Inside a huge castle that was floating at the centre of the world.
A man sat on a Throne before which many people lined up in an orderly manner.
"So, you guys are here."
A hint of reminiscent flashed across the man's lips staring at the group of people lined up before him.
Among the people standing in front of him and looking at him, a man with long grey hair opened his lips.
There was a little disbelief in his voice.
"Well then! Are you sure about this?"
To such a question, the blue-haired man sitting on the Throne answered in a solemn tone.
"Hmm! I am sure."
"We are going to die if we keep going on like this."
His voice was hoarse and filled with pain as he stared at the group of attendants around the place.
Everyone was conscious of his gaze and frowned seeing the weird expression on his face.
"Prepare everything. Take out all the artifacts we have that can be used to defend.No need to save anything. Spend everything. Keeping our life is more important than death. Give priorities to live substitution artifacts."
Loud murmurs echoed across the place and soon everyone dispersed after hearing the man's command.
Beams of light shot out from the castle and people moved across the world upon receiving the commands.
After that, the grey-haired man walked forward and asked,"What happened to you, Frederick?"
"You are too tense. I have never seen you like this."
"We will talk about that later, Aeon."
Frederick smiled bitterly and massaging his forehead stared at the screen.
[Survive The Palm Strike of God]
[Time until The Palm Strike-33:45]
Frederick stared at Aeon, one of his trustful aids and asked him to have some rest.
"Don't put that rotten expression. Rose would be saddened if she saw-…Sorry, I misspoke."Aeon covered his lips and lowered his head with a guilty look
Frederick's expression turned ugly and he closed his eyes with a saddness
"If only, she was here."
Aeon didn't speak further. In fact, he regretted saying Rose's name. It was his habit to tease Frederick about Rose but now it's just a painful memory.
As the grey-haired man retreated, Frederick picked up his spear and wiping it gently murmured, with a sombre voice.
''What are the chances of surviving that strike?"
[Less than 10%]
Frederick stared at his spear and grumbled.
"You used to boast so much but you couldn't even do anything before it."
[Stop blaming me. A weapon relies on its master to shine. It's not me rather you who wasn't able to use my full power. You were just too tired to use your full strength last time.]
"Hmm! If possible let's just drag this battle and save as much energy as possible. And if not, it's better to retreat then and then come back later."
Frederick threw his spear aside and walking towards balcony, put his hands on the rail stared at the deep sky filled with countless stars.
"If you wanted me to give me a trial of future events, why didn't you give me a trial to save her or them?Why did you give me this scene?"
"In this way, I could have met with her and let go of my regrets."
Except for him, none of his academy friends managed to survive.
"I didn't know I would feel this but I am already missing Parth's bullshit."
.......
As if someone grabbed his head and pulled him upwards, Lucas' mind began to shift somewhere.
Amidst the twisting black space and endlessly flickering energy, a new land immediately formed around him.
At a certain moment, Lucas' vision became clear.
At the same time.
KWANG!KWANG!KWANG!KWANG!
As if he had come out of the water, sounds from around the place started to pour into Lucas' ears at once.
"Stop it somehow! Stop it."
QUANG!
"You bastard!"
"I will fucking kill you all."
"Don't let them breach the wall."
"Arghhhhh!"
"No!"
The screams that burst out of endless waves of people resonated in his ears, cries of humans and non-humans along with countless explosions reverberated.
The scene that was unfolding before him was hell.
AHHHHHHHHHHH!
A wave of monsters filled the entire horizon in the distance crashing towards the place endlessly.
And to his misfortune, they weren't simple monsters but the demonkin followed by many demons dyeing the entire place in red with their killing intent.
Before him stood thousands of Knights and soldiers fighting a fierce war with the Demons blocking through the narrow canyon.
And behind him was a village and barrack where people were slowly evacuating the place. He could see the endless sorrow and pain in the people's faces as they pulled the dead and the wounded with them.
Upon leaning forward, he saw a soldier's head getting chewed, limbs getting torn off and protruding intestines and organs dyeing the floor red.
Despite this, the soldiers, filled with fighting spirit, didn't retreat even for an inch and were desperately blocking the rushing waves.
At that time, chimes began again.
[You have entered 'The Valley Of Death.']
[You have inhabited the body of Cadoc Frostshalde.]
[During this ordeal you can use the skills and abilities of Cladoc Frostsbalde along with your own skills compatible with the level.]
[The Demon King army headed by Black Dragon Asuka, one of the top executives of the Demon King side is leading his army to the cannon. The fall of this place will allow him to march into the central continent and will put the lives of 8 million people in jeopardy.]
[Defend the place until reinforcements arrive and stop their advent.]
[Failure condition]
*Death before reinforcement arrives.
*The Demon army will break through the walls.
........
Suddenly countless pieces of information surged into Lucas' head.
Descend of Apocalypse On Death Valley.
This was the name of the Tragedy given to this event that took place during the World Destroying War.
Out of four heavenly generals of Demon, Dragon of Doom sends his troops to attack and take over this place while Human allies are engaging in war with other Demon generals.
Humanity didn't notice the attack so they weren't able to respond. Cladoc, who was guarding this place at the same time met the enemy with 15,000 troops.
