ZenpaiTrans
patreon
Solar Blood Masters (60)
🕑 Added 2024-10-27 18:11:13 +0000 UTCChapter 60 - Training Orb
Stepping out of the golden mirror, Raphael found himself in a vast enclosed space. A rigid grid, constructed from bronze metal, stretched across the floor as far as he could see. The space was stark, empty, except for a single golden orb floating in the center.
He approached the orb cautiously.
As he drew closer, something within his chest resonated, a gentle hum that pulsed with a familiar warmth.
“Hmm? What’s this for?”
The Sagewood Script unfurled and a new section became illuminated.
Zhu Jian explained. ‘This golden orb is the Controller for this training ground. You can issue it commands and shape the environment to test your skills. Focus your intent. Embrace its energy. It will respond.’
Raphael nodded, the connection was undeniable. He was linked to this Citadel now. Qi Fenwei’s little blood ritual had truly been more than just claiming ownership of this palace. It had granted him control over its very essence.
He could feel it.
Focusing his will upon the orb, he commanded, “I want an opponent!”
The orb responded instantly by dropping a silver tear onto the grid below.
POOF!
From the tear’s impact point, a being materialized which grew larger and more imposing.
It was a tall, humanoid figure crafted from purest gold, possessing sleek wings and the fierce head of an eagle. In its grasp, it held a double-edged sword with each blade radiating a pale-blue energy. It shifted gracefully as if eager for combat.
The orb spoke, “The opponent has been generated: Gold Eagle Winged Warrior - 5th Layer of the Great Ordeal Stage. Prepare for battle."
“Great Ordeal… weak! But let's get warmed up."
Raphael snorted and wasted no time showcasing his new powers.
“Shadow Teleportation!”
BOOM!
With a burst of dark essence, he vanished and then instantly reappeared behind the warrior.
"Wha--?!"
Before it could even swing that sword or unleash any attack, Raphael activated potent shadow energies once more, teleporting back and forth.
He loved this speed. And the ease with which he maneuvered his massive form was exhilarating!
The warrior lunged, but its strikes found only empty air. Those movements felt clumsy, those attacks weak compared to what he’d faced these past few days.
"BORING!”
He would end this now.
"Wing Slashnado!"
Raphael unfurled his massive black wings, laced with bronze scales.
They whipped forward with blinding speed, and from their shadowy edges, countless crimson-red slashes erupted. It was a hurricane of blades!
WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
"ARGHHH!”
The warrior was shredded and decimated! Gold chunks rained upon that grid, leaving only a faint shimmer where his opponent stood seconds before.
Raphael laughed.
"That’s what you get for challenging a Golden Bull Thork! Orb, I demand more challenge. That warrior was pathetic! Send more, NOW!"
His thirst for power couldn’t be appeased.
“As you command.” The orb obeyed instantly.
POOF! POOF! POOF!
Twelve Gold Eagle Winged Warriors materialized, each stronger, radiating essences more potent than the last. They surrounded Raphael with their golden swords poised.
"This is getting interesting.”
The air around them buzzed. Raphael prepared himself, “Let’s do this!”
"HAAA! Wing Slashnado!"
He attempted the same move, unleashing his shadowy blades once more.
But…
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
These warriors didn’t panic. They countered with a unified grace. They weaved around his attack, forming a defensive dome that deflected the crimson slashes back at him with ease.
Raphael quickly retracted his wings. He growled in frustration.
"It would appear I've underestimated them… No matter! This is a good chance to test that ability."
He then commanded his potent blood essences within, “Shadow Blood Resolve!”
The energy around him coalesced and solidified, forming a second skin – an armor of blood and shadow – that radiated with crimson veins and crackling with black lightning.
"Come and GET IT, birdbrains!”
The warriors attacked in unison.
BAM! BAM!
But his armor was holding! He didn’t flinch, not even after seventeen strikes!
Raphael laughed, "I'M INVINCIBLE! Nothing can pierce this hide!"
However, his arrogance was short-lived.
With a final, coordinated attack from the warriors, the armor shattered, causing pain to shoot through his hide, “Argh!”
Their assault was relentless. Raphael stumbled back.
But just as he was about to succumb to the onslaught,
"DARK BLOOD DOMAIN!"
BOOM!
An overwhelming sense of dread slammed into them! Their vision blackened, and the air became thick, almost stifling.
The warriors staggered, blinded. They coughed as the potent stench of blood hit them, and then felt a chill racing across their metallic bodies.
