Return Of The Strongest Player

The silver flames enveloping Arthur's body rejuvenated him to a certain extent, instilling a sense of comfort and warmth within his mind. A sense of superiority rose in his chest, providing him with the belief that he could shatter through any limitations at that very moment.

The darkness surrounding his chest and neck lightened but did not disappear completely. Arthur forced his eyes open, resisting the urge to fall into a deep slumber, nestled within the comfort of the silver flames.

'Does that bitch really think she can trick me with such an illusion?' Arthur wondered, resisting the urge to allow a smile to blossom over his face, which was laced with exhaustion. He forced himself to remain awake.

Spreading a layer of mana around his tough skin, Arthur clenched his teeth, enduring the illusions of the silver flames.

The Silver, or Celestial Flames.

It was the specialty of Princess Eleanor–or Queen Eleanor in the future–which represented her identity. Arthur had wondered why the red-haired woman hadn't displayed her capabilities prior to this moment, but it seemed that receiving the answer would have to wait further.

The Celestial Flames were renowned for an incredibly versatile ability and were praised by the harshest of critics sitting arrogantly near the peak of the tower. It was a powerful ability that allowed Eleanor to dominate the tower.

However, she fell short of achieving the status and power Arthur had intricately forged in his former life.

The Celestial Flames were clearly inferior to [Sin Toll].

But that didn't mean they were useless. Along with their versatility, destructive power, and Eleanor's craftiness and vast imagination, she was able to solidify her position as one of the strongest in the tower.

Leading a powerful thunder of dragons, she ascended along the Heaven's Spire, inheriting her father's legacy.

[A/N: A group of dragons–for those who are unaware–is called a "thunder."]

'It seems she has decided to use all of her power,' thought Arthur, a bittersweet sensation brewing in his mind. Although he had received a valuable ally for the battle against Umbral, she had also immediately attempted to trap the crimson-eyed man in an illusion after her awakening.

Ungrateful.

As the Celestial Flames subsided, probably because Eleanor got bored of Arthur's lack of reaction, the latter breathed a sigh of relief. He enjoyed the sense of rejuvenation, increasing the intensity of [Judgment Regeneration] now that he had gained a semi-ally.

His mana consumption rate increased exponentially, but Arthur was certain he could replace most of it with Sun Energy.

'Although, I don't have much left. Unlike mana, my Sun Energy is a meager amount… even tiny bursts use up a lot.'

Unlike the abundance of mana in the atmosphere, absorbing Sun Energy was somewhat different. During its 'Blessing' phase–until it became an Attainment–Sun Energy could only be obtained by basking under the Sun for long periods of time.

When he first unlocked the ability, the changes in his body allowed for a tiny burst in order to kill the Corrupted Beast. However, now that the fusion was complete, the energy had stabilized within his body.

Now, it was difficult to notice an abundance of it.

"Is that how you repay your savior?" Arthur inquired, standing beside the red-haired woman while running his fingers through his moist, sweaty hair. His expression contained a hint of annoyance.

Although he could understand Eleanor's reluctance to fully trust Arthur and even agree to help, he was also aware of the fact that neither of them could survive this situation without the assistance of the other.

In order to survive, they both had to trust each other… no matter how fragile the trust may be.

"Savior?" Eleanor inquired rhetorically, scoffing. "Spare me the gratefulness speech. We both know you don't give a shit, either way."

Arthur didn't respond, clicking his tongue at how easily he could be read. "So, what's the deal with your Celestial Flames?"

"How do you know the name…"

Arthur shrugged his shoulders, refusing to answer.

Eleanor bit her lip, averting her gaze as she attempted to dodge the topic. Her gaze seemed distant as if she had zoned out for a split second. As focus returned to her eyes, she turned to face Arthur with a determined expression.

"Do I really have to tell you?"

"No," replied Arthur, shaking his head. "As long as it doesn't have any effect on the upcoming battle, it's fine to keep it to yourself if you want."

Eleanor breathed a sigh of relief, nodding. Gratefulness flashed across her eyes, causing Arthur to raise an eyebrow at her change in demeanor. It seemed the reason was much deeper than he expected.

'What was her trigger during my past life?'

Suddenly, a storm of shadows swept past the two players, drawing their attention to the Child Of Shadows, Umbral.

In his hands were two flutes.

One of the flutes was pointy and enveloped in thin, light-blue fabric. It was lined with gold arranged in various, intricate patterns that seemed to symbolize something. Although, it was difficult to discern its origin.

The other flute was a deep, scarlet red hue. It–too–was lined with gold, although the golden metal seemed to be corroding. Dust was piled up on the red flute, providing it with a vintage appearance.

Shadows crept up along both flutes. Umbral fiddled with the flutes, pointing their heads towards Eleanor.

Arthur, upon observing the flutes for a few seconds, immediately realized their origin and function. 'Those were the hidden features from the North and South borders and seemed to be missing…'

'This guy has quite a bit of information along with mysterious abilities.'

A sudden thought flashed across Arthur's mind. 'Could he also be regressor?'

Arthur was seriously considering the possibility.

On the other hand, a sense of urgency assaulted him. The flutes were ineffective on him, as he possessed the wisdom and mental fortitude of two lifetimes. Umbral seemed to have recognized that maturity.

However, Eleanor was merely someone who'd only recently become an adult.

She couldn't possibly endure the effects of the flutes.

As Umbral played the flutes, Arthur shouted for Eleanor to cover her ears. However, it seemed he was too late, as the Princess of Dragons' eyes began unfocusing after only a few seconds, turning dull.