I Can Copy And Evolve Talents

Chapter 1358: This Is Not Fiction

Sael would be lying if he said he wasn’t worried about Judgment. The girl was too impetuous, too childish. He didn’t know what kind of training they gave in the city of Vallithia, and it certainly wouldn’t have been an easy one, but still... this was the real world, and she was fighting humans, not monsters.

Humans possessed varieties of skills that didn’t just depend on their talents and abilities. They could be cunning or smart, shameless and ruthless. There were unthinkable things that humans could do, and their talents only served that purpose.

When facing an intelligent creature as deeply self-governing as humans, even the most talented of drifters had to don the helmet of caution. That was the only right thing to do.

At least, that was what his experience had taught him. And these were all the things that Judgment lacked.

He was worried for the little girl, but he couldn’t deal with the soldiers below and keep an eye out for her at the same time.

’No, I can! Remember your lesson from the cave.’

Below him, the vast arrays of soldiers were retaliating, shooting arrows into the sky. It wasn’t a bother for now because the Nightmare Wyvern was fast, especially with its disappearance ability. The creature was useful for throwing the army off for a couple of seconds at a time.

But it wasn’t going to be enough, because there were too many of them. The numbers were simply overwhelming. And this bow, fearsome as it was, had no regard for his essence pool. The way Tideturner was draining him, the thing seemed intent on bleeding him dry.

As a Sage, he could count on one hand the number of times he had run out of essence. But the way Tideturner was siphoning him, he was beginning to think that wouldn’t remain true for much longer.

On the contrary, though, here he was, singlehandedly dealing with thousands of men and reducing their numbers, displacing their balance. And they weren’t just any men. They were men bred by the harsh decretum of the Empire.

’Never. If I was told a month ago that this would be happening, I would have vehemently refused.’

Sael thought back a moment as he rained down a shower of light arrows. Northern’s plan to help Ryugan fight the Empire was noble. He had heard of it, and Sael loved noble deeds.

But it was an outrageous battle, one the former Sael wouldn’t have wanted any part of. There were a lot of questions surrounding it that he was restraining himself from asking.

The reason he had accepted was that Northern had helped him overcome one of his significant fears and weaknesses. Of course, it wasn’t completely over, but it was progress.

Despite the fact that he hadn’t progressed to a higher soul rank, Sael had felt himself improve from that battle in the cave. Because of it, he knew how to sense the darkness and follow the shadows.

He stopped running from them. He accepted them as an alternate version of light. And when he did, it turned out the darkness could be exploited. It wasn’t as unfriendly as it had seemed.

Which was how he was now able to somehow keep tabs on Judgment’s movement despite the fact that he was shooting another Luna Aria at the soldiers.

Judgment held her small round shield in one hand, her spear in the other, and leaned forward as the Radiant Seraph echo exploded forth with shockwave bursts that propelled it even faster. The bestial thing was literally tearing through the sound barrier as it approached the man.

But the man, Jerimoth, held no fear or concern in his eyes. He locked his gaze on Judgment, watching her descend.

Judgment almost flinched when she saw him standing there, waiting for her. But her eyes narrowed, her golden irises glowing subtly as she closed the distance.

Just a second before she clashed with him, the greatsword came spinning out of nowhere. Judgment saw it and steered her mount, but it was too late. The blade rolled through the air and slammed into the side of the echo with brutal force.

The Radiant Seraph was sent reeling sideways, a deep groove carved into its flank where nothing remained but a flood of light trapped within its body. The echo tumbled to the ground and rolled, but not before Judgment leaped away and absorbed the impact of her fall with a practiced roll.

She stood, but her opponent had already covered the hundred meters between them. He descended upon her with his folded fist, and she threw her shield forward. His arm slammed against it and knocked her two steps backward.

Jerimoth straightened, cracking the bones and joints of his body with minimal movement. He had a lean build, but his body was packed with furious muscle.

”I hate having to fight a child. Is this what Ryugan has stooped to? Sending a child to bide their time?” He grinned, intentionally lacing his face with a smirk meant to enrage her.

A cold, dark frown settled on Judgment’s face.

”A kid? Who the fuck are you calling a kid? You shitfaced bastard.”

Jerimoth halted and tilted his head back in surprise.

”It’s not often one comes across such a foul mouth as yours. Tell me, girl, where are you from?”

”Are you sure you have the luxury of asking me stupid questions?”

As she spoke, she exploded off her feet and met Jerimoth in a brutal clash. To her surprise, his greatsword was back in his hands. As if it had a will of its own, the blade had torn itself out of the Echo and flown back to him.

She narrowed her eyes, her mind working.

’He controlled his sword. The first time too... could it be linked to his talent?’

Jerimoth smirked.

”Thinking while in battle? This is not fiction, girl!” He shoved her aside with the might of his sword and slammed a kick into her side.

Judgment guarded her flank, but the kick still carried enough force to send her reeling.