Awakening?The Infinite Evolution of My Talent as a Low-Level Awakener

Chapter 212: Fire of Ten Thousand Souls, Refined!

Edward sensed that something was off!

This powerful soul being might very well have set its sights on the secret techniques of the Nether Soul tribe!

Although the magic of the Nether Soul tribe--aside from the introductory Method of Soul Refinement that anyone could learn to boost their soul level and accumulate soul experience at a painfully slow pace--was primarily accessible due to the tribe's unique constitution, making the subsequent arcane skills exclusive to them.

There was no need for competition over it.

Yet, despite this, some stubborn and reckless powerful beings still came to challenge them.

As a result, the Nether Soul tribe suffered heavy losses in [Transcendence] due to repeated battles, causing them to nearly withdraw entirely from the game, leaving only a small number of their kin to create a new race and conduct commercial trades to exchange for resources.

The others in the tribe would only log in when they needed to absorb resources to grow stronger.

The tribe's development primarily relied on expanding and ruling territories in the real world through extraordinary powers.

Edward was able to live a stable life thanks to the protection of the Hall of Valor, and the gods in the temple knew of the flaws in the Nether Soul tribe's arcane skills, so they would not come to contest them.

He never expected that today, another stubborn individual would come looking for trouble.

Moreover...

At least a strong person from their faction would make an appearance; instead, a mere third-class individual dared to come and seek their own demise.

Edward almost laughed in anger.

He quickly activated a golden skill called [Soul Flame] in his palm and struck down.

At the same time, he triggered the seal that he had previously embedded within Sterl.

Sterl also received a prompt that flashed before his eyes--

[You are currently within the residence of another player and have been designated as an intruder. The other party may proactively initiate combat or defense.]

"There's even such a setting?"

He was taken aback for a moment.

Meanwhile, on the front lines of battle, the "Sterl" that Edward should have been able to control was now enveloped in flames, Ignition Flame!

One force was infused with the power of fire, while the other was a clash of dark purple and azure flames infused with star power, culminating in a tremendous explosion!

Edward was astonished to find himself at a distinct advantage!

Sterl found himself wrapped in flames, pushed back to the edge of the circular terrain.

"You can unleash the power of a low-tier legend?"

"Too bad... it means nothing in the face of absolute strength."

Edward sneered.

He felt he had seen through the truth; this third-class individual likely believed himself to be incredibly powerful, able to easily challenge others outside, and had come to the Hall of Valor to seek trouble upon hearing about the arcane skills that could refine the soul.

What he didn't realize was that the so-called geniuses from the outside world meant nothing in the Hall of Valor.

At first, he had thought this was a powerful faction testing them, but in reality, those factions weren't fools; they would have long since known the secrets of the Nether Soul tribe, and having those techniques would be useless to them.

"Tell me, how did you manage to resist my control?"

"Maybe I can make your death a bit more pleasant." Edward, with an expression of certainty, slowly closed the distance.

At this moment, the other apprentices let out a sigh.

They had initially thought that a true expert had come to kill their "master," thinking they might have a chance to escape. Now it seemed utterly impossible.

The disparity in combat power was just too great.

Only Sosia and Sonis looked equally shocked, but as they observed the situation on the battlefield, they wore expressions that suggested they believed victory was assured.

However, as Edward walked closer to the fire-enshrouded Sterl, his expression suddenly changed dramatically!

Swish!!

In an instant, a short blade constructed of azure energy sliced toward his chest and abdomen.

In the blink of an eye, Edward had no time to react further and could only forcibly unleash his soul power.

"Ugh!" He spat out a mouthful of blood.

At the same time, the structure of his body, resembling ink dye, trembled violently, as if on the verge of collapse.

Finally--

A fierce glint flashed in Edward's eyes; his legendary ability had already been activated!

Dark purple soul flames mixed with the molten lava below the circular terrain surged violently, transforming into a massive volcanic structure that erupted wildly!

The flames then scorched the ground, forming dark energy spheres.

The blade in "Sterl's" hand easily severed the flames, splitting them in two. However, he looked at the dark energy spheres with a slightly changed expression.

"Sterl" felt an instinctive fear, as if touching the dark purple energy spheres would bring about a great disaster, yet he still recklessly charged forward.

The blade composed of the Flowing Water Law had now reached Edward.

Swish!

With one slash, it opened a gash in his chest and abdomen!

The damage inflicted by the Law Power instantly left this mid-tier legend severely injured, and he let out a Wail of Anguish, retreating in a panic.

The calm expression he had maintained couldn't hold up any longer, replaced by a frantic urgency as he pushed his legendary ability to its limits!

Edward felt the threat of death!

