Reborn as the Last van Ambrose-Chapter 82: Talyra Slyphine Vs Grim Van Ambrose Part 3

Grim’s laughter echoed across the arena, cutting through the unnatural silence that had fallen over the crowd. It wasn’t the laughter of amusement but something darker, bordering on manic.

Talyra’s silver eyes narrowed beneath the spectral moonlight. "What’s so funny, Ambrose? This is where you die." Her voice took on a ceremonial cadence. "Lord Malaxis will reward me greatly for your head."

The name sent a ripple of unease through the crowd. Malaxis was a name spoken only in whispers within the Empire. The enigmatic ruler of the Demon Lands who was feared everywhere.

Grim’s laughter subsided, but a dangerous smile remained on his face. His eyes reflected the moonlight with an eerie glow of their own as he looked up at the celestial body Talyra had summoned.

"You have no idea what you’ve done," he said, his voice carrying clearly despite the oppressive darkness. "You’ve gone through all this trouble to create your perfect battlefield, and instead, you’ve just given me exactly what I need."

[She’s given you the moon,] the voice observed, a hint of satisfaction coloring its usually neutral tone. [Luna has been waiting for this moment.]

"I know," Grim replied internally. "I can feel her resonating with it."

[Be careful. Using her will drain your mana faster than anything you’ve ever experienced. Caius developed this style with 10 mana hearts in mind.]

"It won’t matter when I use Luna, she will clean this filth from my sight."

Grim reached up and grasped what remained of his shirt, now tattered from her attacks. With a single motion, he tore it away, revealing his chiseled body. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

"I’ve been wanting to test this on a worthy opponent," Grim said, his voice dropping to something close to reverence. "You should be honored."

Talyra showed no sign of being impressed. "More talk while you delay the inevitable." She raised her black blade, which now seemed to be drinking in the shadows around them. "Soul Shade: Devouring Emptiness."

The black lightning intensified, becoming a storm of dark energy that surged toward Grim from all directions at once. It was an overwhelming attack, designed to leave no avenue of escape.

In the royal box, Archmage Marcus rose to his feet. "Your Majesty, I must intervene...."

"Wait," Empress Alexia said, her eyes fixed on Grim. "Look."

In one fluid motion, Grim had sheathed Echo at his side. His hand moved to his back, where a second blade had remained hidden throughout the tournament underneath his outfit. A purple scabbard with markings that looked like pure silver.

"Luna," he whispered, drawing the blade in a single, perfect arc.

The sword that emerged was unlike any weapon most in the arena had ever seen. Its blade was silver, but not the silver of ordinary metal. This was the silver of moonlight. Translucent at its edges and seemingly insubstantial, yet undeniably present. It caught the light of the artificial moon and amplified it, pushing back the darkness around Grim.

Talyra’s attack closed in, but Grim showed no intention of dodging. Instead, he raised Luna above his head with both hands, the blade vertical.

"Silver Crescent First Form: Sky Breaker."

The blade’s glow intensified to blinding brilliance as Grim brought it down in a perfect overhead slash. A crescent of pure silver light erupted from the weapon, expanding outward with devastating force. It cut through Talyra’s black lightning as if it were nothing more than shadow, dispersing the dark energy entirely.

But the attack didn’t stop there. The silver crescent continued on its path, slicing into the arena floor with such force that the stone split in a perfect line. The crack raced past Talyra, who barely managed to leap aside, and continued straight into the stands behind her. The stone seating split in two, spectators scrambling away from the path of destruction.

The protective barriers around the arena flared to life, containing the worst of the damage, but nothing could hide what had just happened.

Silence fell over the arena once more, this time from shock rather than fear. Even Julius Luminaris had risen to his feet, his normally composed face showing genuine surprise.

"Father?" Max questioned, his voice uncharacteristically uncertain. "What is that sword?"

Julius shook his head slowly. "I don’t know. There was never any record of House Ambrose possessing such a weapon."

In the royal box, Chancellor Levenhart leaned toward Archmage Marcus. "Is that what I think it is?"

The Archmage nodded grimly. "Moon silver. I’ve only known one person in the Empire to have such a blade."

"Caius Van Ambrose," the Empress said softly, almost to herself. "The stories were true after all."

"I’m more concerned with what it means that Grim Van Ambrose has been concealing such a weapon," Chancellor Levenhart said. "What else might he be hiding?"

Talyra had regained her footing, but her confidence had clearly been shaken. She stared at the path of destruction Grim’s attack had left, then at the silver blade in his hands.

"Impossible," she whispered, though her voice carried in the stunned silence. "The Silver Crescent style died out years ago."

Grim twirled Luna in a casual arc, the blade leaving trails of silver light in its wake. The purple veins spreading from his scar seemed to have receded slightly, and his posture had changed. He was relaxed.

"Yes, no one has seen this style since my great grandfather Caius."

[Be judicious with your strength,] the voice cautioned. [You haven’t mastered all the forms yet, and each one draws heavily on your mana.]

"I only need one more to finish this," Grim thought back. "She’s already shaken."

[Then make it count. The eyes of the empire are upon you now.]

He shifted into a stance neither Talyra nor anyone in the audience had seen before. The blade held horizontally at shoulder level, left hand extended forward with fingers spread. Above them, the artificial moon seemed to pulse in rhythm with the silver blade.

"You’ve shown me your Soul Shade," Grim said, his voice carrying an authority that hadn’t been there before. "Now let me show you what happens when true darkness meets the light of Luna."