ONLINE: Blades of Eternity-Chapter 222: A FLICKER IN THE ABYSS

The tension in the arena grew palpable as Gunther Grent, spear firmly in hand, smirked with renewed confidence. The air around him shimmered as his mana surged, bathing the arena in an ethereal golden glow. The oppressive weight of his power became undeniable, and the crowd murmured in awe.

Gunther, his voice steady and commanding. "You’ve done well to last this long, Stark. But now, let me show you the true brilliance of the Grent family’s legacy—Willowing Light!"

Gunther twirled his spear, and radiant beams of light erupted around him, forming a swirling maelstrom of golden energy. The oppressive aura pressed down on Charlotte like an invisible weight, forcing her to her knees. Her shield trembled in her grip, the runes on its surface dimming under the overwhelming force.

With a ferocious cry, Gunther charged. His spear moved like a streak of lightning, each strike accompanied by bursts of radiant energy that left scorch marks on the arena floor. Charlotte barely managed to raise her shield in time to block, but the sheer force of the strikes pushed her further back with each blow.

Eventually, Gunther began taunting. "What’s the matter, Stark? Your shield can’t protect you forever!"

The crowd watched in suspense as Charlotte struggled under the relentless assault. Gunther’s Willowing Light technique created a dazzling display of attacks, his spear moving so fast it seemed to be in multiple places at once. The golden light reflected off Charlotte’s shield, illuminating her strained expression.

For a moment, it seemed as though Charlotte might falter. Her knees buckled slightly, and her shield dipped ever so slightly. Gunther grinned triumphantly, sensing victory.

But then, something changed. Charlotte’s eyes glinted with a fierce determination, and the faint glow of her shield’s runes began to brighten once more. She took a deep breath, centering herself amidst the chaos.

And then, Charlotte said softly but firmly. "I won’t fall here… not to you."

The runes on her shield erupted in a brilliant azure light, dispelling the oppressive aura of Gunther’s Willowing Light. The oppressive energy in the arena seemed to dissipate, and for the first time, Gunther faltered, his smirk fading.

Charlotte stood tall, her shield now radiating with an otherworldly glow. Intricate patterns of ancient Elven design shimmered across its surface, and the air around her seemed to hum with an ancient, powerful energy.

From the VIP section, Lysander of Valen Military Academy leaned forward, his usually stoic expression giving way to a look of surprise. Beside him, Alden Alexandria and Griffo his lackey exchanged shocked glances. Even Kael Dragonyx, ever composed, raised an eyebrow in mild astonishment.

Lysander, murmuring. "The… Divine Shield Techniques? I thought those were lost centuries ago…"

Alden, nodding with an piqued expression on his face "To see it here, wielded by a student no less… this changes everything."

Kael, his voice calm but intrigued. "Impressive. Very impressive."

"Hey Castenada, why didn’t you tell me that one of your students is actually a practitioner of an Elven Lost Arts!? This is a big deal you know?" Marel suddenly said to Castenada in a hushed tone while having a shocked look on his face.

"To tell you the truth, am also surprise by this since I didn’t really dwell too much on most of the students here except from Kaelen. Reeves did tell me something about this, but I must have forgotten about it...." Castenada replied with an embarassed smile on his face.

"Gosh Castenada...." Marel replied as he patted his forehead in helplessness.

Back in the mini arena, Gunther, now visibly shaken, gripped his spear tightly and charged once more, his Willowing Light flaring up again in a desperate attempt to regain control. But this time, Charlotte was ready.

The most uptodate nove𝙡s are published on frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓.

With a calm precision, she moved her shield in a sweeping arc, dispersing the golden beams of light as if they were nothing but mist. Gunther’s spear struck her shield head-on, but instead of forcing her back, the shield absorbed the impact and sent a powerful shockwave rippling outward.

Charlotte then said with her voice steady. "Your light may be bright, Gunther, but it pales in comparison to the brilliance of the Divine Shield."

She stepped forward, her shield glowing brighter with each step. Gunther staggered under the force of her counterattacks, his once-dominant aura now completely overshadowed.

Charlotte raised her shield high, channeling the full power of the Divine Shield Techniques. A massive glyph of Elven design appeared in the air behind her, its radiant energy illuminating the entire arena. The crowd gasped in awe as the glyph pulsed with energy, and Charlotte slammed her shield into the ground, releasing a devastating wave of energy that engulfed the arena.

Gunther tried to defend, raising his spear in desperation, but the wave of energy shattered his defenses and sent him flying backward. He landed hard, his spear clattering to the ground beside him. The golden aura around him flickered and disappeared, leaving him defeated.

The arena fell silent for a moment before erupting into thunderous applause. Charlotte stood in the center of the arena, her shield still glowing faintly as she gazed down at her fallen opponent.

