Chapter 478: A Dazzling Light that Steals the Vision

The fierce battle with Aldia had given Shien a good understanding of his current strength.

Now, Shien could confidently say that he wasn’t afraid of this current strongest human.

Half a month ago, although Shien was confident he could rival Aldia without unsealing the Holy Sword, that would require him to use all his means.

Half a month ago, without using [Limit Evolution] and his two magic skills, he definitely wouldn’t have been able to fight Aldia so fiercely with a level below sixty.

But now, half a month later, with the fused Heaven’s Decree skills and his level at seventy-seven, Shien could gain the upper hand against Aldia.

This was still with Shien not using his trump card, [Samsara of Heaven’s Decree], which could increase his strength tenfold, not using magic, and deliberately taking all of Aldia’s attacks head-on to test his own strength.

Otherwise, Shien only needed to continuously use [Outer Perception of Heaven’s Decree] to teleport. Even if Aldia’s [Volt] was powerful, could all his attacks hit their target when he couldn’t even track Shien’s movements?

Impossible.

If it weren’t for testing the defensive power of [Inner Manifestation of Heaven’s Decree] and the perception ability of [Outer Awareness of Heaven’s Decree], Shien wouldn’t have let himself be used as a punching bag.

He could have easily teleported away with [Outer Perception of Heaven’s Decree], then used [Inner Awareness of Heaven’s Decree] to conceal himself, and launched a surprise attack when Aldia couldn’t detect him. Wouldn’t that be enough to defeat Aldia?

Not to mention that Shien hadn’t even used magic yet. The power of his magic, amplified by [Inner Perception of Heaven’s Decree], was unimaginable.

However, if he did that, this newly rebuilt noble district would be devastated again.

The main purpose of this battle was to test his current strength, not simply to determine victory or defeat.

Therefore, Shien didn’t use all his means, but deliberately engaged in close combat, rivaling Aldia head-on.

As a result, even with such restraint, Shien still injured Aldia after a fierce battle.

This made Shien realize that he no longer needed to be wary of anyone below the transcendent level.

Because Aldia, considered invincible below the transcendent level, was already showing signs of defeat, even with Shien still holding back.

Then, if he used all his means, how strong would he be?

Shien didn’t know.

But Shien could guarantee that if he faced the pre-fusion Lilith again, he wouldn’t need to fight so desperately just to weaken her power and create an opportunity. He now possessed the power to fight her head-on, even defeat her!

What did this prove?

It proved that Shien had somewhat reached the transcendent level!

As for whether he could truly rival transcendent beings, Shien wasn’t sure yet.

But at least, against the powerful opponent before him, he definitely wouldn’t lose.

“Clang!”

A brilliant light, like a dazzling stream, flowed on Shien’s Holy Sword.

At this moment, Shien used the power of [Outer Manifestation of Heaven’s Decree], increasing the performance of his weapon several times over.

Under such circumstances, the sealed Holy Sword in Shien’s hand faintly emanated the power of its unsealed state, radiating a brilliant light.

“What is that?”

Seeing this, many people were stunned.

Especially Ancil, Lia, and the others, who had a feeling.

𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

“This light… seems familiar.”

Ancil and Lia were surprised.

Shien, ignoring them, continuously poured his magic power into the Holy Sword, making the light even more dazzling.

Under the power of [Outer Manifestation of Heaven’s Decree], as Shien poured in more magic power, the Holy Sword’s performance continued to increase, eventually reaching the tenfold limit.

The Seal Rings on the Holy Sword’s hilt vibrated, as if they were about to come off.

Shien knew that this was because the Holy Sword’s latent power was being stimulated by his [Outer Manifestation of Heaven’s Decree].

Before, Shien had unsealed the Holy Sword and tried to enhance its power with his incomplete [Outer Manifestation of Heaven’s Decree].

Shien’s Holy Sword was already terrifyingly powerful. If its power could be increased tenfold, it would be truly devastating.

Unfortunately, Shien failed at that time.

The fully unsealed Holy Sword’s performance had already reached its limit, and it was impossible to enhance its power further with external forces.

Shien had even asked Airi for her opinion on this matter.

At that time, Airi told Shien,

“The Holy Sword is a power born from the concept of ‘Hero.’ It can be said to be the Hero’s other half, the Hero’s companion.”

“It is one with the Hero.”

“And before the Hero transcends, breaks through the limits of life, and breaks free from the shackles of levels and skills, the Holy Sword’s power will also have a limit.”

