Redundancy: Chapter 8 - Despoliation.
Julian awoke from a deep slumber, his senses joltingly emerging from the realm of dreams. The room was dimly lit, the curtains gently swaying, stirred by brisk winds. The rhythmic chirping of birds outside added a soothing contrast to the bustle of the day.
All was peaceful, or so he thought, until he heard the unmistakable sounds of two infants crying.
Grumbling to himself, Julian sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes with his palms.
The noise, a cacophony of baby cries, was coming from the adjoining room---his library in particular.
He couldn't help but sigh as he pushed back the covers and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. It seemed he wasn't going to get any sleep. Today as well.
He walked over to the room, only to let out a resigned sigh.
His sons---Xavier and Elijah, were now six months old.
The little tykes had grown considerably since their birth and were now incredibly energetic. Their cries were not those of infants in need, but rather the triumphant wails of supposed domination over each other.
Xavier and Elijah had a habit of engaging in self-imposed competitions.
And was that competition you might ask?
It was something that had truamtised the Void God and deprived him of his sleep and any attempt at intimacy. Yes. A competition of crying their souls out.
Both boys were lying on their bellies, tiny fists pounding the carpeted floor as they cried with all their might. Their faces were scrunched up in determination, each trying to outdo the other in the volume and intensity of their cries.
The brothers had already accumulated quite a record, with twenty wins and twenty losses each.
It seemed they were evenly matched in the unique "art" of crying.
Julian rubbed his eyes once more before looking back. "Anyone?"
His voice was met with silence. There was no one around. Sighing, he walked over and stood between then. Seeing the familiar tall figure stand between them, they quickly shut their mouths up, their eyes still teary and cheeks flushed.
He bent down to scoop up one of the infants. Xavier stopped crying as soon as he was in his father's arms, a look of triumph on his tiny face. Elijah, however, thought of even this as a competition.
His cries only intensified, as if he were determined to maintain the balance of wins and losses.
Bending down, he picked Elijah as well. Cradling them both in their arms, he got out of the room. Walking down the stairs, he saw Zenith and Lilia inside the kitchen, cooking some afternoon lunch.
Meanwhile, Aisha and Norn had returned from school, their bags beside them.
Without saying a word, Julian handed Xavier to Aisha and Elijah to Norn.
"W-What?!"
"Huh? Brother...we are tired already..."
"You are?" Julian asked, tilting his head. "Hm. Anyways. Don't let them near my room. Let me at least get a few hours of sleep."
Their lips moved, but Julian had already run upstairs.
"Geez, brother keeps pushing work on us."
"I hope they don't cr---"
"Waaah!"
"Waaah!"
"See? You fumbled it!"
"Sorry..."
(***)
"You look absolutely hammered, Julian. Did you smoke pot?" Rudeus commented, pointing at the dark circles under Julian's eyes.
Mindlessly, Julian downed another cup of coffee and placed the cup down on the wooden table with a loud thud.
"What were you saying?" Julian shook his head.
"What on earth is wrong with you? You look like all of your wives beat you up." Rudeus was actually worried.
"Oh... it's nothing. Just lack of sleep. They won't shut up and sleep. I have no idea when they even sleep." Julian complained with a sigh.
"Are they not with their mothers? Or are all four of your in the same room?" Rudeus asked, cooking some devious stuff inside his rotten mind as he himself considered the possibility of sleeping with all of his wives at once.
"No. They sleep inside their own rooms. But the little ones recently started crawling. And they purposely cry inside my room."
"Oh, they can crawl now! You see, my Lucy started walking a long time ago. Solomon still can't crawl though. But thank heavens he isn't like your boys. Speaking of Lucy, how is Luna?" Rudeus asked.
(A/n) For those wondering, Solomon is Sara and Rudeus'. He got off-screened. Or more like, I ran out of ideas to describe childbirth. (-_-)
"Hm? Oh, she doesn't even seem alive at time. Just stays quiet all the time. Have food quietly, look around quietly as well. She even doesn't grumble when she dirties her diaper. Mostly it's just a prediction on clock to change it." Julian shrugged, seemingly satisfied with her.
'Don't look satisfied with that!' Rudeus screamed at him in his mind.
"Well, you can't really blame her. Poor ting has you as a father. I am more surprised at the other two for being normal."
"Hm? Luna is normal as well."
