NOVEL NEXT Chapter 431: Death
Gritting his teeth, Orion desperately considered his remaining options, eyes darting around for any potential escape routes. Yet, the beast gave him no time to consider countermeasures as it charged up the attack fully.
Orion took a deep, shuddering breath, his eyes flashing with unyielding determination even as despair clawed at his heart.
He knew there was no escaping this final, devastating strike. Accepting this outcome, he channeled every last drop of mana, every ounce of vitality, and every fiber of his draconic strength into his twin blades.
All around Orion, elemental energy surged furiously, flames roared, lightning crackled, emerald vines twisted, and blood-red spells coalesced, forcefully infusing into the blades in his hands.
Both swords trembled violently under the tremendous energy, their blades radiating blinding, multi-colored brilliance.
Above, the beast's ultimate attack was fully charged. The cyclone erupted, forming into a terrifying beam of condensed wind, infused with sharp, deadly Law fragments, and blasted toward Orion with unstoppable force.
"Come, you bastard! I won't die without a fight!" Orion roared, thrusting both blades upward, directly confronting the incoming beam.
At the instant of impact, an ear-splitting explosion erupted. His secondary greatsword instantly shattered, unable to endure the monstrous collision, pieces scattering through the air.
Orion's heart clenched, yet he maintained his grip on the Realm Guardian Sword, quickly holding it with both hands as the relentless tempest pressed downward, pushing his battered body toward the earth.
Pain coursed through Orion's being as thousands of wind blades sliced into him, cutting through his scales, tearing open fresh wounds across his chest, arms, and face.
Blood sprayed violently, mixing with sweat and dirt. Yet Orion stubbornly refused to succumb, eyes blazing fiercely even as his muscles trembled under the immense pressure.
Seeing Orion resisting, the beast snarled furiously, pouring even more energy into its destructive beam.
With renewed power, the tempest magnified, overwhelming Orion completely. His body was violently thrown backward, crashing through countless trees, leaving an enormous trail of destruction in his wake before finally coming to rest, broken and battered, at the center of a large, smoking crater.
Orion lay there as his vision blurred while his consciousness flickered dangerously. His blood pooled beneath him, staining the earth a deep crimson.
Each breath was agony; his vision darkened at the edges, reality slipping away from his grasp. Yet still, through sheer, stubborn will, Orion held onto the last threads of consciousness, refusing to yield completely.
From the distance, the beast observed his fallen form, its eyes blazing triumphantly. Yet it remained cautious, slowly and deliberately approaching Orion, its massive paws shaking the ground with each step, ready to deliver the killing blow.
Orion's teeth gritted furiously, frustration and bitter anger surging within his fading mind. He struggled desperately to rise, his muscles trembling uselessly beneath him, as his strength was completely exhausted. "Damn it...not like this…" Orion whispered weakly, his consciousness slipping further.
Just as Orion's vision began to blacken, something unexpected happened. Beside his battered body, the Realm Guardian Sword trembled violently.
A faint hum resonated from the weapon, rapidly intensifying. Cracks formed suddenly upon the blade's surface, the familiar engraving "Realm Guardian" slowly fragmenting apart, replaced by shimmering, brilliant runes forming the name "Realm Destroyer."
The runes on the sword body slowly fell apart as a much more complex structure of runes came into view.
A powerful and overwhelming aura erupted fiercely from the sword, completely different from its previous protective energy.
Now, it radiated a sinister, destructive presence that seemed capable of annihilating everything.
Orion's eyes widened faintly in astonishment, barely conscious yet witnessing the surreal transformation.
Slowly, the sword rose steadily into the sky, pulsing with terrifying power. The beast paused mid-step, suddenly sensing mortal danger emanating from the previously insignificant weapon.
Before it could react, the sword streaked forward like a bolt of destructive lightning, piercing directly toward the stunned beast.
The creature roared desperately, hastily raising a barrier of Wind Law to defend itself, yet it proved utterly futile.
The Realm Destroyer Sword smashed directly into the beast's body. Then a light shone on the body as it self-destructed. An immense explosion, like the eruption of a miniature sun, consumed the entire forest in blazing white light, annihilating every trace of the monstrous creature.
The beast's towering form disintegrated instantly, its aura extinguished completely under the overwhelming destructive might.
Yet Orion, despite being some distance away, wasn't spared from the devastation. The shockwave slammed violently into his battered body, lifting him like a ragdoll and sending him tumbling through the shattered forest, finally landing harshly upon the ruined earth once again.
