Level 1 to Infinity: My Bloodline Is the Ultimate Cheat!-Chapter 406: Clash of Soul and Steel

The instant their Soul Senses erupted, a violent psychic storm ripped through the City Lord’s manor. A roar—half dragon, half goat—howled through the grand courtyard, echoing off stone walls like a beast in agony. The guards who had just stormed in were thrown back by the invisible force, blood spurting from their noses and mouths as they crashed into pillars and walls.

"A Soul-Wielder?"

"A Soul Priest?"

Ethan and Gorr spoke at the same time, their voices tight with disbelief as they clashed mentally.

"Hmph..."

Ethan staggered, his skull pounding like he’d taken a hammer to the head. His vision blurred, and a sharp sting shot through his nose. He bit down on his lower lip, tasting blood and forcing his mind to stay conscious.

’Damn it...’

This old man was no amateur. His Soul Sense was absurdly strong—dense, oppressive, suffocating. Since Ethan had awakened as a Soul-Wielder, this was the first time he’d been genuinely outmatched in a psychic duel.

Across from him, Gorr also swayed. His temples throbbed, as if a thousand needles had pierced through them.

’Who is this brat?’ he thought. ’His Soul Sense hasn’t even fully materialized, yet the density is higher than mine. If he ever manifests it... he’d be unstoppable.’

"You old childless bastard, how dare you ambush me!" Ethan spat, goading him with venom in his voice.

The insult struck home. Gorr’s face twisted, rage flashing in his eyes. His son had just died—Ethan’s words were like a dagger to the chest.

"You bastard," Gorr snarled, stepping forward. "Youre tired of living?"

His steps were slow, deliberate—but the pressure in the air thickened with each one. A tyrannical will radiated from him like wildfire. Everyone who felt it instinctively recoiled.

Ethan cursed under his breath. He’d only meant to provoke Gorr, to throw him off balance—not make him seriously homicidal. Still, his own fury surged to meet it, his aura flaring with equal intensity.

Nearby, the four City Guard commanders—those he’d flattened earlier—finally recovered enough to stand. Their faces were pale, and their breathing shallow. They exchanged glances, hearts pounding as they subtly began to retreat. Even as Transcendents, the overwhelming power of these two was beyond what they could handle. And worse, the killing aura radiating from both men was enough to freeze the blood in their veins.

"Old man, name yourself!" Ethan barked, his aura spiking. "I don’t kill nameless nobodies!"

Power surged from him as he activated his Battle Embodiment system. His Panther and Bear forms shimmered into place, and Uncle Jed’s Force Synchronization technique kicked in. But even fully loaded, Ethan wasn’t about to rush in. His muscles still ached from the earlier fight. He’d held back against the four commanders, relying mostly on his non-lethal slaps. But against this monster? He’d need everything—maybe even a forbidden spell. He could feel it: Gorr’s aura wasn’t just strong. It was suffocating.

’The Priest class in the Sea of Death is no joke...’ he thought bitterly, scanning the skies. ’Uncle Jed, where the hell are you?’

"I am Gorr!" the old man thundered. "And today, I’ll flay you alive and grind your bones to dust!"

He touched his brow. A crimson glow burst forth, forming a massive tiger-headed saw-blade. With a whoosh, it expanded and slammed into his grip. He raised the weapon high—no technique, no flair. Just raw, distilled intent. His Soul Sense had nurtured this weapon over decades, forging it into an extension of himself. There was no flourish here—just lethal simplicity, the terrifying clarity of purpose.

"Oh, you have a weapon?" Ethan sneered. "Spear, emerge!"

With a sharp whoosh, the Twilight War Spear materialized in his hand.

"You want to be ruthless? Let’s see who’s longer, eh? Spear out like a dragon!"

He didn’t dodge. Instead, he lunged, thrusting his spear straight at Gorr. Three meters of weapon met 1.8 meters of saw-blade. Simple physics: longer wins.

