Sacrifice's Rise: I Became Invincible After Entering Godslayer Temple

Chapter 677 A Formidable Foe

Ali sharply focused, tracking Code 19's trajectory as it flickered in and out of her vision.

Each appearance signified a brief pause—perhaps a change in direction or speed, or simply adapting to the surroundings.

magi specializing in high-velocity combat greatly value familiarity with the terrain, as fighting in known areas means they can save considerable time that would otherwise be spent on terrain recognition, redirecting it towards reaction and strategic thinking.

In essence, the more familiar the terrain, the stronger a high-velocity combat magus becomes.

Even in unfamiliar settings, such magi possess a superior ability to adapt to the terrain.

Although Ali wasn't this type of magus—preferring a combat style that involved circling the outskirts before striking a deadly blow when the opportunity arises—she still had her methods to face this challenge.

By remaining still, she could respond to any change.

The less Ali initiated, the fewer opportunities she presented for her opponent to exploit.

Against a foe who thrives on speed, making no mistakes is crucial.

Positioning her sword at an angle, Ali concentrated on capturing Code 19's movements.

Not all actions could be detected, but it was enough.

With a sufficient amount of data, Ali could roughly estimate Code 19's limits.

Once the extent of Code 19's capabilities was assessed, Ali could decide her next move.

Should she attempt to escape and shake off Code 19, or eliminate him here and then return?

Ali finally found her answer.

Although Code 19 was dangerous, he seemed not to exceed the range she could manage.

Attack!

Code 19's figure halted abruptly, his speed doubling in an instant, as he thrust his short sword at Ali's neck in a diagonal angle.

His opening move was lethal; Code 19 had no intention of leaving Ali alive.

With a twist of her blade, Ali deflected Code 19's rapier.

Although a rapier's speed is unmatched among all sword types, it is also the lightest.

Any attack of equal level could generally be parried, provided one's reaction speed was sufficient.

But conversely, those who failed to defend against such strikes were now dead.

Victory leads to survival; defeat to death.

Such are the rules of a duel to the death, the simplest and most direct, appealing to the most primal instincts of living beings.

It's this purity that ensnares countless individuals in the thrill.

Whether it's the hallucinations on the brink of death or the rush from an adrenaline surge, these are all manifestations of exhilaration.

As blades clashed time and again, Ali held back her offense, securely blocking every one of Code 19's assaults.

She was in no hurry.

Code 19's expenditure was far greater than hers, and it was he who would likely lose patience first.

The moment Code 19's attacks hesitated, he would reveal a fatal flaw.

This is a common weakness among all high-speed combat magi.

Their offense may be sharp and powerful, but their defense is almost nonexistent.

In their pursuit of speed, they sacrifice nearly everything.

Yet, to them, this trade-off is worthwhile because it grants them the ability to challenge opponents beyond their level.

Though this approach doesn't quite work against Ali, it's usually deadly effective against other magi.

In the clearing amidst the woods, two figures clashed at high speed, blades locking and parting with sharp sounds and brilliant sparks.

Ten times a minute?

Twenty times a minute?

Their movements had entirely surpassed the limits of human dynamic vision.

If a third party were present, all they could perceive would be the sparks flying off the blade tips.

Beyond that, nothing would be visible.

This is the nature of combat between magi, leaving no room for ordinary people to intervene.

If the existence of mana has bifurcated the world into the ordinary and the extraordinary, then the existence of magi has cruelly and sharply divided humanity into ordinary people and magi.

They might not be antagonistic, but they certainly don't share the same camp.

In the eyes of a magus, ordinary people are merely mortals incapable of comprehending the beauty of mana.

Yet, to ordinary people, what are magi if not beings with a non-human bloodline coursing through their veins, making them outliers?

Can a truly pure-blooded human become a magus?

Though the spell system of magi appears to emphasize learning and research, where did the first magi come from?

What were the identities of those legendary heroes with non-human talents mentioned in tales?

