Shadow Blood and Fire

"What a jerk! He did!" After a while, Atlas grunted and then she continued, "I don't care how powerful you think he is, I will test his strength."

Seeing the eagerness in his granddaughter, the old man heaved a deep sigh.

However, the old man didn't design to stop her. However powerful this young man might be, he and his granddaughter should be safe in his own territory. He had fought many brutal wars during his life, and he scarcely feared death, much less a young man.

The grandfather and granddaughter pair decided to wait for Eli to finish his Invigoration. About half an hour later, the boy opened his mouth and spat out a crimson glowing gas. This parcel of Crimson gas shot forward a few meters and traced an arch in the air.

"I was right. He is practicing an ancient advanced art!" The old man's face arched into a smile.

Atlas has a brave soul; although she was as surprised by the development, she was not moved.

Unlike her grandfather, she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. Her prestigious family background had sheltered her from many dangers; she was young and fearless, driven by purely the valor of ignorance.

The young man inside the Turbo-like vehicle had been watching the development from inside the vehicle. His hand had reached his waist where his plasma blade rested.

Eli pushed himself up to his feet, and he looked 

He turned his head around and was surprised by the pair that lurked behind him all the while.

Seeing that the boy had woken up, the old man smiled and stepped forward to greet Eli:" Greetings, young man. Glad to see another budding Advanced artist! My name is Earl Adenea, May I ask what your name is? Where do you hail from? and may I have the honor to know your teacher's name?"

"Adenea?" The name sounded very familiar to Eli.

Seeing the tightened bodies of the two, Eli wagered that the sight of his Invigoration had caught their interest.

Eli shook his head, a wry smile playing on his lips. "I am but a humble seeker, learning the Way of the universe in search of enlightenment."

Internally, Eli's amusement bubbled like a quiet stream; he had already resolved to toy with the interlopers just a tad.

"The way of the universe?" The elder's brow furrowed in bewilderment, such advanced arts were foreign to his ears.

"Enough dallying, Grandfather. I shall engage him myself," Atlas declared, pivoting to fix Eli with a glacial stare. "Your earlier deceit irks me. Demonstrate your prowess!"

"A duel, you propose?" Eli's mind flickered back to all his past confrontation, its memory bitter. Yet, the maiden's challenge sparked a novel thrill within him.

"I'll be damned! To best a lady or to be bested?" Eli mused.

After a moment's deliberation, he opted for peace—she was a formidable level 5, and the odds were not in his favor. With an exaggerated shrug, he replied, "Forgive me, but as one who reveres the universe, we seek inner peace, not to clash with fists and steel."

The girl's snort was laced with scorn. "Nonsense! Your sneer was unmistakable during my practice. Cease your feigned ignorance!" she retorted.

" Where lies the harm in a brief exchange of skills? My granddaughter, though just a beginner in her advanced arts, is swiftly mastering the basics. Your guidance could hasten her progress into the introductory stage," the old man implored, his tone steady yet insistent.

Despite the elder's serene demeanor, a shadow of doubt lingered. He had shared his name, yet it seemed to hold no meaning for Eli. How could a master of the arts be oblivious to his renown?

With a resigned shake of his head, Eli exhaled deeply. The challenge was inevitable.

He plucked a fallen gambrinus leaf, his fingers nimble, as he summoned his arcane energy. Drawing upon the universe's energy, he infused it into his hand, merging the powers before directing them into the leaf.

[Phantom Step: Unsuccessful] [Energy Reserves: Depleted by 2 Units]

With a deft flick, the gambrinus leaf streaked through the air, its form a mere shadow against the daylight. It skimmed Atlas's visage, severing strands of her raven hair and leaving behind a slender crimson trail on her cheek before embedding itself into the trunk of an ancient tree. The impact sent a shudder through the mighty oak, dislodging a cascade of leaves and twigs.

"Take heed!" the elder barked, a futile warning against the swift turn of events.

Atlas, her shock palpable, fingers brushed the fresh cut, her eyes wide staring at the gambrinus leaf embedded in the tree.

"To transmute a leaf into a weapon… inconceivable!" she exclaimed.

The old man's pulse thundered in his ears, relief flooding in as he realized his granddaughter was spared grave harm. His smile, tinged with irony, acknowledged the spectacle before him. "To witness such archaic and potent arts is beyond my wildest imaginings. This… this surpasses all. I, nor my kin, could evade such an assault."

Approaching Eli with reverence, the elder bowed deeply. "To encounter a grandmaster of your caliber, and one so youthful, is a privilege," he intoned, his voice heavy with awe. The old man surmised that perhaps he alone could grasp the magnitude of Eli's abilities—a potential that hinted at the divine, known only to a select few who understood the advanced arts as a path to godhood.

Atlas, curiosity piqued, approached the tree, her attempts to retrieve the leaf futile as it disintegrated into the breeze. She faced Eli, her gaze a mix of wonder and disbelief.

"How did you achieve such a feat?" she whispered.

Even the driver of the turbocharged vehicle was taken aback, the plasma sword in his grip forgotten.

Eli had merely conducted an experiment, fusing his arcane energy with the universe energy to activate his Phantom Steps. Though the skill faltered, constrained by his agility not meeting the requisite level of 15, the leaf was nonetheless transformed. It became a phantom, swift as a bullet, sharp as any blade, propelled by the universe energy for short period of time and reverting to its original form upon impact. While his other abilities remained unresponsive, this single successful trial was a testament to his potential.

Eli said candidly, "It was nothing. Just a little trick."

Although Eli was only at level 1, he could channel his arcane energy into the blade of a gambrinus leaf, having reached the initial stage.

"It might be a small trick for you, young sir, but for me, it was like an unbelievable miracle only a grandmaster could do!" the elderly man exclaimed.

Although the elderly man had lived through a tumultuous life and had eventually earned himself a great fortune, his lifelong dream was to become a powerful advanced battle artist.

However, over the years, he had come to terms with the fact that his talent was simply mediocre. Advanced arts grandmasters were a rare breed. As resourceful as the elderly man was, he had not yet had the opportunity to meet a real grandmaster in person, until now.

"I'm not a grandmaster."

The elderly man seemed perplexed by Eli's confession. Plus, the technique the boy had just used was emblematic of a Transcendent Master's power.

But why did he deny it? Was he really not a Transcendent Master? Unable to find an answer, the elderly man decided to push the question aside for now.

His priority was to befriend this boy, regardless of whether he was the grandmaster or not. If he could do what a grandmaster could, what difference did it make anyway? Plus, he was young and… not ugly. He could be a perfect match for his gorgeous granddaughter.

The elderly man's mind raced as he tried to think of ways to befriend the young man. He quickly plastered on a smiley face and then said, "It doesn't matter. On another note, you seem to carry an accent from Hutton District. Are you from here?"

Eli was not surprised by the man's conclusion since coming to Hutton District; he had been faking the accent because he wanted no unnecessary disturbances and he had done such a remarkable job.

"Yes, I have been away for a few years and I'm back in the district for my final year of high school," Eli nodded and continued, "My name is Eli Dengare Baxter."