Chapter 206: The Duel (2)
The duel had ended, but Ketal’s mind remained awhirl with questions. He approached Karin, curiosity in his eyes, seeking an explanation for the mysterious power she’d unleashed upon him.
“So, what exactly did you do to me back there?” he asked her, genuine interest coloring his voice.
Karin replied without hesitation. “I altered the environment around you by manipulating the very air itself. I created a perfect void—a space where nothing, not even force, could have any effect.”
Ketal’s eyes widened, a look of almost childlike wonder on his face. “You can really do that?”
Karin nodded. “My contracted Spirit King is Minerva, the Spirit King. Through that contract, I can exert control and dominion over the very concept of wind. It’s more than just moving the air—I can change its nature and essence.”
“Oooh...” Ketal couldn’t help but marvel at the concept.
Just moments ago, he’d felt as though he’d been hurled into the void of outer space—utterly powerless to act, no matter how much strength he exerted. He could only flail, utterly immobilized, a sensation so strange and formidable that it lingered in his bones.
“So that’s what it means to be a Hero...” Ketal mused aloud.
He’d always been curious about the rumored abilities of those who had reached the realm of Heroes—how their will alone could shape the world itself, their desires imprinted upon reality as though it were clay.
It wasn’t just raw strength or magical prowess. A Hero could, quite literally, remake concepts and rewrite the laws of the world. Seeing it in action was another matter entirely.
“Is this how all Heroes interfere with the world?” Ketal asked her, voice tinged with respect and curiosity.
Karin shook her head gently. “No, each Hero’s interference is unique. My contract with the Wind Spirit King allows me to exert dominion over air, to change its form and function. Other Heroes have their own methods, depending on how they ascended.”