ONLINE: Blades of Eternity - Chapter 266

Chapter 266: KING OF FURRY CLAWS
Kaelen’s blade gleamed under the faint light seeping through the fog as he cut down another Furry Claw inwhich his system has named with precision. His movements were sharp, fluid—an extension of his will.

Screech!!

The creatures screeched as their bodies dissolved into orbs of white light, which shot into him like before.

Ding!

[System Notification]

[You have collected 99 Magic Souls.

1 more required for upgrade.]

‘Just one more huh?’

Kaelen’s eyes glinted. He was one step away from unlocking whatever mysterious power his system had mentioned. This made him to search for the remaining furry claws passionately.

But then—

Silence.

For the next thirty minutes, he traversed the dense fog, sword ready, senses sharpened—but not a single Furry Claw appeared.

‘Not one.’

A frown creased his face. Strange. Every time he had moved forward before, these creatures would attack relentlessly. But now? Nothing.

“Tch. Figures.” He sighed. His anticipation cooled into frustration.

Was this some sort of trial limitation?

Just as he was about to give up on finding more Magic Souls and instead focus on reaching his next destination—

The fog suddenly… disappeared.

“Huh?”

Kaelen’s steps halted.

Before him stretched an open area—completely untouched by the dense mist.

And at the very center—

A door.

A door with no walls, no frame—just standing there ominously.

Kaelen’s gut tightened. He didn’t trust how convenient this looked.

His feet carried him forward—

But then—

Rumble!

The ground quaked beneath him.

Kaelen’s stance shifted immediately, blade raised, as he felt it.

‘Something was coming.’

Then, right in front of the door—

Crack!

A massive clawed hand burst from the ground, followed by a hulking figure.

Kaelen’s eyes narrowed sharply.

It was a Furry Claw, but—far bigger. Its scales were thicker, claws razor-sharp, and most importantly—

A crown of bone sat atop its head.

Before Kaelen could process more—

Ding!

[System Notification]

[You have discovered the King of Furry Claws.]

Kaelen’s expression turned grim as he muttered.

“Of course there’s a boss.”

But before Kaelen could barely had time to register the notification before—

Boom!

The King of Furry Claws vanished from its spot, reappearing instantly before Kaelen.

‘Sh*t! This creature is twice as fast.’

Kaelen’s eyes widenedas he thought—but it was too late.

BAM!

A massive claw struck him across the chest, sending him hurtling through the air like a ragdoll.

CRASH!

He slammed into the misty ground, skidding back several feet. His vision blurred, and a mouthful of blood spilled from his lips.

“Ugh…” His grip on his Blade of Eternity tightened as he forced himself up.

His chest burned, his ribs felt like they had fractured, but—he was alive.

But if he didn’t want to die, then there was only one option.

Go all out.

‘System!’ he snarled in his mind, his aura flaring violently. ‘Give me all available boons—NOW!’

Ding!

[System Command Executed]

[All Boons Activated.]

Instantly—

A tremendous surge of power coursed through Kaelen’s veins. His body repaired itself, fatigue vanished, and his speed, strength, and reflexes skyrocketed.

His Blade of Eternity hummed with boundless power as golden arcs of energy along with a royal blue colored glint crackled along its edge.

At the same time, his Armor of the Eternal Guardian released a burst of Sacred Light, flooding the area with a holy radiance.

SCREEEEECH!

The King of Furry Claws reeled back, screeching in agony as the light burned its hide.

But it didn’t fall.

Unlike the others, it resisted—its crowned head trembling with fury.

Kaelen exhaled sharply.

“Still standing, huh?” he muttered, his aura intensifying further. His golden energy flared, wrapping around him like a divine inferno.

His gaze locked onto the beast.

“Then come.” He raised his sword, its edge glowing brighter than ever.

“Let’s see what you’re made of.”

The King of Furry Claws roared.

Then—the battle resumed as the king of furry claws made a blur of motion.

The King of Furry Claws moved at a speed that defied logic, lunging at Kaelen with its razor-sharp claws aimed for his throat.

Kaelen barely had time to react—CLANG!

He twisted his Blade of Eternity, deflecting the attack with a precise parry, but the force shook his arms.

WHOOSH!

The beast vanished again, only to reappear behind him—too fast!

Kaelen spun—BARELY raising his sword in time.

BOOM!

A crushing blow sent him skidding back as his boots tore through the ground.

His breath came heavy. His muscles ached. But his eyes gleamed.

This wasn’t just a beast.

This was a worthy adversary.

