Chapter 259 - Number Our Attacks
Nearly an hour before, the group had moved into the portal. An important discussion was happening as the group fought through the armies.
The team kept on adjusting their efforts and attacks to balance out the battle. It was the first time that Kyros was very strict with his orders. It was precise and detailed. But as those who followed were experts and geniuses, Kyros didn't hold back but increased the standard.
Soon the group got used to the fighting, and Kyros was able to talk freely.
"Our future enemies beyond the portal will be Commanders. What is vital is for us to defeat at least another Commander and decimate the armies and weaken it. But I'm sure our future enemies will be like us. We have Fate Challenger. They have Destiny Challenger. In short, they will be capable of creating plans that will counter our abilities. Fate and Destiny have powers beyond our comprehension. And for some reason, Destiny can the abilities that we display, but Fate cannot. From my experience, Destiny can even listen to the words that we say! But now, in this trial, it seems Fate is offering her protection."
"Yeah. I sense that too. It's as if there's a blanket of protection over us."
"I'm guessing Destiny can see us but cannot hear us now unless there are Champions of Destiny nearby. Then I think Destiny can figure things out." Kyros explained.
"So basically, our enemies will have the perfect counters for our ability?"
"It depends on the way they use it. Destiny cannot do beyond certain limits. During Aunt Martha's struggle with the Thane Dragons, Destiny used the foolishness of those dragons, which made them unknowingly evolve to a very high level that forced them to their deaths. I believe not all of Destiny's forces are like that."
"So one weapon we have is to use the personality of the enemy against them..." Martha answered and immediately began to devour one shadow creature.
"That's one thing. But easily said than done, right?"
"Then what do you propose we do, Kyros?" Mezal asked.
"The reason why I plotted to kill that dragon using the Temple's Holy Beam is to hide it from them. Destiny now knows the full power of Holy Beam. Back when I fought the Blood Calamity, I intentionally used a very weak amount of energy and revealed only a small percentage of it. But against that Dragon, I used its full power. Now Destiny knows how strong the Holy Beam is, and I doubt that using it in the future will work. Not unless the Temple grows stronger."
"So, how are we going to fight if our enemies can keep track and counter all our attacks?" Demerus asked.
"The first thing we have to do is to carefully number our attacks. We have to reveal the minimum amount of techniques, attacks, and abilities that we have. Whatever that we already revealed, we use as our basis. But when the critical moment comes in, we reveal more of our techniques."
"So meaning, since I revealed my basic sword abilities without even using my special sword jobs, I'll just pretend to be a swordsman with True Cut?"
"Yup. Don't use your abilities as a Ravager, Blitzer, and all of those sword specifications. Just stick to what you showed and only reveal another if you are sure that you can kill the enemy. The same goes with you, grandfather. Stick with that Paladin form for now. Think of the coming battle as a massive chess game with Destiny. Destiny will keep throwing pieces and pieces against us with what he currently has. That's why I told those guys at the Temple to find a way to push forward and catch up with us. Our job, in the meantime, is to take as many pawns, bishops, knights, and rooks as we can. So number your attacks."
The Emberdons then realized why Kyros didn't ask them to reveal any more than the basic.
"So meaning, with these basic attacks, and everything that we have revealed, we use it to the max? This is our only way to survive?" Ressi asked.
"It's not enough. The second thing that we have to do is always exceed Destiny's estimation. Right now, Destiny must have very high expectations since I managed to clash and survive the Blood Calamity. I'm sure we will soon run out of aces. And this means that you all have to develop stronger attacks along the way." Kyros explained with a serious expression.
"What?!" The Emberdon's was shocked and all chorused together.
"That's a bit difficult. Only Aron can do that here. I need time. You and Martha can because of your Coven ability. The rest of us can only increase in our levels with the Myster Experience System." Mezal frowned.
"Think of a way to overcome, grandfather. You and uncle Aron have something that can change the game. If you are sons of Steel, then it means you must have the same power that I have."
"What power?"
"A Second Source." Kyros explained.
"A Second Source?!" Triona shouted in shock. Of the many things she researched, the mythical Second Source was one she spent her life to know about.
"What's a Second Source?" Martha asked.
