Floating Island - Triple S Talent - Chapter 472

Chapter 472: Valerian vs Durnhardt
Lein watched from afar, observing the two figures standing in the middle of the void: Durnhardt and Valerian. The battle between them was only just beginning, but the ripples of energy had already shaken the surrounding space, creating distortions that reached even where Lein stood.

On one side, Durnhardt appeared calm, standing tall in the void now dominated by a thick violet glow. Around him, massive violet claws emerged from the emptiness, coated in black slime that moved like wild grass in the wind. They writhed as if possessing a will of their own, ready to devour anyone foolish enough to step into their domain.

Lein furrowed his brows. His gaze shifted to Valerian, the faceless figure that appeared only as a mass of dense black shadow. His dark aura expanded, cloaking a vast area like a fog creeping forward slowly but inevitably.

“I, Valerian, ancestor of the Tenebrae Sect, hereby declare war against the Maledictus Sect,” he said in a raspy, cold voice.

Without further warning, the black mist around him surged at incredible speed. Like a tsunami of darkness, it shot toward Durnhardt, devouring the void in its path. From within the fog, trapped souls began to appear—hundreds, thousands… They screamed silently as they rushed toward Durnhardt with vacant expressions, like puppets made only to fight.

Lein swallowed hard. This was the first time he had witnessed a battle between kings. A battle that far surpassed his level.

Yet beneath the awe, one question continued to haunt his mind. Was staying here the right decision?

He could feel the tension thick in the air. Even before the clash began, the void was trembling, as if it couldn’t withstand the power of the two mighty beings about to clash. A creeping unease crawled down Lein’s spine.

“Lord Luxador,” Lein finally spoke up, trying to sound calm despite the uneasiness in his voice. “Is it safe for us to remain here?”

Luxador, who had been focused on observing the battle from afar, flinched. He immediately turned toward Lein, staring at him as if he had just heard something absurd.

“What do you mean, Lord Lein?” Luxador raised an eyebrow, his tone flat but firm. “There is no place truly safe in the void.”

His gaze was piercing, ensuring Lein understood the gravity of his words.

“The dangers of the cosmos and the creatures lurking within can appear at any moment, even right beside this vessel,” he continued. “So stay alert.”

Lein didn’t answer immediately. The message was clear—remaining here meant accepting whatever consequences may come.

However, Luxador seemed to understand the doubt clouding his mind. He took a slow breath before speaking in a softer tone, “If you’re worried about this battle, you can still leave now. But as long as you’re here, our pact stands.”

Hearing Luxador’s response, Lein was left speechless for a moment. Damn it… That answer makes me sound like a coward. He grumbled inwardly, though he had no intention of voicing it aloud. His main concern wasn’t fear, but making sure their plan to claim the zone of law manifestation wouldn’t be disrupted by the battle between two kings.

Yet seeing Luxador’s expression, more serious than usual, Lein realized this was no longer merely a skirmish over territory. This had become a war between sects. No wonder the man in the purple robe looked tenser than before.

A heavy sigh swept through the air. Luxador moved, floating silently beside the voidship. Without a word, he raised his staff and tapped it lightly downward. Instantly, violet light shimmered, forming a massive shield that enveloped their ship just as a black slash tore through the void.

Lein glanced toward the battle. Hundreds of slashes struck the void, slicing through space as if it were thin fabric. Spatial rifts opened everywhere, gaping tears that seemed ready to consume everything. However, when the attacks met Luxador’s barrier, an invisible force seemed to absorb them silently—without sound, without vibration, as if they vanished into nothingness.

Lein swallowed hard. “Slashes that can cut through space…?” he muttered, almost in disbelief. His gaze locked onto the source—a faceless figure standing firm, gripping a long sword. The blade pulsed, drawing in dark energy around it, growing denser, more terrifying.

The figure raised his sword high. “Stop dodging and come face me… Durnhardt!!!” he roared.

With a single swing, he thrust his sword forward.

The strike didn’t just cut through air—it tore apart the thousands of cursed arms protecting Durnhardt, sweeping them away in one slash. Yet Durnhardt remained calm behind his cursed forces. Even as the attack neared him, he only gave a small smirk.

