Chapter 108: The Evolution of Mountain’s Resonance
The gray-armored figure spoke in a stiff, mechanical tone devoid of emotion, like a prerecorded declaration being replayed after countless years.
Of course, nothing in this world was advanced enough to actually function that way.
“This demon lord is nothing like I imagined,” Little Donnie muttered as he gripped his sword with both hands and prepared for battle.
Nolan stepped forward, intending to speak and stop the conflict before it erupted.
“One of the Seven Serpent Thrones’ Demon Overlords… the ‘Rebellious Serpent Head’…”
But before he could finish, the gray-armored figure showed absolutely no intention of negotiating. The silver lance in their hand suddenly swept outward, and from over ten meters away, they thrust directly toward the group.
The instant the lance moved, the air before its tip seemed to compress violently under an invisible force before exploding outward. A visible cone-shaped cyclone erupted toward them, filled with countless tiny wind blades that screamed through the air with ear-piercing shrieks.
The whirlwind tore apart the atmosphere itself, grinding the stone floor into fragments as shattered rock and gravel transformed into deadly shrapnel.
“I wasn’t done talking yet!”
Nolan instantly realized the attack had already reached the middle stages of Gold rank. It was even stronger than Yuri the Executioner’s full-powered strike. There was no time to think.
“Get back!”
Roaring the warning, Nolan drew Mountain’s Resonance. The blade rapidly expanded and transformed mid-motion into its massive greatsword form, which he seized in both hands and raised before the entire party.
Vivi and Renee specialized in offense and had almost no durability. Little Donnie lacked the raw strength to withstand an attack of this level head-on. As for Romina… while she possessed Gold-rank strength, judging by her revealing attire, her defensive capabilities likely were not much better. Only Nolan could endure it. Relying on his enormous vitality, his Dragonkin trait, and the broad blade of Mountain’s Resonance in its released form, he planted himself directly in the path of the attack. The spiraling wind blades crashed toward him like a gigantic spinning drill.
Violent air currents hurled shattered stone fragments against the massive sword, producing a barrage of explosive metallic impacts.
Clang, clang, clang!
Nolan felt an overwhelming force surge through the blade into his arms. The sheer pressure of the wind pushed him backward uncontrollably.
He slammed both feet down hard.
The clawed spikes of his Magitech Iron Boots instantly extended and drove deep into the ground, barely anchoring him in place. Twin trenches tore across the solid stone floor as sparks scattered behind him.
The pressure was terrifying.
Flying debris sliced across his bare arms, leaving bloody cuts that burned with pain.
Gritting his teeth, Nolan poured all his strength into his arms and held the sword firm against the storm. His companions were directly behind him. He could not retreat.
His health rapidly dropped during the deadlock, falling to around sixty percent. At that moment, Nolan suddenly regretted fighting shirtless.
Then, without warning, Mountain’s Resonance trembled faintly in his hands. The ancient runes carved along the blade lit up one after another, radiating a soft yellow glow.
The violent wind blades and flying debris hammering the sword suddenly changed the moment they touched that light. It was as though some invisible force seized hold of them, breaking them down instantly into pure particles of earth element energy.
The golden particles rapidly gathered before Nolan, forming a massive translucent shield far larger and thicker than the sword itself.
Even the shattered rocks carried by the storm became part of the barrier, continuously reinforcing it.
The shield expanded further outward, curving into a semicircular dome that completely protected Vivi, Little Donnie, Renee, and Romina behind him.
Boom!
Every ounce of wind pressure slammed into the barrier and dispersed harmlessly. Not a single attack reached Nolan anymore.
In that instant, Nolan once again heard the ancient, indistinct whisper he had first encountered when he obtained Mountain’s Resonance and earned Hoden’s recognition.
The voice still sounded warm and familiar, yet its words remained impossible to fully understand.
At the same time, a translucent system panel appeared before his eyes.
【Sword raised to protect others: 15/15 (Completed)】
【Mountain’s Resonance Recognition +15%】
【Current Recognition: 45%】
【Hidden Trait Unlocked: Guardian’s Battle】
【Guardian’s Battle: When the wielder defends allies, the holy sword Hoden will autonomously absorb surrounding earth elements to create a protective shield. Shield strength depends on nearby earth-element density and the wielder’s protective intent.】
So that’s how it works…
Realization dawned on Nolan.
This sword was more than just a weapon. It was closer to a companion with a will of its own. When its wielder aligned with the spirit within it, the blade revealed its true power.
And the recognition rate was still only forty-five percent. That meant even more abilities remained undiscovered.
The storm vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
Meanwhile, the gray-armored figure who launched the attack seemed momentarily surprised by what had just happened.
The crimson glow behind their visor fixed itself upon Mountain’s Resonance as they spoke quietly in that same emotionless tone, almost as though muttering to themself, “The holy sword Hoden…? So weak… no… impossible.”
A few seconds later, the violent cyclone finally exhausted its energy and dissipated into the air.
Nolan lowered the greatsword. The earth-element shield dissolved into drifting motes of light and vanished alongside it.
For a brief moment, silence returned to the hall.
“Haa…” Nolan exhaled slowly. The pressure from that single exchange had been enough to leave sweat beading across his forehead.
“What’s wrong with this Demon Overlord?” Vivi muttered irritably as she peeked out from behind Nolan. “They don’t even seem intelligent. What exactly were the Tyrians thinking? Why does the prisoner act more like the owner of this place? They can move around freely and attack whoever they want. Weren’t they way too careless?”
The moment she finished speaking, the gray-armored figure moved again. This time, they did not attack from range. They began with a slow walk. Then their body dipped slightly.
An instant later, they exploded forward. Their armored form blurred into a gray afterimage as they charged directly toward them. Despite wearing what looked like an incredibly heavy suit of full plate armor, their speed was absurdly fast. In the blink of an eye, they crossed the distance between them.
The silver lance screamed through the air as it thrust straight toward Nolan’s chest.
Too fast!
“Wait!”
Clang!
Fortunately, Nolan’s combat instincts reacted immediately. He swung Mountain’s Resonance upward just in time. The greatsword collided head-on with the lance, barely intercepting the deadly thrust in a shower of sparks and shrieking metal.
A tremendous force traveled through the blade, numbing Nolan’s hands and forcing him half a step backward.
And in that brief instant when Nolan was occupied, the others finally reacted.
“We can’t let Brother Nolan carry everything alone! Move!” Little Donnie roared as he charged first from Nolan’s flank.
Though he was the youngest member of the group, his fighting style was by far the most aggressive. Without the slightest hesitation, he swung Darkpiercer toward the gray-armored figure’s side with reckless determination.
The others moved as well.
Without wasting a second, Vivi, Renee, and Romina launched simultaneous attacks from different directions.
The battle had officially begun.