As he was being forced back, Ourami finally caught a glimpse of what crashed into him.
“These are… Swords?” Ourami said to himself as he quickly made a slight gesture with his left hand.
Oooom!
The next moment, the four swords that crashed into Ourami were blown away.
At the same time, the pillar’s right eye released a faint glow as he utilized the Epithet of Divination.
“Above.”
Ourami turned his gaze overhead and saw five swords on a direct collision course for him.
The pillar’s gaze darkened underneath his mask as he pointed his right hand to the sky, seizing the momentum behind the swords.
However, that was when a voice that carried with it a natural air of authority entered Ourami’s ears.
“That armor of yours is quite sturdy. As expected of an individual that stands near the peak of this realm. However, bullying someone who is many times your junior—are you not ashamed?” The voice stated unhurriedly as its owner landed gracefully from the sky next to Izroth.
The voice belonged to a woman who appeared to be in her late twenties. She wore an elegant set of clothing and possessed a pair of eyes like that of a blazing inferno.
The aura she emitted was extremely refined and accompanied by a deep and profound power that slept underneath it all.
But, the unique thing about this woman was her usual hair which was made up of blue flames extending upward in the air.
Zeeeut! Swoosh! Swoosh!
The nine swords that were sent out earlier returned to the woman’s side and levitated behind her back.
Each weapon was a gorgeous blue and silver double-edged straight sword that contained deadly hidden sword intent.
“You have done well, Izroth. Then again, I expected no less from the person who has overcome my crusade.” The woman said proudly.
She was none other than the owner of the crusade recently cleared by Izroth and five other top players. And, the only crusade in RML ever conquered by players, the Lady of Everlasting Rain, Tal’Nis!
To be more precise, it was a part of her—a phantom.
Earlier, not long after his Full Mantle came to an end, Izroth realized that if events continued along their current path, the chances of success would only decline.
That was when Izroth decided to use one of the items he received after clearing the crusade.
It was the only SSS-ranked magic item he had in his possession—the Relic of the First Tal.
Name: Relic of the First Tal(Soulbound)
Rank: SSS
Durability: : ∞(Indestructible)
Uses: 2/3
Usage: Summons a powerful phantom of «Lady of the Everlasting Rain, Tal’Nis» who will assist the user in combat for up to 5 minutes.
Cooldown: 252 hours
Special Note: This item is soulbound and cannot be traded or sold. This item automatically disappears when the number of uses reaches 0.
The current Tal’Nis before Izroth was not the same one he fought against in the crusade. Rather, it was a similar existence that worked on the same principle.
The phantom summoned by the Relic of the First Tal was but one of the fragments left behind by Tal’Nis before her ascend into the Divine Realm. And, just like the Tal’Nis in the crusade, it seemed to be both separate and connected to the real Tal’Nis.
That is why even though the Tal’Nis in front of Izroth recognized him, she had no knowledge beyond what was discussed strictly within the confines of the crusade.
Nevertheless, the phantom was undoubtedly strong.
With just one move, she had forced Ourami back tens of meters and even managed to damage his silver scale-like armor!
“If you were a little slower, it would have gotten a bit troublesome,” Izroth replied in a carefree manner.
When Izroth noticed who arrived, he released a small inward sigh.
‘It seems we’ve managed to buy enough time. But, that was too close.’
A thin layer of wind encompassed Izroth as it rapidly dispersed.
Just before he was struck by Ourami’s attack, Izroth was able to activate the skill Warpath Blade: Gale Zone Guard.
This skill created a protective aura around Izroth that absorbed the damage from all incoming attacks, as well as crowd control for five seconds.
Needless to say, the protective aura was shattered immediately by Ourami’s attack along with the remainder of the Veil of the Seventh Origin Flames.
However, if not for his fast reaction time in activating the Warpath Blade: Gale Zone Guard, Izroth may not have survived that long fall to the ground as the last of his HP would have been depleted!
“This kind of experience is a rarity. It would be a shame if it were not taken full advantage of, would you not agree?” Tal’Nis responded calmly.
“I suppose you’re right,” Izroth said as he stood to his feet.
After that last blow, Izroth felt as if his body was ready to break apart. If not for his Earthly Golden Bones and Strength of the Ancient Colossus, Izroth would not have been able to stand on his own two feet right about now. But, he did not plan to spend the rest of the battle simply laying around!
Without warning, a silver streak appeared next to Tal’Nis as an overwhelming pressure descended upon the vicinity.
Ourami, who had just been pushed back, followed up with a counterattack. He did not know where this person came from; however, since they dared to interfere, their only choice was death!
Just like what happened earlier, the pillar appeared without sound or presence. He was simply somewhere one moment, and then another place the next.
BANG! Ding!
The nine swords that levitated at Tal’Nis’ back moved at blinding speeds, as the tip of the blades connected to one another and intercepted Ourami’s strike.
“?!” The pillar’s cerulean visor briefly flashed as if it were expressing his shock. He could not recall the last time someone stopped while he was under the effects of his Silent Coursing.
Silent Coursing was a side effect of Ourami’s Epithet of Seizing that automatically “seized” his very own presence when he transformed. This made it virtually impossible for others to follow movements, let alone respond to his attacks.
“You are not a celestial of this world. Are you also from that place called the Mortal Realm?” Ourami scowled.
“To attack and interrupt me while I am in the middle of a conversation—how rude. Were you never taught any manners as a child?” Tal’Nis said.
A stream of blue flames flowed from her hair and encompassed Izroth, shielding him from the shockwave of the attacks.
“Manners? What nonsense. When one stands above everything, is there a need for such worthless beliefs?” Ourami scoffed.
“A crude outlook. Even I, who have gazed beyond the pinnacle of this world below, dare not say I stand above everything. But, I expect no less from someone like you. A naive frog at the bottom of a well—that is all you amount to.” Tal’Nis spoke without remorse.
“You dare compare me to a mere frog?” Ourami stated as the pressure in the atmosphere increased severalfold.
“Is she wrong?!” A thunderous voice boomed.
Bzzzt… Crrrrckle!
Out of nowhere, a bolt of lightning struck down from above Ourami!
But, at the last moment, the lightning curved away from the pillar as it was forced away from him using the Epithet of Force.
