Chapter 97

Chapter 97

Chapter 97

Chapter 97

Chapter 97

The initial step to controlling aura lies in guiding its flow through one’s own organism in order to increase muscle power; this rung is known as the beginner level of aura.

Subsequently, one reaches the level of aura knight, a stage where the warrior is capable of projecting said energy outside of their being, managing to coat a combat blade or structure a protective shield.

The peak phase corresponds to the Aura Master, a status in which it is possible to coat weapons, combat attire, and the entirety of the body with this force to materialize an “avatar.”

Drawing an analogy with a sorcerer’s scale, this achievement is equivalent to ascending to the sixth circle, a position that would empower anyone to join as an elder of the tower.

When a warrior manages to establish themselves as an aura master, there is no particular denomination for the subsequent rung. The task is reduced to polishing and accumulating the vigor of the aura along with the concepts infused into the avatar.

With the sole exception of seven individuals.

The most renowned warriors, celebrated for positioning themselves at the pinnacle of mastery of the sword and aura: The Seven Swords of the Continent.

These combatants constitute the origin and the motivation for the mythological “sword masters” who frequently star in the chronicles of chivalry.

Properly speaking, the designation “sword master” does not enjoy formal use among the community of knights. It was an expression created by enthusiasts to simplify for the people the understanding of the Seven Swordsmen’s immense talent.

Said phrase ended up spreading massively, transforming into the direct equivalent of the power wielded by the Seven Swordsmen.

Likewise, removing exceptional scenarios like the leaders of the Towers of the Five Colors, when a knight and a sorcerer of equivalent ranks collide, the former usually claims the triumph, unless the mystic is a war mage seasoned in countless battles.

The origin of an intellectual sheltered in the isolation of a tower and that of a combatant forged in the lines of battle are entirely distinct.

And there existed a war mage who had traversed an infinity of armed confrontations throughout his existence.

A war mage.

Under the mystical darkness of the winter night, the “world of ideas” belonging to a sorcerer can only represent two realities: a space of absolute certainty or an execution scenario destined to extinguish the rival using all available arsenal.

“You…”.

The white knight remained in that same spot, carrying a body structure and dermal surface fortified to the level of mithril metal, resembling a biological specimen forged in white metal.

“Does this environment seem familiar to you?”, inquired Dale, planted firmly in the middle of that winter night’s snowstorm.

“I care nothing for your insignificant world of ideas”, replied the white knight with hostility, holding his white weapon firmly, ready to initiate the offensive.

“A real pity”.

“What is it that you lament?”.

“I harbored the hope that, at least, you would have a notion of the site that would serve as your grave”.

“Since I started this, I did not harbor the slightest intention of returning alive”, manifested the member of the Knights of Saint Magdalena.

“My existence is consecrated to extinguishing the buds of evil that put my lord at risk”.

“Does it not seem degrading to offer such devotion to that pig?”.

“What attributes do you have to dare to disparage my lord…?”.

The words ceased. The white knight attacked with ferocity.

His physiognomy, which was not only protected by a mithril armor, but modified until simulating a biological entity structured based on silicon, adopted the appearance of white metal.

A whitish glow fell with force; however, it was not Dale’s task to contain it.

Clang!

The dark blade of the Death Knight intercepted the impact.

Despite this, the adversary represented likewise an aura master who channeled the entirety of his vigor through his avatar. The parity that the Death Knight previously manifested vanished completely.

The Death Knight under Dale’s control began to yield ground, being pushed back.

“It is not yet the ideal moment to rely on the vigor of Shub or Aurelia”.

A confrontation against a high-caliber rival, a dangerous transit on the edge of the abyss between existence and death… Each one of these experiences possessed incalculable value for Dale, serving as the foundations of his own evolution.

The cloak of shadows experienced a violent sway, causing the Shadow Lurkers to emerge from the shadows projected under his feet.

“Light of Saint Magdalena!”.

Simultaneously, the Knight of Saint Magdalena proclaimed the appellative of the sacred maiden.

“With the mercy and benevolence of the twin goddesses backing me!”.

A clamor filled with fanaticism, typical of a sacred combatant. Along with that shout, clarity emerged abruptly.

A dawn radiance destined to dissolve the shadows of the early morning.

“Chirriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!”.

Facing that luminosity, Dale’s Shadow Lurkers bellowed in unison.

With the purpose of eradicating the darkness that composed Dale’s domain, the radiant flash expanded with impetus.

“Rise”.

Dale uttered the directive once more.

Throughout the whitish and shadowy limit of the winter period, “they” stood up following Dale’s determination.

Within the world of ideas, a mystic possesses the faculty to manifest a quasi-divine force contingent on their aptitudes. A combat sorcerer of great magnitude disposes of the capacity to use “the environment itself” as an offensive instrument to annihilate the opponent.

“Order of the Death Knights”.

Evoking the hosts of the Order of Death, Dale proclaimed a mystical statement.

From the domain of death, its ruler dictated their march. Towards the inert remains buried under the whitish plain.

Successively, the hosts of the Death Knight, wielding the dark blades of Saxon, stood up.

“…!”.

The direct consequence of a perpetual polishing in the art of the sword and the discipline of necromancy, establishing the pillars of learning.

The “automatic” structure manifested, containing in each segment the vestige of a paladin, structuring an eternal military force. The imperishable combatants consolidated through the vigor of ideas.

Dale’s environment operated with the entirety of its power to suppress the opponent.

A space impregnated with malevolence.

The colossal power characteristic of a dark sorcerer of high rank.

“What kind of manifestation is this…?”.

Was it viable that such a display came only from a mystic ascribed to the fourth circle?

The Knight of Saint Magdalena, sheltered by his avatar, exhaled with profound consternation.

The imperishable combatants advanced with determination, without showing weakness before the radiance that intensified. The Shadow Lurkers submerged under the extension of shadows, evading the blinding emanations.

Traversing the extension of shadows, the thorny extensions of the Shadow Lurkers emerged and the forces of the Death Knight began their assault.

Blocking the path was positioned a warrior covered by a mystical radiance.

The Knight of Saint Magdalena.

“Grant me the temperance to never yield!”.

Before the hosts of destruction that approached, the unshakeable paladin brandished his blade of radiance with indomitable conviction.

Boom!

The blade of radiance impacted with force.

Seeking to neutralize the sacred warrior’s rival, the “Black Prince” of Saxon. Piercing the pectoral zone, the weapon of the dawn appeared through Dale’s dorsal section.

The vital fluid flowed copiously from the perforation.

“I have achieved the triumph…!”.

Flooded with frenzy, exclaimed the white knight.

A conquest obtained from the corners of desolation, disrupting the lines of the hosts of destruction.

The mithril warrior let out a laugh of victory.

“I have achieved the triumph…!”.

The white knight let out a burst of laughter.

Drops of vital fluid emanated from his destroyed ocular membranes. Ignoring completely that the thin ramifications of Shub were crossing his features, penetrating his cerebral cavity.

Dale remained contemplating him with a countenance devoid of any sentimental vestige.

After consolidating his ascent to the fourth circle, Dale was not the only one to experience an evolution.

His appreciated “cloak of shadows” and the mystical tome “The Book of the Black Goat” were not oblivious to this process.

At a prudent distance from the ramifications that destroyed the white knight, another extension was introduced into Dale’s auditory cavity. Transiting from the external zone to the tympanic membrane, running through the nerve duct until reaching the cerebral organ.

An unprecedented functionality of “Shub” incorporated as a result of the fourth circle’s conquest.

Dale was processing the brain of the Knight of Saint Magdalena.

The main nucleus for the management of stimuli, structured by approximately 86 billion nerve cells and a total of 150 trillion synaptic connections.

The existential trajectory of an “Aura Master” who polished his skill with the blade during his whole life was transferred directly to Dale’s conscious plane.

Consuming the rival’s cerebral organ.

It did not represent an action that Dale executed carelessly.

Preserving his own psyche in the midst of the immense flow of experiences that was transferred to him.

