Chapter 305: Karma (XXIII)
Wind mana burst beneath their feet, propelling them forward like arrows.
Ruli came at me from the right, her blade glowing faintly with lightning. Leaf curved around to the left, her steps silent as water formed a thin barrier along her skin.
Clang!
I blocked Ruli’s first strike, sparks snapping where her lightning met my blade.
At the same time, Leaf’s dagger slid low toward my ribs. I tilted my sword and shifted my hip, letting her attack cut through the air instead of flesh.
"Great moves," I said, swinging my sword just hard enough to push them both back.
They didn’t stop.
"Leaf, now!"
『 Unique Spell: Twin Bolts of Judgment! (✦ 5th-Level Spell ✦)』
Ruli’s voice rang as she raised her blade. Lightning split into two sharp arcs, both aiming for me from different sides.
『 Unique Spell: Tideglass Shell! (✦ 5th-Level Spell ✦)』
Leaf followed instantly, wrapping herself in a shimmering sphere of water that bent the light around her body.
She vanished from sight, her steps blending with the sound of water drops.
Crack!
The lightning bolts crashed down, forcing me to raise my sword. My blade absorbed the strikes, the ground splitting under my feet.
Splash!
At that same moment, Leaf’s dagger stabbed out of thin air, her body reappearing from the water shell right at my side.
I twisted, parrying the dagger with the flat of my sword.
"Good coordination," I muttered, my eyes darting between the two.
Ruli pressed on, striking high, then low, her blade carrying little sparks with each swing.
Zzt! Clang!
I blocked, my sword ringing with every clash.
Meanwhile, Leaf kept circling, her dagger flashing in the mist she created.
Every few seconds, she vanished into it, then reappeared at a different angle, stabbing or slashing.
Shhhk! Clang!
I let my sword flow between them, turning my wrist to catch Ruli’s blade, stepping back just in time to let Leaf’s dagger cut past my chest.
"You’ve both learned to attack together," I said calmly, pushing them away with a quick sweep of my sword.
"But your timing is still too easy to read. Ruli, don’t rush your strikes. Leaf, don’t vanish in the same rhythm every time. Predictable patterns get you killed."
They both clicked their tongues but nodded.
Then, like true twins, they moved again at the same moment.
This time, Ruli jumped high, lightning crackling down her arms as she raised her dagger.
Zzt!
She swung downward, sending a sharp bolt right at my head.
Leaf crouched low, water spiraling around her legs as she darted in, her dagger aiming for my ankle.
I blocked Ruli’s lightning with my sword, sparks bursting across my face.
Then I twisted and let Leaf’s dagger scrape harmlessly off the hardened wind mana I coated my boot with.
My sword flicked sideways, grazing her shoulder just enough to sting.
She hissed but didn’t retreat.
"Better," I said.
"But you’re still holding back. You won’t win if you stay cautious."
Ruli landed, her eyes narrowed.
"Fine then... let’s end it."
Lightning burst from her body, mixing with Leaf’s water mist. Together, the twins crossed their daggers in front of them, their voices overlapping:
『 Unique Twin Connected Spell: Twin Storm Hunt! (✯ 7th-Level Spell ✯)』
Wind, lightning, and water spun together into a deadly spiral that rushed straight at me.
Crack! Shhhk! Whoooosh!
The sound tore through the training ground, the floor cutting under their power.
I remained calm, raising my sword.
Fwip!
When their storm reached me, I slashed once.
BOOM!
The wave split in two, the twins forced to stumble out of their own spell. They slid across the ground, breathing hard, their daggers still ready but their bodies trembling.
I lowered my sword and shook my head softly.
"Good progress. Your teamwork has sharpened, and your spells are strong. But..." I walked forward, tapping my blade gently against Ruli’s.
"You rush too much."
Then I tapped Leaf’s dagger. "And you hesitate when you see an opening. Fix those, and you’ll both be true assassins."
The twins exchanged glances, sweat dripping down their faces. Then, as always, they smiled together.
"We’ll get you next time," they said in unison.
"Also, don’t forget to study more spells... although those unique spells are great, both of you should try to focus on magic for a while instead of physical training," I advised.
They nodded at my words, quickly taking a few steps away.
And finally... it was Yara’s turn as both Lumi and Chaerin had their own training already.
Well... Lumi’s training was simply eating demon cores, but Chaerin was currently on a trip around the world to assassinate high-bounty awakeners.
She already had an assassin foundation, so I figured that it was simply better to let her improve her skills on her own; that way, I could send the twins to her when they were prepared.
"Aestrea," Yara said softly, her voice carrying that low, husky tone that always made her sound dangerous and alluring at the same time.
"You’ll fight me seriously, won’t you?"
