[Wish captured, assistance required? (8/10)]
"Confirm."
Lucas Reeve's firm voice sounded.
[1. Noble Phantasm: The Lance that Shines to the End's End (Projection) 2. Getsuga Tenshou 3. Blue Secret Droplet]
All three options could help Lucas Reeve successfully deal with this tree monster.
After a moment of simple consideration, Lucas decisively chose the first option.
[Noble Phantasm: The Lance that Shines to the End's End (Projection)]
Although it was only a projection of a part of the original Holy Lance's power, as a top-tier A++ rank world-class Noble Phantasm, even a small fraction of its power was enough for Lucas to resolve the current crisis. Moreover, although it was just a projection, it contained a special characteristic.
Potential for growth.
Same as Sun Breathing.
Sun Breathing could be used to deduce other breathing styles later by spending Prayer Power.
The Holy Lance projection was the same.
Later, a large amount of Prayer Power could be used to strengthen the Holy Lance's power, which was equivalent to obtaining more power from the original Holy Lance. When strengthened to the final stage, Lucas would be able to unleash the true power of the Holy Lance.
As for the second option, Getsuga Tenshou was also a good choice.
But it only provided the skill [Getsuga Tenshou], not the Zanpakutō. This meant Lucas could use any sword to perform Getsuga Tenshou, but he wouldn't get even the slightest boost from a Zanpakutō. If this option provided a Zanpakutō, and it could perform Shikai and Bankai, then Lucas might have chosen this ability without hesitation.
After all, his own breathing style could also be compatible with a Zanpakutō, to be used as a sword technique.
A bit of a shame~
As for the third option, the Blue Secret Droplet.
A consumable item that would give Lucas infinite energy for a certain period of time.
Lucas basically didn't consider consumable items. They could indeed solve the immediate crisis, but only this one crisis, and would not be of much help in the future. Choosing it would be a waste of a precious opportunity.
Huu...
As if having made up his mind.
Lucas Reeve slowly began to infuse his own spiritual power into Jessica's body.
This was Lucas's only choice now.
No matter which option he chose.
Jessica's body no longer had the spare energy to wield this Holy Lance projection.
He could only rely on his own spiritual power as a substitute, and the consequence of that substitution... this remnant soul of Lucas's inside Jessica would lose all its spiritual power and enter a period of dormancy, unable to carry consciousness anymore. In other words...
After this battle.
Regardless of the outcome.
Lucas's consciousness would temporarily leave Jessica. As for how long, it would depend on how long this remnant soul of his needed to be nurtured to recover.
He was actually a little reluctant to leave...
He had known this little girl for almost a month...
The first person he saw after waking up from being trapped in a dark 'cage' for who knows how many years, and the two had been together ever since, never separated, although... it wasn't like they could separate anyway.
He hoped...
That little Jessica could be a bit stronger during the time he was away.
More and more spiritual power flowed into Jessica's body.
In an instant.
Jessica's body, which could no longer stand, was suddenly filled with power again. Looking at the approaching tree monster, Lucas slowly stood up.
"Mr. Reeve!!!"
Jessica could naturally and clearly feel the changes in her body. Her originally wrecked body was recovering bit by bit, and was even becoming much stronger than before. And in contrast...
Lucas's spiritual power was gradually weakening.
Jessica seemed to have guessed something.
She struggled desperately, trying to stop him, trying to make Lucas stop this.
"No!! Mr. Reeve! Please don't do this!!!"
Jessica burst into tears, large teardrops streaming from her eyes.
"Please don't do this! Mr. Reeve!! I really... don't want to lose you!!"
Jessica cried heartbrokenly. Although she hadn't known Lucas for long, she already considered him one of the most important people in her life, even relying on him completely. She couldn't imagine a life without Lucas, couldn't imagine days without him.
"Jessica...."
Lucas smiled faintly, softly calling Jessica's name.
"In the future... can you please be a little stronger?"
"*Sob*!!!"
Under the watch of Franka and the others.
