Power of Runes-Chapter 154: Not deserving the name ’Divine’

"Divine Arts of Eternal Silence"

"Fifth Form: Fear"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Ash’s body accelerated like a flash of light. Within a moment, he appeared in front of the red dragon. But unlike what he had expected, all five dragons were already tracking his movements with precise attention.

I expect nothing less from the dragons...

Their sharp eyes followed his every move. They didn’t panic or hesitate. Instead, their bodies shifted instinctively, and they simultaneously launched coordinated attacks at Ash, their instincts and combat sense as sharp as blades.

Let’s see how you plan to dodge this, human, the blue dragon thought, his fist heading straight for Ash’s abdomen. The others followed with their own strikes, aiming from every direction to block off any escape route.

But Ash wasn’t caught off-guard, he immediately stomped his foot against the ground, shifting his balance and redirecting the momentum he had built in the previous form.

His body dropped into another stance, one more suited to his current need.

That dark bastard might have pushed me to the edge by forcing all of his memories into my head, almost making me lose my mind... but at least I gained something out of it. The martial art technique he created was truly something else.

The beauty of it lies in how it channels pure emotions to push the body to its extreme, allowing it to act beyond normal limits...

"FOURTH FORM: APATHY."

The fifth form focused on explosive speed and striking through blind spots, meant for quick assassinations and overwhelming bursts.

But the fourth form was designed for something more complex—multi-target combat. It enhanced perception, boosted reflexes, and sharpened movement until every step felt like instinct.

Muttering the form’s name was more than an activation—it was like flipping a switch in his very soul. His emotions dimmed, his heartbeat steadied, and a chilling calmness wrapped around his body like frost.

A cold, detached aura spread around Ash, matching the emptiness in his eyes. His movements became sharp yet smooth, efficient yet powerful, his hands flowing like cold wind as he deflected and dodged every incoming strike with minimal effort.

-BAM!!

-BAM!!

-BAM!!

-BAM!!

Ash managed to parry and dodge four attacks flawlessly, but the red dragon’s last strike slipped through and hit him directly in the ribs. The blow lifted him slightly off the ground.

The other four dragons were pushed back five full steps from Ash’s counters, while he himself was thrown six steps back due to the red dragon’s well-timed and forceful kick.

He aimed for my head, but at the last moment changed his target to my ribs... interesting...

Despite the pain, Ash felt something akin to excitement bubbling inside him. Unknowingly, the remnants of Dark Ash’s personality were starting to twist their way into his thoughts.

Bjorn, the black dragon, didn’t give him a moment of rest. He raised his voice and declared firmly, "Do not hold back. Use your full power."

With that, he shouted, "Darkness Bind!"

The others followed instantly with their own spells.

"Ice Rain!"

"Fire Bolt!"

"Poisonous Mist!"

As soon as they spoke, a complex web of glowing symbols spread through the air, surrounding the battlefield like an invisible trap.

Ash narrowed his eyes as he observed the runes closing in.

Speaking of Runes... I think I can now link them to the Soul tree instead of just my core...

But damn, I really feel sleepy... my mind’s running on fumes. Maybe I should’ve waited till I’d recovered...

...But then again,

No, it’s fine. The more I grind myself now, the more I’ll shine later.

"FIFTH FORM: FEAR"

Once more, his body surged forward, speed returning with renewed force. He dodged the first wave of shadows from the darkness spell with ease, sidestepping and weaving between the symbols.

He even avoided the early shots of ice and fire, his movements graceful and rapid despite the poisonous mist beginning to cloud his vision.

Still, he pressed forward.

However, just as it felt like he was about to cut through them—

"Earth Shake!"

The brown dragon’s voice thundered through the field. The moment the words were spoken, the ground beneath Ash’s feet began to tremble violently. His balance faltered for just a second.

And in that second, all the attacks landed.

-BOOM!!!

-BOOM!!!

-BOOM!!!

"He should be down now," one of the dragons said, his voice filled with satisfaction.

"Obviously. My paralyzing poison must have already frozen his body completely," Amy, the green dragon, replied with confidence.

"It was only because of my earth spell that he got hit in the first place. If I hadn’t activated it in time, none of our attacks would have landed," the brown dragon added with a proud tone.

"Don’t lower your guard yet," Bjorn snapped, his gaze sharp. "Surround him from every side! And damn it, Amy, why haven’t you contacted anyone for backup until now?"

