At this point, Riezel was already able to fully wield the first form of Thunder Breathing, having mastered Thunderclap and Flash to perfection.
Whether it was the ultimate variation of the first form, Godspeed, or the seventh form, Flaming Thunder God, both of them had been born from Thunderclap and Flash.
Only by pushing the variations and power of Thunderclap and Flash to their absolute limits could such forms come into existence.
For that reason, when Riezel could perform both Godspeed and Flaming Thunder God, it meant his use of Thunderclap and Flash had reached a realm beyond imagination, leaving every other practitioner of Thunder Breathing far behind.
In this state, Riezel's Thunderclap and Flash was no longer confined to one strike, six strikes, or eight strikes—he could unleash as many consecutive strikes as he desired. Whether it was a hundred, a thousand, or even ten thousand strikes, with his current strength, he could perform them effortlessly.
As a result, when Riezel unleashed the full might of Thunder Breathing and rained down an unending storm of Thunderclap and Flash upon Sigmund, even though Sigmund was still in a state of explosive power, he could not withstand so many slashes.
*Pu-chi!* *Pu-chi!* *Pu-chi!* *Pu-chi!*
Lightning-like slashes erupted again and again around Sigmund, gradually breaking through his defense and carving into his body, leaving his flesh torn open in countless places.
"AAAAAARGH—!!!"
Feeling the burning pain searing through every part of his body as the lightning slashes rained down, Sigmund let out a roar that was equal parts agony and rage.
*BOOM!*
A lightning bolt suddenly descended from above, striking Sigmund directly—it was as though he had been hit by real lightning, blasting him down from the sky.
*BOOM!*
Sigmund fell like a cannonball, crashing into the ground and shattering it to pieces, sending sand and stone erupting like a geyser.
"City Lord!"
"City Lord!"
Unable to interfere in the clash between Riezel and Sigmund, the knights circling nearby cried out in despair at the sight.
Only then did Riezel step forth from the lightning, landing lightly on the ground.
Seeing this, the Oasis Knights immediately seized the opportunity—shouting in rage, eyes bloodshot, they charged out from every direction to attack Riezel.
"Thunder Breathing - Sixth Form - Rumble and Flash!"
With eyes glowing faintly, Riezel swung his sword without hesitation, and soon, centered on his body, countless lightning-shaped slashes exploded outward in all directions.
*BOOM!*
""ARGH!!!""
In an instant, the lightning-shaped slashes struck the Oasis Knights charging from every side—all of them screamed as though electrocuted, blasted away like rag dolls.
Riezel twisted his sword, ready to pursue, when furious roars suddenly rang out.
"YOU DARE!"
Sigmund burst out of the ground, rubble and dust erupting around him, and swung down a massive strike at Riezel.
"Thunder Breathing - Fifth Form - Heat Lightning!"
Riezel slashed his sword upward, releasing a blazing-hot lightning slash toward Sigmund, who had leapt into the air.
*BOOM!*
Sigmund swung his own blade down, shattering the lightning slash into arcs that scattered into the air, but before he could recover, a figure wreathed in lightning shot through the sky at extreme speed.
"Thunder Breathing - Fourth Form - Distant Thunder!"
Riezel closed in on Sigmund and swung his lightning-like sword, flashing with terrifying speed.
*Pu-chi!*
Sigmund had no time to react and received the slash directly across his chest.
"Urgh!"
Blood burst from his chest as Sigmund groaned in pain, his fury only driving him to swing back a devastating strike.
Unfortunately for him, Riezel slipped past it.
Now, Riezel's glowing eyes had already seen through Sigmund's wild, explosive swordsmanship. Using the reflexes granted by Godspeed, Riezel seemed to vanish a short distance away, dodging with ease.
*BANG!*
A lightning-charged kick struck Sigmund in the face, sending him crashing back into the ground.
*BOOM!*
Smashing into the ground with bone-breaking force, the earth shook violently as Sigmund slammed down with even greater force, blood spraying from his orifices.
""CITY LORD!!!""
All the knights within the City Hall cried out in disbelief.
Some, like zealots whose faith had been shattered, immediately threw themselves desperately at Riezel—rushing him head-on, nocking arrows, or firing magic shells and bullets, intent on burying him under their numbers.
