Chapter 124: Battle [4] – Trump Card
[KYSAAAGHGHGHGH—!]
The Present let out a furious scream as a strange smell had begun emanating from her body.
At this moment, she wanted nothing more than to tear Voomie apart.
Her arms stretched unnaturally through the air, reaching for the fleeing dog.
Even Bonjour, who was still bound by the ropes, felt suffocated by the overwhelming malice.
"I guess my time ends here... woof..."
Voomie released a sorrowful bark as the ghostly hands closed in from all directions.
"SUMMON DOG!"
Caelum suddenly shouted as Voomie vanished.
The next moment, she appeared in his arms.
"YOU ARE NOT GETTING ANY MORE FOOD!"
Caelum yelled before throwing her toward Paul and Sénior.
"WOOOFFF–!"
Voomie was sent flying once again.
Unfortunately, Caelum had no time to worry about her.
He had finally found the opening he had been waiting for.
’What terrible timing...’ he thought.
Then he unleashed his newly created technique.
[Heaven Dominating Divine Sword Art] — Modified Form
[Supreme Tornado Barrage]
The blue tornado surrounding the battlefield abruptly stopped.
For a brief moment, hundreds of Caelum’s afterimages appeared within it before all of them converged toward the Present.
Every single afterimage unleashed a [Heaven Transcending Slash].
Some attacked the Present while the others targeted the ropes binding Bonjour.
The sky was instantly filled with countless streaks of blue sword light.
The Present’s response was immediate and a dark liquid emerged from her body.
The liquid condensed into countless sharp spears that pierced through every afterimage.
However, the afterimages dissolved into water and then the water froze.
Thousands of ice shards rained down upon her.
The Present became visibly irritated, at the same time, she tightened the ropes binding Bonjour.
Ghostly energy surged into his body.
She wanted to tear him apart, or perhaps force his head open from within.
"AHHHH!" Bonjour roared in pain.
The Black Arder surrounding him fiercely resisted the invasion.
Then the real Caelum appeared.
Pouring nearly all his remaining Sword Qi into a single strike, he slashed at the ropes which were quite damaged from the previous attack but not fully cut.
Crack!
This time the restraints broke apart and Bonjour fell down.
The Present’s gaze shifted toward Caelum.
[The Nightmare didn’t affect you?!]
Her voice contained genuine confusion and anger as several of her nails were severed by the sword attacks.
Then her expression twisted before both of her arms merged together.
The fused limb transformed into an enormous scythe.
The next instant, she appeared before Caelum.
Boom!
The massive strike slammed into him.
Caelum was forced backward.
He gritted his teeth and endured it, but his sword could not.
Crack.
A crack appeared on the blade and with every clash, the cracks spread further.
To the others, the battle looked like two streaks of light colliding repeatedly in the sky.
One blue, one dark.
Unfortunately, the dark streak was slowly gaining the advantage.
’Damn it! When is it happening?!’ Caelum thought anxiously.
Then he made a decision as his Aura exploded outward and pain spread through his body.
His bones creaked as he was forcefully drawing upon the power of his [Aura Body].
The sudden burst of strength allowed him to regain some ground, but it was only briefly.
Moments later, another mental attack struck him.
This time his senses dulled and his concentration wavered.
Boom!
He crashed into a distant mountain.
Crack!
His sword also shattered and the broken fragments scattered across the battlefield.
[Now die!]
The Present screamed triumphantly.
At last, this game of cat and mouse was over.
The thought of obtaining a powerful body to resurrect within filled her with anticipation.
In truth, this was the main reason she hadn’t immediately killed them.
She wanted an undamaged vessel, and Caelum’s body was perfect after selection.
The enormous scythe descended toward his heart.
But seeing this Caelum smiled.
"Finally, so it was true."
A strange light appeared within his hand.
[Heaven Dominating Divine Sword Art] — Modified Third Form
[One Point End]
A white sword materialized from nothingness.
Intricate carvings of dragons, phoenixes, and mythical creatures covered its blade and the moment it appeared, brilliant Sword Qi erupted into the sky.
The Present was completely caught off guard.
Slash!
Her left arm exploded apart.
[KYAAAHHH!]
The Present screamed.
At the same time, Caelum felt a mysterious power awaken within him.
His Aura Body strengthened, his injuries recovered rapidly and even his physical strength increased.
’I guess it wasn’t called a Hero’s Physique for nothing...’
Then the Soul Banner appeared behind the Present.
Like a spear, it pierced through her skull.
[KYYYYAAAAAHHHH!]
The Present released another terrifying scream.
Caelum looked at the sword in his hand as blue Sword Qi pulsed around it.
The blade appeared both majestic and mysterious.
This was his [Natal Sword Seed], a treasure he had nurtured for months which had become a true sword.
Not only did it amplify his Sword Qi, but it also enhanced soul damage.
This had always been one of his hidden trump cards.
Then he looked at the Present as his eyes held great anger.
[You! You deceiver!]
The Present’s soul trembled as everything was going wrong.
’Those two fools! If they had simply lent me their power, everything would have ended already!’
Caelum pointed his sword toward her.
"Did you really think I would blindly follow what those two told me? You made me reveal several of my trump cards and you dragged all of us into this mess which nobody asked for, and after making everyone suffer you don’t expect me to leave empty-handed, do you?"
His voice no longer sounded like that of a child.
"Do you take a seven-year-old cultivator for a joke?"
The Soul Banner trembled. Receiving its master’s command, countless characters engraved upon it lit up.
The Present’s expression immediately changed as her strength began draining away.
[This... what evil trick is this?!]
She trembled as her essence was being extracted.
Without responding, Caelum removed the black rectangular box from his inventory.
Then instead of using it directly, he covered his hand with Aura and smashed it.
Crack! Crack!
The box broke apart before a pale smoke emerged.
Then two figures appeared.
Both had the same essence as the Present yet both looked far more human.
[Help me! The person you’ve chosen is strange!]
The Present immediately shouted.
[I have nothing to say to you. Though his name is strange, I sensed many hidden powers within that young man.]
The Past said calmly.
The Future nodded.
[It is time for you to be sealed once again. I do not know how long you will sleep before the stone awakens you again, and I shall also release that pitiful bird.]
The Present nearly exploded with rage.
[YOU TWO IDIOTS! OPEN YOUR EYES BEFORE YOU SPEAK!]
She screamed.
For the first time since the battle began, the Present felt both anger and embarrassment toward the other versions of herself.
Comments