The Tale of the Void Emperor

Arcued was fighting with a serious and resolute expression with a dagger in his one hand and a small round shield in his second hand.

Naturally, That dagger was the high-grade 4-star weapon that Athan gave him. After reaching Orderic Catastrophe, He was able to use its full power.

But He was fighting against a high-stage 4-star monster and was barely hanging.

That monster looked like a rabbit+kangaroo but with explosive muscles and stood like a kangaroo. It had two explosive tails and four muscled hands.

Arcued dodged the attack and used his techniques to defend himself before getting behind the rabbit and using an order technique which he released from his dagger, " Severam Circle-First mark. "

A circular mark with patterns on it appeared on the monster's back, but it endured and cried before kicking Arcued with its legs.

Arcued was ready to defend as she put forward his shield and used another order technique, " Cloudly Faust. "

A dark pink cloud materialized. 

*Swooooosh...Boom..*

Arcued got flung back like a bullet leaving from a gun's muzzle and smacked into an icy tree before breaking it and hitting a snowy hill.

*blerrghhh....*

After puking a mouthful of blood, He removed himself from the icy hill, ' Damn! This technique is good, but the rebound is scary. '

He purposefully used that kind of technique to make the distance between him and the monster. Cloud Faust is a technique that can absorb the power of an attack but still be sent back to the user in a scattering form. Naturally, This only works if there are no blocks behind the user to get flung back. 

If Arcued was cornered, then he would have died. But since there was vast ground behind him, He used this technique to get tremendous flinging power to flung himself backward to create distance.

' To complete this 5-star technique, I still need to hit that monster with a second and third mark of Severam Circle. '

Arcued thought as he waited for the monster to come here while preparing a trap.

' Essence order technique, Snubbing Needles. '

' Essence Order technique, Vines of Bites. '

' Let's hope that these two techniques can impair the monster for enough time such that I can hit it with two more marks. '

Arcued was planning his fight, but he didn't know that Athan and Tealery were observing him since Athan decided to observe him first instead of helping him. Athan and Tealery were currently hidden on top of a small hill since Athan could also use his lightning dust to levitate Tealery.

" Say Athan, will he really be able to kill that monster? It's a high-stage 4-star beast. Strength-wise, It's more powerful than Arcued. "

Hearing the question of Tealery, Athan just smiled and continued to look at Arcued.

" If he succeeded in his plan, then he can kill that monster. Don't forget; we can learn powerful and complicated techniques while these mindless monsters can't do that. They might be able to use their chaotic powers with order force differently, just like how we use our techniques. But the monsters in this test are slightly weird without not much intelligence. "

Pausing there, Athan grinned, " What's more, Arcued is currently trying something different. He is using the Weapon order technique of dagger along with his own order technique. I know that since I took a look at all weapon order techniques after I got those slates. "

Tealery was surprised, " You mean Arcued succeeded in creating a RenKen order technique? "

" Well. That seems to be the case. He was saying that he has a high affinity with daggers, and in the last fifteen days, He might have gotten some epiphany related to it while fighting, which enabled him to create a RenKen order technique. " Athan stated with a thoughtful expression while observing Arcued.

At this time, The monster also reached Arcued before falling into the trap.

Arcued didn't waste time as he hurridly hit the monster while barely dodging its two explosive tails that tried to hit Arcued. He had to prepare for some time before putting the mark, so he also can't rapidly put the marks on the monster.

Since the rabbit was trapped, He managed to put the second mark but just when he was going to use the third mark after preparing, the left foot of the rabbit broke the vines wrapping around it before hitting Arcued.

Arcued's face changed, ' This foot...It's shining. If I get hit by it, then I'm done for. I need to dodge it. '

As this thought appeared in his mind, his expression turned resolute as he detonated his shield on his right side before the foot could hit him.

The blast slightly flung Arcued to the left side, and that allowed him to dodge the foot. 

At this time, The monster broke free from the traps and faced Arcued.

But Arcued smiled with bloody teeth and spoke, " Die, Monster. "

While he was flung to the left side, He had hit the rabbit's ass and put a mark there.

*Kreeeeeeeeeeee...BOOOOOM...*

*Screeeeeeeeee....*

The monster cried in pain as several slashes appeared on its before that started to cut it.

It was cut into two while its back became a mangle of meat, but it seems that the tenacity of this monster was high, and it still attacked Arcued.

' Damn! So that technique wasn't enough to finish off the monster? It looks like I need to refine it more since it also consumed forty percent of my current order force reserve. '

But since the monster was injured, Arcued could dodge it easily and finished it off by cutting its head with the dagger.

Arcued received three hundred points for killing that monster. Seeing this, He knew about the point that beasts of each stage give.

Early-stage 4-star beasts-100 points.

Mid-stage 4-star beasts- 200 points.

High-stage 4-star beasts- 300 points.

" Not bad, Arcued. But you still need to practice more. I can at least kill a high-stage beast with my fully prepared technique. " 

Tealery spoke with a grin as she descended with Athan.

Arcued was startled and turned around after hearing the familiar voice, " Emperor! "

Arcued eyes changed as he approached Athan with a bright smile. 

Tealery was speechless, but so was Athan as he wryly smiled, " Heal your injuries first. And stop addressing me like that. "

Arcued became serious and nodded, " As you wish. "

He then sat down and took out a blood-recovery pill before healing himself.

Athan raised his eyebrows after seeing that and pointed his index finger at Arcued before releasing a thread of voidpulse to heal the most serious internal damage in Arcued's body.

After an hour, Arcued got up with full recovery and looked at Athan with a smile, " Emp..err, Athan. So what do we do now? "

" Tealery knows the location of a stronghold, so we will be going there. " Athan replied before asking Arcued, " How many points do you have? "

" 1360 after killing that monster. It was the first time I killed a high-grade 4-star beast. " Arcued presented his card to Athan and spoke with a slight disappointment that he felt in himself. He knew that Athan would have far higher points than him. That was his belief.

' I have to keep up with him! '

Athan frowned after seeing Arcued points, ' Too low. What's the point in helping them if they can't pass the test? Hmmm...But they are trustworthy, especially Arcued. '

After thinking for a few moments, Athan thought of an idea and grinned, ' Hehehe...It looks like that's the one choice. '

" You two! Let's go towards the stronghold. "

Seeing that expression and grin of Athan, Tealery and Arcued slightly trembled thought, ' What did he think of in that short time that he formed this familiar yet terrifying expression? '

The idea that Athan thought is going to become a nightmare for many people.

Though they just nodded at Athan before moving in a certain direction. Arcued also knew of a stronghold, but after sharing details with Tealery, It appeared that both knew about the same stronghold.

" It looks like we passed by each other. When did you discover that stronghold? " Tealery asked while running.

" I discovered it yesterday. " Arcued replied without changing his gaze as he focused on the front.

Athan was following behind them and spoke, " When we are one kilometer away from the stronghold, stop running. From that point, We will go incognito by using camouflage-type techniques. "