In truth, when Bolton unleashed his final strike, a trace of regret had already flickered through his heart.
Because based on the outcome of their clash just moments ago… he had undeniably lost.
But when he saw Locke forced back by that eruption of lightning, Bolton's spirits rose sharply.
This guy's physique and battle-qi are so weak!
It felt no different from a normal ninth-rank warrior.
He could win!
At that moment, Bolton's mind was filled with only one thought—defeating Locke.
And because of that single obsession, he ignored the most crucial question.
If Locke's defense was no stronger than an ordinary ninth-rank warrior…
then how did Locke become a Sanctuary expert?
In the Coiling Dragon universe, even if one comprehended 99% of a Law, without reaching the peak of the ninth rank in battle-qi or magic, one could never cross the chasm into Sanctuary.
Only peak ninth-rank power, combined with mysteries of the Laws, could forge a Sanctuary breakthrough.
Even Linley Baruch himself only reached Sanctuary after transforming into a Dragonblood Warrior—because the Dragonblood Warrior lineage descended from the divine beast, the Azure Dragon.
In a sense, Dragonblood Warriors were akin to "Sanctuary-level magical beasts."
Their bloodline naturally contained a portion of the Laws.
When Linley transformed at the ninth rank, his battle-qi rose to peak ninth rank, and together with the innate mysteries within his bloodline, he was able to shatter the barrier into Sanctuary.
Otherwise, despite already comprehending part of the Earth Pulse mystery, he had been unable to break through before reaching peak ninth rank.
"Kill!"
BOOM!
With a roar, endless lightning burst from Bolton's body. The training grounds cracked under the sheer force.
Under Bolton's control, all that lightning gathered at the tip of his long spear. Anything the scattered arcs touched was reduced to dust.
But before Bolton could thrust the spear toward Locke—
He suddenly felt himself falling into a bottomless abyss.
No sight.
No sound.
No smell.
He couldn't even feel the existence of his own body.
The only thing he could vaguely perceive… was the Thunderburst he had practiced countless times, imprinted into instinct.
"Celestial Dance Treasure Wheel—Five-Sense Severance."
Locke lowered his hand, breathing slightly heavier.
Deprived of all five senses, Bolton could no longer feel his body, and thus lost all ability to control it. Frozen in his last posture, he stood motionless at the center of the training ground.
But contrary to Locke's expectations…
the lightning gathered on Bolton's spear did not erupt.
Instead… it became smoother?
More controlled?
The lightning continued to condense, as though guided by Bolton's still-active spiritual will.
"Oh?"
A glimmer of light flashed through Locke's eyes.
His Celestial Dance Treasure Wheel could only sever the five physical senses.
But a Sanctuary expert possessed one more sense beyond the five—the fusion of soul force with their comprehended Laws.
A state akin to "man and heaven as one."
Although this sense was far inferior to a Deity's divine awareness, it still allowed a Sanctuary expert to perceive the world through their grasp of the Laws, even when all physical senses were cut off.
In the boundless darkness, that thin thread of Law-awareness was like a faint ray of light in a bottomless abyss.
If Bolton was given enough time…
He might eventually use this state to break Locke's illusion and recover his senses.
But—
Would Locke give him that chance?
Anyone who tried to kill him… Locke would never allow to walk away alive.
Just like twenty years ago—during that disastrous retreat. Mistaking the Light Church troops following him for pursuing enemies, he had single-handedly slaughtered seventeen squads of Light Church soldiers during his escape.
Bolton's actions earlier had more than earned Locke's killing intent.
A surge of magic power roared through Locke's soul.
Water essence gathered before him, condensing into a single suspended droplet.
Locke flicked his finger.
The droplet shot forward.
Puff—
It punched through Bolton's head without the slightest resistance.
Then the droplet swelled.
BOOM!!
In an instant, it expanded into a massive ten-meter-wide sphere of water.
From outside, one could see violent, chaotic torrents spinning at impossible speed within.
Thin streaks of red appeared inside the sphere…
and were quickly diluted by swirling currents.
Seconds later—
POP.
The sphere burst, drenching the entire training ground in a massive splash.
The soldiers of the Tsunami Legion watching from outside froze in terror.
Bolton's body was nowhere to be seen.
Anyone with good eyesight who had glimpsed the red inside the water sphere knew the truth.
Bolton hadn't dodged.
He had been pulverized—his remains dissolved into the very water now soaking the ground.
"…This…"
No one knew how to react.
Who would have thought that a simple spar would escalate into a life-and-death battle?
And was it Lord Locke's fault?
Could they blame him?
Would they dare?
Everyone had eyes.
Locke had clearly held back. Bolton had refused to admit defeat, even attempting a sneak attack.
Such behavior was disgraceful—unworthy of a Sanctuary expert.
Even the soldiers who respected Bolton could not approve of it.
Only now did they realize something else as well:
Locke wasn't a Sanctuary warrior…
He was a Sanctuary mage.
If Bolton had known this earlier, with the attitude he had shown…
He would never have challenged Locke.
After killing Bolton, Locke waited a few seconds.
No message came from His Majesty Celes.
He relaxed slightly.
(End of chapter)
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