Chapter 42: Ryder Blackstar
Ryder glanced at Kaiser before calmly asking,
"So..."
"Are we going to start?"
A faint smile appeared on Kaiser’s face.
"If that’s what you want."
He slowly raised both hands.
"Spectral Hands."
"Spectral Blades."
Soul Mana surged from his body as he activated both spells at the same time.
Ten translucent ghostly hands emerged around him.
At the same moment, ten Spectral Blades materialized in the air.
The ghostly hands each reached out and firmly grasped a floating blade.
In an instant, ten spectral warriors armed with ghostly swords surrounded Kaiser.
The blades moved naturally with the hands, as though they were extensions of living fighters.
However they were incomplete as only the upper body was visible of them.
It was the proto form of the fusion spell that needs three spells combination, spectral hands, blades and a Specter.
Since Specter is an Tier 2 spell, Kaiser can’t learn it but it isn’t stopping him using the proto form of fusion spell.
Kaiser smiled faintly.
" Although it’s incomplete it’s more than enough for now" he said looking at him.
Ryder’s eyes widened for the first time.
"That’s..."
"A fusion spell?"
He quickly shook his head.
"No."
"It isn’t."
He carefully observed the floating hands and blades.
"You’re casting two separate spells simultaneously."
"They’re simply working together."
"A pseudo-fusion..."
A faint smile slowly appeared on Ryder’s face.
"Interesting."
"I’ve never seen someone use Spectral Hands like that."
"Most people only use them for defense or utility."
"You turned them into swordsmen."
His grip tightened around his silver sword.
"It really is extraordinary."
For the first time since entering the Death Realm, excitement appeared in Ryder’s eyes.
Until now, every opponent had fallen too easily.
None of them had been able to push him.
But standing before him now was someone different.
Someone worthy of fighting seriously.
Ryder slowly lowered his stance.
"Good."
"Let’s see whose Spectral Blade is stronger."
The clearing fell silent once again as both of them prepared to make the first move.
The clearing remained completely silent.
Neither of them moved.
Both quietly watched the other.
Ryder was waiting for an opening.
Kaiser was doing the same.
After several seconds, Ryder made the first move.
His body shot forward like an arrow.
The silver sword in his hand flashed.
"Spectral Slash."
A crescent of silver energy flew toward Kaiser.
Kaiser calmly raised one hand.
Two spectral swordsmen stepped forward.
Their ghostly swords crossed.
Boom!
The slash exploded against the crossed blades.
The two ghostly warriors were pushed backward but remained intact.
Ryder didn’t stop.
He appeared in front of them the next second.
His sword moved like flowing water.
Clang!
One spectral swordsman blocked the strike.
Another attacked Ryder from behind.
Ryder immediately spun around.
Slash!
The ghostly sword was knocked away.
The third swordsman attacked from the left.
Then the fourth from above.
Ryder continuously swung his sword.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
Metallic sounds echoed throughout the clearing.
Although the spectral warriors weren’t real people, they fought with surprising coordination under Kaiser’s control.
Ryder was forced to keep moving.
He couldn’t remain in one place for even a second.
Watching from a distance, Kaiser calmly controlled every movement.
His fingers moved slightly.
Immediately, the ghostly warriors changed formation.
Five attacked from the front.
Three circled behind Ryder.
The remaining two stayed beside Kaiser as protection.
Ryder noticed the change.
"They can change formations..."
He immediately leaped into the air.
"Spectral Slash."
Three silver slashes rained downward.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Three ghostly warriors exploded into Soul Mana.
Kaiser wasn’t surprised.
He simply cast the spell again.
Soul Mana gathered.
Three new Spectral Blades appeared.
The remaining ghostly hands caught them immediately.
"They can regenerate..."
Ryder smiled.
"This is getting better."
He dashed forward once more.
This time he ignored the attacks behind him.
Slash!
One ghostly sword cut across his shoulder.
Another left a shallow wound on his arm.
Ryder paid no attention.
His goal wasn’t the summoned warriors.
It was Kaiser.
Within moments he reached him.
Their eyes met.
Clang!
Kaiser created a Spectral Blade in his own hand and blocked Ryder’s sword.
The impact pushed Kaiser back several steps.
"So you’re also a swordsman."
Ryder spoke calmly.
"I’ve practiced enough."
Kaiser replied.
Ryder swung again.
His attacks were smooth and efficient.
Every movement wasted almost no energy.
Kaiser defended with his own Spectral Blade while simultaneously controlling the ghostly warriors.
Four swords attacked Ryder from behind.
Ryder twisted his body.
Two attacks missed.
He blocked another.
The last one left a cut on his side.
Blood slowly stained his uniform.
Ryder stepped back.
He looked at the wound before smiling.
"I finally got injured."
Kaiser didn’t answer.
Instead, six ghostly warriors rushed forward together.
Ryder took a deep breath.
Soul Mana gathered around his sword.
The silver blade became brighter.
"Spectral Dance."
His body blurred.
For several seconds, silver flashes filled the battlefield.
Slash!
Slash!
Slash!
One ghostly warrior disappeared.
Then another.
Within seconds, six had been destroyed.
Kaiser narrowed his eyes.
"Another Art."
Before Ryder could continue, two Spectral Hands suddenly grabbed his legs.
Ryder looked down.
"When..."
Kaiser calmly answered.
"They were underground."
The two hands had quietly traveled beneath the soil while the battle continued.
Ryder immediately swung his sword downward.
The hands were cut apart.
But that single moment was enough.
Whoosh!
Four Spectral Blades arrived from different directions.
Ryder hurriedly blocked two.
One grazed his cheek.
The last stopped only a few centimeters from his chest.
Ryder immediately jumped backward.
The blade barely missed him.
Both of them separated once again.
Neither spoke.
Both were breathing slightly heavier than before.
Kaiser still had several ghostly warriors remaining.
Ryder still held his silver sword firmly.
Neither had gained a decisive advantage.
High above the clouds, Rite silently watched the battle while keeping an eye on the surrounding forest.
Far away, Leoness leaned forward in her chair.
A smile slowly spread across her face.
"Now this..."
"This is the kind of fight I wanted to see."