielder's soul energy held up. This nullified the barrier's weapon-breaking advantage. Still, such a defensive technique was undoubtedly a miracle—a fusion of multiple sword spirits into a cohesive battle art.
This realization left Sonia annoyed. She had planned to show off her Water Moon miracle to impress the Observer and make a point that she wasn't to be toyed with. Instead, he'd saved her life and casually demonstrated a defensive miracle just as impressive as her attack.
Was he waiting for me to almost die just to steal the spotlight? Sonia wondered bitterly.
While Sonia stewed in her thoughts, Ash stared at the familiar Sword Barrier. A strange irritation gnawed at him.
"Apologies," he muttered. "But I'm in a bad mood right now."
Ash raised a single finger.
"So don't take this personally. What I'm about to do is just… venting."
Clang!
A sharp sword cry pierced through the crackling storm.
The Stormbringer immediately retreated, spinning his flails into shields of lightning. A streak of glowing energy sliced toward him like a blade of pure willpower.
"Heart Sword Spirit!" Sonia exclaimed, her eyes widening in awe. "Where did you get that? You know the Heart Sword Stance? Teach me! Please!"
It was like watching a child spot their dream toy. Sonia barely hid her yearning for the spirit.
Among swordsmanship enthusiasts, the legend of the Five Legendary Sword Spirits was well known. Owning even one was said to grant a swordmaster an unrivaled foundation to build their combat style. The Heart Sword Spirit was one of those five.
Other tiers included the Twenty-One Hidden Sword Spirits and the Fifty Sublime Sword Spirits.
Sonia's own Wave Sword Spirit was among the Fifty Sublime Spirits. Though it was the lowest tier, its power was undeniable. The original Duke Vosroda had used the Wave Sword to establish his dynasty, earning him the title of "Sword Noble." Many swordsmen still sought the spirit, even pledging fealty to Vosroda's descendants in hopes of acquiring it.
As someone who wielded the Wave Sword Spirit, Sonia fully understood its immense potential. The thought of owning something even more powerful filled her with both envy and reverence.
Ash couldn't help but smirk at her dazzled expression. "Relax. I'll explain everything after I deal with this circus performer."
"Alright!" Sonia cheered, eager to watch him in action.
But as she observed Ash's Heart Sword Spirit clash against the Stormbringer's spinning lightning shields, her enthusiasm waned.
Strike. Deflected.
Thrust. Blocked.
Flanking maneuver. Parried.
"Your… swordsmanship has a lot of room for improvement," Sonia finally commented.
"I've weakened him for you. Take this chance to finish him off," Ash deflected coolly.
Sonia rolled her eyes, certain now that Ash had to be some ancient monstrosity reborn. No one gets this thick-skinned without centuries of practice.
With a resigned sigh, she leapt into battle. Ash wasn't idle, summoning a sword-wielding avatar to assist while his Heart Sword Spirit attacked from another angle.
Overwhelmed, the Stormbringer faltered. His dual flails couldn't cover every angle, leaving him vulnerable to Sonia's strikes.
Finally, with a final poetic cry, he fell—dissolving into mist and leaving behind his spoils:
1.Thunderstep Spirit
2.Engraving Spirit
Both were One-Winged Spirits that synergized seamlessly. Together, they allowed users to engrave conductive circuits for enhanced lightning manipulation.
"That explains all the tattoos," Ash muttered, recalling the intricate patterns covering the Stormbringer's body.
After a brief discussion, the spirits were gifted to Sonia, who noted their value on the mage market. As for the Cultist's Grimoire the Stormbringer dropped, Ash kept it for himself.
"You're going to read that?" Sonia asked skeptically after one glance at its gory illustrations.
"Why not? It might have practical applications," Ash replied nonchalantly, skimming a page on flaying techniques.
"...Just don't use it on me," Sonia muttered, retreating to the edge of the boat.
Once the spoils were sorted, the boat drifted back into the mist. Sonia couldn't hold back her curiosity any longer.
"Those sword spirits—where did you get them?"
Ash smirked. "Ah, since you've asked so sincerely, I suppose I can indulge your curiosity—"
Damn it. He's going to milk this moment, isn't he? Sonia thought bitterly.
Clearing his throat theatrically, Ash summoned three spirits.
"Heart Sword. Earth Sword. Wind Barrier," he introduced. "The first two are One-Winged Spirits, but the Earth Sword is Two-Winged."
"Wait," Sonia's eyes narrowed. "Are you telling me you were late because you were getting these?"
"Essentially, yes," Ash replied, his gaze growing distant as he stared into the mist.
"After all," he added casually, "their previous owner had just killed me once."