In the VIP section, Lysander leaned back in his seat, his expression returning to its usual calm. "A lost art, revived in the hands of a student. Interesting."

Kael, smirking slightly, remarked in a tone so low that only him could hear it "She’ll be a force to reckon with, no doubt."

Charlotte turned to the crowd, her expression calm but triumphant. She raised her shield slightly in acknowledgment before turning and walking off the arena floor, her victory secured.

Meanwhile, just after the conclusion of the duel between Charlotte and Gunther, the crowd turned their attention to another mini arena, anticipation buzzed through the air. Valir Ferris, the Dark Prince of Pacesetters Academy, stepped forward with an arrogant air, his twin daggers of the shadows gleaming ominously under the arena’s light. Across from him stood Kelvin Bowel, the enigmatic contender from Valen Military Academy, who bore a calm and collected demeanor.

As the duel was officially declared, Kelvin casually rested his dark scythe against his shoulder, tilting his head slightly.

Kelvin, in a cool and measured tone, spoke up. "You should forfeit now, Valir. You’re no match for me."

The words hit Valir like a spark to dry tinder. His eyes narrowed, and his calm façade cracked, replaced with an indignant snarl.

Valir then sneered. "Arrogant fool. We’ll see who’s unmatched."

With a flick of his wrists, his Twin Daggers of the Shadows came to life, radiating a dark, foreboding aura. Without hesitation, Valir launched himself at Kelvin, his movements quick and deadly, shadows trailing behind him like venomous serpents.

But just as Valir was about to close the gap, the arena shifted. The world around him plunged into complete, suffocating darkness—an oppressive void so absolute it felt alive.

Valir skidded to a halt, his daggers at the ready, his senses screaming. This darkness was unfamiliar. It wasn’t the comforting, familiar shadows he had mastered. It was something deeper, something ancient, something… sinister.

Valir began growling. "What is this trickery?!"

The crowd outside the arena gasped in confusion, for to them, Valir had vanished entirely into a black void that now consumed Kelvin’s half of the battlefield.

Suddenly, a chilling voice echoed from every direction, a voice that sent shivers down Valir’s spine.

"Welcome to my darkness."

Valir spun around wildly, trying to pinpoint the source of the voice, but it was futile. The darkness seemed to mock him, shifting and twisting like a living thing.

Valir gritted his teeth, his pride refusing to allow him to falter. He steadied his breathing and called upon his mastery of shadows, his daggers glowing faintly as he infused them with his power.

Valir, shouting into the void. "You think your tricks will scare me? I am the Dark Prince! I am the shadows!"

He slashed through the air, sending waves of slicing shadow energy outward, hoping to disrupt the suffocating void. But the darkness absorbed his attacks effortlessly, as if mocking his efforts.

Kelvin, his voice colder now, reverberating through the void. "Your shadows are but a candle’s flicker in my abyss. You play with the dark… but I am its master."

From the depths of the void, Kelvin’s scythe emerged, its blade gleaming faintly in the unnatural gloom. It moved with terrifying speed, grazing Valir’s arm before retreating into the darkness.

Valir hissed in pain, clutching the shallow wound. He swung his daggers wildly, but there was nothing to hit, nothing to fight against. The darkness was alive, and it was Kelvin’s domain.

Kelvin’s voice came again, this time softer, almost a whisper, but it seemed to come from directly behind Valir.

"You’re afraid, aren’t you? This is not the darkness you know… This is chaos, unbound and eternal."

Valir spun around, slashing his daggers wildly, but hit nothing but air. His breathing grew erratic as his confidence faltered. The void tightened around him, pressing down on his senses, his movements growing sluggish.

A shadowy figure stepped into view, barely visible in the oppressive dark—Kelvin. His scythe rested casually against his shoulder, his expression calm but merciless.

Kelvin then said coolly. "Now… kneel."

The weight of the darkness became unbearable, forcing Valir to one knee despite his resistance. His daggers trembled in his grip, their glow dimming as the void sapped their power.

With a final, deliberate movement, Kelvin raised his scythe, the blade gleaming faintly in the darkness. He brought it down in a precise arc, stopping just inches from Valir’s neck. The oppressive void instantly dissipated, and the arena was flooded with light once more.

Valir collapsed onto his hands, gasping for air, his pride shattered. The audience erupted in murmurs, stunned by the display of Kelvin’s overwhelming dominance.

Kelvin turned to the crowd, his expression still calm, his aura radiating quiet menace.

Kelvin then said softly but audibly. "This is the power of chaos. Remember it."

He walked off the arena without another glance at Valir, leaving the defeated Dark Prince to contemplate his own arrogance and the depths of Kelvin’s power.