Nathan and Zahra continued to be toys in Laurent and Zhanyu's game.

  Whenever the two disciples from Verdant Spire Sect charged forward, they would be teleported elsewhere by the Space Aspect.

  Despite this, Nathan refused to stop. He pressed forward relentlessly, giving Zhanyu no time to assist the other two. Furthermore, he grew increasingly familiar with his opponent's attack patterns.

  Before joining The Shifting Trials, Nathan had watched and rewatched the battle between Zhanyu and Ryusei, analyzing it to find weaknesses in the supposedly comprehensive fighting style powered by the absolute strength of Space Aspect. Although he hadn't discovered anything revolutionary, the clearest vulnerability was speed. Ryusei had avoided the spatial blocks thanks to his Lightning Aspect. This would have been relatively easy if Nathan were also a Tier 2, possessing an Aspect to utilize.

  The main problem was that he didn't have one.

  He only possessed superior physical attributes thanks to Physical Cultivation. His speed exceeded that of others, but compared to Lightning Aspect, it still fell short.

  This was the equation Nathan was solving. He targeted a speed that Zhanyu couldn't handle, the gap between each attack.

  Every time he was sent back, he used [Improved Pattern Recognition] to memorize. The focus now was on patterns that weren't yet clear. Though there were pauses between Zhanyu's actions, the variables remained too high.

  Seeing Nathan's persistence, Zahra enthusiastically joined in without asking too many questions. While she didn't spend excessive time thinking, the battle instincts of a genius remained intact. Her wind drills tore through the air, creating considerable difficulties for both Zhanyu and Laurent.

  The only Artificer present smiled, extending his hand forward as a blade formed from highly concentrated energy appeared. With a single swing, he created a ten-meter-long slash that shattered Zahra's attack.

  The explosion between the two forces sent her flying backward. With a somersault, she regained her balance.

  Nathan nodded at her, encouraging her to continue. They needed more experimentation to deliver a decisive blow against their opponents.

  On the other side, Zeryn found himself increasingly disadvantaged. The Resonating Blade effortlessly cut through every sword he produced. No matter how extensive his inventory, it wouldn't be enough.

  When he used Sword Intent, his opponent immediately infused her own Intent into that strange sword to counter. Though invisible, his intangible swords suffered the same fate.

  Only when Zeryn wrapped his Sword Intent inside another layer of Sword Intent did the battle shift slightly in his favor. He closed his index and middle fingers into a thrust. Sigrid instinctively raised her sword to counter. This time, when the two surfaces met, only Zeryn's outer layer shattered; the inner layer with a different frequency struck the Resonating Blade, knocking it backward.

  With a spinning motion, Zeryn's two fingers traced a small wound across Sigrid's stomach, though most of the impact had been reduced by her mana shield and armor.

  The red-haired girl retreated, wiping blood from the gash, then raising her head with an admiring expression.

  "You developed a counter to The Resonating Blade quickly," she praised. "Was it quick thinking or had you researched how to counter it before?"

  "You're perceptive," Zeryn said coldly. "Let me tell you something. The Resonating Blade isn't even significant enough for me to research."

  Hearing this, not only Sigrid but even the sword itself trembled with anger. This dismissal provoked irritation far beyond ordinary insults. Sigrid didn't know whether it was her own annoyance or the sword's negative influence on her.

  She tightened her grip on the sword and continued probing her opponent. Wrapping Sword Intent in layers with different wavelengths would make it difficult for her to find the correct frequency. But that didn't mean she was helpless. Through exploration, understanding, and feeling, her Resonance Aspect would deliver results. In fact, the outcome would be more powerful than anyone anticipated.

  She secretly smiled, her sword dancing in her hand.

  Evelyn, unwilling to remain at a disadvantage, deployed the next step in her attack strategy. The particles carrying freezing power, upgraded from Winter's Heart Drop, were released, colliding with Reza's sharp water arcs.

  These waves froze instantly under Evelyn's influence, immediately becoming tools in her hands.

  This time, Reza couldn't control the water he had created; he couldn't heat it enough to escape his opponent's dominance.

  With a clenched fist, Evelyn crushed the ice, sending fragments flying in all directions like a storm toward the senior disciple from her academy, who always presented himself as her superior.

