I stood before Master, my heart pounding in anticipation. This was it—the final spar. The culmination of four years of relentless training. Master, always the enigmatic figure, looked calm, his expression unreadable, but his eyes flickered with a hint of something... pride? Or perhaps just the anticipation of this monumental moment.
He handed me the Goddess's Sword that he took from me while saying when the time comes he will give me.
However, when I attempted to draw it from its scabbard, the sword resisted—its magic not allowing it to be pulled free easily. I frowned, feeling the sword's weight, its dormant power. Channeling my mana into it, I felt the blade respond, its form changing with each pulse of energy. The sword came free with a faint hum, the dark red material reflecting the last rays of the sun.
A blade unlike anything I had ever seen. Its dark red hue gleamed in the fading light, its single-edged blade as thin as a whisper but as sharp as a storm. I took the hilt, and instantly, the sword began to adjust, becoming perfectly attuned to my grip. It felt as if the blade had come alive in my hand, its weight shifting seamlessly, guiding me.
Armor began forming around my body as if summoned by the very air. The black armor, laced with red borders, fit me perfectly—sleek, lightweight, and yet powerful, like the skin of a dragon. It was as though the armor was a living thing, merging with me, each piece molded to my form. It was a perfect complement to the Goddess's Sword.
Master's voice echoed across the arena, "Good. The armor is crafted from a material more durable than dragon scales and more powerful than even Cyteric's own. Now, I can fight you without being worried about you."
I met his gaze, and for a brief moment, the bond we shared—the mentor and student—flickered in the space between us. Then, we each took two steps back. The air crackled with tension.
Without another word, I lunged forward, propelling myself with all the speed I had honed over the years. Mana enveloped me like a second skin, my every movement reinforced by the rhythm of the mana-breathing method that had become second nature. It was a technique I'd mastered, allowing me to replenish my mana even as I used it.
The first clash was immediate, the sound of our blades ringing out with a sharp, metallic clang. Sparks flew as the Goddess's Sword met Master's blade, the shockwaves radiating out, cutting through the air. With every strike, I pumped more aura into my sword, but Master—he didn't use any mana or anything like that. Instead, he fought with raw, brutal strength, as if this battle were nothing more than a dance for him.
'His strength… it's unreal', I thought, narrowly avoiding a swing that would have cleaved me in half.
I gritted my teeth and adjusted my stance, channeling my frustration into my movements. This wasn't my old body, not the one I had trained with in a previous life. My strikes felt heavier and clumsier, but I wouldn't let that stop me. I adapted, drawing on the style Master had taught me—a fluid, unpredictable form that focused on precision and agility. My sword became an extension of my will, and with a thrust, I aimed toward him.
But Master was faster. He parried my thrust effortlessly, pushing me back with a casual flick of his wrist. I didn't stop there. A side slash, imbued with aura, followed, but once again, Master blocked it with ease, his expressions were unreadable.
'Dammit...' I thought, frustration bubbling up inside me. I had to do more. I needed to do more.
Pushing my aura to its limits, I unleashed a cross-slash, the blade glowing with the power of my aura. The energy surged through me, into the sword, but once again, Master blocked with minimal effort. He barely even moved, as if this battle were a mere warm-up for him.
I had to do something different. Something unexpected.
I surged forward again, this time using the 360-degree slash I had perfected in my earlier training, my sword arcing through the air with deadly precision. I felt the energy crackle in the air as I moved, surrounding myself with a vortex of mana that empowered each slash, making my attacks faster, sharper, and deadlier.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
The sound of our blades striking echoed like thunder. I could feel the ground beneath us shudder as our swords clashed, the air rippling with every swing. Master's blade didn't falter, didn't even show the slightest sign of strain.
I was getting tired. My limbs felt heavy, my attacks slower, but I couldn't stop. I wouldn't stop.
I shifted tactics. Reaching deep within myself, I used my lightning magic to enhance my speed. I shot forward, a bolt of electricity coursing through me as I fired dozens of lightning arrows at Master.
But once again, he was ready. Master raised his hand and summoned an earth wall, thick and impenetrable, to shield himself from the barrage. With a growl, I leaped forward, my body crackling with energy, lightning surging around me as I broke through his defense with my sword. But when I reached the other side, Master wasn't there.
His voice, deep and calm, came from above. "Use more power, brat. Don't hold back."
'Above me…' I thought, just as the air shifted.
Before I could react, I felt it. Master was coming down toward me, a crushing force of mana gathering in his hand. I barely had time to react as he slammed his fist into the ground, creating a shockwave that sent me crashing down, the force of it shattering the earth beneath me.
Boom!
I hit the ground hard, the impact creating a crater beneath me. The armor held, but my bones ached from the force. I groaned, pushing myself to my feet, barely staying upright. I couldn't let him win like this.
I focused, channeling my remaining strength. The Cyteric Body form surged through me, my eyes turned crimson, my hair white as snow. My senses sharpened, and I could feel the entire world around me—every movement, every shift of the air.
Master's next move came almost too fast for me to follow. But now, with the Cyteric Body's enhancements, I anticipated it. I dodged, just barely, as he swung his blade at me. The force of his attack sent gusts of wind in every direction. We were in the air now, both of us flying, locked in a deadly dance of swords. The world around us blurred, the only thing that mattered was the next strike, the next move.
I fought with everything I had, each slash a burst of pure aura waves. The forest around us began to break apart as we clashed, our power splitting the very air. The trees splintered, the ground cracked beneath us, and yet Master remained composed, his movements as fluid as water.
I launched a wind whirlpool cutter at him, but he countered with a massive water spell—a torrent of water compressed into a sphere, hurtling toward me. The two magic attacks collided with a force that rattled the very atmosphere.
Boom!
I didn't stop. I couldn't. With lightning magic, I pushed myself faster, making an ice gauntlet form around my hand. I soared toward Master, intent on landing a blow. But he, too, responded—his own earth gauntlet crashing toward me.
Bang!
The clash sent shockwaves through the air, so powerful that it was felt even in the distant capital city. The ground beneath us cracked, the sky darkened as Master start conjuring Blue flames, and for a brief moment, it seemed as if the world itself was caught in the crossfire.
I was breathless, but the battle was far from over. With a roar, Master flew toward me, launching a devastating blue flame blast. I responded with a flurry of ice bullets, but I made a fatal error. The blue flames vaporized the ice upon contact, creating a cloud of mist between us.
I felt his presence before I saw him. Master appeared behind me, his sword descending with a brutal, decisive strike. I barely managed to block, my sword meeting his with a clash that rang through the sky.
Cyteric Body's time was running out.
I had one last chance.
I broke away, creating distance between us just as my time was almost up. My heart raced in my chest, my breath coming in ragged gasps. I needed to end this.
With my remaining strength, I launched myself into the air. "I'm not done yet, old man," I called, voice strained.
Master's eyes gleamed. "Don't push yourself too much beyond your limits, brat."
I shook my head. "I'll take whatever comes."
And with that, I drew on the last power I had left.
I invoked Celestial Transmute.