Chapter 12: Comprehending Temporal Blitz
The chaotic war between puppets raged on as wooden weapons clashed and sturdy bodies collided. White sand, kicked up from their violent movements, formed a hazy curtain of white that shrouded the battlefield.
Inside the wide clearing created by his own army, Ain remained steady, patiently waiting for the Rank-1 puppet to act. He reviewed what he’d just comprehended to further increase his understanding of the Chronarch Precept and Temporal Blitz.
It is impossible to explain color to a blind person. Similarly, he’d found the techniques incomprehensible as he studied them blindly before. The obscure sensation around the puppet upon its mysterious evasion was akin to a beacon of light shining in the darkness. It was a lighthouse guiding his understanding.
If Ain wasn’t caught amidst a precarious battle, he would’ve preferred to devote himself to studying these techniques. However, reality didn’t serve to fulfill his desire.
At this moment, Nox, who had been watching his back, discovered the Rank-1 puppet once again, “Wooo…!”
Ain’s response was quicker than ever before. From past experiences, he expected the puppet to attack from behind. He immediately turned around and executed Temporal Blitz!
A complex spell-rune condensed within his right fist as he punched out. The movements, aether circulation, and spell rune were performed perfectly. He’d done this numerous times before, and his instinctive execution was immaculate. He focused on the obscure sensation that arose upon the technique’s usage as his recent comprehensions flashed past his mind.
“Wooo…?” As he used Temporal Blitz, Nox, clinging to his shoulder, revealed a puzzled expression. Why did he attack? The puppet was still a few meters away…
Its thoughts naturally reached Ain, yet his actions never paused. With the Rank-1 puppet rushing in the distance, his fist struck the air sharply.
Boom!
A dull white shockwave tore through the surroundings, forcing back the white sand floating about. Moreover, to Nox’s astonishment, the shockwave didn’t originate at Ain’s fist. It directly materialized at the Rank-1 puppet’s sculpted torso!
Crack!
With a nasty crack, like music to Ain’s ears, the Rank-1 puppet’s chest caved in, scattering small chunks of dark wood onto the white sand. The puppet’s forward momentum disintegrated, and the thrashing impact pushed it to the ground, motionless.
“Haa…” Ain let out the breath he’d subconsciously held as a smile crept up his face.
Temporal Blitz! He’d finally used Temporal Blitz!
The immense joy in Ain’s heart couldn’t be concealed. This was his own ability! Although he’d used Nox’s Phantom Claws, the sense of accomplishment and pride upon mastering his very own power was magnificent!
Amidst his joy, information emerged within his mind, courtesy of Wisdom Root.
[Quest: Temporal Blitz (Completed)]
[Description: Study and execute Temporal Blitz successfully.]
[Reward: Heavenly Whispers x1]
Ain smile grew, “As expected, the quest is completed. Now, I have two Heavenly Whispers.”
“Wooo…!” Sharing Ain’s emotions, and its own surprise, Nox bounced on his shoulder cheerfully. Mimicking Ain, it patted his cheek with a tiny extension of its body while praising him.
Ain laughed and let it be. He felt satisfied upon receiving his spirit pet’s admiration.
While celebrating internally, his eyes remained on the fallen puppet. He pondered, “Temporal Blitz. Use time to bridge the spatial gap. So that’s how it works.”
The moment he punched out, the impact of the attack vanished, instantly striking the puppet that was a few meters away. This attack bypassed its mysterious evasion ability, inflicting great damage.
“Somehow, the combination of the circulation method, spell rune, and my understanding temporarily linked time at two locations, compressing the space between them. Not only did my attack cross the spatial gap, but it also struck my target instantaneously.” Ain expressed internally. The gleam in his eyes had never vanished.
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“Not only that, but I might’ve also discovered something amazing… The motions have nothing to do with Temporal Blitz… It’s just a mode of offense…” The further he thought, the more excited he became. The window to a brand-new world had opened before him. He wished to contemplate further, see where it would lead him, but he quickly suppressed these thoughts because the previously motionless puppet was now getting back on its feet.
“Just perfect, more practice.” Ain thought. With the increase in power, his confidence had soared. He finally felt himself in control of his own fate.
“Wooo…!” Nox cheered at the same time, asking him to display Temporal Blitz again. The technique’s effects were fascinating to the little Ink Revenant.
As the puppet steadied its posture, Ain once again used Temporal Blitz, consuming a sizable chunk of his aether.
Boom! Crack!
A shockwave descended upon the injured Rank-1 puppet, forcing it back with irresistible power. Its chest exploded into countless pieces as the downpour of wood reappeared. With a shattered chest, its neck was void of support and the puppet’s head helplessly rolled onto the flawless white sand.
