ONLINE: Blades of Eternity

Chapter 200 AT THE EDGE OF DEFEAT

At this moment, Kaelen and the Hollowed one have already engaged in combat and unfortunately, Kaelen's golden armor flickered as the Eternal Guardian's Sacred Light waned under the relentless assault of the Hollowed One. His Blade of Eternity flashed with every strike, parrying the Hollowed One's claw-like hands that dripped with malevolent energy. Sparks of light and shadow danced across the restaurant's ruins as the clash grew fiercer.

The Hollowed One's voice was a rasping growl, filled with disdain. "Is that all you've got, Chosen? This light of yours is a flicker in the abyss!"

Kaelen gritted his teeth, sweat dripping down his brow as he swung his blade in a desperate arc. "I'm not done yet!"

But deep down, he could feel it—the light's energy was fading, his strength barely holding against the Hollowed One's overwhelming power. The malicious aura pushed against him like an endless tide, suffocating and unyielding.

With a sudden surge, the Hollowed One struck Kaelen's blade with a bone-crunching force, sending him sprawling to the ground. The golden glow of his armor dimmed further, cracks forming in the radiant barrier.

"Kaelen!" Lila's voice cut through the chaos as she and Morris scrambled to shield Sofia, who was concentrating on holding back the lingering mist and the Hollowed one's oppressive mana domain with all she could muster. Ethan, daggers at the ready, used every bit of strength in him as he stepped protectively in front of them, his usually calm demeanor fraying at the edges.

The Hollowed One loomed over Kaelen, his hideous grin stretching unnaturally wide. "It's over. Your light is no match for the void."

Kaelen tried to rise, his body trembling with exhaustion, but the Hollowed One raised a clawed hand, ready to deliver the finishing blow.

Bam!!

But suddenly, the sound of shouts echoed from outside the restaurant. The door burst open, and patrol guards in shimmering silver armor stormed in, their weapons glowing with anti-magic enchantments.

"What is going on here?!" the captain barked, his voice ringing with authority.

The Hollowed One froze, his eyes narrowing.

Before Kaelen could process what was happening, another presence descended through the shattered roof. A powerful gust of wind swept through the room, dispersing the remaining mist and quickly taking out the Hollowed one's mana domain. Vice Chancellor Reeves landed gracefully amidst the chaos, his aura radiating a crushing weight that even the Hollowed One seemed to acknowledge.

"You've overstayed your welcome," Reeves said coldly, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.

The Hollowed One hissed, his body trembling with suppressed fury. "You meddling insects always show up at the wrong time!"

Without another word, the Hollowed One's body began to disintegrate into shadows, his form dissipating into an eerie black mist. His mocking laughter echoed as he retreated. "This isn't over, Chosen. The abyss will come for you again."

.....

In the tranquil field surrounding the Soaring Dragons Pavilion, Kent Harrow sat cross-legged on the soft grass, his eyes closed in deep meditation. The gentle sway of the wind played against his dark hair, and the faint hum of his mana resonated with the environment, blending with the serenity of the surroundings along with all the elements that was present at that moment.

Not far from him, a young woman approached, her graceful steps silent against the earth. Rafaela, the wielder of Luna magic, exuded an ethereal presence under the daylight, her silver hair catching the sun as her soft blue robes fluttered slightly in the breeze.

"Kent," Rafaela called, her voice calm yet tinged with intrigue.

Kent's eyes slowly opened, his sharp gaze meeting hers. He remained seated, waiting for her to speak.

"I have news that might interest you," Rafaela began, crossing her arms. "It's about Kaelen from the Pacesetter Academy. Word is spreading that he stood his ground against a mana domain magician during a confrontation in the city."

Kent raised a brow but otherwise remained still. "And?"

Rafaela tilted her head, surprised by his lack of reaction. "And? That's not something to brush off. A boy without a mana domain holding his own against a domain user? And it's no ordinary mana domain user, I heard that it is a notorious criminal named the Hollowed one. So It's causing quite a stir, even among the nobles."

Kent closed his eyes briefly, taking a deep breath. "Interesting, I suppose. But it changes nothing. The convention will reveal what he's truly capable of since there are participants there whose power level are way above that."

Rafaela frowned slightly, her curiosity unsated. "You're not even a little intrigued? They say he wields a blade of significant power, something called the Blade of Eternity. Doesn't that concern you?"

Standing in one smooth motion, Kent dusted off his robes and stretched his shoulders. "Concern me? No. The only thing I feel is impatience. Let the convention begin already."

Rafaela regarded him thoughtfully before letting out a soft chuckle. "You're as composed as ever. Still, it's wise not to underestimate him. A power like that could disrupt even your plans."

Kent smirked, his tone calm yet firm. "If he's strong enough to challenge me, I welcome it. Let him bring his blade. I'll show him what it truly means to stand against the best of Valoria and being acknowledged as the Affinity God."

With that, Kent turned his back on Rafaela and walked toward the pavilion, his confidence unshaken. Rafaela watched him leave, a faint smile on her lips.

"This convention might be more interesting than we thought," she murmured to herself, her silver hair shimmering as she turned to leave as well. But shockingly, unbeknownst to them, a figure suddenly appeared out of one of the surrounding bushes. And this person turned out to be Eldric who apparently lost his way while taking a stroll around the Soaring Dragons Pavilion quarters.

'Seems like Kaelen needs to be extra careful of what's to come if he doesn't want to be decimated right off the bat' Eldric thought with a grim look on his face before he quickly went back into the bush.