The Author's Viewpoint-Chapter 84 - Baneth Has Arrived

With both the Fire and Shadow elements now firmly in his grasp, Tave faced a new task and that was shaping his future fighting style.

He had returned to the training room in his home, Relic sword in hand, fully focused on testing a few skills he’d been analyzing and contemplating over the past several days.

The reality was this: although every Gaia Awakener could access a wide range of elemental skills tied to their respective powers, it didn’t mean they could, or should master them all. That approach would be far from efficient.

Elemental skills grew stronger the more they were used, as if each repetition granted them a level-up. This meant that the fewer skills a person relied on, the faster and more effectively they could develop them.

Still, there were exceptions. Some abilities could be unlocked through rare or unique circumstances. Just like how Tave had acquired Sharing Vision due to his deep connection with Fang. But even such special skills required training and repeated use in order to become more refined and eventually evolve further.

Now, with a high affinity for both Shadow and Fire, Tave had to decide on a skill set that complemented his strengths, particularly his powerful Soul Fire element, his excellent sigil for invisibility and stealth attacks, and his growing command over the shadows.

His Relic sword, from what he currently understood, leaned more towards regeneration effects, something the Spirit had hinted at. That said, in time, Tave knew he would likely unlock deeper layers of the Spirit’s abilities.

Tave swiftly formed a sequence of hand seals, and in an instant, a series of notifications appeared before his eyes.

[ Ignition Fang activated ]

[ A precise, fire-laced melee strike that ignites the target for 2 seconds. ]

[ Searstrike activated ]

[ Basic weapon swing enhanced by fire, increases cutting power. ]

His sword immediately flared to life, glowing with a molten, radiant heat.

If he wanted to optimize the power of the Fire element, the best approach would be to use it as a passive enhancement, infusing his strikes with elemental force. This method would deliver more consistent damage while also conserving stamina.

After all, Tave had already planned for his ultimate skill to revolve around his Soul Fire, a force he intended to wield with increasing mastery over time.

He slashed forward, and a quick burst of flame and a red-orange shimmer of heat burst in the air upon impact.

He could feel it. His slashes moved faster, hit harder, and his movements grew lighter. He was truly experiencing the combined force of Fire and Shadow within each strike.

He continued executing battle movements with his sword, channeling everything stored within his muscle memory. Every drill, every routine honed by the original Tave throughout his lifetime. It all felt instinctive now, especially with the surge of power flowing through him.

His body moved with ease, slashing through the air as if weightless, leaving a vivid trail of fire in the wake of every motion. It felt overwhelmingly powerful, especially when he leapt and struck mid-air, then shifted his stance again, adjusting his footing with seamless precision.

Then, in a single fluid motion, his body vanished in a blink.

[ Flicker Step activate ]

[ A short-distance dash that leaves behind a fading shadow afterimage. ]

He reappeared a short distance away, cutting through the air once more before landing and holding his position in silence.

Enhanced damage, heightened mobility, surprise strikes, stealth techniques. He had every skill required to become a deadly assassin. All he needed now was to continue mastering more of these skills in the days ahead.

[ Veil Lash ]

[ A flick of shadow lashes out like a whip, causing light damage. ]

From Tave’s left hand, something emerged, like a tendril of shadow, stretching downward like a whip that slithered across the ground.

Yes, the damage it dealt was relatively light. But the true purpose behind its use went far beyond mere harm.

He lashed the shadow whip through the air. In the chaos of a real battle, it would be almost invisible. Its dark form faint and soundless, slipping through the air without a trace.

The real intent behind this skill was disruption. If aimed correctly, it could interrupt an enemy mid-casting. With its elusive form and just enough sting, it could sabotage someone’s hand seal movements upon contact. This was the essence of Veil Lash. A silent, precise strike that broke focus without needing to overpower.

And in time, its damage would surely grow stronger. Which meant the sooner he began refining it, the deadlier it would become in the future.

Tave fell still, drawing in a deep breath after hours of relentless training. How long had it been? Three hours had slipped by unnoticed, and he had been completely immersed in it all.

He knew it was time. He had to start hunting again, or set out on another Rift Expedition to push himself even further. No matter how intense or focused his solo training was, it could only take him so far.

He stood silently for a moment, then raised his left hand and formed hand seals. From between his thumb and index finger, a flickering black flame appeared. Small, but undeniably dark.

He watched it closely.

There was only one way to strengthen this flame: it had to burn souls. That was the single, absolute method. The more souls consumed by this fire, the stronger it would become.

In other words, the more he killed with this flame, the more ravenous it would grow, and in turn, the more powerful it would become.

At least in this current phase, it would be most effective if he used small, precise bursts of the flame to finish off his targets.

He exhaled slowly.

That was enough for today.

The sun was already high, and today, someone important was expected to arrive in Deadbay City. Tave gave a quiet nod to himself. The Princess of the Dissidia Kingdom. A young girl with an Echo of terrifying strength, despite still being in her teenage years.

***

Some time later, Tave stood among the ranks of knights gathered in front of the grand city hall as a procession of carriages made its way through the city, welcomed by the gathered citizens lining the streets.

The procession advanced steadily until it entered the town hall courtyard, where the city lord, Viscount Sean, and his two children, Orion and Oriana, stood waiting to receive them.

From his position further back in the formation, Tave observed everything with sharp attention. There was one thing he was particularly curious about: just how "bad" the Princess of Dissidia would be. The one who was terrifying both in temperament and power, truly be in person?

Yes... bad. Tave let out a slow breath.

Because this princess was anything but the graceful, dignified royalty who carried an air of command and elegance wherever she walked. No...

Then the carriage door opened. A girl stepped down, clad in crimson armor, with short, white shoulder-length hair catching the light as she descended.

Viscount Sean and his children stepped forward in welcome, but the princess didn’t even spare them a glance. Her gaze turned elsewhere.

"Have you prepared everything? I won’t be staying long. I don’t have time to waste," the princess said coldly.

This was Princess Baneth. And her level?

A Gaia Master? That would hardly be considered special.

A Gaia Grand Master? Certainly impressive... but this girl stood far beyond even that.

Yes, she was already in the level 50s, qualifying her as a Gaia Champion. At just eighteen years old.

And her Echo? A fucking terrifying Skeletal Dragon. A monstrous, winged beast so massive it could easily incinerate an entire city if she willed it. A dragon like that didn’t just look fearsome. It was a living weapon of destruction.

No wonder she had reached such a high level at such a young age.

Tave exhaled slowly, his gaze still fixed on her figure.

He couldn’t help but wonder, what exactly was this princess planning to do here this time?