Internalizing the concepts consolidated during an entire existence by the Knight of Saint Magdalena to transform them into his own property.

──During his childhood stage, he contemplated how the holy knight praised his innate gifts with the white blade.

──He experienced the vital fluid and perspiration derived from an implacable preparation process in order to assimilate the nature of the aura.

“I have finally consolidated the avatar, my lord!”.

The Knight of Saint Magdalena began to emit disturbed laughter.

──The joy derived from consolidating as an Aura Master and materializing the avatar was transferred emulating the joy of an infant.

He moved his head, showing total indifference.

The entirety of the experiences of the Knight of Saint Magdalena.

Spanning from the intricate methods of aura manipulation that they used to employ to the set of data housed in his mind, absolutely everything was transferred to his being. Navigating through that tide of data, he selected the indispensable elements.

“It is time to check it”.

After concluding the compilation, Dale shifted his gaze. Pointing towards the Death Knight who held the dark blade of Saxon.

With the purpose of projecting the nature of the Knight of Saint Magdalena, who had reached the position of Aura Master, over the entirely dark aura blade.

The Death Knight, structured through the concepts of Dale’s environment, corrected the placement of his hands on the hilt.

He rotated the internal aura violently, superimposing the concepts of the Knight of Saint Magdalena with the goal of transmuting its tonality.

Zap!

The dark blade of Saxon began to emit a glow similar to that of a resplendent blade of white aura.

The whitish weapon represented the distinction of the Knights of Saint Magdalena. However, that barely lasted a blink.

Clang!

Seeing himself incapacitated to contain the energy alteration, the bone framework of the Death Knight disintegrated into multiple fragments.

Manifesting under the configuration of an avatar was a feasible matter, but he did not even manage to preserve his aura blade. Was it excessive to pretend that a combatant who sought to fuse the opposing currents of white and dark aura could manage to assimilate such a demand?

“……”.

From the beginning, he had not conceived too high projections. The simple fact that a notion inhabited his mind did not entail that he disposed of the capacity to assimilate it fully immediately.

Despite this, registering such a level of advance in such a reduced lapse constituted a feat probably lacking precedents in these lands.

“This is what the influence of Shub consists of…”.

─ Does it please you?

Shub showed an innocent smile, similar to that of a creature.

He subtracted any kind of importance from the warrior he was ruthlessly subduing using the ramifications hidden under his attire, encircling Dale’s neck with his upper extremities and ramifications as if it were the most valuable element in existence.

He was only located in the fourth circle.

Even registering a gap of four stages regarding the eighth circle, the status that the most relevant sorcerer in the continental territory occupies.

And the prerogatives of Shub, which barely gave signs of manifesting in the fourth circle, indisputably did not represent the definitive limit.

The ancestral Mother of Darkness.

If a mystical manuscript were to be homologated to a sorcerer’s combat blade, it would not constitute an exaggeration to catalog it as the best white weapon existing on the terrestrial plane.

“Those mystics who found themselves unable to assimilate it in the third circle will undoubtedly find themselves submerged in remorse at this instant”.

He reflected, to subsequently perform a movement of negation with his head. He was only located in the fourth circle, and the number of high-caliber rivals he would have to face would not know a definitive end. Just like the Knight of Saint Magdalena who remained in front of him.

After the dissolution of the world of ideas, he found himself located again on the combat surface of the Fighting Club. Expressions of astonishment were spreading everywhere, and those in charge of the narration were unable to hide their bewilderment.

Individuals wearing facial protections with bird-beak designs already kept their white weapons directed towards Dale’s crucial anatomical zones.

The elite executioners belonging to the Court of Shadows, under the direction of the blade of destruction.

“They have made a bad decision by fixing their weapons on my person”.

Replied Dale, showing total temperance.

“Fortunately, those who infringe the regulations of the Fighting Club experience the sanction that legitimately corresponds to them”.

He fixed his attention on the warrior who was knocked down before his position.

The Knight of Saint Magdalena lay in that spot, reduced to a body structure devoid of life with the cranial cavity totally empty, because the entirety of its internal content had dissipated.

Chapter 97