Overwhelming Firepower

The Heavenly Demon got a little bit too excited after hearing Cael’s answer. Also, despite not liking Alexander’s answer, he saw the sincerity in his words.

Based on the reaction Lucen had, the Heavenly Demon understood that this person was crazy enough to uphold that idiotic belief to the end.

”Very well, the next step is simple. Attack me with your best strike, don’t hold back, and unleash everything you have at this moment. Show me if you two are worth teaching. So how about you come first?”

Seeing the Heavenly Demon pointing at him, Cael nodded his head as he held his sword with two hands.

He concentrated at this moment; there was only he and his sword. Cael’s aura mantle enveloped him and his sword; it was paper-thin that one could barely see it.

Cael breathed in and out. He discarded all distractions as he focused on one and one thing only, swinging his sword with everything he had.

Not just swinging his sword with his power, but swinging it alongside his convictions, his resolve, his very existence. He needed to pour everything, as this was the path he chose.

Seeing his state, Lucen could not help but be reminded of an old anime he used to watch about a female martial artist journeying alongside her adoptive brother, training him to be able to fight her.

They shout out their martial arts language claiming their invincibility, but Cael did not say a single word, and he had a similar feeling to him right now.

The Heavenly Demon was getting more and more interested in Cael as he waited for the attack to arrive.

Alexander, who was watching from the side, watched seriously, trying to see what kind of strike Cael was about to unleash.

As he was concentrating, Cael found something surprising. He could feel something beating within his sword like a heart.

The rhythm came from his chest, and the rhythm of the sword was becoming one. his breathing, his hand, his blade, and the path he wanted to walk. The sword no longer felt like an inanimate object; it was alive and breathing alongside him.

’I see... So this is the path forward.’ Cael lowered his stance and placed his sword to the side.

’Hoh, he actually grasped a little understanding of the heart of the sword. I guess he does have some talent. If he were in the central plains, he would be a first-rate warrior just below the peak realm.’ The Heavenly Demon mused to himself.

The Martial God, who had remained silent the entire time, also looked at Cael with a faint change in his eyes. He, too, acknowledged Cael’s talent.

Cael did not know what the two were thinking. At this moment, such things no longer mattered to him. His eyes were fixed on the Heavenly Demon.

Then, as the rhythm of him and his sword was nearly one, Cael made a move. He burst powerfully forward with one leap. The ground he stood on had a crack as he moved, creating a sonic boom.

Cael made a diagonal slash from below. This attack of his held everything of him, his conviction, his obsession, his understanding, and the path he wished to walk. He laid bare everything he was and everything he wished to achieve.

The blade tore through the air. Alexander could no longer see the sword itself. He could only see a thin line being drawn through the world.

The strike reached the Heavenly Demon, and then it stopped. Two fingers held the edge of Cael’s sword.

The entire temple shook from the power of the attack, the shockwave alone made the wind burst all over, and dust fell from the ceiling.

Still, without even bothering to stand up, the Heavenly Demon caught the blade between his fingers in a rather nonchalant manner.

Cael’s eyes widened slightly. He knew the gap between them was large. He had understood that from the moment he stepped into the temple. Still, understanding it and feeling it directly were two different things.

His entirety was placed in that strike, yet it wasn’t even able to shake the Heavenly Demon. Still, he was satisfied with the strike he had made; it was the best attack. The Heavenly Demon grinned as he looked at Cael’s sword.

”Heh, that was acceptable.”

The Heavenly Demon released Cael’s sword. Once his blade was free, Cael took a step back. Despite only doing one attack, he was already sweating profusely while panting. That was how much pressure simply attacking the Heavenly Demon gave him.

”It’s now your turn. Show me your strongest attack.”

Alexander gripped his broadsword with both hands and stepped forward. Similar to Cael, Alexander discarded all distractions and was now visualizing something.

However, unlike Cael, he was not trying to become one with his sword. He was instead visualizing the moment he could fully unleash his full power.

The only thing that could stimulate him to unleash more strength was his will to protect the people around him.

