Shadows of Ascension

85. Unshackled Power

Luca's battle is nearing its breaking point. 

His opponent, fights with overwhelming raw power. Each strike releases waves of aura, shaking the ground beneath them. Luca’s attacks, though precise, barely leave a mark. 

Meanwhile, every time Luca fails to dodge, the punishment is brutal. His wounds bleed heavily, his vision blurring from exhaustion. 

"I’m getting slower..." he realizes. 

The enemy, on the other hand, seems unaffected—his stamina and durability far outclass Luca’s. 

"If this keeps up, I won’t last much longer."

Not far away, Aiden shields Riona from the onslaught of C-rank hunters. 

Riona watches in disbelief. 

"He hasn’t been training... but he’s faster, more precise than ever."

She dodges another attack, only to realize— 

Aiden isn’t dodging at all. 

"He could dodge… but he chooses to get hit."

Every cut, every wound—he takes them all, making himself a shield for her. 

"He’s protecting me... even though he could easily overpower them." 

Her eyes widen as she observes something even more shocking. 

"These are C-rank hunters… a few D-rank ones at best. But even after taking multiple hits, Aiden isn’t falling."

His breathing remains steady. His stance, unwavering. 

"A B-rank hunter is supposed to be powerful, but this… facing so many enemies without fighting back and coming out with just mild scratches?" 

She steals a glance at him. 

"What I’m witnessing… it’s a rare phenomenon. Aiden isn’t just strong. He’s something else. Something beyond normal."

"He’s one in a billion."

The tide of battle shifts. 

The hunters surrounding Aiden begin to falter. Their movements slow. Their attacks weaken. 

Aiden suddenly drops his sword and sits down. 

The hunters exchange glances in confusion—but before they can react, their bodies freeze in place. 

They’re not falling. Not restrained by an external force. 

It’s as if they’re floating—yet unable to move a muscle. 

Panic spreads among them. 

"W-What the hell is happening?!" one of them shouts. 

Aiden exhales. "A useful skill indeed…" 

His gaze shifts to Riona. 

"Riona…" His voice is calm, almost detached. "I was desperately trying to hold them off so you wouldn’t get hurt. But my powers have reached yet another level." 

Riona’s eyes widen. "What did you do?" 

Aiden stands. "Their shadows are frozen. And so are they." 

Meanwhile, Luca staggers. 

His strength is nearly gone. His body barely holds together. 

The B rank hunter, towering over him, raises his massive axe. 

"You deserve to know my name," he declares. "I will reveal it before I send you to the afterlife. 

Sylvester Somniac. That is the name of the hunter who killed you." 

Luca barely hears him. His vision is spinning. 

"You fought bravely, Luca. You were weaker than me, but your skill was undeniable. You deserve a place in Valhalla. You are a true warrior." 

Sylvester swings his axe— 

And stops.

Mid-motion. Frozen. 

His eyes widen in shock. 

Aiden watches calmly, stepping toward Luca. 

"How should I call this skill…?" he wonders to himself. 

He doesn’t have an answer yet. 

Instead, he reaches out a hand. 

"Get up, Luca." 

"It’s over."