It hurts.
It hurts so much.
Pain.
Pain.
Stop this.
Stop this.
Follow orders.
What?
Perform your duty.
What duty?
The reason for your existence.
Existence? What a funny word.
Follow orders.
What orders?
Follow them.
What?
You are the General of Stone.
Death is nothing to you.
Rise up, soldier.
Ah, I remember.
I fought... and I lost to a Paradise Warrior.
You have not lost.
Awaken from sleep, soldier, and perform your duty.
Awaken?
.....
Yes
I remember.
Yasamir's Hills.
Given thought by the Sovereign.
I have served him for countless eons.
And I shall serve him forevermore.
Very good. Now awaken and wipe out your enemy.
Yes…
—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As Wilford sighed in relief, looking at the Stone Knight's corpse, he suddenly felt an immense wave of Earth Elemental Energy surge toward the body.
The corpse began to quiver as the shattered spear reconstructed itself.
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me," Wilford groaned, instantly recognizing what was happening.
This was Phase 2 of the boss battle, as Carto would call it.
The Stone Knight suddenly stood up, its helmet fully restored.
"You are a skilled fighter. In the Wildlands, perhaps few at our level could challenge you. For this, I commend you," the Stone Knight spoke in a muffled but grave voice as it grasped its spear once more.
"And thus… you shall witness," it paused, almost as if contemplating the next words.
"Death."
Without hesitation, the Stone Knight drove its spear into its own chest.
Almost instantly, massive amounts of Aether began swirling toward the Stone Knight, rapidly converting into dense Earth Elemental Energy. The spear lodged in its chest started to fuse with the knight, becoming one with its stone body.
Wilford's expression darkened as he realized the severity of the situation. Without hesitation, he conjured a colossal sphere of water, rotating at speeds equivalent to the sound barrier in this world. With a flick of his wrist, he sent it hurtling toward the Stone Knight.
BOOM!
The sphere tore through the air with immense force, its path ripping apart the surrounding landscape as it shot toward its target.
Multiple earth walls erupted from the ground, attempting to halt the sphere's advance, but each one crumbled effortlessly under its overwhelming force. The sphere surged forward, undeterred, and barreled toward its target.
In the midst of its fusion, the Stone Knight shifted its gaze toward the approaching attack. With a slow, deliberate motion, it raised its right arm and pointed at the water sphere.
"Disperse."
With that single word, the powerful sphere dissolved mid-air, its water cascading harmlessly to the ground.
Wilford's eyes narrowed, a gleam flashing in them. He realized what had just happened.
"So this is your final form? The blooming of the Animus Flower?" Wilford said, his tone suddenly shifting, as if he were addressing an old acquaintance.
The Stone Knight's raspy voice echoed through the now-quiet battlefield. "It's been so long since I've awakened it... So long, I forgot myself. Thank you, Wilford , for bringing me back."
Wilford raised an eyebrow, caught off guard. "You know me?"
The Stone Knight didn't answer. Instead, from behind it, an apparition began to form. Petals bloomed in midair, creating a grayish flower. Cracks marred its surface, as if the flower itself was on the verge of shattering.
"Bloom."
With that single command, the flower burst open, unleashing an overwhelming pressure that crashed down on Wilford like a tidal wave.
Animus Flower of Undying Stone – Stonebloom Chrysalis!
Wilford's expression twisted in frustration as he watched the Stonebloom Chrysalis bloom before his eyes. This was exactly what he had feared.
In this world, Energy Arts were primarily supplementary techniques.The beings here didn't need to train these techniques to use them. As long as they had sufficient strength, they could wield any Energy Art without limitation.
What truly mattered in this world was the cultivation of one's essence. Mortals learned to control Elemental Energy. Elites used it to refine their bodies. But Saints? Saints were on an entirely different level. They constructed their Animus Flowers—corporeal manifestations of their minds. These flowers weren't just symbolic; they granted the Saints authority over their environment, allowing them to influence and command specific types of Elemental Energy within a region simply by willing it, a direct result of the Animus Flower's inherent connection to Aether.
The four stages of the Saint rank were defined by the growth of the Animus Flower, a process that determined their power. Only upon reaching Ruby Petals, the final stage of the flower's development, could a Saint truly wield its full might. Until then, the incomplete flower provided enhanced control over Energy Arts, but nothing compared to the complete form.
Wilford, who had only managed to cultivate The Jade Sapling, now felt utterly overpowered as the Stone Knight unleashed its fully bloomed Stonebloom Chrysalis.