Her long black hair swayed as she gripped her weapon, a long silver spear that seemed to shimmer faintly, as if even its metal was tied to the fabric of space.
Her eyes, dark and sharp, never left me.
I raised my sword with a small smirk.
"I’ll fight you seriously enough. But don’t expect me to hold back just because you love me."
She chuckled, rolling her shoulders as the air around her warped. Small ripples spread across the training ground, like the air itself had turned into water.
"I wouldn’t want you to," she whispered, before her body blurred.
Whoosh!
She was gone.
I turned, my sword flashing out just in time.
Clang!
Her spear slammed against it from behind, the force making the ground crack beneath me. She had bent space, skipping the distance between us instantly.
"Good," I muttered, shoving her back.
Yara twirled her spear, her lips curving faintly.
"You felt that one? Then let’s see if you can keep up with this."
She stepped forward, her figure flickering in and out of sight.
Each movement bent the space around her, making her appear closer or farther than she actually was.
Her spear thrusts came sharp and clean, each aimed at my chest, throat, or stomach.
I blocked each one, my sword ringing against the spear’s shaft.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Sparks burst, my wrist twisting to deflect every strike.
"You waste mana bending space just to confuse distance," I said calmly, kicking her spear aside.
"But the rhythm of your body gives you away. I can still read you."
Yara licked her lips, a dangerous grin flashing across her face.
"Then I’ll just break the rhythm."
She raised her hand, and suddenly, my own body felt like it had been pulled in two directions at once. Space folded around me, dragging at my arms and legs.
Before I could fully adjust, her spear shot toward my chest.
Shhhk!
I tilted my blade, catching the spearpoint an inch before it could reach me. The pressure around me vanished as I slashed outward, cutting through her distortion.
"Better," I said, my eyes narrowing at her.
Her grin widened, her cheeks flushed with the thrill.
Then, she spread her arms.
The entire training field shivered. Lines of warped light cut across the air, bending the ground, the sky, even the sound of our breaths.
Her figure split into three, each copy holding the same spear.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
They came at me at once, spears stabbing from different sides.
Clang!
I parried all three in a single sweeping arc, forcing two of the illusions to shatter. The real Yara twirled back, breathing heavier, but her eyes were glowing.
"Your control’s getting sharper," I admitted. "But your illusions are still too fragile. They fall apart after one clash."
"Then I’ll use my real spear to pierce you instead." She panted, brushing hair from her face.
In an instant, she closed the gap again, twisting her spear in a wide arc.
Whoosh!
The weapon bent through folded space, its length stretching unnaturally until it reached my side from an impossible angle.
I turned my sword, cutting through the distortion, and knocked the spear away. Clang!
Her body followed the strike, and she spun with grace, thrusting again and again, faster now.
Shhhk!
I blocked them all, my feet moving lightly, my sword flicking with precision. My voice stayed calm even as her attacks rained down.
"Your thrusts are too direct. You focus too much on bending space, not enough on reading your target."
Clang!
I deflected another blow, letting the spear scrape harmlessly against my shoulder guard.
"Don’t just fight me. Study my sword’s trajectory, where I look, and how I shift my grip."
Yara froze for a moment, her dark eyes locking onto mine. Then, slowly, she steadied her breathing.
Her next thrust was calmer, smoother.
She let the spear flow with her body instead of forcing it.
The space around the tip bent subtly, not in big waves, but in small shifts. making it harder to see the exact line of her attack.
Shhhk!
The spear grazed my cheek, drawing a thin line of blood.
I blinked, a small laugh escaping me.
I was a little careless there...
"Now that’s more like it."
Yara’s grin widened, her chest rising and falling quickly.
"I touched you."
"You did," I admitted, raising my sword again.
Her answer was another flurry of strikes.
Clang!
Clang!
Shhhk!
The ground cracked beneath our feet, space folding and twisting with every thrust. She was learning, adapting in real time, her spear moving with sharper precision than before.
For a brief moment, I was impressed. She was still far below me, but the way she improved mid-fight was nothing short of remarkable.
Still, strength was strength.
Clang!
With a final swing, I caught her spear in my blade’s guard and twisted. The weapon ripped from her hands, spinning into the air before crashing onto the ground.
She stumbled forward, breathless, her hands trembling.
I lowered my sword, looking her straight in the eyes.
"You’re strong, Yara. But remember, control is everything with space. The more desperate you are, the less stable it becomes. Calm down, and space will listen to you."
Yara’s lips curved into a slow smile, even as sweat dripped down her face.
"Yes, Darling...," she took a deep breath and nodded.
Alright, now that I’ve tested everyone’s power and combat style, I can finally create a few techniques for them.
And then...
I can finally ascend to the Divine Realm.
But before that... I’ll need to have a small meeting with Lilith.
And... the Demon King.