Chapter 1373 - 84: The Most Ferocious Shadow of Annihilation Law in History

Chapter 1373: Chapter 84: The Most Ferocious Shadow of Annihilation Law in History

The red maple tree moves without wind, a few maple leaves fall, disappearing before they reach the ground.

An elder sits cross-legged beneath the tree, his tattered clothes make him appear somewhat shabby. He lacks the celestial aura, his eyes dark and cold, causing fright.

"Successor, what is your choice?"

The elder’s eyes, like black holes, stare at Su Xiao. Su Xiao frowns, as he’s given no choice, let alone knows what to choose.

"..."

Seeing Su Xiao’s silence, the elder seems slightly displeased.

With a swoosh, everything blurs before Su Xiao’s eyes. He was originally about ten meters from the elder, but now, the elder and the red maple tree are right before him.

The elder raises a hand, thin as a branch, and with a crackling sound, golden light patterns appear around Su Xiao.

"Rest assured, I intend no malice."

The elder glances at his hand, where the cracks rapidly heal.

Su Xiao is uncertain about the situation. As he was improving his sword technique, a power of space pulled him here. Not only did he not improve, but the old man is now demanding a choice.

Su Xiao never believes in pie-dropping scenarios, those ’chance encounters’ with an ultimate mentor and receiving true teachings—such things never happen.

"Who are you?"

Su Xiao speaks, the elder smiles slightly, his wrinkles becoming apparent.

"Who am I..." The elder ponders for a moment, eventually shaking his head: "You don’t need to know for now, so, what is your choice?"

The elder seems a bit impatient.

"Marvin Hwaltz."

Su Xiao tentatively says a name.

"That incompetent boy..."

The elder squints, darkness surges around him.

"He is my disciple. Since you’ve met him, you should understand my time is limited, so choose."

The elder’s aura turns calmer, less eerie than before.

"Choose... what?"

Su Xiao asks the puzzling question in his mind.

"..."

Surprise flickers in the elder’s eyes.

Now quite certain, Su Xiao realizes this old man is Marvin Hwaltz’s mentor, meaning this unreliable elder is also a Shadow of Annihilation Law.

With a crack, the elder’s shoulder shatters like broken ceramic, revealing the situation within.

Inside the elder is empty, with a massive flow of colorless energy surging.

Seeing this energy, Su Xiao’s mind clears with sudden insight. He finally understands why this elder is here. The elder’s body is constructed from shattered Soul Crystals, the source being none other than Su Xiao’s thirty Soul Crystals (Large).

The elder stretches a hand forward, after a moment, he thoughtfully nods.

"It appears you are not yet at the point of choice. It was your ’pillar’ behind you that manifested me early. No wonder you seem a bit sluggish."

The elder mutters to himself; the eeriness is gone now.

"Remember, when faced with choice, follow your heart towards either ’Blade Holder’ or ’Break Void’. It’s entirely up to you. If you regret becoming a Shadow of Magic, you may choose another path."

The elder’s body shatters, transforming into a mass of soul crystal fragments.

Scene after scene unfolds before Su Xiao: a young man swings a blade under the maple, time flows like a wheel, the youth quickly changes to a middle-aged man, and finally to an elder—the very image of the elder.

The elder stands beneath the red maple, his eyes flashing blue. The next moment, a shadow flows into him from behind.

Sitting beneath the tree, his eyes are blood-red. After a timeless duration, a shadow seems to want to escape him, but the elder is enveloped in blue energy, preventing the shadow from emerging.

The shadow dissipates, the elder’s eyes turn pitch black.

The visions before Su Xiao halt abruptly, leaving only the red maple, the elder having vanished.

"Truly... a fierce old man."

Su Xiao mutters, indeed gaining much insight today. This elder, the unknown mentor of Marvin Hwaltz, is undeniably a Strongman, of this Su Xiao is certain.

Based on Su Xiao’s knowledge, all Shadows of Annihilation Law are wary of becoming Demon Blades. Each time they use the Core of Devour, they risk transforming into Demon Blades, and Su Xiao is no exception.

Uncertain of the Demon Blade origin, most Shadows of Annihilation Law share this confusion. Demon Blades lack independent consciousness; rather, they are special energy. When transformed, the Shadows of Annihilation Law initiate slaughter driven mostly by instinct rather than Demon Blade’s will.

Some more aggressive Shadows seal Demon Blades within their weapons, thereby greatly increasing combat effectiveness. Marvin Hwaltz’s mentor goes further, using Blue Steel Shadow Energy to form a cage, himself as bait, to attract and imprison the Demon Blade, eventually devouring it. That’s why his eyes turn ink-black.

This elder’s appearance provides Su Xiao not only with a ’new perspective’ but also a crucial revelation about his upcoming decision.

According to the elder, the choice involves sword technique, which Su Xiao immediately links to his progress to Sword Technique Master Level 50: two choices, perhaps different developmental paths.

Specific details remain unclear to Su Xiao for the moment. Observing the red maple tree closely, he discovers it’s not a maple tree but an ancient tree he’s never seen before.

Facing the ancient tree, Su Xiao feels a peculiar sensation, deciding to meditate beneath its boughs.

With a hum, the scene around Su Xiao transforms drastically; it’s all bright, dust floats, a cleave flashes by.

Time passes uncertainly, Su Xiao suddenly feels the pull of space, eyes snapping open, instinctively clutching the ancient tree. If he could obtain this, he’d truly be fortunate. Its meditation effect boosts severalfold.

With a crack, Su Xiao tears off a piece of the bark, prompting the elder’s return. He kicks Su Xiao into the space vortex.

The elder strides to the ancient tree, eyeing the torn bark, his expression twisted in anguish.

"That... little rascal."

The elder’s face twitches, looking toward the vortex, seemingly intent on pursuit to reclaim the bark from Su Xiao’s grasp.

"Forget it, let’s call it balanced exchange."

A glow emerges from the elder’s hand, surrounding him with twenty-eight Soul Crystals (Large); originally thirty, two were travel tolls.

"Having died so long ago, the current state of Void eludes me. If those spellcasters..."

The elder’s words halt abruptly, only a remnant soul, unaware of the spellcasters’ havoc in Void, which no longer matters.

"Dust to dust, earth to earth, we who were Elemental Guardians have vanished into the Time River..."

The elder and ancient tree disappear, the surroundings becoming barren, frenzied elements surge, a wave of space rifts emerges—here marks the origin and terminus of Shadow of Annihilation Law, and now, a Forbidden Area for Living Beings.