  A sphere of water appeared around Reza, protecting him from the effects of Evelyn's attack. Beneath his feet, rails formed from water allowed him to glide backward. He waved his hand, dispersing everything, his mouth curving upward.

  "You're getting stronger. I'm truly proud of that. This is how the holy maiden of Azure Lake Academy should be."

  All Evelyn heard was: "Only like this are you worthy of me."

  "But even play requires some seriousness, doesn't it?" Reza teased.

  He removed two sword hilts from his spatial ring, swinging them to form blades. They had no fixed shape, undulating like ocean waves, carrying water spray around them. These dual blades had been custom-made for Reza by a famous blacksmith under his master's guidance.

  "I intended to use these on that mission," Reza closed his eyes in apparent sadness, then suddenly remembered the humiliation that day and his eyes hardened. "But now you'll learn their power. Try harder if you don't want me to kill the one who witnessed my unexpected disgrace."

  Evelyn glanced toward Nathan, anger rising within her. She didn't believe anyone could kill Nathan, but Reza she trusted. She understood his malice all too well.

  An ice sword formed in her hand, carrying the same intensity as when she fought the Lava Drake. With a single step, she thrust straight toward her opponent.

  Boom!

  Nathan was once again knocked to the ground, the impact leaving his shoulder aching.

  Laurent's armor seemed to have an endless supply of missiles, firing continuously. Combined with Zhanyu's precisely timed pressure, Nathan found himself increasingly cornered. He suspected Laurent Nyralith's armor worked similarly to a spatial ring, storing ammunition and energy for use. Unlike the disappointing equipment he currently wore.

  The armor he had spent a fortune on had already required several mana stone replacements. Now it was heating up, signaling overuse and possible failure at any moment.

  "How's it going, Nathan?" Zahra exhaled beside him. "Do you have any clues yet?"

  "Yes, but still not enough," he replied.

  The pattern was gradually emerging, but something still felt off. He remembered Zhanyu's spatial defense had three layers based on his analysis of the fight with Ryusei. However, everyone kept tricks in reserve. He could walk straight into his own demise if he relied on incomplete, unverified information.

  Zhanyu's Spatial Cuts were considered the most dangerous technique among the younger generation. Fortunately, using them currently required preparation or close proximity to Zhanyu.

  At this moment, Laurent raised his hand to yawn. Clearly, Nathan and Zahra, though strong, weren't enough to cause concern. The Nyralith heir didn't want to exert himself too much. His choice of combat approach was merely experimental. Now he brought out his proudest creation.

  A pitch-black cube crashed to the ground before everyone's skeptical eyes, including Zhanyu's.

  The cube quickly expanded until it reached human size before stopping. It began separating into smaller blocks, which continued dividing until they moved to form a puppet.

  "Will they ever let us live?" Zahra cried out in frustration.

  "Let me introduce my creation," Nyralith removed his helmet, revealing eyes with dark sleepless circles and an excited smile. "The NL-07 robot."

  "Did you really rearrange your name and abbreviate it to name your product?" Zhanyu mocked.

  "Don't use your shallow perspective to judge," Laurent replied irritably. "Nano Lifeform is its name. Any resemblance to my name is purely coincidental."

  "Is that so?" Zhanyu laughed. "Everyone knows you Artificers are typically self-absorbed."

  Laurent paid no attention, looking at his creation with the affection one shows a pet.

  NL-07 completed its formation, revealing sharp lines and minimalist design. It exposed its mechanical eye, making soft metallic sounds as components touched.

  Without a word, it launched forward, its speed extreme thanks to the engines formed in its legs.

  Nathan raised his hand, throwing a punch to counter.

  A shock wave pushed back Zahra who stood nearby.

  NL-07's head tilted to one side, its eyes moving like a camera focus, showing interest in Nathan. He couldn't help feeling his entire body was exposed before this robot, being read and thoroughly analyzed.

  But he had neither time nor space to contemplate this. Having just blocked one attack, he quickly sidestepped. The spot where he had just stood echoed with the dull thud of an object striking.

  "These two troublemakers," he cursed.

  In response, he released his support, Argentius.

  The tiger monster appeared with its powerful form, letting out a groundshaking roar. Its action drew everyone's attention.

