Chapter 336: The Power of SwordHeart!?
SwordHeart was very similar to the dome that Transcendent Martial Artists possessed; in fact, Eryke had drawn inspiration from it.
However, what made his SwordHeart unique was that he could move it according to his thoughts, unlike the immobile dome whose source was the Martial Artist.
My heart is the Sword, and the Sword is my Heart.
This saying perfectly embodied his fifth spell, the one that marked his entry into the Fifth Circle Mage. Eryke’s Sword could go wherever his heart desired.
By merging his Sword Will with his Aura, he gained the ability to move his Sword with greater precision and propel it to extreme speeds in a certain area of his choice.
What was the core principle of the Sword?
It could be summed up in two words: Sharpness and Speed.
Until now, his Sword Will had focused primarily on sharpness. Although speed was present, it was never fast enough.
But now, he could reach extreme velocity, and his precision had been honed to the finest margin. All of this could be achieved within the range of his heart’s desire, made possible by his fifth spell: SwordHeart.
Just like the dome of a Sword Will Transcendent Martial Artist, where countless invisible strikes assaulted the opponent, Eryke was doing the same. The difference was that his version was far more terrifying, as it could reach as far as his eyes could see.
Of course, this also came with a drawback, if he couldn’t sense his opponent, they could potentially sneak up on him.
’So, have I also reached the Transcendent Martial Realm now?’ Eryke’s pupils flickered with amusement. Since they were technically doing the same thing, then it should be the same, right? The difference existed, but his spell sounded more powerful than the normal of Transcendent Martial Artist.
Then his focus shifted to the kneeling Second-Stage Martial Artist.
"Why care for such a sect’s legacy?" Eryke asked in a deep voice.
"My entire life’s purpose was defending the two young emperors, and now they’re both dead. What am I supposed to do?" The main guard’s voice was filled with despair. He didn’t dare fight Eryke, knowing it would be meaningless. His very being recognized the futility of resistance, leaving him unable to move.
The power Eryke displayed was overwhelming. Even the pressure he emitted alone was enough to nearly freeze the main guard on the spot.
Eryke observed the main guard and shook his head with a sigh. Turning to the others, he spoke, "You can live your lives now." To rebuild a sect, there must be a key figure at least somewhat tied to the former leader. Without such a person, how could it convince anyone?
By killing this man, Eryke had essentially erased any chance of the Million Gold Sect rising again, completely severing its legacy.
Ignoring the remaining Martial Artists, Eryke turned his gaze toward a certain direction once more.
"Even though I tricked them, they still came to check, huh? I wonder who disrupted my plan?" Eryke thought of the woman with the zither and quickly connected the dots.
"Either way, now that I’ve constructed my fifth spell and reached Fifth-Circle Mage, my strength is enough to contend against even two prime Transcendent Martial Artists. I can only create Aura-attributed spells though so what should I choose for my sixth spell?"
Even Drayken hadn’t made his sixth spell yet, and the same was true for Gang Reyong as well as the Righteous Heart clone. Speaking of the Righteous Heart clone, Eryke’s thoughts stirred, he might come in handy soon enough.
With a light push against the ground, Eryke leapt into the air and drifted away like a breeze in the wind.
Soon, faint dots appeared in his peripheral vision, and Eryke quickened his pace toward them.
In the next moment, his eyes fell upon a group of Martial Artists traveling on horseback. Though their numbers were small, every one of them was a First-Stage Martial Artist.
At the front rode a woman in a blue cheongsam and a bulky, aged man in a martial robe, both radiating an unfathomable presence.
"Interesting." Eryke’s pupils gleamed as he glanced at them. Among the group was also a familiar woman carrying a zither on her back.
While Eryke observed them from the shadows of the trees, the woman suddenly turned in his direction and spoke sternly, "Halt."
The entire group stopped, visibly confused.
"There is the person you were searching for." The leading woman pointed straight toward Eryke’s hiding place.
"Huh? Grandmaster, shouldn’t he already be dead?" The sect leader of the Sound Sect asked in a bewildered tone.
"It seems he has not died yet." She chuckled, extending her palm forward. A strange sound reverberated as vibrations rippled from her movement, surging outward like a tidal wave.
In an instant, the surrounding trees were destroyed as though a hurricane had struck, revealing Eryke’s figure. He stood calmly under the sun, a tall silhouette with long golden hair and piercing blue pupils.
"Vibration? Sound?" Eryke tilted his head, interest flickering in his eyes. "Such a wonderful Martial Art. It’s almost similar to my Sword Will’s vibration."
"Is it that wonderful?" the woman asked calmly.
"Yeah, it’s wonderful and perfect." He gave her a thumbs-up. "The complexity required to wield such a Martial Art is something I can understand."
Before the Grandmaster of the Sound Sect could respond, the Grandmaster of the Thousand Iron Sect stepped forward, eyes bloodshot. "Lucky that you’re still alive. I am far from satisfied with how you died after killing my grandson."
"And who are you?" Eryke asked, looking at him with a hint of confusion.
"I am your death!" he roared. His figure blurred as he charged toward Eryke with full strength.
The invisible pressure from the dome assaulted Eryke immediately.
Even in the face of such force, Eryke remained calm. He raised his hand deliberately, and mana surged in his mana core.
"Aura Spell: SwordHeart."
The Sword Will materialized behind Eryke as his Aura erupted around him. The Aura merged seamlessly with his Sword Will, and then it vanished in an instant.
"Wh-what...!?" The old, bulky man’s instincts screamed endlessly. He desperately tried to form his dome to defend himself, but in an instant, the terrifying Sword Will dome materialized and shattered his defense before striking his body.
Ahhhh—
A cry of agony escaped as the man was hacked to pieces, collapsing into a bloody mess on the ground.
[You have slain a Transcendent Martial Artist. You have gained one million Destiny Points.]
The place fell silent.
Martial Artists from both the Thousand Iron Sect and the Sound Sect could hardly believe their eyes but it was happening right before them.
Imagine the strength of Eryke’s Sword Will, being slashed by the same sharpness thousands of times, absolutely nothing could withstand it.
What was the mere body of a Transcendent Martial Artist in the face of such power?
One of the Thousand Iron Sect disciples began to cry, soon followed by the others. Their faces were twisted with fear.
The calm expression on Eryke’s face, as if he hadn’t just slain a Transcendent Martial Artist, struck them with pure terror as if they were watching a devil, a blue pupiled devil.