Awakened Talent: 10,000 Exp Converter!-Chapter 222: Aevara’s Ability

"Cringe."

Wufang frowned, his expression a mix of confusion and irritation. "C-Cringe? What the hell do you mean by that?! Are you insane?!"

Vincent only smirked in response, which only served to fuel Wufang's growing fury.

The blatant mockery in Vincent's actions pushed Wufang's anger to new heights. He had already envisioned the best possible outcome of this encounter, but here he was, facing a so-called 'Divine Lord' who was clearly nothing more than a human with the meager strength of a Tier 2 (1★) Origin Warrior.

How could a mere phantolisk, a relic of the past, mistake an Origin Warrior like him—a being of the present—for a 'Divine Lord'? The thought was absurd, and it infuriated him.

With a deafening roar that shook the very foundations of the Veliwood Forest, Wufang unleashed his rage. A fierce wind erupted from his body, sweeping in all directions and uprooting the surrounding foliage.

Yet, despite the chaos, Vincent remained unmoved, his calm demeanor unshaken.

Wufang's figure blurred as he vanished from his position, only to reappear behind Vincent in the blink of an eye. His sharp claws glowed with a menacing azure light, charged with potent Origin Energy.

"Die, Divine Lord!" Wufang growled, his voice hoarse and dripping with mockery as he swung his deadly claws toward Vincent's neck.

At that moment, it seemed as though Vincent was still unaware of the danger. His gaze remained fixed on the spot where Wufang had stood just moments before.

However, to everyone's surprise, Aevara had managed to track Wufang's lightning-fast movement.

"Divine Lord!" she cried out, her voice filled with urgency.

Wufang's eyes flickered toward Aevara for a brief moment, a hint of surprise crossing his face, but he quickly refocused on Vincent, his grin widening as his claws closed in.

Just as the gleaming claws were about to tear through Vincent's neck, Aevara's white hair suddenly emitted a brilliant light. An invisible force radiated from her, spreading five meters in every direction. In that instant, time itself seemed to slow to a crawl.

Without hesitation, Aevara rushed forward and pushed Vincent out of harm's way.

But her heroic act came at a cost. As time resumed its normal flow and the light barrier dissipated, Aevara found herself directly in the path of Wufang's deadly assault.

Wufang's grin remained, but his eyes widened in confusion. The human he had been targeting just a second ago had been replaced by the young phantolisk who had stolen the White Temporalis.

He couldn't comprehend what had just happened, but it was too late to stop his attack. His claws continued their deadly trajectory, now aimed at Aevara.

Aevara realized her predicament too late. She closed her eyes, bracing herself for the inevitable.

'It doesn't matter! I saved the Divine Lord. Grandmother will be proud of me, even if I die here,' she thought, her heart heavy but resolute.

But the pain she expected never came. Confused, she opened her eyes and lifted her head.

A shadow loomed over her, and she instantly recognized the figure standing protectively in front of her.

"Divine Lord?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

Vincent glanced over his shoulder, his expression calm yet gentle.

"Are you alright?" he asked softly.

Aevara blinked, still dazed.

"I-I'm alright, Divine Lord," she replied, though her mind was racing.

She couldn't understand how the Divine Lord was now standing in front of her when she had clearly just saved him from Wufang's surprise attack.

Her confusion only deepened as she took in the scene before her. Vincent's left arm was now encased in a shimmering silver metal, effortlessly gripping Wufang's sharp claws. The deadly claws, which should have torn through flesh and bone, were unable to pierce Vincent's defense.

Wufang's shock was palpable.

"How...?" he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

Just moments ago, he had been targeting Vincent. Then, in the blink of an eye, his target had switched to the young phantolisk. And now, the human he thought he had lost had reappeared, blocking his attack barehanded.

Vincent remained calm, his expression unreadable. He made no effort to explain the situation to Wufang, nor did he show any sign of surprise or confusion. He had been fully aware of everything from the start.

From the moment Wufang had appeared behind him, Vincent had sensed his presence. He could have easily dodged the attack or even struck first if he had wanted to. But he had chosen to wait, curious about Aevara's abilities.

Before leaving, Tayma had briefed him on Aevara's true identity, and Vincent had been eager to see her skills in action. He had decided to observe rather than intervene.

All he remembered was seeing Aevara's hair glow before his senses momentarily faded. When his awareness returned, Aevara was standing in his place, directly in the path of Wufang's attack.

'So, it was like that...' Vincent thought, a hint of admiration in his mind.

If his assumption was correct, Aevara had used a legitimate time-stop ability. Although it had lasted only a second, it was a genuine manipulation of time—a skill that defied the universal laws.

The implications were staggering. If he could acquire such a skill and refine it to a higher level, his strength would increase exponentially. No, he would become far stronger than he already was.

A skill that could stop time? Just imagining the possibilities sent a thrill through him. With such an ability, he could stand among the strongest Origin Warriors in Astralis, surpassing even the most seasoned veterans and prodigies.

Recalling Tayma's words, Vincent felt a renewed determination to complete his mission and free the Phantolisk from their endless suffering.

But for now, he pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the situation at hand.

"Fuck! Let go of my hand, you scum human!" Wufang roared, his face twisted in fury as he struggled to break free from Vincent's iron grip.

Instead of complying, Vincent smirked and covered his nose with his free hand.

"What did you eat? Your breath stinks, man," he said, his tone dripping with mockery.

Wufang's eyes widened in disbelief before his expression darkened.

"W-What did you just say?!" he growled, veins bulging on his forehead. "Say it again, I dare you!"

Vincent's smirk deepened as he pinched his nose, even though it was partially obscured by his broken Shifting Visage Mask.

"I said stop talking; your breath stinks," he repeated, his voice barely audible but laced with amusement.

Wufang's rage reached a boiling point. Even if he didn't fully understand Vincent's words, the mockery was unmistakable.

With a guttural roar, Wufang raised his left arm, his muscles bulging with raw power as his claws glowed with azure energy.

"I will kill you!" he snarled, thrusting his claws toward Vincent with lethal intent.

But before his attack could land, a sudden, overwhelming force slammed into him. The impact was so powerful that it felt as though his insides were being crushed. His eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as he was sent flying backward.

Bang!

Under the watchful eyes of the Puparans and Wolfarans, who had just risen from the ground, Wufang was hurled dozens of meters away. His body crashed through tree after tree, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake.