Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic
Chapter 965 - 964: 4-ring Angel

If not for the need to fight now, Shard would have planned to find a way to call Iluna to the scene, then borrow the powers of an Angel and a Demon from Priest Augustus and Dr. Schneider before the battle, and additionally borrow a few relics specifically to restrain Angels from Miss Danester, the Academy Librarian—these kinds of relics do exist, and finally, have Sister Delphine lend her Angel-Level Relic Longsword, "Ashes."

At that time, with the powers of both Angel and Demon, Iluna's "Balance" suppressing the Angel, relics providing power, and two Angel-Level Relic Longswords in hand, Shard would have seventy to eighty percent confidence in defeating the opponent without using Divinity.

"The venue is this Island Heart Lake, and you are not allowed to leave its boundaries."

The white-robed lady said, then waved her hand at Professor Drake, who vanished on the lake surface.

"Follower of the Recorder, I once managed the power of the 'Water' element, one of the Four Elements, for my Lord. Long ago, the vastness of the material world's oceans far surpassed what it is now. After my Lord departed, ominous entities that whispered enigmatically gradually took over the deep sea. I once led the ocean races of the Second Era in an attempt to reclaim the abyssal homeland of those beautiful races."

Since the topic involves occurrences from the Second Era, she is indeed an Angel of the Ancient God.

The shimmering light of the water seeped into Shard's body, and "she" whispered softly in his ear:

[Outlander, you have encountered a "Miracle."]

[The Angel of Wisdom imparts her story to you.]

[Outlander, you have acquired the sorcery of 'Water Flow Control.']

[Due to the authority granted by the Angel, you can manipulate the water beneath your feet with more precision.]

"The sorcery of Water Flow Control, and the authority to manipulate this lake? But it seems the opponent suppresses me in both these aspects."

The white-robed lady holding the long staff lightly struck the ground, and her white robe moved without wind, with the surging Miracle Element directly revealing to Shard the two pure white and transparent wings behind her.

He heard the familiar steam whistle and bell toll, and as those transparent wings fluttered, a vast, intense steam mist emerged from an unknown source. As Shard's eyes widened, an enormous golden Ring of Fate appeared, rotating behind the white-robed lady. The ring's quadrilateral interface signified her identity as a Four-Ring Sorcerer.

The term "enormous" indicates that the Angel's Ring of Fate was larger than that of an ordinary Circle Sorcerer. And this was the first time Shard had seen a golden Ring of Fate since, in the Sixth Era, all beings' rings were made of brass.

"Indeed, using the Sixth Era's mysticism system, suppressing the power to the same level as mine... Core Spirit Runes are... Miracle [Angel], Miracle [Water], Enlightenment [Water of Wisdom]."

He thought in his heart, feeling the Miracle Element emanating like the sun from the white-robed lady's Ring of Fate.

The Ring of Fate revolved behind her, and the lady with wings softly spoke:

"Now, the third trial officially begins..."

"Please wait a moment!"

Shard immediately said, then took out a charred feather from his person:

"Please take a look at this!"

The feather from Priest Augustus flew towards the lady who was about to take action. She extended her left hand to let the feather fall into her palm, and for the first time, the perpetually gentle expression on her face showed astonishment:

"Death Angel?"

"Yes."

"You have gained His recognition?"

The white-robed lady asked Shard.

"Uh... yes."

Shard was not sure whether he was lying.

The charred feather was crushed by the white-robed lady holding the staff, and bits of black light seeped into the white glow surrounding her. She didn't speak immediately but looked at Shard for a full half minute before saying:

"According to the ancient covenant, the Death Angel is the Primeval Angel, the King of Angels. Since you've gained its recognition, I am willing to adjust the difficulty of the third trial."

"We don't have to fight? Maybe we can have a battle of wit instead; as you know, the trial of Knowledge and Wisdom, perhaps we can compete with math problems. Do you know about prime numbers? I have a pretty good question."

Shard asked hopefully, not because he was unwilling to face the difficulties, but because the challenge was indeed overwhelming.

"No."

The Ring of Fate was still present, and the White-robed Lady said sternly:

"The trial for the Follower of the Recorder remains unchanged. But if you can still stand on this water and fight me in five minutes, I will concede defeat automatically."

Shard didn't know what to say at this moment. The prestige of Priest Augustus was significant, but not significant enough. Moreover, since the "Lake Goddess" acknowledged that the Death Angel recognized Shard, it meant that Priest Augustus was definitely not merely merging parts of the Primeval Angel.

The "Lake Goddess" seemed to regard Priest Augustus directly as that original angel.

For the moment, Shard put the matter of Priest Augustus aside. Given the circumstances, Shard had no other choice. He touched the Spellcasting Materials on himself, checked the Reliquaries he had brought with him, looked down at the sword in his hand, and felt for the red wooden box tucked behind his pants.

With a slight movement of his left hand, the water beneath his feet began to surge upwards. The Sorcery of "Water Flow Control" was not a powerful force, but the water beneath his feet was not ordinary "water." The assistance given to Shard by Professor Drake, who gave up his own wish, would play a significant role in the upcoming battle.