Lucas slowly stood up. Golden points of light rose around him, and the outline of his body seemed to turn golden at this moment, like a small sun.
In an instant, the originally gloomy cave was completely illuminated. The dazzling and powerful golden light dispelled the pressure on everyone's souls. Franka and the others, who had been lying on the ground, felt the pressure on them suddenly decrease. They looked up in amazement at the 'Jessica' before them, who was wreathed in golden light, as if a god had descended.
"Lucas..."
Franka looked at Lucas at this moment, and a very bad premonition also rose in her heart.
When the spiritual power had completely merged with Jessica's body.
The three breathing styles Lucas knew were also imprinted deep within Jessica's soul. As for Transparent World and Knight of Owner, those couldn't be transferred. Those two were abilities, bound to Lucas himself, and could not be given to others.
Taking a deep breath.
Lucas's eyes snapped open. In an instant, his originally dark and deep eyes turned a gilded color. The flashing golden light caused the twisted tree monster, which was accustomed to darkness, immense pain. It struggled and wailed continuously. Under its anger and hatred, it twisted its almost nauseating body and charged towards Lucas, bit by bit.
In Lucas's mind, a whisper as if from beyond the world resounded.
*Whoosh!! Whoosh!!*
Franka and the others stared in disbelief at Lucas, who was bathed in golden light. At this moment, he was like a god.
[Thirteen Restraints Lifted. Round Table resolution, begin.]
Around Lucas, it was as if many golden figures stood in a circle.
[This is a battle against those not of the Fae. Approved.]
[This is a battle against one stronger than myself. Approved.]
[This is a battle for survival. Approved.]
[This is a battle not in violation of humanity. Approved.]
[This is a battle for the truth. Approved.]
Even though it was just a projection of the Holy Lance, drawing only a very small part of its power, the release of the restraints still proceeded. When the final heavenly voice faded in Lucas's mind, the surrounding golden figures gradually dispersed into particles of light, converging in Lucas's palm, forming a sharp and piercing spear of light.
[The World's Skin Is Peeled Away]
[The Truth Hidden Beneath]
Lucas slowly chanted..
Around him, golden points of light, like sprites of heaven and earth, continuously gathered towards him from all directions. For a moment, Lucas seemed to become the center of the world.
The sky full of golden light points converged into a golden ribbon, attaching to the sharp pillar of light, and the faint outline of a knight's long spear even appeared.
Lucas gripped the pillar of light firmly.
He murmured softly.
[Holy Lance]
[Unleash Anchor]
The shining golden spear, containing endless power, was pulled out from the ground by Lucas. Rolling waves of golden light wrapped around the surface of the Holy Lance projection. Endless energy roiled, and the surging energy waves stirred up gusts of wind, creating towering waves on the river's surface. The sharpness contained within, capable of piercing through all obstacles, was on full display.
The twisted tree monster, a creature of evil, roared continuously out of fear. However, its roars seemed incredibly insignificant under the current golden light.
Franka and the others in the distance looked in disbelief at the figure 'standing tall between heaven and earth', holding a huge energy spear.
"What kind of power is this...."
Franka's eyes widened, full of disbelief.
If the simple breathing styles were still within the range of what a normal person could handle, how could one explain such an energy spear..
Lucas, who was he exactly!!
This was a bit too ridiculous.
"Little Franka... the one inside Jessica... what exactly is going on."
Magallan had already guessed part of it.
After all, when she was awakened from the dream, she had seen a male figure she had never seen before. And... little Franka often called Jessica 'Lucas'.
The well-traveled Magallan naturally guessed some things.
However, she didn't ask, but pretended not to have seen anything the whole time.
"A... very powerful soul... as for his identity... uh.. forget it, he was definitely lying before, full of nonsense!!"
It wasn't just Franka and the others.
As the target locked by the Holy Lance.
The tree monster clearly sensed an incredibly strong life-and-death crisis.
Its biological instincts made it roar desperately. The milky white hands extending from the gap were raised high, wanting to swat Lucas to death.
