Chapter 407 Cylien Elaryon VS Alvara Teraquin [1]
"Start!"
Cylien raised her sword, channeling her mana until it pulsed with a vibrant, emerald-green light that engulfed the entire blade. The atmosphere around her grew thick with the potent energy she wielded, her pure and powerful mana seeping into the very air.
Those who had witnessed Cylien's prowess in battle before could immediately sense the change—she was undeniably stronger now, radiating an intensity that dwarfed her previous self. Her mana pulsed rhythmically, sending waves of energy outward as her leaf-green eyes locked onto Alvara. Cylien scrutinized her every move, but Alvara remained still, unmoved, clutching her umbrella with an air of indifferent confidence.
Alvara's gaze was as cold as winter's breath, disdain etched across her features. But Cylien paid no heed to the scornful look. Instead, she used the moment of stillness to her advantage, enveloping her sword with Ruah, the dense green aura thickening like a second skin around the blade.
The tension between them crackled, as Cylien drew in a deep breath, her chest rising and falling slowly. With a single, swift step, she vanished from sight.
BOOOM!
Cylien reappeared directly in front of Alvara, her sword slicing through the air with devastating force. The strike unleashed a fierce gust of wind that howled through the battlefield, scattering leaves and dust. Yet, Alvara remained unmoved, standing firmly as a thick, towering plant erupted from the ground, intercepting Cylien's blade with a resounding clash. The force of the wind merely toyed with Alvara's mint-green hair, lifting a few strands.
Cylien's grip tightened around her sword's hilt, her knuckles white with the pressure. She summoned a mana circle, its glowing green light focusing at the tip of her blade.
"Pierce through!" -WHOOSH!
The air hummed with energy as her sword cleaved through the air with terrifying speed, sending a wave of dust and debris crashing toward Alvara. But as the dust settled, Cylien's eyes narrowed—the woman stood there, unscathed.
Sensing the shift in Alvara's posture, Cylien instinctively leaped back just as Alvara raised her hand. A thick, thorny plant erupted from the ground where Cylien had stood moments before, its deadly thorns glistening in the dim light. The plant twisted and writhed with a life of its own, zeroing in on Cylien like a predator locking onto its prey.
"Elaryon Arts!" Cylien cried out, raising her sword high. In response, a brilliant green mana circle materialized around her, its light enveloping her entire body in a radiant glow. Her eyes flared with an intense green light as her whole body seemed to levitate slightly.
With a swift, precise step, Cylien dodged the incoming vine, her body moving with the grace of a dancer and the speed of lightning. Her sword came down in a sharp arc, severing the plant in two with a clean strike.
But the danger was far from over. Cylien felt a sudden, menacing presence behind her—another thorny vine lashed out, aiming to impale her. She barely managed to tilt her head, the vine missing her by the width of a hair. Without a moment's hesitation, Cylien spun on her heels, her speed a blur as she charged toward Alvara once more, closing the distance in the blink of an eye.
"Elaryon Art," Cylien whispered, pulling back her sword. Her eyes were locked onto Alvara as an immense surge of mana began to converge on her blade. The energy swirled and coalesced, forming a massive, radiant mana circle that hovered above the sword like a halo of power.
This wasn't just any technique; it was the Mana Circle crafted by Aerinwyn herself. As Aerinwyn's sister, Cylien had not only learned it but had mastered it to a degree that surpassed even Sephira.
She was excited to humiliate Cylien in front of Aerin if she was here. If not, then she would humiliate her in front of all others.
The taunt hit its mark. Cylien's thoughts momentarily drifted to her sister. Was Aerin watching? "Cylien!" Sephira's voice rang out like a bell, snapping Cylien out of her daze just in time.
-Spurt!
A vine grazed her cheek, leaving a thin trail of blood. Cylien instinctively recoiled, quickly checking the vine that had struck her. Relief washed over her as she realized it wasn't one of the red, poisonous ones.
But there was no time to savor that relief. More than a dozen thick vines were already hurtling toward her, aiming to skewer her alive. Cylien's heart raced as she tapped into her enhanced speed, dodging and leaping out of harm's way, but it was clear that she was now on the defensive, unable to close the gap between her and Alvara. Every ounce of her energy was focused on evading the relentless assault.
'How can she control so many at once...?' Cylien wondered. Each one moved with precision, guided by Alvara's will. The sheer amount of mana required to maintain such control should have been staggering, yet Alvara wielded it effortlessly, as though the vines were mere extensions of her own body.
Cylien knew she needed to act decisively. The situation was growing increasingly dire, and only a powerful technique would turn the tide. It would demand an immense amount of mana, but Cylien was prepared to make that sacrifice. She swung her sword down in a sharp arc, using the force to propel herself high into the air, far above the reach of the vines.
The vines reacted swiftly, twisting and lunging upward toward her, their sharp tips glinting in the light. But Cylien was ready. High above the battlefield, she pointed her sword downward she released a tremendous surge of mana.
The energy left her body in a torrent, forming a large mana circle beneath her. But she wasn't done. Another mana circle materialized below the first, and then a third, each one glowing brighter and more potent than the last.
"A three-layered Mana Circle!" Amelia gasped in disbelief from the sidelines.
Amelia herself could superpose two mana circles—a remarkable feat on its own—but three layers? That was a level of mastery that few of her age could achieve. The difficulty was immense, the control required almost superhuman.
"It's really getting dangerous now..." Victor mumbled, his eyes fixed on the scene unfolding before him.
"If it weren't Senior Alvara out there, this match might have already been stopped," Roda nodded, her gaze never leaving Cylien, who was now the focal point of everyone's attention.
Alvara's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Elaryon Art!" Cylien's voice rang out, clear and powerful, as her mana shaped itself into a colossal sword, swirling with dense, concentrated energy. The three mana circles coiled around the blade, intertwining with it, each revolution strengthening the sword.
Cylien's face grew pale but she didn't hesitate. With a fierce cry, she released the sword, sending it hurtling.
"Blade of Zephyr!"