In an instant, the flames within the volcanic eruption surged again!

The range was so vast that it covered most of the circular terrain, forcing Edward's apprentices to escape in disarray, barely avoiding their master's lethal assault.

After "Sterl" unleashed the blade, he sprinted forward with all his might, but his speed was still not enough, and he became completely enveloped in flames.

The flames were not strong enough to reduce Sterl to ashes, but the dark purple spheres erupted amidst the waves of fire, attaching themselves to Sterl and emitting a strange sizzling sound.

Although "Sterl's" physical body suffered no damage, his forward momentum suddenly halted...

He collapsed to the ground, engulfed by the flames.

In no time, he transformed into a withered shadow.

...

At the same time, prompts flashed before Sterl's eyes.

[Your avatar has suffered a soul attack; current soul power reduced by 10%!]

[Your avatar has suffered a soul attack; current soul power reduced by 25%!]

[Your...]

...

[Your avatar's soul power is exhausted; damage feedback to the main body!]

"Damn!!" Sterl nearly lost his grip on the effects of Shadow Stealth, which reduced his presence!

His head throbbed painfully!

This was an extraordinarily peculiar form of damage; it was previously mentioned that [Transcendence] could lower pain sensitivity.

However, even if Sterl immediately set his pain sensitivity to the lowest level, he still felt as if his eyes were about to burst!

Had it not been for his extensive combat experience, he might have immediately exited the passive state of Shadow Stealth!

At this moment, he growled softly, half-kneeling on the ground with gritted teeth, his whole body twitching!

...

On the other side, on the main battlefield, after the flames burned away, everything turned to nothingness, and Edward walked forward with a particularly grim expression.

"Did you see that? This is the consequence of opposing me!"

Though victorious, he felt no joy whatsoever.

After being severely injured, Edward was forced to activate his legendary ability, [Soul Devourer], his strongest finishing move!

In his view, the powerful third-class player, whose soul strength had been immense, was being gruesomely crushed!

The Fire of Ten Thousand Souls lost another source of nourishment; in fact, it lost a significant one!

He might have to spend another decade or more nurturing this flame to completeness.

What frustrated Edward even more was...

If he could complete the cultivation of the Fire of Ten Thousand Souls and absorb it, he wouldn't need to fear being killed by others in [Transcendence]. He could spare the life of this soul-powered individual and turn him into nourishment for the Fire of Ten Thousand Souls...

As for the others nearby, the apprentices were not surprised at all.

"Sure enough, Edward's legendary ability is too overpowered; even those who were a bit stronger than him have fallen victim before..."

"What a pity, if that last sword strike had been just a little more accurate, it would have been great to kill that guy outright."

They looked as if their souls had been taken from them.

Edward, infuriated, cast a furious glance at his apprentices.

Finally, he picked out another unfortunate soul, grabbing them and hurling them into the molten flames.

"Ugh!"

Accompanied by a short scream, a wisp of green smoke floated up!

Another third-class player, one who could be considered a genius in the outside world, met their end.

Yet Edward still felt uncomfortable all over, his anger simmering.

So he set his sights on the sisters, Sonis and Sosia, and quickly stepped forward.

The other apprentices breathed a sigh of relief, at least for now, they wouldn't be in his crosshairs.

But Edward's expression grew even more irate as he noticed the sisters showed not a shred of fear or panic.

"Who do you think you are..."

His thoughts suddenly paused, and then he felt a sensation of weightlessness, followed by the sight of a headless "corpse."

"This corpse looks just like the bodies of our Nether Soul tribe!"

Then Edward saw that the third-class player he had just killed, who had possessed immense soul power, was slowly retracting a blade that flowed like water.

"Am I dead?" He was momentarily stunned.

In the next second, Edward's final consciousness came to a halt.

He had no idea what was happening, nor did he understand what was occurring to his body.

Finally, Edward "felt" a warmth wash over him.

His consciousness completely dissolved!

However, this powerful figure from the Nether Soul tribe didn't comprehend what had transpired, but his apprentices witnessed everything clearly.

Their master, who was invincible among his peers, had been decapitated in one strike!

At the same time, he was thrown into the Fire of Ten Thousand Souls, becoming nourishment!

The flames surged violently, seemingly having absorbed enough sustenance, bubbling with excitement.

"How is this possible?"

"Is the master really dead??"

"Does that mean we're saved?"

"One strike and he was taken out..."

They looked at Sterl with a mix of awe and respect.

Anyone capable of killing Edward must possess at least mid-tier legendary strength, if not more, and the apprentices stood obediently, waiting for the instructions and arrangements from this powerful individual.

Meanwhile, Sosia and Sonis smiled and took the initiative to walk over to Sterl.