A few hours had passed since the gate had opened.
Aengus occasionally used his All-Seeing Eyes, scanning the surroundings for any sign of Aria, all the while moving steadily toward the Trial Ground.
Along the way, he encountered various monsters and groups of humans, but he paid them no attention. His time was precious, and distractions would only slow him down.
The landscape stretched on endlessly, with nothing but rocky terrain and clusters of trees breaking the monotony. Each step felt like a crawl against the vastness of the distance, making it seem as if the Trial Ground was constantly shifting farther away.
He hadn’t seen any trace of Sofia or her group either. He could only hope they were surviving well enough on their own. If he encountered them, he would help as much as possible, but not to the extent of risking his life.
Crash!
Boom!
Aengus saw only a sudden white flash before someone ambushed him from above.
By reflex, he tried to dodge, but the other party’s speed was faster, taking him by surprise.
He barely had time to raise his blade, clashing with the force head-on.
Their clash emitted bright, sparking light, turning the gloomy surroundings bright, as if a white sun showered them with intense radiance.
Aengus and the figure both crashed into the ground, which sank into a small crater.
“Bam!”
Aengus kicked the person with explosive force, sending him flying out of the pit, giving Aengus a moment to catch his breath.
The figure, however, landed nimbly on the ground, moving like a feather.
Aengus jumped up and looked at the figure—a young man in white clothing, holding a gleaming Holy Sword. The sword radiated holy light, as if it were made to vanquish the darkness.
The young man was handsome, with a valiant aura surrounding him, but the frown on his forehead and the killing intent in his eyes made Aengus realize he was dealing with no ordinary foe.
He quickly used his Appraisal skill, and what he found left him a little surprised.
[ Name: Valen Aurelius ]
[ Age: 20 ]
[ Class: Hero (Light) ]
[ Level: 47 ]
[ Affiliation: Holy Cathedral of Gods ]
Skills:
– Radiant Strike (C)
– Blessing of Light (C)
– Divine Fury (C)
– Heart Of Light (B)
– Light Speed Dash (C)
– Domain Of Purification (C)
– Light Of Judgment (C)
“A Hero class?”
Aengus hadn’t expected to clash with one of them so soon, especially given the difference in their party factions.
The young hero, Valen, looked at Aengus with surprise, disbelief in his eyes. His expression shifted when he realized that Aengus was standing completely unharmed after what should have been a sure-kill strike.
Aengus couldn’t quite understand why Valen had attacked him so suddenly, especially considering how well he was suppressing his demonic power.
“Could it be his Heart of Light sensing my darkness?” he mused internally, his eyes narrowing.
“What’s the matter? Why attack me without warning?” Aengus asked, his tone probing but calm, masking the rising tension.
Valen sneered, his eyes ablaze with righteous fury.
“Shut up, you demon! You might fool others, but not me. My heart can sense the hidden darkness within you. You need to be erased from existence before you can wreak havoc.”
His voice was filled with conviction, as though he were acting for the greater good of humanity.
But Aengus could see through the facade. The so-called “Heart of Light” was likely unable to bear the presence of his Heart of Darkness, driving Valen’s hostility beyond reason. This wasn’t about justice—it was about an inherent clash of opposite elements.
Aengus’ grip on his blade tightened, his calm demeanor betraying nothing of the conflict boiling beneath the surface.
“Swoosh!”
Valen’s eyes flashed with fervor as he lunged at Aengus, his Holy Sword shining brightly. The radiance of the weapon seemed to cut through the air like a white-hot blade, leaving a trail of light in its path.
Aengus, using his higher stats to his advantage block each strike with Judgement Blade, but Valen didn’t stoo—he activated Light Speed Dash (C), his body blurring as he made distance and closed the distance instantly, thrusting his sword toward Aengus with deadly precision.
“Your heart tells you to kill, so does mine. Let the victor be decided by strength alone,” Aengus said, his gaze piercing into Valen’s. For a moment, Valen’s face faltered.
Aengus had no desire to waste any time. He activated both Dragonification and his Darkness Power simultaneously.
Instantly, his skin grew tough scales, his hands transformed into claws, a tail sprouted from his back, and horns emerged from his head.
Valen’s eyes widened in shock, but his courage held strong, bolstered by the influence of his Heart of Light.
Without hesitation, Valen raised his sword high, summoning the power of his next skill.
“Radiant Strike (C)!”
The sword exploded with blinding light as Valen swung it down, unleashing a beam of radiant energy aimed to obliterate Aengus.
“Too slow,” Aengus muttered. His form vanished, leaving only a faint shadow behind. He reappeared a few meters away, out of Valen’s reach. The hero’s Radiant Strike hit nothing but empty air.
Boom!
The ground cracked beneath the sheer force of the attack, leveling several towering trees on impact.
Valen’s skills were formidable, his resolve unwavering. But it was unfortunate that he had crossed paths with Aengus.
Sensing the danger, Valen quickly activated Blessing of Light (C). A radiant shield enveloped him, boosting his stats further.
Aengus raised his blade, sending thousands of spectral swords hurtling toward Valen. Simultaneously, dark chains snaked toward him, trying to immobilize him.
Valen’s speed was a problem, as he seemed to slip through space itself. But with his enhanced vision, Aengus quickly located him and bound him within a few seconds.
“Divine Fury!”
Valen roared, bathing himself in holy light that amplified his strength. The light began evaporating the dark chains, freeing him from Aengus’s grasp. His face was full of killing intent.
Bathed in darkness, Aengus clashed fiercely with Valen, who radiated pure light.
They exchanged blow after blow, their powers shaking the earth. But in the end, a victor was finally decided.
