Return of the Mythic Bloodline-Chapter 345: Clash with Eternal Sage II

"Try not to die, Lucifer Morningstar," Robert declared, a serious visage covering his wrinkled face.

From his hands, thick energy flowed into the hilt of the blade, its silver surface turning a brilliant blue. The sword transformed into a long blade of sharp, radiating energy, with flickers of lightning dancing around it.

Seeing him grow serious, Lucifer turned to Ume and commanded, the smile never leaving his face, "Ume darling, reinforce the barrier."

For a brief moment, Ume gazed at him with a solemn expression, then turned away, taking Aestra to the corner of the zenith. There, she began drawing hand signs, strengthening the barrier so it could withstand the clash between Lucifer and Robert.

"Unlike Lyra, who could only use an imitation, this is true Sword Aura in its complete form," Robert declared, gripping the sword with both hands. "You will die if you do not take this seriously."

"Hehehehehe, what's so special about Sword Aura?" Lucifer laughed, his voice dripping with mockery. "Stop babbling and keep fighting."

Ignoring Lucifer's provocation, Robert tightened his grip and murmured in a low voice as he brought the blade down.

"Sword of the Thunderbane: Chapter One

Fang of the Thunder Wolf!"

With a swing of his sword, a terrifying fang of blue lightning surged forward, tearing the garden apart in its path.

The attack was bizarre and destructive, but what use was it if it failed to strike its target?

Just as the fang closed in on Lucifer, he vanished using Blink, reappearing directly in front of Robert.

"Lightning Slash!"

A sharp, crackling arc of blue lightning burst from Lucifer's blade, aimed straight at Robert's face. Before it could strike, it shattered upon colliding with Robert's sword, which was coated in Sword Aura.

Without wasting a second, Robert swung again, leaving Lucifer no time to retreat.

"Sword of the Thunderbane: Chapter Three

Qilin's Judgement!"

With the motion of his sword, a bizarre form of the mythical Qilin materialized, its wide-open jaws striking Lucifer's abdomen at point-blank range.

A thunderous roar echoed through the mountain as the world was swallowed by a blinding blue explosion. Dust and debris were hurled in every direction.

When the dust finally settled, Lucifer stood revealed. His upper body was bare, scorched, and crimson, riddled with countless wounds. At his stomach, where the Qilin had struck, a massive burning mark remained, blood trickling down his skin.

Yet he was still smiling, as though the pain meant nothing.

Amidst his horrifying injuries and blood-soaked crimson body, with hair of the same color, Lucifer looked like a devil descended from hell.

"Kneel and surrender, Lucifer," Robert said heavily, his breathing unsteady from the toll that successive Thunderbane techniques had taken on his aged body. "Resistance will only lead to suffering."

"Hehehe, an Eternal Sage truly is an Eternal Sage, even in old age," Lucifer snickered, pointing his blade at Robert. "I kneel to no one except my family, Master Robert."

"Your arrogance will be the end of you," Robert muttered, charging forward.

"Tsk, I do not wish to use you," Lucifer murmured, gazing at his sword before letting it fall to the ground.

In the next instant, he bolted forward, moving faster than ever before. Even Robert could barely track him.

As Lucifer closed the distance, he unleashed a barrage of explosive punches, each strike carrying the physical might of a mid-stage True Sage. With every blow, rapid bolts of Heavenly-class lightning formed around his fists.

Robert, meanwhile, used every ounce of strength his old body could muster just to block the catastrophic strikes. Each impact shattered the chambers and split the ground beneath them.

With one final punch, Lucifer sent Robert skidding several feet backward.

"Hehehe, you're getting tired, Master Robert," Lucifer mocked. "Do you wish to rest before we continue?"

Thanks to his age and the experience gained over his long life, Robert remained calm and composed under any threat or mockery. Lucifer's taunts had no effect on his mind.

Taking a deep breath, he assumed his stance once more. The Sword Aura around his blade grew sharper and brighter.

In a low, weary voice, he murmured as he swung the sword downward,

"Sword of the Thunderbane: Chapter Five

Wings of Garuda."

The Sword Aura around Robert's blade transformed into a colossal pair of wings that spread across the sky.

With each powerful flutter, lightning crashed down upon Lucifer. Their might rivaled the Heavenly Tribulation Lucifer had faced while breaking through to the mid-tier realm. Unlike true tribulation lightning, however, these strikes were entirely focused on their target and dissipated the moment they struck the earth.

Recognizing the danger, Lucifer's smirk widened. "You have truly surpassed my expectations, Master Robert."

In both of Lucifer's hands, compressed bolts of lightning began to form as he sprinted across the ground, weaving between the descending strikes.

Once the lightning spheres fully materialized, he brought them closer together.

The moment they touched, a thunderous roar erupted. Lightning bolts surged outward as a powerful repulsive force tore through Lucifer's arms.

Gritting his teeth, Lucifer forced the spheres together with every ounce of strength he possessed.

A strange humming echoed through the mountain as the two spheres merged, forming an eye-sized ball that vibrated with an unsettling rhythm.

With a smirk, Lucifer flicked the ball toward the wings in the sky and whispered,

I

N

D

R

A

'

S

⚡

E

Y

E

Ume's eyes widened as she sensed the sheer destruction contained within the tiny sphere. In an instant, she unsealed her Divine Soulforce, rapidly forming hand signs to reinforce the barrier so the devastation would not spread beyond the area. She also erected an additional barrier around herself and Aestra as they silently witnessed the battle.

The moment the lightning ball collided with the wings, catastrophic devastation followed. Deafening thunder roared through the mountain as dust and debris exploded outward.

All the royal chambers, except the two shielded behind Ume, were instantly obliterated.

The small sphere sent by Lucifer completely neutralized the thunderous wings created by Robert.

Unbeknownst to Lucifer, the immense force required to merge the spheres caused the spells Ume had cast on him to unravel, revealing the true signature of his Soulforce.

Once the dust settled, Robert ran toward Lucifer, whose blessing had already been undone.

While running, the sword slipped from Robert's hands and fell to the ground with a loud clang.

Reaching halfway, he fell to both knees and covered the remaining distance by skidding forward, stopping before Lucifer.

With both hands, he grasped Lucifer's foot, placed it upon his head, and announced with a thunderous roar,

"I offer my reverence to the God of Lightning and Thunder, Child of the Heavens and Prince of the Hundred Sky Mountains, Taranis El Thunderbane."