Chapter 77 Mid-Terms (5)

Words : 1769 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

'So, what do you think?' Luna asked, her tone carrying the faint amusement of someone who already knew the answer. 'You couldn't pay me enough to step into that,' I replied, glancing back at the chaos unfolding in the clearing. Rachel's golden feathers were tearing through Cecilia's chaos-spears, and somewhere in the middle of all that light and crimson, Cecilia's scream about hammers and Saintesses echoed through the trees. Rachel smiting Cecilia in her self-declared holy crusade? They could have all the fun they wanted without me. I turned and walked away, eager to put as much distance as possible between myself and whatever fresh madness they were creating. But, of course, the universe wasn't about to let me off that easily. "You've got to be kidding me," I muttered as I stopped in my tracks. The air shifted, heavy and oppressive, signaling the presence of someone dangerous. And then I heard the voice. "Arthur Nightingale," it said, calm yet cutting, like a blade drawn across stone. "The commoner who sullied Class A." I turned to face the speaker, and there he was: Ren Kagu. White hair catching the sunlight, his violet eyes glowing faintly, he stood like an artist preparing to critique an unfinished painting. "Ren," I said, gripping my sword instinctively. Official Rank 2. Temporary Rank 3. A prodigy whose name carried as much weight as his fists. The direct descendant of Liam Kagu, the First Hero, and the inheritor of terrifying talent. This wasn't going to be a spar. This was a trial by fire, and one I couldn't afford to take lightly. Ren tilted his head slightly, the faintest trace of a smirk tugging at his lips. "Well, at least you raised your sword. That's something." And then he moved. The ground cracked beneath him as he launched forward, his fist aiming for my face with the kind of speed that made the air itself recoil. I raised my blade to block, but his violet eyes tracked the movement with terrifying precision. He shifted mid-strike, angling his fist toward my chest instead. I adjusted, pulling my blade back just in time to intercept. The clash sent a shockwave rippling through the trees, and I was forced back a step, my feet digging into the earth to steady myself. "Not bad," Ren said, his voice calm as ever. His eyes gleamed with an unsettling focus. He wasn't just looking at me; he was analyzing everything—my stance, my movements, the flow of my mana. That was the power of his Gift: God's Eyes. Unlike Lucifer's overwhelming Yin-Yang Body, Ren's Gift was surgical, methodical. It saw through everything. 'Luna,' I thought as I steadied myself, 'I'm going to need you.' 'About time,' she replied, her tone as cool as ever. I activated Lucent Harmony. Golden energy pulsed through me, faint but potent, connecting me to the full spectrum of all eleven elements. The air around me shimmered as the technique awakened the potential to draw on elements I otherwise couldn't use. I didn't hesitate. I tapped into wind mana first, reinforcing my agility as I moved to counter Ren's next strike. He noticed immediately, his smirk growing slightly wider. "Interesting. So you do have something worth showing." He shifted again, his stance changing subtly as black energy began to swirl around his fists. The air around him grew heavier, darker, as though space itself was bending to his will. Grade 6 Art Void Fist's first movement: Collapsing Step. Ren vanished. One moment he was in front of me, and the next, the space he occupied rippled faintly, distorting like the surface of water. Instinct kicked in as I spun around, wind mana accelerating my movements. He reappeared behind me, his fist aimed directly at my back. I brought my sword up in a sweeping arc, channeling aura through it as I engaged the first steps of my Tempest Dance Technique. The strike wasn't just about raw power—it was about building momentum, layering each successive hit to amplify the strength of the next. Sparks flew as my blade met his fist, the clash sending a sharp vibration up my arm. Ren's expression didn't waver. If anything, he looked more amused. "You're building power. Not bad for a Grade 5 art. But that won't be enough." Searᴄh the nôᴠel Fire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He pressed forward, unleashing another strike with Collapsing Step, forcing me onto the defensive. Each of his attacks felt like a collapsing star, compact and devastating. I countered with quick, precise strikes, layering my Tempest Dance Technique as best I could, each swing of my sword growing heavier, faster, more forceful. But it wasn't enough. Ren's Grade 6 art outpaced mine at every turn. His attacks were relentless, his movements flawless, and his God's Eyes ensured that he was always a step ahead. I could feel the gap between us widening with every exchange. He moved again, this time faster, his aura surging as he transitioned into the second movement of Void Fist: Event Horizon. The air around him warped, compressing into a sphere of crushing