  Nathan could have kept his companion hidden to challenge himself, but when his opponent used what was essentially a summon, he saw no reason to hold back.

  Argentius's appearance intrigued Laurent, who recognized his opponent's intent. More importantly, he truly wanted to analyze and document this newly appeared monster. This could be the foundation for the NL-08 model.

  With a thought, Laurent commanded his creation to target Argentius.

  The tiger snorted disdainfully, accepting the challenge. It threw itself forward, claws extended, metal and wind aspect combining to tear apart NL-07, forcing the robot to falter. The particles forming NL-07's body scattered but returned within seconds, compensating for the damaged robot.

  NL-07's back glowed, suddenly launching forward with an explosion. During flight, its hands extended into two sharp blades, slashing violently at the tiger monster.

  Argentius surrounded itself with a mana membrane, preventing the blade tips from causing damage. Its paw extended, creating a pressure zone that sent the robot flying. Then, spinning around, its tail threw slashes that reflected light in the air, tearing apart NL-07 again.

  Argentius's battle gave Nathan space to attack Zhanyu. He believed he was approaching a conclusion, needing just a few more tests.

  In his next advance, he experimented with using 10% Berserker to create powerful leaps through force concentrated in his legs, combined with [Amplifying Strike] and [Flowing Strikes], successfully avoiding his opponent's attacks. Among the trials and errors, there was one instance where he wasn't teleported away.

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Zhanyu paid little attention to this issue. He could have engaged in close combat but chose not to. He was self-confident, not insane. Space Aspect was rarer and stronger than other aspects, but the prerequisite was that the cultivator could fully utilize its capabilities. One-on-one presented no problem, but Zhanyu, with his spatial sensitivity, could always detect small movements and signals from his surroundings.

  The sword prodigy and the blue-haired girl constantly watched for opportunities to strike. Zhanyu, having revealed the danger of Space Aspect, had become the main target of the opposing team. Yet he didn't trust Laurent, Reza, or Sigrid to help him escape. This alliance was based on each individual's superiority, not on coordination or synergy. Each person had to adapt and act within the boundaries of suspicion.

  Take Laurent, who was now so focused on the tiger monster that he neglected attacking to assist Zhanyu. But Zhanyu had his own plan, secretly smiling. These four opponents fighting separately needed a wake-up call.

  Evelyn soared with her ice-attribute techniques. After investing more energy into each strike, she gradually became Reza's equal.

  On the opposite side, only careful observation revealed the furrowed brows and exhalations from the young leader of Azure Lake Academy. Reza's discomfort and dissatisfaction were carefully hidden. He couldn't believe the power Evelyn possessed. His advantage over her had been his absolute control over water. Students in his cohort had surrendered to this technique of his.

  Thanks to his precision and refinement in water control, high-tier cultivators had invested in him and his future, creating the foundation for the dual blades he now wielded. These two swords, formed from water waves yet no less sharp, were failing to provide any advantage against the girl he had always defeated.

  The teachers at Azure Lake Academy had always maintained a strange attitude toward Evelyn. They had warned Reza about how to behave toward her. Yet they still hoped he would establish a close relationship with her. Though unaware of their purpose, Reza had always been confident about this mission. Simply put, he wanted it. Evelyn's beauty and talent matched his appearance and potential.

  Yet now, the more they fought, the more enthusiastic Evelyn became. The collisions couldn't erode her offensive stance or the ice swords she conjured.

  Reza couldn't believe it. His eyes bulged, his teeth gritted, and he roared.

  The Dual Blades suddenly glowed with the blue-green light of water.

  Reza unleashed his full strength.

  He created one horizontal slash and one vertical slash. They were the product of compressed water, forming something that could cut anyone present.

  The vertical slash cut through Evelyn's ice wall like mere fabric. It didn't stop, continuing downward, through the defensive ice layer Evelyn had placed on her shoulder, through her mana shield, and through her skin. The contact point of the slash only stopped when her blood touched the water beam, instantly freezing it.

  She buckled, her face showing pain and resignation. She had been deceived by the caution Reza always showed her. He was willing to hurt her when his ego was crushed, when it was insulted.

  Blood seeping from Evelyn's shoulder wound left Reza equally shocked. He extended his hand as if to lift her but pulled back.