"Relax, we can take care of this human ourselves. Why bother others when we’re enough?" Amy said in a laid-back tone, then added after a pause, "Besides, the Elders aren’t responding to any of my calls either."

Even while speaking, none of them looked away. Their eyes were fixed in the center of the battlefield, the spot where Ash had been struck.

The smoke was thick, but as it began to clear, a familiar voice echoed softly from within the fading haze.

"That hurt a little..." Ash’s voice rang out as he stepped forward casually, completely unharmed. He raised one hand and waved, as if greeting them in the middle of a friendly spar.

His clothes were untouched, not a trace of damage on them, not even a speck of dust. It was as if he had walked through their combined attacks without being affected in the slightest.

In fact, he was hurt, but his body and clothes healed quickly.

"Why don’t we fight using just our bodies?" Ash continued, his voice calm and almost playful. "That’s what I’ve been doing from the beginning, after all."

His casual words struck them harder than any blow could have. None of the five dragons could hide their shock. Their expressions hardened, realizing they were still underestimating the human standing in front of them.

Ash took a deep breath, his tone remaining calm. "Let’s fight a little longer. I think I’m starting to understand where I stand. I still need more real battle experience, and I also need to polish my skills. In short, I need to push myself before I return."

The calm and almost tired way he spoke, as if he were on a simple training journey, only made the dragons angrier.

"Are you going to run away again using that teleportation artifact of yours?" the blue dragon asked, his voice tense.

Ash tilted his head slightly. "What a silly question. Why would I run? We’re just getting started."

So they believe I used some artifact to teleport last time... interesting. I guess I’ll let them keep thinking that way. No need to clear up any misunderstandings.

He lifted his arm slowly, his fingers curling slightly as he murmured under his breath:

Divine Arts of Eternal Silence

"SECOND FORM: RAGE"

A red aura erupted from Ash’s body like a wildfire. It pulsed and surged, wrapping around his form, while red light burst forth from the eye-slits of his mask, gleaming with unspoken intensity.

The ground beneath him cracked ever so slightly from the pressure alone.

The second form was not about finesse. It was a manifestation of rage itself—an art of pure motion and adaptability. It allowed the user to move without restraint, changing direction at will, twisting through the air in any posture, built for reaction and unchained offense.

"Come," Ash said softly, his voice low but clear, the calm before the storm.

I can’t keep this form active for more than two minutes. If I go beyond that, I’ll lose control and go completely berserk.

Despite how powerful the martial arts were, Ash knew these arts still weren’t truly worthy of the name Divine.

They were incomplete. They were raw and incomplete. He would need to reshape them, make them his own. That would take time, and that was exactly what he lacked.

The clash resumed.

Again and again, they collided like waves against stone.

Their battle grew fiercer with each passing second. Ash took a few hits, but each wound was healed instantly, his body reinforced by the life element flowing within him.

On the other hand, the dragons, despite their overwhelming defense and resistance, began to feel the weight of his strikes.

Ash’s fists and kicks were landing with such force that even the tough muscles and scales of the dragons began to tremble.

Their bones ached, not because of any visible damage, but from the sheer impact and the building pressure of their prolonged fight.

Ten Minutes passed, and the chaotic rhythm of the battle didn’t slow for even a moment. Ash moved between his various martial forms fluidly, shifting as needed to adapt to each attack and counter.

But amid the fight, he discovered a flaw in the martial arts that frustrated him.

These forms... they don’t connect.

They were strong on their own, each one suited for a particular situation. But when it came to using them together in a sequence, there was no smooth transition.

It was like trying to force disjointed pieces into a flowing melody, only to find the rhythm constantly breaking.

If someone wanted to use all seven... or eight forms together in a perfect chain... it would be nearly impossible the way they are now.

His breathing had grown heavier.

"Huff... huff..."

Let’s retreat now. I already know what I need to work on, and if I keep fighting any longer, I might really lose consciousness.

I’m at my limit... I need sleep more than anything right now...

Ash took a deep breath and raised his hand slightly, his tone casual, "Let’s wrap it up here. I’m really tired now. Thank you all for the spar."

Hearing those words, the young dragons froze, their pride cracking like glass.

He really treated us like sparring dummies...

A dragon... used as a warm-up...

This human...

At that moment, Ash’s mana had fully returned in one of his cores, and the second was about one-third filled. Just as he was preparing to teleport and leave, a powerful voice echoed through the air.

"STOP!!"

In the next instant, eight Dragon Elders appeared, surrounding Ash from all directions.

***

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