pressure. My instincts screamed at me to move, but the pull of the technique was suffocating. I reached for light mana through Lucent Harmony, conjuring a brilliant flare that exploded outward, temporarily disrupting his attack. The light forced Ren to pause for half a second—a window so small it barely existed. But it was enough. I channeled the built-up momentum of my Tempest Dance Technique, my blade surging forward with amplified force. It wasn't enough to overwhelm him, but it disrupted his rhythm, forcing him to retreat slightly. Ren stopped, his breathing steady but his expression sharper now. "Interesting," he said, brushing dust off his sleeve. "You're not bad, Arthur. But you're still out of your depth." I didn't reply, keeping my focus sharp as my mana pulsed faintly around me. This wasn't over. Not yet. Ren stood there, calm and poised, like an artist critiquing his own masterpiece. His violet eyes, glowing faintly, locked onto me, dissecting every movement I made. He wasn't just fighting me—he was breaking me down, piece by piece. Every swing of my sword, every shift in my stance, was met with a counter that felt maddeningly precise. My Tempest Dance Technique was building momentum, each successive strike layering power into the next, but Ren's Grade 6 art, Void Fist, outclassed it. He wasn't just blocking or dodging; he was dismantling my rhythm entirely. 'He's too fast,' I thought, my breath coming in shorter bursts. I had to find a way to disrupt him—to force him into a position where even his God's Eyes couldn't save him. "Struggling?" Ren asked, his voice casual, almost bored. His aura flickered around him, faint but suffocating, like the calm before a storm. "Your art is good, but not good enough. You're playing catch-up, Arthur." I ignored the taunt, my mind racing. I needed to break his tempo, but he was already predicting my next move before I even made it. My usual tricks wouldn't work here. 'Luna,' I called out, my grip tightening on my sword. 'Any ideas?' 'You're stalling,' she replied, her voice sharp. 'Use Lucent Harmony. You have access to all eleven elements. Stop fighting him like he's someone you can outpace. Overwhelm him.' She was right. I couldn't match him with pure technique. I needed something faster, stronger—a decisive move that even his God's Eyes couldn't track in time. As Ren shifted, preparing for another movement of his Void Fist, I felt the opening. It was small—barely noticeable—but it was there. A slight hesitation in his stance, the faintest delay as he gathered mana for his next strike. 'Now,' I thought. I activated Lucent Harmony, drawing mana from lightning and light simultaneously. My aura flared, golden and crackling with energy, as the spell began to take shape. This wasn't just any spell. It was God Flash, my signature technique, elevated into a five-circle variant for this battle. The air around me crackled, charged with electricity, as the light mana condensed into a searing, blinding point of pure energy. The spell's brilliance lit up the battlefield, casting sharp shadows through the trees. Ren's eyes narrowed, his God's Eyes already reading the movements of the spell. "I see it," he muttered, shifting his stance. "But—" I vanished. The speed of God Flash was unparalleled, a burst of light and lightning mana that propelled me forward faster than the eye could track. Even with his God's Eyes, Ren couldn't react in time. He moved to intercept, but I was already there, my sword striking true. The collision sent a shockwave rippling outward, the force of the spell breaking through Ren's defenses. His aura faltered, and he stumbled back, his expression tight with frustration. He straightened, breathing hard, his violet eyes meeting mine with a rare mix of respect and irritation. "So that's your play," he said, his tone still calm but edged with defeat. "Even with God's Eyes, I couldn't follow it fast enough." The Evolver at his side hummed softly, tallying the points before activating its teleportation process. A faint glow surrounded him as the device confirmed my gain. +3000 Points. I stood there, catching my breath as the display on my own Evolver updated. Ren had collected 1,500 points already, bringing my total to 6,000. It was a massive boost, but the fight had taken everything I had to secure it. Before teleporting away, Ren gave me a faint smile, his usual composure returning. "You won this time, Arthur. But next time? I'll see even faster." And then he was gone, the forest falling eerily silent in his absence. I exhaled slowly, the adrenaline fading as I sheathed my sword. The echoes of the battle still lingered, but I couldn't let myself dwell on it. 'Good job,' Luna said, her tone slightly warmer than usual. 'Thanks,' I thought, rolling my eyes. But even as I moved to leave the battlefield, my mind was already on the next fight. With every point I gained, I became a bigger target. And if Ren was this tough, I couldn't even imagine what was waiting for me next.

Chapter 77 Mid-Terms (5)

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