Chapter 63 Breaking the Limit

Chapter 63 Breaking the Limit

Since acquiring the Lunar Body, Kraush had been able to maintain the Annihilation Erosion at a certain level without penalties. It was precisely because he could sustain Annihilation Erosion that he was able to confront Adolf directly. However, Kraush had a different true reason for wanting the Lunar Body.

The range of my limits has expanded.

Annihilation Erosion is a secret technique that burns the power of world erosion within ones Ignis, storing that energy within the flesh. The downside is that the burning energy also damages Kraushs body. Thus, Kraush could only use Annihilation Erosion for a mere three seconds.

Now, with the Lunar Body, that range had significantly widened. At least during combat, he was able to maintain Annihilation Erosion at will. This meant he could potentially compress time back to three seconds and break even higher limits than now.

Ive never tried it before.

But it wasnt impossible.

Kraush threw away the respirator he had been wearing. It was more of a hindrance to his breathing. Then, he sheathed his sworda seemingly insane act in the midst of battle. Even so, Kraush fearlessly took a deep breath and summoned his aura from within.

At that moment, the power of world erosion in his body met the Ignis and began to burn. It was hot. Yet bearable.

More, just a bit more.

The power of world erosion within him flared up even more fiercely. The heat seemed as if it would set his entire body ablaze, growing stronger by the second. Kraush bit his lip. His mind felt clouded with heat, but the Lunar Body barely kept the heat at bay. Smoke trickled from Kraushs lips, and flames flickered in his eyes as his surroundings started to distort with the intense heat.

Adolf, too, sensed his anomaly.

What is he trying to do?

While considering how to subdue Kraush without inflicting harm, Adolf noticed a bizarre shift in Kraushs energy. The heat emanating from Kraush now surpassed even the surrounding fireballsit was as if his body was striving to surpass its own limits.

And Adolfs thoughts aligned with that notion.

More!

With a blood-spitting effort, Kraush once again stoked his body. The distant heat combusted, surging throughout his entire being. The heat permeated every muscle and nerve, and in an instant, Kraushs hair tips and fingers blackened with dark flames.

He had definitively breached his limits, and his domain expanded to an extreme. The heat engulfing his body compressed his consciousness to its utmost brink. The aura within him, combined with world erosion, swelled his body as he geared up for the next move.

Crash!

Suddenly, Kraush felt something breaking in his mind. It was a wall. The wall that had seemed insurmountable shattered in an instant as Kraush broke through to a new realm with his limit surpassed: the highest rank of Expertise, just before reaching Mastery, the divide between genius and the average.

His eyes, reddened from the heat, burned with an intensity never seen before.

Three seconds? Dont make me laugh. Its barely one second.

However, that one second was enough.

Boom!

The impact from Kraush stamping his foot echoed a beat later. By the time the shock settled, his sword had already been drawn from its sheath. Adolf belatedly raised his hand in response, but Kraush was faster.

The swirling heat surged from Kraushs sword, alighting upon meeting the Ignis, flaring up into dark flames. Kraushs sword stretched forward.

Sword and Spirit Fusion.

In this moment, Kraushs mind reached the domain faster than anyone else. As the ripples in the mental lake were engulfed by the fierce flames, the ascent consumed the fire.Ne/w novel chapters are published at novelhall.com

A single downward strike.

One Sword.

With that strike, the technique merged with the Sword Demons fusion art and Annihilation Erosion, reaching new heights. The fusion arts One Sword had now evolved beyond its constraints into a new secret technique.

Annihilation Erosion, Second Form: Sky Annihilating Sword.

When the dark flames cut through the Spirit Kings Forest, a brief pause of silence filled the space. Soon after, everything started to twist as if cleaved in half, and in an instant, an overwhelming blast filled the area.

Kaboom!

Within the blazing dark flames, Adolf looked down upon Kraush with wide eyes. Blood trickled down his cheeks, and his hand, raised too late, was reddened with burns as well.

The injury was minor. Facing world erosion, even one of the Ten Great Lords would consider such wounds trivial.

But never had he expected to receive such a wound from a mere youth, barely of age, and a Onmyoji at that.

Adolfs eyes slowly looked downward.

Kraush, maintaining the stance of his sword strike, gasped for breath, barely standing. His fingertips were blackened, and the sweat pouring like rain clearly indicated his limits. Moreover, Kraushs sword, due to the heat, was cracked all over.

Clang!

And unable to withstand the heat, his sword shattered.

However, his gaze, fixed directly on Adolf, remained undefeated.

Adolf slowly clenched his burnt hand.

He never thought it could pierce his protective magic. Simultaneously, his expression changed.

You are Balheims direct descendent.

Upon hearing Adolfs declaration, Kraush struggled to keep his eyes open with sheer determination.

