Chapter 647: A Single Second
Their universe was infinite, and to harness it would naturally become the ultimate goal of every awakener. A common saying in Yalenia would be: the weak pursue strength, and the strong seek the infinite.
Once an awakener reaches a certain point, they realize it is no longer about strength or killing the enemy. Instead, their thirst for power turns into diligence for that singular goal that every awakener pursues: harnessing the universe.
Intent was one of those forms of harnessing the universe, as one needs to merge his will with the world to use it. There were different types of Intent, as many as the stars, but the most powerful ones were the most desperate.
"My Intent is harnessed to protect," declared Ilia Perli toward the fallen G.o.d Amelio. His sword was bladeless now, but that was the point. Ilia Perli had to let go of everything and attack with his Intent alone. This was the only method he learned to use it. "I will cut down anything that harms my kingdom."
Ilia Perli took a stance by holding the hilt with both hands and raising it toward the sky. Then, he stared at the eyes of the fallen G.o.d, who seemed apprehensive but intrigued. The blood trickled down Ilia"s face and messy hair, covering the wrinkles below his eyes.
The world breathed, and Ilia inhaled with it. A leaf flew past his face, carried by the summer breeze. The wind fluttered his clothes, and Ilia held still. He was not a separate ent.i.ty anymore, but one with the world, and the world… was one with him.
A single second pa.s.sed since Ilia took his stance, but he felt like it was a year. His body was covered in sweat, and his lips trembled because this was his limit. To lose oneself was a double-edged sword ent.i.tled strength and the risk of disappearing.
"Begone," muttered Ilia Perli as he brought his sword down. His single was swift and without excessive movements, slashing from left to right and downward.
The world resumed its movement after that single second. The leaf flew away, and the breeze traveled down the battlefield. Amelio sat there quietly, staring intensely at Ilia Perli. As for the man in question, his body began to shake before falling to the ground.
"That is what happens when the unworthy tries to harness the universe," muttered Amelio as he jumped from the rock and took a few steps to stand in front of the collapsed Ilia Perli. "You cannot… handle it. That state is for those whose wills never break, just like the man in the sky."
"I… am worthy," a voice leaked from Ilia"s mouth, making Amelio frown. Then, his eyes snapped open as the skin on his chest began to break apart. Amelio watched with rage as a deep gush appeared across his chest and down to his side.
"You did it, b.a.s.t.a.r.d!" glared Amelio at the collapsed man without trying to defend himself. After all, no one can defend against an intent unless with a stronger one.
The fallen G.o.d never believed humans could harness the universe, even for a second. After all, it took countless years of training and diligence to reach that state. However, it was the gates of despair if the awakener finds that the universe rejected them.
"Cough," blood spurted from Amelio"s mouth as he fell to one knee. His hand reached toward Ilia Peril"s head, but it was struck with an arrow. His eyes turned toward the scholar knight who was glaring at him.
"Do not touch our Major with that filthy hand," spat the scholar knight before another soldier appeared beside Ilia Perli and s.n.a.t.c.hed him. Amelio watched with blood leaking from his mouth, and he began coughing more.
"You humans do not understand the great fear of being in my presence," said Amelio as he took out the arrow from his arm and threw it away. His breathing grew more rapid as his torso was covered in blood. "Let me show you what the stamina stat encompa.s.ses."
Ilia Perli was taken away before he grabbed the arm of the soldier. Then, he tried to stand on his own but failed. If one looks closely at the man, he will find that he has aged from a few seconds ago.
"I want to see… if it was worth it," said Ilia Perli as he stared at Amelio, who raised his wounded arm. A crazed grin appeared on Amelio"s face as the wounds began to heal in front of their eyes.
"When the stamina stat reaches a certain number, then it gives the ability to regenerate!" laughed Amelio as the rest of the soldiers watched the wounds close with helplessness. "I cannot die!"
His laughs spread on the silent battlefield as the Unbroken Corps watched helplessly. These men never thought that a great wall would appear this way, and it felt like the world was growing darker for them.
"No, wait," muttered the scholar knight. "The world is growing darker for real!"
Amelio and the soldiers raised their heads toward the sky to see that the sun was gone behind a spherical object. Everyone was confused about what could be so big, but Ilia instantly recognized it. It was the same thing that saved them from the Ilios Empire in Blacksilk and the ent.i.ty known as calamity!
"Sir…!" shouted the soldier supporting him with panic and fear, but he was not looking at the sky. "The earth is moving beneath us! No, not the earth! It"s the shadows!"
"What are you…?" muttered Ilia before looking below and finding countless shadows rising to form the ground. The soldiers and Amelio watched the battlefield get filled with humanoid shadows, all wearing weapons and armor. Ilia Perli gulped as he looked at the clouds, having never seen such monsters before. "Are they… enemies?"
"If so, then we are screwed."
"You," pointed Amelio toward a particular shadow, which morphed into a woman of great beauty. "We have met before, have we not?"
However, the shadow woman did not answer him but gave a smile that captured the crowd"s heart. Her beauty was the kind to corrupt men, but she seemed to do it unintentionally. Then, as did the rest of the shadows, the woman kneeled on the ground.
"Are they kneeling toward Amelio?" muttered the scholar knight in despair. However, Ilia Perli shook his head, as that could not be. There was someone in the traveling airship above, which began to descend.
"We are here, my liege," said the woman with a voice full of obedience. Then, she raised her eyes toward the sky and called. "Please give us your commands, and we shall make them a reality."
The soldiers realized that whoever controlled these shadows was in the object above, and they tried to see who it was. However, the thing was dark because of the sun, making it impossible to see what it was.
"You are here, outsider," muttered Amelio toward the object in the sky with a grin. "I knew that my attack wouldn"t kill you. However, do you think these toys of yours can defeat me?"
"Major," muttered the soldier supporting him. "I thought we were goners when even your attack did not work. But for some reason, I feel optimistic about what is to come."
"There are men who can bring hope with their existence," said Ilia Perli as he watched the sky. "And I met one before. However, I always believed that I was that man for this kingdom, but it appears I am still too weak."
"You are strong, Major," objected the soldier. "However, there is…."
Before the soldier could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by a b.e.s.t.i.a.l cry that rang across the sky. An object was soaring toward the flying airship covered with violet mana.
"Is that a bird?"
"No, a plane!"
"Idiots! That"s a dragon!"
The soldiers panicked at the arrival of such a legendary monster. However, unlike what they expected, the dragon did not attack the airship but began to hover beneath it. It was several meters long, with legs dangled beneath its giant wings.
The airship began to descend from the sky while several people started to jump from it. Figures began to land on the ground, creating crates and explosions around the battlefield. When the dust disappeared, the newcomers turned out to be tall and muscular goblins.
"We are finally here!" grinned one of them, covered in tattoos and great armor. "Hm, who are these puny humans?" muttered the giant goblin as he looked at the soldiers.
"Goblins?" muttered Ilia Perli with confusion, but it seems his words offended the newcomers.
"We are not goblins, old man!" said the giant greenish monster, with fangs covering his face. "We are Gobkins!"
The soldiers did not understand that because they did not look like ogres or goblins. However, it seemed as if these tall soldiers were similar to evolved goblins.
"This is impossible. Goblins are a vulnerable species; their evolution never reaches such a stage because other species kill them. The only method to make them reach such a level is for a powerful person to strengthen them! But goblins never listen to other species!"