Test battle

"I chose a lot for the Dao arts."

"So for the spear, my weapon of preference, I chose [Celestial Records of The Shackled Apostle] a dao art created by Pillar Celestial Heart and his {Celestial Reverence} Dao. It works with all weapons but it has the best synergy with spears."

"I then chose two offensive arts that can be used with or without a weapon, [Hell Incinerating Echo] created by Pillar Helios Ash and his {Hell Incinerating} Dao and {Myriad World Repentance} an art found by Pillar Dark Eye in a ruin."

"I also chose a movement technique called [Cloud Steps of Forgetfulness] by Pillar Fleeting Shadow and her {Vanishing Shadow} Dao."

"Lastly, I chose [Fundamentals of Martial Gods] by the apparently infamous Martial God and his {Martial Heaven} Dao."

"I was actually a bit surprised reading the summary of the technique. I didn't see anything relating to the history of a Martial God in the library. Is he perhaps from beyond?"

Hearing no response, Orion could only stand there, perplexed as his parents looked at him as if he was a madman.

"You chose FIVE DAO ARTS?! FIVE?"

"Ori, I told you Dao arts were insanely hard to grasp, no? On top of that, all the techniques you chose are at the chaos grade! This is madness."

In the cultivation world, most things followed the following grading order; Fodder, Elite, Saint, Earth, Heaven, Empyrean, Primal, Origin, Chaos, Eternal, Transcendent, Outer, Cosmic and lastly, God.

"It wasn't actually that hard to understand. I'm already at the minor stage of comprehension according to the manuals. I'm sure I can reach perfection in a few days." He casually said, unaware of how preposterous his words were.

"Orion-"

Before Hera could scold Orion, Pillar Brimstone raised her hand as she spoke.

"Show us."

Once again, the world around them shifted as Orion found himself in the middle of an ashen arena.

From the ashes that covered the Arena, five beings wielding swords and sabers rose.

"I'm guessing I have to defeat them?" Calmly said Orion.

With a flick of his wrist, a magnificent six feet long spear with a long one edged dark golden blade appeared in his hand.

Its shaft was completely covered in archaic golden runes as a royal aura emanated off the weapon.

"Yes."

¡BOOM!

The ground shattered as the five ashen humanoid beasts lunged at Orion, their speeds exceeding what mortals would call the sound barrier.

Facing the five incoming threats, Orion stayed calm as his life artefact spurred to life.

The world in front of him became akin to a three dimensional board, with each variable being considered a pawn as Orion felt in total control.

With a simple side step, he dodged the first beast as he immediately returned to his original position, dodging the attack of the second beast.

A golden aura immediately burst off his body as his blade screeched to life.

His steps were silent and elusive as he assaulted the third beast.

With a clean vertical chop he severed its left arm as his right leg swept its left leg , breaking the beast's balance.

Orion stayed calm as he followed up with another clean chop, cleaving the beast in half.

Clean and simple.

He didn't linger as his knees immediately bent, dodging the incoming attack of the two ashen beasts he had just juked.

Before Orion could do anything else, two of three beasts that had stayed in front of him synchronised as they simultaneously sliced forth, aiming to seal all possible escape routes.

With two beast behind him, and two other lunging at him, Orion seemed cornered.

A devilish smile spread across his face as a pinkish hue flashed across his silver pupils.

WHOOOSH!

Reality twisted and Orion vanished, only to reappear behind the two beasts that had been attacking him.

Sucking a deep breath in, he rushed back in.

[Celestial Record: Mortal Strip.]

His presence became illuminated by the glorious luster of a celestial star as his blade became the focal point of the arena.

Gently cleaving down, the two beasts felt a horrifying sense of doom and finality consume them as they found themselves immobilised, unable to dodge the incoming fatal attack.

The laws of existence seemed to harmonise with Orion's will as they tightly wrapped around them and kept them in place.

SHURRR!

The sound of flesh tearing apart and bones breaking under the terrifying pressure of Orion's blade reverberated as he immediately pushed past them and headed toward the two remaining ashen monsters.

Seeing Orion brazenly charging forth, one of the beasts shrieked in confidence as its blade immediately went into motion, aiming to fell Orion.

To its surprise, when the blade reached Orion, his figure seemed to turn to ashes as he appeared behind it.

Frantically turning around, the beast could only despair as Orion once again faded to ashes.

[Hell Incinerating Echo: Ashes of Time.]

Orion's blade seemed to simultaneously speed up and slow down as he calmly decapitated the beast.

Exhaling a hot steamy breath, Orion looked around.

His gaze focused on the remaining beast as he almost seemed predatory, his mere presence causing the beast to frantically shiver and scream in horror.

Indifferent to the beast's wails of mercy, he once again faded to ashes.

The beast couldn't even register what had happened when its vision turned upside down and the world became an endless abyss of coldness.

Taking a few steps back, he calmly looked around as he waited.

The corpses of the previously slain beasts exploded into a mist of fire and blood as they converged into one gigantic sphere of blood.

From said sphere, a new humanoid being came out.

With hexagonal blue chitin scales covered in dark green runes, this being had bulging muscles that perfectly filled its imposing frame.

"SKREEEEEEEEEE!"

A shriek of madness escaped its mandibules as the earth cracked under its might.

The beast's crimson pupils locked onto Orion as it instantly vanished.

CLANK!

Spear and blade met as Orion was pushed back.

Spitting a bit of blood, Orion wiped his mouth.

"Not bad."

[Hell incinerating Echos: Burning Heaven.]

Planting his spear in the ground, the entire arena shifted and became a burning land of fire and magma.

"You wanna know what's fun about this ability?"

Crimson runes crept up Orion's skin as his gaze became malevolent.

His figure became enveloped by dark blue flames as the surrounding space seemed to melt and shatter due to the flame's pure force.

"I can use my flames here"