With the activation of [Auto Mode], Raith relinquished control to the automation, allowing his own muscles to take charge of the driving. This seamless transition empowered Raith's remarkable skill known as [Multiple Cognitive Resonance], tapping into his muscle memory, honed abilities, and astute decision-making based on predictions, thereby showcasing his true potential.
It was perplexing to determine whether Raith was the one engaged in combat or not, as his countenance bore an impassive expression, akin to his state of samadhi. Balam had become well-acquainted with Raith's fierce and irritable visage over time, observing how his eyes moved when they were intensely locked in battle, how they never strayed but delved deep into his very soul. Balam had even admired Raith's unwavering focus during their previous skirmishes.
However, something had changed in the present moment; that intense gaze was absent, replaced by a disconcerting emptiness.
"I assume you are too engrossed in the moment to grace me with your customary taunts and jests," Balam remarked, speaking in accordance with Raith's prior behavior.
Yet, silence followed his words, with Raith offering no response but instead preparing for his next offensive maneuver.
Balam lifted his chin, attempting to grasp the situation. It seemed that Raith had once again entered that enigmatic state—it was the most fitting explanation he could provide, despite his limited understanding.
Thus, their duel raged on. Raith transformed into a blur, and materialized before Balam, executing a swift upward arc aimed at cleaving through the demon's torso. However, Balam swiftly backstepped and spun around, launching a kick at Raith—
Kang!!
Raith's sword resonated as it intercepted the attack, yet the force of Balam's kick propelled him backward. Rolling over, Raith landed gracefully on his feet and immediately lunged forward, obliterating the ground beneath him as he launched himself into his next move.
Wham
Kang!
Kang!
The clash of their weapons reverberated through the air, creating a symphony of sound accompanied by sparks that danced in their wake. Raith's sword relentlessly met Balam's formidable claws, intensifying the skirmish with each passing minute.
As the battle grew more heated, Raith launched strikes from every conceivable angle, his fluid body movements a testament to his mastery of the [Extreme Art of the Blade God], even though he refrained from uttering the skill's name. Each maneuver he executed showcased its devastating effects on the surroundings, often leaving Balam with the narrowest of escapes.
However, the fight did not solely favor Raith's side. Balam's patience waned, causing him to gradually lose composure and pour all his energy into the conflict. He activated explosive spells, and Raith suffered a large amount of damage. But it was not enough to keep him down.
Magnificent layers of barriers were erected, only for Raith to slice through them as effortlessly as slicing through bread. Even Balam's attempts at employing demonic arts of illusion proved futile. None of his tactics succeeded in keeping Raith down, not even their intense sword-to-claw exchange.
Raith's unyielding onslaught began to wear down Balam. Despite Balam's utmost efforts, he could feel his strength diminishing, his movements slowing. Each strike from Raith carried great weight, leaving Balam struggling to keep pace—it was as if Raith had suddenly gained an immense surge of power.
Yes, Raith did not show it but Balam's effect over his stats had worn off, the demon could not keep it going for very long. Balam was frustrated, he was frustrated at his incapacity to drive Raith into a corner and deliver a skull-breaking blow that will make Raith know that he wasn't joking— he just had to admit that this human was strong.
Balam moved with unparalleled skill, yet Raith matched and surpassed him, both in terms of his combat abilities and now-unchanged stats. It was a source of great vexation and annoyance. Overwhelmed by desperation, Balam tapped into the fiendish energy within him, enveloping his body in a malevolent aura. Unleashing a torrent of dark spells, he hoped to catch Raith off guard, each spell tearing through the ground with their impact as they surged toward Raith like arrows.
To Balam's dismay, Raith deftly evaded every attack, his instincts honed to perfection in this state.
Balam's attacks found no opening as Raith's [Multiple Cognitive Resonance], in conjunction with its subskills and the meticulous utilization of minute details, worked seamlessly. Every potential vulnerability was swiftly countered, leaving Balam unable to land a single blow.
Whish!!
Raith's blade emitted an ominous, ethereal radiance, heralding the unleashing of a devastating counterattack. His strikes were a fusion of unparalleled speed and raw power, strategically targeting Balam's fleeting moments of weakness.
Blow after blow connected with Balam's form, unleashing shockwaves that reverberated through his body, causing him to stagger and blood to splatter violently as if it had taken on a life of its own.
