Reincarnated Lord: I Conquered Fate With My Harem-Chapter 53: The Tide Changed [I]

The only sword skill I have that can perform this act is... Hmm, let’s see.

"Surface Ripple, First Form: Solo!"

As soon as the skill got activated, I moved as if I was controlled by a force that has never existed within me.

My slash from the attack I just exerted didn’t slice the barrier; that was far from the purpose.

My blade tapped it. It was more like tapping the surface of a pond with a fingertip.

Once the tip touched the barrier, ripples spread across the dome.

And then—PANG!

"Huh, did it work?"

The entire structure shattered like fragile glass. Lightning staggered backward while Arcane lost its balance.

Instantly, I went after them without a second to rest my body.

Lightning tried to defend with a burst of electric energy, and Arcane raised a shield of pure mana—

But I slid between them with the blade of my sword flowing like a stream.

"Yes, an opening," I muttered, planning my next attack almost immediately.

"Deep Current, Second Form: Continuous Cutting."

First cut, second cut, three... four... five and more.

At this deal, lightning flickered violently as its form broke at the edges. Arcane’s shield cracked, splintering like crystal across the field.

Their defense has weakened and was falling apart.

"Now," I dashed again, pressing harder, but suddenly—

SHUUUUMMMMM!

Water Sentry lifted both of its arms, and a vertical wave shot out from it, upward beneath my feet like a geyser exploding.

If formalities were to be taken into account, the attack would normally sweep me upward and smash me into the ceiling.

But the moment the water surrounded me, it froze into ice, then shattered into shards.

My unique power seemed to have resonated so much within me that it activated itself when needed. The aura it emanated engulfed me in blue pulses .

"Didn’t I tell you? You should be my follower," I whispered, hands clenched tightly on my sword.

"Didn’t I tell you? You can’t use water against me," I repeated calmly.

...

But then, it seemed the tide was about to turn as I felt a new pressure.

All seven Sentries moved, but not to attack.

Each of them, including injured Fire, everyone of them struggled to step inward—toward each other.

Unlike when they attacked me singularly, this was the first time I felt they were moving with purpose. This is the first time I feel like they are actually reacting to my actions.

The first time I felt something like seriousness from them.

Their bodies now pulsed with a different and immense energy.

Fire produced deep embers that surged outward.

Earth shrank to crumble itself into dust.

Lightning dissolved into electric energy streaks.

Water collapsed into droplets.

Darkness stretched further into long shadows of its initial form.

Then, Air dissipated into streams.

And finally, Arcane cracked into floating shards.

In as much as judging the current situation might seem like they were retreating, I could feel the condescending pressure emanating from these reactions.

All seven Sentries shifted.

They dissolved. In this form, they further drifted toward a single point of focal focus in the center of the arena.

I tightened my grip on the hilt of my sword.

"So, this is it. Your..."

The elements converged and fused.

It started with sparks inside water, flames inside wind, and shadows wrapping around stone, and then Mana threads binding them all.

"They had all dissolved their separate humanoid shapes to form..."

My words hitched in my throat as another humanoid shape began to form out of the chaos.

"...a merged form?"

Gradually, one after another, different forms took place.

First, a skeleton made of glowing stone fragments. Then, muscles made of swirling water and fire.

It took another short moment before veins of lightning streaked across the form. Then a cloak of darkness, and finally, a breathing aura of raw Arcane energy.

No, finally, eyes opened inside its head.

"Did they somehow evolve?" I asked my instincts, taking note that I hadn’t recognized eyes on their separate forms.

Their colors further enhance into a blended color that didn’t exist in nature. A swirling storm of shifting hues that hurt the eyes if you stared too long.

Once this form was completed and stabilized, the merged Sentry raised its hand—to attack.

I somersaulted backward, losing my balance as I landed but rolling into a halt.

The air shook, and the arena trembled with the sentry’s impact.

Rising, I gripped my sword and lifted it slowly. Then exhaled.

At the same time, I thought of what to do and activated my Thalassic Monarch title..

My shadow stretched behind me. A towering, kingly figure rose from it, holding a trident-shaped staff.

The merged Sentry had finished establishing its attack.

