Conclusion (1)

Whilst this strange phenomenon was occurring for Evan, on the outside, three major battles were playing out simultaneously as the river of fate experienced a great deal of turmoil churning silently.

Kang, who appeared like a god of lightning, continued his furious assault against the Wyvern.

As thunder boomed in the background, he released all the rage he was feeling as his enchanted dagger caused a deep gash to surface once again on the abomination's side. Roaring angrily, the wyvern attempted to retaliate.

Alas, Kang was just too fast as his figure flickered constantly, appearing in another position in a blink of an eye.

'I need to make this count before my body reaches its limit!'

Taking a moment to compose himself, Kang's gaze settled on the monster's body as the full extent of the injuries he inflicted on the Wyvern revealed itself.

What was once a pristine body full of regal might was now a bloody mess as its ichor flowed out greatly from the two deep gashes Kang created.

Too many strikes from the purple lightning above shattered the claws on its right limb. Alongside one of its wings, which was charred black after being smitten by an attack from the thunderstorm.

In addition to several of its scales broken by the incessant assault of its enemy. The formerly powerful abomination now looked like a broken mess.

As he gazed at the Wyvern's crippled figure, Kang's desire to end it once and for all reached soaring heights as his figure flickered, attacking once again!

***

With the aid of the storm in the background, Astrid felt her sword become enhanced, gaining lightness comparable to that of a feather.

Blurring, the steel weapon whistled through the air as its metallic face reflected Finn's surprised expression.

Retreating hastily, Finn hurled multiple fireballs in Astrid's direction in hopes of slowing her down.

The main way universally known for a mage to fight was through a long-distance melee fight. As it utilised all the advantages a mage possessed whilst covering any inherent weaknesses.

Hence, why he desperately wanted to increase the distance between him and Astrid.

Augmenting her body with the wind element, Astrid sliced the fireballs that were speeding toward her in two as she launched herself once again in her opponent's direction.

'Crap! How can she negate my attacks with such ease?'

Cursing inwardly, Finn continued attempting to open the distance between them only to fail, as every time he launched an attack hoping to slow his enemy down, Astrid would just bulldoze through it.

Gazing at her ferocious expression, he felt a shiver crawl down his spine. Biting his lips, Fin conjured a blazing armour of flames as he launched several fire arrows.

Astrid, who calmly took this sight in calmly, exhaled a turbid breath as she increased her power output to the maximum.

With every swing of her blade, mighty gales were formed, as her swordsmanship contained the grace and elegance that a rapier possessed.

As Astrid ran forwards, a green hue bloomed from her figure covering the enchanted blade. With her blond hair flailing wildly in the wind, she released a fierce shout.

Raising her blade high in the air, she slashed forwards with all her might as the green hue covering her flared brightly.

A green mana slash sped forward with an astonishing pace as it reflected Finn's eyes, which widened in disbelief and terror. As the strong gales surrounding her dealt with the fire arrows, which flickered out after being hit with a gust of wind.

Gazing with grim satisfaction at her attack, Astrid watched as the green slash collided with Finn, piercing his flaming armour with ease.

PUCHI-!

Feeling excruciating pain, Finn watched as the sword strike eviscerated his body into many pieces as he opened his mouth to voice the regret and horror he felt.

Alas, he never got the chance, as Astrid suddenly appeared before him and sliced his head cleanly off his shoulders.

THUD-!

As Finn felt his head roll on the floor, his eyes glazed over as the supreme darkness of death encroached on him and captured his soul.

'I don't… want… to… die!'

Feeling his thoughts slow to a crawl, Finn closed his eyes for the very last time as his life slowly dissipated.

Walking up to Finn's mangled corpse with scorn and disdain, Astrid quietly muttered to herself as the rage in her eyes calmed slightly.

"Serves you right, treacherous bastard! May you rot in the deepest parts of hell!"

Gazing up at the tenebrous sky, full of raging clouds, a complicated sigh escaped Astrid's mouth as a profound emotion appeared deep in her eyes.

***

'A forbidden Art!'

As the trio of Commander Vanderson, the bodyguard and the hooded figure speedily dispatched the rank 3 monsters they were facing, this thought inevitably appeared in their minds.

With the change in weather, the trio were one hundred per cent certain that their assumptions were correct, as a mixture of surprise and fear popped up on their faces.

Commander Vanderson, who had a deeper knowledge in this field than the other two, watched with wonder and fascination at the raging lightning which streaked across the sky before smiting the Wyvern with a furious electrical bolt.

Slaughtering the rank 3 snake in front of him with his bare hands, he turned and looked at the horrifying battle currently taking place between the lightning-wreathed figure and the giant abomination.

'No doubt about it. That is a Legendary Grade, Forbidden Art Judgement of Doom. It disappeared from the face of the earth a few years ago. In return for the user gaining the judgement of the heavens, they must pay an equally harrowing price in return. Who knew it would end up in that guy's hands?'

Sighing wistfully, Commander Vanderson turned his attention to another important matter.

'Since that Vincent kid has escaped successfully, that means my remuneration is successfully guaranteed. However, the problem of explaining my actions to the higher-ups still remains. If I join in the fight right now, I can potentially sway what happened a little, so it ends up being in my favour.'

Rubbing his chin in deep thought, Vanderson took a couple of moments of pondering before deciding on the best course of action. As his aura rose to the maximum, his sharp gaze glinted with a scheming light.

'Bonds, friendships, and love don't stand a chance in the face of true strength. At the end of the day, the means of gaining strength don't matter. The victor becomes the winner, and the loser is vilified.'