The dilemma of Aspect Affinity was a constant, nagging torment for Nathan. He possessed the very skill every cultivator pursued, yet his Omnipotential Aspect reaped none of the benefits. When he channeled power into his lake of stars to increase Affinity, it dissolved immediately, unable to bolster any single Aspect.

  With [Living Resistor], he had eagerly experimented with the Lightning Aspect first—a venture that ended in the most wasteful expenditure of his life. The other Aspects forbade any single member of their 'community' from gaining an edge, tearing apart any increase in Affinity in an instant.

  The next alternative was Universal Root, which held his highest hopes. But this presented a colossal drawback. Darkan, though distant, had investigated the matter thoroughly: When all the Aspects were illuminated, Nathan was forced to nurture them all. No favoritism, no exceptions. Consequently, the resources required to level up were practically infinite. He could spend a lifetime absorbing mana and essence without ever reaching Tier 3, or even a single new Phase.

  For now, cultivating with pure mana was his most viable path to advancement. In the meantime, he could search for a way to use his Omnipotential Aspect with precision and purpose.

  His most immediate application, however, was to use Aspect Affinity not as a long-term solution, but as a short-term weapon.

  In simple terms, Aspect Affinity acted as an amplifier for a cultivator's inherent Aspect, enhancing their mastery and cultivation. What Nathan had discovered—a path he'd found after ages without a guide—was that he could use Aspect Affinity as a temporary amplifier. Because he could burn it to augment his power, the amplification was even greater, akin to [Amplifying Strike], potentially doubling or tripling an Aspect's might.

  The night the assassin had nearly claimed his life, he had pushed his Shadow Affinity to an extraordinary level by focusing his consumption within his lake of stars.

  Now, he had refined his food, gathering ingredients specifically for the Lightning Aspect.

  Before the watching eyes on the battlefield, Nathan clenched his fist. Lightning coursed through his body, illuminating his veins—a sight reminiscent of consuming the essence water in Moirath Forest. His whole body felt as if it were being set ablaze, but thanks to his Physical Cultivation and [Living Resistor], he remained lucid. To be certain, he even pushed his Berserker state to 33%, sending essence coursing through his body to protect his vital organs.

  A new Nathan on the battlefield made Arthur turn his head, his lips curving into a smile of genuine interest.

  “Now, I truly do not want him to die.”

  “You really wanted him to all along?” Emrys asked.

  “Oh yes, why not?” Arthur said hoarsely. “Universal Root couldn't provide much more help. His value was just a question mark to me. Indeed, he has value to those above. But what I want most is for those above not to get what they want.”

  “We will lose the leverage you always speak of,” Emrys said.

  “The plan seems to need some refinement. They don’t seem like they will give up easily.”

  Elsewhere, Lachlan's gaze snapped to the dazzling blue flashes of light. As they shared the same Aspect, the Major tracked the patterns of Nathan's movements. He smiled, his eyes gleaming with new resolve as the crackling electricity around him roared in response.

  Zeryn laughed aloud at the sight of his friend fighting with such frenzy. The invisible swords around him materialized. Across from him, Dao Intent was similarly unleashed, but in the storm of their collision, only the swords broke past the mana shield.

  Lachlan's soldiers held the line. Their training and experience allowed them to handle a one-on-three ratio, rendering the enemy's numerical advantage less effective. Casualties were unavoidable. Once a shield-bearer fell, those on the flanks had to move to the center to fill the gap, forcing those on the wings to bear a much greater pressure.

  On Maelivar's side, mana barriers were deployed via automated drones. Destroying them was like scooping a drop from the ocean, creating only temporary openings that were difficult to exploit. The former city guards fought with obvious indecisiveness; they hesitated when attacking, formations faltering as they glanced about, clearly fearing flanks or ambushes—a habit likely seared into them by Caelindor's previous operations. What kept them going was their fear of Arthur Merinor, superior technology, and the home-field advantage. Still, it was clear this was not all Maelivar possessed.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  Ruby, nearest to Nathan, narrowed her eyes, her whipsword dancing in a frenzy. Each lash streamed ethereal flame, condensing into dangerous torrents of energy. Laser-like beams shot straight toward the young man in the cage.

  The sight made Ruby gulp.

  Inside the cage, where there seemed to be no room to move, he somehow could not be hit.

  Nathan used every sliver of space and time to maneuver, appearing and disappearing with a speed the naked eye couldn't follow. His entire body had seemingly transformed into a different state of existence, a being between the physical and the metaphysical. The sawtooth blades that lashed out were repelled by his own electrical currents. He was either evading or matching the attacks head-on.

  Explosions and electrical crackles filled the space around them. The temperature became unbearable, forcing the Tier 2 cultivators on both sides further away to avoid the crossfire.

  Ruby gritted her teeth, pouring more power into her attacks, but that only made the cage lose its balance, vibrating on the verge of collapse.

