Chapter 75: Ryker Auric’s Defeat
"Thunderfall Descent."
A massive pillar of lightning descended from the sky, striking the golden dragon with devastating force. The two attacks collided in a blinding explosion of light and energy, shaking the very ground beneath them.
For a moment, they were locked in a clash of raw power. The golden dragon pushed against the lightning pillar, its roar echoing through the air. But slowly, the lightning began to overpower it.
Ryker’s eyes widened in disbelief as his attack was consumed, the golden dragon shattering into fragments of light.
"No... impossible!"
The lightning pillar struck the ground where Ryker had been standing, sending him flying backward. He crashed into a boulder, his body smoking, his armor cracked.
He slowly pushed himself up, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief. Lucien had not only blocked his attack but had overpowered it.
Lucien walked toward him, his expression calm, his blade still in hand. The battle was far from over, but the message was clear.
"Like I said," Lucien said, his voice steady. "You talk too much."
Ryker slowly pushed himself up, his body trembling, his eyes still wide with disbelief. Dust and smoke clung to his torn robes, and the thunder resistance talisman on his chest flickered weakly, its protective layer cracked and fading.
He had been confident. He had prepared. He had watched Lucien’s battle and thought he understood his limits. But now, standing in the aftermath of a clash that should have crushed the Origin Realm cultivator before him, doubt crept into his heart.
"You..." Ryker’s voice was hoarse, his breath ragged. "You’re not just an Origin Realm weakling, are you?"
Lucien didn’t answer. His expression remained calm, his blade steady. The silence was more unsettling than any taunt.
Ryker’s gaze hardened. He couldn’t afford to lose. Not to someone like this. Not when his pride, his clan’s reputation, and the Origin Blossom Flowers were on the line.
He gritted his teeth and pushed himself to his feet, ignoring the sharp pains shooting through his body. He activated his Golden Core Physique, golden veins pulsing across his skin as he drew upon his metal Originat. The air around him grew sharp and heavy, as if filled with invisible blades.
"You forced me to use this," Ryker growled. "I’ll make you regret it."
He raised his blade, and golden Originat condensed around it, forming a dense, shimmering aura. But this was different from before. The Originat around his sword didn’t just glow, it sharpened. It became like a physical extension of the blade itself, cutting through the air with a faint, high-pitched hum.
Sword Qi.
Lucien’s eyes narrowed. He recognized the technique. Ryker was using his metal affinity and sword talent to manifest sword qi, a condensed form of sword energy that could cut through almost anything. It was the mark of a true swordsman.
Ryker swung his blade, and a crescent of golden sword qi shot forward. It was faster than his earlier attacks, more precise, and carried the sharpness of pure metal Originat.
Lucien moved, his longsword rising to meet the attack. But the moment the sword qi touched his blade, he felt the force of it, not just the impact, but the sharp, penetrating energy trying to slice through his defense.
He was pushed back, his feet scraping against the rocky ground. He managed to deflect the attack, but his arm stung from the force.
Ryker smirked, seeing Lucien struggle for the first time. "Sword qi. The mark of a true swordsman. You’re good, but you can’t match this."
Lucien lowered his blade, his expression still calm. "Sword qi, huh?"
Ryker’s smirk widened. "Scared?"
Lucien shook his head slowly. "No. Just disappointed."
He raised his longsword, and the air around him shifted. The temperature dropped slightly, and a faint, cold pressure emanated from his blade. It wasn’t Originat. It was something deeper, something more primal.
Sword Intent.
Ryker’s smirk faded, replaced by confusion. He felt it, a suffocating pressure, as if the air itself was being cut by invisible blades. It wasn’t the sharpness of metal, but the overwhelming will of a sword.
"W-what is this?" Ryker stammered, his body instinctively stepping back.
Lucien’s eyes were cold, distant. "Sword qi is the power of the sword. Sword intent is the will of the sword. They’re not the same."
Ryker’s body trembled. He tried to summon his sword qi again, but the pressure was suffocating. His golden Originat flickered, and his blade felt heavy in his hands.
"Impossible..." Ryker muttered. "You’re an Origin Realm cultivator. You can’t have sword intent!"
Lucien didn’t reply. He simply raised his blade, and the pressure intensified. The ground beneath him cracked, and the rocks around them trembled.
This time, Lucien didn’t wait. He surged forward, his blade trailing streaks of lightning and invisible sword intent. The air screamed as he closed the distance.
Ryker swung his blade desperately, releasing a wild arc of sword qi. But Lucien’s sword intent crushed it before it could even reach him. The golden energy shattered like glass, dissipating into nothing.
Ryker’s eyes widened in horror. He raised his blade to block, but he knew it was useless.
Lucien’s sword pierced through Ryker’s guard, cutting through his defenses as if they were paper. The blade stopped just inches from Ryker’s throat, the tip gleaming with residual lightning and sword intent.
Ryker’s body froze. His sword clattered to the ground, and his hands trembled at his sides. A single drop of blood trickled down his neck where the blade had barely grazed his skin.
"You..." Ryker whispered, his voice barely audible. "You’re not just strong... you’re a monster."
Lucien’s expression remained unchanged. He withdrew his blade, and the overwhelming pressure dissipated.
"I don’t like repeating myself," Lucien said calmly. "But I’ll say it again. You talk too much."
Ryker collapsed to his knees, his spirit broken. His cultivation was intact, but his pride, his arrogance, had been shattered.
Lucien turned away, sheathing his blade. He walked back toward the Origin Blossom Flowers and knelt down, carefully harvesting them. The petals pulsed gently in his hand, warm and full of life.
Behind him, Ryker stayed on his knees, staring at the ground in silence.
Lucien didn’t look back. The battle was over. And he had what he came for.
As for why he didn’t kill Ryker, Ryker had no killing intent against him. Killing him wouldn’t mean he was dead, there was no way the academy would allow such a thing. These were sons and daughters of leaders from different continents, and their deaths would cause unnecessary complications.