Reborn as an Extra Chapter 586: It’s My ’Path’! Rio Vs Raika. Part-2.
Previously on Reborn as an Extra...
Rio's sword clashed against Raika's fist countless times in rapid succession, the two fighters darting across the terrain at blistering velocities.
In one instant, their skirmish raged beside the damaged cage, and the next, they had surged tens of kilometers distant, unleashing a barrage of diverse techniques and abilities upon one another!
Their ferocious clash and the ensuing uproar drew in hordes of altered creatures, yet the majority fell victim to the chaos and perished immediately.
A handful of formidable beasts and malevolent entities endured briefly, only to serve as shields against incoming strikes.
Around the fractured enclosure, the earth within scores of kilometers lay in ruins, scarred by enormous rifts in space from their confrontation, while the hardened crystalline miasma coating the surface splintered across the landscape!
It felt as if apocalypse had descended; the heavens tore open, the weave of space and time fractured like brittle panes, and the terrain split and fissured in numerous spots!
"You're not grasping it yet, but I'm certain you'll comprehend it all eventually! Rio!"
From the instant Rio adjusted to the onslaught and began countering Raika's moves, realizing the foe was merely a 'Projection,' their duel settled into a deadlock.
Rather than seeking to obliterate the projection outright, Rio shifted to unwavering defense.
His focus lay in evading injury and preserving his mana reserves as much as feasible, all while stalling for time.
The core purpose remained to occupy Raika fully, preventing any advance toward Ellie.
Furthermore, Rio's primary goal at present was to reclaim Liam's soul by whatever means necessary.
Yet achieving that proved exceedingly challenging.
Similar to Raika's form being a mere projection, the lyre itself was also illusory!
Multiple attempts by Rio failed to demolish or fracture the relic to free the soul trapped within, as it vanished and reformed alongside Raika each time.
"Cease your chatter. Your words mean nothing to me. Hand over Liam and vanish..."
In his typical flat voice, Rio lifted his blade high over his shoulder, then brought it slashing down.
Having battled for hours on end, Rio had grown accustomed to Raika's style, even devising a potent technique tailored to neutralize 'Projections'—something previously beyond his reach.
Rio's 'sword intent' possesses the capacity to interfere with and disturb the application of worldly 'laws' and 'phenomena.'
As an intensely aggressive force, Sword Intent disrupts natural elements and myriad occurrences through its assaultive nature.
By detecting the link between the projection's originator and severing it via disturbance of the surrounding 'laws' and natural phenomena, Rio dismantled the connection in a targeted zone.
Initially, the technique drained an enormous quantity of mana, yet through repeated applications, Rio honed his expertise, slashing the expenditure to a remarkably minimal degree!
As Rio's blade sliced through vacant space, Raika's figure fractured and disintegrated instantly.
Operating through the world's 'laws,' this ability functioned effectively without requiring physical contact upon Raika.
"How often do you plan to deploy that against me! It's pointless!"
Though the prior projection crumbled, a fresh one materialized without delay, entirely unhindered!
'The sheer volume of power at their disposal... This grows increasingly irritating...'
For the first time, such frustration toward an adversary gripped Rio.
Raika exhibited relentless tenacity and virtual indestructibility!
The entity sustaining this projection appeared to command boundless reserves, regenerating Raika flawlessly no matter how often Rio demolished him, as though no setback had occurred.
Beyond mere vexation, Raika boasted immense strength!
Despite the prolonged hours of unrelenting combat, he remained unscathed, his injuries mending near-instantaneously with every blow, unlike Rio's predicament.
Wounds now marred Rio's form entirely.
Beyond the initial devastating strike that pierced his abdomen, Rio endured various elemental assaults as well.
As he smeared away the blood from his partially scorched visage, Rio channeled restorative elemental energies throughout his frame.
'Healing spells aren't my forte... Perhaps I should seek guidance from Riya upon my return...'
Fortuitously, Rio donned a legendary shadow robe, which had prevented defeat from mounting injuries; otherwise, retreat and mission forfeiture might have been inevitable.
"Surely you realize you can't endure much longer against me like this, don't you?... hehe~ Heed my counsel, Rio: join me as an ally and embrace the 'Path' I'm offering!"
"Embrace becoming a 'Hero'! Where's the harm in that!? Why refuse to see reason!? Why cling so fiercely to your foolish, aimless 'Path' of mere 'Ordinary' existence!?"
Meeting Raika's gaze directly after those declarations, a faint grin curved Rio's lips.
"None but I may deem my 'Path' foolish; no one else holds the right to judge it..."
Rio recognized his nature suited a tranquil existence far better.
He lacked the makings of an impassive instrument of devastation, wielding uncontrollable might and ruinous potential.
Yearning for normalcy, Rio pursued the 'Path' guiding him toward a contented, everyday life.
Yet Raika sought to alter this course, urging Rio to forsake his aspirations for joy and instead tread the 'Path' of a 'Hero.'
Should Rio yield, he'd forfeit his humanity foremost, lose his bond with Lia, and devolve into a puppet safeguarding mankind at any cost, even slaying kin.
Rio rejected such a fate utterly; he desired no part of it.
Dispersing the miasma, scant mana within the spirit realm surged toward Rio with tremendous velocity, bolstering his strength immensely!
In mere seconds, Rio's mana reserves brimmed to capacity, and his injuries mended completely!
Shock widened Raika's eyes as he detected Rio's aura surging denser and more potent in that fleeting moment.
"B-bullsh*t!! How can that be!?"
Rather than deterring Rio from his 'Path,' Raika's exhortations produced the inverse effect!
They propelled Rio deeper along his chosen route, illuminating its essence more profoundly and granting a surge of newfound vigor!
"Such unyielding resolve!!"
Teeth clenched in fury, Raika extended a finger skyward and declared.
"I'll eradicate that obstinacy from your thoughts! Don't imagine I'll release you lightly!"
"Every bone in your frame will shatter under my hand! I'll dismantle you! I'll torment you until you plead for reprieve!"
Above Raika's digit, a colossal violet sphere materialized, spinning with ferocious velocity, warping the very fabric of space-time merely by its emergence.
"YOU SHALL LEARN THE CONSEQUENCES OF CHALLENGING MY DECREE!!!"
Drawing a steady breath upon touching down, Rio assumed his battle posture.
His gaze held no trace of feeling, mirroring his impassive expression, as profound serenity and concentration enveloped him then.
The enhancement from the world's 'laws' dispelled all Rio's apprehensions, instilling genuine 'calm' and 'detachment' within.
At last, his sword intent mastery surpassed 99 percent, climbing to 99.99%, drawing him nearer to flawless command of 'Perfect Sword Intent.'
Rio understood that feats once impossible now lay within grasp.
Through endless drills, he had forged the tiniest intermediate-grade miasmic crystal previously.
Yet the situation had evolved dramatically.
Rio's command of miasma and grasp of sword intent ascended to unprecedented heights.
Beyond 99 percent proficiency, each 0.1 percent gain marked a breakthrough realm.
Such increments yielded potency akin to 75 percent advancement in a legendary technique.
Rio attained the pinnacle outright.
His insight into sword intent delved profoundly, nearly attaining 'Perfect Sword Intent' in that instant.
Armed with this might, though merely an intermediate S-ranker, Rio forged a high-grade miasmic crystal right there.
Aiming his blade's point heavenward, he formed the high-grade miasma crystal instantaneously.
"Should this fail, defeat is mine..."
Simultaneously, Rio and Raika unleashed their assaults, the forces smashing together with ferocious momentum!!