Chapter 515: Powerful Destructive Force

Under Ronin’s lead, the group left behind the mountain range ravaged by elemental storms and came to a halt at a quiet, secluded spot.

"Ronin, have you truly become a legend?"

Sophia asked again and again, her voice trembling with disbelief and awe.

When she and Simon had chosen to follow him long ago—not only because he was willing to confront the Holy Storm—but also because they saw his potential. He had once claimed he could reach legendary status within ten years. That promise had been their hope, their anchor upon returning to the Crescent Continent.

Ronin nodded. Above each hand, swirling water and fire danced into being—elemental forces bending effortlessly to his will.

"Being a legend is indeed extraordinary," he murmured. "Before, summoning the elements required focus, effort, and magic as a catalyst. But now… the surrounding energies feel so obedient, as if they await my command at every breath."

With a flick of his wrist, flame and wind vanished, replaced by earth, water, lightning—one after another manifesting in shimmering arcs around him.

Upon reaching legend, one could dabble in foreign magics, craft spell scrolls, inscribe arcane circles. True, designing spells beyond one's innate affinity still drained spirit and mana—nowhere near as effortless as wielding one’s native element—but the mere ability itself was staggering.

Witnessing this, Sophia no longer doubted. Even she, a prodigy of Dawnspire, among the elite of her generation, felt humbled before him.

She knew, of course, that Ronin’s rapid ascent must harbor secrets unknown to others. But everyone carried hidden truths. And for her, it didn’t matter how he’d done it—only that he grew stronger. The stronger he became, the better it was for her, for Orlandt, for the entire Crescent Continent.

The Human Alliance would never complain about having too many champions against the Demon Gods.

Ridar and McKenn were equally awestruck, hearts swelling with pride. As summoned companions who had walked beside him from the beginning, they had seen their master rise step by step—each breakthrough a testament to his indomitable will.

"So," Sophia asked, her second question laced with urgency, "did you break through both classes simultaneously?"

She had told him before: if knight and mage ascended together, the celestial baptism would be far greater than that of a single-class breakthrough. Two legends—one single-class, one dual-class—would stand worlds apart in power across every measure.

Ronin gave a firm nod. "Yes. Both at once."

Her eyes sparkled. "Then… shall we test your strength?"

At her words, Ridar and McKenn exchanged glances, excitement stirring within them.

They had seen legends before—Ridar’s own mentor had been a Sage. But to fight one? To challenge such power firsthand? Such chances were rare.

Ronin accepted without hesitation. He, too, wished to know the true extent of his might.

"Come!" he called, vanishing in a blur and reappearing a hundred meters away. "I am confident I can survive your combined assault. Don’t hold back—use your strongest techniques!"

"Very well!"

Three warriors steeled themselves.

A Radiant Knight, a Grand Magus, a Silver Moon Knight—this trio alone was a force to be reckoned with anywhere. Yet now, facing their own master, uncertainty stirred in their chests. Just how far could their united might reach?

Sophia raised her hands, channeling magic. Fire roared forth—*Flame God’s Roar*—infused with the peak of her spiritual and magical power, amplifying the spell to its utmost limit.

McKenna bellowed, pouring raging battle aura into the ground. Earth shattered, fragments drawn together, compressed into razor-sharp stones. With a sweep of his blade, they shot forward like countless arrows loosed from bows—capable of tearing through even steel.

*Sandstorm Barrage*, an eighth-tier martial technique, could flay flesh into crimson mist.

Meanwhile, Ridar had already purified his aura using the *Inferno Codex*. His refined energy, combined with the piercing *Heavy Strike Burst*, delivered single-target devastation stronger than Sophia and McKenn’s attacks combined.

Ronin had not yet learned any legendary-tier spells or techniques. But the moment he grasped the Flowing Flame Sword, just as when he first ascended to Radiant, the blade awakened anew—a devastating martial art born of wind and fire: *Vacuum Dimension Slash*.

Swift as gale, sharp as lightning, burning with explosive fury—it fused speed, precision, and infernal destruction.

Yet wary of its overwhelming power, Ronin held it back. Instead, he unleashed *Heavenly Blaze Overland*, a Radiant-tier technique.

But now, cast at legend rank, everything changed.

His battle aura had evolved—transcended into *Ultimate Aura*. And as he swung his sword, the ambient fire elements surged toward him, answering his call, magnifying the technique’s might beyond imagination.

The attacks collided midair.

The dim night lit up in an instant, blinding light splitting the darkness, followed by a thunderous roar that seemed to shake the very fabric of the world.

Boom—boom—boom—

Shockwaves ripped outward, slamming into all four. Ronin stood firm. The other three were forced backward, stumbling under the force.

And still, Ronin’s *Heavenly Blaze Overland* pressed on, crushing their combined assault, then surging forward like a tidal wave of fire.

"Danger!"

They threw up defenses—battle armor, aura shields, hastily cast protective spells. They survived, barely—but were hurled hundreds of meters away, landing in scattered dust.

Only after a long silence did the world settle.

At the epicenter of the clash lay a massive crater. Cracks spiderwebbed across the land, stretching all the way to where they now stood.

"Too powerful… stronger than a cannon blast," Ronin whispered, even he shaken by the sight.

The same technique—yet the difference between Radiant and Legend was like heaven and earth.

With such power, he could face not three Radiants, but five—and still stand unbroken.

On the other side, the trio trembled with lingering shock.

Sophia brushed tangled strands from her face. "I’ve seen Ultimate Aura before. But today… I’ve felt it. If Ridar hadn’t intercepted part of that backlash, I’d have been wounded."

"Yes," McKenn agreed, nodding vigorously. "Too strong."

They crossed the scarred battlefield, gathering before Ronin, voices filled with reverence.

"Master," Ridar said, "with your current strength, the two divine envoys behind the Holy Storm no longer pose a real threat. Perhaps our future offensives should be more aggressive?"

"After all," he added, "the longer we wait, the more followers they gather—and the more champions they create. Time favors them."

A hunger for battle flickered in McKenn’s eyes. Of the three, only he had never known war. His strength remained unused, coiled tight like a spring.

"We will strike," Ronin replied. "But not recklessly. The royal house seems to expect us to carry the weight of this war. Yet our knightly order is still too small. Expansion remains our top priority."

Though delay benefited the Holy Storm, it also served Ronin.

"Sophia, contact Hamon for me. See if he can uncover intelligence on Yanwing and Selandir—their true strength."

Sophia froze. "You’re planning a decapitation strike?"

Ronin nodded slowly. "Our armies advance steadily. But if the chance arises to eliminate their leaders… it could spare us great loss."

"I will contact Harmon; this is what he has been doing all along."

Sophia hesitated for a moment, then advised, "From my personal experience, the strength of Flamewing and Thranduil should be greater than that of Mephisto."

Mephisto was an eighth-tier Archmage, which meant Flamewing and Thranduil were highly likely to be of the Blazing Sun tier.

It was not even out of the question that they were Legends.

"A decapitation strike carries a certain amount of risk!"

Ronan nodded, "I will consider it carefully."

He looked toward McCann and said, "McCann, take Sophia back to the Mist City first. Rhydderch, you stay behind, I have some matters to discuss with you."