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DH : [72] Testing
🕑 Added 2024-08-10 16:00:03 +0000 UTCAiden, dressed in his pajamas, entered the training room.
Gazing at the unused target dummy not far away, he concentrated and silently chanted in his mind.
Firestorm.
In the next instant, crimson flames filled Aiden’s vision.
A whirlwind burst forth from in front of him.
No, it was more like a whirlwind of fire.
When the Firestorm struck the target dummy, it didn’t explode immediately but began to spin in place.
The crimson Firestorm tore into the target while also completely incinerating it.
The scorched wooden dummy emitted the smell of charred wood.
"So this is the power of magic? Amazing." Aiden marveled at the might of Firestorm, clenching his open hand tightly.
"Sure, I can destroy the target with a sword too, but this feels entirely different. A ranged attack, with the speed of wind the moment it’s cast, and it’s instant without the need for chanting. Who could dodge this in a fight? Even with my current physique, taking this head-on would result in severe burns. Who could withstand that?" Instinctively, Aiden compared the destructive power of his sword to the Firestorm.
"Indeed, use magic to counter magic."
"Especially if I use it suddenly during a sword clash, the effect would be devastating." Aiden immediately thought about how he could use this instant-cast magic to catch opponents off guard.
At this stage, the destructive power of Firestorm was indeed much stronger than what Aiden could achieve with his sword. For Aiden, Firestorm had become his ace in the hole.
"Well, these charred remains can be used for a barbecue later. If I ever end up stranded on a deserted island, at least I won't have to go through the trouble of rubbing sticks together for fire like Bear Grylls or Ed Stafford." Looking at the charred remains on the ground, Aiden thought of ways to repurpose them, adhering to his principle of not wasting anything.
So what kind of effect would Tempest have? Would it be similar to Ariel? But why is the chant Tempest instead of something simpler like just 'Wind'? After testing Firestorm, Aiden thought about Tempest and began to complain about its chant, though he didn't say it out loud.
Clang~
The cold metallic sound of a blade sliding against its sheath echoed as Durandal was drawn.
"Tempest." The brief chant summoned a gust of wind.
The moment Aiden uttered the chant, Tempest activated, and a gentle breeze emerged. In an instant, swirling currents of air enveloped his entire body.
With the wind howling around him, Aiden felt countless wisps of breeze continuously brushing against his skin. The swirling air currents wrapped his body and sword in the power of wind.
The gentle breeze that enveloped him felt like an invisible armor, covering every inch without any gaps. Aiden felt his body become lighter, yet stronger. Though the currents around the sword didn’t make it invisible like Artoria’s Invisible Air, they protected the blade while also sharpening its edge.
Aiden stepped forward into a lunge, his body leaning slightly forward, both hands gripping Durandal tightly. With a powerful thrust from both legs, Aiden shot forward like a bullet.
The sudden burst of speed and power startled Aiden, but it was too late to adjust. By the time he realized what was happening, he was already hurtling towards the wall due to inertia.
Seeing the wall rapidly approaching, Aiden quickly shifted his stance, changing his slash into a thrust, hoping to reduce the impact and avoid crashing into the wall.
Durandal's blade made contact with the wall.
The sensation from the blade wasn't like hitting a stone wall, but more like penetrating through soil.
In the end, more than half of Durandal's blade was embedded in the wall.
Aiden managed to avoid a collision.
"Whew, that was close." Aiden patted his chest in relief as he extracted Durandal from the wall.
"However, the enhancement from Tempest is really exaggerated. I haven't even tried short-distance flight yet." Aiden sheathed Durandal slowly, marveling at the amplification from Tempest, his thoughts quickly jumping to the idea of short-distance flight.
Humans have always had a fascination with the sky.
To fly, to soar freely like the wind, is a dream many hold, except those with a fear of heights. Few would refuse such a desire.
"Tempest." Aiden whispered, stepping into the courtyard and calling forth the wind.
The familiar sensation surged again as countless breezes swirled around him.
At this moment, Aiden knew that 'light as a feather' was no longer just a metaphor for him. He bent his knees slightly and, with a powerful leap, rocketed into the air, then descended.
Aiden found himself leaping to the height of the second floor, but that was his limit. No matter how much he concentrated, flapped his arms, or struggled, he couldn't stop the descent.
"What’s going on here? Sure, that leap just now was higher than anything I could achieve before, but it’s still just a high jump, not even close to short-distance flight." Aiden mused, rubbing his smooth chin with his right hand after landing.
"Or maybe it’s not about jumping straight up, but jumping at an angle, or jumping from a higher place?" Aiden pondered the correct posture for takeoff.
"Let’s continue. Tempest."
Aiden shot forward like a cannonball, tracing a graceful parabola before gently descending.
"Although I've adapted to this level of enhancement and indeed jumped farther, it’s still not even gliding." Driven by his desire to defy gravity, Aiden refused to give up.
"Alright, let’s try one last time from the room. After all, it's only a bit more than three meters." Saying this, Aiden returned to his room.
"Tempest." Sitting on the window ledge, Aiden called upon the wind and then pushed off with his legs, his body shooting out like an arrow from a bow.
The wind howled past his ears as Aiden raised his right hand, striking the classic superhero pose.
Then, a few seconds later, Aiden landed in the courtyard.
"Damn, what’s the deal? Could it be that my Tempest is different from Ariel? Maybe mine can’t make me fly, or is it because my level is too low?" Aiden furrowed his brow, doubting his magic.
"Thinking carefully, my Tempest should be the same as the one Ais have. The only differences between us are gender and heritage, and our levels. She’s a Level 5, and I’m only Level 2 right now. So, when I reach Level 5, I should be able to fly, maybe even before Level 5."
Aiden recalled Ais' performances in Sword Oratoria, ultimately confirming the reason he couldn’t fly yet.
