Chapter- 41 Cathedral [2] Ø

"SHING!"

Thud!

The stone sentinel, clad in medieval armor, fell.

The sword's collision still rang in the air, and its aftereffects were apparent in the surrounding glade. The once dense woodland had become barren and flattened.

An inferno of flame and frost devastated the forest floor. The once grand trees that bore fruits of unparalleled value were now nothing more than severed spires dotting the surrounding area.

Edward stood fixing his posture & correcting his irregular breath. Sheathing Azphel in that same crudely made sheath Edward manifested Durandural the sword of emotion.

Several seconds of staring toward the rapier persisted before Edward released his presence. 

The sleek abyssal blade starts to shimmer a sky blue color as Edward seeped his emotions within. His grasp on the sword's neatly crafted hilt increased, and so did the tension within the air.

Edward released his presence.

A vast aura of chilled energy engulfed the forest, everything it came in contact with froze. The few trees that defiantly stood tall after the devastation, were quickly sapped of any residual energy and vitality, their silhouettes stark against the shimmering blue light excluded from the youth. Each branch object bristled.

The sky, once unmarred by disturbance, began to obscure itself as imposing gray clouds amassed overhead. Snowflakes soon spiraled down, coating the zeniths of the treetops.

The ground around Edward was ensconced in a thick layer of frost, glistening under the muted light excluded. Edward's form appeared distorted, a shimmering mirage influenced by the overwhelming unhuman surge of mana swirling around him.

With every breath Edward exhaled, a brisk gust of chilly air burst forth. 

His hair and eyes, both contrasting in color, began to shine a brilliant light blue. 

Amid the beauty of this abundant aura, there was a deep stain of sorrow that overshadowed any other emotions that could be felt to an observer.

"Arondight type 2," Edward spoke in an oppressive tone. 

The incantation conjured a set of bulky, monotone gray armor that clad his scarred body. Edward's form began to radiate the distinctive mane of the Lionheart, reminiscent of the Hero Vermonth's. He was now completely engulfed in a large sky-blue flame that enveloped his already powerful armor.

However, this was not enough for Edward. He had long awaited such an opportunity in this life. The mana was abundant, his power level had reached a sufficient level, and something—or someone—was pursuing him.

His foe, standing 30 meters tall, possessed mighty strength but fell after a single parry of its sword.

Something was off, and Edward was right. 

Crash!

Clang!

Bang!

Ring!

Ring!

A loud noise echoed within the forest, their origin unknown. 

The shards of the large sentinels sword vibrated releasing a subtle ringing before clumping together and emitting a crimson hue. 

Vast shadows sprawled across the horizon.

Donning a thin smile Edward leaped to the crown of a distant tree. 

What he saw was a view filled with hundreds of large sentinels.

Each stood at a minimum height of 30 to 50 meters; the weapons they collectively brandished varied in type.

Most held swords, spears, shields, axes, hammers but a select few kept bows.

Sensing the presence of the youths, the collective body of sentinels released a crimson aura that matched Edward's before charging forward.

Watching the groups charge forward, Edward shook his head and elated. 

His already decrepit smile thinned and his eyes further dilated.

Increasing his grip further on Durandural, Edward charged.

Boom!

His entire surroundings vaporized, the ground cratered, and a large sonic gale was released behind him after his departure.

Outside the boundaries of the Cathedral, Glacias, and Tempest, two-spirit kings of their respective elements, watched with intrigued expressions as two parties approached each other.

It was quite the interesting spectacle to observe 

Glacias, the esteemed Spirit King of Ice and Frost, grew bored after a long existence. The routine of simply watching over his realm became monotonous, and he found himself craving something more enthralling.

Observing Earth from his spiritual vantage point always piqued Glacias's interest, especially when he watched humans their mythology in itself was a world filled with legends and myths. 

Thus began his desire for knowledge.

To quench his thirst for understanding, Glacias decided to transform his spirit form into one that resembled a human, while still retaining unique features to distinguish him from mortals. However, as time passed, he realized that basic knowledge no longer satisfied him. His curiosity deepened, and he began to explore tales from the mythical era, including epic battles against various gods. With each story he discovered, his list of questions grew longer and more complex. Omniscience became his ultimate desire. Glacias, the esteemed spirit king of ice and frost, grew bored after a long existence. The routine of simply watching over his realm became monotonous, and he found himself craving something more enthralling. 

Watching Earth from his spirit's point of view Glacia's interest would always piqued when he observed the human world. A place filled with legends and myths. 

This began the budding of a new desire for knowledge.

To quench his thirst for knowledge, Glacias decided to transform his spirit form into one that resembled a human, while still keeping unique features that distinguished him from mortals. However, as time passed, he realized that basic knowledge no longer satisfied him. His curiosity deepened, and he began exploring tales from the mythical era, including epic battles against various gods. With each story he discovered, his list of questions grew longer and more complex. Omniscience was his desire.

 It gnawed at him for years—the era of myth, the whimsical chronicles. A book containing the knowledge he so craved was tantalizingly close yet frustratingly out of reach. The Cathedral of Oblitus Tempus held the answers he sought, but barriers prevented his entry.

For decades, he experimented with various methods to overcome this obstacle, but none proved effective. The only exception involved a genuine organism passing through the barrier and entering the vast woodland that sprawled across the cathedral's territory. Each organism lasted only four minutes before they were destroyed by the large army of stone sentinels.

This led him to develop a tendency to open spatial rifts that connected the spirit realm to Earth.

organisms caught within the rifts mandibles they were trapped within the spirit realm. Most organisms never lived long enough to reach the Cathedral barrier, yet when they did each would be slain by the same stone swords.

until Edward came...

__________________

when I was in 7th grade, I thought Harry Potter was peak fiction, now I think it's ORV.

what's your peak fiction?

:}