"Die!" The Stone Knight's voice thundered, and the earth erupted violently, sprouting numerous appendages that lunged toward Wilfordlike the limbs of some monstrous creature.
Gritting his teeth, Wilford quickly summoned several spheres of water, flicking them at the approaching tendrils. Yet, before they could make contact, thick earthen walls rose, blocking his attacks with ease.
As Wilford attempted to retreat, the ground beneath him betrayed him. More appendages sprouted from below, swiftly wrapping around his legs, binding him in place.
Wilfordcould feel his incomplete Animus Flower slowly being crushed by the relentless appendages. Once it was destroyed, he'd be reduced to the strength of a Peak Elite, a level of power that the Stone Knight could obliterate without effort.
"Wilford Darrow... is that your name this time around?" the Stone Knight rasped, its voice cold and distant.
Wilford was stunned by the Stone Knight's words. "This time around?" What did it mean? .There was nothing in Wilford 's memory to account for this.
Just as the Stone Knight seemed ready to answer, a meteorite hurtled down from the sky, crashing into the Stone Knight with an ear-splitting:
BOOM!
"So it's you this time!" A booming, brutish voice cut through the chaos. Next to the bound Wilford, a towering figure appeared—twice the size of a normal man.
Wilford immediately recognized him.
Grand Commander of the West Brigade – Amadeus Kyros!
The Stone Knight staggered as it tried to rise. "So you've finally arrived, Amadeus. I was wondering how long you'd stay up there, hiding from me!" The Stone Knight laughed, struggling to stand.
Amadeus snorted, summoning a flaming spear into his hand. Behind him, a blazing flower unfurled—its petals swirling like a lotus caught in a fiery tornado.
Animus Flower of World-Burning Flames – Cinderstorm Calamity Flower!
Without hesitation, Amadeus hurled the spear at the Stone Knight, who made no effort to block it. The spear hit its target with a deafening:
BOOM!
The resulting explosion was massive, its destructive force like that of a nuclear blast. But before it could spread, Amadeus clapped his hands together, slowly compressing the explosion, concentrating all its destructive energy on the Stone Knight alone.
.The Stone Knight's Animus Flower burned to ash, its very body melting. Yet, even as it dissolved into nothing, it locked eyes with Wilford .
"Kyros! My task is complete! I have won!" the Stone Knight cried, its voice defiant, even in defeat.
Amadeus snorted dismissively, intensifying the flames. But from within the inferno came a chilling, shrill laugh.
"All HAIL THE SOVEREIGN!"
And then, all went silent.
Wilford stood silently, staring at the absence of the Stone Knight's remains—nothing left but scorched earth.
Amadeus, satisfied that the Stone Knight had truly perished, turned his attention to Wilford .
"Commander Darrow, was it?" Amadeus asked, though he continued without waiting for an answer. "The Council has called for you. You're expected before them within minutes. Judging by your current... condition, it'll be difficult for you to reach the Central Hold. Grab my hand."
Amadeus stretched out his hand.
Wilford 's expression darkened. The Council didn't summon people for trivial reasons. It was either to celebrate a great achievement or to reprimand them for a colossal mistake. And Wilfordwas certain there was no cause for congratulations.
With a heavy sigh, Wilford took Amadeus's hand, and in the next moment, they disappeared.
—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the Wildlands, as they were known in Paradise, nestled within one of the caves of the Mountains of Yasamir, lay a rock. To any observer, it appeared ordinary—unremarkable and still.
Suddenly, the rock began to tremble.
"Arise, my General," a deep, guttural voice echoed through the cave. The rock quivered more violently, pulling nearby stones into itself, growing larger with each second.
A crude, human-sized figure began to form as limbs sprouted—first an arm, then legs—until a fully humanoid entity stood.
"Greetings, Lord," the newly formed Stone Knight spoke, its voice steady.
"You were slain in the Cave of the Fallen by a complete Animus Flower," the voice recounted.
"Yes, my Lord," the Stone Knight responded.
"What mistakes did you make?" the voice questioned.
The Stone Knight hesitated before replying. "I made none, for I am of you."
The voice lingered in silence before it spoke again, its tone commanding.
"Remain in the caves until further notice."
With that, the presence vanished, leaving the Stone Knight alone. It stood unmoving, as though waiting for something that would never come.
Minutes passed, then hours.
Finally, breaking the stillness, the Stone Knight muttered to itself, "Darrow."