CHAPTER 308: CHAPTER 308 - THE SKY SPLIT IN SILENCE

Atlas shot forward like a lightning-charged current tearing through the sky, his body gliding as though swimming through air itself. Water aura rippled around him, blending seamlessly with the golden lightning that surged across his armor. His eyes locked sharply on Bai Yun ahead, a faint confident smile curling on his lips.

At the far end of the sky, Bai Yun’s hands moved in a blur once more, forming a rapid sequence of hand seals. His body split again, scattering into multiple identical forms that spread out in a defensive circle around him.

[Unique – Bloodrush Tempest (Active Skill) activated.]

Atlas’s aura flared violently, his entire form igniting with a mix of crimson and gold as the skill’s power coursed through him. His strength, speed, and reflexes spiked in an instant.

Then the sky lit up. From behind Bai Yun, the azure dragon unleashed a devastating barrage. Dozens of blazing magic spheres burst from its mouth, cutting through the clouds and streaking toward Atlas at blinding speed.

Atlas darted through the storm of destruction, his movements sharp and instinctive. He weaved in a perfect zigzag through the explosions, each dodge timed so precisely it seemed almost inhuman.

Lightning flared beneath his feet, guiding his every step through instinct alone, as if his body moved ahead of thought.

Fire and smoke erupted around him, shockwaves shaking the air, but he never slowed. He shot upward, breaking through the explosions, then dove again, twisting his body in a spiraling descent straight toward Bai Yun.

The enemy lord was waiting, his clones forming a wide perimeter while his hands gathered energy for another long-range spell.

Atlas clenched his jaw, his teeth gritting as more lightning gathered around him, sparking and roaring like a storm ready to break loose. His speed spiked once more, the air crackled as he moved faster than thunder itself, closing the distance in a blink.

"You think you’ve won just because you’ve seen the limits of my system ability, Atlas? NO!"

Bai Yun roared, his voice echoing across the battlefield.

His body erupted in bright blue light, enveloped by condensed elemental particles that shimmered like burning stars.

Atlas swung his spear in a sharp, vertical sweep that sliced through the air like a streak of lightning. The strike was so fast that it left a shimmering afterimage behind it, the sound of the wind splitting echoing through the battlefield.

Bai Yun twisted his body, bending backward to evade the blow, but Atlas didn’t stop. In the same motion, he thrust his spear forward with explosive force, piercing straight through one of the clones. The illusion shattered instantly, bursting into shards of blue light.

Then, everything became a blur.

Atlas accelerated, lightning bursting from his body with every movement as he lunged from target to target. Each strike was precise, lethal, like the sting of a lightning bolt that destroyed everything it touched. Every time his spear flashed, another clone dissolved into nothing.

Bai Yun tried to defend, his stance tightening as he called upon his energy to counter, but Atlas’s speed was overwhelming. The clones fell one after another, obliterated by the relentless storm of spear strikes. The sky around them was filled with bursts of gold and blue as lightning erupted with every clash of their power.

Atlas’s eyes blazed with determination, his movements pure instinct. The air trembled around him with the pressure of his aura, golden lightning dancing wildly across the battlefield.

Bai Yun let out a furious roar, his voice blending with the deep, echoing cry of the azure dragon behind him.

Then it happened, their blows collided head-on.

Atlas’s spear met Bai Yun’s fist in a violent crash that split the sky open. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the air, shaking the heavens themselves. Thunder cracked, lightning exploded outward in blinding arcs, and a series of devastating explosions rippled across the clouds, consuming the air around them in a cascade of fire and energy.

The clash of their power sent waves of pressure rolling in every direction, a storm born from two forces refusing to yield.

[Unique – Stormcall Domain (Active Skill) activated.]

In an instant, the skies above darkened once more. Clouds spiraled inward as lightning cracked violently across the heavens, striking around them in blinding flashes.

Bai Yun laughed loudly as he dove downward. "The same trick again and again, Atlas? You’ll never get out of here alive!" he shouted mockingly.

But Atlas didn’t answer. He just surged forward, his speed multiplying with each heartbeat, golden lightning bursting beneath his feet as he chased after Bai Yun.

[Unique – Crimson Reaper’s Descent (Active Skill) activated.]

The air behind him rippled as the Crimson Reaper materialized once again, its shadowy form wreathed in a storm of scarlet energy. It spread its wings and followed Atlas, moving as one with him. Atlas clenched his jaw, lightning crackling over his armor, and pushed harder. Within a heartbeat, he had closed the distance between them.

[Epic – Bloodstorm Thrust (Active Skill) Lv. 1 activated.]

The Wavebreaker Spear ignited, glowing a deep, bloody red as it surged with condensed energy. The weapon crackled violently, merging lightning and blood essence into a single devastating charge.

Atlas thrust it forward, the spear tearing through the air like a cannon of pure destruction, aimed directly at Bai Yun.

Bai Yun reacted instantly, throwing up both hands to conjure his protective barrier. A glowing blue shield of mana formed just in time. But the moment before impact, Atlas’s lips curled into a sharp, knowing smirk.

Instead of colliding, he twisted his wrist mid-attack, redirecting the spear’s path. The weapon veered sharply, flying past Bai Yun’s shoulder and streaking toward the massive azure dragon behind him.

Bai Yun’s expression twisted into panic. "WAIT—NO!" he shouted, diving after the weapon in desperation.

Too late.

The Crimson Reaper’s chain shot forward, wrapping tightly around the dragon’s massive body, holding it in place. The Wavebreaker Spear struck true, driving through the creature’s skull in a burst of red lightning and shattering its head into a spray of light and flame.

The explosion ripped through the air, the sound like thunder splitting the heavens apart.

Atlas spun backward, landing gracefully on a floating platform as he watched the massive creature disintegrate into blue fragments. Above him, the spear twisted midair and arced back down toward him, streaking like a golden comet.

He reached up and caught it cleanly, the weapon crackling as the Crimson Reaper behind him faded away into mist.

Atlas exhaled slowly, eyes narrowing toward Bai Yun, who now hovered alone again in the stormy sky.

One down.

Now it was back to one against.... twelve?

Around Bai Yun, the air shimmered again. His clones reappeared one by one, encircling him like ghostly reflections.

Atlas smirked, lifting his spear.

"Ah, the same trick always ends differently," Atlas said calmly.

But Bai Yun was no longer amused. The playful arrogance that had once colored his expression was gone, replaced by pure fury.

His azure aura flared violently, bursting outward like a raging inferno of blue flame that wrapped around both himself and his remaining clones.

Atlas spun his spear, the weapon humming with energy as he steadied his stance midair. His eyes sharpened, his breathing slowed, and he focused everything. His sight, his hearing, his instincts, into that single moment.

The clones lunged from every direction at once, a blur of motion and violence. Atlas parried the first, his spear spinning in a graceful arc, countering with blinding precision. But Bai Yun’s attacks had grown faster, far faster than before.

The air cracked with each blow, and though Atlas deflected several, more slipped through, each impact shaking his armor.

[Rare – Aqua Rebound (Conditional Passive Skill) triggered.]

A shimmering water clone burst into existence where Atlas had just been struck, mimicking his movements as he darted aside. But before he could catch his breath, more hits followed from every angle.

[Rare – Aqua Rebound (Conditional Passive Skill) triggered.]

[Rare – Aqua Rebound (Conditional Passive Skill) triggered.]

[Rare – Aqua Rebound (Conditional Passive Skill) triggered.]

Each time a blow landed, another water clone materialized. The battlefield became a blur of movement, Bai Yun’s azure clones and Atlas’s water doubles clashing in a chaotic dance of speed and power.

Then, Atlas saw it, the opening he had been waiting for.

[Epic – Bloodstorm Thrust (Active Skill) Lv. 1 activated.]

All of Atlas’ water clones surged forward, their spears glowing red as they struck in perfect unison toward Bai Yun.

"All of your attacks are useless, Atlas!!!" Bai Yun roared.

A massive protective barrier formed vertically before him, stretching wide to cover his entire position.

Every attack from the water clones slammed into it, sparks and energy flaring. But one by one, they were nullified, vanishing into mist as the barrier held firm.

When the last clone faded, then Atlas moved. He broke from the smoke, lightning bursting beneath his feet as he darted in from the blind side. His spear cut a perfect arc through the air, slicing with precision so clean it was almost silent.

A single, flawless strike.

Atlas appeared a few meters beyond his enemy, halting midair. He straightened, gripping his spear before letting it dissolve into light, his breathing calm, his posture composed.

Behind him, Bai Yun’s body froze, still suspended in the air.

Then, in a sudden burst, blood sprayed outward in a violent crimson wave. His head separated cleanly from his shoulders, spinning through the air before falling into the void below.

The once-mighty lord’s body, now lifeless, lost its floating ability and began to plummet.

[You successfully defeated the opposing Lord during the defense.]

[You have earned 15 rank points.]

[Bonus: An additional 10 rank points awarded.]

[You are entitled to claim the opponent’s resources.]