Seeing this, a sharp gleam flashed in Riezel's eyes before his breathing shifted again.
In the next moment, the rampaging lightning around him turned into a cold, lonely moonlight that poured into his black sword.
At the same time, those watching closely would notice the heat rising from his breath this time.
"Moon Breathing - Sixteenth Form - Moonbow, Half Moon!"
Riezel raised his sword high and then swung without hesitation.
From the sky, massive crescent-moon blades formed by wind fell, striking toward the ground—they looked less like slashes and more like descending tornadoes, disasters given form.
Around them burned waves of flame, amplifying the power of Riezel's Moon Breathing to terrifying heights and making the single strike carry a force that seemed enough to shatter heaven and earth.
*BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!*
One after another, the massive crescent-moon blades slammed down, shattering the ground, blasting sand, scattering the air, and whipping up storms.
It was as though multiple tornadoes had descended directly upon the City Hall—even the clouds above twisted in chaos.
At this moment, whether they were Sword Master–level Oasis Knights or ordinary knights who had not yet reached that level, none could resist. Some were blown away, others shredded by the winds, while still more were struck directly and swallowed by the raging tornadoes, vanishing in an instant.
Naturally, the surrounding buildings were also destroyed—either torn up from the roots or reduced to rubble, leaving nothing but ruin in their wake.
"RIEZEL BRYNHAAART!!!"
Witnessing the devastation and loss, Sigmund roared in grief and fury, hatred and rage consuming him.
*BOOM!*
Covered in wounds and blood, Sigmund once again burst from the ground and soared upward, swinging a blade down at Riezel with a strike full of desperate killing intent, breaking the sound barrier as it fell.
Evidently, this was the strike Sigmund most desperately wanted to land since the battle began. As the slash tore the air apart, it carried a killing intent so strong it seemed to take physical form.
Riezel, however, did not dodge.
He simply watched coldly, raising his black sword only when the strike was upon him.
*DING!*
Sigmund's mighty strike was blocked by the black sword, now radiating searing heat.
Even though the clash rang out like a bell tolling, sparks flew, flames burst, and shockwaves blasted outward to shake everything around them, Riezel still stood firm, blocking the strike without retreating even half a step.
"DAMN IT!"
Sigmund's furious cry rang out.
On his amber blade, a second jewel had gone dim without him even noticing, which meant his ability to draw on magical energy had weakened again, causing the power of his strike to drop sharply.
In truth, for all its spectacle, this blow carried less strength than any of his earlier ones, which was why Riezel had blocked it so easily, unmoving and unshaken.
It only meant one thing.
"You're no longer my opponent." Riezel's voice was calm, almost indifferent. "Looks like you can't prove me unworthy of challenging veteran Sword Saints like you after all."
Upon hearing this, Sigmund's pale face twisted, his gaze toward Riezel filled with hatred and venom, making him look like a malicious ghost—enough to chill the heart of any onlooker.
Riezel, however, only chuckled.
"Well, I'll leave it at that for today."
"I've pretty much done what I came here to do, and I've evened the score."
"Next time, it won't be so easy, City Lord."
As these words dropped, Riezel's free hand shot forward, smashing a fist into Sigmund's stomach before he could react.
*BOOM!*
Suddenly punched in the stomach, Sigmund, unable to resist, was blasted away before crashing into the ruins of a collapsed building, where he was buried under rubble.
*Buzz!*
Just then, the barriers around the City Hall trembled and began to break apart.
Because the multiple interference barriers of the City Hall had been anchored directly to its structures, once the buildings began collapsing one by one, the devices maintaining the barriers, and the magicians sustaining them, fell as well, causing the barriers to fail on their own.
"Greater Teleportation."
Watching as the barriers collapsed, Riezel activated teleportation magic and vanished.
Meanwhile, the giant crescent moon blades raging within the City Hall gradually faded with time, leaving behind only a ruined wasteland soon consumed by fire.
In no time, the City Hall was swallowed in a sea of flames.
"Put out the fire!"
"No! Save the people first!"
"Where's the City Lord?!"
"Find the City Lord!"
Amid the sea of flames, countless figures scrambled in panic—even when dawn finally broke, the chaos showed no sign of ending.
===
[A bonus chapter for every 500 Power Stones.]
[Support me and read next chapters early at: patreon.com/VALRRR]