Being outnumbered, despite giving his all Cladoc couldn't stop the black dragon Asuka and was annihilated along with all his troops. After the place was breached, the demons went into a frenzy and scattered across the place making it difficult for reinforcements to track them down.
This was one of the worst defeats of the human kind that resulted in huge casualties.
'This should be the highest level of difficulty according to the ordeal.'
Seeing the grotesque sight, instead of cowering in fear, a crescent arc carved over Lucas' face.
Maybe it was because the experience of Cladoc Frostblade had merged with him or for other reasons, he didn't feel out of place.
"Status screen" Lucas murmured.
[Status][Shop(Locked)]
Name: Cladoc Frostblade(Lucas Bright)
Species: Human
Bloodline Grade: Diamond
Realm: 8-Star+
Combat Ability: S
Strength: 8-Star+
Agility: 8-Star+
Stamina: 8-Star+
Perception: 8-Star-
Magic Power: 8-Star
Stat points:
Exp:None
[Professions]
Swordsmanship level: Advanced[Half-Master]
[Skills]
<Rank G>[Locked]
Fireball, Flash Step
<Rank F>[Locked]
Ice Spikes, Shadow Steps
<Rank ??>
Mana Devour
[ Arts]
<Grade 2>
Drifting Sword Art
<Grade 4>
12 Movements of Frostblade Sworsmaship
<Grade ???>
Abyssal Asura Sword Art
[Bloodline Ability]:
(Telekinesis)
Refraction
Note:Shop is disabled and lower-ranked skills can't be used.
......….
Looking at the changes in the system, Lucas was unable to contain his smile.
His blood boiled with excitement feeling the dense rich magical energy following through his body.
The current body had the power of both Cadoc and Lucas with their bloodied abilities.
During the training, Harris had repeatedly preached to him about the battlefield and its harsh condition.
"Every time I get something from the system or someone else I am put in a situation where the things I have got are required."
Lucas had dismissed this thought before but the coincidence had overlapped too much that made him think as if he was some kind of pawn of a certain someone.
"I don't like it."
Lucas' eyes glowed fiercely while running around.
The Knight's eyes were immediately dyed with doubt as he saw Lucas suddenly running lightly on his spot swaying his hands and feet and doing a simple exercise as if trying to adapt to an awkward body.
Lucas was enveloped in a mystical feeling. The first few movements were quite stiff and he wasn't able to control the force behind his movements. Every time he moved, he could feel intense energy radiating from him.
"Cladoc...Sir?"
"What are you doing?"
"Are you going to leave? Are we retreating?" The man's voice turned bitter for a moment, hearing a calm tone.
"Yeah!''
Contrary to the tone, the expression of the lieutenant contorted with bewilderment seeing the weird expression of his superior.
"Are you sure you want to leave this place?"
Lucas just kept smiling and without answering the Lieutenant Knight's words, Lucas slowly pulled the sword upwards.
[Mana Devour]
That moment...
Swoosh!
All the surrounding atmosphere churned, burning white as if it were incandescent, and all the mana began to be sucked in towards the sword.
QUAKE!
The space tightened and the earth vibrated.
The sword, which absorbed the pure power of mana burst, unable to withstand the impact and began to shake as if asking for mercy.
The skills of his original body were imprinted in his soul.
Therefore, although the magnitude of that power may have changed depending on the body of the higher realm, there was no problem in using it.
If so, what would happen if Mana Devour was used along with Abyssal Asura swordsmanship with a being who reached the peak of 8-Star and attained a pseudo-master realm in sword level?
Now it was time to find the answer.
It didn't matter if he lost or dies. Going through this special trial and fight in a body of 8-Star was an experience that wasn't something he could gain again.
'So, let's just dismantle everything.'
Like a drop of red paint.
A Crimson aura began to spread across the entire blade, which had been glowing white.
The sword over his head vibrated more strongly as if screaming and the surrounding space that couldn't withstand the force started crumbling.
Grasping his sword tighter, Lucas stared at what was at the far end of the waves of destruction.
A black dragon watched over the battlefield scattering its far-flung power and overwhelming presence beyond imagination.
Lucas' lips curled upward and the madness started to cloud his eyes.
The reason why Harris harassed Lucas was to make his emotion reach extreme to learn the sword art that converts the user's extreme emotions and bursts with an imaginable power.
[Abyssal Asura 1st Form]:Madness
"Black Dragon Asuka."
"You, who is watching over the path of doom, will be blocked by the wall of madness of humanity that wants to protect people."
A loud imposing voice pieced through the battlefield lifting the morale of soldiers.
A large pillar of red colour packed with magical energy created a surge that shot out towards the sky from Lucas' blade.
Trying to hit the head of the opposing army which is in the middle of 9-Star along with a huge army with just 8-Star. If this isn't madness then what is it?
"Soldiers, today let us show them our mad resolution."
An imposing cloud voice came out from Lucas' mouth who stared at the black dragon with cold eyes.
SCREECH!
The moment Lucas' sword which had finally achieved the complete crimson colour of blood dyeing the entire place in red, was lowered.
The wave of monsters and demons that covered the world started to split into two as a huge pillar of dazzlingly bright crimson light started descending upon them making their visions blank and wreaking havoc on their hearts.
Visit freewe𝑏n(o)vel.𝑐𝘰𝑚 for the best novel reading experience