"Not that. Uhhh, how to put it? Well, never mind." Rudeus just shrugged the thought at once. Julian wasn't in a mood to make himself understand. If he doesn't want to, no amount of explanation was going to make him understand. Also, the joke had grown mellow by now. It was best to leave it at that.
"If you say so." Julian left the topic as well, taking a sip from another cup of coffee.
"That's a lifetime of increased blood pressure and potential cardiac arrest right there." Rudeus pointed out, taking the mug out of his hands.
Julian blinked his eyes before slapping his cheek. "Hm. Yeah. By the way."
"Yeah?"
"I got this." Julian inched closer and took out something from his pocket. It was a whistle. A whistle shaped in the form of a dragon.
"What's this?" Rudeus asked, visibly confused.
"A whistle. What else? I borrowed it from Shizuka." He explained.
"Borrowed? More like stole. I am sure." Rudeus grinned.
"Didn't you steal Sylphy's letters as well?"
"T-That was to put an act in front of Man God so he can't tell I am acting...speaking of which, what do you think happened Orsted and Hitogami. It's been over a year now since Orsted went inside...whatever you call that." Rudeus' tone shifted to worry, visibly etched all over his face.
"Hm. Yeah. 15 months to be exact. As for what's happening, I don't know. Not my problem. I had made a deal with him back when he saved me, and I was too weak to protect myself. My end of the deal is done." Julian nonchalantly shrugged, the bags under his eyes giving his stoic face a rather hilarious touch.
"But suppose, Orsted loses. What then? I mean, sure, if we team up, not a lot can stand against us. We have Randolph as well. Ruijerd is recovering. Eris and Ghislaine are decent fighters as well. Even without them, you and I alone are enough. But same can't be said for Man God. What if he comes after us?"
Julian stayed silent, looking at the ceiling.
"Have some lunch, teacher." Randolph presented a dish in front of Julian and then walked away at the next instant.
"Well, if he could come here, he would've done it himself. He is trapped inside the Void World. Maybe because he is the center of the world? Point is, he can't do anything himself. Although that opens a lot of windows for manipulation of other stronger individuals." Julian pointed out, twirling his finger in the air as he ate the first bite of today.
"Eh, I don't think there are many who can fight us."
"There are. Our previous battle seemed that was because you were the wolf in sheep's skin, secretly hindering them and because Orsted was there. He wore them down. The result won't be same without Orsted being there or you being on my side from the start."
"That aside. Don't you think our families are more in danger than us? I mean, yeah, we are there for them. But we have to go here and there every now and then. You think that is going to cause troubles?"
"Yeah. But it is what it is. Life's tough. Get a helmet."
"Hmmm. But you know...our kids are literally not even 2 right now." Rudeus was suffering from a debilitating amount of anxiety.
"Well, I have something planned for them. You can let your kids join in as well. That would make them self-sufficient."
"Hmm. I will think about it. Anyways, back to the main topic. What is that whistle for?" Rudeus stirred the conversation back into its original direction.
"Kind of a key."
"Key?"
An amused look appeared on Julian's tired face. "Perguis' Castle. Want to have a chat with him?"
Rudeus grinned from ear to ear. "I'll be honoured. Hehe. Definitely want to meet the guy who was the main cause of me paying off so many gold coins."
(***)
Julian and Rudeus stood side by side on the highest hill in the City of Sharia, their robes billowing in the breeze.
The sun had begun its descent below the horizon, casting a warm, orange glow across the landscape.
They were dressed in an almost similar attire, with Rudeus opting for a turtleneck and loose pants beneath his gray robe, while Julian donned a similar outfit but with pristine white robes.
Rudeus had his hood pulled up, casting a shadow over his features.
Julian, on the other hand, left his hood down, his expression stoic and unreadable.
He couldn't fathom why Rudeus insisted on covering his head in such a manner.
"Why do you keep your hood up?" Julian finally asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
Rudeus chuckled and gave an almost childlike grin. "I thought it'd be fun to pretend I'm one of those generic magicians from Earth, you know, the ones who hide their faces and cast spells. It adds an air of mystique, don't you think?"
Julian simply tilted his head in confusion.
He had never read the kind of childish stories that Rudeus was referring to, and the idea of pretending to be a fictional character seemed foreign to him.
The irony, oh, the irony.
Nevertheless, he didn't press the matter any further.
The two boys, no, men stood in silence, their gaze fixed on the sky.
In the distance, a massive floating structure loomed on the horizon. At first glance, it appeared to be a huge chunk of rock, but upon closer inspection, one could discern its true identity.
