What was the most important difference between the First Chronicle and Third Chronicle creature? Maybe in strength? In speed? In the amount of energy? In combat skills or instincts?

Yeah, those were all valid answers, but it wasn't a pure indicator of power. It just meant that more First Chronicle creatures were needed to defeat Third Chronicle.

If Third Chronicle was ten times stronger than First Chronicle, then a hundred First Chronicle fighters should have easily defeated a single Third Chronicle. However, it didn't work that way, the rules of this world worked differently because there was a significant difference between their auras.

A Third Chronicle creature didn't even need to fight a First Chronicle one to win, it didn't even need to make a single move since the aura was enough. With its aura, Third Chronicle one could suppress its enemy without letting it even move, completely disarming it.

However, if the difference between creatures was only one step in Chronicles, then aura was not as powerful a weapon. Aura alone wasn't enough to win immediately, but it was unlikely that Nakano and the other guardians would agree with that right now.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

The entire Axalt World stood still for a moment. All the creatures below the Fourth Chronicle froze in place and it didn't matter if they were sleeping, working, resting, or right in the middle of a fierce battle.

Their instincts made them stop moving, like victims hunted by a predator trying to deceive its pursuer.

Then, from the northern side of the Axalt World, a huge bloody pillar of energy appeared, raging like an immense volcano. Scarlet streams of energy spread throughout the world, bringing with it the majesty and smell of blood.

Nakano, Wang, and the other guardians that were right next to the temple couldn't stop the shivers that spread through their bodies.

In their minds they knew they had nothing to fear, this was their world, and their ruler could protect them, but their bodies wouldn't obey them.

Then, Alucard's words sounded in Nakano's head, and she looked at her trembling hands with wide-eyed fear in the midst of them.

"Effort and perseverance... right?" Nakano muttered, trying to clench her hands into fists, then they couldn't even move a finger, "I've practiced sword swings thousands of times a day, for over a hundred years, my control is almost perfect! However... now I can't do anything!"

"Nakano! Silence!" Wang exclaimed sternly. Usually, after something like that, Nakano would immediately adopt a formal pose and straighten her back, but now she barely reacted.

"But... Wait... You too... There's nothing you can do either..." Nakano said in disbelief looking at her mentor.

Wang was at the Transcendence Stage, he had reached this stage recently, only a year ago, which for this level was equivalent to a few hours of real life. He was much stronger than Nakano, but he was still a long way from Liang's level, perhaps further than First Chronicle one to God Stage.

Wang frowned, to him as one of the strongest Axalt's, this was insulting.

"Nonsense! I can move just like you, just use your aura!" Wang exclaimed, then streams of blue energy came out of his body, and the pressure dropped significantly. He still felt some discomfort, but now it was no problem for him to pull his sword out of its sheath.

Nakano nodded as she repeated after him, covering his body with white energy. Her results weren't as impressive as Wang's, but she felt better. The other guardians did the same.

Crimson energy continued to emanate from Alucard as if it was infinite. However, Alucard wasn't really even trying, he looked calm and relaxed as if he wasn't the one releasing the energy, but the energy was trying to get out of his body.

Nakano smiled as she looked at Wang.

'Mentor is right, maybe I'm worrying too much. When I reach Transcendence Stage then such energy can't harm me!" Nakano inwardly exclaimed, then she turned around. She wanted to see how Gael was protected from Alucard's aura.

But, as soon as she turned around her eyes went wide.

'What...? Why is he so calm?" Nakano internally muttered in disbelief.

Streams of crimson energy were crashing right against Gael's body, but it seemed that when they came near him they became a hundred times weaker, for even his hair didn't ripple.

"Is something wrong?" Gael smiled slightly, looking at Nakano, "If you want to ask me something, I can answer you."

Nakano said without hesitation, "Why aren't you trying to protect yourself from the energy streams!"

"Agh...?" Gael tilted his head, "Protect yourself? Why? I don't need it, I'm not as weak as you."

