Free Web NovelChapter 177: Chapter 177: Brave
Atop the dark skies of Tempest City, if one looked closely, they would be entranced by the calm and ambient state of the residents as they conducted their activities in a fluid, smooth manner. As all things should be.
But to a more trained gaze, one could see far more.
A red streak cut across the sky like a shooting star through the clouds, creating a mesmerizing sight for all those fortunate enough to witness it.
Inhaling sharply, a faint smile carved across Ulric’s face as he glided smoothly through the sky with the help of his Blood Death Wings.
He took everything in.
Even with all the memories he had of this place, he had almost forgotten how beautiful it was. That was why he loved stepping outside every once in a while to observe its beauty. frёewebnoѵēl.com
Too bad he would be leaving it behind.
But instead of the regret he had anticipated, his blood boiled with exhilaration. He couldn’t wait to explore the endless adventures that awaited beyond.
Besides, he had known this day would come from the moment he began his journey to power. Tempest had always been a brief stop along his path.
Perhaps the reason it meant something to him in the first place was because this was where it all began.
But it didn’t matter now.
Ulric mused as he discarded those thoughts to the back of his mind.
Now was not the time for reminiscing.
Clenching his fists softly, the wind screeched violently at the mere gesture, causing the grin on Ulric’s face to widen.
He could feel it, the overwhelming reserves of strength and energy bubbling within his frame, brought about by his explosive growth in aether energy and the internalization of all the gains from his battle with Artorias.
He was glad to find out he didn’t have to be awake to do all that.
His body had handled it passively.
The thought pleased him as he slowly nodded. It seemed all that time he had been out hadn’t gone to waste.
Apart from his strength growing, he could feel his arts had advanced massively. New applications and battle styles danced before him, almost tempting him to try them out.
Or even better, find another B-rank being and engage in another blood-boiling battle.
But he knew better.
Not every B-rank opponent he would face in the future would be as careless as Artorias or prideful enough to vastly underestimate him.
The only way he had managed to face off against him was by baiting the man into using his Phantom Blades, limiting his strength to roughly two-fifths of his full power.
And even then, he had barely won.
It seemed he still had a long way to go before he could face a regular beginner B-rank being at full strength.
If Artorias were to hear the youth’s thoughts, he would probably spit out another mouthful of blood and die from sheer exasperation.
Just as there were strong D-ranks and weak D-ranks, the same applied to every other rank, especially the higher one advanced.
Becoming an academy instructor at B-rank was not something achieved lightly. It was the result of decades of battle experience and countless honed skills, placing him far above regular B-rank beings.
If put into perspective, it wouldn’t be out of the question for the youth to face a regular B-rank at full strength and probably even emerge victorious with all the monstrous strength and potential he had displayed.
Of course, Ulric didn’t know all this as he delved deeper into his thoughts. The grin on his face widened with every passing second.
Before he finally snapped out of it as a soft chuckle slipped past his lips.
The cool, gentle breeze and the beautiful sight below were almost enough for someone to lose themselves in it all.
Even him. But he couldn’t. At least not for now.
He had a few things to take care of. His eyes narrowed slightly as they fell upon a large building located at the center of the city.
It might have looked unassuming, and if one didn’t look closely, it blended easily into its surroundings.
But Ulric trained his gaze on it.
He could sense the presence of a familiar figure within.
Not wasting another moment, his figure swooped down and landed atop it in a fluid motion before scanning the surroundings.
A surprised glint soon flashed across his eyes.
At first glance, it seemed like a small heavenly garden filled with all sorts of flowers. Each breath he took flooded his nostrils with a pleasant fragrance.
It felt like a serene little haven.
He had a feeling that if one stayed here for a long while and meditated, they would see especially fruitful results.
When he looked closer, his brows arched slightly.
From this place, one could easily monitor everything happening around them.
A perfect spot for someone seeking detachment from worldly affairs while still remaining curious about what transpired beyond.
Still, even with all that, that wasn’t what caught his eye.
At the very center of it all, he could see a single figure lying there.
A stark contrast to everything around her.
While everything was locked in a peaceful and almost ethereal state, the figure was covered in blood.
A little curious, Ulric walked forward.
Before his eyes suddenly widened and a breath slipped past his lips.
"It’s you?" he muttered, more of a statement than a question.
It was the woman from his vision.
Her features were just as dreamlike.
The only difference was that they were tainted by blood.
Her face was eerily pale as blood pooled beneath her.
"This..." Ulric mumbled beneath his breath, a confused look forming across his face.
Had someone been here before him and attacked her?
He mused for a while before shaking the thought away.
It didn’t seem as if she had been attacked.
The blood flowed smoothly from her, oozing from all seven orifices.
A little bizarre. But what Ulric found even stranger was that he couldn’t find a single shred of energy coursing through her veins.
How? It just didn’t make sense.
How had she infiltrated his mind in the first place? The closer he looked, the more tempted he became to assume she was just a regular mortal.
But he could feel something was off about her. He just couldn’t place his finger on it.
That was why he appraised her with his advanced Appraisal.
At first, he didn’t expect to get anything from it. But when the results came, the confusion on his face eased slightly.
"A seer?" he muttered, a little intrigued.
It answered a few questions. Just not why she had appeared in his mental space.
His thoughts were cut short as he felt the figure beneath him slowly move for the first time since he arrived.
Her eyes fluttered rapidly, struggling to open before finally revealing a pair of soft dark eyes.
Elira breathed heavily, trying to smile but failing repeatedly.
"You came..."
"Were you expecting me?"
Ulric’s eyes narrowed.
Before he let out a slow breath.
Of course she was.
Her presence had acted like some sort of beacon. Following it here had felt a little too easy.
A part of her plan all along?
The more he thought about it, the less he liked where this was going.
His thoughts were cut short as a voice suddenly echoed behind him.
"Y-you... don’t you dare hurt my master!"
Turning slowly, his eyes caught sight of a little girl draped in a grey robe, sporting sharp dark eyes.
With an intimidating glint flashing across them that Ulric found a little amusing.
He had already sensed her presence long before he landed atop the building.
He had simply ignored her because he didn’t see her as a threat.
A single glance was enough to reveal her middle E-rank cultivation.
Hearing the words echoed aloud, Elira’s face dropped slightly.
She had known there would be consequences for her actions. Perhaps even death. And she had been ready to face them all.
But her little disciple was different. That was why she had told her to run. The girl was simply too stubborn for her own good.
She didn’t need to wonder where she got that from.
Opening her mouth, she was about to plead with the dark-robed youth to let her go.
But despair sank into her heart as she watched his figure vanish, appearing before the little girl as his voice echoed out.
"Or else... what?"
As the youth’s figure blinked before her, his crimson gaze drilled into her.
Her body couldn’t help but tremble slightly as fear bloomed within her.
Even without him emitting any trace of energy, she had no doubt he could erase her existence with a single flick of his fingers.
She had seen him fight. He was simply too powerful.
But even with all that, she didn’t back down as her fists clenched tightly.
"I’ll grow stronger and hunt you down until I kill you!"
A moment of silence passed before Elira hurriedly muttered,
"Please don’t take anything she says to heart. She is just..."
Before she could finish, she was cut short as the youth suddenly erupted into a fit of laughter.
His menacing bearing crumbled apart as he wheezed lightly.
"Brave."
Catching both figures by surprise. Of all the reactions they had expected, this was the least anticipated.
