The powerful blue flashes of Melissa's sword energy clashed relentlessly against the starlight that surrounded me. What seemed like fragile starlight—so delicate it could vanish with a touch—perfectly blocked her sharp and swift sword energy.

In a state of pure concentration, I let the starlight scatter around me, my sword movements shielding me from all external threats. What felt like an eternity in my mind had likely only lasted a few seconds in real time.

Even after I stopped my sword movements, the starlight still floated around me.

There was no longer any need to target my opponent directly.

[Sword Barrier Activated]

*Whoosh!*

I swung my sword forcefully. The starlight that had been lingering around me scattered in an instant, spreading outward and slashing everything in its path.

*Boom! Boom! Boom!*

Melissa’s phantom was swept up in the whirlwind of starlight.

---

“Haa…”

I placed my hand over my chest, trying to calm my racing heart.

[Sword Barrier]  

[Invincibility while active (Cooldown: 1 minute)]

[Sword Barrier Activated]  

[Combo after Sword Barrier]  

[Launches a powerful slash within a 30-meter radius centered on the caster]

This was the first invincibility skill granted to swordsmen, and the first area-of-effect skill as well.

It was now clear. The skills that players obtain at the top of the tower—at least for swordsmen—were based on my own techniques.@@novelbin@@

While ranged classes had invincibility skills, melee classes did not. The only invincibility skill for melee classes was the *Backward Evasion*. Skills like *Reversal Strike* couldn't be used without a target, and skills such as the fighter’s *Dragon Fist* or the swordsman’s *Flash Slash* had invincibility frames but were difficult to use effectively due to their short duration and post-action delay.

But the *Sword Barrier* was different.

It could be used without conditions, without a target, while standing still. During activation, all attacks were blocked, and the sword energy used for defense could be released offensively.

A perfect blend of offense and defense.

With Astria Online’s skill system, other players could likely use this skill for temporary invincibility. However, the way I released the sword energy—turning it into a powerful attack—was unique to me. To send out the slash, I had to physically move my sword and leave behind the trajectory of my sword energy.

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