  Inside, Nathan smirked. He could break out, but he was using the situation to grow more familiar with the Lightning Aspect. Moreover, he needed to prolong the fight. He trusted Lachlan had a plan and wasn't just charging in recklessly. The plan was likely dangerous and required meticulous execution, which was why it hadn't been revealed. A Tier 2 Phase 5 holding off a genuine Tier 3 was more than enough. Even if he escaped the cage, he wasn't certain he could defeat Ruby. So, why not exploit her curiosity and anger?

  “Lady Ruby Voss,” Nathan sneered, “how does it feel when a fool holds you back for so long?”

  “You won't be able to talk for much longer!” Ruby snapped, her anger barely concealed behind a calm facade.

  “I doubt that,” Nathan snorted. “Or else, you’d have already used it. Accept it, even your ‘great models’ cannot predict all things.”

  “Don’t flatter yourself, Nathan Reed.”

  “I think I’m quite valuable, don’t you think? Flattering myself is well-deserved.”

  Ruby fell silent, glancing toward the seated Arthur Merinor. The gaunt figure showed no sign of moving, which made her frown. With a sigh, she withdrew her whipsword. The energy around her condensed, and the weapon's vibrations grew more intense.

  Nathan gauged the Aspect Affinity stored in his body. There wasn't much left. The fatal drawback was that his method was only effective for a very short time, especially when burning the engine at full throttle. He needed a gap to eat and recharge, which required the most important thing right now: time for [Digestive Efficiency] to work.

  Lachlan, whatever your move is, now is the time.

  As if in answer to Nathan's plea, Lachlan found his opening. The clouds above once again offered their aid. Massive bolts of lightning descended, striking Lachlan's body. Steam billowed around him. The horrific explosion temporarily deafened everyone; those closer staggered under the immense pressure. The air filled with the smell of burning and ozone.

  A second later, Lachlan swung his arm, hurling a lightning pillar toward the Tier 3 combatant. The Maelivar officer, whose superior armor and weapons had allowed him to hold off the Major until now, visibly panicked at the sight of the divine punishment. His hands and feet moved frantically as his head craned back, body tilting. He froze in place, eyes wide, his mouth forming a desperate scream just as the lightning arrived.

  His entire body was torn apart, regardless of how many layers of mana barriers were protecting him. The attack didn't stop there; Lachlan's lightning pillar shot straight toward Arthur.

  The space around the target warped. The lightning pillar struck an invisible wall, and for a moment, offense and defense clashed in a stalemate. Electric serpents crawled along the defensive layer of the square.

  Emrys Merinor, standing beside Arthur, fell to her knees, her head drenched in sweat. She strained to look up at the descending lightning.

  “Such a powerful strike,” she murmured.

  “Can you hold it, sister?” Arthur asked without turning his head, his gaze fixed on the lightning as if admiring a work of art.

  Emrys stood up, dust swirling around her aura in a large circle that flew outward. She raised her hand.

  The invisible defensive wall expanded. With a sharp motion from Emrys, the heavenly sword of lightning was finally torn apart by an unseen force. The resulting chaos swept the entire battlefield.

  The remnants of Lachlan's attack seeped through every crack in the earth. Soldier's armor flared, operating at full capacity to resist. Drones short-circuited, interrupting Maelivar's defensive walls, and the proud spears overheated.

  More frightening, the Caelindor army was not affected. When the lightning bolts reached them, they welcomed the energy like a gift. They roared like beasts freed from their cages. Their armor grew hot—not with damage, but with transferred energy. They turned their leader's lightning into a powerful attack.

  Paralyzing lightning pulses arced everywhere on the battlefield. Amidst joyous cries from Caelindor's side, the acrid smell of burning gradually mixed with the thick scent of blood. Casualties on the Maelivar side... rose uncontrollably.

  The Maelivar side's non-professional soldiers broke, their numbers dropping from over a thousand to roughly seven hundred. They retreated in a trembling mass as soon as the massive destruction occurred, their eyes wide with fear and fixed on the Major. The comparison that one Tier 3 was worth hundreds of Tier 2s was now clearly displayed—and these were Tier 2s equipped with the nation's best weapons and armor.

  Lachlan floated high above, his head tilting down as his icy gaze swept across the battlefield. He pointed a finger straight at Arthur in provocation.

  Lachlan shot toward his target, slamming into the defensive wall with a boom. It held, forcing the Major to linger outside.

  Arthur sat there, sneering contemptuously.

  “The attack just now must have worn you out.”

  “Still more than enough to play with you all day.” Lachlan laughed loudly.

  Ruby glanced at the other side of the battlefield, scowling. “That bastard Lachlan! He really has to be eliminated first.”

  “The rules of the battlefield: don’t turn your back on the enemy.”

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  Titan's Descendant

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