Chapter 440: The Battle for the Seals IV

This time he did not put even a single point into Speed, because in a few seconds that Stat would become completely useless.

[300 Points added to Physical Strength.]

[100 Points added to Spirit.]

[150 Points added to Mana.]

[Stats Points: 0]

[Physical Strength: 1300]

[Spirit: 600]

[Speed: 700]

[Mana: 1225]

[Resistance: 725]

The change was almost immediate, his muscles became denser, the flow of Mana through his body moved heavier and with more volume like a river that had suddenly become deeper, and his mind also became slightly clearer.

But he had not even had time to fully check the changes when the next notification appeared.

[Speed: Locked.]

At that moment, a strange feeling appeared in his body, it was not that his legs had become paralyzed but something that had always existed between his decision and movement suddenly disappeared.

His body was still extremely powerful, but his natural acceleration, fast reactions and movements that came from 700 Speed Points were no longer there.

Lian took one step and it was slow, very slow compared to what he was used to.

"Well...this one is really annoying." It was not like he could do anything about it, so he had to get used to it.

Maybe this was a kind of training itself? It could prepare him for a situation in the future if he faced something like this.

Crack!

A heavy sound came from the center of the field.

He raised his head, a creature was sitting on a stone platform.

It was three meters tall, but unlike its size, its body was not heavy or bulky.

Dry and compact muscles could be seen under its dark gray fur and parts of its shoulders, back and forearms were covered with broken golden armor.

Its eyes were completely white, a long scarf was behind its neck and it moved slowly even though there was no wind.

In its right hand was a black staff more than four meters long.

[Royal Seal Guardian.]

[Sky-Treading War Ape.]

[Rank: Unholy.]

[Level: 20 ( Pre- Evoulation ) ]

Lian stayed silent for a few seconds.

Thirty-five.

And Unholy Rank!

He had only encountered an Unholy once before in his life and that was the Dreadmaw Sovereign, and that one was real.

He doubted that a simulated Unholy could truly have and show power equal to a real one, Unholies were not creatures that could be simulated.

At best, this thing only had 60-70 percent of a real Unholy’s power and it was definitely closer to 60 percent than 70.

But now he understood why a group was needed to advance in this Stage.

And this time, his biggest movement advantage was also locked.

The War Ape slowly stood up, spun the staff in its hand and then hit the ground once with its tip.

Boom.

Lian did not even blink and the creature disappeared, it was not just about speed and moving quickly, to his current eyes it had truly disappeared.

His instincts screamed and at the same moment he turned his head to the right.

But it was too late...

The staff hit the side of the World-Devourer Bastion.

Booooooom!

The ground under Lian’s feet exploded and his body was thrown several meters into the air and rolled hard across the stone.

If he had not been wearing the Ancient armor, that attack would probably have crushed all the ribs on his right side in an instant and damaged part of his internal organs.

Young Vorhelm put his hand on the ground and stopped himself.

[Mountain Frame activated.]

The main force of the attack had been spread through the entire structure of the armor, however, a deep pain remained in his side.

"Alright, you’re one of those that needs to be taken seriously." The small smile on his face disappeared.

This battle was not going to be one of those that he could enjoy, instead he had to use all his power if he wanted to win.

A sound like a rough laugh came from the Guardian’s throat and then seven more images of itself appeared beside its body.

Eight apes.

And eight staffs.

[Eightfold Pursuit.]

And they all moved, Lian had no chance of following them with his normal speed.

So he did not even try and lowered his hand.

Frost Dominion.

Cold spread through the entire field like a silent explosion and in less than a second, a smooth layer of ice formed over the ground.

Just enough so that nothing could pass without touching it and at the same time the eight images approached from eight directions.

Seven of them left no mark on the ice.

But one ...Crack!

A small crack appeared under its foot.

"Found you."

True Sequence.

Lian’s eyes caught the movement flow of the real creature.

Thunder Calamity.

Purple and blue lightning burst through the plates of his armor, this time it did not only cover his fist but spread around his entire body.

Krrrrrrraaaack!

The lightning wave spread through the icy field and the seven images disappeared instantly, the real ape appeared right in front of him.

But Young Vorhelm’s smile lasted only for a moment ...the creature was not on the ground at all! It had created that crack on purpose.

"Damn it! Fuck, fuck." He looked up and the ape came down from above him.

It was holding the staff with both hands.

[Hell-Splitting Staff.]

