Leon lowered the Demon Sword as the barrier gradually disappeared.
The demon walked over and bowed respectfully. "Would you like to begin the next phase immediately, Master?"
"No. I haven’t mastered the Fourth Form yet. Let me take a look at it first."
"Of course, Master. However, you won’t be given more than one day."
"I know. But I don’t think I’ll need that long." Leon said confidently.
He sat down on the ground, took out the Sword Art Breathing manual, and flipped through its pages until he reached the Fourth Form.
’Sword Art Breathing – Fourth Form: Elemental Slash.’
Leon began reading.
’The Fourth Form allows the user to infuse elemental affinity into sword attacks, doubling their power while enabling long-range strikes.
Some opponents possess defenses that ordinary sword techniques cannot penetrate. Take the Rock Bear, for example. Its body is so durable that it is nearly invincible against conventional attacks. But it has one weakness. Fire. So, an Elemental Slash infused with the fire element can inflict devastating damage. Likewise, an Elemental Slash imbued with poison can ensure the enemy’s demise, even if its wounds regenerate, as the poison continues to spread throughout its body.’
After reading the description, Leon continued through the detailed explanation on how to channel elemental energy into the blade and unleash the technique.
The moment he finished reading the final line...
Ding!
Notifications appeared before him.
[Congratulations, Host. You have mastered the Fourth Form of Sword Art Breathing.]
[Fourth Form: Elemental Slash.]
"I really needed just one look," Leon muttered as he returned the manual to his storage.
No struggle to comprehend the technique. No practice.
All it took...
Was reading it once.
Leon looked toward the demon. "I’m ready. You can begin the next phase now."
"Of course, Master." The demon soared high into the air before snapping his fingers.
Snap!
Instantly, fourteen figures rose from the ground.
Seven of them were fire monsters. Their true appearances were impossible to make out. Apart from their faces, every part of their bodies was engulfed in blazing flames. The heat they radiated was so intense that ordinary metal would melt before even reaching them.
Fighting them with his bare hands wouldn’t be difficult for Leon.
The real problem was their strength. Each one possessed at least twice Leon’s overall combat power, even after accounting for the Demon Sword.
It was obvious the demon had intentionally increased the trial’s difficulty. Instead of forbidding Leon from using a weapon with such an overwhelming enhancement, he had simply strengthened the enemies accordingly.
It was almost as if he wanted Leon to grow accustomed to wielding the Demon Sword.
The remaining seven monsters were entirely different. Their bodies were forged from metal. Each one was made of a different kind of metal, giving them distinct appearances.
However, they all shared one terrifying trait. Their defenses seemed unimaginably powerful.
Even before the battle began, Leon knew ordinary sword strikes would never be enough to penetrate their armor.
Leon slowly raised the Demon Sword and leaned his body forward.
The fourteen monsters did the same. Every one of them assumed a battle stance as overwhelming auras erupted from their bodies. Each one of them was stronger than a Disaster Class knight.
Meanwhile...
Leon was only at the third stage of Martial Master realm.
Yet his eyes shone with absolute confidence.
The next instant...
The ground rumbled violently. Both Leon and the fourteen monsters lunged toward one another simultaneously.
The first monster to reach Leon was one with a body forged entirely from titanium. It threw a punch. The domineering fist tore through the air with a deafening hum.
Leon didn’t meet it head-on. Instead, he swiftly angled the Demon Sword, redirecting the punch to the side.
Booooooom!
The fist slammed into the ground, creating a massive crater.
Using the monster’s forward momentum, Leon vaulted onto its back as it leaned forward from the impact. Another monster was already attacking.
Without hesitation, Leon swung his sword.
Clangggggggggggg!
The blade collided with the monster clad in golden armor. The tremendous impact forced both the golden monster and Leon to skid backward.
The golden-armored monster lowered its body before charging at Leon once again.
Leon leaped backward, stretching the Demon Sword to his left. "Normal strikes really won’t work," he muttered. "I could defeat them by activating my bloodline or Berserk Mode... but for now, let’s see what the Fourth Form can really do."
While still airborne, blazing flames erupted around the Demon Sword as Leon channeled his fire affinity into the blade.
"Fourth Form... Fire Slash."
The moment the words left his mouth... He swung.
Whoooosh!
A massive arc of blazing fire shot forward.
It cleaved straight through the golden-armored monster without losing momentum, continuing into the distance.
The monster froze in place. A second later... Its upper body slowly slid from its waist.
Thud! The two halves crashed onto the ground.
Leon landed lightly, his feet skidding back a short distance. Before he had even come to a complete stop, he spun on his heel and swung the Demon Sword once more.
A trail of crimson flames followed as the blade cut through the air.
One of the fire monsters had silently appeared behind him, attempting a sneak attack.
Unfortunately for it...
Nothing could be hidden from him within five meters due to the spirit zone ability.
Yet, the result Leon had expected didn’t happen. The flaming blade swept straight through the monster’s body.
However... Instead of splitting it in half...
The blade passed through it as though it had struck nothing at all.
The fire monster immediately retaliated with a punch.
Leon reacted instantly. He raised the Demon Sword like a shield.
Bammmm!
The impact forced him to slide several meters backward. Leon was taken aback. "Wait... It doesn’t have a physical body?" His eyes narrowed slightly before a smile appeared on his face.
The flames surrounding the Demon Sword disappeared.
In their place...
An icy aura spread across the blade, causing the surrounding temperature to plummet. Leon extended the sword to his left once again.
"Fourth Form... Ice Slash."
Whoooooosh!
A crescent-shaped arc of icy energy shot forward. Like before, it passed straight through the fire monster.
But this time...
The raging flames instantly froze. Within the blink of an eye, the monster’s entire body transformed into a frozen statue.
And then...
Crack!
The statue shattered into countless glittering fragments.
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