The Wraith General changed rhythm. It stomped the blade down and drew power, then tried to catch Kaito on the rise. Kaito stepped inside the arc with a short Mana Step and cut three quick times to keep control.
–338
–312
–346
"Hiroto, hold center," Kaito said.
Hiroto set his shield and absorbed a small test strike.
–190
Daichi slid into the pocket beside him, fists glowing. He struck twice at the sword arm to keep the angle narrow.
–228
–244
"Good," Kaito said. "Last pass to half. No greed."
Nina took the beat and called, "Frozen Lance." The narrow icicle hit the neck ring and made the helm rock.
–240
Lucian used the exact same rhythm. "Infernal Arrow."
–740
Kaede sent a measured Lightning Chain.
–422
Raven Blade stabbed into the opened seam.
–366
Suzune set a clean cross under the pauldron.
–394
Meirin slipped one more arrow along the line of light under the helm.
–240
Kaito finished the sequence with two firm normal slashes that kept the boss's eyes on him.
–318
–334
The Wraith General rocked back a single step, blue flames surging. Its HP slid over the line and settled at 60,000.
Kaito did not lower his swords. He stood steady in front of the towering knight, breath even, eyes sharp.
"Hold your focus," he said. "We have it at half."
Then the Wraith General's body trembled, its burning blue eyes narrowing as it staggered back under the storm of attacks. Lightning, flame, arrows, and blades had driven it down to half its strength. For a moment, it froze, then its aura exploded.
A guttural roar tore out of its hollow chest. The blue flames in its eye sockets flared, then shifted into a burning golden blaze. Its body swelled, black armor groaning as its frame grew taller, broader, more menacing. The ground shook as it stamped its armored boot, a wave of crushing energy radiating across the chamber.
The oppressive light of Aika's earlier Purify flickered and vanished. The skill's cleansing effect had been completely erased. The General's defense and power surged, every motion now far sharper and faster.
Kaito narrowed his eyes. "So it's finally serious."
The monster lunged without hesitation, its massive blade cutting down with terrifying force. Kaito met the strike head-on. Steel clashed with a shriek that rattled the walls. Sparks scattered in showers of orange and white as their weapons locked together.
Kaito twisted, redirecting the blow, but the General's strength was overwhelming. The clash forced him into retreat, yet he refused to give ground easily. Step by step, strike by strike, the two warriors traded blows.
Slash. Parry. Riposte. Block. The rhythm of swordsmanship echoed through the chamber as though two masters were dueling in the dead of night. Kaito's every swing was precise, cutting at weak points, while the Wraith General's strikes were heavy, brutal, each one carrying enough power to shatter stone.
Minutes passed in that deadly exchange. Both combatants blurred with speed, blades meeting again and again until finally, the General's greatsword descended in a crushing overhead arc. Kaito blocked, but the sheer force drove through his guard.
A thunderclap rang out as Kaito was hurled across the chamber. He smashed against the stone floor, blood spraying from his lips as pain tore through his body.
-2,034!
Kaito gasped, forcing himself upright. His hands trembled, but his eyes were calm. "So… this is the strength of a true General."
Even as his body burned, something inside him stirred. The countless hours of practice in his past life the forms he had drilled in silence now surfaced. He had held them back until this moment, waiting for a foe worthy of them.
Slowly, he raised his Solstice Blade.
He inhaled, steadying his stance. Then he moved.
A simple cut.
A clean thrust.
A downward chop.
A wide slash.
A sharp strike.
A straight stab.
A crisp parry.
A firm block.
Eight movements, the foundation of every swordsman's art. Nothing flashy, nothing exaggerated. Just pure, refined swordsmanship. Yet as he performed them, his body felt lighter, his blade faster, his movements sharper than ever before.
The Solstice Blade whistled through the air, arcs of light carving across the General's armor. Sparks and black fragments scattered as the monster staggered back under the unexpected precision.
[System Prompt: A New Skill Basic Swordsmanship detected. Would you like to add this skill to your list?]
Kaito's gaze never left the enemy. His grip tightened. "Yes."
[System Prompt: A skill with similar characteristics has been detected: Cut (Lv.5). Would you like to merge the new skill with it?]
"Merge," Kaito muttered, pressing forward as the Wraith General roared in frustration.
[System Prompt: Skill merged. Basic Swordsmanship has absorbed Cut (Lv.5). Basic Swordsmanship has advanced to Lv.3.]
The moment the message vanished, Kaito's movements changed again. His blade no longer followed game patterns it followed his own. Real skill, now woven into the system's framework. Every form he performed left gouges in the General's armor, forcing the towering knight into retreat.
Behind him, his allies surged back into action.
"Cover him!" Hiroto shouted, bracing his shield once more. Daichi slammed a glowing fist against the General's side, throwing its balance off just as Kaito carved another strike across its chest.
Raven blade and Suzune dashed in low, daggers gleaming as they stabbed into weakened joints. Black ichor sprayed from the gaps in the armor.
Kaede's voice rang out, his staff blazing with arcs of thunder. "Stormburst Field!" Bolts of lightning rained down, hammering the General's shoulders.
Lucian layered fire over it, his Firestorm Barrage turning the air into a furnace. Nina followed, cold mana surging around her as she cried, "Frozen Domain!" A storm of frost spread out, slowing the General's movements. Shards of ice stabbed at its legs as she added a Glacial Spike that pierced the floor at its feet.
Meirin's bow thrummed. Arrows flew in steady rhythm, one after another. Twisting Arrow Technique, A spiraling shot drilled deep into the Wraith General's chest, bursting in a flare of spiritual energy.
At the same time, Aika lifted her staff high. Radiant light flared outwards, healing the wounded and burning against the General's blackened armor.
The chamber shook as the Wraith General retaliated. A shockwave of dark energy burst from its frame, sending shards of stone flying. The frontliners braced Hiroto and Daichi were forced back but still holding firm.
-589 (Hiroto)
-578 (Daichi)
The thieves then slipped aside with agile footwork, while Kaito pushed through, his blade cleaving through the wave.
Once more, steel clashed against steel as Kaito met the monster's charge. Sparks flew as their blades locked again, but this time, his refined forms carved the rhythm of the battle. Every swing carried precision, every block flowed into a counter. The Wraith General could no longer dominate the duel—it was being pressed back, piece by piece.
The team's combined barrage filled the chamber with fire, ice, lightning, and radiant light. Step by step, strike by strike, the towering knight's health bar sank lower and lower.
50%… 45%… 35%…
Its golden eyes blazed brighter, rage unending, but even its enhanced body began to falter under the relentless onslaught. Kaito's blade cut across its chest one final time, forcing it back against the far wall.
The system bar flashed above its head.
HP: 20%
The Wraith General roared in fury, slamming its greatsword into the ground with enough force to crack the floor. Its aura still burned like a raging sun.