Opening Salvo

The weight of the mission settled over us as Sun Zenith addressed the group. His voice was steady, commanding, yet devoid of unnecessary bravado. "We're the bait. Our job isn't to win but to pull as many of them to us as possible. Keep your wits about you, stay in formation, and don't get reckless."

His gaze swept over the gathered fighters, lingering briefly on each of us. When his eyes met mine, I nodded firmly. Sun Zenith wasn't the type to waste words, but his leadership carried a weight that compelled respect.

"Arthur," he said, drawing the attention of the others. "You'll be in the vanguard with me. Your task is to disrupt their formation as we breach their defenses. Once we have their attention, fall back and support the rest."

"Understood," I replied, my voice calm but resolute. There was no room for hesitation.

Seraphina and Rachel stood nearby, their expressions mirroring the tension in the air. Seraphina's crystalline blue eyes met mine, and she gave a faint smile. Rachel, standing slightly behind her, looked at me with a mixture of confidence and concern. Both of them knew the stakes as well as I did.

Lucifer was less composed. He stood rigid, his arms crossed, his emerald eyes narrowed as he glanced at me. The tension between us hadn't eased since our last conversation. Yet, here we were, fighting side by side again. It was ironic, but in moments like these, personal grievances had to be cast aside.

Seol-ah Moyong and Aria Gu joined the group, their presence adding to the formidable strength of our force. Both wore expressions of grim determination. Seol-ah's golden eyes flickered with a quiet intensity, while Aria's sharp gaze scanned the horizon as if she were already calculating the moves she'd make in the battle ahead.

Sun Zenith's voice cut through the silence again. "We move at dusk. The vampires won't expect a direct assault during their strongest hours, but that's exactly why we'll strike. Their arrogance will blind them."

The group dispersed to prepare, leaving me with a moment of uneasy quiet. Seraphina approached, her silver hair catching the light of the setting sun. "Are you ready for this?" she asked softly.

I gave her a faint smile. "I've been ready for a long time."

Rachel stepped closer as well, her sapphire eyes searching mine. "Promise me you won't do anything reckless."

"Reckless?" I teased lightly, though I could feel the weight behind her words. "When have I ever been reckless?"

Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she jabbed a finger at my chest. "Every time, Arthur. Every single time."

"Don't worry," I said, my voice softening. "I know what's at stake."

Sun Zenith called out from the distance, his tone signaling the final moments of preparation. I adjusted my battle armor, feeling the familiar hum of mana as it responded to my touch. The Elite-grade artifact was a marvel, providing both protection and mobility without hindering the flow of energy. But even with the armor, the coming battle would test every ounce of my strength.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the world shifted. Shadows grew long, and the air grew thick with anticipation. The faint hum of the warp gate powering up signaled our imminent departure. One by one, the group gathered near the gate, the tension palpable.

Sun Zenith gave the final signal, and the gate flared to life. In a blinding flash of light, we were transported to the outskirts of the vampire subbranch's stronghold. The eerie silence of the forest was broken only by the distant rustling of leaves and the faint, unnatural hum of magic.

"We move," Sun Zenith ordered, his voice low but firm.

I took my position in the vanguard, the weight of the mission settling over me like a cloak. Seraphina and Rachel were close behind, their auras steady but unmistakably tense. Lucifer flanked us, his presence radiating quiet strength despite the underlying tension between us.

As we advanced, the first signs of the enemy emerged. Shadows flickered in the distance, and the oppressive sensation of black mana seeped into the air. The vampires had sensed us.

Sun Zenith's voice carried over the group. "Remember the plan. No mistakes."

The first wave surged toward us like a tide of shadows, the oppressive weight of black mana suffusing the air. Just because this was a defensive battle didn't mean we wouldn't hit them hard.

Without hesitation, I unleashed my full power.

Soul Resonance activated, its multifaceted gifts flooding through me like a rushing river. Astral Manifestation enveloped my body, a shimmering aura that transformed my very essence, enhancing my physicality to a level beyond mortal limits. Mythic Body reinforced every fiber of my being, while Soul Vision expanded my perception, unraveling the battlefield into intricate layers of clarity.

Seraphim's Embrace sharpened my senses further, melding seamlessly with Soul Vision. The world slowed to a manageable pace, each movement of friend and foe unfolding in perfect detail. Mind's Aegis compartmentalized my thoughts, allowing me to allocate focus to each part of the battlefield while maintaining a steady flow of mana control. Every detail clicked into place, every element working in perfect harmony.

