Chapter 164


    To the uninformed, it might’ve seemed vin and Cedrick harbored deep-seated hatred for one


    another, but for both, the greatest respect was to defeat the other.


    Sword and de struck, and both the iron de and ancient sword were sent flying, not from the


    force of their attacks, but because both men''s hand bones fractured simultaneously, blood flowing


    freely.


    The Dawnedge de whistled through the air and flew off the mountaintop, embedding itself at the


    base of the mountain.


    Mari was the first to step forward, taking her stand beside the ancient de, her brows furrowing


    as she gazed up at the mountaintop.


    Cedrick''s iron sword, controlled by an unseen force, tumbled through the air and returned to its


    ce, hovering ominously above his head.


    The throng of people scattered across the valleys fell into a silent, tense watch over the high


    mountain. Could it be time for a victor to be decided? Cedrick''s sword was not one to be countered


    by mere flesh; to confront Cedrick was to face both the man and his iron de. With vin


    deprived of the ancient sword, was he not at a disadvantage?


    "Unless vin has some secret move up his sleeve, he is surely doomed," murmured Ond. His


    brow creased in focus. vin might have won against Ond’s two fellow apprentices with


    Shadowlord’s Wrath, but besting Cedrick was an entirely different challenge.


    vin and Cedrick stood on opposite ends of the mountaintop, panting heavily. Wounds covered


    their bodies, and blood stained their forms. They resembled wild beasts. Their presence exuded a


    ferocious and untamed might.


    "My soul is the sword''s spirit; my body is the sword''s form. I am the sword, and the sword is I; all of


    creation, my weapons of war," Cedrick uttered in a hoarse and deep voice reminiscent of a demonic


    whisper from the depths of hell. The fresh blood from his wounds and the crimson stains upon his


    skin began to rise mystically, merging into a thin mist of blood essence and surging towards the


    battle sword floating high above.


    In an instant, an invisible aura enveloped the mountaintop. Broken rubble and particles of dust all


    lifted into the air, radiating a deadly intent as if transforming into a thousand des.


    The Commanders were all watching with knitted brows. This was no Combat Magic from Cobalt


    Strike; this was the Iron family''s most potent secret technique.


    This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    How would vin respond? The decisive moment seemed imminent.


    vin''s ragged breath could feel the oppressive might of the sword energy engulfing the heavens.


    Far from retreating, his will to fight only grew stronger.


    Crackling with energy, vin''s entire body sparked with electrical energy, dancing wildly across his


    limbs. Amidst this tempest of lightning, wisps of dark mist spread without restraint, growing more


    abundant until almost enveloping him entirely. Lightning and darkness interwove, the chilling aura


    pervading the mountaintop.


    His hands, tense as talons, slowly came together before his chest. Dark mist surged from his palms


    to converge in the center, spinning violently like a small tornado.


    The battlefield fell eerily silent. A chilling, murderous intent was spreading silently. The Protégés


    below felt an icy dread. Their skin was crawling.


    "Such a formidable aura!" Ziros and Nelsor exchanged looks of rm. They had experienced much,


    but nothing as terrifying as this.


    A faint wailing seemed to emerge from the fabric of the world, like a gust of wind or distant cries,


    ethereal and elusive.


    "Strike!" bellowed Cedrick,unching the first assault with a speed so uncanny that his form blurred.


    His hands sped together as he charged at vin.


    The crowd was stunned; they saw what seemed an illusion. Cedrick had transformed into a brilliant


    battle sword, cleaving towards vin. Of course, he had not truly be the weapon—that was a


    miraculous manifestation. This nascent divine power created an illusion so convincing it illustrated


    the terror of the moment.


    In the sky, the battle sword resonated fiercely, unleashing pressure as immense as a mountain,


    dragging a long, dark tide toward vin. Thousands of shattered stones from the mountaintop rose,


    converging into a dense swarm, all morphing into sword energy.


    It was as if a single stone had triggered a thousand ripples. The entire mountaintop boiled with


    chaos. Yet at the brink of this pandemonium, at the edge of death, vin stood unafraid, his gaze


    aze. Suddenly, his hands shot upwards. The violent ck whirlwind scattered to reveal a small


    dagger, both real and illusory. Its presence sent shivers down the spine as if cradling a seed of


    death.


    "What is that?" Protégés were bbergasted. The chilling intent and murderous will was palpable


    even from a distance.


    The Commanders frowned; this dagger was no ordinary weapon! Once again, vin had surprised


    them.


    "The de''s name is, Shadowbringer!" vin roared. The ck dagger struck forth, cutting through


    time and space. Its icy chill caused souls to shudder, and a bone-piercing murderous intent


    engulfed Cedrickpletely.


    The final blow would determine victory or defeat.


    Silence fell over the field, the tension palpable. Countless eyes widened, minds nked, and many


    a mage clenched their fists, watching intently as battle hung in the bnce.