"Alright, then let us begin."

Shard said softly.

The lady emanating a gentle white Glimmer took a step back, white wings of pure feathers unfurling behind her. But she didn't soar into the sky; instead, she bent down to touch the water's surface with her hand.

As the Miracle of the Core Spirit Rune [Water] and the Miracle Soul Rune [Sword] emitted Spiritual Light, she straightened, already holding in her right hand a Longsword "lifted" from the lake, made entirely of flowing water.

The water within the Longsword remained in motion, the turbulence creating countless strange symbols on the blade. Reflecting the sunlight, those symbols glistened with a golden sheen, resembling flowing Rune Chains, supporting the framework of that Pure Water Sword.

This was likely some form of ancient secret technique. While Shard was still discerning the Runes on the Pure Water Sword, the sword was already slicing silently forward. This strike seemed very ordinary, merely sending the flowing Water Blade breaking the surface towards Shard, but Shard felt his hair stand on end; he knew he could never meet this strike head-on:

"Moonlight!"

Shard swung his sword forward as well, leveraging the Silvermoon Arc from the [Night Watchman] to confront the Water Blade on the water's surface. In an instant, silver Light Particles and splashed water droplets flew chaotically, but it was clear the White-robed Lady was more skilled. After the collision, the Silvermoon Blade completely vanished, while the Water Blade continued to slash towards Shard, who had to swing his sword again to completely obliterate it.

"Indeed, the power was suppressed. Stronger than me, but not by much!"

Shard quickly assessed, clashing his sword forward with a clang~, meeting the lady's sword coming through the mist.

One sword thrust, another parried, the horizontal blade was blocked by a blade slashing down unexpectedly from another angle. Neither retreated, relying solely on excellent Swordsmanship and force to clash with each other. In just a few seconds, the silver sword light and water light on the lake almost joined into frosted sugar-like threads, but in reality, Shard was at a disadvantage.

The White-robed Lady merely wielded her sword single-handed, with her left hand steadily holding a Long Staff. Each of her strikes just outmatched Shard, who was using the "Power of the Red Dragon" and wearing the [Impure Dragon Blood]. Her exquisite Swordsmanship was not inferior at all to the combat experience gained from the [Night Watchman] by the Outlander.

Shard felt like he was fighting against shapeless water, with the White-robed Lady's swordsmanship like waves, limitless and continuous.

The [Night Watchman] was continuously adjusting Shard's sword angles based on the White-robed Lady's Swordsmanship, the two entangled on the lake surface, collisions of immense force sent muffled noises echoing, and the water surface beneath exploded into mists due to the great force. The mist gradually obscured the Heart Lake Island Center Lake, and the Water Sword gradually pierced through [Night Watchman]'s dense defense, leaving tears on Shard's clothes.

With a thud~, knowing merely sword fighting wouldn't suffice, Shard turned his entire being into a swarm of Luminous Red Butterflies retreating backward. The waves summoned by the [Water] Spirit Talisman pressed towards the Red Butterfly swarm. As the Thunder Spear blasted a large hole in the water wall, the Red Butterflies flew out, pulling Shard further back.

When he steadied himself on the lake again, the White-robed Lady halted beneath the giant rock in the middle of the lake gazing at him.

Steam whistles and bells resonated together, and the Brass Ring loomed as a black silhouette in the depths of the water mist. The emerging Steam Mist added a few more degrees of warmth to this winter afternoon. Four-Color Aura shone, illuminating all around with Miracle, Desecration, Enlightenment, and Whisper Aura.

Shard holding the sword in his right hand, pressed two fingers of his left on the Sword Hilt of the Silver Sword. As the fingers gradually brushed over the Saffron Rune of [My Heart is Clear, Sword Cuts Demons], the silver Moonlight flowed with its fingertips.

The Moonlight poured down, enveloping the [Night Watchman], the flickering Moonlight ultimately forming the weapon Shard was most familiar with. The Silver Moonlight Great Sword, wielded through the [Night Watchman]. At that moment, the Moonlight Great Sword was the [Night Watchman], the [Night Watchman] was the Moonlight Great Sword.

"Lagre's Leap!"

With one step, he appeared directly in front of the White-robed Lady, the sword light attached with divine Moonlight, the attack from "Blade of Chaotic Space-Time" called upon time from beyond, combined with Shard's Swordsmanship, weaving a grid of sword lights before him.

The Ring of Fate fully manifested, using his strongest weapon in optimal condition. Swift, breath-holding attacks finally made the White-robed Lady, still wielding her sword with one hand, show signs of faltering; she fought while retreating on the water, her robe's sleeves stirred by the wind while waving her Longsword.

When Shard thrust a fierce sword towards her throat, the wings on her back finally flapped forward. The White Feather Wings effortlessly parried Shard's Great Sword; as the Long Staff gently tapped the water surface, three Spirit Runes on the ring behind her flickered consecutively:

Whisper [Phantom], Miracle [Truth], Enlightenment [Sealing].

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