Chapter 74: Ryker Auric
"Drop that Origin Blossom Flower or..."
"Or what?" Lucien cut him off, rolling his eyes. He had arrived first, fought the Stoneclaw Golem, and claimed the Origin Blossom Flowers through his own effort. Now this fool expected him to simply hand it over? The audacity was almost amusing.
The young man’s face reddened with anger. His blade remained pointed at Lucien, trembling slightly from his clenched grip. "You think you can just ignore me? Do you know who I am?"
Lucien finally turned to face him, his expression flat and unimpressed. "Should I care?"
The young man’s eyes widened, his arrogance clearly wounded. "I am Ryker of the Golden Crest Clan! You dare speak to me with such disrespect?"
Lucien let out a dry chuckle. "Golden Crest Clan? Never heard of it."
Ryker’s face twisted in fury. He had expected fear, respect, maybe even submission. Instead, he got indifference. His pride couldn’t tolerate it.
"Hand over the flowers, and I might let you leave with your life," Ryker spat, his voice dripping with menace.
Lucien tilted his head, a faint smirk playing at his lips. "And if I don’t?"
Ryker’s patience snapped. He lunged forward, his blade aimed straight at Lucien’s chest. "Then die!"
His sword pierced through the air, but the blade met nothing but empty space. Lucien’s figure had vanished completely, leaving only the faint crackle of fading lightning behind.
"Too slow," Lucien’s voice came from behind him, calm and mocking.
Ryker spun around instantly, swinging his blade in a wild arc behind him. The clash of steel against steel rang out as Ryker caught Lucien’s attack with his own blade. The impact sent a shower of sparks flying between them.
Ryker didn’t seem surprised. His expression remained cold, calculating. He had watched Lucien’s battle with the Stoneclaw Golem, studied his movements, gauged his strength. He thought he already knew what Lucien was capable of.
Lucien pushed off, putting distance between them. He had used that strike to test Ryker’s reflexes. A probing attack. And with the system, he instantly knew everything about him.
---
Name: Ryker Auric
Title: Second Young Master of the Golden Crest Clan
Race: Human
Cultivation Realm: Ninth Level of the Spirit Realm
Physique: Golden Core Physique (Awakened)
Elemental Affinity: Metal (A), Sword (A)
Obsession: Cultivation, Lexa Rosewood, Head of the Clan.
---
Lucien’s eyes narrowed slightly. Ninth Level of the Spirit Realm. Same as Kaelen. Not much difference, except the matter of intelligence.
Ryker smirked, twirling his blade. "I saw everything you did against that golem. You’re strong, I’ll give you that. But I’m not some mindless creature made of stone."
Lucien met his gaze, his grip on the longsword steady. "We’ll see about that."
Before Lucien’s eyes, Ryker brought out a talisman. Having recognized it as a thunder resistance talisman, Lucien let out a soft chuckle. It seemed Ryker came prepared, not underestimating Lucien after watching his battle with the Stoneclaw Golem.
After Ryker stamped the talisman on his body, a faint golden shimmer spread across his skin, forming a protective layer. He turned to Lucien with a smug grin. "I wonder how you’ll make me see with your ninth level Origin Realm cultivation."
Ryker had sensed Lucien’s cultivation from the battle, and now he was confident. A peak Spirit Realm cultivator with a thunder resistance talisman against an Origin Realm cultivator? The outcome seemed obvious to him.
Lucien’s expression remained calm. He didn’t bother correcting Ryker’s assumption.
"You talk too much," Lucien said flatly.
Ryker’s smirk twisted into a scowl. He lunged forward, his blade gleaming with a metallic sheen as he swung toward Lucien’s neck.
Lucien sidestepped, the blade whistling past him. He countered with a quick slash aimed at Ryker’s ribs, but Ryker twisted away, his movements sharp like metal. The two exchanged a flurry of strikes, steel clashing against steel in a rapid rhythm.
Ryker was fast, faster than Kaelen. And his sword technique was refined, each strike precise and deliberate. But Lucien matched him blow for blow, his movements fluid and controlled.
Lucien ducked under a horizontal slash and drove his shoulder into Ryker’s chest, sending him stumbling back. Ryker recovered quickly, his eyes narrowing with frustration.
"You’re not bad for an Origin Realm weakling," Ryker admitted, his voice dripping with arrogance. "But that’s all you are."
He poured Originat into his blade, and a metallic, golden aura surged around it. A circular rune of golden light appeared before his sword, spinning rapidly as it gathered power.
"Golden Crescent Slash."
Ryker swung his blade, and a crescent arc of golden energy shot forward, tearing through the air toward Lucien. The attack was fast and powerful, leaving a trail of shimmering light in its wake.
Lucien’s eyes narrowed. He could feel the metallic sharpness of the attack, the cutting edge of metal Originat. Instead of dodging, he planted his feet and let his Originat surge through his body.
A circular rune of crackling blue lightning appeared before him, spinning with intense energy. Thunder rumbled overhead as the air grew heavy with static.
"Thunderbolt Strike."
Lucien thrust his hand forward, and a concentrated bolt of lightning erupted from the rune, meeting the golden crescent head-on. The two attacks collided in a blinding explosion of light and Originat, sending shockwaves rippling through the rocky terrain.
When the dust cleared, both stood their ground, neither having moved an inch.
Ryker’s eyes widened slightly. "You blocked it?"
Lucien lowered his hand, the crackling energy fading. "I told you. Strength isn’t just about numbers."
Ryker’s frustration grew. He had expected the talisman to give him an edge, but Lucien’s lightning was still potent. He needed to end this quickly.
"Fine. Let’s see how you handle this."
He raised his blade, and a golden circular rune appeared beneath his feet, pulsing with metallic energy. The ground around him trembled as golden spikes erupted from the earth, shooting toward Lucien like spears.
Lucien moved, his body flowing like water as he weaved between the spikes. He leaped onto one of the golden pillars, using it as a springboard to launch himself toward Ryker.
"Lightning Flash."
His body crackled with electricity as he blurred forward, closing the distance in an instant. His blade arced toward Ryker’s side.
Ryker barely managed to block, their swords clashing with a deafening ring. The force of the impact sent sparks flying, and Ryker stumbled back, his grip faltering for just a moment.
Lucien pressed the advantage, his strikes coming faster and faster, each one aimed at Ryker’s openings. Ryker defended desperately, his earlier arrogance replaced by gritted teeth and focused gaze.
Ryker leaped back, creating distance. He was breathing harder now, his confidence shaken.
"Enough!" Ryker roared, his voice echoing through the rocky terrain. He raised his blade high, and golden Originat surged around him like a storm. A massive golden rune appeared in the sky above him, spinning with terrifying power.
"Golden Dragon’s Descent!"
From the rune, a massive dragon made of golden energy descended, its roar shaking the very ground. It charged toward Lucien with overwhelming force, ready to crush him.
Lucien’s eyes narrowed. He could feel the power behind the attack. This was no probing strike, this was Ryker’s all-out assault.
Lucien planted his feet, letting his Originat surge through his entire body. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and the air grew thick with static. A massive blue rune appeared before him, crackling with lightning and thunder, larger and brighter than before.
"Thunderfall Descent."