The King of Furry Claws bared its fangs, its scaled hide glistening in the sacred light as it let out a low, guttural growl.

Kaelen steadied his stance.

Then they moved.

SLASH!

CLAW!

The battlefield became a maelstrom of blinding slashes and relentless claw strikes.

Kaelen’s blade flashed, countering with razor-sharp precision, but the beast’s speed kept it just out of reach.

Neither could gain an edge.

They were evenly matched.

Kaelen gritted his teeth as he thought. ‘This isn’t enough.’

If he wanted to win—he needed to end this now.

His trump card.

His grip tightened on the Blade of Eternity as his mana surged.

A technique he had never used in real combat before.

Divine Sword Series: First Technique—Heavenly Slash.

FWOOOOOSH!

A golden pillar of energy erupted around Kaelen.

The King of Furry Claws paused, its instincts screaming danger.

Kaelen’s blade ignited with an ethereal, blinding radiance.

The beast lunged—

But Kaelen had already moved.

With a single step—he vanished.

And reappeared above the beast.

“Perish.”

SLAAAAAASH!

A single, unstoppable arc of light descended.

The moment the Blade of Eternity cleaved through the King of Furry Claws, time itself seemed to freeze.

Then—

BOOOOOOOM!

A deafening shockwave exploded outward.

The mist tore apart.

The ground cracked open.

The King of Furry Claws let out one last, haunting screech before its crowned head slid from its body.

THUD.

Its massive corpse collapsed.

Silence.

‘Finally, I did it’

Kaelen stood tall, his breath ragged as he thought, his blade humming with residual energy.

But then—

The King’s body dissolved into pure white light and rushed into Kaelen’s chest.

Ding!

[System Notification: 100 Magic Souls Collected.]

[Initiating Upgrade.]

‘Here it comes’

Kaelen’s eyes widened as a tremendous force surged through his being.

Something was happening.

Something big.

FWOOOOSH!

An overwhelming burst of energy erupted from Kaelen, sending shockwaves across the entire space.

His Armor of the Eternal Guardian began to glow—its once golden hue morphing into a regal royal blue, perfectly matching his Blade of Eternity. The transformation was majestic, otherworldly.

Kaelen’s breath hitched as his system notifications flooded his mind.

[Ding! All basic techniques have increased by 3 levels.]

[Ding! All swordsmanship techniques have increased by 3 levels.]

[Ding! Passive abilities have been refined and strengthened.]

‘This… Is…. insane!’

His body trembled while he thought. The power coursing through him was unlike anything he had ever felt before.

But just when he thought it was over—

BOOOOOM!

A column of raw mana, now in liquid form, engulfed him.

His eyes widened in disbelief.

“Wha…..?”

This wasn’t just an increase in power.

This was beyond normal cultivation.

Mana in its liquid form—a state reserved for those who had begun to touch upon the very Laws of this world.

His mind blanked.

His body shook under the immense surge of energy.

—But he didn’t know.

He didn’t know that his ascension was shaking the entire coliseum.

A stunned silence engulfed the VIP section.

The most powerful figures in the realm—King Alexandria, the Royal Elves, the First Magi, Kael Dragonyx, even Lysander the crown prince, his cousin Alden and even Elena, The First Magi’s daughter—all wore expressions of utter disbelief.

The crowd below roared, unaware of the true significance of what was unfolding.

But those in the VIP section knew.

Only those who had begun comprehending the Laws of the World could access liquid mana.

This wasn’t something a mere student should possess.

“Impossible…” One of the elder elves who accompanied the royal elf muttered, gripping his staff tightly.

The Royal Elf seated beside the First Magi narrowed his eyes. “To think a mere child from the Pacesetters Academy has already reached this stage… Are they hiding a new method of cultivation?”

Kael Dragonyx suddenly smirked as he muttered. “Perhaps the Pacesetters Academy had secrets we were unaware of.”

Among them, Castenada and Marel were not celebrating.

They were worried.

Marel’s fists clenched beneath the table. “This will put an even bigger target on Kaelen. And I have a feeling that we won’t be left alone in this”

Castenada, his usual composed expression darkening, let out a slow breath.

“Not only that,” he murmured, eyes locked onto the boy radiating with divine energy within the foggy hill’s trials for a few moments before he secretly glanced at King Alexandria who remained silent while he still has an amiable smile on his face.

“The higher-ups won’t let this slide.”

And true to his words—

Several figures in the VIP section, including those seated in the shadows, had already begun whispering amongst themselves.

Their greed was palpable.

Kaelen’s fate had just become far more dangerous.