"Damn it—" Lian had no time to escape and planted his feet firmly into the ground.

[Mountain Anchor.]

Both of his forearms went up and the staff came down at the same time.

Booooooooooom!

The entire field shook and the stone sank within a radius of dozens of meters, cracks like a spider web spread under Lian’s feet and the layer of ice he had created broke into thousands of pieces.

His knees bent for a moment and the World-Devourer Bastion made a deep metal sound, a crack appeared on the shoulder plate.

[Structural Damage detected.]

[Structural Memory activated.]

His lips split open and the taste of blood filled his mouth.

But he did not fall, he did everything he could to resist the attack.

The ape pressed down on its staff for a moment, as if it was surprised.

Lian raised his head.

"I admit your speed." Lightning moved between his armored fingers and a cold smile appeared on his face again.

"But you have one problem."

The ape disappeared and this time appeared behind him.

"No matter how fast you are...in the end, you have to get close to kill me." His palm turned backward.

Cataclysm Pulse.

Boom!

The destructive wave exploded from less than one meter away and the ape could not completely escape, part of the explosion hit its chest directly and its body was thrown backward like a bullet.

But before hitting the ground, it turned in the air and landed on its staff.

It was still unharmed.

"One." Lian frowned slightly, this was not a battle he could win alone.

Hive Dominion.

The space beside him twisted.

The giant ant appeared among the particles of light and its claws hit the field with a heavy impact.

[Special Member: One.]

[Entering the Speed Seal Trial.]

[Speed: Locked.]

One’s reaction was immediate, its movement became heavier, much heavier, the speed it normally used to reach enemies was gone, but its natural armor, physical strength and huge body were still there.

Young Vorhelm sent only one command through the link... Block its path!

The giant ant understood immediately and at the same time the ape moved again.

Cloudstep Mirage.

Dozens of images appeared across the field but this time Lian was no longer alone and One blocked the eastern side of the field with its huge body.

Lian covered the other side with ice and the ape was forced to choose one of the limited paths to attack.

Young Vorhelm waited.

And suddenly a crack appeared on the left! Without hesitation, he sent lightning toward it.

Boom!

The ape changed its path but just in time One lowered its huge claw, the Guardian had no choice and jumped over it and this was exactly what Lian wanted.

Frost Dominion.

An ice pillar formed in the path of its jump.

The ape swung its staff and broke it, but this collision slowed it down for a moment.

Thunder Step.

Even with his Speed locked, he threw himself forward with the force of the Skill, his movement was much slower than normal.

But it was enough and the fist covered in Thunder Calamity hit the ape directly in the stomach.

Boom!

Lightning came out from the back of its body and the Guardian moved several meters backward and Lian wanted to continue when suddenly the wind around the field changed.

The ape spun the staff in the air.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

A circular storm formed around the field.

[Storm Ring.]

Wind hit from all four directions with terrifying pressure and the ice plates were torn from the ground.

One was forced to push its claws into the stone and Young Vorhelm also placed the weight of the armor on his feet.

The creature disappeared into the storm and suddenly an attack came from the left toward him which he blocked with his forearm.

Crack!

A second one came from behind but he was not fast enough and the armor was hit, before he had a chance to react, a third one came from above...although One brought its head forward and the staff hit its head armor.

Boom!

The giant ant fell onto one knee and cold anger appeared in Lian’s eyes for a moment.

"One, back."

The ant did not reject the command, it only changed its position and placed its body between its master and the next path.

The ape came for the fourth attack and Lian clenched his teeth.

True Sequence.

This time instead of following the ape’s body, he studied its attack pattern.

Eight attacks:...always eight angles, but their order changed every time.

There was another common point, before the seventh attack, the creature landed on the real surface for a fraction of a second to create its final acceleration.

That was enough.

Fifth.

Sixth.

Lian remained still and waited ...then

Seventh.

Crack!

"Now."

One put all its weight on that same point and the ape was forced to change its path exactly when it landed, Frost Dominion also locked its other foot in the ice at the same time.

But it could only trap it for one second and the ape broke the ice ...and it was already too late.

The sky suddenly became darker, the creature raised its staff, a huge amount of Mana gathered around it and the staff started to grow.

Five meters.

Ten meters.

Twenty meters.

Its shadow covered almost the entire field.

[Falling.]

Lian’s eyes narrowed for a moment, with his Speed locked, escaping the area was almost impossible.

So he did not run.

The best defense is offense.

———

( Scene visualization )