Chapter 325: Destruction Incarnate
**** [North’s PoV]
I let out a long breath and desummoned my blades. The wind around me settled, and the quiet that followed felt heavy. The clearing was scattered with the bodies of Abominations. Dozens of them. Burned, sliced, broken.
My arms ached a little, and there were a few cuts on my side, but I felt good. Strong. Focused.
A loud screech broke the silence, and I looked up just in time to see Silver diving down from the sky. He landed beside me with a gust of wind that kicked up dust and scattered some nearby leaves.
I smiled and waved.
"This went pretty well, didn’t it?"
He didn’t reply, of course, just tilted his head slightly.
I jumped up onto his back and sat down, catching my breath as I rested against his warm body. Sometimes, I wondered if he really understood what I was saying. Maybe he did. Or maybe one day, when he grew stronger, or when Billion’s bond with him deepened, he might learn to talk in some way.
The whole idea still felt strange to me. Using the corrupted soul of something and turning it into a summon... That wasn’t normal. Not even close. And yet, Silver felt more alive than some of the normal beast around.
I glanced up. The sky was dark now, stars hidden behind a layer of drifting clouds.
It was almost midnight. I’d been fighting and moving for more than fifteen hours straight.
I exhaled again and leaned forward.
"Let’s go to Billion."
Silver let out another short screech and spread his wings. The wind rushed against my face, cool and sharp.
But instead of heading out of the valley, Silver turned deeper into it, flying farther into the dark, toward the thickest part of the woods. I furrowed my brow but didn’t stop him.
Maybe he sensed something. Or maybe he knew where Billion was already.
Either way, I trusted him.
I sat straighter, eyes scanning the treetops as the forest rushed beneath us.
I decided to check my progress and pulled up my status.
[Status]
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Name : North Winter
Race : Human+
Class : Vortex Lamina (Legendary)
Laws :
- Minor Law of Momentum
- Minor Law of Sharpness
- Minor Law of Aerokinesis
- Minor Law of Vorticity
- Minor Law of Compression
Rank: Master
Level : 152
Attributes :
- Strength: 505
- Constitution: 401
- Dexterity: 650
- Psynapse : 448
- Essence : A+
Skills:
- Cyclone Cleave Level 3
- Blade Rush Level 8
- Windborn Level 7
- Dual Cleave Level 5
- Veil Point Level 3
- Blade Shift Level 5
- Two Step Edge Level 3
Ability:
Hidden Cleave - Level 2
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I stared at it for a few seconds, then smiled.
Cyclone Cleave was the latest addition, an area attack where I spun with both blades, pulling in wind and turning into a living storm.
Blade Rush had become my go-to initiator. A blur of steps followed by a rapid dash that covered ground faster than the eye could follow.
Windborn allowed me to stay airborne for longer, even glide if I slowed my fall just right. It was like flying, almost.
Dual Cleave was simple but deadly: two sharp, perfectly-timed slashes that carved through defenses.
Veil Point was trickier—concentrating all my speed and precision into a single strike that could pierce through even heavy armor.
Blade Shift let me switch targets mid-combo with fluid steps, sliding between enemies like a ghost.
Two Step Edge was a fast double-slice technique—step in, strike once, then again before anyone could react.
Every skill, every level, it felt earned.
I looked over the minor laws I had comprehended which helped my skills become even more deadly.
Minor Law of Momentum: I felt it every time I moved—each step, each dash, each strike carried more force the longer I stayed in motion. It was like my entire body obeyed a rhythm of speed building into power. Fighting wasn’t just movement anymore, it was flow, a flow that I had the ability to command.
Minor Law of Sharpness: This one was... deadly. My blades didn’t just cut; they tore through armor, defenses, even Essence shields if I timed it right. With enough buildup, even a simple slash became something terrifying.
Minor Law of Aerokinesis: This gave me control, true control. I could shift air pressure, create sudden gusts to throw enemies off balance, or push myself into strange angles mid-combat. It made me feel lighter than ever.
Minor Law of Vorticity: This one was wild. I could form spiral winds around me, trapping, disorienting, even slicing. They were unpredictable, unstable, but when used right... they were devastating.
Minor Law of Compression: With it, I could condense air, turn wind into blades, pressure bursts, or cutting arcs. I didn’t even need to swing to land a hit.
And finally, there was Hidden Cleave, the art that had marked the beginning of my training with Dante.
It was different from everything else I’d learned. Once activated, my body slipped into a kind of hyperzone. My reflexes sharpened, my dexterity spiked, and my connection to wind deepened instantly.
Everything felt lighter, faster....clearer. My movements became instinct. My affinity with blade laws bloomed naturally, as if the wind itself guided my strikes.
But the best part—
Then came the screech.
Silver cried out, sharp and sudden, yanking me out of my thoughts. I looked ahead and my breath caught in my throat.
I stood up instinctively on his back as he stopped midair, wings beating slow and steady. But all my focus was on what lay ahead.
Billion.
He floated in the sky, his wings spread wide. Steam curled off his bare upper body, rising in waves. The very air shimmered around him, thick with heat. But what shocked me wasn’t just him, it was the world beneath him.
A crater stretched out almost a kilometer wide. Flattened. No trees, no boulders, no signs of life....just pure destruction. A hollowed-out piece of earth, raw and clean. Like existence had been erased.
I stared, completely stunned.
My heart pounded. A small blush spread across my cheeks. That kind of power... and the way he held it with such ease. It was terrifying and beautiful.
As if sensing me, his head turned.
Our eyes met.
He smiled, bright and easy. That same smile that always managed to undo me.
His wings trembled, and in the blink of an eye, a rush of wind slapped my face, he was in front of me. Right on Silver’s back.
Before I could react, his arm was around my waist.
And then his lips were on mine.
Surprise, shock and excitement rushed into me. I could feel the fire still clinging to his skin, smell the sharp mix of smoke and something that was just... him. I melted. My eyes closed, and I kissed him back, fingers curling into his hair as his hands moved over my back, my waist, my hair.
Too much. Too fast. Too good.
My knees felt weak. I forced myself to break away, breathless and dazed, staring into those bright green eyes ringed with violet light.
He looked like he could burn the world and fully devour me.
And I knew, if I didn’t stop him now, he would.
I swallowed and whispered, "Not today."
Then I hugged him.
His arms wrapped around me instantly, holding me close. I felt his chest rumble as he chuckled and whispered back, "I don’t understand what you mean, North."
I buried my face in his chest, smiling softly to myself.
I didn’t answer.