Endless Debt Chapter 1057 - 105: At the Right Moment (3)

Ernan assumed a resolute stance, channeling his power before unleashing a swift, sharp nail. It blazed through the atmosphere with incredible velocity, its kinetic force amplified by an infusion of ether. The nail's rapid passage generated intense heat through air friction, igniting the surroundings into a fiery vortex, trailing slender tendrils of flame.

Ripples of sonic booms expanded outwards. This deadly and formidable assault was executed the instant he struck, leaving Palmer with no recourse but to anticipate and react.

It felt like a gamble, yet beyond casting dice, Palmer saw no alternative.

"To be plunged into such dire straits in the very first round?"

Palmer mused inwardly as the die strapped to his wrist gave a slight shudder.

Appropriate Timing, the designation of this dodecahedron.

The die's bronze exterior felt rough, coated in a layer of dust and grime. Its intricate markings had long since faded, appearing lacklustre under the sun's glare, and the embedded ruby gemstone had lost its lustre, casting a dim glow.

However, as ether entered it, the die trembled intensely. The gems began to illuminate sequentially, as if time itself were rewinding. Across its nearly flawless twelve faces, the gem lights flickered erratically until only the gem on the seventh side remained dimly lit.

A victory hard-won.

Palmer sidestepped, the fiery streak grazing his person and leaving a superficial cut on his skin.

This rapid exchange sent a surge of adrenaline through him, creating a sensation of something extraordinary unfolding.

The gem representing the number seven was now completely extinguished and would not illuminate again for some time. This was one of the costs associated with the contract object; each subsequent roll after continuous use would cause a face to temporarily dim, rendering it unusable for a specific duration.

Consequently, with every roll, Palmer's odds of failure or success were altered, imposing immense pressure; yet, Palmer could face this with a jest.

"Even if misfortune strikes again, merely surviving eleven rounds means I'm bound to eventually achieve a great success."

A powerful gust slammed into Palmer's back, launching him like a cannonball toward Ernan's blind spot. He vanished from Ernan's sight, though Ernan remained in his throwing posture, prepared to deliver a devastating blow to Palmer.

Ernan, much like Bologue, belonged to the Commanding School, following the path of Infinite Sharpness. Due to disparities in their Alchemy Matrices, Ernan's abilities exhibited an extreme inclination, impacting even the effects of his Secret Energy.

Secret Energy: One-Way Arrow.

Anything Ernan touched became an object under his command. When this commanded object was thrown by Ernan, it was imbued with a unidirectional, fearsome force, allowing it to shatter the sound barrier with ease. Like a divine iron spear hurtling through the air, the material would ignite from high-speed friction, obliterating and piercing everything in its path.

While this power sounded terrifying, it was burdened by numerous constraints. For instance, the nature of the commanded material significantly influenced the effectiveness of the Secret Energy.

Should it be mere ordinary pebbles, even if infused with ether, after Ernan's throw, they would rapidly vaporize due to intense friction. Their effective range might not even extend a few meters before completely disintegrating. Therefore, Ernan’s commanded objects were these specially fabricated sharp nails, forged from Alchemy Metal, capable of withstanding the pressures of his Secret Energy.

In addition to limitations concerning the commanded object itself, the material's dimensions and mass also impacted the force of the One-Way Arrow, with accuracy being the most critical factor of all.

If the One-Way Arrow failed to strike its intended target, its immense power would be rendered utterly meaningless.

Ernan had once considered augmenting his power with the Chasing Sword. However, the activation of the Chasing Sword necessitated the enemy's blood, a requirement ill-suited to Ernan's long-range combat style. Furthermore, the Chasing Sword could only direct ether flow and possessed no influence over commanded objects.

A continuous barrage of rumbling vibrations echoed as Ernan, anticipating Palmer's position, launched a volley of sharp nails. Deadly lines of fire blazed through walls and shattered rocks, accompanied by unceasing sounds of collapse, as Palmer made a desperate flight through the swirling dust.

Meanwhile, the conflict raged on in another area.

Morrison's Light Feather storm unfurled, engulfing the surroundings. Bologue found himself compelled to engage it at such close quarters, fiercely hacking with a blood-stained hand axe amidst the swirling radiance.

Bologue and Palmer's coordinated assault had been fractured by Ernan. As others regained their bearings, sporadic gunfire erupted, interspersed with intermittent, faint etheric reactions.