Rank-1 puppet, defeated!
Although glad, Ain wasn’t in a hurry to rejoice. He grabbed a wooden chunk at his feet and used Scan.
Information emerged and organized itself in his mind.
[Name: Plundering Rosewood]
[Aspect: Wood]
[Rank: Rank-1]
[Aspect Traces: Wood 82.6 %, Dark 9.4 %, Soul 2.5%, …]
[Description: A small piece of Plundering Rosewood from a destroyed puppet.]
“It’s still Plundering Rosewood but its rank has increased.” Ain noted before glancing at the Puppet Command Token in his left hand. Since he was afforded some time, he used Scan on the wooden sword as well.
[Name: Puppet Command Token]
[Aspect: Aspectless]
[Rank: Rank-1]
[Grade: Normal]
[Aspect Traces: Fire 6.2%, Water 6.0%, Earth 6.1%, ...]
[Description: A trail token that can command 999 Rank-0 puppets and one Rank-1 puppet. Aether can be consumed to replenish Rank-0 puppets in cooperation with the trial mechanism. Rank-1 puppets cannot be replenished. The token’s true abilities have been greatly restricted.]
“It’s not much different from what I already knew but that last part…” Ain mumbled to himself. Was there more to this token’s abilities?
While he pondered, in the distance, Mason was dumbfounded by the feedback he’d just received from his Puppet Command Token. “Destroyed? My Rank-1 puppet was destroyed!? How!?”
He was baffled as he stared at the wooden sword in disbelief. For hours, he’d struggled against Carl’s Rank-1 puppet alongside his spirit pet. Whether it be in close combat or ranged, none of their attacks could even graze the opponent.
How did that kid destroy his puppet?! Taking a step back, how was he still alive in the first place?!
Already in his thirties, Mason was still only a Rank-1 Spirit Master. His innate talent, Poison Resistance, wasn’t noteworthy, and nor was he an extraordinary genius. Most spirit masters, envied by the masses, couldn’t achieve much in their lives, just like him. They stood above countless mortals but still gazed up at the towering geniuses shining brilliantly in the sky.
Upon discovering this secret realm, his heart had leapt out of his chest with excitement. The time aspect was extremely rare in the world. This was known even to a spirit master at the bottom-most rung like him. Because of this, he was even willing to turn against Carl, his decade-long partner.
If Mason could obtain the rewards of this trial, his destiny would be forever changed. But Ain’s unexpected appearance threw a nasty wedge in his fantasies!
Someone who should’ve died was alive right before him. Moreover, in a short time, he’d gone from a weakling that could be easily crushed to someone capable of threatening his life. Thinking back to the ancient stone monument, he realized Ain’s potential. Mason couldn’t fathom the technique etched on the ancient stone monument, yet Ain, a newly awakened spirit master, had condensed an aethercore within hours using the same technique.
The more Mason’s thoughts churned, the more apprehensive he felt, causing restlessness, anxiety, and jealousy to burrow into his heart. Realizing the source of all this, he arrived at a conclusion. This kid had to be erased! He didn’t know how the kid destroyed the Rank-1 puppet, but he had to act now, otherwise, it might be too late!
“Carl! That kid destroyed my puppet!” Mason yelled with aggression.
As expected, the moment the shout reached Carl’s ears, his expression instantly changed. He easily inferred which puppet Mason was referring to, as well as the implications of its destruction. Whatever means the kid used to achieve this could be used against the second Rank-1 puppet as well. At that point, the kid’s Rank-1 puppet would be free to target them, and they could only watch helplessly as their aether was depleted with their backs against a cliff. They’d have no chance at survival.
Amidst the spontaneity of the crowd’s movement, Carl and Mason’s gazes met. Once again, nothing had to be said. They both realized the only choice that could be made. They had to kill the kid personally before the second Rank-1 puppet was destroyed!
Although they’d been standing still, they weren’t brainlessly wasting their time. After their puppet armies began targeting Ain, without the threat of an assassination, the two had begun circulating their meditation techniques furiously to recover their aether against the Puppet Command Token’s consumption. Not only them, even their spirit pets had caught a break and were resting to recover their stamina and aether.
Carl’s gray-furred ferret climbed along his leg before hopping onto his shoulder, displaying its readiness. Similarly, Mason’s green poisonous snake remained coiled around his neck, staring in Ain’s direction venomously.
Altering their approach, Carl and Mason commanded their puppet armies to charge forward in spear-head formations, intent on reaching Ain’s location with minimal resistance before using spells and skills to eliminate him in the shortest time possible.