Rise of the Crusader

218 Vernon’s Powers

After making contact with the eye on Vernon’s palm, he could entrap one in an illusion of his design.

The illusion ability was referred to as Tsukuyomi. With this ability, Vernon was capable of uttering the victim’s perception of time.

He could subject the victim to days, months, or even years of antagonizing torture in a matter of seconds.

When the five death merchants had come in contact with those eyes, Vernon instantly used the power on them, entrapping them into a nightmare realm.

And the torture that seems to have been going on for over an hour was merely performed in the blink of an eye on the outside world.

Orpheus clenched his hand into a tight fist, and with a furious look on his face, he took a step forward, closing the gap between himself and Vernon.

However, if there was one thing Orpheus did, then it was not to look into Vernon’s eyes. Even though he was very angry about what occurred, he was able to keep his sanity and not look into Vernon’s eyes.

“Hahaha” Upon seeing how Orpheus chose to react, Vernon couldn’t help but find it impressive.

He seized the young man in front of him, and after a brief moment, he said, “I see, you have made it here, Orpheus.”

.....

“Not bad… But, while you seem to be careful about whom you barge into, I can’t say the same thing about your colleagues.”

Orpheus was indeed disappointed with how Karmau and the others had decided to act with Vernon, but what was done was already done.

And it was time for the person who harmed his brothers to experience his wrath.

Slowly, Orpheus brought out his sword from his sheath. He assumed a battle stance, and even though he was staring at Vernon, he ensured he was only looking at his forehead.

As for Vernon, the playful look on his face was soon dismissed, and it was instead replaced with a serious expression.

He waved his hand and as a sword appeared in his right hand, he assumed a battle stance as well.

Both men were fixed on one another, one assessed the other, and as the moment came, they launched at one another.

Clang

As the first attack was launched and the sword collided with one another, both of them took a few steps backward.

Vernon was pushed three steps backward, while Orpheus moved four.

There was never for one a relaxed expression on Vernon’s face, and the instant Orpheus decided to charge at him again, he moved as well.

Clang!

Unlike the previous attack, neither Vernon nor Orpheus moved backward, with the sword tightly held, they continued to strike at the other person.

The attack became intense quickly, as each time Orpheus struck his sword at Vernon, he aimed to slice Vernon’s head off his body.

However, Vernon was able to evade each attack by countering on them, and the battle between the both of them went on, with no one having the upper hand.

After about twenty minutes, Vernon moved several steps backward. He wiped the sweat that was on his forehead, and said: “Not bad, you know.”

“But because I expected much from the metahuman with the highest power ranking in the first year, I can’t help but be a little disappointed with this,” Vernon said with a smile on his face.

“Also, it’s a bit poor coming from one of the director’s child,” Vernon added.

The look on Orpheus’s face changed very quickly. Clearly, he hadn’t been expecting Vernon to be aware of such knowledge about him.

“How do you know about that,” Orpheus tightened his grip on the sword as he spoke.

“Hehe” Vernon responded to Orpheus with a chuckle. He sneered afterward, and then said, “I’m Vernon Orleans, what’s there that I don’t know about.”

Orpheus frowned upon Vernon’s answer: “I will kill you this time around, Vernon.”

Right after Orpheus made that statement, the shadow of him beneath him became massive, and the halo of a giant appeared behind him.

Seeing the change that just occurred, Vernon’s lips curled into a smile. He nodded his head repeatedly, and before his gaze back to Orpheus, he spoke.

“The fact that you didn’t use your powers since the beginning made me assume you were spinless, but I see that you aren’t.”

Most people would have been frightened of Orpheus using his powers, but not Vernon. At the moment, there was nothing that could excite his blood from Orpheus using that power of his.

As if he wanted to win this battle, he needed Orpheus to go all out.

Orpheus sneered as he saw the look that was on Vernon’s face. He could naturally tell that using the power would excite Vernon, as that would mean, he would be able to use his powers to the maximum.

“That absolute counter of yours won’t save you this time around, I can assure you.” Said Orpheus.

“Why don’t you do your own part, and let me worry about mine,” Vernon responded. He extended his hand out, then urged Orpheus to go on with the attack.

The most infuriating aspect of fighting with Orpheus was how he was able to counter an attack, both killing and nullifying their attack, creating a perfect combination of offensive and defensive.

How do you deal with someone who could counter each of your attacks, either supernatural or not?

Orpheus took a deep breath, he was about to figure out if the theories he made these past months about Vernon’s absolute counter were right or not.

Taking a step forward, both the shadow and the giant halo behind him moved along.

Vernon, however, had a smile on his face, he seemed to be as though he couldn’t wait for Orpheus to attack, and as he launched, Vernon dashed at him.

As Orpheus intended to end this whole fight in one attack, he went all out. The shadow beneath him and the halo behind him joined in the attack, and as he was to collide with Vernon, the mountain began to tremble.

Rumble!

Whether it was Vernon or Orpheus, both of them staggered a few times, before they were able to stand properly.

Vernon looked at the surrounding: “It’s about to happen.” Vernon said as his lips curl into a smile.

While the change in demeanor didn’t go unnoticed by Orpheus, the only thing he could think of was putting Vernon to the ground.

He was about to move when Vernon flung his sword at him.

“As much as I want to end your life, we are going to be doing that later. Something just came up.” Vernon looked into the far distance with his thought unknown.

He turned towards Orpheus, and as if he were possessed or something, he rushed towards the mountain and then jumped.

“Hahaha!!!” The sound of Vernon’s laughter rang out a moment after.

And moving toward the edge of the mountain, Orpheus looked at the view that would cause any sane being to experience fright, and then heaved a deep breath.

“Ahh!”

“Why does my head hurt so much.”

It was barely up to a minute after Vernon jumped off the mountain that the five on the mountain began to wake.

Orpheus folded his hand across his chest, like a parent who was about to scold his child upon their movement.

And once they stood back up, regaining composure of themselves, he launched at them.