Ten meters.
Seven meters.
The storm-driven sands and stones had completely enveloped the underground hall, roaring with thunderous sounds, and the entire space was drawn by an unknown power towards a single point. Ben squinted his eyes, enduring the sharp stones scraping across his face, but finally, he pinpointed the target location.
The sword blade glinted slightly. In the next instant, Ben’s silhouette disappeared from its original spot and appeared beside Owena. The Lightning Girl seemed wholly unaware, surprised as she raised her head, though a hint of mockery flashed across her platinum eyes.
Ben observed closely, immediately sensing something amiss.
"Superficial."
Before he could swing the Earth Sword from his hand, Owena coldly remarked. In the next moment, Ben felt his sword strike against an impenetrable wall with a loud clang. That wall was transparent, appearing as if the blade of the Earth Sword was obstructed three feet away from the Lightning Girl, unable to advance.
"What is this?" Ben was horrified; he had never heard of charging skills providing the caster with a layer of magic shield upon casting. How is anyone supposed to survive?
"This isn’t a magic shield, Human," Owena raised her spear tip towards his chin, calmly answering, "Because you cannot defeat me, this is your destiny, like a predetermined fate, hence your hesitation."
Ben suddenly understood; this was also Owena’s element. It was another form of the Power of Destiny, planting a subconscious belief within everyone who opposed her, making them think they could not defeat her.
In other words, there was no magic shield beside her at all. Instead, he believed he couldn’t overcome her, and thus his sword halted here.
It was all just an illusion.
Yet the illusion was so real, leaving no room for resistance. Even if Ben used all his strength, his sword would always remain fixed three feet away from the Lightning Girl, as if he were wrestling with himself.
This force was utterly unbelievable; not since coming to this world, even in his previous life in the game, had he heard of anything like it. Other players often speculated about the terrifying nature of the Power of Existence, but now it seemed even more fearsome than they imagined!
"Understand?" Owena inquired.
Ben smiled bitterly. This was indeed an unbeatable force, for he saw the girl encircled by lightning was already gathering the final energy, preparing to launch her attack.
Meanwhile, at this moment, the mage from the Silver Alliance was only just beginning to chant their spell.
Ben turned his head and saw William’s face was filled with a serious expression.
But it was precisely at this moment that behind the endless storm, a figure appeared in Ben’s sight, one he never could have imagined even in his dreams.
It was a long ponytail like flames, hair flying as its owner advanced, wielding a long spear. It was merely a standard long spear of the White Lion Legion, not even considered a magic weapon, but the spear blade moved forward, swiftly arriving behind Owena.
It was Qian.
The Lightning Girl keenly sensed the attack from behind, and with a chop, she cut half of Qian’s spear. She turned around, puzzled as she looked at Qian, "Strange, such feeble strength, how did you escape my Lightning Cage?"
"Because I am also lightning!" the ponytailed girl roared, "Let go of the Lord!"
"I see." Owena had already noticed the electric arcs emerging from Qian, slightly raising her eyebrows, "Such pure power of thunder and lightning, you actually have Divine Blood too, from that fellow Kaisu—"
"But unfortunately, it’s still far from enough." As soon as she finished speaking, she instantly chopped at Qian’s neck again. This Sky Blue Knight’s Spirit seemed to determine Qian’s strength was weak, intending to eliminate this nuisance first.
"Watch out!" Ben, still beside Owena, now knew that attacking this woman, named as the Spirit of the Sky Blue Knight, was pointless; without breaking the Destiny element, even if she offered her neck, he couldn’t cut it. But to disrupt Owena’s actions, he had many ways.
Ben dodged the Lightning Girl and swung the Earth Sword downward, shouting, "Rise for me, Power of Earth!" The force from Harangeya erupted, and the hall floor rose layer by layer like a fracture, about to tear apart the ground beneath Owena’s feet.