First Legendary Dragon: Starting With The Limitless System - Chapter 167

Chapter 167: Absolute Suppression
Determined to gain the upper hand, Orion steadied himself once more, focusing his full attention on the formidable Echo before him.

The increased density of mana within the arena heightened his senses, the calm lighting casting sharp reflections off the Echo’s polished armor and blade.

He tightened his grip on Realm Guardian, the obsidian longsword balanced perfectly but feeling oddly inadequate for the first time.

The Echo lunged again, closing distance with blinding speed. Orion pivoted smoothly, raising his sword defensively just in time.

Their blades collided fiercely, the metallic clash reverberating sharply through the chamber. Yet Orion immediately felt the impact radiating painfully through his wrist and arm—evidence of his opponent’s superior physical strength.

Recovering swiftly, Orion stepped backward, his eyes locked sharply onto the Echo’s precise movements, carefully analyzing its impeccable footwork.

The Echo’s stance was flawless—perfectly balanced yet flexible enough to adapt instantly to any threat. Each attack flowed directly into the next, devoid of wasted motion, constantly pressuring Orion into reactive defense.

‘Holy hell, this thing’s attacks are so precise,’ Orion thought to himself while dodging constantly. ‘Alright, let’s focus and see his attacks… he’s methodically trying to suppress me with each attack, striking my weak points to push me off balance and control my rhythm,’ Orion observed carefully, recognizing the underlying mastery behind the Echo’s movements.

Each exchange pushed him further, forcing him to draw deeply upon everything he’d learned thus far—yet, frustratingly, he still found himself slowly losing ground.

The Echo advanced like a top-tier warrior forged through battle, its sword flashing in elegant arcs and precise thrusts.

Orion summoned another volley of Flame Darts, his hand flickering with fiery power. A rapid succession of projectiles streaked toward the Echo, each dart meticulously aimed to disrupt its relentless rhythm.

Yet the Echo effortlessly shifted its weight, sidestepping most of the darts and deflecting the remainder with minimal effort. It countered instantly, lunging sharply forward with a precise thrust aimed directly at Orion’s heart.

Instinctively, Orion twisted aside, narrowly avoiding the deadly blow. Sweat streamed freely down his face, breath coming in heavy pants as he felt his stamina steadily draining.

He summoned another burst of power, whispering sharply, “Fireball!” The spell materialized rapidly, flaring brightly before launching toward the Echo in a fierce blaze.

But again, the Echo demonstrated supreme skill. It swiftly rolled beneath the incoming projectile, its armor barely singed, before springing upward to resume its unrelenting assault.

Orion’s frustration rose sharply, but he held it in check, forcing himself to remain composed, continuing to carefully analyze every movement the Echo made.

‘Its swordsmanship is leagues above mine,’ Orion grimly acknowledged, deflecting another powerful slash aimed at his side.

He desperately searched for weaknesses, openings—anything to exploit. Yet the Echo’s stance remained flawless, its guard never faltering for a moment.

In the next exchange, Orion ignited his palm with Searing Touch, driving forward aggressively, hoping to land even a grazing blow.

But the Echo calmly read his intentions, smoothly sidestepping and retaliating with frightening precision. Its blade sliced forward with uncanny accuracy, grazing Orion’s shoulder, leaving behind a sharp, burning sensation.

Orion winced slightly, feeling the skin break and hot blood trickling down his arm. The Echo pressed the advantage, launching a rapid flurry of strikes, each more aggressive and precise than before. Orion struggled to parry, his defenses increasingly shaky beneath the relentless onslaught.

“Master! You’re starting to fall behind, please be careful! Just use your true instincts.”

Lumi’s anxious voice echoed urgently within his mind.

“I know,” Orion replied grimly, struggling to maintain his footing. “But I’m still not at the point where I need to rely on my Dragon Instinct. His swordsmanship may very well be leagues above my own, but I still have three more cards I can play. Well, only one technically.”

“Dragon Instinct and Dragon’s Might?”

His face formed an excited smile. “Yes. I haven’t gotten a chance to go all out since I arrived in this world. This— is what my blood needs.”

Feeling his blood boil at the chance of tasting his first defeat, Orion decisively channeled his mana into Realm Guardian, increasing the sword’s weight significantly.

The obsidian blade felt suddenly immense, its density multiplying sharply until it radiated a palpable, oppressive aura.

Orion swung forcefully, hoping to overpower the Echo’s careful defense through sheer brute strength. Yet the Echo, sensing immediate danger, instantly adjusted.

Its reactions were impeccable, dodging Orion’s heavy slashes smoothly, weaving deftly around each powerful strike.

‘How does it know?’ Orion wondered in growing frustration, his arms trembling slightly from exertion.

The heavy sword strikes that once seemed invincible now felt cumbersome and easily avoided. He continued to press with all his might, hoping to land even one decisive blow—yet each attempt proved futile, the Echo skillfully evading without fail.

Sensing Orion’s mounting fatigue, the Echo smoothly transitioned from evasive maneuvers into aggressive counterattacks.

It darted forward suddenly, its blade flashing in rapid thrusts and precise slices, each strike aimed to exploit Orion’s faltering defense.

Orion struggled desperately to maintain balance, forced entirely onto the defensive. His sword parries became increasingly rushed and imperfect, gaps emerging clearly in his guard.

Sweat blurred his vision slightly, his breathing labored, muscles straining beneath the relentless pressure due to the combined fatigue of the previous 49 floors and this hard battle.

He summoned another Fireball, the blazing orb materializing rapidly, launching at close range. Yet the Echo anticipated this, sidestepping effortlessly and continuing its brutal advance without pause. Orion narrowly avoided another deadly strike, feeling his heart pounding fiercely.

“Master! It’s overwhelming you—please, think quickly!”

“I know, Lumi!” Orion shouted sharply, frustration bubbling to the surface. His grip tightened fiercely around Realm Guardian, slowly rising anger fueling his next attempt.

He summoned Cinder Trail again, fiery embers bursting into flame beneath his swift movements. Yet the Echo calmly avoided the hazardous ground, maintaining perfect composure.

Orion’s frustration surged, his eyes narrowing sharply, determination mixing fiercely with anger.

“Why… why can’t I land a single hit?” Orion growled fiercely, his voice strained. Anger flashed briefly within him, dangerously close to breaking his careful composure.

The Echo lunged forward again, sword slicing sharply. Orion instinctively blocked, muscles trembling from the heavy impact.

His heart thundered fiercely, blood roaring within his ears. The Echo pressed relentlessly, each strike calculated and precise, driving Orion steadily backward, utterly suppressing him.

With mounting frustration, Orion’s instincts surged powerfully. Deep within, he felt the dormant Dragon Sense stir fiercely, dangerously close to activation. His eyes sharpened suddenly, senses expanding exponentially, reflexes heightening dramatically.

Just as Orion prepared to release this latent instinct, his mind sharpened by desperation, the Echo abruptly halted, sensing an immediate threat.

Before Orion could fully activate the Dragon Sense, the Echo swiftly moved, its blade slicing toward Orion’s exposed neck with lethal accuracy.

Time stretched strangely in Orion’s heightened perception. His body reacted instinctively, twisting sharply aside to evade the potentially fatal blow. His reaction speed surged dramatically, surpassing his normal limits.

Yet even as Orion’s instincts moved him, the Echo’s sword was already mere inches from his neck, its edge dangerously close, unavoidable and decisive.

The image of two thrones flashed briefly before his eyes. However, suddenly, bright runes throughout the chamber flared sharply, sensing the inevitable outcome.