Rivers of the Night

The [Water Bullets] that Chopra had blocked earlier radiated a chilliness. The bullets didn't ice over, but their temperature seemed to have plummeted in ways that the Runes weren't ready to react to. Or rather, they physically slowed the capability of the Runes to react.

Theron had already noticed earlier that when Chopra's armor took action, it needed elasticity and flexibility. First, it would absorb the attack that came, then swiftly change to store it, and then prepare it for action afterward.

If any one of these three processes was stalled, it could lead to a backlog that would allow the Runes to be easily overwhelmed. And other than a direct attack with Soul Mana, there was little that could do this better than cold Mana.

Mana wasn't just an external energy—it was part of the fabric of reality. And much like the laws of physics dictated, cold energy moved more slowly. In fact, this was one of the greatest weaknesses of Ice Mancers.

However, while Ice Mancers knew how to react to this, those who weren't clearly did not have this ability.

That said… Theron happened to be a Water Mancer who could tap into the other three Mancy Paths with his Water Resonance. It was why his weapons could fly into his hands, and it was also why—despite not being nearly as cold as ice just yet—his Water Mana could slow the reaction of Chopra's Runes to such a substantial degree.

Chi.

The barrier of Runes shattered, Theron cutting through it as though it were little more than a thin pane of glass.

Sparkling shards of transparent ruby red fell to the ground, contrasting the bright white-blue that surrounded Theron's body.

There was a flash, and for a moment it felt as though the world had turned violet.

BANG!

A twin pair of blades crossed the air, meeting at a point to press down on Chopra's spear.

Chopra took an involuntary step back, his arms trembling.

Heavy.

The strike felt so heavy.

Until it suddenly didn't. All at once, Chopra felt like he was falling forward, all the power he had put into blocking Theron's forward momentum slipping through as though passing through a mist of clouds.

Theron was sent flying for just a moment before he suddenly plummeted down from the skies again. Whether by design or coincidence, he landed on the surface of the waters once more, a sharpness in his eyes blooming as he cast [Pressure Burst] again.

In a flash, he appeared by the side of the off-balance Chopra, slashing down from above. A glow pulsed through his father's short sword, death wreathing it like the scent of the reaper's scythe swinging from the depths of hell.

Chopra could feel it—his hairs standing on end, his life flashing before his eyes. His armor didn't have time to recover, and he could practically sense the sharpness of the wind targeting just the slightest gap in his defense.

Dead. He was going to be dead.

Humiliated. Humiliated again.

This wasn't the sort of battle he wanted. Maybe he didn't even realize that he was more interested in a coordinated dance where he came out on top in the end. He loved battle so much because he never considered an outcome where he would die.

As for Theron, he was indifferent to his own life and death.

One of them wanted a show.

The other wanted a slaughter.

Chopra screamed, an involuntary shock pulsing out of him as he pulled on his Echo for the first time.

His armor and spear lit up all at once, the shadow of a white ape with hair that drooped akin to the leaves of an ancient, overgrown willow tree wrapped around him.

Chi.

Theron's blade passed through the air, Chopra vanishing right in front of him. A long slash appeared across the moat, splitting the waters and the earth beyond into a narrow valley.

A chilling breath left Theron's lips as he slowly turned toward Chopra's location.

The long-haired white ape loomed at the young man's back, almost like a puppet master holding Chopra's body up. A dense Soul Mana hung in the air, and it was only growing with every passing instant.

Another application of Space Mana. First it was just the spear's blade, but after summoning his Echo, Chopra had actually personally teleported away. If he hadn't, he would be lying in a pool of his own blood right now.

Theron looked down at the blade of his short sword. The glow on it was only growing fiercer as he felt like he was on the precipice of something.

No, he had been on the precipice for a while. It was just that he had suppressed it because the feeling of the moon jade allowing him to cross it had left a bad taste in his mouth, so he ignored it.

But now, he felt it.

That ape. There was a Resonance between its appearance and Chopra's Soul Resonance that was shocking. Chopra wasn't a Gold Mancer just yet, but right now, his Mana felt more substantial than any Gold Mancer Theron had ever come across—with the exception of the Alpha.

Of course, Elder Kelyne Black might fall into that category as well, but her control was such that Theron couldn't sense her clearly at all.

But now, he had the answer.

So that's it.

Theron had his very first thought since the battle began. He hadn't wasted even a single ounce of his mind on useless things, his actions practically all instinctual.

But now that he had had this thought…

Chi.

A ripple danced across Theron's body, [Shedding Water Skin] morphing and changing as Theron's Blue Pufferfish Echo roared with life.

Lower Manaborn Resonance.

Middle Manaborn Resonance.

Higher Manaborn Resonance.

Peak Manaborn Resonance.

Runebound Resonance.

The white-blue that coated Theron split, becoming the gorgeous illusory scales of a Blue Pufferfish, spikes growing out of it like the spine of the beast.

Theron crossed his blades, exhaling a breath as swirling masses of Water Mana poured toward him.

Chi.

The barrier to the Ninth Silver Resonance shattered, his aura taking another enormous step forward.