Chapter 69 - The Strength Of Lucas

Everyone reached the eighth floor. And Michelle was still asleep. But her scythe had begun to pulse. There was a red pulsing, and black aura covering it. "She is fine. She still has to absorb something from me, and it's something related to the soul. Thus, she can only do this whilst asleep", said Death. Everyone nodded their heads.

The countdown had begun, but this time, they could see the monsters that were there. Lucas used his [Inspect] and looked at the description.

[Advanced Tier Beasts - Orc Eye of Grummsh]

[These orcs have been blessed by the Greater God of the Orcs, Grummsh. They have gained the power to have foresight into the future, and they have increased strength and intellect. Can use All types of magic]

"Well, and here I thought we would not have a hard time again", he thought. "Seems like I have to do something about this", he thought. He wanted to use Copy Style, but he didn't have a good move. He could only use Robert's Third Form. "Hey Death, can you lend yourself for a moment? I think with you, I will be able to pull out something", he said.

"Wield me?", he laughed. "You are not worthy", he said. Lucas frowned, but he didn't lose his nerve. He instead advanced towards Death. "Touch me, and you will crumble to death", he said. Lucas just smiled. He then felt a hand on his chest. "Don't think about it. You know what happens if we forcefully wield him", came Robert's voice.

Lucas just put it to the back of his mind, and he took out his dual blades. BUt then, something came to his mind. He pulled out his other blade, and he used [Inspect] on it.

[King Tier Weapon - Exploding Ice Blade]

[Passive Skill - Able to use the Azure Flame and Flowing-Ice efficiently]

[Active Skill 1 - Azure Flame Strike]

[Create a slash towards your opponent made of the Azure Flame]

[Active Skill 2 - Flowing-Ice Bind]

[Command the Flowing-Ice to bind your enemies. The area of Effect is one hundred meters. Bind effective for ten minutes. Single opponent use lasts for twenty minutes]

[Active Skill 3 - Burn to Cinders]

[Use your Azure Flame to burn the enemies around you. Can be directed in a straight line or an area of effect, depending upon the will of the user. Distance in both instances, five hundred meters]

[Combat Skill - Cryo-Blaze]

[Freeze your opponent with your slash. Then consume the heat of your opponent use that energy to burn]

[Mana Repair - Inject your Mana into the blade to restore Durabilty]

"Maybe I should test this blade out. The last time, I didn't use the attacks", he smiled. He then took the stance of Robert, but then he saw Robert do something else. "if you're going to use that, then try copying this move", he said. Robert knew that something was hidden, but he couldn't exploit it quite well.

"Muramasa Blade: Fifth Form. Katana Shuriken", he said and he did the move. He crouched and he built his Aura, but it wasn't just within his sword. It was all around him. Then, small shurikens began to form made of Aura. He released his sword strike, and a slash was sent spinning. Then, the shurikens embedded itself into the strike, and as a chainsaw, it began to spin.

Lucas was stunned when he saw that. He wanted to use Copy Style, but for that, he needed to learn to materialize his Aura. "Alright, let me use [Mana vision]", he thought as Robert used it once again. He saw the Aura's movements around him. "Maybe, could I make this into something more?", he thought. 

He began to turn the gears in his head, and the timer was up. He didn't use the style yet, as he wasn't familiar. But slowly, he was getting the hang of controlling his Aura. But he still couldn't achieve the proficiency that Robert had. "Let's try this. I think I've got the hang of it", he thought. 

"Everyone stand back. I am going to do something", said Lucas as he took the stance. Robert's eye began to sparkle. He then did the same thing. "Copy Style: First Form. Basics", he muttered as he performed the move repeatedly. Orcs were falling, but he still hadn't got the hang of the technique. He didn't move to the next form, and he was familiarising himself with the movement.

The Orcs were extremely pissed at Lucas. "One puny human thinks he can take all of us out? We, the blessed of Grummsh?", thought every orc. but Lucas was slowly and surely gaining insight into the attack. "Now, to the next form. Second Form: Honing", he smiled. He was honing his attack to the limit he could, and shurikens that were visible to the naked eye began to form. 

"You can do it!", cheered Robert. Only he knew the problems of this attack and the amount it needed. Lucas was still in utter concentration. "I will push it to the extreme", he thought as he felt vibrations around him. "NOW!", he said as he released everything behind him. 

The strike took down all the Orcs in a straight line, mowing through them. Every orc was surprised at the extent of the attack. "If that human is strong, I wonder if we can still call them humans", thought one of the Orcs. "Third Form. Rapid Familiarise", he said as he began to attack every orc, and he stood there. "A One-Man Army?", thought Tobias as he looked at Lucas's back.

"I am a prince of this kingdom. I have to shoulder the responsibility to protect the weak, and for that I need strength", he muttered. There were countless convictions behind his search for strength. For himself, for the people, to protect the people he cared about. But he never once thought of using it for his gain. After that, he began to move to the next form. 

"Fourth Form. Blinding Footwork", he smiled as he began to move. He began to attack every orc, and for each slash, around five orcs fell. He was mowing through them like it was nothing. His movements made it hard for the orcs to hit him, and thus he was sliding. 

"Time to test something out", he thought as he was performing the attack. he activated the [Azure Flame strike], and his Aura changed. It began to glow orange, and the shurikens were glowing orange. He sliced, and the orcs began to burn. The strike was straight, and it had more attack power than before. 

Robert was stunned. "So that is the true form of the blade? He is an awesome blacksmith", he thought. He then took out his katana and looked at it. "Will he be able to forge one for me?', he thought. He remembered the words from the Adventurer's Guild. "The blade chooses its master", he remembered.

Lucas didn't stop his massacre. He felt something grow inside him. The AUra around him was denser than before, and the shurikens were deadlier. "Fifth Form. Devour and Unleash", he muttered as he unleashed the power that was growing within him. That was when Robert saw it.

"Yes! That was what I was talking about. Can you take it higher thought?", he thought in glee. Lucas and his Aura were so dense that everyone felt chills on them. "That much density. Just what kind of Aura does he have?", thought everyone. The slash he unleashed was big, and the shurikens weren't lodged this time. Instead, it circled the strike around, and it was cutting down enemies with no resistance.

"Copy Style: Sixth Form. Insight", he muttered as the Aura around him was pulled in. Everyone was wondering what was happening now. "This must mean that he is going all the way", thought everyone. The Orcs were now mowed down to a very minuscule number. The Aura which was retracted was now forming behind Lucas.

"That!", gasped Lucas as he saw behind Lucas. Countless shurikens were floating behind him. And along with it, needle-like sharp strikes. Lucas was also building a large strike inside the sheath, and it was covered in his Aura. He then activated [Burn To Cinders], and the color change happened once again.

The Aura burst into flames, and within was a dark purple hue. Lucas then looked at the Orcs. "I feel pity, but I just wanted to test it out", he thought as he released everything at them. 

Swoosh! Every attack was sent with precision. Every enemy was slain. And for those that still hadn't reached death, they were burning. And there were screams all around them. The Azure Flames were jumping from one Orc to the next, burning them down. Lucas sheathed his sword back inside, and he was astonished at what he had created.

"This weapon is going to be crucial for my adventures", he thought as he returned to the group. "Thank you, Robert", he said as he passed by. Robert shook his head sideways. "So strong, and yet so humble. He does have the makings of a fine leader. Glad he was here to lead un today", he thought as he looked back.

Then came the Boss round, and this time it was Tobias's turn.. "Hope they are strong", thought Tobias as he wore the gloves and cracked his knuckles.