To this day, there has never been a precedent of a magus becoming the king of a human nation.

But let's return to Ali's perspective.

The half-elf was now on edge, her forehead beaded with sweat, no longer possessing the composure she had at the start.

She had severely miscalculated Code 19's strength.

Like her, Code 19 had concealed his true capabilities, only unleashing his full power after Ali decided to stand her ground and fight back.

In such a situation, Ali had no chance to escape.

She had to face him head-on.

The single-handed sword was much heavier than the shortsword, yet Ali was able to block Code 19's attacks time and again...

Was this because Ali was stronger and faster?

Certainly not!

Just like at the beginning, but now, their positions had switched!

Now, it was Code 19 who was pushing Ali to her limits!

He was probing the extent of Ali's capabilities, much like a feline predator that, upon catching its prey, doesn't rush to kill but rather prefers to exhaust the prey by toying with it.

Such a vile creature.

Ali's eyes narrowed, golden light slowly concentrating, her mana flux and mana capacity incrementally increasing.

She was preparing "Brave," still hesitating whether to use it or not, but preparing it was always good.

A single use equates to twenty years of life.

Had the situation reached that level of desperation?

Ali attempted a surprise attack to escape Code 19's entanglement.

But it was futile; Code 19 was faster.

When Code 19 fully revealed his strength, Ali realized just how terrifying a level 2 magus specialized in speed could be.

Even she could only barely catch his general movements, utterly incapable of tracking his actions!

All her attacks and defenses were now based on deductions from Code 19's movements.

If Code 19 were to change his tactics, she would be at a complete disadvantage, without even a chance to turn the tables.

What to do? What to do!

Ali was not yet panicking, but she could faintly see her end looming.

If she stubbornly refused to activate "Brave," she might end up without even the opportunity to use it.

Although "Brave's" regenerative ability was almost akin to immortality, it was not resurrection after all.

If Code 19 senses something amiss and kills Ali during the brief pause required to activate "Brave," its activation would be meaningless.

The dead cannot be resurrected by mana; even a wraith represents a different form of existence, lacking a physical body.

Dodging and using tree trunks to change direction at high speed, Ali barely managed to keep up with Code 19's movements, slightly easing the difficulty of tracking his actions.

It was akin to two cars speeding side by side; their relative velocity isn't high, offering a chance to catch each other's movements.

However, this was merely a temporary solution, a delay rather than a resolution to the problem.

Accelerate...

Accelerate! Faster...

Even faster!

Ali summoned all her mana, "Brave" teetering on the edge of activation, yet her actual speed increased only marginally.

Enhancing speed is not as simple as boosting mana output.

Even for cars, merely increasing horsepower does not necessarily result in higher speeds.

Without control, without the ability to react in time, increasing throttle speed is merely hastening towards death.

What movements best slice through the air, reducing air friction?

What reactions most sharply control one's posture to enter combat stance quickest?

What opening moves, what defensive maneuvers, achieve the best outcomes without compromising speed?

Addressing these questions one by one, refining each aspect, represents the path of advancement for a magus specialized in high-velocity combat.

Otherwise, one is merely a brute with speed, akin to the cloaked figure who already fell by Ali's hand.

Without a doubt, Code 19 was an entity utterly different from her, possessing a speed Ali could hardly capture, along with the ability to change direction multiple times over short distances at such velocity...

and even alter his direction and stance in the final moment of an attack!

Undoubtedly, he had completely mastered this speed.

He was a true madman, more terrifying than Howard.

Other than activating "Brave," Ali saw no other way to break through the deadlock.

Her single-handed sword shimmered with a blue light, the manifestation of mana condensed to a certain degree, with wave-like mana enveloping the blade.

The mana fluctuations tore through the air, precisely capturing the vague shadow in the atmosphere.

Interception!

A sharp, grating sound suddenly erupted, sparks flying from the friction of the blades as Code 19's form briefly revealed itself.