Chapter 412: Chapter 412 - The More, the Better
Hundreds of shadow tendrils shot out from Atlas, racing through the air toward Bolin in the distance.
But the old man moved with incredible speed, darting away and slipping past the reach of every single tendril.
Atlas burst forward like a flash of lightning in pursuit. Even so, Bolin’s movement was just as fast. Riding his flying sword, the old man weaved through the sky with terrifying agility.
Atlas swung his right hand to the side. Instantly, the thirty two swords and spears following him shot forward, tearing through the air toward Bolin at extreme speed.
The sharp weapons closed in, but every strike was blocked by layers of magic shields cast by the old man, each blow deflected and sent flying away.
Faster.
A burst of golden lightning exploded outward as Atlas accelerated again, finally catching up. He swung his spear straight at Bolin.
Bolin smirked and laughed. "Not that easy, Atlas."
The old man countered with refined martial movements, deflecting Atlas’s attacks with precise motions, blocking every strike head on.
Then he shot away once more.
Atlas chased after him. The two streaked across the sky, moving so fast they were little more than flashes of light.
Above them, the ethereal azure dragons unleashed cannon-like blasts, all firing toward Atlas at once.
Atlas dodged at impossible speed, his movements like lightning slicing through the air, avoiding every single attack.
He was not fighting just one enemy anymore.
In a split second, Atlas appeared directly in front of a gaping azure dragon. He thrust his spear forward, slicing cleanly through its upper jaw.
The dragon vanished instantly, dissipating into nothing before Atlas’s eyes.
Atlas surged forward again. He leapt swiftly between magnetic step platforms, his body zigzagging through the sky at extreme speed, evading every incoming attack with sharp, precise movement.
In a flash, he was face to face with Bolin.
"Not bad," Bolin said. "You are quite entertaining."
Atlas struck immediately, swinging his spear in a powerful thrust sweep.
At the same time, all thirty two swords and spears shot forward together, converging on Bolin from every angle.
But the old man moved beyond expectation. His body shifted with unbelievable precision, deflecting every single strike as if he were creating afterimages of himself, each movement cleaner and faster than the last.
Bolin suddenly lunged toward Atlas and unleashed a rapid punch. His arm split into multiple afterimages from sheer speed.
Atlas blocked with his spear, shadow energy wrapping tightly around the weapon.
The impact sent Atlas flying backward. Yet in the next instant, he reappeared behind Bolin.
The old man stiffened in surprise as Atlas seemed to multiply.
Bolin spun in place, throwing punch after punch. Each successful hit caused Atlas to split again, more duplicates appearing in the air.
Then all of them rushed toward Bolin at once.
Bolin twisted midair and formed a spinning magic sphere around himself. The sphere rotated at incredible speed, releasing a violent force that blasted the duplicates away in every direction.
But one Atlas remained.
That single figure drove his spear forward with flawless precision, piercing straight through Bolin’s heart.
Blood burst from the old man’s mouth. The strike had shattered his mana core. Atlas could feel it clearly.
This was a clean kill.
"Is it over?" Atlas said, a faint smirk forming.
"Not that easy, kid," Bolin replied.
His body dissolved instantly, vanishing from the spear. A moment later, he reappeared far away, floating in the air without his flying sword.
It was clear now. This was one of Bolin’s system abilities.
An ability that allowed him to evade death itself, or at least bypass it entirely.
Whatever the exact mechanism was, one thing was certain.
This was a truly terrifying ability.
"What do you think, Atlas? Are you already getting tired?" the man spoke with a booming voice.
Atlas spun his spear once and took his stance again. This was only the opening, he knew that. And he still had many tools left to use against this man.
He took out two potions from his inventory, one to recover his mana, the other to fully restore his stamina. He could do this many more times if needed.
"Oh? So you are already running out of stamina after doing those cute little moves?" Bolin mocked, flying closer.
"Well, I already killed you once," Atlas replied flatly. "And I did not even break a sweat."
"Killing me once is not enough, Atlas," a voice answered.
But that voice did not come from the Bolin standing in front of him.
Atlas glanced to the right as another Bolin appeared there, floating calmly in the air.
"Maybe you need to kill me four times," another voice echoed, as a third Bolin appeared far to the left.
"Or maybe five times."
"What about six times?"
Then more figures kept appearing without pause. One after another, until there were twelve Bolins in total, all flying and surrounding Atlas from every direction. Behind each of them, an Azure Dragon writhed and coiled through the air.
"However, I will admit this, Atlas," all of the Bolins spoke at the same time. "I am quite entertained. At the very least, this has been a rather enjoyable warm up."
He laughed again, his voice overlapping from every direction. "So, what do you say if we begin the second round? Do you want us to come at you one by one, or shall all twelve of us attack you at the same time?"
A surge of golden lightning roared louder around Atlas, while waves of shadow and boiling blood energy churned violently around his body. He gripped his spear tightly, his stance unwavering.
"Come at me, all of you," he said calmly. "The more, the better."
As his words fell, thunder exploded across the sky, and the clouds darkened even further.
All twelve Bolins rushed forward at once.
[Unique – Stormcall Domain (Active Skill) activated.]
[Legendary – Crimson Reaper Dominion (Active Skill) activated.]
In the same instant, crimson reapers manifested again, each one locking onto a Bolin and the Azure Dragons behind them. Golden lightning tore through the sky, crashing down brutally as it surged straight toward the incoming enemies.
Spectral blades swung. Thunder shattered the air. The battlefield turned into pure chaos.
"I will not fall to cheap tricks like this, Atlas!" Bolin roared, his voice echoing from all directions as the clash erupted head on.