Lucent Harmony surged through me, managing the chaotic symphony of all eleven elements of mana that coursed through my core. Fire crackled, water flowed, wind swirled, and earth rumbled, each blending with lightning, ice, light, darkness, time, space, and gravity. It was a delicate balance, one that would overwhelm lesser warriors, but I had long since mastered its demands.

Astral Manifestation coated my Eclipse Blade, imbuing it with two distinct layers of pseudo-astral energy. The outer layer shimmered with raw, untamed power, while the inner layer pulsed with a quieter, more destructive intent. Dark motes of energy coalesced in the gap between the layers, like black stars in a miniature cosmos. As I focused my intent, the energy hummed in anticipation, responding to my will.

I imbued the blade with the visceral feeling of starvation—an all-consuming emptiness that devoured everything in its path. The emotion rippled through the pseudo-astral energy, amplifying its destructive potential. The energy of the blade became sharper, hungrier, ready to obliterate anything it touched.

This was Hollow Eclipse, the second movement of my Grade 6 art.

It was destruction distilled into a single, devastating stroke.

I swung the Eclipse Blade in a wide arc, and the air itself seemed to tear apart as the strike landed. The wave of energy surged forward, ripping through the oncoming forces like a ravenous beast. Vampires and cultists were flung aside as the power of Hollow Eclipse carved a jagged path through their ranks. Their defensive barriers shattered under the sheer force of the attack, crumbling like fragile glass.

Of course, I couldn't afford to recklessly spam Hollow Eclipse, impressive as it was. This wasn't a battle against a singular, powerful foe where I could gamble on a decisive blow. No, this was a war of endurance, of calculated efficiency against an overwhelming tide of enemies. The reason I unleashed Hollow Eclipse earlier was simple: the first wave of attackers were all below the Wall. Against them, a statement of power was both effective and necessary.

Hollow Eclipse was undeniably potent. It wasn't just a technique; it was devastation incarnate, the same move that had shattered the blood astral circle of Vaelor, a mid Ascendant-rank Vampire Elder. But while its raw power was unmatched, it had its limits. Ascendant-rankers of equal skill could counter it with effort, and those above them could crush it apart entirely. My success against Vaelor hadn't been due to Hollow Eclipse alone—it had been because I'd timed it as a finishing move, exploiting the right moment when Vaelor was vulnerable.

That was the essence of my current arsenal. My two movements were crafted not just for raw strength but for precision, strategy. God Flash, my first movement, was a scalpel: swift, exact, and devastating when it found even the smallest weakness. Hollow Eclipse, on the other hand, was a hammer—brutal and powerful, but slower and easier to counter if the opponent saw it coming.

Against this relentless tide of vampires and cultists, however, I couldn't afford to rely on such high-energy techniques. They demanded too much of my focus, too much mana. Instead, I shifted seamlessly into a more sustainable rhythm, drawing upon the Grade 5 art I had honed to the virtuoso realm of mastery.

The flow of battle slowed for me as I centered myself. My movements became fluid, almost effortless, as though I were conducting a symphony. The Eclipse Blade moved with me, an extension of my will, weaving through the chaos. With the virtuoso realm of mastery, this Grade 5 art wasn't just a tool—it was a second nature, a language spoken through the edge of my sword.

Each strike was calculated. I didn't waste power on unnecessary flourishes or overcommitted swings. A vampire lunged at me, its claws shimmering with dark astral energy, but I sidestepped smoothly, pivoting on my heel and delivering a precise slash to its side. The creature howled, its form disintegrating under the weight of my aura-infused blade.

The cultists followed, hurling spells and curses thick with black mana. My blade danced, deflecting projectiles and severing their offensive formations. They were dangerous in numbers, their black mana weaving into combined attacks that could tear apart lesser warriors. But I wasn't a lesser warrior. My strikes disrupted their coordination, and without their synchronized efforts, they fell like leaves in a storm.

I remained mindful of my surroundings, my allies. Seraphina's sword carved arcs of frost through the enemy ranks, her movements as graceful as they were deadly. Rachel stayed back, her light magic weaving between us, countering the black mana that saturated the battlefield and healing minor injuries with efficiency. Lucifer was a force of raw destruction, his blows precise and overwhelming, shattering through enemies with a controlled fury that demanded respect.

Together, we held the line, our individual strengths complementing each other. But I knew this was just the beginning. The waves would keep coming, and with each passing moment, stronger foes would join the fray.

This was endurance, not victory. And endurance was a test I intended to pass.