Chapter 55: Gravity

Deep within the Grauwald mountain range, another fierce battle was taking place.

A monstrous Demonic Beast resembling a black panther stood among the shattered remains of several trees.

Its body measured nearly eight meters from head to tail, with thick muscles rippling beneath its dark fur and two enormous fangs protruding from its upper jaw.

Unlike an ordinary panther, the creature possessed four eyes arranged in pairs, each glowing with a sinister crimson light. Its paws were enormous, armed with curved claws capable of tearing through solid rock, while a long, muscular tail swung behind it.

Standing opposite the creature was Sigurd, his sword resting comfortably in his right hand.

The Common Rank Demonic Beast snarled, exposing rows of sharp teeth as it slowly circled him. Sigurd followed its movements with his iron-grey eyes, studying the way its muscles contracted whenever it prepared to attack.

He had encountered the creature shortly after leaving Isolde’s camp that morning. What began as another hunt for a Demonic Core had quickly presented him with an opportunity to experiment with an ability he had barely explored.

Gravity.

One of the four authorities possessed by his Star Devouring Leviathan.

Until now, Sigurd had concentrated primarily on his swordsmanship and physical capabilities. Although he understood the basic principles of manipulating gravitational force, he had never properly tested how those principles could be incorporated into combat.

The beast suddenly lunged. Its enormous body accelerated across the clearing, closing the distance with frightening speed. One massive paw swept toward Sigurd’s chest, its claws cutting through the air with enough force to produce a sharp whistle.

Sigurd stepped sideways.

The claws passed beside him and struck the ground, carving four deep trenches through the rocky surface. Before the creature could recover, Sigurd raised his left hand slightly and directed a small amount of Vis toward the space surrounding its front legs.

Gravity responded.

The change lasted barely an instant. The beast’s front paws suddenly became several times heavier, causing its shoulders to dip unexpectedly. Its momentum carried it forward, but the abrupt shift in weight disrupted its balance, forcing its claws to scrape against the earth.

Sigurd’s eyes narrowed. He stepped forward and struck.

BANG!

His sword slammed into the creature’s shoulder, sending the enormous beast skidding sideways across the clearing. Dark blood sprayed from the wound as its body crashed through a fallen tree before finally stopping.

Sigurd examined his left hand. He had only increased the gravitational pressure around the creature’s front legs for a fraction of a second, yet the result had been immediate. Against an opponent relying on speed and balance, even a brief disturbance could create a considerable opening.

The beast rose with an enraged roar.

Sigurd smiled faintly.

"Interesting," he murmured, rotating his sword as the creature prepared another charge.

The Demonic Beast launched itself forward again, its four eyes locked onto him. This time, Sigurd waited until it was airborne before directing his gravitational authority toward its body.

He didn’t attempt to crush it. Instead, he altered the direction of the force acting upon it.

The beast’s trajectory shifted abruptly. Its enormous body veered sideways, missing Sigurd completely before crashing shoulder-first into a massive boulder.

BOOM!

The boulder shattered beneath the collision, sending fragments of stone scattering across the clearing. The creature staggered away from the wreckage, shaking its head as blood trickled from a wound above one of its eyes.

Sigurd watched with growing interest.

Changing the direction of an airborne opponent required surprisingly little interference. The creature had already committed its entire weight to the leap. All he needed to do was redirect that momentum at the appropriate moment.

He glanced toward his sword.

A thought occurred to him. If gravity could alter an opponent’s movement, what would happen if he applied the same principle directly to his weapon?

The beast answered with another furious roar.

It charged across the clearing, its enormous claws tearing through the ground as it accelerated toward him.

Sigurd tightened his grip on his sword.

Vis circulated through his arm, flowing into the blade as he concentrated his gravitational authority around its length. The weapon suddenly felt heavier, although the increased weight did not burden his movements in the same way it would have affected an ordinary swordsman.

He could control the force. And more importantly, he could decide when that force became effective.

The beast reached him.

Sigurd swung the sword in a single downward motion.

BOOOOM!

The moment his sword struck the creature’s shoulder, he intensified the gravitational force acting along the direction of the blow.

The result was astonishing. The enormous Demonic Beast was launched backward like a cannonball.

Its body tore through the clearing, smashing through three thick trees before crashing into the side of a rocky hill. The impact produced a thunderous explosion, sending enormous cracks spreading across the stone surface as dust and debris erupted into the air.