Balam's shattered composure was replaced by an untamed fury. Defying Raith's relentless assault, he bellowed, tapping into his inner reservoir of strength, harnessing his demonic powers to their apex. Fiendish energy coiled around him, transforming into a torrent of infernal might, as if seeking to engulf Raith.
Yet, Raith remained unyielding. Despite the encroaching darkness and Balam's all-consuming attack, the young warrior stood firm, devoid of any emotional response. His unwavering gaze remained fixed upon the demon king, undeterred by the chaos unfolding around them—people crying out as the destruction and consumption escalated.
Suddenly, Raith sheathed his blade, his head bowing slightly. As he raised his eyes once more, a transformative shift occurred. His gaze split, with one part emanating a crimson glow and the other exuding tendrils of black smoke.
'Thanks to what I watched right now... I realized something.' Raith spoke, his voice carrying a newfound certainty.
Throughout the battle, it was as though Raith had been observing himself fight Balam from a detached perspective, intently focused on the decisions made by [Auto Battle]. Moreover, he utilized [Multiple Cognitive Resonance] to evaluate and refine the choices executed by [Auto Mode], drawing upon his Wisdom stat to discern optimal applications for each action performed within [Auto Mode]'s control.
However, what truly captivated Raith's attention was his sword, Bal. He recognized that [Auto Mode] was incapable of harnessing Bal's true potential in the same way he could. Bal possessed a unique attribute that allowed its attack power to fluctuate according to the user's own strength. With a single swing, it was conceivable to cleave Balam and even the entire realm of Therut in half. However, reaching a certain level of enlightenment was necessary to unlock such devastating power.
This was precisely why Bal emphasized the significance of activating Sword Intent—a skill that Raith had yet to fully grasp, although he was inching closer to its realization.
Fuuuuuuu
Raith exhaled slowly as the inferno continued to rage around them.
"Domain of Darkness," he uttered.
With a resounding impact, everything transformed in an instant. Balam's inferno vanished as if it had never existed, leaving him trapped within Raith's realm of darkness.
[You have activated 'Domain Of Darkness']
[All Laws Will Be Subjected To Your Will For 5.5 minutes]
[A NEW STATUS HAS BEEN DISCOVERED]
[FORMLESS WILL]
[YOUR DOMAIN WILL BE GREATLY AFFECTED BY THE EFFECT OF FORMLESS WILL]
[DO YOU WANT TO MOULD YOUR WORLD USING FORMLESS WILL]
"Yes"
[ALL ATTACKS WILL REACH THE TARGET HOWEVER YOU DEEM IT]
[DUE TO FORMLESS WILL NO ATTACK CAN REACH YOU IN THE DOMAIN OF DARKNESS]
[ALL YOUR SOLDIERS THAT ARE AROUND YOU WILL GAIN AN EXPONENTIAL INCREASE IN STRENGTH FOR 5.5 MINUTES]
In the midst of the chaos, Antares found himself being relentlessly pummeled by Hallan Lamar. However, in a sudden surge of dark energy, Antares unleashed a wild explosion that sent Hallan reeling backward.
The resilient ant rose to his feet, his body pulsating with newfound power. He cast a grateful gaze in the direction where the devastation was most pronounced.
"My king, even amid your demanding responsibilities, you extend mercy to your loyal servant. I shall forever serve you, my king," Antares declared with unwavering resolve, redirecting his attention to Hallan, who was already closing in on him.
PSSSEEEEEUUUJUWWW!!
BOOM!!
A tremendous explosion erupted as the two collided, inflicting grave injuries upon each other.
Balam was astonished at this new scenery. He was very sure now.
"The abyss is with you. All this time, you possessed the power of the abyss?" Balam questioned.
"And so? I haven't even used the abyss' power with you until now. Are you going to say you lost because I had a primordial existence backing me up? The only edge I had above you was being able to resurrect and you wouldn't consider that unfair seeing how you were ten times stronger than me up until a moment ago."
Balam squinted his eyes, again Raith's words were making sense.
"You have a way with words, it infuriates me."
"I couldn't care less about your feelings," Raith retorted. "As I've said, this is a moment of growth for me. And now, I am confident that I am stronger than you."
Raith's words struck at the core of Balam's pride. "You're a fool to think so. If we had fought in Felfhiem, do you truly believe you would have emerged victorious?"
Raith responded cryptically, adding to Balam's perplexity. "We shall soon find out..."
Raith just muttered another word that made Balam puzzled.
"This is the concluding part of our fight, are you going to stand there and be lost in your thoughts or are you going to toughen up and attack me with all you've got."
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