  His second slash disturbed the entire battle floor. It swept past everything else.

  NL-07 was cut in half, taking a long time to recover.

  Argentius skillfully performed a flip, easily dodging.

  Laurent, not concentrating, failed to react to the slash extending dozens of meters. A clear sound alerted him. The emergency defense mechanism of his armor had activated.

  "You bastard," his eyes, bloodshot from either exhaustion or anger, became more intricate. "We're your teammates."

  Nearby, Zhanyu had used a spatial block to raise himself high, frowning at the destructive capacity of that arrogant comrade.

  Zahra needed no explanation; such a distant slash wasn't enough to trouble her.

  As for Nathan, thanks to [Tingling Sense] and [Adrenaline Boost], he was falling from mid-air after jumping. His hair stood on end as he looked toward the attacker. Evelyn hadn't exaggerated when she said Reza was frightening.

  He glanced at his friend. Zeryn fluently directed his blade at the slash, cutting off the water flying toward him. Nathan recognized the next level of Sword Intent, turning oneself into a sword, which Zeryn used with expertise.

  Sigrid casually extended her sword, letting the vibration disrupt Reza's water structure, causing it to fall into a puddle on the ground.

  A brief silence passed between her and Zeryn. In just a moment, Sigrid had once again advanced, proving to the young man before her that he deserved respect.

  Their exchanges since the beginning had revealed much to her. Nothing described a person better than their fighting style. Zeryn's sword techniques, his movement, his mana coordination, and his spatial awareness all indicated a solid foundation.

  Sigrid had practiced swordsmanship since her master discovered her Resonance Aspect at age ten. For over ten years, she had slept with her sword, kept it as a companion, never separating from it. Only this way could she wield one of the Honored Swords, even if it was an inferior version, a copy.

  She was confident in her abilities not just because of natural talent, but also from relentless diligence. She didn't want to disappoint those who trusted her, especially the soul of The Resonating Blade.

  And people like Zeryn angered her, making her feel insecure and treated unfairly. She had dueled enough swordsmen to know her opponent's background wasn't simple. Strip away the effectiveness of mana aspect, the wonder of Sword Intent, and she absolutely stood no chance against Zeryn. Because he had the background to practice swordsmanship from childhood. Perhaps his toys at four or five years old were objects that could sever hands and feet.

  Such extremism was most common in hidden clans or holy lands. So Zeryn must have come from one of these, disguised as a humble individual infiltrating Verdant Spire Sect. But for what purpose, Sigrid couldn't know. Most important to her now was vaguely guessing the source of this hatred.

  The origin of The Resonating Blade was a controversial secret that she only knew through luck, overhearing her master's conversation with his treasure.

  "I'll prove it to you," Sigrid gritted her teeth. "Though we may have been wrong, that's in the past. And now, I deserve this sword."

  "Are you listening to yourself?" Zeryn said, showing irritation. "So arrogant."

  "What cultivator grows powerful without arrogance?"

  Before Zeryn could retort, Sigrid brought her sword down from above.

  Upon hearing a small humming sound almost impossible to detect, Zeryn shouted in alarm.

  "Everyone be careful!"

  He ignored the fact that this warning helped even the opposing team.

  The Resonating Blade swung down, and chaos erupted around them.

  On the ground, at the sword's point of contact, concentric circles formed outward with each gap fixed. These were cuts according to frequency.

  At the third circle, Zeryn sensed killing intent erupting from below. A thin circular membrane difficult to see with the naked eye cut across him. He defended with his upgraded Sword Intent, turning his body into a sword. Nevertheless, the collision made the skin beneath his thin robe burn with pain.

  Before he could breathe, at the fourth circle, just behind him, another slash formed. Zeryn was leaning backward and had to push his hand behind him, channeling mana into the air, helping him straighten.

  A whoosh sounded as the slash from The Resonating Blade passed by.

  Zeryn looked into the distance; his teammates hadn't yet reacted, but the slash propagating through frequency with these concentric circles would soon reach them.

  "Focus, you arrogant bastard," Sigrid roared.

  Zeryn complied. The attack from The Resonating Blade hadn't ended there. Its reputation far exceeded imagination.