It was the Armored Dragon King, Perguis Dola's Castle—Chaos Breaker.
Rudeus gripped his "Arrogant Water Dragon" staff, the familiar weight of the intricate piece of craftsmanship reassuring in his hands.
Julian's crimson sword, the one that had cut down the Fighting God Armour to infinitisemally small pieces, hung at his waist, the blade securely fastened in its sheath.
But neither of them showed any signs of hostility.
Rudeus had covered the gem on the staff with a cloth, while Julian's sword was fastened with a clipper, ensuring it remained undrawn.
Almost as if they were having a field trip. Two brothers, having a good time at a nursery.
As the evening sun cast long shadows across the landscape, Rudeus finally broke the silence. "The name is edgy, but you got to admit, it is cool as hell."
"Hm. I wonder how it's floating."
"Is that the first thing that came to your mind?"
Julian nodded but remained silent, his eyes fixed on the floating castle.
He had seen Chaos Breaker a few times before, but it was the first time seeing it so close.
The castle's imposing presence spoke volumes of the man who ruled from within its walls.
Perguis Dola, the Armored Dragon King, was a force to be reckoned with, a name that struck fear into the hearts of many. The castle was a manifestation of his power, a symbol of his dominion over the land.
So many rulers of Asura, over the course of decades have tried to get his support but none of them succeeded. It was just how important and powerful he was. Not just him alone, but also the 12 familiars he had, all being at either King or above class, each one of them having unique abilities.
"The fortress seems quite sturdy." Rudeus commented. "It played a crucial role in defeating Laplace. You sure we can go in there uninvited? It defeated THE Demon God, Laplace, you know."
"Hm? You have more raw mana than him. And God ranked in more than 2 elements. I think you'll be fine." Julian patted Rudeus' head.
With an angry look and steam rising from his ears, Rudeus slapped his hand away. "Oi. Don't make fun of my height again!"
"Uhh...I mean. You are short. It doesn't really matter though. But still. You are short. Hm. Yeah. Short. Quite a lot."
Rudeus fell to the ground, spasming from the hard jabs. "There was no need to mention it so many times. You stole my nutrients inside the womb. You're the one to blame."
"I did? Well, good thing. Anyways, should I blow the whistle?"
"Do it."
Julian took the whistle out of his pocket. Bringing it to his lips, he blew into it. It let out a low frequency sound, spreading like a chain reaction of ripples in every direction.
"What on bloody earth was that?" Rudeus exclaimed. "Nah, that's a dog's frequency. Perguis? More like Labradorius."
"That was a joke." Julian complimented his joke, albeit with his usual face.
"Who could've guessed, right? On a serious note, I should be a stand-up comedian, telling sex jokes." Rudeus crossed his arms, content with his future career path.
A minute passed. Two. Five. Ten. Fifteen. Thirty minutes.
"Is it just me or is the castle becoming smalle---what are you even doing?"
"Hm, yeah, they are running away." Julian replied as he tried to balance a huge rock over his head. "Oh, nothing. I was thinking if I could play football."
Rudeus shook his head, facepalming. "I do wonder sometimes if you're autistic."
"Good point. Maybe I am." Julian replied as he pushed the boulder off his head. "Why don't you stop them?"
"Hmmmm...well, I guess, one stone canon would be fine." Rudeus replied, standing up.
He removed the cloth from his staff and the quick winds whisked it away, disappearing in a distance. Planting his feet into the ground, he raised his staff into the air. Julian looked at him from the side of his eye, his Mana Eyes activating.
'Oh...'
He finally grasped it.
Julian watched mana break down from a singular point and overlap over each other as Rudeus compacted them. The earth mana condensed, taking shape. The soft clay looking material hardened all of a sudden, spirals appearing all over it. Wind formed patterns around it as the huge earthen harpoon started twisting violently counterclockwise.
"This much should do...right?"
"That's going to---, hm, yeah. They'd be able to crumble it. Go for it." Julian redacted his initial sentence and stepped to the side.
"One, two...skip a few. Boom."
Swinging his staff, the stone canon zipped through the air faster than what Julian's eye could perceive. A second later, a huge chunk of Chaos Breaker was blown away, as the left wing of the giant mass fell down in the empty fields with a deafening voice, kicking up a tsunami of sand.
"Eh...?"
Julian looked the other way.
"....Eh?"
He kept his attention somewhere else, looking at the migratory birds, ignoring the stupefied look on Rudeus' face.
