Chapter 555: Menace
Northern exhaled gently as the march of monsters drew closer. He twirled Grengar and glared forward, a wicked light igniting in his blue gaze.
However, Ryan stepped in front of him, causing Northern to frown slightly and ask, "What do you think you're doing?"
"I'm better suited for handling things like this."
Northern narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"
Ryan slowly extended both hands forward like a maestro, closing his eyes. "I guess you haven't seen the peak of ice manipulation. I'll show it to you."
He fell silent and waited.
Behind him, Northern relaxed from his ready stance and took two large steps back, keenly observing the quieter warrior.
He was curious. He knew how impressive Ryan's talent was, but he didn't know if he had ever seen it at its best.
Perhaps this demonstration would be the deciding factor in whether to forsake five talents for this single one.
He watched attentively.
Ryan remained motionless in his maestro pose, even as the tremor of the marching monsters caused the murky waters to ripple violently, dancing ugly patterns.
But Ryan's stance was resolute and sturdy. He didn't move an inch.
It was almost as if he were a statue. Then Northern noticed something as he looked down.
His brows furrowed slightly.
'His legs are freezing?'
Ice was spreading from Ryan's legs to the ground, freezing the murky waters around him. Ryan flung his eyes open, and speckles of ice stars began to swirl around him.
Northern's eyes widened.
'Is that the form of his essence?'
He could tell what it was clearly, having advanced that far himself. His eyes also played a factor.
When one becomes a Master, they can cultivate their essence and give it a form.
Of course, this was different from the shape of the soul, but it was one of the factors that contributed to the personality of one's soul, which in the long run determines the shape of the soul.
Northern had tried when he first became a Master. The best he could do was circulate his essence; he hadn't been able to give it a definite form like Ryan was doing now.
With the essence taking form, one could launch attacks or defend solely using the essence. Not to mention, the great boost it adds to the execution of one's talent abilities.
Just like what Northern was about to witness.
Ryan's gaze fell coldly on the oncoming rush of abominations.
Then coldly, with freezing vapor smoking from his mouth, he invoked, "Ice Manipulation: Stalemate."
Whoosh!
In a swift burst, the frozen ground beneath Ryan blasted forward with explosive force, covering everything in front of him in a hurricane of ice.
Spears of ice shot out in every direction from the frozen ground, impaling the rotting monsters and spilling crimson gore.
The ice spears erupted in rapid succession, filling every space so that no monster could escape unscathed.
Their heads were pierced, or their ribs shattered, or their abdomens and necks sliced, all in a quick and near-flashing moment as the frozen land spread.
Northern stood in silent, unreadable awe at the spectacle unfolding before him.
He let out a small, hidden smile.
'I've decided. No, it's worth it. I want this!' His mind raced with the desire for Ryan's talent.
Ryan sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly as he staggered, but Northern supported him with a light touch.
"Are you sure it's okay to use so much essence? We're in a tier seven rift."
Ryan frowned. "Tier seven? How did you know?"
"I can tell with my eyes."
"You're a scout? There's no way you're a scout and can fight like that."
Northern sighed. "I'm a lot of things, boy."
Somehow, Ryan felt offended. He frowned at Northern, wanting to object, but let it go and turned to the havoc he had wreaked ahead.
"You should have told me. Using this much essence so early is definitely dangerous."
Northern shrugged, his eyes teasing. "I don't think you gave me enough time to even have an opinion."
He spun Grengar and strode forward.
"What are you doing?" Ryan asked, a pensive look on his face.
"You've had your fun. Now let me have mine."
Northern said as a clone appeared beside him, holding Stainless. Another clone manifested, wielding the Dark Mortal blade.
With him in the middle, a whirlwind of black sparks enveloped him, slowly forming the Night Terror armor.
Northern paused for a moment, his gaze falling on the single dent in the armor. It intensely vexed him.
'I should find a blacksmith after this rift.'
He spun the dual-bladed staff once more and leaned his upper body forward.
Ryan was first confused. He was sure he had killed every monster coming.
But suddenly, his landscape of crude ice thorns exploded as a new wave of monsters pushed through with obscene force, plunging thoughtlessly into everything before them, not caring whether it killed them or not.
"Oh well." Northern's eyes gleamed as he grinned, then he took off.
The frozen ground shattered completely, ice shards shooting in all directions as he threw himself into the throng of monsters.
He spun Grengar as he moved, and a cyclone of disaster began.
His two clones shot in different directions, bringing their weapons down upon the
abominations.
Their swords bit deep, crudely carving through the monsters and creating arcs of blood.
Their movements were fluid, more so than any time Northern had used his clones before, blending seamlessly with his attacks.
Northern himself was a menace on the battlefield. Despite the advantage of numbers, it
meant nothing!
His movements were untraceable. Before the monsters could turn to face him, he was already
gone, and their heads were falling. With every cyclonic spin, his curved blades lacerated flesh
and sprayed gore.
When a massive number of monsters surrounded him from all sides, Northern extended a
finger to his face, a grin of enjoyment playing on his lips.
Gravity Finger. All the monsters around him were suddenly crushed under intense pressure,
their bodies ground into meatballs.
[You have slain a Disastrous Hellion, Rabid Rot.]
[You have gained +4 talent fragments.]
[You have slain a Disastrous Hellion, Rabid Rot.]
[You have gained +4 talent fragments.]
[You have slain a Disastrous Hellion, Rabid Rot.]
[You have gained +4 talent fragments.]
The notifications became music to his ears as he and his clones continued their rampage in
every direction.