Beneath their feet, a sea of crimson was spreading…
Within his Dark Blood Domain, Raphael was in control!
The blood pool beneath him had a life of its own. It radiated crimson so brilliantly, it illuminated the world in a masterpiece of terror.
“You puny fools. Now it’s my turn!”
His voice was amplified to deafening levels as he commanded the blood, shaping it to his will, his new reality!
“Rise! Taste despair! Embrace the sweet embrace of oblivion!"
WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
He bound their limbs with tendrils and molded the blood into jagged spikes, which he then used to skewer their golden hides with a horrifying accuracy. Their pleas were nothing but muffled echoes in the darkness before fading into nothing.
One by one, they were silenced. And with each vanquished warrior, that sense of dread intensified. He felt empowered by these shadows, his Blood Pool roared with strength. This was intoxicating!
After the final warrior vanished, Raphael felt a tingling sensation on his brow. His domain flickered, and the red hues started fading, and finally, with a final pop of black energy, it was gone.
He’d lasted less than two minutes. Such limited power.
"It seems this Domain requires practice to improve." He sighed in frustration, then decided on another test.
"Kong!" He yelled with renewed vigor, “Melissa! I command thee!”
“Yes, master!”
"It shall be my pleasure!"
His two loyal, but now rival Shadow generals came hovering before him.
Raphael then extended his shadowy wings with pride.
"It’s time to test your strengths. Show me what you’ve got!"
From those depths, his Shadow Bat army emerged in a flurry of wings! One hundred and fifty strong. Their crimson eyes radiated with their Master’s ambition and a thirst for battle.
“For master!”
They awaited his command.
"Orb! 100 warriors! Make it challenging."
"Of course."
With a flurry of silver tears those warriors manifested into existence. It was the Golden Eagle Winged Warriors once again.
Amongst the army, Bat General Kong watched in annoyance as the vast majority of their legion flock to his side while praising him.
“All glory to our TRUE commander!”
“General Kong is mighty! His spear, it’s a legend!”
“He’s far stronger than that… THAT… thing!”
There was only one creature standing beside Raphael now.
It was Melissa. She didn’t seem bothered by their insults, nor their whispers. She was smirking. Her pink eyes had those gathering warriors trembling. Even some of those eager to serve Kong felt a sudden chill upon meeting her gaze.
“It’s time for a show.”
With their blades at the ready and their monstrous wings flapping, the Shadow Bat army charged.
BOOM! BOOM!
At first, Kong and those loyal to him unleashed shadowy blasts they’d learned from their predecessors.
"HAHAHA! That snake will be mincemeat soon!" One of the bats yelled as he blasted a hole in a warrior.
“It’s so pitiful to watch it struggle alone, hahaha!”
Those echoes of mockery and arrogance fueled Bat General Kong’s actions. He led the charge with furious roars, decimating a few dozen warriors within seconds. His battle techniques were truly efficient. And to his delight, their victory seemed guaranteed, after all… wasn’t he their chosen leader, a beacon of shadow might?
It would appear, fate had other plans.
Before they could celebrate with screams of victory and bloodlust, a horrifying spectacle had them halting mid-flight.
WHOOSH! CRACK! BOOM!
From the shadows, Melissa unleashed her power!
Her tail was striking swiftly. It could make even the mightiest serpent assassin weep. She was snapping bones and shattering the warriors’ golden hides with a grace Kong could only dream of.
Then with a twist that defied logic, she unleashed her ‘Sun Cycle’.
"Taste the sun's fury!"
It became a buzz saw that was slicing through limbs and necks!
And as a finale to this massacre, she flicked her wrist, sending forth that violet whip!
It cracked in the air with the sound of a thousand tormented souls, shattering even the air itself!
WHOOSH! CRAAACK!
Each time it landed, a warrior vanished, not even dust remained.
After the last warrior fell, a few Shadow Bats came rushing to praise and pledge their loyalty to her, “Lady Melissa, you’re strong! We pledge our loyalty to…”
Melissa’s whip cut them off. She scoffed, “Tsk! How shameless of you…!”
“You, how dare you scold my infantry!” Kong was upset.
Melissa didn’t care. She glared up at him. “Want to defend these weaklings? Come down and face me like a man.”
Seeing this developing drama unfold, Raphael swiftly intervened once again.
“THAT’S ENOUGH! Return!”
His booming command silenced them all instantly. Then their shadow essences rushed back to the source of their power – his massive black wings.