(***)
"This is what's left of the Scotts Castle, a relic from when mankind battled Laplace. It was said that thousands came to defend against the Demon invasion. In the end, all was for naught, and it was captured." Julian explained with an exaggerated tone as they walked towards Perguis' castle.
"You sure know your stuff." Rudeus replied, swinging his head sideways.
"Hm, not really. Ariel was talking about it after she was told that Perguis familiars had attacked the house." Julian corrected, throwing an almond in the air before catching it in his mouth.
"Woah, where did that almond spawn from?" Rudeus asked, looking at Julian as he munched on it silently.
"I had some in my pocket. You want some?" Julian reached out for the inside of his pocket and took a handful of them out. Opening his palm, he offered them to Rudeus.
"Thanks, thanks. Hmm, speaking of Ariel, wasn't Luke her close guard? Where is he?"
Julian finished chewing first before answering. "Luke is in charge of Milbotts region, running it in his father's stead."
"Oh, our uncle. What happened to him?"
"He is in prison. For the charges of treason. Why?"
"Eh, nothing. Just asking. Is good to at least know where your family members are." Rudeus replied with a shrug of his shoulders. "By the way, all the trouble that you made me go through in Begaritt Continent. Have you given your kids that gift yet? They're 6 months already. Didn't you say it was better if we placed it by their side?"
Julian pondered over something before answering. "Yeah. But it isn't really ready yet. Also, one of them is clearly better than the other two. I need them to grow a bit more before I understand which one of them is more deserving."
A bittersweet smile appeared over Rudeus' face. "You don't have to think so rationally over it. Aren't they your kids? Just give it to the first one."
"Hmm." Julian paused and looked ahead. It was eerily silent. "Your wives are on good terms. Mine aren't. I mean, a pair or two aren't. But yeah. It's like this; X gets along with Y but not with Z, Y gets along with both, Z want to get along with X but not with Y who gets along with her but despite that doesn't want to due to personal reasons."
"Totally got that." Rudeus gave a thumbs up, his eyes rolling.
He totally didn't understand what he just said.
They nonchalantly bantered back and forth as they entered the "Chaos Breaker" owned by "Perguis Dola."
Something and someone mentioned only in well renowned books. Even Rudeus and Julian read that book when they were little.
Perguis' records were meticulously preserved, dating back a remarkable 400 years, detailing his heroic role in the Laplace Campaign.
Within these records, it is documented that he wielded command over an impressive assembly of 12 familiars, undertook the monumental task of restoring an ancient sky castle, and valiantly confronted Laplace alongside his companions.
Upon the successful sealing of Laplace, as a tribute to his extraordinary feats, the new era was christened the "Armored Dragon era" in enduring honor of his legacy.
Notably, the Armored Dragon King, Perugius, did not ascend to the throne of a nation; instead, he chose to remain aloft in the Sky Castle known as "Chaos Breaker," roving the world with a sense of purpose --- putting an end to Laplace when he revives.
"Isn't it kind of meeting your childhood hero?" Rudeus asked excitedly.
"Hero? You idolised someone like that?" Julian asked, baffled.
"Not idolised, stupid, like, we read about him when we were little. A hero from our childhood. So, a kind of childhood hero." Rudeus explained as Julian nodded.
"I see. Hm. That makes sense. Not really if you think about it, but you aren't really sharp here." Julian commented, tapping Rudeus' head as if it was an empty husk.
As their conversation flowed, they suddenly came to a halt amidst the heart of the ancient ruins, a remote and desolate place.
Surprisingly, though initially imperceptible, a careful gaze revealed a stone, approximately the size of a stool, resting on the ground. This unassuming stone held a significant designation – it was a monument, a monument commemorating the "Seven Great World Powers."
The faint, eerie luminescence emanating from the monument served as an eerie testament to the awe-inspiring and dreadful premonitions encapsulated by the names etched into its surface.
"No matter how many times I look at it, I still find it surreal that we made it in there. Especially with you being in Rank 3. Feels like a dream sometimes." Rudeus' mode suddenly went down. "What if all of this is a hallucination? What would you feel about all this, Julian?"
Julian lowered his eyes. His silence was further accentuated by the rolling of falling debris.
"Well, it would be unfortunate to have wasted so much time. Life is precious. Can't afford to waste it on hallucinations." Julian replied, shrugging his shoulders as he moved past Rudeus.
Rudeus looked at him with a rather forlorn look.