The tip of Ethan’s spear struck first, aimed right for Gorr’s chest. The old man hesitated—caught off guard. He hadn’t expected Ethan to summon a Soul-nurtured weapon too. That was no small feat. Especially for a Priest. Soul-compatible weapons were rare in the Sea of Death, and even rarer for classes like theirs. The odds of two wielders clashing with such weapons were astronomical.

Forced to block, Gorr raised his blade. Clang! Metal rang out like thunder.

The saw-blade trembled in his grip. The Twilight War Spear let out a high-pitched hum—almost a cry of joy. Ethan felt it. The spear... was excited.

He’d seen this before. Back in the Butcher Tribe, when the tribe leader wielded that wild boar skull. His spear had behaved the same way then—greedy, eager, like a kid eyeing candy.

And—wait a second.

Gorr? Ethan blinked. Did he just say his name was Gorr? That kid earlier... Gorr? Both Soul-Wielders?

"I say, Gorr," Ethan said, casually shouldering his spear. "That Gorr kid—he’s your kid?"

"You know Gorr Jr.?" the old man snapped, eyes narrowing.

"Nope. Just curious. Gotta say, your family’s got great naming sense."

"Gorr, Gorr Jr... what’s next? Gorr Sr.? Or maybe a Priestess Dana..."

As he spoke, a sudden image flickered in his mind—her. That serene-looking girl from the city wall. Priestess Dana... that was her name, wasn’t it?

And then, as if summoned by his thoughts, she appeared at the hall’s entrance.

Ethan immediately shut up.

He hadn’t figured out how everyone was related just yet.

"Shut up!" Gorr roared and charged forward, swinging his saw-blade.

Ethan scoffed. The spear slid from his shoulder, his body already moving. He spun, hooking the blade mid-swing. The Twilight War Spear traced a clean arc, power building with every inch. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"Heavy Strike..." Ethan whispered.

The blow landed—no build-up, no warning. All the force, all the tension, channeled instantly into the point of contact. Uncle Jed had taught him this technique, drilled it into his bones. And now? It was finally paying off.

BOOM!

Spear met blade in a thunderous explosion. Shockwaves tore through the manor, flattening furniture and shattering tiles. Air warped. The stone beneath Ethan’s feet cracked apart.

Gorr was sent flying. He staggered midair, each footstep crunching against invisible platforms as he steadied himself. The void itself trembled under his weight.

"Such terrifying power!"

On the palace platform, three figures looked down in awe. One of them—Uncle Jed—smiled faintly and nodded.

’He’s finally learned it’s’, Jed thought. ’Took him long enough.’

"Is this the power of a Priest?"

"The aftermath alone could kill us..."

The guards who had retreated outside were trembling, white-knuckled and pale. The vibrations in the air pressed down on them like a boulder. Fighting was impossible—just standing was hard enough. Only now did they realize: Ethan had spared them earlier. If he’d gone all-out, the streets would be littered with corpses.

"He can actually use Soul Sense like that..."

Ethan’s brow furrowed. This old guy wasn’t a warrior. Not physically. His frail frame shouldn’t be able to wield that kind of strength. There was only one explanation—he was enhancing his attacks through external means. Probably Soul Sense.

"Heh heh..." Gorr chuckled, his face twisted into a grotesque grin. With his wrinkled face pulled taut and eyes bulging, he looked like a snarling pug ready to maul someone. "I’ve spent my whole life mastering Soul Sense. You think you can outmatch me? Die!"

He lunged again, blade whipping horizontally. But Ethan’s eyes narrowed. He felt it—an aura behind the strike.

Wind.

’That’s the same elemental current I sensed from Celeste...’

Ethan shifted his grip, holding the spear at its tail.

"Trying to show off in front of me, are you, you wind-blessed mutt?" he said, twisting his body.

"You spent your whole life studying Soul Sense? What, started in the womb?"

"You’re clearly a dual-element Priest—wind boosting your speed and strength... Guess that’s how you’re keeping up."

"You’re not fooling anyone. Now get lost!"

He spun, muscles snapping into motion, and unleashed his strike. The Twilight War Spear howled, a cyclone in metal form.

Whoosh—CLANG!

The two weapons collided again, and the air cracked like glass.