Rivers of the Night

Chapter 171: Risk

Chapter 171: Risk

Theron exhaled a cool breath. His Meridians had been widened more times than he could count, not only through the absorption of both of his Echoes but also the constant compression of his Core.

Right now, it felt like a wide bank had finally been filled with an adequately sized river. His Mana raged through him, and thoughts of pain or loss vanished from his thoughts.

There was only him, his opponent, and the edge of their blades.

BANG!

He surged, his speed so fast, and yet his steps so light that the sea of red gold didn't react in the slightest.

However, Ironvale's side was very different. The lava compressed, ripples spreading out in towering waves.

DENG! DENG!

The two weaved through the pillars and tides of lava, the magma becoming a light backdrop to their battle, streaks of shadow and lights of Mana intertwining in a dance of life and death.

DENG! DENG!

Theron's blades were akin to a light pelting rain. Just starting--fast, but almost gentle. He matched Ironvale's strength with quantity, meeting a single blow with twice, sometimes thrice the attacks.

And yet, he was so delicate with his steps that he always seemed to retreat in time, slipping between Ironvale's relentless barrage as though weaving through the boundaries of the reaper's scythe had become a matter of second nature to him.

And that it was.

Ironvale could use Mana here in a way that Theron simply could not. Water suppressed Fire, but if Fire was in a high enough concentration, the suppression could easily be reversed.

In this case, Theron seemed to have become the swordsman while Ironvale was the only true Mancer here.

And he took advantage.

[Moonlit Skin] redoubled and [Luminescent Blade] hummed. One swift strike after another followed, and suddenly, Theron's speed advantage was wiped away in the blink of an eye.