It seemed like he had a veterans tenacity at such a young age.

What is your relationship with Aslan?

Kraush couldnt understand Adolfs question. But he was certain of one thing.

Just a damned acquaintance.

He was the one who had selfishly died first, leaving Kraush to struggle alone.

Adolf fell silent upon hearing that. Kraush was certainly going to grow, perhaps to a stature known by all someday. And those who stood beside him would belong to a new generation. Adolf glimpsed that future in this moment.

If Aslan could stand beside him, the story might change. Of course, the process of getting there would be a challenge.

After going through the trouble to retrieve Abella, who had suddenly vanished

In the meantime, this rascal had acquainted himself with such individuals.

Kraush!

At that moment, a gigantic wall of ice rose between Kraush and Adolf. Aslans magic.

Having hidden Dorothy in the water to avoid detection by Adolf, Kraush smirked.

Thud!

Then, a vibration echoed from the far reaches of the forest. Kraush and Adolf knew exactly what it meant. An upper-rank spirit, stirred by the commotion Kraush had caused, was heading their way. If an upper-rank spirit started rampaging, it could damage even the city walls.

An upper-rank spirit must be taken down at all costs.

Both of you!

I am a spirit.

I know.

My name might be false, my appearance, maybe even my memories could be fabricated by world erosion.

But to me, you are still Dorothy.

That would never change.

Aslan, have you heard about the very first spirit mage?

Of course, he had. The first spirit mage was from the Igrit family.

Maybe the end for spirits and humans is such an outcome.

Aslan lifted his hand to clasp Dorothys.

As she trembled at the warmth, Aslan spoke.

Even if a certain end is to come, I want to be by your side throughout the journey before that end.

Aslans red eyes met Dorothys blue ones.

That was enough.

Dorothy, with tears streaming down, now wore a bright smile.

Perhaps spirits were destined to love humans, she thought.

I like you too.

The tear-stained bright smile Dorothy returned was more than enough of an answer Aslan had been waiting for.

Having left space for Aslan and Dorothy, Kraush moved away with an almost deathly expression.

A bed called out to him.

Wake up. You have to take responsibility for what youve done.

Crimson Gardens remark, sharp as ever, echoed. She may as well be a demon. At least for now, he wished shed refrain from perching on his shoulder.

Mr. Kraush!

Mr. Kraush.

At that moment, Kraush heard two voices calling him. One was filled with surprise, the other as calm as ever.

When Kraush looked in their direction, there they were: one, a maid with incredibly light blonde hair; the other, a small girl with white hair.

Kraush tilted his head. It made sense for Lirina to be there, but why Bianca?

Mr. Kraush, Ive always been watching you.

It seemed Bianca had read his thoughts. A slight frown on her face suggested she was somewhat angry.

Why are you here, Lirina?

Avoiding Biancas gaze, Kraush asked Lirina. He thought she would have returned to the mansion by now or gone to Aslan.

Well, the mansion is in chaos, so I thought there would be a lot to do.

One reason was dereliction of duty.

And Im not so clueless as to intrude between Mr. Aslan and Miss Dorothy.

The second reason was simply tact.

Kraush couldnt disagree; he understood. In the meantime, Lirina glanced at Bianca and then spoke to Kraush.

To think you had such a cute fiance, yet you tried to lure me away.

Kraush was dumbfounded by her words. What was she talking about? Sure, Bianca was his first love, but that was a long time ago, and even as an ice sculpture, he had repressed his feelings.

However, Kraush caught on to Lirinas teasing glance at Bianca.

Her temper was the same as always.

Youre toying with a girls heart, truly a wicked man.

I am not a wicked man.

But Bianca objected to a different part.

Mr. Kraush is a good person.

Her eyes were filled with sincerity.

Lirinas eyes widened, then she looked at Kraush and covered her mouth.

Youre really cute. Its a pity for Mr. Kraush.

Kraush decided to just accept it.

I want to take her home in my pocket. Can you give me your fiance?

Dont even think about getting your saliva on her.

As Kraush pulled Bianca towards him, she opened her eyes wide, then rolled them around before slyly clinging to Kraushs arm.

Lirina, smiling contentedly, let out a faint sigh.

I got ahead of myself for no reason.

After the inexplicable remark, Lirina bowed politely to Kraush.

Thank you very much for helping Mr. Aslan and me. I will never forget this kindness.

It wasnt that big of a favor. Kraush had received so much from her before regressing that it helped him stay who he was.

But it was hard not to feel a bit relieved. Saving someone he couldnt had always been important to Kraush.

Thats good to hear

As he spoke, Kraushs vision suddenly cut out.

Ah, this is the limit.

And with that, Kraush lost consciousness.