A blast of seven-element energy swirling into one condensed point.

Without knowing, I raised my sword, and the Sentry lowered its arm.

Then—

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

The entire arena exploded in light.

The blast hit.

Light swallowed everything. It swallowed me, the arena, and even the shadows on the walls.

A wave like a storm front slammed into me and ripped my feet off the ground. Dust and broken stones shot into the air as the entire floor cracked open.

For a moment, I couldn’t see anything but white.

Then the ringing in my ears faded, and I dropped to my knees, coughing out air that tasted like heat and metal.

"Did the tide just change?" I mumbled.

My vision cleared slowly. The arena was a ruin. Half of the floor was gone, and the rest was burning with strange lights left behind by the sentry’s attack.

My robe had been shredded, and my arm now trembled. The sword in my hand felt heavier than before.

Thankfully, I could still move.

"The tide just changed?" I still asked, not wanting to be confused.

Forcing myself up, I leaned on my blade.

The towering shadow behind me wavered like a reflection caught on rough water. The trident staff’s help pulsed once, dimmed, and shattered.

I wiped blood from the corner of my mouth.

"How did it affect that shadow? I thought water could win against fire." I muttered, struggling in pain.

"Well, I’m still alive," I said again. "Good... that means I can still fight," I muttered, struggling to keep up with my resolve.

Across the devastated arena, the merged sevenfold sentry slowly stepped out of the fading blast.

"It has really gotten serious," I whispered, my eyes flickering at its form.

Its body burned with seven colors twisting around each other like streams of their various elements. The aura emanating from its body flickered unstably but terrifyingly.

"You sure are living up to your potential," I muttered and hit my head. "Mobix, why are you becoming so talkative?"

The sentry lifted its head. Its many-colored eyes locked onto me.

I felt a cold shiver run down my spine. The pressure coming off the creature was worse than the aura of its seven individual forms.

This version is nothing far from powerful.

"Fine," I said under my ragged breath. "Let’s think..."

My mind raced. I needed something fast. Something smarter than my initial attacks. That attack had nearly killed me even with the Monarch active.

Taking another one head-on would be suicide.

"Oh... I’m f**ked."

"Breath of Calm..."

I inhaled slowly, letting the world quiet in my chest. I needed to calm down first.

Activating both forms of the water breathing technique, I centered my stance, letting my senses absorb everything.

The shifting lights, the tiny crackles of energy running across the Sentry’s skin, and the faint swirl of darkness gathering at its core.

"Holy shit. It’s preparing its next strike."

My eyes widened in fear as I shifted my grip. My hand tightened further on the sword.

"Not yet. Don’t wait to die."

The Sentry flickered, then vanished for a blink.

My heart dropped. "Where—?!"

The merged Sentry appeared right in front of me.

Too close. Far too close.

I reacted on instinct and desperation, twisting my sword to pull water-like energy along its edge and direct the Sentry’s arm even if only an inch.

And that inch was enough to save my life.

The attack skimmed past my side and ripped a gouge through the cracked arena instead.

I stumbled back, panting. Grateful to the Almighty one that pulled this miracle right at my dieing moment.

"Damn it... It’s faster now."

The voice of the Sentry boomed, vibrating through the ruined arena.

"ANALYSIS COMPLETE!" 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

My hands froze.

The Sentry’s seven eyes flared.

"INITIATING—TERMINATION SEQUENCE!"

All seven colors surged toward the Sentry’s core. Energy crackled and hummed, brighter and brighter, gathering into a shape I recognized but never wanted to see again.

"A second blast? And it looks even more deadlier."

I swallowed hard, letting my heartbeat pound in my chest.

«↓ VIT: 22↑»

"I see. I’m so careless not to have looked out for my stats," I mumbled. "So that’s why I have become this weak?"

Embracing the little strength left in me, I raised my sword again but my fingers were trembling.

The Sentry aimed.

The arena shook.

I exhaled.

"There’s still a way, Mobix. Think fast... think—"

The Sentry fired.

Seven colors spiraled toward me, faster than a scream.

My eyes widened.

"Not good. Forgive me... Muna."

The blast reached me—

And everything went white again.

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