'I sometimes wish I could be like him...'
Reaching in the main building, Rudeus looked up. "Woah. That's quite a big castle."
"It is. It's bigger than Asura castle." Julian added, activating his Mana Eyes.
"Something wrong?" Rudeus asked as he saw Julian's eyes transition from blue to green.
"Hmm, nothing. Just checking for traps."
Rudeus tapped his staff on the ground, sending a jolt of electrified mana throughout the place. Two spots resonated with a crack before detonating into a small explosion.
"That wasn't a trap. Just a safety mechanism. Let's go."
Spread out before the grand castle was an expansive garden of equal size, unfurling its verdant sublimeness.
The garden had a multitude of trees, each unique in its own right, and a profusion of flowers in a kaleidoscope of colours, meticulously arranged, creating an intricate labyrinth of horticulture.
In the forefront of the garden, a small river meandered gracefully, its surface sparkling brilliantly under the warm caress of the sun. Even from a distance, the garden's immaculate upkeep and attention to detail were readily apparent.
Despite its size, every corner was decorated with exquisite statues, and every statue seemed to be made meticulously by master craftsmen---rightfully so. Not just on the outside.
The inside was covered by golden embroidered carpeting, paintings lining the walls, and each side decorated with expensive artwork and sculptures.
After a while of walking, both Julian and Rudeus arrived where the throne room was supposed to be.
They stopped before a pair of doors. A leaden door, dotted with silver and a dragon painted on each side. All in all, it took almost thirty minutes for them to reach there from their beginning point.
"Such a large place is kind of a pain too. A segway would be nice."
Ignoring the comments, Julian pushed open the door.
Seated on the ornate throne, a man exuded an imposing and nearly suffocating aura. His resplendent white hair glimmerd, a striking contrast to his eyes, with piercing golden pupils.
Every inch of him resonated with an undeniable sense of nobility, a monarch in the truest sense.
He was none other than Armored Dragon King Perugius Dola.
Under a single, penetrating gaze, a quiver coursed through Rudeus' legs, an involuntary response to the overwhelming presence before him. He acutely aware of the reason behind this reaction: the resemblance between him and Orsted.
He could never forget it.
Their hair, facial features, or even their manner of dress may have differed, but an inexplicable kinship bound Perugius and Orsted.
It was as if, despite their outward dissimilarities, they shared an underlying essence, much like Orsted himself. The overwhelming strength of Orsted that Rudeus felt that day, it made a shiver course down his spine.
Even when he summoned the fake Godsword, Rudeus could already feel the amount of difference in their raw strength.
He couldn't forget. Ever.
The towering ceilings, upheld by pillars resembling mighty trees, gave the impression of a majestic forest canopy. As they cast their gaze upwards, radiant light streamed down from above, casting the space in a bright glow.
Adding to the opulence, intricate curtains adorned with complex patterns draped gracefully from the walls, a showcase of a diverse array of items, from Asura to Holy Milis, ranging from the commonplace to the utterly unique.
Upon the richly carpeted expanse beneath their feet, flanked on each side, stood an assembly of twelve men and women, their postures unwavering in attention.
They were all clad in white. Each a different design, but all the same color. All white. Then there are the masks. Everyone was wearing masks. None of their masks were the same.
Some in form of animals. One seems to be missing an eye, so the mask covered only the eye. Another looks like the helmet from Robocop, like it was made out of the same mold.
'They must be the famed 12 Familiars of Perugius.' Rudeus came to the conclusion.
Despite being Familiars, they all look humanoid.
A mere ten steps from the throne two levels above them, Perugius observed them without saying a word. Rather than observing, he was trying to jump at them but just couldn't find any opening. The brothers, despite having their weapons sheathed had already covered each other's weaknesses.
An impenetrable force.
However, the familiars were already oozing bloodlust, making the air grow extremely heavy. It was a collective weight of the pure hostility from 12 King Ranks or higher.
12 familiar which comprised of 11 ancient spirits.
(1) Almanfi of the Bright
(2) Yuruzu of Atonement.
(3) Sukeakoto of Time.
(4) Clearnight of Thunder.
(5) Dothbath of Destruction.
(6) Karowante of Insight.
(7) Trophimus of the Wave
(8) Harkenmail of Life.
(9) Gall of Earthquake.
(10) Furiousful of Fury.
(11) Paramount of Darkness
(12) Sylvaril of Void.
"What brings you here today, Julian Greyrat?" Perguis asked, his eyes narrowing at Julian.