“If the Hero can transcend and break through, reaching our level, no longer limited by the concept of levels and skills, then the Holy Sword will also break through its own limits, no longer providing a fixed level increase or skill level boost, but becoming pure power, enhancing your own strength.”

“This form of existence is actually the closest to the level of the Demon King and the Supreme God. We still rely on Unique Skills, but only the Hero’s Holy Sword can infinitely approach that level, possessing only pure power.”

“At that time, the Holy Sword will truly unleash its power, maximizing the Hero’s strength, and vanquishing all demons, even the Demon King fearing its might.”

“Now, you haven’t transcended yet, not even reached the limits of life, so the Holy Sword’s power naturally can’t surpass its own limits and be enhanced by your skill beyond its limits.”

That was the case.

Therefore, Shien’s [Outer Manifestation of Heaven’s Decree] couldn’t enhance the fully unsealed Holy Sword, because its power had already reached its limit in that state.

Shien could at most use [Outer Manifestation of Heaven’s Decree] to increase the Holy Sword’s attack power, making it sharper and more threatening, but he couldn’t enhance its fundamental power.

However, in its sealed state, the Holy Sword’s power hadn’t reached its limit and could be enhanced by [Outer Manifestation of Heaven’s Decree], awakening its sealed power.

This way, the Holy Sword wouldn’t be exposed, but it could still grant Shien greater power, allowing him to unleash more of its might in public.

Coupled with the armor penetration, magic penetration, and destructive effects of [Outer Manifestation of Heaven’s Decree], once Shien used its power, its might would definitely surpass the [Magic Sword] skill, which had already been integrated into [Outer Manifestation of Heaven’s Decree], and be more restrained.

Therefore, without any roaring wind or trembling aura, Shien simply raised the Holy Sword, as if turning it into a beam of light.

The aura wasn’t imposing, even somewhat pleasing to the eye, but for some reason, it made everyone present feel a tremor in their hearts.

Especially Aldia, who felt a terrifying pressure bearing down on him, making it difficult for him to breathe.

He didn’t know what Shien had done.

He originally thought that Shien would use [Magic Sword] to clash with him head-on, and he was confident he could sever Shien’s [Magic Sword].

Aldia had used this move to sever both Shien and Lucy’s [Magic Sword] attacks before.

Even though Shien had become stronger than before, and his magic power had also increased, Aldia at that time had only overlapped [Magic Sword] twice, unlike now, where he had overlapped it ten times, reaching the limit.

Aldia naturally wasn’t afraid of Shien’s [Magic Sword].

But now, Aldia realized he had been too naive.

Shien had completely transformed. The [Magic Sword] from that time was no longer his only powerful means.

“Raaaaaargh…!”

Aldia couldn’t help but roar, as if trying to dispel the pressure and faint fear in his heart.

Then, Aldia slashed down with his Sword of Absolute Annihilation, the incredibly dense, crimson [Magic Sword] descending like a pillar of light, towards Shien.

Instantly, the wind howled, and clouds churned.

The massive crimson [Magic Sword] cleaved through the atmosphere, as if splitting the heavens and earth, creating a gust of wind and a sonic boom.

A violent wind swept through the plaza, like a category twelve typhoon.

The expressions of the experts hidden in the shadows changed drastically. In the end, they couldn’t help but use their various means, some raising protective barriers, some activating skills, some even turning and fleeing, like they were facing a ferocious beast, looking pathetic.

“Your Highness!”

Charl even hugged Lia and, with Lia’s exclamation, jumped away from the area.

“Master!”

Jace and Liece protected Jacinta with panicked expressions, but Jacinta didn’t even notice.

He was still staring intently at the scene.

The same went for Ancil, Yuler, Rockto, and Harvis.

In the Buztout mansion, Vivian, Lumia, and Melika also held their breath.

Airi’s gaze sharpened, and she, along with Lilith and Lasha, watched the descending pillar of light.

“Roar!”

Yulin roared and soared into the sky.

Everyone was stirred by the power of this sword strike.

Only Shien, like a hero defying the heavens, looked up at the crimson pillar of light descending towards him, facing the gust of wind, not with fear, but with a smile.

And he smiled happily.

“Come on!”

With this declaration, Shien leaped forward, transforming into a stream of light.

The stream of light soared upwards, as if trying to pierce through the heavens and earth, through space itself, reaching for the clouds.

The crimson pillar of light descended.

The brilliant stream of light ascended.

Everyone in the capital noticed this scene, their hearts filled with panic and terror.

Finally, the stream of light and the pillar of light collided.

“—”

A blinding light instantly filled the world, stealing everyone’s vision.