Then, with a casual motion, he raised his hand.

A massive violet cube formed instantly, standing between him and the spatial slash. When the attack struck the cube, rather than destroying it, the dark energy was absorbed—disappearing into nothing.

Durnhardt chuckled. “Hahaha… Only a fool fights like that. Prepare yourself,” he said with a mocking tone.

But his laughter didn’t last long.

Suddenly, darkness enveloped him.

He frowned. The spatial laws surrounding him should have been enough to repel external interference. Yet, every time he dispelled the darkness, Valerian’s energy seeped back in, clouding his vision, erasing the spatial reference points around him.

“Damn it, is he getting serious?” Durnhardt muttered, his brows furrowed deeply. From within his body, the purple cube began to reform, slowly expanding. But something felt off. The darkness surrounding him seemed to press in, unnaturally suppressing the growth of his cube.

Valerian’s laughter echoed, reverberating from the void engulfing the battlefield. “Hahaha… I told you, you’ve spent too long at the top. It’s dulled you.” His voice sounded casual, but it carried a biting mockery.

Durnhardt squinted, trying to observe his surroundings. His eyes darted rapidly, searching for his opponent, but saw nothing. The darkness felt unnatural, as if it had a will of its own. A chill crept across his skin. “What kind of magic is he using?” he thought, slightly panicked.

“I need to get out of here.”

In an instant, Durnhardt opened a rift in the space around him and slipped inside. The dimensional corridor welcomed him with absolute silence—only himself and a glowing path stretching into the distance. His mind raced. If he could open a portal far enough away, he might be able to escape Valerian’s grip.

But outside, Lein noticed something strange. A square-based pyramid was slowly forming, locking down the area where Durnhardt had vanished. Lein narrowed his eyes, a sudden sense of déjà vu washing over him. “A spatial seal?” he muttered. Immediately, he recalled the Sword Prison—a technique capable of isolating a target and blocking all forms of teleportation.

“This Valerian… he’s more dangerous than I thought,” said a man in a purple robe, his eyes sharp as he stared at the now-solid pyramid. His voice was low, but laced with barely concealed tension.

“What is it, sir? Do you think Valerian will win this battle?” Luxador asked cautiously, his eyes flicking toward the robed man.

“Not necessarily,” the man replied after a moment of silence. “But… that pyramid doesn’t seem like an ordinary technique. It’s the product of a four-star soul artifact.”

Luxador fell silent. His breath hitched before he murmured, “A four-star soul artifact?” His tone grew heavier. Even in their world, artifacts of that level were sect heirlooms—tools only the highest leaders could wield.

Lein unconsciously swallowed hard. A four-star soul artifact? If it truly had the power to trap a tier-four king… then he had another method to deal with them in the future.

Lein turned his gaze back to the battle. Inside the pyramid, something stirred. Suddenly, powerful tremors pulsed from within. Massive purple claws emerged, smashing against one side of the pyramid with force strong enough to rend space itself. But the result was unexpected—the attack caused only a mild vibration, leaving not even a scratch on the sealing barrier.

“Hahaha… give up! Only death awaits you now!” Valerian shouted from beside the pyramid, his voice echoing in the darkness that blanketed the area.

Around the pyramid, shimmering black chains began to form, floating in the air like living creatures. The chains slithered, wrapping around each side of the pyramid with smooth yet lethal motion. Valerian raised his hand, delivering the final push. Within seconds, the entire pyramid was fully bound.

“You won’t be escaping,” he muttered, his voice full of satisfaction. His gaze swept over the now-sealed pyramid, ensuring no gap remained for Durnhardt to slip through. Once satisfied, his figure vanished into the dense fog.

Inside the pyramid, sweat streamed down Durnhardt’s temples. His breathing was ragged, chest heaving rapidly.

“Damn it…” he muttered under his breath, his eyes glinting with frustration. “Even after opening space, I still ended up back in this darkness?”

Durnhardt clenched his fists, purple energy pulsing from within him. In an instant, the energy formed a massive claw, throbbing like a savage beast. Without hesitation, he swung the claw at one of the pyramid’s walls.

BOOM!