PAID

The powerful blue flashes of Melissa's sword energy clashed relentlessly against the starlight that surrounded me. What seemed like fragile starlight—so delicate it could vanish with a touch—perfectly blocked her sharp and swift sword energy.

In a state of pure concentration, I let the starlight scatter around me, my sword movements shielding me from all external threats. What felt like an eternity in my mind had likely only lasted a few seconds in real time.

Even after I stopped my sword movements, the starlight still floated around me.

There was no longer any need to target my opponent directly.

[Sword Barrier Activated]

*Whoosh!*

I swung my sword forcefully. The starlight that had been lingering around me scattered in an instant, spreading outward and slashing everything in its path.

*Boom! Boom! Boom!*

Melissa’s phantom was swept up in the whirlwind of starlight.

---

“Haa…”

I placed my hand over my chest, trying to calm my racing heart.

[Sword Barrier]

[Invincibility while active (Cooldown: 1 minute)]

[Sword Barrier Activated]

[Combo after Sword Barrier]

[Launches a powerful slash within a 30-meter radius centered on the caster]

This was the first invincibility skill granted to swordsmen, and the first area-of-effect skill as well.

It was now clear. The skills that players obtain at the top of the tower—at least for swordsmen—were based on my own techniques.

While ranged classes had invincibility skills, melee classes did not. The only invincibility skill for melee classes was the *Backward Evasion*. Skills like *Reversal Strike* couldn't be used without a target, and skills such as the fighter’s *Dragon Fist* or the swordsman’s *Flash Slash* had invincibility frames but were difficult to use effectively due to their short duration and post-action delay.

But the *Sword Barrier* was different.@@novelbin@@

It could be used without conditions, without a target, while standing still. During activation, all attacks were blocked, and the sword energy used for defense could be released offensively.

A perfect blend of offense and defense.

With Astria Online’s skill system, other players could likely use this skill for temporary invincibility. However, the way I released the sword energy—turning it into a powerful attack—was unique to me. To send out the slash, I had to physically move my sword and leave behind the trajectory of my sword energy.