Born In Ashes: The Enigma

Mira was dumbstruck when she saw Azrael clear the sixth level in an instant.

The strength and stamina stats of those two Iron Bears were close to 80 points. Though their agility was around 55, it was still shocking to see someone two levels lower than the elite monsters kill them instantly.

"His control over his wind power is something that shouldn't be possible for someone who had just activated his powers…" She recalled the way Azrael had used the power of wind throughout the entire trial.

Not only could he boost his agility beyond its natural limit using the wind, but he could also use it to strike at decisive moments.

'It's like he's been using the power of wind for months instead of just a day.'

Mira's gaze focused on the beautiful black greatsword in Azrael's hand, the weapon that had sliced through two elite monsters with high defense so effortlessly and her mouth twitched.

"A Soul Armament…" She muttered, turning her head to look at Ashara with a dazed expression. "Witch, just what kind of little monster were you raising all these years?"

Ashara smiled smugly upon hearing Mira's words, completely unbothered by the fact that her son had just been called a monster.

Mira's hand itched with the urge to smack that proud look off her face, which was practically begging for a beating.

She took a deep breath and to avoid committing murder in broad daylight, Mira averted her gaze and turned her attention back to the screen.

Once Azrael killed the two Iron Bears using the Fallen Star—which had been strengthened when he advanced to Class Warrior, the monsters' bodies vanished once again.

(Do you want to proceed to the seventh level?)

The mechanical voice of the tower echoed, as he was already qualified to enter the elite class and could quit the trial now.

Azrael, of course, had no intention of stopping, and he proceeded to the seventh level.

As he entered the seventh level, the landscape around him changed. The coliseum faded, replaced by a grassy plain.

Once the landscape transformed into a grassy plain, a figure materialized before him, and as Azrael laid eyes on his opponent, his gaze narrowed.

This time, his opponent was a beautiful female with long green hair, black eyes, pointed ears, and clad in golden armor. She was an elf at level 20.

Hovering beside the female elf was a small screen displaying some of her information.

[A level 20 elite from the Elf race with the power of the Wood Element.]

(The seventh level will start in 10 seconds. Please get ready.)

(10...9...8...)

"This is different from before." Azrael gripped the Fallen Star in his hand, noting that the seventh level was vastly different from the previous ones.

Not only had the level of his opponent increased significantly, but the opponent was also an elite.

Unlike the elite Iron Bear he had fought before, who relied purely on instincts, this elf had fully developed consciousness.

Moreover, as a level 20 elite, her stat points were undoubtedly far higher than his own.

'This won't be easy…' Azrael tightened his grip on the Fallen Star and looked at the elf with serious eyes.

The countdown hit zero.

The moment it did, the previously lifeless female elf came to life and smiled at Azrael.

Azrael narrowed his eyes, sensing that she acted like a real person.

A second later, with a tap of her armored foot, the elf instantly vanished from her spot without making a sound.

Immediately, Azrael's instincts screamed in alarm.

As the hair on the back of his neck stood up, he quickly dodged to the side.

As soon as he dodged, a massive gust of air surged from behind him as a leg clad in golden armor swept through the space he had just occupied like a battle-ax.

Because he dodged in time, the elf's attack missed and slammed into the ground instead.

BOOOOOOOOM!

A deafening explosion shook the ground for tens of meters around, and the lush grass was instantly pulverized.

The shockwave blasted Azrael backward nearly five meters.

While airborne, a green light flashed in Azrael's eyes as he used the power of wind to regain control of his body.

Simultaneously, dozens of sharp wind blades shot out from all directions, aimed straight at the elf.

But before the blades could even reach her, green vines burst from the ground like serpents, destroying all the wind blades in an instant.

The vines didn't stop after destroying the wind blades and surged toward Azrael, attempting to bind him.

However, using his high agility, he dodged them with ease and severed them with the Fallen Star.

As he dealt with the vines, the elf once again disappeared.

'Her stat points…' Azrael quickly used the power of wind and barely shifted his position.

A split second later, an armored arm swept through the space he had just vacated.

Had he moved even a second later, the strike would have pierced his heart.

'Her stats are definitely over 80 points…' Cold sweat trickled down Azrael's back.

If not for the second consciousness granted by the Rune of Spirit, which allowed him to keep track of her movements, he would have already been dead.

After dodging her attack, Azrael didn't wait and swung the Fallen Star at her.

But before the sword could reach her, the elf disappeared again using her overwhelming speed.

At the same time a vine shot up from beneath Azrael's feet, trying to entangle him.

But thanks to his second consciousness, which was alert to his surroundings, he reacted instantly.

Blades of wind materialized around him and shredded the vine the moment it emerged.

'I need to stop her for just a second to land a deadly hit…' Azrael quickly concluded that this battle couldn't continue like this.

With such a massive gap in their stats, it was only a matter of time before she landed a fatal blow.

'Seems like I can only use that thing…'

As the elf once again dashed toward him, Azrael spotted her movement.

But this time, he didn't dodge.

Instead, he shifted slightly and brought the Fallen Star up to block her attack.

The elf's armored fist, meant to blow a hole through his heart struck the blade of Fallen Star.

The moment the punch connected, a tremendous force surged through the blade and into Azrael's body, sending him flying like he had been hit by a bullet train.

But at the very moment when the elf's attack hit the the blade, it glowed with a beautiful purple wind.

As the elf's hand came into contact with the purple wind, her body stiffened for a split second.

During that momentary pause, Azrael's eyes lit up with a green glow, and a sharp wind blade sliced through the elf's neck, beheading her.

A fountain of blood erupted, and with her eyes wide open in shock, the elf's body collapsed.

(You have completed the seventh level.)