B1C16: The Battle Within the Array

Roar!

The phantom shades surged forward. Although they were illusions, they moved in formation, coordinating their assault. Caleb quickly found himself surrounded, with no way to escape the deadly circle without a fight. The shades attacked from every direction simultaneously, aiming to overwhelm him!

Typically, when faced with such a situation, a cultivator had two options. They could either defend and evade, using faith skills linked with their blessings to protect themselves, and then launch a counterattack, picking off the shades one by one until they emerged victorious. The second approach was an all-out attack, using greater force to crush the shades before they could gain momentum. Caleb had always believed in going all out, confident in his training and knowing that these shades posed no threat to him.

As if time had slowed down, Caleb's gaze focused as he swung his spear in one smooth motion. The spear flew horizontally like a dragon's tail, shattering six of the phantom shades. Stepping back to regain his footing, he transferred the remaining force from the swing back into his arms and delivered six rapid thrusts of the spear. The remaining six phantom shades paused in mid-air, each with an 8-inch hole in their foreheads, before falling to the ground and crumbling away.

Caleb had successfully cleared the first level of the killing array! If there were a prize for speed, he would be a strong contender.

In an instant, the space distorted once again, and new phantom shades materialized. This time, whether they were vicious beasts or demonized martial artists, their strength was one level higher than before.

"He who strikes first has the advantage," Caleb muttered, not waiting for the phantoms to stabilize before attacking the closest one.

His camp instructor had always praised the spear. "To sweep away an army of a thousand, there is only the spear! Amid the battle, the spear is the absolute best weapon!" Caleb recalled this chant, as his instructor had mentioned it countless times. Skillfully weaving through the enemies, he dispatched them all with ease.

The second level is cleared!

The third level is cleared!

The fourth level is cleared!

The fifth level!

By the time Caleb reached this level, his clothes were torn in several places, and his breathing was slightly laboured. It was evident that the previous levels had not been easy, and he had exerted himself in the last battle. But his gaze remained as determined as ever.

A larger space distortion slowly materialized, and from within emerged a formidable figure—a phantom shade clad in black armour that covered every inch of his body. The darkness of his armour was so intense that even his eyes remained hidden from view. A colossal broadsword adorned his back, exuding an aura of ominous power. Black smoky mist seeped out from the gaps in his armour, enshrouding his body and weapon. This time, Caleb was about to face a Human Rank opponent, presenting a challenge, unlike anything he had encountered in the previous levels.

The black knight stood tall and imposing, emanating an air of undeniable strength. His armour exuded an aura that spoke of battles fought and victories won. Each movement he made, even the slightest adjustment of his stance, carried an air of deadly precision. It was clear that this opponent possessed immense skill and experience.

As the knight took his first step forward, the ground seemed to tremble beneath him, amplifying the weight of his presence. The air grew heavy with anticipation, and Caleb felt a shiver run down his spine. Tightening his grip on his spear, he prepared himself for the clash that was about to ensue.

The black knight's sword embodied darkness and destruction, pulsating with malevolent energy. The smoky aura swirling around it seemed alive as if it were a gateway to an abyss of unfathomable power.

Caleb's heart pounded in his chest as he assessed his opponent. He knew this battle would push him to his limits and beyond. But he also knew that he couldn't afford to hesitate or show any signs of weakness.

"Argh!" The new enemy shouted as he drew his sword and charged towards Caleb. Caleb assumed his fighting stance, fully aware that this would not be an easy fight. He raised his spear in the air, activating his skill.

"Thunder Strike!" "Thunder Strike!"

Thunderstruck twice as the spear crackled with lightning, and Caleb's body became enveloped in electrical energy. The electrifying effects made his hair stand on end and halted the ghastly knight's charge.

Unable to break through, the knight swung his sword in a 360-degree motion, aiming to cleave Caleb in half. However, Caleb recognized the attack and countered with a sweeping motion, nullifying the strike. Engaging in close combat, Caleb and the black knight exchanged rapid strikes and blocks. Both fighters delivered nearly ten hits per second. Caleb had never faced such a formidable opponent before, but fueled by adrenaline, he could fully focus and somewhat relish the fight. Meanwhile, outside the array, one by one, the children began to awaken.

"Damn, even the first level was tough. If I hadn't improved during training, I wouldn't have made it past the first level," a child remarked to the others around him, who nodded in agreement. The battles they experienced in the array were still fresh in their minds.

In a matter of minutes, another group of children was eliminated. "Level 3 is impossible. How can anyone fight that many opponents alone?" someone cried, clearly dissatisfied with their performance.

"Could you tell us about Level 3 then?" someone else asked. "I only made it to Level 2."

Gradually, the majority of the children were eliminated. They huddled together, sharing their experiences. Among them was Asher, who had just been eliminated from the array at Level 4. He basked in the amazement of everyone, knowing that those who had reached Level 4 could only imagine the horrors he and the others must have faced. Asher provided a general account of the massive army besieging him but withheld the exact details. Only he knew how feeble his attempt to conquer that level had been and how miserable he was, running and hiding in an attempt to catch his breath.

Looking around, he noticed Caleb and Tobias were still inside the array. He sighed, recognizing the difference between himself and the two children from the Levi Clan. He had hoped that two years of training would bring him closer to them, only to find himself still far behind.

The third captain glanced at the other instructors. "It seems we have 12 children remaining in the array," he remarked. "I believe they should be fighting on the fifth level. I can't help but think that someone from this group will reach the sixth level."

"The sixth level? Sir, if I recall correctly, there are only five levels in the array," a guard inquired curiously. It was unlike the captain to make a mistake like this.

"Officially, there are only five levels. The sixth level is what we refer to as the place where the challenger is transported after clearing the array," the captain explained.

If it were possible to peer into the space of the fifth level, where each child battled the black knight, one would witness the battered and weary appearance of the children. Some lay defeated on the ground, others had lost limbs, and many more cuts all over their bodies. Even Caleb, with his commendable endurance, was exhausted. The black knight attacking Caleb also showed signs of weariness, pausing between swings.

Time had lost its meaning as the battle between Caleb and his opponent raged on. Fatigue slowly overcame their bodies, making it difficult to hold onto their weapons. As if in agreement, both Caleb and the knight put everything into their final attack. Caleb looked at the spear in his hand, realizing that he had trained in spear art for as long as he could remember. At that moment, he felt a deep connection with his weapon, as if it was becoming a part of his body rather than just a tool.

The black knight raised his sword above his head, with its tip pointing upward. The dark remnants of defeated opponents from stages 1 to 5 flowed into his sword, which now possessed a demonic aura akin to the depths of the abyss. With a downward swing, the power accumulated in the dark sword aura split the air in Caleb's direction.

"Thunder Strike" was the only skill Caleb had learned, so he didn't have to think much about which skill to use. Caleb also decided to put everything on the line, utilizing the massive amount of faith energy in his inner space to activate the skill with each thrust of his spear. Caleb, seemingly oblivious to the impending doom, continued to thrust his spear, creating hundreds of lightning-covered shadows that filled the air around him. But he wasn't done. With a yell, he accelerated, continuing his blessing-reinforced attack.

A loud bang resulting from the collision raised a cloud of dust, engulfing both the knight and Caleb. In the other rooms, the defeated cries of the children could be heard as they gave up their fights with the black knight.

As the dust settled, only Caleb could be seen, using his spear for support. Inside the array, a white door had appeared, leading him to the sixth level.