Chapter 119: Kyle's Secret Vault |
Although Kyle had finally gained the ability to fight back, the gap between them was still absurdly large.
His recovery speed was nowhere near enough to keep up with the terrifying expenditure caused by such an intense battle.
Even after merging with Alvaro and exponentially increasing all his abilities, he still seemed like a cup of water trying to extinguish a blazing cartload of fire before the Grand Elder's seemingly endless power.
If he ended up being slowly "ground to death" by the Grand Elder's basic attacks, his face would be completely swollen from the embarrassment.
In his desperation, inspiration suddenly struck him.
Montoya!
When it came to recovery abilities, Montoya was practically a walking blood bank. He could also rapidly restore himself by devouring flesh, blood, and various forms of refined energy.
Although he was still only a Grandmaster, both the "volume" and "quality" of his power were astonishingly immense.
The problem was that Montoya was nowhere nearby.
Forced into a corner, Kyle began searching for a solution.
Fortunately, he had long grown accustomed to processing enormous streams of information. Even amidst the Grand Elder's relentless storm of attacks, he could still spare a sliver of attention to think about other matters.
Very quickly, he thought of Isos.
Using the concept of "home" as a foundation, Isos had developed an ability capable of connecting with his "family" regardless of distance.
If that was possible...
Then could Kyle not also develop a similar ability using the stars within his soul and the "Path" he had forged after his breakthrough?
As it turned out—It really was possible.
Using the stars within his soul that represented "Protection" and "Promise" as coordinates, and his intense will of "I need you" as a bridge—
As long as the summoned individual responded to that call across time and space, and both parties upheld the same ideals of "Protection" and "Promise," a soul resonance could be established through the Laws of the Path of Dawn, no matter how far apart they were.
This bond transcended the limitations of space itself.
Through the bridge formed by their shared convictions, power could freely flow between them.
Kyle could draw upon the characteristics of his contractors to strengthen himself, while also channeling his own power back to assist them in battle.
However, this was his first time using the ability.
He had no idea what might happen when summoning Montoya.
Thus, he had first informed him beforehand and made sure he was fully prepared, avoiding any unforeseen complications.
Not long afterward, Montoya, having returned to a hidden safehouse, replied through Isos's mental sea:
“Boss, I'm ready.”
“Good!”
Kyle wasted no further time.
The stars of his soul shone brilliantly as he called out to Montoya.
Montoya immediately sensed the call within his spirit.
Calming his mind, he opened himself completely without hesitation and responded with all his strength to the summons originating from the soul itself.
The next moment, a vast and vibrant torrent of life-filled energy surged across the invisible bridge of conviction, continuously pouring into Kyle's body!
“Boss, I can feel my power draining away. Is it going to your side?”
“That's right!”
Kyle was thrilled.
It had actually worked!
Boundless power surged around him.
Soon, the silver metal armor became enveloped in crimson blood flames.
The sudden transformation immediately drew the attention of every observing elder.
“What strange ability is this now?”
“Not only is his strength recovering rapidly, it seems to be continuously increasing!”
“Is this the effect of his ‘Path’? A temporary enhancement? Borrowing external power?”
“All are possible. The real question is how long it can be maintained.”
***
While the elders discussed and analyzed Kyle's new ability—
The battle between Kyle and Grand Elder Alec finally stopped being completely one-sided.
Of course, this was under the condition that the Grand Elder still had not activated his own Domain.
Kyle also understood very clearly that there remained a gap of heaven and earth between himself and the Grand Elder.
At best, he could probably fight some newly advanced Legendaries.
As for veterans like the Grand Elder—
He would wait until he reached the Legendary realm himself before entertaining such thoughts.
After all, which person capable of reaching Legendary wasn't a peerless genius?
The fact that he could already battle newly advanced Legendaries was humiliating enough for everyone else.
Following another fierce exchange of attacks—
Kyle ultimately chose to stop the fight himself.
The gap was simply too large.
His ability to grow stronger during battle only worked because the Grand Elder was deliberately cooperating with him.
In a real fight, he would be flattened in a single exchange.
Being able to trade blows with a Grand Elder using only basic attacks was already enough to satisfy him.
Anyone dissatisfied was welcome to try taking a punch from the Grand Elder themselves!
Kyle would gladly hand over the title of strongest of the current generation right on the spot!
Sigh...
He really had gotten a little carried away.
Fortunately, they were all his ancestors.
Losing wasn't embarrassing.
At worst, he was merely slapping his own face.
And he certainly possessed enough shamelessness to accept that.
“No more fighting, no more fighting. Grand Elder, I surrender. I was being reckless.”
Kyle dissolved his fusion with Alvaro and simultaneously severed the power connection with Montoya.
“Hahaha! So you know how to admit defeat after all? I thought I'd have to knock you unconscious first!”
Grand Elder Alec stood with his fists lowered and burst into laughter.
“How could that be? Grand Elder, please stop teasing me.”
“Fine. This old man has exercised enough today, so I'll let you off. However—”
The Grand Elder deliberately dragged out the final word, clearly wanting to see Kyle's reaction.
Kyle had already resigned himself to his fate and replied helplessly:
“Just name the conditions, Elder. I'll accept them all.”
He had already prepared himself to be mercilessly fleeced by the elders.
Although the challenge had only been verbal, he had been the one to initiate it.
Since he had lost, he naturally had to "show some sincerity."
“Good. At least the boy knows what's good for him!”
“Everyone, come over! This is a rare chance to properly fleece this brat! Given how quickly he's growing, when he challenges us again in the future, we might not get another opportunity!”
The elders crossed over hundreds of kilometers with a few teleports and appeared before them.
“Not bad, kid. To think you managed to last that long against the Grand Elder!”
Fifth Elder Irlton slapped Kyle on the shoulder.
He was actually quite satisfied with this slightly overconfident great-grandson.
Young people being arrogant was perfectly normal.
If he had possessed a cultivation talent surpassing even the geniuses among short-lived races like his great-grandson did, he would have been arrogant too.
Faced with such praise from his great-grandfather, Kyle could only laugh awkwardly.
“You flatter me, Great-Grandfather. The Grand Elder was holding back.”
“You two can continue this conversation later. Right now is the best time to rob this brat blind!”
Seventh Elder August, sporting an elegant little mustache, interrupted the conversation while staring at Kyle with a cheerful smile.
“Boy, since you've admitted defeat, then…”
What followed was the complete looting of Kyle's treasured collection.
The group arrived at the family treasury.
With great pain in his heart, Kyle opened his personal secret vault and allowed the elders—whose eyes gleamed with greed—to begin selecting their spoils.
When Grand Elder Alec's gaze swept across countless rare treasures and eventually landed upon a life-sized model of the Strike Freedom Gundam, perfectly recreated through alchemy based on memories from Kyle's previous life—
He stopped moving entirely.
His golden eyes began radiating a dazzling green light.
“What... what kind of alchemical puppet is this?”
“It's this huge?”
“And the design is... so unique?!”