The One Branch of The Tree

I looked at Seraphiel seriously. Doesn't this man have any other hobbies? No meetings? No heavenly documents? No holidays? Apparently not. 

Seraphiel stood before the ancient altar, her expression as impassive as ever, her white robes moving gently in the chilly breeze of the ruins. Her oppressive aura filled the entire room, overwhelming, but unlike before, this time I didn't immediately feel despair. 

Still scared? Sure, I didn't want to kill myself, but I was also much stronger now, and more importantly, I wasn't alone. Mira technically stood behind me, her staff raised, and a healing aura began to flow. Good, a useful healer had been acquired. Seraphiel glanced at Mira briefly but disinterestedly, rude but understandable, her focus returning to me.

“Last time you got away by luck,” he said.

I spun the sword in my hand.

“And a little illegal explosion.”

Correction is important Seraphiel ignored my sarcasm as expected, it felt bland as she stepped down from the altar.

"Stop fighting." he said.

“That fragment was not supposed to be inherited by humans.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“Then the god who gave it to me must have a bad sense of humor.”

For a split second, I saw a small change in Seraphiel's eyes, a reaction. Interesting, even a small reaction, she knew something. Good, I caught that.

“So it’s true,” I said quietly.

"My class is not a coincidence."

Seraphiel didn't answer, the silence was also an answer Mira whispered from behind.

“Cancer…”

“Yes?”

“I really don't like this situation.”

“Trust me, me too.”

Building bonds through shared dangers. 

Seraphiel raised her sword of light, golden mana filled the room, a mental warning sounded of danger, I immediately activated Root Domain. 

The roots all over the room moved around me in a defensive formation, Seraphiel attacked quickly, so fast I almost saw the afterimage.

CLANG!

Our swords collided, the impact hitting my arm, but this time I held on and didn't fly away. Good, I grinned slightly as Seraphiel noticed.

“You are growing.”

"Thank You."

“Intensive training trauma is very effective.”

I pushed back the flowing mana, Corrupted Burst activated, a greenish-black aura exploded from my sword, Seraphiel took a half step back. Another attack, I attacked in a barrage.

Slash.

Seraphiel's diagonal thrusts block everything so efficiently, it's really annoying.

CLANG. CLANG. CLANG.

Still having ridiculous skills, but this time at least I could keep up with the pace for the most part. Mira raised her staff, a white magic circle appearing, and a magic buff appeared. Oh? Interesting, a light enveloped my body.

A small notification appears.

Buff received:

Holy Reinforcement

Strength +

Agility +

Mana recovery +

Oh, this is great, this is great! I immediately felt lighter, my movements quicker, my reactions sharper. I glanced at Mira.

“Now you are useful.”

“Focus!”

I shot forward my speed increased drastically, Seraphiel blocked but her expression changed slightly finally the minor inconvenience had been resolved. 

I utilized the Root Snare opener, roots emerged from under the altar wrapping around one of Seraphiel's legs for just a split second but it was enough, I slashed horizontally.

SHRAK!

My sword hit the side of his shoulder armor, a scratch appeared and a thin layer of blood appeared, I froze for a moment. Did I just... 

Yes, I can, I managed to injure the Executor of minor but highly emotional damage. Seraphiel looked at the small wound on his shoulder, her golden gaze returning to me this time different, sharper, a little more serious. Good, Promotion unlocked: taken seriously by divine matters.

“Impressive,” he said dryly.

I smile.

"Thank You."

Then his expression turned cold. Oh no, this second round was really bad, the wings of light behind him opened fully and a golden aura exploded out.

BOOM.

I was pushed back a few steps, the pressure increased many times over, the room shook, cracks appeared on the altar floor.

A notification appears.

Warning.

High-output mode detected.

Of course the second round with the Boss. 

Seraphiel raised her hand dozens of light swords appeared floating in the air, I looked up.

“No.” Not at all. 

He swung his hand all the swords shot towards me, I activated Root Domain to the maximum the roots formed a wall.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The roots exploded one by one, I blocked several attacks but one sword pierced my shoulder.

“GHK!” It hurt, it was sharp and it was very harsh. 

I drew the lightsaber and stepped back, blood gushing out. Mira immediately cast a white light healing spell, enveloping the wound, reducing the pain. Seraphiel glanced at us, frowning slightly.

"Work together," he said.

As if the concept was foreign to him, I smiled faintly.

“Yes.”

“A friend who doesn't try to kill me is quite helpful.”

Verbal critical damage had no visible reaction which was disappointing but that was when the World Thorn Sword in my hand started to vibrate more strongly than before. 

The blade glowed a bright dark green as if reacting to the altar, I looked over at the altar behind Seraphiel as it also lit up ancient symbols appeared.

A new notification appears.

Fragment synchronization available.

Secondary fragment detected.

My eyes widened. Wait, a second fragment? On the altar? Wow, wow, wow. 

The stolen goods were visible, I looked at Seraphiel then at the altar then back to Seraphiel, now it all made sense she wasn't just hunting me, she was also guarding the fragment. Interesting, very interesting my smile widened.

“Now I understand.”

Seraphiel narrowed her eyes.

“You are not the main star,” I said.

“You're just getting in my way.”

The aura in the room felt frozen, Mira behind me looked worried or more precisely concerned, because my smile now was probably psychologically unhealthy. 

I gripped my sword tighter as the mana swirled wildly, Root Domain fully activated, and the roots throughout the ruins began to move. A second round? No, this had just turned into a robbery.

[END CHAPTER 24]