"Weak?" Nakano whispered in confusion as she glanced at Wang. Gael and Wang were on the Transcendence Stage, but the difference between them even now was obvious. It was as if there were many other Stages in the Transcendence Stage, and Gael was at the top while Wang was at the very bottom. I think you should take a look at

"You don't really need that either. You can withstand the pressure coming from Alucard without using a protective aura, can't you?" Gael asked in a calm voice.

Nakano nodded.

"So... Why are you making the situation easier for yourself? I'm sure Liang's words are pure truth, every Axalt puts hard work and perseverance into their training, but what's the point if in the end, you take the easy way out?" Gael's words like condemnation echoed in Nakano's mind.

Gael sighed, "If you train for decades to make difficult situations become easy, then that's a real failure. Only by going through hardships can we become better, it's the basis of the basics, the fundamental truth of our world."

Nakano gulped, just now she had heard something that could change her worldview. Axalts believed that one had to train and hone their skills until there were no more obstacles left.historical

Axalts didn't smash their fists into blood trying to break down the wall that was in front of them on their way to power, they just chopped it down with one honed swing.

However, that meant they weren't prepared for the real challenges. They didn't have the instinct that other races had.

"If you want to get better, remove the energy barrier right now and hold it until the end of the fight. Be warned this is just the beginning, Alucard is still playing around, things haven't gotten serious yet." Gael said calmly as he crossed his arms over his chest.

Nakano with a blank stare nodded, it was as if she was hypnotized.

"Nakano! Don't do that!" Wang exclaimed in a stern voice, "If you stay here without a barrier, it will seriously harm you. Moreover, you might get hit by a random attack!"

"And... What next?" Nakano asked while her gaze grew deeper, "Continue to defend yourself? Shiver in fear? Hide and wait until the training is enough? You can't reach this level just by practicing while constantly avoiding difficulties!"

Wang's eyes went wide with great frown, he didn't know what to reply.

"Hahahahahahahahaha!" Alucard suddenly laughed, shaking the space with his laughter, "Good girl, don't listen to that cretin who only took one step forward from the God Stage and somehow ended up on the Transcendence Stage. If you want to achieve something, you fight! Fight while you still have a drop of blood in you!"

Nakano was not happy that Alucard was telling her this, but she realized that he as well as Gael was right, after all, unlike her or Wang these two were at the true top.

Whoooooooooooooooooooosh.

Nakano took a deep breath and removed the protective barrier.

At the same moment, streams of aura like a violent wind swept over her, leaving a few scratches on her face, and bringing down a powerful pressure on her. It was hard for her to stay in place, but she held on, with a confident look. She was going to face her difficulties, not run away as everyone else did.

"Wait... Did you hear everything?" Wang muttered in disbelief, looking at Alucard as fear appeared in his heart.

Alucard smirked, "Hahaha, of course. My hearing is excellent, as well as my eyesight and charm. Don't worry, I forgive you. A cowardly piece of shit like you isn't worth my time."

"Enough!" Liang said sternly, drawing everyone's attention, "Alucard, you are fighting me now, not my subordinates. Maintain your dignity and stick to ethics."

"Sure. I am a gentleman after all." Alucard smirked, putting her palm to her chest.

Wain got a devious look as he crossed his arms over his chest, "Who do you think will win?"

"Hmm? Shouldn't logically Alucard win? I mean, otherwise, we wouldn't be watching these flashbacks." Osvald was puzzled.

Sven shook his head, "That's not necessarily the case. There are many other ways they could have gotten Liang to not take part in the war. However, I'm betting Liang, in this case, Alucard's immortality, won't be able to bring him victory, the rules aren't on his side."

Marlis nodded, "I agree. I'm in favor of Liang as well."

Osvald shrugged, "I don't know what about the rules, but Liang is the strongest! Alucard can't die, but that doesn't mean he always wins!"

"What about you?" Sven glanced at Wain.

Wain grinned, "I don't want to join you, moreover, I see that Alucard will win, and it won't happen the way you suggest."