Chapter 212: The Bond of Power

Chapter 212: The Bond of Power

Dark, stormy clouds covered the sky, casting a murky shadow until a thunderclap illuminated the ground below.

On an unfamiliar plain, a single spiritual peak stood tall, surrounded by swirling, dark clouds. From the heavens, a powerful ancient dragon species descended, not just one, but a whole flock.

The synchronized Azure Dragons soared through the air, their graceful and majestic movements both elegant and dangerous. With multiple water manipulation techniques in play, the stolen "water" was returned to its rightful owner.

The water in the air condensed, compressed, and sharpened, transforming the world's most fragile element into the sharpest of weapons. Two titans, each several kilometers tall, approached the tiny enemy from two directions, their massive fists carrying incomparable mass and power.

The Azure Dragons attacked in unison, their ethereal chants slicing through the air. Water lines, capable of cutting through the heavens, sliced through the giants' bodies, causing countless boulders to roll and seas to crash to the ground. The two giants were cut in half at the waist.

The water lines, having passed through numerous obstacles, finally struck the goddess's barrier, but they failed to penetrate the defense. The giants, seemingly destroyed, quickly healed and stood once more.

But the water lines were just the beginning. After a long buildup, a colossal water cannon was compressed to its maximum. Under the guidance of the Azure Dragons, the terrifying water cannon descended from the sky!

"Composite—Great Azure Divine Strike!"

The powerful water cannon enveloped the goddess and her surroundings, piercing the earth like fragile tofu. The relentless assault seemed intent on drilling through the entire planet.

"This is useless. Are you not going to give up?"

The goddess's majestic voice echoed, and she emerged from the attack's range, her body glowing faintly and unchanged. Her elaborate gown, woven from white, red, and black, remained untouched.

Lu Ke's eyes flickered, but he remained noncommittal. "After all, you are well-versed in water and earth. It's not surprising that you can transform these elements into anything you imagine."

As a goddess of creation, it was impossible for her to be unfamiliar with the two most abundant elements on the planet. This was evident from the transformation magic Lenise had taught him, which involved converting earth and water into other substances.

A spark of inspiration flashed in his mind, and certain theories began to form.

"Not just water and earth, but everything in this world is known to me. Therefore, there is nothing in this world that can harm me."

The goddess looked at Lu Ke as if he were a small, helpless puppy baring its teeth in a futile attempt to appear fierce.

"Do you know what the greatest harm you've caused me in this battle is?"

She cast a playful glance downward. "Yes, besides taking my virginity, you've achieved nothing."

Silence.

More silence.

Apart from the realization that the goddess in the previous illusion was real, which troubled Lu Ke about how he would explain this to Treila, her words were more of an insult.

An insult that suggested he was not even considered a threat.

But Lu Ke picked up on other information from her words. He was not angered by her condescension but instead looked at the goddess with a serious expression.

"There is one thing in this world that can harm you."

The goddess's divine face showed the first sign of emotion at this statement.

Lu Ke smiled. "The foundation of magic is imagination. What cannot be imagined cannot be realized. You know everything about this world, so you can manipulate it as you please, but there is one thing you do not understand."

That thing was him!

At the moment his golden finger awakened, he became something the goddess did not understand. Because she did not understand, she could not imagine, and thus could not directly control Lu Ke.

Otherwise, she could have used domination magic, leaving Lu Ke with no chance of resistance.

"You haven't been able to defeat me yet, not just because you're holding back, but also because you can't see the future of this battle."

The goddess responded calmly. "I indeed do not fully understand you now, and I cannot use the most efficient magic to subdue you. However, the sheer difference in power between us is evident."

"Yes, in terms of sheer power, I am far inferior to you, perhaps not even a tenth of yours. If we were to be reasonable about it."

Lu Ke rushed to the goddess's side, his fist glowing with several rays of light. He delivered a simple, unadorned punch to the barrier, and the effect was excellent.

The barrier, imbued with countless protective spells, groaned under the strain, fine cracks spreading like a spider web. It then shattered with a resounding boom, much to the goddess's surprise.

A flash of light, and the goddess reappeared a short distance away, seemingly having teleported to avoid the attack.

"How did you do that?"

"Just a few times more powerful, nothing to be surprised about."

Lu Ke flexed his wrists, silently adding to himself, "If this were another world."

As a magic expert, he knew the power system in this world was very logical. One was one, and two was two. Even the most intricate techniques only increased efficiency to near 100%.

But other worlds were different. The most typical example was the Dragon Ball universe, where a few transformations could result in a thousandfold increase in power!

