Ae slowly walked forwards. He was in no rush, the enemy would not go anywhere. In fact, the enemy neither advanced nor fell back. Surely, the enemy commander must have expected that the Shadows would deal with Ae, but after seeing him turn around and slash at the empty air, doubt must have creeped in. Now, the enemy was momentarily paralyzed.

In Ae’s eyes, the enemy only had one option to deal with Ae, if subterfuge failed; surround him and kill him. However, they were unaware of Ae’s new abilities. As long as there wasn’t a Subjugator or a Tyrant among them, they would fall like chaff before the wind.

With a scoff, Ae launched himself forward, crossing the entire distance in half a dozen leaps. The enemy didn’t have the same careless attitude as they did when they were charging the center—knowingly impaling themselves on pikes and spears to try to strike the enemy. These ones were far better organized. Ae realized that they must be led by a Tyrant or Subjugator, if they were acting like this.

Ae’s sword arced through the air and heads rolled at his feet, their expressions captured in a frozen moment of surprise. The enemy was fearless and unrelenting, but Distortions who survived an encounter with a being like Ae are few if any even exist.

The Distortions tried to surround Ae as he cleaved his way through their ranks, but he was clearing enemies in front of him, and pressing onwards, fast enough so that the enemy couldn’t even keep up with him. Not a single Distortions could parry or block Ae’s sword, and with each sweeping strike, two or three of them fell. When they did manage to finally attempt to strike at his exposed back, his sword—as if seeking its own death—turned on them and cut the offenders down mercilessly.

Ae was unstoppable.

Physical energy: 7822/18000

Ae realized that using his best skills was tiring him out quickly. He was doing well, but at this rate, he wouldn’t last much longer. He still had plenty of Spiritual Energy left, and if he ignored charging his attacks with Lightning Energy, he could use it to refresh his Physical Energy.

Before acquiring the perk [Lightning Mastery], Ae had to transform his Spiritual Energy into Lightning Energy. But now, he was able to passively generate a small, but sufficient, amount through the [Plane Conduit] skill. All things considered, even without the [Lonely Blade] Principle, today he was a far superior combatant than he was yesterday.

An empty suit of armor stopped Ae’s blow with a large, heavy shield and struck at Ae. Ae parried the blow and took a step back. The suit of armor was an Echo, and quite a powerful one at that. The moment Ae stopped backtracking, Distortions swarmed at his back. Ae turned on his heel in a way that was far too smooth to be natural, and his blade angrily carved through the Distortions trying to swarm him. Their lifeless eyes still held on to that glimmer of surprise and disappointment, even as their light faded.

Ae turned once more, raining down three heavy blows on the Armor’s shield, each in quick succession. The shield cracked and fragments of metal blasted out of the impact point. The Armor was being pushed back, finding no opportunities to strike back at Ae who, even despite focusing on the Armor, still managed to attack the Distortions surrounding the Echo.

The enemy started to hesitate. They were not afraid of being cut down by Ae’s sword, the cause of their hesitation was the lack of apparent weak points in Ae’s flawless defence. No matter how they tried to approach, what seemed to be an easy target would only lead to their own death.

Physical energy: 4269/18000

Ae narrowed his eyes. He couldn’t avoid using special attacks here, if he was going to defeat the Armor. He channeled his Lightning Energy into his sword.

Radiant Sword

His sword crackled with electricity and then hummed with a deep, rumbling tone. The silvery surface glowed with a brilliant light, as if looking at a bolt of lightning itself. The sword came down and carved through the Armor’s shield, and then continued onwards, slicing through its arm and halfway into its chest.

Ae kicked the body away, freeing the sword and continued onwards. In his wake was nothing but death, blood, and a thick silver stream of mist continuously flowing into Ae’s mask. Unlike the Shadows, these enemies did not evaporate on death. Ae and the others had long suspected that there were a few special types of enemies on the Ancient Battlefield. The suits of armor and the creatures made of stone, Ae and his comrades classified as Golems, while the Shadows they classified as Elementals. The Shadows were, after all, entirely made out of shadows it would seem.

After a few seconds of slashing through his enemies, Ae realized that there were far fewer enemies around him. They were still there, but instead of attacking, they seemed to be retreating.

Ae stopped advancing and glanced around himself. The enemy wasn’t retreating, they were making room. Ae instinctively knew that it was time for their commander to show up and face Ae. There was no point to taking the right flank, if all of them died—therefore it made sense for the most powerful among them to face Ae.

Please don’t be a Tyrant.

Soon enough, the Distortions before him parted, making room for an individual with deep red eyes and unnaturally black hair. Although it was not visible, Ae could sense an aura about him that was like a black mist shrouding all the Heavens—it was unfathomable.

What… what is this thing? Is this a Tyrant?

Ae swallowed, a chill ran down his spine as he considered the person before him. He looked to be about Ae’s age. In his right hand, the humanoid held a thin, straight sword.

“Greetings, Celestial,” he spoke in a human voice.

“G-greetings?” Ae said with a doubtful tone.

“My name is Azat. What is yours?” he asked, glancing at Ae’s sword with a curious expression.

“Ae.”

Azat smiled. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Celestial Ae.” Azat paused, considering Ae. “You seem surprised. What’s the matter?”

“I just… never met an enemy who talked to me before. Are you a Tyrant?”

Azat laughed and shook his head. “I was, once. I am a Fractal now.”

“A Fractal?”

Azat nodded, “Mmm. I regained my free will, therefore I am a Fractal.”

Ae must’ve looked even more confused than he did before, because Azat chuckled once more.

“They are mindless,” Azat said, gesturing to the Distortions. “Motivated is perhaps the better word. You could call it a single-minded purpose: to kill Celestials.”

Ae slowly nodded. “But you are not like them?”

Azat shook his head. “Like I said, I can ignore the compulsion of the Root.”

Ae lowered his sword, slightly.

“Oh no, I am still going to kill you. But only because I enjoy it.”

Ae raised his sword again, “We can’t be allies?”

Azat smiled, “Of course not. I saw you fighting, before, on the left flank, and that hill. You always seemed so… imperious. I just couldn’t help it this time. I want to kill you myself.”

Ae felt the dawning of fear gnaw at his mind, but the [Serenity] skill quickly blocked it out. Ae released a deep breath. “Very well. Let us begin then.”

Ae dashed forward, sword falling towards Azat’s neck. Before Azat could even have a chance to defend, Ae’s blade found purchase and embedded itself deep into Azat’s flesh.

That was easy.

Ae was about to retrieve the sword, when he realized that Azat is still smiling. Why is he smiling? Despite Ae’s intentions, his sword began to backtrack through the wound he inflicted, the same way it came in. The flesh under the blade mended, and Ae realized he was looking at the slash in reverse—as if time itself was being reversed.

The [Serenity] skill was working overtime to suppress Ae’s surprise and helplessness. No matter how hard he tried to push the blade back in, it refused to obey.

Ae struck at Azat again, but this time, Azat parried Ae’s sword. Ae’s sword rumbled, shimmered, and then exploded into a thousand pieces. Only the hilt of the sword, and part of the guard, still remained in Ae’s hand.

Before Ae could even realize how hopelessly outmatched he was, Azat’s sword buried deep into his neck.

Your head has been destroyed.

You have died.