Chapter 43 – Floor 4, Part XIII: Throne of the Last Wielder

The sky above the Temple of Blades shimmered like liquid gold.

Nine members of Blackhunt stood at the summit, atop a floating platform of cracked white stone. Before them, a staircase carved of translucent swords led to a singular throne.

Upon it sat a man who was not a man.

His body pulsed with radiant white aura. His face was featureless, but not lifeless. He wore robes of flowing flame, his Soul Weapon hovering in the air beside him—a colossal greatsword, larger than any living being could carry, wreathed in ancient runes.

He rose, slowly.

The wind around him bowed.

📜 [Final Trial Activated – The Blade's Summit]

⚔️ Format: Ascension Duel – All vs One

🔥 Trial Guardian: The Last Wielder

Rank: ???

Title: Bearer of 10,000 Cuts

Passive Ability: Absolute Combat Memory

Active Skill: Echo of All Weapons

📖 Lore Fragment – The Last Wielder

"When the gods abandoned mankind, the Blade remained.

When cities burned, the Blade survived.

The first who walked the Tower's path to the top…

…sat here, and waited for the next."

The Last Wielder was not alive.

He was a memory. A trial. The soul of the blade itself.

And to pass…

Blackhunt had to defeat him together.

—

⚔️ The Opening Clash

The moment they stepped forward, the Wielder moved.

Fast.

Not teleportation. Just terrifying, perfect speed.

In one moment, Raghav raised his glaive—

In the next, the Wielder was behind him.

CLANG—!

Ankit intercepted the slash with both Talwars, the impact throwing sparks across the platform.

"He copied my form," Ankit muttered.

"No," Toni whispered, drawing his bow. "He perfected it."

—

📉 Combat Analysis

[Active Trait Detected – Echo of All Weapons]

Can replicate and improve any known Soul Weapon style

For every opponent, his power increases

Gains 2% stat scaling per fighter present

"Then we split up," Kaido called out. "Don't let him fight us all at once!"

But the Wielder anticipated them.

He moved like Asha, vanishing and reappearing.

He struck like Raunak, using pressure waves to disrupt footing.

He aimed like Toni, loosing phantom blades from finger flicks.

It wasn't just mimicry.

He was the sum total of their ambitions.

🩸 First Wound

Asha managed to cut across his side with a feint-laced illusion blade—but her arm was broken in the same instant.

Sana dashed in to pull her back, using her healing aura to stop the fracture from spreading.

Toni issued commands. "Raunak! Hit him with a frontal surge!"

Raunak roared and activated his gravity spear technique, slamming the ground.

[Soul Technique – Stone King's Judgment]

The Wielder leapt, but that was the trap.

Toni fired an arrow mid-air.

And Ankit was already waiting behind.

Two Talwars lit in flame, slashing in an X.

💥 BOOOM—!!

The Wielder crashed into the far wall.

⚔️ Phase Shift – The Blade Awakens

The ground trembled.

The Wielder stood, bloodless—but now glowing with golden script. His sword floated to his side, splitting into five separate blades.

📢 [Phase Two Initiated – Echo Arsenal Form]

Wields 5 weapon styles simultaneously

Unlocks Divine Pressure Aura

"We triggered the second form," Vikram muttered.

Kaido swore. "This is like fighting every tower champion in one."

—

💀 Casualties Almost Fall

Riya was nearly cut down by a whirlwind glaive.

Sana was pinned by a projectile blade that sliced her aura barrier clean in half.

Vikram had to sacrifice a shadow-clone just to keep the Wielder's blade from splitting Toni in two.

Despite everything—

The Wielder did not tire.

Only Ankit could still meet him blade-for-blade.

And even he was beginning to slow.

—

🔥 Ankit's Soul Break

His hands bled from parrying. His legs screamed with strain. The Wielder towered over him, five weapons dancing like a divine storm.

"I've fought monsters," Ankit said, panting.

"But you're not a monster. You're what happens when no one stops climbing."

The Wielder paused.

A faint, almost human glimmer passed through his faceless helm.

Then, he nodded.

Ankit gritted his teeth.

[New Skill Triggered – Soul Blade Ignition]

🔥 Effect: For 30 seconds, weapon damage is doubled. Speed increases by 25%.

💀 Drawback: Cannot use Soul Weapon again for 48 hours after ignition.

"Burn it all," Ankit whispered.

His Talwars erupted with phoenix-like flame.

And he charged.

⚔️ Final Combo – Blackhunt Unites

Toni provided cover fire, creating rhythmic distractions.

Kaido lobbed magnetic anchors into the stone to give Ankit mid-air jumps.

Riya froze the mist, slowing the Wielder's gliding pace.

And Asha threw a single illusion-reflected throw—

—just long enough to create an opening.

Ankit shot forward—

And struck four times in a single breath.

Left-right, cross, then overhead—

CRACK—

One blade shattered.

Then another.

And another.

Until only the original remained.

The Wielder staggered.

Ankit held both Talwars at the ready.

But the Wielder raised his hand… and knelt.

—

📜 [System Notification – Temple Guardian Defeated]

✅ Trial Complete

🏆 You have earned the Title: He Who Bears the Flame

💠 Soul Weapon Evolution Available: Twin Talwars → Infernal Harmony Blades

🧬 Hidden Trait Gained: Bladebound Will (Cannot be forcibly disarmed)

📈 Blackhunt Reputation Increased

🗝️ Floor 4 Cleared

—

🌅 Aftermath

The Temple walls began to crack as light erupted into the skies.

Far below, the Tower's floor shifted—the next level revealed.

The platform began to descend.

Raunak held onto Sana. Riya helped carry Asha. Toni walked beside Ankit in silence.

"You unlocked something," Toni said.

Ankit nodded.

"So did we," he replied, looking at his guildmates. "Together."

As they stepped onto the newly revealed bridge to Floor 5, the winds welcomed them—not with pressure…

…but with respect.