Chapter 331: Ultra Instinct

"Is this... your magic?"

Hedin turned his head abruptly. Those wise and calm eyes, usually hidden behind his glasses, were now wide open, staring fixedly at Aiden.

"Sorry... I didn't tell you guys in advance."

A trace of apology appeared on Aiden's face.

Logically, he should have disclosed all the intelligence regarding this clone before the battle even began. However, revealing the clone's information meant exposing all of his own trump cards to the Freya Familia. That hesitation ultimately led to the current disastrous situation.

But since the clone had already revealed its final trump card, continuing to hide it was meaningless.

He took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "This is my third magic, Lord Ravager, a deification magic. After using this magic, my stats will increase by at least two adventurer levels. All magic power receives a transcendent amplification, and I enter a special combat state, even temporarily gaining multiple powerful development abilities."

Hearing Aiden's words, even the usually calm Hedin couldn't help but have a vein pop on his forehead.

He squeezed the words out through his teeth. "Something like this... why didn't you say so earlier?"

Aiden was speechless.

It was indeed his fault. In order to hide his intelligence, he had indirectly screwed over the teammates fighting alongside him.

"I can understand Flamescion's reasoning. Dwelling on it now won't help," Finn's calm voice interjected. "The most important thing right now is how to deal with him."

The Prum hero stared at the humanoid sun in the distance with his shimmering blue eyes.

Just floating there caused the surrounding air to distort from the extreme heat. The hard rocky ground was constantly baking, cracking, and ultimately turning into a scorched wasteland.

Just getting close to such a terrifying existence was extremely difficult, let alone fighting it. Even though the physical constitution and resistances of adventurers were far beyond ordinary people, it was still impossible to face a miniature "sun" and fight normally.

According to Aiden, if the clone's initial base stats were that of a Level 4 adventurer, then after using this magic, it would be amplified to at least the peak of Level 6.

Coupled with those magics and skills... it was no exaggeration to say that his strength had reached the realm of Level 7. And it wasn't just a simple Level 7. It was the kind of existence that even the Warlord, Ottar, would find incredibly troublesome to face head-on.

"Hmph, I finally understand why the goddess wanted you to join the rescue team." Hedin pushed up his glasses, the lenses reflecting a cold light.

He glanced at Aiden and said deeply, "Now, it's time for you to prove your worth. Use your magic."

"Alright."

Aiden nodded without hesitation.

Although he didn't really want to use the Lord Ravager magic—after all, using it for prolonged periods carried the massive risk of gradually losing his humanity—this was no longer the time to hesitate. If he didn't step up now, Allen, Tiona, and the others would truly be in danger.

Thinking of this, Aiden leaped off the cliff. At the same time, the sacred chant began to flow from his lips.

Almost at the exact moment he jumped, two figures leaped down with him, one after the other, rushing ahead of him.

It was... Ais, wreathed in emerald gales, and Gareth, tightly gripping his Grand Axe.

Meanwhile, a thin, cicada-wing-like veil of green draped over the ones escorting Aiden, as well as Allen and the others struggling in the battlefield—it was Riveria's defensive magic.

Aiden slowed his pace, immersing his entire mind into the magic's incantation.

His body began to undergo the exact same transformation as the clone. White-gold flames faintly seeped through his skin, stepping closer to deification with every passing second.

Ais and the others charged resolutely toward the clone like moths to a flame, buying precious time for Aiden behind them.

Of course, they were also the top adventurers of Orario. They had their own pride and harbored the desire to personally slay this terrifying fake.

However...

The deified clone had completely entered the realm of Ultra Instinct. His reaction speed had reached an unearthly, nearly divine domain.

The attacks from Ais and the rest simply couldn't keep up with his rhythm.

Every swing of his sword felt like the fall of the sun, unbelievably heavy. Every slash he unleashed made the atmosphere groan in agony, leaving terrifying, bottomless gouges dozens of meters long on the hard ground.

Aside from the thick-skinned Gareth, who could barely endure a hit or two, Ais, Tiona, and Bete were basically injured just by being grazed. If they were even a fraction of a second too slow to dodge, death would be their only end.

Under this extreme thrill of dancing on the edge of life and death, their potential was fully stimulated. No matter how miserable their postures were, no matter how many wounds were added to their bodies, they only had one thought—dodge with everything we have and survive.

"Golden wheel, silver collar."

Finally, after dodging a slash with another miserable roll, Allen activated his magic. Mid-sprint, the lengthy incantation spilled rapidly from his lips.

"Loathed beloved, empty illusion, the convergence of fate."

"Disappear, golden wheel, before you are crushed in the ruts."

"Glorious whip, beloved lips, the convergence of price."

"Turn, silver wheel, until the day you lose your life."

"Until you hear the song of the wheels in the sky after your death—sprint, bearing the divine will of the goddess!"

Gráinneze Fromel!

Under the blessing of his magic, Allen's speed instantly broke through his limits, entering the true realm of Godspeed.

His figure completely vanished from naked-eye observation. All that remained was an endless series of violent sonic booms generated by his flesh breaking the sound barrier.

He transformed into an invisible, high-speed chariot of destruction, crashing into the "Aiden" suspended in mid-air from every direction, time and time again.

But.

Even against such godly speed, such ferocious attacks.

The "Aiden" in the Ultra Instinct domain could still react and evade.

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