"Hypergravity Charge!"
Zhang Luan’s vision suddenly darkened. Yanat’s massive armored form thundered toward him with a roar like lightning. His speed defied the weight of over a thousand jin of gear.
That towering body slammed forward like a collapsing wall.
So sudden.
Zhang Luan had no choice but to roll sideways. But Yanat’s combat experience was sharp. Seeing the charge dodged, he halted abruptly, raised his battle-axe high, and slammed it into the ground.
"Hypergravity Shockwave!"
With a thud, a ripple surged toward Zhang Luan.
Zhang Luan’s eyes narrowed. He summoned the Shadowhorn Bow, smashed it hard against the earth, and used the rebound to leap clear. Then he nocked the Azure Righteous Sword onto the bow. [Spiral Arrow] blasted out instantly.
Yanat frowned, raising his tower shield to his face. The spinning Azure Righteous Sword sparked wildly against it. With a furious roar, he deflected the sword away. His axe swung down, channeling hypergravity force into rippling waves aimed at Zhang Luan.
Zhang Luan recalled the Azure Righteous Sword, dodged right past the ripples, then conjured a ball of Stellar Flame. He tossed it skyward. A massive fireball bloomed overhead.
The young onlookers watched in terror, scrambling into nearby houses to avoid the blast.
The Stellar Fireball descended slowly toward Yanat. His brow furrowed—he sensed its searing heat. If Lin Jiu’s group had been caught, they’d have died instantly. This Holy Son was holding back.
Gripping his tower shield tighter, Yanat infused it with dense energy. He braced as the fireball struck him.
With a deafening boom, thick dust and smoke swallowed the courtyard. Everything blurred into obscurity.
Zhang Luan didn’t hesitate. He gripped the Azure Righteous Sword backward and activated Force of Creation, flashing to Yanat’s former spot.
Clang! As the smoke cleared, Zhang Luan pinned Yanat’s back. The Azure Righteous Sword hacked down, spraying bursts of blood.
Yanat gritted his teeth, rolling to break free. He swung his axe, unleashing a skill that forced Zhang Luan back.
Shock flooded Yanat’s eyes. That fireball had disoriented him completely—he couldn’t track Zhang Luan’s position. That gap let the sword pierce his back. Worse, Zhang Luan clearly wielded spatial power. Such an ability had never appeared in Acamana City before.
Yanat bellowed, intensifying his Hypergravity Field. Zhang Luan felt his body grow heavier but ignored it. This was nothing.
Spatial ripples coated the Azure Righteous Sword. Zhang Luan flashed behind Yanat and thrust. Yanat swung his axe back, deflecting the sword again—but the move left him open.
Zhang Luan gripped the Shadowhorn Bow, flashed before Yanat, and smashed it against his armored chest. Clang! The gem on Yanat’s chest flickered slightly. Reflected damage seared Zhang Luan’s wrist.
Yanat stomped, sinking his feet deep into the ground. He twisted his waist violently, hurling his battle-axe. Then he ripped up a stone slab and charged after it.
Zhang Luan glanced at Yanat’s status bar, flashed behind him, and directed the Azure Righteous Sword toward his face.
He hammered Yanat’s waist armor with the Shadowhorn Bow.
Honestly, if he’d had arrows, his decade of archery skill from his past life would’ve shredded this slow heavy warrior. Even with talent boosts, Yanat’s speed wasn’t impressive.
Bang! Another jolt of pain. Zhang Luan ignored it, flashing around Yanat relentlessly. His supernatural energy drained steadily.
Yanat defended carefully, frowning. Something felt off—he just couldn’t pinpoint it.
This Holy Son was clever. He knew the bow harmed himself more than Yanat, yet he kept attacking. There had to be a trick.
Just as Yanat suspected, when the Shadowhorn Bow’s durability dropped by two-thirds, Zhang Luan stopped. He flashed far away, recalling the Azure Righteous Sword.
Yanat sensed danger. Shield raised, he leaped like a falling boulder toward Zhang Luan.
But a pillar of Stellar Flame erupted from the ground, colliding with him. In that instant, Zhang Luan nocked the Azure Righteous Sword onto his bow, aiming at Yanat’s head.
[Remnant Cloud Sword] activated. The 1% trigger chance fired easily. Stellar Flame coated the blade as it shot forth. Yanat’s pupils shrank. Mid-air, he desperately raised his tower shield—but it was useless. The Remnant Cloud Sword’s 50% armor penetration shredded shield and armor like paper.
As the Azure Righteous Sword pierced Yanat’s armor, nearing his chest, the gem on his chest flashed brightly. A thick energy barrier reinforced his defense, dulling the sword’s force slightly.
Still, the blade impaled his chest. Slowly withdrawn, it unleashed a gush of blood. Yanat clenched his jaw, activating the Hypergravity Net to seal his wound. His health bar stabilized at one-third.
He’d lost. To intelligence gaps and arrogance.
If he’d known Zhang Luan’s flames could disorient… If he’d known that sword could pierce his prideful defense… If he’d known…
No ifs. He’d lost.
Zhang Luan sheathed the Azure Righteous Sword and gulped a High-Grade Mana Potion. The Remnant Cloud Sword’s cost was far higher than expected. He’d had over 20,000 mana. Before using it, he’d spent barely 2,000. But the skill drained 17,000 instantly, leaving him nearly empty.
Game panels never showed mana costs—you had to gauge it yourself. Running dry mid-skill? That was on your own weakness.
But it was worth it. Watching his experience bar surge filled Zhang Luan with pure excitement. His XP had overflowed, hitting the crucial Level 15 milestone.
Defeating Yanat also granted rich rewards.
[Defeated Guardian Mentor Yanat]
Gained: 1,730,000 Experience Points
Advanced Skill Book: [Hypergravity Field]
Skill Book: [Hypergravity Shockwave]
Item: Hypergravity Arrows × 100
Reward for defeating a Level 19+ foe: Lucky Roulette × 1
[Level up to 15. First-phase advancement quest triggered. Accept?]
A flood of system alerts crashed into Zhang Luan’s mind, thrilling him. Killing Elder Muhong hadn’t reached Level 15. Now, his wish was finally granted.
Plus, he’d gained a skill book—Yanat’s most useful one, [Hypergravity Field]. It seemed weak against Zhang Luan, but against heavy-armored classes? It’d be devastating.