Sigurd remained standing where he had delivered the strike. His sword was still extended. For several seconds, he simply stared at the destruction.

Then his lips curved upward.

"So that’s how it works," Sigurd said quietly, lowering his weapon as he examined the deep trench carved through the clearing.

The strike itself had been powerful, but the gravitational reinforcement had multiplied its impact considerably. Instead of merely cutting through the creature’s flesh, he had transferred an overwhelming amount of force into its body, sending it flying before it could resist.

Against opponents of comparable strength, such an attack could be devastating.

However, Sigurd understood that the effectiveness of gravity would depend heavily on the difference in power between himself and his target. A stronger opponent possessing superior Vis, physical strength and control could resist the interference, reducing an attack that overwhelmed a Common Rank Demonic Beast to little more than an inconvenience.

Nevertheless, within his current level of combat, the possibilities were enormous.

The dust covering the hillside suddenly stirred.

A furious roar echoed through the clearing.

The Demonic Beast emerged from the wreckage, blood streaming down its shoulder while several ribs protruded awkwardly beneath its torn flesh. Despite the damage, its four crimson eyes burned with murderous fury.

Sigurd raised his sword again. This time, he decided to experiment with something different.

The creature charged, moving considerably slower than before because of its injuries. Sigurd waited until it came within striking distance before reducing the gravitational force acting upon his own body.

His weight decreased. He pushed against the ground. His body accelerated upward with remarkable ease, carrying him above the creature’s snapping jaws. While airborne, Sigurd adjusted the gravitational pull around himself, redirecting his descent toward the beast’s exposed back.

His sword flashed.

SHNK!

The blade carved a deep wound across its spine. The creature screamed and twisted violently, attempting to throw him away. Sigurd pushed off its back and landed several meters away, immediately restoring his normal weight.

He glanced toward the ground beneath his feet.

The transition had been smooth. By manipulating his own weight, he could enhance his acceleration, jumping ability and changes in direction without relying entirely on physical strength.

Combined with his existing swordsmanship, the advantage was considerable.

The beast staggered toward him again. Sigurd watched its movements carefully, then extended his left hand.

This time, he concentrated the gravitational pressure around its hind legs.

The creature suddenly stumbled. Its rear limbs buckled beneath the unexpected weight, disrupting the balance of its entire body. Before it could recover, Sigurd accelerated forward, his sword sweeping toward its exposed neck.

The beast attempted to retreat.

Sigurd altered the gravitational force around its head.

Its movement faltered.

His sword struck.

CRACK!

The blade tore through the thick muscles protecting its neck, cutting deeply enough to expose the bone beneath. Dark blood erupted from the wound as the creature collapsed onto its forelegs, struggling desperately to remain upright.

Sigurd stepped backward and examined the result.

He had barely used any gravitational pressure compared to what he believed the authority could eventually achieve. Yet by applying that pressure at precisely the right moment, he had repeatedly disrupted the creature’s movements and created openings that would otherwise have required considerable effort.

The realization was almost amusing. He didn’t need to overwhelm an opponent with gravity.

He only needed to interfere, a fraction of a second, aslight change in weight, an unexpected shift in direction.

Against someone relying on precise movements, those tiny disturbances could determine the outcome of an entire battle.

The Demonic Beast attempted to rise again, its enormous body trembling beneath the accumulated injuries.

Sigurd approached calmly. He raised his sword, allowing Vis to circulate through the blade while gravitational force gathered along its edge.

The creature snarled and lunged with its remaining strength.

Sigurd stepped aside. His sword descended.

BOOM!

The reinforced strike smashed through the creature’s neck, severing its spine and driving its enormous head into the ground. The surrounding earth cracked beneath the impact, while a violent shockwave scattered dust and broken stones across the clearing.

The beast collapsed. Its body twitched several times before finally becoming motionless.

Sigurd lowered his sword and looked at the corpse.

A Common Rank Demonic Beast had been completely overwhelmed by techniques he had only begun experimenting with.

And this was merely the most basic application of gravity. A faint smile appeared on his face as he considered what might become possible once he mastered the authority.

He cleaned his sword, approached the corpse and began searching for its Demonic Core.

The examination was proving far more rewarding than he had anticipated.