  From the sword's tip, invisible concentric circles were created, spreading in different directions. This time, they were even harder to see, detectable only through perception and experience.

  Zeryn summoned two swords. In just a second, he had transformed them into giants, swinging their flat sides outward. At his chest, he gathered Sharp Aspect and his Sword Intent, defending against his opponent's attack.

  The two massive swords shattered, becoming fragments in the air. They didn't fall immediately but were carried away by the frequency slash of The Resonating Blade.

  In this way, Zeryn allowed his teammates to see where the wave peaks were, the sharpest point created by The Resonating Blade. The price he paid was being struck and spitting blood with crisscrossing wounds. Dividing his strength while his opponent used her strongest move was taboo.

  Sigrid with her disheveled red hair glared at Zeryn. She was somewhat overwhelmed by his countermeasure ability. Even knowing beforehand, no one could provide such a complete solution as he just had.

  She looked at the battlefield, shaking her head and laughing when she realized she had thought herself superior.

  Evelyn, closest to the action, glided away from the slash rising from the ground, then used the markers Zeryn had left to navigate through the maze of frequency and wave slashes from Sigrid.

  Reza was more surprised by the red-haired girl's power. Though teammates, this was the first time he felt so threatened.

  The effect of The Resonating Blade reached Zahra. Due to interference from Zhanyu's invisible block, she was slashed across her back, revealing a deep wound. Her mana shield and armor offered no protection against an Honored Sword.

  Zhanyu hid behind his protective dome. Each time the sword wave collided, the dome flashed, sometimes shattering but never breached thanks to the layers behind. The cracks were also rapidly healing. Like Reza, Zhanyu found himself more interested in Sigrid.

  Nathan observed Zhanyu and his defensive membrane. Unlike the others dodging in all directions, he charged straight into the attack, ignoring everything.

  His target was Laurent Nyralith.

  His running steps were precisely calibrated to avoid the spreading circles underfoot, but the mid-air wave patterns were unavoidable. With just one collision, his vambrace exploded, completely ruined. Only seconds later, his other arm welcomed flames from the malfunctioning machinery.

  He was now just over five meters from Laurent.

  A sword wave struck his armor. The protective mana layer flashed and died out. Another device rendered useless.

  Four meters remained.

  With a roar, he clasped his hands before his face to block as his feet leaped over another sharp ripple. Blood flowed diagonally from his wrist to his elbow.

  Just over three meters.

  In mid-air, he arched his back. A ripping sound confirmed a deep furrow appearing on his back.

  Just over two meters.

  He landed, using all his strength to fire forward like a bullet, his fist clenched in mid-air.

  Laurent, who had been avoiding Sigrid's attack, had seen Nathan from the start and unhesitatingly swung his fist in response.

  With a metallic crash, the metal on Laurent's hand shattered. The transmission mechanisms he had always been proud of all stalled, bending awkwardly and smoking. The remaining force pushed him backward, right into Sigrid's sword wave.

  His right hand rose with a mana protection membrane, successfully blocking it, but also consuming a large amount of mana.

  Meanwhile, his wounded opponent continued relentlessly advancing.

  "Zhanyu," Laurent calmly called out.

  Without waiting for a response, he leaned backward, lifting his toes as fire erupted from the soles of his armor, helping propel him backward. His hand swept forward.

  NL-07, which had been dodging and watching Argentius, suddenly halted, dissolved into tiny particles, and rapidly flowed back to its master in streams. During movement, it was still intelligent enough to avoid the sword waves that continued to disturb everything.

  Argentius couldn't pursue as Sigrid's slash hadn't yet ended. It opened its mouth wide, firing a wind sphere straight ahead.

  The target wasn't Laurent or NL-07, but Nathan.

  The wind sphere struck his back, accelerating him. Combined with Berserker at 20% and [Quick Feet], Nathan shot forward with such speed that the pressure on his face distorted it. But his eyes remained focused, looking from Zhanyu to Nyralith. His mouth continually muttered.

  The nano particles flowed faster, overtaking Nathan, settling first on Laurent's hand. Then the Artificer activated the link through mana projection, increasing the tiny particles' return speed. They attached to his entire body, forming a new armor layer. Most importantly, at his chest glowed a bright orange. The power source of NL-07. It was the stone he had purchased the day he encountered Nathan at Maelivar's Common Market.

