Chapter 315: Ascendance (XVI)

Chapter 315: Ascendance (XVI)

Chapter 315

Ascendance (XVI)

The sheer expenditure of Mana within the briefest nanosecond caused a series of implosions that decimated the surrounding area. Ripples echoed out into sonic booms, further destroying the throne room, even before the two had a chance to clash.

Cain blinked back, dodging the electric strike of the blade that far surpassed the speed of sound. At this level, fights were not a matter of skill and pre-meditation, but rather a test of precognition and reflexes. Not only was it about predicting where and how a strike would land, but also what kind of a skill would it be, its furthest outreach, as well as the ability to deal with the moment-to-moment changes.

In his past life, this was also one of the reasons he never managed to break through his eventual plateau--he was unable to match up with those who could simply think faster and act faster at times where ones brain simply doesnt have enough time to process what was happening.

Even the most evolved species, Cain had learned, were the same--brains capacity to process information was limited, especially quickly, which was why it teaches the body to react to certain things--such as, for instance, when putting the hand over the open flame, the instinct is to immediately pull it back, or when experiencing any kind of electric shock.

When it comes to fighting at this level, however, it even goes beyond that; life continues to flash and lights blind you, and all sounds are eradicated from existence. One fights amidst the silence and darkness, unaware of the realities floating by. Void hangs tall and looms each and every passing tick of time, one incalculable by a mind. All, there and then, is ethereal, ephemeral.

Fire surged in the colors of the sun around Cain, discharging outwardly in a ring-like fashion and diving like an all-consuming tsunami, a beast beyond beasts, the kind that swallows the worlds. Yet, amidst the fire darkness surged, and a blade as thick as the night itself bellowed out, cutting directly through the fire, shooting an array of encroaching darkness that forced him to slam his palms together and enthrall the lights of cosmos to his side.

Starlight burst out of his eyes and slammed into the black fire, causing yet another implosion, usurping the law and order of the universe. The throne collapsed and the pillars collapsed and the pillar of light and dark, of colors muted and saturated, shot up to the sky, through the roof, obliterating it.

Like an upward-down canopy, it spread--like fireworks it blasted off into the sky, for the whole world to see.

In the meantime, two men surged toward one another, darkness in the shape of a gaping maw of an eldritch beast crying toward the fire-consumed silhouette that blared out a mile-long blade of fire and stabbed forth.

Even literal hundreds of miles away from the epicenter of fighting, she could feel the shockwaves sweep over her. If she hadnt coated herself with a Mana shield, she would have been disintegrated. Numerically, the amount of Mana being spent... was incalculable. Likely tens of times her entire reserves. It wasnt that Cain had reserves that were that much larger than hers, but that he could control natural Mana, so-called World Mana.

You sure picked up something interesting, Q, a familiar voice spoke out but, for the first time in many, many moons, she had no energy to be angry with them.

You gonna follow him? the other one asked.

You guys will? she realized, glancing toward them.

Of course, the twins shrugged, though just one spoke. Meeting a King, especially one this young, is like finding a Primordial Gem just lying around randomly in front of your house. That stuff just doesnt happen. Yet, it did. Plus, hes battling someone with a Chaos Gem without outright dying, which means his Chaos Resistance is at least at half a percent. Which means...

He can go there.

Yeah. And since hes a young King from an underdeveloped world, his Knights and Guards are nothing compared to us, one of them added.

Haah, I dont think you can win him over that way, Quinn shook her head, chuckling bitterly.

What do you mean?

Look at him. Do you really think he needs us?

...

Ill ask, she added. As for whatever he responds... thats on him. Hush now, theyre starting again. If were lucky, we can pick up on something.

And even if we dont, just watching the Kings fight... haah, if only Mana control came that easily...

If indeed...