Chapter 32: The Crimson Eclipse

The journey back to town was uneventful, but the weight of the incident still clung to them. No one spoke much, each lost in their own thoughts. By the time they arrived, another half-day had passed.

The sun was beginning to set, and the streets of the town were filled with the usual bustle of merchants and travelers. They found a small inn, settled into a corner table, and ate in near silence. The food was warm, but none of them truly tasted it.

Liu Feng was the first to break the quiet. "We should decide when to leave," he said, pushing his empty bowl aside. "If we leave now, we'll reach the sect by nightfall."

Wei Ren frowned. "Traveling at night isn't safe. It's better to stay here and set out in the morning."

Jiang Hao sighed but nodded. "Fine. One more night here, then we leave at dawn."

With that, they finished their meal, paid the innkeeper, and headed to their rented rooms. None of them slept well that night.

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At sunrise, they set out again and soon reached the sect. As they passed through the gates, the familiar sight of disciples moving about gave them a brief sense of normalcy.

Their first stop was the Mission Hall. The floating mission projections hovered in the air as usual, and a few disciples stood at the counter, exchanging resources for contribution points.

Approaching the counter, Adrian handed over the resource they had retrieved. The attendant, a young disciple managing the desk, quickly recorded their contribution.

"You've completed your mission. Your contribution points have been added," he said without much interest. "Anything else?"

Jiang Hao stepped forward. "We need to report something about this mission."

The attendant raised an eyebrow but didn't ask questions. "You can't contact an elder directly. I'll pass along your report."

Liu Feng took a deep breath and explained everything that had happened. "Then tell them that the villagers placed a request long ago, but no action was taken. The situation there isn't normal."

The attendant's casual expression shifted slightly. He glanced at them, as if reevaluating their seriousness. "I understand. I'll inform an elder."

Hearing that, they finally felt some of the weight lift from their chests.

Jiang Hao exhaled. "That's all we can do for now."

After leaving the Mission Hall, the group exchanged looks. There was an unspoken determination between them—to become stronger so that everything could be bent to their will.

"Let's just return to our rooms and rest," Wei Ren muttered.

The others agreed. They exchanged brief goodbyes before going their separate ways, each retreating into the solitude of their own quarters.

Adrian sat alone in his room, staring at the ceiling. The events of the past day played over in his mind—the village, the people suffering, the silent watchers from afar, the power he lacked. Strength. He needed more of it.

He exhaled slowly, then spoke in his mind.

"Cosmo, when I reached the 10th refinement, you said you'd give me a technique. What is it?"

The cube's voice echoed in his thoughts, steady and unhurried.

"There is a weapon technique, but before that, you must choose a weapon."

Adrian frowned. A weapon…

He had never seriously thought about wielding one before. But now that the choice was before him, three weapons came to mind.

The sword. The classic choice. It was elegant, fast, and deadly. Many great cultivators wielded swords, and he had read countless stories of swordmasters cleaving mountains and flying through the sky with their blades.

The spear. A weapon with range and precision. It was versatile, allowing for both sweeping strikes and powerful thrusts. Many sects favored the spear for its battlefield efficiency.

The halberd. A weapon of war. Heavy, powerful, and devastating in close combat. It combined the power of an axe with the reach of a spear.

At first, the sword seemed like the obvious choice. It was cool, it was iconic, and it had a certain grace to it. But… something about the halberd called to him.

It felt ancient. Powerful. Commanding.

He had no logical reason for it, yet his instincts told him that this was the right choice. He could almost picture himself standing on a battlefield, swinging a halberd that could split the earth apart.

After a long pause, he made his decision.

"I'll choose the halberd."

Cosmo remained silent for a moment, then spoke.

"An excellent choice. The halberd is a weapon of dominance, one that requires both precision and raw strength. I have a technique that will suit you perfectly."

Adrian sat up straighter. "What kind of technique?"

"Wait. I will pass it to you, get ready."

A sense of anticipation filled Adrian. He clenched his fists, feeling the energy surging within him.

In that instant, a torrent of information surged into Adrian's mind—a cascade of visions, techniques, and principles interwoven into his very being. He saw flashes of combat, the sound of thunderous impacts, and the deep red glow of a blood moon casting its eerie light over a shattered battlefield. As the visions faded, Cosmo's teachings began to crystallize.

"I bestow upon you… The Crimson Eclipse."

"The Crimson Eclipse is a technique which is divided into five mastery levels," Cosmo explained, his voice clear and unwavering.

"At the Foundation Level, you learn the basics: a single, devastating downward strike that channels all stored momentum into one impact—capable of splitting the ground and shattering boulders. This is your starting point, the very seed of destructive force."

Adrian felt the raw energy of that strike pulsing within him as if it were already waiting to be unleashed.

"At the Adept Level, your technique evolves into a wide, sweeping attack. Here, you release the stored energy in a graceful, yet lethal arc. Shockwaves radiate outward, tearing through multiple enemies or structures in a single, calculated motion."

He visualized the scene—an elegant, powerful arc, energy rippling outwards like the pulse of a giant heart.

"At the Expert Level, you master the art of projection. You throw your halberd with explosive force. It soars like a comet, obliterating everything in its path before returning to your hand, guided by residual energy. It is an attack that demonstrates both precision and raw, kinetic power."

Adrian's thoughts raced as he imagined the halberd cutting through the air and then finding its way back, a weapon with a mind of its own.

"At the Master Level, you learn to combine movement with unyielding force—a spinning charge attack. As you accelerate and swing, your kinetic energy multiplies, culminating in a single, explosive release. When fully powered, this strike can split mountains, leaving devastation in its wake."

His heart pounded at the sheer scale of such destruction. The image of a halberd, encircled by a vortex of crimson energy, was both awe-inspiring and terrifying.

"And finally, at the Perfection Level, all that you have learned converges. You channel every ounce of stored momentum into one cataclysmic strike. In that moment, all your previous techniques merge into a singular, ultimate attack. The impact sends shockwaves across miles, leveling entire battlefields. This is the peak of mortal destructive potential."

A heavy silence filled Adrian's mind as the enormity of his new path set in. The Crimson Eclipse was not merely a technique—it was an evolution, a promise of immense power that would only grow with him.

Cosmo's voice then softened slightly:

"Remember, with each mastery level you achieve, you will also unlock a new Empire Technique. These are your defining moves, the essence of The Crimson Eclipse, and they will only reveal themselves as your strength increases. For now, absorb this knowledge, for it is the foundation upon which you will build your legacy."

Adrian's grip tightened on his imaginary halberd as he closed his eyes, letting the teachings sink deep into his soul. A fierce determination blazed within him—a vow that he would harness this momentum, this kinetic energy, and transform it into the might that would not only protect him but also shape his destiny.

With a steady breath, he whispered to himself, "I will master The Crimson Eclipse."

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