Free Web NovelChapter 272: Chapter 260: Oath Guardian
The instant the golden text appeared, a searing torrent, entirely different from[Lonely Barrier], swept through Roland’s entire body.
This wasn’t the tempered toughness of forged steel, but a seething that originated from the very core of his soul.
It felt as if unseen contractual Runes were being inscribed upon his heart. A molten draught of scalding oaths surged through his veins, finally settling into a heavy, unshakable sense of responsibility and Power.
He felt his Spiritual Perception being invisibly stretched and extended, as if he had cast an unseen web into the void, its core nodes representing those he truly wished to protect.
Although the web was still empty for now, its very structure held the potential to tear through space itself.
’Ignore spatial barriers... at the cost of burning oneself... precisely parry a fatal blow... mandatory knockback and stun...’
Connecting this to the strange sensation in his body, Roland mulled over every word and phrase of the Trait’s description.
With every part he understood, the shock in his heart deepened.
He unconsciously held his breath, his pupils constricting sharply in a mixture of horror and ecstasy.
’This is... a miracle that defies all common sense!’
Ordinary defenders, no matter how sturdy their Shield or how resilient their Magic Shield, shared one fatal limitation.
Distance and reaction speed.
You can only protect those near you, within your line of sight, and only if you have time to react.
If the person they were protecting was attacked from a distance, or if the attack came from an unpredictable angle, a defender was often powerless, able to do nothing but watch the tragedy unfold.
Even a High Tier Space Mage would need Casting time, precise targeting, and a massive amount of Magic Power to teleport. Faced with a fatal attack that could change in a split second, a deadly delay would still exist.
But [Oath Guardian] was completely different.
It bypassed all physical and Magic limitations. When its prerequisite conditions were met—that is, when a designated person to be protected suffered a fatal blow within his Spiritual Perception range—the Trait would automatically activate at a speed faster than thought.
It required no Spell, no hand signs, not even a conscious command from Roland.
The will to protect would, in and of itself, forcibly distort space, instantly "pulling" him in front of the person he was guarding.
This reaction speed was so fast, it was as if time itself had been folded.
So fast that Roland’s protection would be in place before an enemy’s blade or a spell of Destruction had even finished its descent.
However, the Trait’s power extended far beyond just that.
The Spiritual Shock generated after a successful block could not only resolve the immediate crisis but could also instantly turn the tide of battle.
Imagine an enemy, certain their killing blow would land, only to have it mercilessly shattered by his defense. In that instant, what would greet them was not retreat, but a shockwave of will originating from the depths of the soul.
Those with a weak will would likely be stunned senseless or paralyzed by Fear.
Even the strong, caught off guard, would inevitably be knocked back, stumble off-balance, or even be disarmed.
More importantly, its effect was area-of-effect.
All accomplices with malicious intent near the attacker would be caught off guard and swept into this Storm, instantly suffering from negative effects like Chaos or paralysis.
’What did this mean?’
’It meant that Roland could not only save a companion from certain death, but could also instantly create a golden window of opportunity for the entire, nearly-decimated squad to launch a desperate counterattack.’
It would grant the person he was protecting and their teammates—all of whom had been in a hopeless situation—a precious moment of respite to regroup or even launch a counterattack.
’Area-of-effect crowd control... a willpower-based stun...’
Roland took a deep breath, his chest heaving with excitement.
’This ability is practically a strategic-level turning point on the battlefield.’
It granted a defender an unprecedented level of initiative, elevating the act of protecting from passive endurance into a form of deterrence and crowd control capable of dominating the rhythm of a localized conflict.
Unlike the reserved, resilient, and earth-like stability of [Lonely Barrier]’s personal defense, [Oath Guardian] was the most fiery and ultimate expression of the will to protect.
It transformed an oath of protection into a space-transcending miracle, elevating a defensive moment into a clarion call that could reverse the tide of battle.
Though the cost was immense, each activation was enough to rewrite the line between life and death and reshape the entire battlefield.
’The Traits granted by my [Apprentice Knight] Profession leaned toward group buffs. I had assumed the Extraordinary Profession, [Knight], would continue in that vein, but I never expected this...’
Feeling the Power surging through his body, born from his oath, Roland watched the text before him slowly fade and clenched his fists.
’I can’t believe what I ended up with is a Trait this powerful, one that so perfectly embodies individual will!’
’Even though both [Lonely Barrier] and [Oath Guardian] are defensive in nature, their incredible capabilities grant them tactical value far beyond simple defense. And that’s not to mention...’
Roland’s gaze slowly drifted upward, landing on the numbers in his Attributes panel.
’With the Attribute Bonus from becoming a [Knight], my Power and Agility Attributes are both approaching the fifty-point mark...’
After taking a deep breath to carefully perceive the changes in his body, Roland opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them.
’Right now, my raw physical strength should be comparable to an ordinary Extraordinary Professional like Reggie, but my overall combat strength is definitely far greater than his!’
’Even before I became a [Knight], I was able to defeat Van Buren by relying on the bonuses from my various Traits and Skills. So, the me of today...’
Feeling the immense Power surging through his body, the corners of Roland’s mouth lifted into a slight smile.
But a moment later, the world-shattering image of Graham surfaced in his mind, instantly crushing the faint stirrings of pride in his heart.
’There are vast gulfs between Extraordinary Professionals. The difference... it’s like that between the heavens and the earth...’
Recalling the terrifying scene of the Witch Demon fighting against numerous Extraordinary Professionals from the River Domain, Roland took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed his inner turmoil.
’The appearance of a High Tier Spellcaster means that, under the influence of the recovering Magic Elements, this world is uncontrollably hurtling in an unknown direction.’
’The future will undoubtedly see the emergence of even more powerful and bizarre Transcendents, including those from mysterious Professions long thought lost after the Year of the End.’
’Therefore, to face the dangers that may arise in the future, I cannot afford to slack off for even a moment on the path to increasing my strength.’
He shook his head slightly, but as his gaze inadvertently fell upon the number next to his Spiritual Attribute, his eyebrows twitched, and he let out a soft gasp.
The Spiritual Attribute, which had previously lagged somewhat behind his Power and Agility, had now pulled noticeably ahead of them, reaching an astonishing forty-eight points.
’This is...’
The situation had been dire. The city’s collapse immediately following the Witch Demon’s defeat had left Roland no time to examine the various changes in his body.
Now that he finally had a moment to spare, the scene of his battle against the Witch Demon surfaced clearly in his mind.
And with it came that peculiar sense of lucid emptiness from the depths of his consciousness.
’Could it be...’
Roland’s brow twitched, and an irrepressible glint of joy appeared in his eyes.
’The Deep Sea of Consciousness?’