This time, Orion could hold on no longer. Blood surged from his mouth, consciousness rapidly fading.
He gazed upward weakly, eyes filled with astonishment as his thoughts churned and the face of his grandma with that smile came into his mind.
"Realm...Destroyer..." Orion whispered faintly, a weary smile tugging gently at the corners of his lips. "Grandma…really have a way…with names."
Unable to withstand his injuries any longer, Orion's eyes slowly closed. His consciousness finally succumbed to exhaustion.
Just as the fragments of the Realm Destroyer scattered across the ruined earth and the devastated forest fell into an eerie silence, two figures gradually descended from above the clouds, their presence serene and graceful amid the chaos.
Sunlight filtered through the dispersing dust and lingering smoke, illuminating the older pair, revealing the concerned faces of Eldric and Selene.
Selene's eyes widened in panic upon seeing Orion's bloodied and battered form lying motionless in the crater.
She swiftly landed by his side, her voice filled with urgency and reproach as she quickly assessed his condition, "You really want him to die, don't you?!"
Eldric sighed deeply, floating down calmly beside her. His expression was solemn yet unperturbed, clearly experienced in managing such precarious situations.
He gazed down at Orion, mild concern flickering within his wise eyes, yet his eyes held a hint of firmness, "There was no danger of death here, Selene. We have been closely following him ever since he was expelled from the Ruins. How could I possibly allow our grandson to perish?"
He paused momentarily, shaking his head slightly as he watched Selene hurriedly take out a potent healing elixir from her spatial ring.
Her eyes were anxious, her lips pressed together tightly as she gently lifted Orion's head and carefully fed him the restorative potion.
Gradually, color began returning to Orion's pale face as the elixir worked swiftly, his shallow breathing stabilizing into a more even rhythm.
Selene's voice softened slightly upon observing Orion's rapid recovery. Relief washed over her initial anger, yet traces of displeasure lingered in her tone, "Sigh, you… but this was truly excessive. He already trained inside the ruins. Why did you insist on making him face such unnecessary dangers here?"
Eldric remained silent briefly, watching his unconscious grandson with complex emotions in his gaze.
A stern yet conflicted expression settled upon his aged features as he replied solemnly, "His training in the ruins wasn't nearly enough. He has exceptional talent, but talent alone won't be sufficient to face the threat of Demons. I don't know when they will attack or how they will attack, but geniuses like Orion will be their prime target."
"If he had remained vigilant and cautious enough, he would have used his concealment treasure to pass through this forest safely, instead of recklessly announcing his presence."
Selene sighed deeply, conceding Eldric's point, yet her gaze remained troubled. Her gentle fingers brushed aside Orion's disheveled hair tenderly, maternal worry etched clearly into her delicate features, "Who could have predicted an Exalted Grade Beast appearing here, though? This road is regularly traveled by numerous races traversing the Desolate Wilderness. This was a one-in-a-thousand misfortune."
Eldric nodded slightly, his expression easing subtly, yet maintaining its resolute severity, "Exactly. And that's why he must learn caution and vigilance. Talent often blinds the young with arrogance. He must temper both his strength and his mentality if he wants to reach a higher level. We both have already exhausted our potential, we can't even comprehend the laws more. But he…he is different."
"With all the legacies he has, surpassing this world is just his first step. And we must build an unshakable foundation for it."
Selene glanced upward at her husband, understanding the logic behind his stern approach yet feeling an ache within her heart at Orion's suffering. She whispered quietly, her voice weary yet accepting, "Then shall we bring him back home now?"
Eldric shook his head gently, not budging an inch, "No. He needs to find his own way back. Let him reflect upon his mistakes and understand the gravity of his actions. At most, we'll handle any beasts above Tier Nine for him. This experience will ensure he does not grow complacent again."
Selene hesitated, her gaze still resting lovingly on Orion's injured form. Her reluctance was palpable, her fingers gently caressing Orion's forehead once more. Finally, after a long pause, she nodded silently, accepting Eldric's judgment.
Eldric gave her a comforting glance, "Don't worry, Selene. He's stronger than you think. Besides, we'll monitor him closely from above. No beast will harm him until he wakes up."
With a heavy heart, Selene stood reluctantly. Her gaze lingered on Orion's sleeping figure for a long moment before she finally turned, stepping into the sky alongside Eldric.
"Hmph! I will make sure nothing happens to him even without you, old man."
While bickering back and forth, the two of them rose back into the concealment of the clouds, leaving Orion lying on the ground to heal.
As the pair disappeared above, silence gradually filled the forest around Orion's battered body.