"You should have one too, Aunt Martha. A Second Source is practically a secondary source of power. Most cultivators use Magic and Force Energy. Some cultivators are even able to combine both and use Force as Magic and Magic as Force. But the stronger beings have another power source that can fuel both. This allows them to release stronger attacks than the thickness of Force or Magic that they can immediately release and wield is greater. The more energy one can store in their Second Source, the better."
"What a miraculous thing! Aron, use the next fight and try to awaken that Second Source. You have the most potential of using it." Mezal called to his son.
"Hmm.... I think I found it."
SLASH!
He made a simple slash, but it was as if it was one of Kyros's [Force Slash].
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Was that it?"
"...Yes." Kyros was secretly cursing. In his previous life, he needed the help of Greater God Daradiel to awaken that. Although he was not as smart as he was now, it still felt like a blow to his genius ego.
"Anyway. Let's do an accounting of what we have and what we haven't shown to Destiny. We'll need all of it!" Kyros ordered, and an intense discussion more intense than the fight they were doing happened as they traveled all the way to the portal.
The group even discussed for nearly ten minutes in front of the portal and kept killing those that stepped inside.
And then, the step out happened.
Back to the current state of the battle, the stab of Aron contained the very Second Source he was able to bring out. And this Second Source was actually the bane of all who were of the Dark. The Second Source that Aron had was Ancient Source.
The power of an Ancient God and the force spreading out on the Crab Commander were causing immense pain.
The sword was too long and was as if it was indestructible than his brute force could not break it.
Kyros's who had teleported out of the portal, had delivered a powerful kick that caused the sword to sink in.
And after the kick, Kyros immediately dove in and helped Aron push the blade further inside. The dark, liquid-like power of his cloak began to move through the blade and seep inside the Commander.
And then, the Commander noticed that Mezal was already charging with great speed.
The sword handle that was stabbing inside was in the right position. Aron was holding it and kept pushing, but there was space for Mezal to attack.
"[Knight's Charge]!" Mezal charged with booming speed, and his shield tackled on the sword handle.
BANG!
The sword penetrated and pierced through the Crab Commander.
"[Skotos Eis Phos]!" Kyros activated his ability, and the dark liquid that was inside the Crab Commander blew up.
"AHHHHH!" The Crab Commander was being burned from the inside. His weakened organs from the Ancient Source were attacked, and he lost the ability to wield his force energy.
The flash of light purged him from the inside, and when it was weakened, the power of the Blood Sword was taking effect, and it was slowly draining the blood within.
The attacks inside were unique. Kyros had wielded his Mysterion that both light and dark existed and did not clash. One part of the energy kept burning, and the other kept devouring the enemy from the inside.
The Crab Commander fell down in his weakness. Kyros stabbed his sword as Aron pulled out his sword.
"I'll go help Puff and the Champions," Aron said and charged to fight the disorganized Champions.
The Crab Commander finally noticed the state of his troops.
He could see a massive dragon attacking his forces.
"That's the little dragon you attacked earlier," Kyros explained.
"How...? That is a Wyrm! That former whelp... couldn't have become like that even if it ate every inch of Commander Pyrestarter!" The Crab cursed.
"Puff is a magic dragon. He lives by the sea." Kyros answered mysteriously.
The Crab Commander made the right assumption about dragons. Such a scene should not be possible. It will take decades for dragons to awaken even an inkling of power. But Puff wasn't a normal dragon. He was already on his way to becoming a god-like being, and so, the Dragon Commander gave Puff the ability to reveal a Wyrm form for several seconds.
Kyros had given the orders for Puff to take in a massive attack so that Destiny would think he was weakened. But in the Separated Realm, Martha had gathered hundreds of Shadow Creatures which Puff quickly devoured all. The power of Dark Consumer was already bestowed on Puff through his link with Martha, and it allowed Puff to regain a bit from the damage.
And after recovering, it used the Dragon Commander Pyrestarter to transform into a Wyrm for several seconds.
The army of giants became the perfect food for Puff. He appeared and attacked Champions and began to eat the huge creatures. When the force field disappeared, the Emebrdon Champions sent out a barrage of attacks.
"Damn you! How? That portal shouldn't have opened! What happened to my buffs?!" The Crab cursed out.
"Your Champions had an enema. So they weren't able to concentrate on helping you.." Kyros chuckled.