Chapter 70: New Arts in Battle

Chapter 70: Chapter 70: New Arts in Battle

It barely had time to react before Sylphie swept across its face, forcing its attention away for the smallest moment.

That was all Damon needed.

"Nice one, Sylphie!"

He smiled.

"I’ve got it!"

The spear hummed in excitement.

Lightning burst along its shaft.

Damon lowered his body.

Every lesson.

Every hour of training.

Everything Cedric had drilled into him flowed naturally.

One step.

Another.

His footwork was flawless.

The distance closed in an instant.

The Tyrant finally raised a claw.

Too slow.

Damon’s eyes shone brightly.

"Lightning Art..."

His grip tightened.

"...Flashstep Pierce!"

BOOM!!

The spear disappeared.

Not because it was invisible.

Because it moved too fast.

A concentrated bolt of silver lightning pierced straight through the Tyrant’s shoulder.

The impact exploded from the other side.

Blood mixed with lightning as scales and frozen armor burst apart.

The beast screamed.

"ROOOAAAGHHH!!"

The entire arm went numb.

Silver lightning continued tearing through its body long after the spear had withdrawn.

Damon’s own eyes widened.

"...What?"

Even he hadn’t expected that much power.

Freya practically squealed through their connection.

She was just as shocked.

Then Damon laughed.

A loud, genuine laugh.

"So this is what it’s like."

"I finally get it."

He spun the spear once before charging again.

"No wonder everyone shouts their Arts!"

"It really feels cooler!"

He vanished again.

"Lightning Art..."

Flash!

"...Flashstep Pierce!"

Another devastating strike tore across the Tyrant’s side.

The explosion threw the massive beast several steps backward.

The Frost Lynx watched everything in stunned silence.

Moments ago...

Its master had been risking her life just to survive this monster.

Now...

This young man and his spirit companions were overwhelming it together.

The Lynx slowly lowered its head.

Not out of fear.

But respect.

This human...

Was far stronger than he first appeared.

Yet the battle only grew fiercer.

Every clash shook the chamber.

Lightning flashed.

Wind howled.

Ice burst apart.

The beautiful crystal cave that had once stood untouched was now filled with deep craters, broken pillars and countless scorch marks.

The Frostfang Tyrant fought like a beast cornered to its last breath.

Its once imposing figure had begun to lose the overwhelming aura it carried when Damon first arrived.

Fresh wounds covered its thick body.

Blood stained its white fur.

Several patches of frozen armor had already been shattered.

Its movements were becoming slower.

Not by much.

But enough.

Enough for Damon to notice.

Enough for him to smile.

"There."

"I knew you’d slow down."

Boom!

His body vanished.

Lightning wrapped around his legs as he appeared beside the Tyrant once again.

"Lightning Art..."

"Flashstep Pierce!"

CRACK!!

The silver spear stabbed into the beast’s shoulder before disappearing again.

Blood sprayed.

Before the Tyrant could swing its claw...

"Crii!"

Sylphie arrived.

Her six wings spread wide as she glided across the battlefield.

She didn’t simply slash anymore.

She controlled the battlefield itself.

The currents around the Tyrant suddenly twisted.

The wind wrapped around its legs.

Not enough to trap it.

Just enough to delay it.

A heartbeat.

That single heartbeat was all Damon needed.

Slash!

Another deep wound opened across its ribs.

The Tyrant roared in pain.

"ROOOAAARRR!!"

Its icy aura exploded outward.

Thick walls of frost rose around its body.

A defensive Art.

The frozen walls layered over one another until they resembled an enormous fortress.

Damon slowed for the first time.

"...Not bad."

Freya’s cheerful voice echoed through their connection.

Break it.

He grinned.

"I was thinking the same thing."

His spear crackled.

Lightning gathered around the tip.

He thrust.

"Lightning Art..."

"Thunder Fang!"

BOOM!

Instead of piercing one point, the lightning burst outward the moment the spear connected.

Silver cracks raced through the frozen wall.

The entire defense shattered into thousands of icy fragments.

The Tyrant barely recovered before Sylphie slipped through the opening.

SHHK!

Her wind blade carved across its neck.

The beast staggered again.

Their rhythm became smoother with every exchange.

No words were needed.

Sylphie attacked.

Damon followed.

Freya amplified.

Whenever the Tyrant finally managed to launch a counterattack, Freya warned Damon before the danger even arrived.

Left.

He moved.

A claw swept past his shoulder.

Duck.

He lowered himself.

An icy spike flew over his head.

Now.

Damon smiled.

"You always know."

Freya happily hummed through the contract.

Of course I do.

He laughed.

"Guess I don’t have to think as much anymore."

She immediately puffed up proudly.

Sylphie chirped in protest.

"Crii!"

"I know."

Damon dodged another claw.

"You’ve been carrying the fight too."

The little Roc immediately became even more energetic.

She folded her wings.

A strange pressure gathered around her.

The wind around the battlefield suddenly became unnaturally still.

Even the Tyrant hesitated.

Then...

WHOOSH!!

Invisible currents rushed toward it from every direction.

Instead of cutting...

They compressed.

The air itself became a prison.

The Tyrant struggled as invisible pressure squeezed against its body.

Its movements became sluggish once again.

Damon’s eyes lit up.

"So that’s your new Art."

"Beautiful!"

Sylphie proudly chirped.

That was all Damon needed.

He rushed in.

His spear danced.

One Art flowed naturally into another.

"Lightning Art..."

"Flashstep Pierce!"

CRACK!!

He withdrew before the Tyrant retaliated.

"Lightning Art..."

"Storm Fang!"

The spear swept upward.

Instead of thrusting, compressed lightning curved into a crescent that ripped across the Tyrant’s chest.

Blood splashed.

Without stopping...

"Lightning Art..."

"Volt Break!"

He slammed the butt of the spear against the ground.

Lightning surged through the stone before erupting beneath the Tyrant’s front legs.

BOOM!!

The explosion threw the massive beast off balance.

The Tyrant roared desperately.

Its claws smashed wildly.

Its icy breath froze everything nearby.

Yet none of it landed.

Every attack missed by inches.

Freya guided him.

Sylphie disrupted the beast.

Damon punished every mistake.

The more they fought...

The more ideas came naturally.

Their Arts weren’t just techniques anymore.

Each flowed into the next.

One opened the way.

Another finished it.

Soon...

The Frostfang Tyrant could barely defend itself.

Its breathing grew heavier.

Its body trembled.

After one final clash, it stumbled backward before crashing heavily onto one knee.