"Let's eliminate one first."

This thought coalesced in Bologue's mind. He commanded his own blood to form scale armor near the wound, staunching the flow of bleeding, an application combined with his Undying Body.

Bolonge, leveraging his maximum damage absorption, advanced on Morrison, menacingly lifting a deadly sword axe. Morrison, choosing not to dodge, thrust his Secret Sword directly at Bolonge.

The Secret Sword was met by Resentful Bite, and as Light Feathers enveloped Bolonge's form, his hand axe swung fiercely. Collisions of ether sent waves of air power surging around them both.

Dust swirled in the aftermath, but soon the Light Feathers pulsed, stirring the air and dispersing the obscuring particles.

Bolonge remained planted firmly on the ground, while Morrison executed a swift retreat. This exchange had failed to grant him any advantage over Bolonge; in fact, Morrison had suffered a counterattack from Bolonge.

Unseen by Morrison, Deceitful Snake Scale Liquid seeped from Bolonge’s sleeve. These metallic fluids, controlled by Bolonge, extended like numerous appendages, forming blades, spears, swords, and halberds.

Morrison experienced overwhelming pressure, yet it was of little consequence; his primary objective had already been met.

Raising his Secret Sword, droplets of blood traced paths across its surface before being entirely absorbed. Bolonge felt a peculiar force surrounding him, and shortly after, a chain forged from ether connected him to the Secret Sword.

With Chasing Sword locked on, Morrison vibrated his wings, transforming countless shimmering Light Feathers into dazzling beams that rocketed toward Bolonge. Despite Bolonge's agile movements, the beams pursued relentlessly, rendering evasion impossible.

Amidst the barrage of beams, a vivid crimson stain appeared. In the following instant, a palm-sized gash materialized on Bolonge's side abdomen. Sharp nails embedded themselves into the rock face behind him, and amidst violent tremors, sonic booms belatedly erupted.

The Light Feathers effectively masked the trajectory of the fiery onslaught.

Ernan had defected alongside Morrison to join the King's Shield Guard. However, within the Guard, Morrison was the central figure, while Ernan remained in obscurity. When questioned about any envy, Ernan consistently responded with silence.

It was commonly assumed that Ernan must harbor resentment towards Morrison. Yet, in truth, Ernan found solace in this hidden, unnoticed existence, a sensation reminiscent of being concealed beneath Morrison's Light Feathers, where his One-Way Arrow could remain undetected by most.

Although Ernan was merely a Prayer Believer, his offensive power rivaled that of Morrison.

His fingers grazed his waist strap as he calculated his remaining sharp nails. Once this ammunition was depleted, his combat effectiveness would significantly diminish. He recognized the necessity of eliminating his opponent before his supply of sharp nails ran out.

A blink of his eyes coincided with the continuous, intense light, which momentarily affected Ernan's vision, causing a slight deviation in his aim. Had his sight not wavered, this strike would have found Morrison’s heart.

Selecting another sharp nail, Ernan maintained his acute vigilance, prepared to assassinate Bolonge while remaining wary of Palmer, who lurked in the shadows.

Sporadic gunfire and bursts of ether reaction echoed, and several Condensers converged around Ernan, providing him protection. They understood that the key to victory resided within his capabilities.

Within the chaotic brilliance, blood congealed, sealing the wounds as Bolonge's Undying Body commenced its healing process.

In due time, Morrison would undoubtedly notice this astonishing rate of recovery. Bolonge had to devise methods to exploit this peculiar trait. Regarding Ernan, he functioned like a sniper; despite being only a Prayer Believer in rank, he constantly exuded a palpable threat. A hit from his precision attacks, coupled with Morrison's relentless assault, would prove insurmountable for most opponents.

Furthermore, beyond the combined onslaught of these two formidable fighters, the colossal flesh creation continued emitting unsettling, low cries, its massive limbs sweeping the surroundings as if searching for sustenance. Fortunately, it remained dormant for the moment, offering a reprieve from the battlefield's intensity.

The confrontation reached an impasse, yet Bolonge demonstrated a remarkable aptitude for shattering stalemates.

Guided by Chasing Sword, countless beams pierced toward Bolonge, who abruptly ceased his evasive maneuvers and stood his ground.

He lifted his sword axe high above his head, letting out a roar before smashing it down into the earth.

A surge of ether radiated outward, and in the very next moment, the ground beneath them fractured and split apart.