The Rise of the God of Death
Chapter 38: Master RockLin
After Artha finished telling her story with Daimon, it was time for Lucy's first spar.
The two of them stood on the open field. The air grew quiet as everyone watched. Artha loosened her stance, lowering her defenses deliberately.
"Come," she said, her voice calm but commanding. "Show me everything you have."
Lucy clenched her fists, her aura flaring. She charged forward with all her strength, pouring everything into a single punch that landed squarely against Artha's chest.
But the attack was far too weak. At this time, Lucy was only Commander-ranked… to Artha, it was nothing.
With a playful smile, Artha lightly slapped Lucy's back. The force sent her stumbling and falling to the ground.
"I win," Artha declared softly, helping Lucy back up.
Then her expression grew serious. "Lucy… your training will have three stages. First, cultivation. Second, learning an element. And third… mastering that element. Only after this will you be able to stand beside Daimon in battle."
Lucy's eyes burned with determination as she nodded.
Artha then turned toward Daimon. "It will take at least three years before she is ready to fight at your side. But when that day comes… she will be worthy."
Daimon gave a small smile. "I trust you."
After their farewells, the group prepared for their next destination—the Mainding Mountain.
It was a colossal mountain, its sheer size equal to three of the former Northern cities combined. At its very peak lay a vast, flat plateau… and upon it, the next figure they sought: Master RockLin.
Once, he had been an Absolute God of Omniverse 2… and from the very first day Daimon set foot in this world, RockLin had been loyal to him.
Daimon carried both Daren and Nil on his back as he flew toward the mountain peak. Upon landing, they saw an old man levitating in meditation. The sheer force of his cultivation was so immense that the air around him cracked, and stones disintegrated.
Daimon stepped forward. His voice was calm, yet heavy with familiarity.
"It's been a while, Lin."
The old man's eyes opened. For a moment, his focus shattered. His entire body trembled as he gazed at the figure before him. The man he had looked up to. The man he thought he had lost.
"Daimon…" RockLin whispered, his voice shaking. Then louder, with tears in his eyes:
"You know how much I trained—how much I endured—just to avenge you?"
Daimon placed a hand on his shoulder. "I know. It must have been hard without me. But… here I am."
For an entire hour, the two spoke—master and disciple, comrades reunited.
Nil finally crossed his arms, breaking the silence. "You two know we've been waiting here for an hour, right? Are you going to finish your little reunion sometime today?"
Both Daimon and RockLin turned toward him, slightly confused. Daimon smirked.
"This is Nil," he said proudly. "A student of mine with great potential. He's already at the Lord rank."
RockLin studied the boy, then gave a small nod. "Hmm… Are you ready, kid?"
"Yes, Master," Nil replied firmly.
RockLin chuckled. "Not Master. Call me Master Lin."
He led Nil to the ruins of an ancient arena—its walls destroyed long ago, but its floor still intact. There, they began their spar.
"I will only defend," RockLin said, raising a single hand. "Let's see what you can do."
Nil roared and charged forward, striking again and again. His fists, his kicks, his aura… all collided with RockLin. But every attack was blocked effortlessly, with just that single hand.
Minutes passed, Nil's breathing grew heavy, but RockLin hadn't moved an inch.
Finally, RockLin spoke:
"Now… I'll finish you. With only a block."
Nil gathered all his strength for one final blow. But as his strike descended, RockLin shifted his hand in a strange pattern. A defensive art—one that reflected Nil's own force back upon him.
The next moment, Nil was thrown to the ground by his own power.
"Good effort," RockLin said calmly.
Later, in his hut, RockLin and Daimon sat together, speaking at length about Nil's potential. Daimon then spoke of his three students:
"Lucy… she holds the potential of a Water Elementalist. Nil… an Earth Elementalist. And Daren…" Daimon's eyes softened as he looked at the boy, "…a Lightning Elementalist."
After their goodbyes, Daimon carried Daren on his back, preparing for their next journey.
As they soared through the sky, Daren finally asked, "Master… who will train me?"
Daimon's lips curved into a smile.
"The best Lightning Elementalist."
And so, their path continued.
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