"So this beast was the one creating the wind." William said mockingly.
"At least Half Step S Rank. Its energy is too chaotic to guess more precisely." Daniel answered with a frown.
As long as it was below true S Rank there was no problem. With him and William together even defeating a False S Rank was possible.
From the first time he saw this man he realized how strangely powerful he was. Other than himself, William was probably the strongest rank A he had ever met.
Strong enough that Lana had no chance against him. He didn’t know why this man was so powerful, and more importantly, why he hid his real strength. But with him around, even if Daniel couldn’t use his skills right now, defeating a False S Rank wasn’t impossible.
The real reason for his frown and concern was the possibility of their fight attracting other beasts.
"This bird is in the process of turning into a corruption beast. Probably more than eighty percent of the process is complete, that’s why its energy is this chaotic." William said, and a massive sword appeared in his hands.
The blade was more than fifty centimeters wide, completely unfitting for his build. More importantly, it looked extremely heavy, heavy enough to greatly reduce the wielder’s speed.
"This won’t be an easy battle. We’re on a bridge, we have to be careful not to fall. That beast can fly easily, and we have limits when it comes to flight." Daniel summoned his sword, The Heavens Honor.
"We can’t fly, but we can still make long jumps." William’s eyes fell on Daniel’s sword.
For some reason, just seeing it made fear and danger stir in his heart. As if he was standing face to face with death itself.
He forcefully suppressed the fear and focused on the Sky Titan, which had locked its gaze onto them again and was preparing another attack.
Daniel raised his sword. The aura of death wrapped around the sacred blade, evaporating the rain around it. William stood beside him, his massive fifty-centimeter blade gleaming in his grip.
The Sky Titan roared with [Sonic Roar] and charged forward. The sound wave slammed into their defensive layers like a hammer. Daniel’s mana shield shook and cracked, but he quickly focused his energy and restored it.
William shouted, "Hit its wings! Break its balance! Try to destroy them and drag it down!"
With [Sky Leaper] he shot into the air and slammed his blade like lightning against the Titan’s wing. Black blood sprayed, but immediately [Feather Barrage] activated. A rain of steel-like feathers descended on them.
Daniel leapt among the feathers, spinning his sword rapidly, the aura of death turning each feather to dust. Still, several struck his layer and cracked it. Gritting his teeth, he restored the shield without letting it vanish for even a moment.
The Titan came down with [Talon Crush], smashing into the bridge, shattering stone and sending debris flying. Daniel and William leapt back.
William countered with [Titan Breaker Slash]. A wave of mana from his blade split the Titan’s talon and forced it back.
Daniel seized the moment and charged. The Heavens Honor shone, the aura of death so dense that even the rain couldn’t come near it. He slashed through the Titan’s leg. The beast’s scream shook the sky.
But the Titan didn’t retreat. With [Storm Wing Slash] it whipped the air around the bridge into a storm. The violent winds hurled Daniel and William several meters back. Both barely kept their footing on the slick bridge. Their defensive layers flickered and cracked, but their rapid regeneration prevented an explosion.
"This beast doesn’t want to fall." William growled.
"Then we’ll just have to pluck its feathers one by one." Daniel replied with a mocking smile.
The Sky Titan held its bloodied wings high. Daniel panted, repairing his mana shield and reinforcing it. William gripped his massive sword with both hands. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹✦𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖✦𝓷𝓮𝓽
There was no fear or hesitation in his expression, as if it didn’t matter at all. Before attacking again he carefully rebuilt and strengthened his defenses.
The stone bridge shook under the storm. The Sky Titan, like a demon craving blood, spread its vast wings and unleashed [Abyssal Gust]. The dark wind lashed at the two fighters, cracking their mana shields.
William slammed his sword into the bridge: [Earth Anchor].
The ground split, energy burst out from within the bridge, and rooted him in place so the storm wouldn’t blow him away.
Daniel retreated with agility, holding his sword like a shield against the wind. The aura of death around him trembled.
But the Titan pressed harder. With [Skyquake Descent] it dove from the sky, its massive weight slamming into the bridge, shaking it violently and launching chunks of stone into the air.
"Left side! Its wing is weak!" William shouted.
Without a word Daniel leapt. The Heavens Honor cut through the black rain and split the Titan’s right wing. Feathers and blood scattered.
But the strike triggered another [Sonic Roar].
The sound wave smashed into their shields, cracks spreading like broken glass.
Daniel pressed his hand to his chest and poured out mana. But before the restoration was complete, several feathers pierced through the half-formed layer, cutting into William’s shoulder and Daniel’s arm.
A drop of rain fell on Daniel’s open wound.
A massive explosion went off instantly. The fiery shockwave hurled them dozens of meters across the bridge. Stone and rubble blasted into the air, and the bridge beneath them cracked.
Daniel fell to his knees, yet his breathing was calm and he was unharmed. His arm was scorched and blackened, but there was no pain on his face, not even a frown. William coughed blood, his defensive layer completely shattered.
The Sky Titan, its wing half-crippled yet still spread wide, circled above them with savage pride.
"I don’t like that arrogant face of this bastard beast." William growled angrily, restoring his shield to prevent another explosion.
"Ridiculous." Daniel hissed coldly. His shield reformed, and his arm healed completely in less than a second with Mana Healing.
The injuries weren’t serious. With his current body, how could such an explosion cause even the slightest effect?
But now he was angry. It was time to end this fight.