[It is the Anchor of the Storm that tears the heavens and connects the earth.]
[Shining at the World's End.]
Lucas looked at the energy spear in his right hand. To think that completely draining his spiritual power couldn't even allow the Holy Lance projection to operate at full power.
Looking at the hand that was about to strike.
Lucas took a deep breath and pointed the energy spear at the tree monster. His voice echoed throughout the entire cave.
[Pierce Through Everything!!]
[The Lance that Shines to the End's End (Rhongomyniad)]
With an incredibly dazzling golden light.
A golden pillar of light, a full meter in diameter, instantly pierced through the tree monster's body. This had consumed all the power of Lucas's remnant soul, and yet it could only unleash such a tiny fraction of the Holy Lance's power. However, even though this power was only a part of the Holy Lance projection, it could still instantly annihilate this tree monster.
For a moment.
The tree monster wanted to struggle.
But it was futile.
The power of the Holy Lance not only acted on its physical body but also on its soul. The tree monster's soul had already been torn to shreds by the almost absurd power of the Holy Lance. Without the support of its soul, even the parts of the tree monster's body that were not affected by the Holy Lance began to disintegrate, eventually completely dissipating in the cave before everyone's eyes, as if it had never existed, without even a speck of dust left behind.
With the death of the tree monster.
The numerous souls imprisoned within its body rushed out crazily, then dissipated in mid-air. These souls had been imprisoned in this tree monster's body for some unknown reason, tortured every day. Finally, on this day, they had found freedom.
"It's over?"
Franka still couldn't quite believe it.
That such a monster was dead just like that.
It died a little too easily, without even a chance to struggle. The moment the golden energy spear pierced the tree monster's body, its entire being began to disintegrate, until it completely disappeared.
Looking at Lucas standing there motionless.
Franka smiled and jogged over.
"Yo! You, Lucas, you had such an amazing move but didn't use it from the start. You waited until now to use it, just to show off, right...."
She was just about to pat 'Jessica' on the shoulder.
However, the next second.
Lucas seemed to have lost control of this body. Jessica's body suddenly fell to the ground. Franka was startled and quickly went to help Jessica up. The others also rushed over, surrounding Jessica.
"Mr. Reeve! Mr. Reeve!!"
Jessica returned to her own body, but the first thing she did upon opening her eyes was to grab her necklace and call out Lucas's name, because she could no longer feel his presence. In the past, she could always clearly sense his presence. Whenever she could feel him, she would be at ease, but now, she couldn't feel him at all. Her heart felt as if a piece was missing, empty.
"Mr. Reeve! Don't scare me!! *Sob sob sob*!!"
Jessica was so anxious she started crying, even taking the necklace off her neck and clutching it tightly, continuously calling Lucas's name.
At this moment...
The smile on Franka's face, who had been grinning just now, disappeared, replaced by a daze...
Impossible!
Absolutely impossible!!
She also really wanted to call out Lucas's name, and could only wait anxiously by the side...
As expected.
Under Jessica's almost frantic calls.
Lucas's last remnant soul slowly floated out of the necklace.
Seeing Lucas float out.
Jessica's heart leaped with joy, but before she could be happy for a few seconds, her face stiffened again.
"Mr. Reeve!! Your body!!"
Jessica's voice trembled, her tone filled with disbelief.
Because, at this moment, Lucas's body was almost completely transparent.
You have to know.
Although Lucas was in a soul state before, and his body was somewhat transparent, it was only the lower half of his body that was slightly transparent, while his upper body was very solid. But... Lucas's current situation was incredibly bad. Not only was his whole body so transparent he was almost invisible, but even his aura could no longer be sensed, as if he were a puff of smoke that could be blown away by a slight breeze at any moment.
Jessica wanted to grab Lucas.
However.
Her hand passed right through his body.
At the same time.
Everyone noticed that Lucas's already faint and transparent body was still becoming more transparent. It seemed that in a few more minutes, he would disappear completely.