  No one saw value in this stone, but for him it was different. Though small, hidden within was residual energy from a high-tier cultivator. Having prior experience, he hadn't needed many days to apply it to the NL-07 model. His next attack would be inferior to none, not even Zhanyu's Spatial Cut.

  But Nathan was already very close. At this distance, just a slight swing would be enough for Nathan to break everything. The chef's physical strength continuously changed under the eyes of Laurent and the NL-07 model.

  At this moment, Zhanyu responded to the call.

  Laurent vanished, reappearing an instant later not far away, but beyond Nathan's reach.

  The orange light at his chest brightened to blinding.

  Laurent smiled, roaring.

  "FIRE!"

  An orange energy beam, as wide as a plate, swept from the ground straight toward Nathan. The heat spreading outward startled everyone.

  A figure was thrown backward, engulfed by the intense light.

  In just over a second, Nathan was blasted straight to the wall of the battle floor, taking the full brunt of the Artificer Laurent's ultimate technique.

  The deadly orange light made Nathan's three teammates dry-mouthed with anxiety. They knew Nathan could endure attacks well, but this was beyond confidence.

  Evelyn knew Nathan's resistance when not transformed still had limits. Otherwise, he wouldn't have let his back be hit by the Lava Drake without being able to do anything. And clearly, he hadn't transformed into that three-meter giant.

  The beam disappeared, leaving behind the smell of burning and rising steam.

  Laurent's armor released smoke, entering a cooling state. His figure slumped, his helmet retracted to reveal a satisfied smile. He had been obsessed after seeing Zhanyu use Spatial Cut, and now he had proven himself no less capable.

  Zeryn exploded with force, disregarding his injuries, making Sigrid retreat. The red-haired girl, her strength depleted, couldn't resist.

  Evelyn wished to do the same. But Reza was laughing at others' pain, relentlessly blocking her.

  Argentius was the first to rush forward, followed by Zahra to the wall where Nathan had been struck.

  Thick smoke obscured their vision. The surface had melted from the beam's energy.

  Zeryn arrived, anxiously looking ahead. Zahra decisively used wind to push everything aside for a clearer view. Her eyes blinked rapidly.

  This battle with Nathan was already difficult enough. Without him, she didn't believe the team could withstand those four. Zhanyu hadn't even acted yet. Most importantly, there had just been a signal of cooperation. Zhanyu had helped Laurent. If these four found ways to work together, her team was certainly doomed.

  As the smoke cleared, it revealed a rough black rock before everyone's eyes.

  Argentius was the first to roar with joy. Though it couldn't speak, its emotions ran deepest.

  Evelyn in the distance glimpsed the black rock and smiled. She knew her companion of the past few days couldn't be defeated so easily.

  Only Zahra and Zeryn remained confused.

  With a crack, the rock before them split apart. A charred figure with disheveled hair stood up, mouth complaining.

  "Ow! My whole body hurts!"

  "Holy fuck!" Zeryn shouted. "You're still intact after that attack."

  "Yes, I knew it," Zahra laughed loudly.

  Nathan raised his stone-transformed hands to greet his two companions like a celebrity.

  This was the special technique he had researched after rolling new skills during the dinner parties.

  The combination of [Anger Management], [Mind of Tranquility], and Berserker.

  [Anger Management] wasn't simply about lowering emotions but could also work in reverse, pushing them higher.

  Through [Anger Management], he had increased his endurance limit from 23% to 33%. This was the threshold he couldn't surpass, or he would go completely insane.

  At 33%, a special effect was created. He could partially transform, choosing any body part at will.

  He hadn't used it before because everything was unstable. During practice, he had nearly lost control of his anger several times. That's why he had always stopped himself from using it at the waterfall, when taking hits from the Lava Drake, or when tortured by monsters during mountain exploration.

  Now, after transformation, he had better control thanks to experiencing Titan’s Beserker State under the influence of [Mind of Tranquility]. More importantly, he couldn't enter a 100% full state because his body couldn't withstand it. Only this way did he dare use this semi-finished product.

  With his trump card played, he and his teammates needed to finish this.

  "I found a way to eliminate Zhanyu," he announced.