Zusur reflected silently upon Caelum’s words.

Being only seven years old while already possessing the skill of an expert swordsman was unquestionably monstrous talent, though what truly puzzled him was how a child like this had even managed to survive long enough to arrive in that frozen land.

’I remember playing in mud while running around in my underwear at that age...’ Zusur thought with a complicated expression while comparing his own childhood to Caelum’s.

Even during his own era, there would have been very few talents capable of matching someone like this boy.

After sighing lightly, Zusur suddenly spoke in a much deeper tone than before.

"Your talent is exceptional, and you still possess an absurd amount of time to grow stronger," he said calmly.

"However, the world is filled with unpleasant people who would gladly destroy a genius before they mature. Learn to hide your abilities properly and only reveal them during moments of crises."

Caelum nodded while slowly stabilizing himself under the immense pressure of the Aura Field.

At this point, he had finally adapted enough to move properly again.

Then suddenly, tremendous Sword Qi erupted from his blade as he unleashed a sharp blue slash directly toward Zusur.

However, before the attack could even properly approach the knight.

It naturally dispersed into air.

"What?!" Caelum exclaimed in genuine shock.

"A hollow manifestation," Zusur replied calmly.

"Though it hardly matters here because inside an Aura Field everything falls under my influence and control, in simpler terms, this domain is effectively my territory."

Even while explaining this, the knight had not moved even a single inch from his original position.

Caelum narrowed his eyes.

’Even if I attack from close range, he’ll still predict everything through the Aura Field...’

That meant only one option remained.

He would have to pour everything into a single decisive strike.

After all, fighting an overwhelmingly powerful opponent capable of sensing and suppressing nearly every movement felt no different from willingly walking toward death.

Then, the atmosphere around Caelum changed completely.

The playful expression vanished from his face as his breathing steadied and his mind entered a state of unnatural calm and focus.

Even his thoughts seemed to sharpen.

Sensing the shift in Caelum’s disposition, Zusur’s expression became more serious as he instinctively increased the pressure of the Aura Field further in an attempt to completely suppress the boy’s movements.

Yet strangely, an unknown force prevented Caelum from collapsing.

Then, using nearly the entirety of his Qi reserve at once, Caelum activated the third move of the sword art.

A move so difficult that he had never once successfully performed it against a real opponent before, nor did he even try it.

[Heaven Dominating Divine Sword Art] — Third Form

[Heaven’s Dominion]

The moment the technique activated, Caelum’s Spirit Sense erupted outward instinctively.

His energy channels became overloaded with Qi as violent pressure spread through the surroundings, causing even the platform itself to tremble faintly.

At first, Zusur believed this was merely another trick.

However, his expression soon changed.

Because he suddenly realized something terrifying.

The surrounding space itself was being pressured by an unknown force.

Then he saw it.

A colossal invisible sword seemed to materialize before him, carrying an overwhelming intent that felt as though it wished to erase his very existence.

For the first time since the battle began, the knight’s expression became genuinely serious.

Then suddenly, he laughed.

"Haha... not bad at all, but unfortunately for you, I am simply too strong." Zusur said while tightening his grip around the great sword.

The moment those words fell, an overwhelming silver Aura erupted from his body.

The surroundings darkened instantly as space itself began trembling under the pressure radiating from him.

The invisible sword manifested through Caelum’s technique immediately weakened as though the world itself was rejecting its existence.

Then, with nothing more than a simple movement of his blade.

CRACK!

The gigantic invisible sword was crushed apart into two halves.

"COUGH—!"

Caelum violently coughed blood as the backlash struck him directly.

Blood leaked from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth simultaneously, yet despite his terrible condition, his blue eyes continued shining with frightening intensity.

Instead of retreating, Caelum stepped forward and thrust his sword ahead.

[Heaven Dominating Divine Sword Art] — Modified Third Form

[One Point End]

Every remaining strand of energy within his body gathered toward the tip of his sword.

Then, utilizing the natural spatial dominion contained within the Third Form itself, the space between Caelum and Zusur began compressing unnaturally toward a single point.

"HAAAH—!"

Caelum roared while pouring everything he possessed into that final attack.

His Qi, Aura, Spirit Sense, and even his determination itself condensed into a single point capable of piercing through anything standing before him.

Zusur’s eyes widened slightly.

Because this time, he felt it clearly.

An overwhelming will to defeat him existed within that sword.

Earlier, Caelum’s techniques had felt incomplete, almost like empty shells carrying power without true conviction.

But now, something fundamental had changed within the boy’s sword.

Seeing this development, Zusur could not help but laugh bitterly inwardly.

’And I only discovered such talent after death...’

To properly honor the little fighter standing before him, Zusur finally decided to use a true Knight’s technique.

However, even he did not expect what happened next.

At that exact moment, Zusur himself entered a sudden state of enlightenment.

Because within the bizarre principles hidden inside Caelum’s swordsmanship, he glimpsed something absurdly profound.

Something that did not properly belong within ordinary swordsmanship.

Then, the first thing Zusur did was withdraw his Aura Field entirely.

The invisible pressure suppressing Caelum vanished instantly, allowing the boy’s attack to become even sharper and more complete.

Then Zusur slowly raised his sword.

And the scenery around them began changing.

It felt as though night itself had descended upon the platform, while within that endless darkness, a silver moon slowly rose into the sky.

Its soft radiance illuminated the world with overwhelming brilliance.

[Moonlight Swordsmanship] — Rising Moon

The moon released its gentle glow, and in the next moment, everything was swallowed by endless silver light.