Alexander, who had closed his eyes, saw his comrades on the ground dying, and before him was the enemy trying to harm them. His concentration was strong enough that he was able to trick his mind into thinking this was truly happening.

Alexander, who was being enveloped by a golden white aura, then suddenly a sun-like halo overlapped with his aura mantle. Seeing this scene, the Heavenly Demon was a little surprised.

’Hoh, this brat is actually on the way to materializing his intent.’ The Heavenly Demon chuckled.

The Martial God watching at the side stared for a few seconds before closing his eyes as if contemplating something.

Lucen was a little surprised that Alexander was able to access his Burst Mode without the need to get damaged, but after looking at it for a bit more, he noticed that it wasn’t a full-on Burst Mode.

’So something like pseudo Burst-Mode.’

Cael, who was sitting on the ground cross-legged, stared intently at Alexander. This was not the first time he had seen Burst Mode, but it was still surprising to see such a thing.

He did not know what it was, but the feeling he got from it was warm like the real sun.

Alexander opened his eyes, and for a second, they seemed to shine with the same golden light surrounding him. His breathing was calm like a rippleless lake.

Alexander then raised his broadsword upward above his head. It was at that moment that Alexander stepped forward.

Unlike Cael’s bursting momentum, Alexander’s movement can only be described as a cloud leisurely floating forward.

Seeing his footwork, the Heavenly Demon noticed that it was the Unbound Demonic Stride, but mixed with Alexander’s own understanding.

’I see, so that’s why he said this brat has the most potential.’ The Heavenly Demon was quite amused.

Alexander’s step was not fast at first. It was slow, almost gentle. Yet with every step, the distance between him and the Heavenly Demon disappeared.

There was no wasted movement, no desperate burst, no killing intent like Cael’s. It was as if his very steps were part of nature itself.

’Not only was this brat able to glimpse into the state of materializing one’s intent, but he even has a tiny foot into becoming one with nature. Among the brats I have seen, this one’s talent might be near the top.’

In just a few seconds, the assessment the Heavenly Demon had of Alexander had changed drastically. Now he wanted to see what kind of strike he could unleash with his current understanding.

Alexander arrived in front of the sitting Heavenly Demon and then slashed downward. It was not an overwhelming physical strike like Cael’s, but the weight it carried seemed heavier.

It was like the burning sun descending upon the Heavenly Demon. Despite it looking seemingly slow, it felt like an unavoidable attack.

It was a powerful strike, but even then, the Heavenly Demon frowned as he stared at it. He did not even bother to block as the Heavenly Demon knew that it was a strike that would never hit him.

Alexander’s broadsword stopped an inch away from the Heavenly Demon’s head, which just made the other party shout!

”Are you mocking me, you brat!” The temple shook from the Heavenly Demon’s powerful voice.

”I’m not,” Alexander answered without taking a step back.

”You say you aren’t mocking me, but you never intended to hit me with that strike of yours! Do you think you’ll be able to harm me? ME! The HEAVENLY DEMON!”

The Heavenly Demon stood up for the first time, and his aura burst outward; it took everything Alexander had to remain conscious. Even Lucen, who was standing in front of Cael, blocking the aura burst, was almost blown away.

It was at that moment that the Martial God appeared between the Heavenly Demon and Alexander.

”Knowing restraint is also part of one’s abilities. This test was never meant to hit you, simply to show us their best attacks, which both have done successfully.”

The Heavenly Demon glared at the Martial God, then at Alexander, whose sword was already in a neutral position.

The Heavenly Demon gnashed his teeth in irritation, but after a few seconds, he took a deep breath and sighed.

”Tsk, fine... What you said is indeed true.” The Heavenly Demon went back to sitting. Once the Heavenly Demon had calmed down, the Martial God turned around to speak to Alexander and Cael.

”You two have shown us your current strengths; you have both passed our second test. Now onto the last test. Are you two ready?”

Hearing the Martial God’s question, Alexander and Cael looked at each other for a second before looking back at the Martial God and answering in sync.

”We’re ready.”