The buff Lu Ke was using came from the spellcasting technique "Secret Slayer" of his original self, Cursed Lu Ke. As the name suggested, it was a mysterious special attack. The more mysterious the target, the greater the damage.

If the target is a mystical creature like a Pokemon, fairy, or demon, the damage is doubled. If the target is a revered deity, the damage is even more potent.

When the target is the Goddess of Creation, the Secret Assassin technique reaches its peak effectiveness!

Combined with the secret incantation from the temple, the damage can be doubled again.

Taking advantage of the goddess's shock, Luk lunged forward, raising his right hand. His devastating punch, which warped the space it passed through, aimed straight for the goddess's face.

Boom!

Her flawless, snow-white hand intercepted the punch, followed by a surge of terrifying force.

Luk's body was sent flying like a meteor, leveling the mountains below and turning his flesh and bones into a mushy mess.

Multiple healing spells instantly restored his severely injured body, and Luk stood up, his anger replaced by joy. The goddess's genuine counterattack meant he was a real threat.

His eyes revealed the Mangekyo Sharingan, glowing with an eerie light.

This Mangekyo, inherited from Fugaku Uchiha, possessed the eye technique called "Kunado Tatsunomi," the first deity to appear after the separation of heaven and earth in Shinto mythology, representing "the enduring nature of heaven."

"In the beginning of the creation of heaven and earth, a thing was born in the midst of the chaos, resembling a reed sprout, and it transformed into a deity, known as Kunado Tatsunomi."

The left eye's Heaven's Hold locks the current state of the user, with all damage, strain, and overexertion being settled after the technique ends.

The right eye's Heaven's Dawn records the user's state over a period of time, and when reactivated, it can overwrite the current state.

Together, these techniques allow Luk to manipulate his body in extreme ways before his chakra runs out.

The previous Luks never had the chance to use these techniques because they never faced an opponent strong enough to force them. Now, he could finally go all out.

Using Heaven's Dawn to record his current healthy state, Luk placed his fists at his waist and grinned. His body's energy began to surge beyond its limits.

Eight Gates Release!

This technique, with its severe side effects, was a perfect match for the Mangekyo's power.

Luk's body turned red, his heart beating several times faster than normal, and his blood flowed at an incredible speed. The energy within him became incredibly active.

First Gate, Open! Second Gate, Open! Third Gate, Open! Fourth Gate, Open! Fifth Gate, Open! Sixth Gate, Open!

The first six gates opened smoothly, his body's strength far surpassing Might Guy's, leaving him without any strain.

"Seventh Gate, Open!"

The intense use of his body made Luk feel a surge of excitement. His crimson eyes fixed on the goddess high above.

The growing aura from below caught the goddess's divine gaze, adding a hint of surprise. Before she could react, a massive blue steam cloud rushed toward her.

A hand pierced through the barrier, aiming for the goddess's neck, colliding with her pale hand. The impact obliterated the thick, dark clouds in the sky and shattered the already devastated earth.

This time, Luk was only slightly at a disadvantage. In his excited state, he licked his lips and launched a frenzied attack, enveloping the goddess in a storm of strikes.

The goddess frowned and retreated, her body splitting into three different forms: an old woman in a cloak, a youthful and beautiful young woman, and an innocent little girl. They were the goddess's consciousness personified, each with infinite potential in the realm of imagination.

The old woman spoke first, her voice hoarse and aged, "I am the dying past, unchangeable and immutable. My only accumulation is wisdom."

The young woman followed, her voice soft and adorable, "I am the uncertain future, full of possibilities. My only accumulation is potential."

The teenage girl concluded, her voice clear and enchanting, "I am the ongoing present, bridging the past and shaping the future. My only accumulation is understanding."

As they chanted, the goddess used her wisdom as the foundation, fueled by divine power, and transformed possibilities into reality. She anchored her understanding and extended her hand toward the charging Luk.

"Freeze!"

The simple, monotonous word had a terrifying effect.

A cold so intense it could freeze an entire planet trapped Luk, dropping him from the sky to the ground. The overflowing cold turned a hundred-mile radius into an icy hell.

The goddess sighed, calming herself, and approached the frozen Luk. After a few steps, she suddenly stopped, a sense of impending danger rising sharply.

For the first time in endless time, something threatened her very existence. This unfamiliar feeling brought both unease and an indescribable joy.

This was what she had been waiting for, an unknown future!

The light in her eyes grew brighter.

A sizzling sound came from Luk as the ice shattered, and a towering red steam erupted.

Eighth Gate, Open!

The final gate of the Eight Gates Release, a technique that almost certainly results in death, was no longer a desperate move but a suicidal one.

After using it, the user would die, regardless of whether the opponent did.

In exchange, the power gained was immense!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end