Julian cocked his head. "Asking questions before a fight. That doesn't seem like you." He spoke up.
The blonde woman---Sylvaril came forward, weapon at ready, completely healed, a furious look on her face.
"Do not disrespect our lord, boy."
"You seem to have gotten a new wing. I am still holding on to your last one. You can take it back over a cup of tea." Julian replied with utmost respect.
Losing herself in anger, she took a step forward, but Almanfi disappeared in a flash and pushed her back.
A thin line of aura cut through the air, severing his golden lock. Before the lock could touch the ground, the blade of aura returned before cutting it in half again.
Cold sweat broke out on Sylvarill's forehead, and a thin streak of blood flowed from the horizontal gash on her neck.
It was [Water God Style - Sword of Deprivation]
A technique Julian had copied after watching Reida Reia use it only once against him, in a moment of desperation. The sword had taken everyone in the room, except Perguis who was far from the sword's range hostage.
"I seem to be in the mood to talk, today. So that is why I asked. Now, I will ask again. Why did you arrive here?"
"Tax collection!" Rudeus raised his hand with a wide grin.
Perguis looked down at him, his eyes full of scorn and scrutiny.
"It is as Rudeus says. I think it is time you take some credibility for your actions. Your familiars have followed me all my life. Attacked me once, and this time my family. Some damages to my house as well."
Perguis released a long breath from his nose. "The damage to your property by my familiars was minimal. Almost zero. In comparison, you have dealt unsurmountable amount of damage to my castle, something that cannot be repaired." Perguis stood up and walked down the stairs, despite the icy blade pointed at his neck. "Although I praised the audacity of you coming here with your brother, thinking you can actually make me, Perguis Dola, pay. Hmph! How ignorant."
"Not very bright, I see." Julian sighed. "Rudeus?"
"On it."
He tapped his staff on the ground and a huge mana circle formed beneath his feet. The foundations started quaking, and debris started falling from the roof.
Almanfi and Furiousful bolted towards Julian. However, after being obliterated to pieces by Julian two times, there was a lapse in his movements as Julian bent down, taking the stance of [Laido]
Their swords swooshed over his crouched back, totally missing the mark. Spinning on his knees, Julian knocked Almanfi off-balance. He got over Almanfi, pummleting his fist into his face. In a matter of a single second during which Furiousful turned back, his face was caved in.
Fueled by fury, Furiousful arrived behind Julian in the blink of an eye and swung his hand at him.
'He fell for it.'
As he came close, Julian unsheathed his sword and without looking back, pierced his neck with the tip of his sword as it jutted from the back of his neck.
Twisting and turning it, Furiousful's head flew over, landing in Perguis' feet.
He looked down and then hovered his hands in the air.
Two gates appeared in the air.
Julian's eyes widened. He knew what it was. He had seen it before.
Two Dragon Gates materliased---A golden and a silver one.
Julian released his Sword God Style ultimate technique from his [Laido] stance.
The next instant sparks flew everywhere as the sharpest blade cut the Dragon Gate into half.
However, bad news for Julian, the silver dragon gate absorbed mana.
The golden gate shimmered to life, sucking the aura out of him.
HIs eyes widened as he felt himself almost getting drained of aura.
"Too arrogant. This is the end, Julian Greyrat."
[AROMOURED DRAGON HAND SWORD - BREAK]
A streak of light formed on his hand as he swung it on Julian.
The streak cleaved the castle into half, a thin line running throughout the infrastructure.
'What is this resistance?'
Perguis thought as he looked up.
Julian's aura was expanding like a balloon. Golden aura enveloped him as it formed an expanding force around him before deflating back and forming a think second skin around him, shimmering in pure gold.
He wasn't able to perform Orsted's Holy Dragon Aura and Rudeus' Mana Overlap. However, he never knew that learning Rudeus' Mana Overlap would help him complete the dragon aura. It wasn't an exact phenomenon, since Holy Dragon Aura is the maximum efficiency using as little aura as possible.
The sensation of doubling the mana and compacting them gave him an idea of how to make the aura stay as a second skin and change its properties.
"Holy Dragon Aura...? How?"
Perguis muttered as Julian sheathed his sword and extended his hand forward in a sideway. "Just so you know, sword is my second-best weapon."
For the first time since coming into this world, Julian was going to use what he was best at.
Throwing them hands.
Thirty minutes later, half of the Chaos Breaker fell to the ground.