Obviously, Liiza wasn’t alone in that realization. Despite never having witnessed the pressure of that scarlet gaze directly, her panions couldn’t find different explanations for the breathtaking event.
Still, accepting that the God had descended onto the battlefield would lead to another, far more devastating conclusion. If the God were indeed there, it would mean that the challengers the regulated universe had sent to face him were no more.
Liiza had it slightly better due to the mental connection. She couldn’t sense Khan clearly, nor could she understand his state. However, she knew that he was alive.
Instead, the others had nothing to cling to, forcing them to accept the unthinkable. Their leaders were either indisposed or dead, meaning that the fate of their universe was in their hands now.
Liiza understood the general mindset very well but had to admit that she was lost on how to handle the situation. For once, she could only vouch for Khan’s condition, which wouldn’t sit well with the elite team’s best assets, and that was only the first of many, worse problems.
Khan or not, the team’s predicament was terrible. Somehow, the God’s mere arrival had enforced a no-mana zone.
Even if the members of the elite team weren’t at risk of vanishing under the True Chaos’ annihilating influence, they remained virtually powerless, unable to defend themselves against that new threat.
The threat itself wasn’t something the team could handle. Liiza had already been aware of that point back in the Nak’s home world, and that direct face-off solidified her belief. The Scarlet Eyes’ God was far beyond her and her panions. Having access to spells wouldn’t change that truth.
The sheer pressure the God radiated conveyed that terrible truth to the rest of the team, too. Even warriors unequipped with sharp senses would find that conclusion undeniable.
Nevertheless, the elite team didn’t only have some of the best experts from every species. A few of them, in particular, also wielded an undying loyalty toward their leader and the values he embodied.
The four Royal Guards looked at the distant God sternly, uncaring about the instinctive inferiority that being created inside them. As far as they knew, their Emperor was dead. They had failed at the job that defined their existence, and the culprit seemed to stand right above them.
And, despite a superficial idiocy, the Thilku were a serious bunch. They didn’t take their oaths lightly, and breaking them often demanded harsh punishments.
Now, the area didn’t have anyone with the authority to exact that punishment, so the Royal Guards had to settle for the next best thing. They could at least die with pride, knowing they had served their Emperor until the very end, even attempting to avenge him.
"[Idiot Muscles]," Lord Blind Sword called in his native language. "[Can you jump up there]?"
Almost all evolved warriors wielded inhuman strength, but the God was still high in the sky. The Thilku were indeed physical powerhouses, but the inability to summon mana made that distance too much even for them.
Still, the huge Royal Guard could be an exception. Lord Mighty’s entire existence was physically oriented, so his raw muscles could wield enough strength to make that giant leap possible.
Lord Mighty showed uncharacteristic seriousness at the question. He didn’t even retort or think of uttering unclear replies. He dropped the Niqols on his shoulder to the ground, voicing a promise instead. "[I will]."
The usual bickering was nowhere to be seen now. Lord Blind Sword seemed to have a plan, and Lord Mighty knew that their mindsets were aligned, so he trusted him and promised his full support.
"[Bring this there]," Lord Blind Sword said, lifting his left arm, showing his scabbard and sheathed sword.
The simple gesture gained a different meaning in the other Royal Guards’ eyes. Lord Enforcer showed no emotions when looking at the sheathed blade, but Lord Envoy and Lord Mighty couldn’t help but wear newfound sternness.
Nevertheless, Lord Blind Sword remained firm, and Lord Mighty didn’t dare to insult his resolve. The only proper response was to match it.
"[Ah]!" Lord Mighty cried, stepping toward Lord Blind Sword, grinning while wrapping his huge hand around the scabbard. "[We had a good run together, Lord Blind Sword]!"
"[For the Emperor]," Lord Blind Sword uttered, matching his panion’s broad grin, "[Lord Mighty]."
Lord Mighty didn’t waste time on additional pleasantries. For some reason, the God had remained in the sky and wasn’t doing anything, so the Thilku couldn’t waste that chance.
Lord Blind Sword shared that mindset and promptly let go of his scabbard, his existence instantly growing weaker, as if deprived of its power source. Meanwhile, Lord Mighty bent his huge, thick legs, performing the best leap his muscles could unleash.
Despite not unleashing any mana, Lord Mighty’s violent leap still blew winds everywhere, vouching for his incredible physical prowess. His figure also shot into the sky like a rising et that reached the floating God in no time, only allowing a single additional gesture from the Thilku.
Lord Mighty held the scabbard with one hand, while the other went on the sword’s handle. The item was too small for his palm, but he still gripped it with all the strength he could muster, and the muscles on his right arm tensed as he drew the blade.
The simple action seemed to demand the entirety of Lord Mighty’s strength since blood vessels started to pop among his strained muscle fibers. Still, the non-existent blade came out by the time he reached the God, and the Thilku swung its invisible edge at him.
Of course, Lord Mighty was no swordsman. His slash was rudimentary at best, and the sword itself seemed to oppose it. Cuts had opened all over the Thilku’s arm during the unsheathing motion, but he pleted it nonetheless.
However, a clanging noise ended up spreading in the sky. Despite Lord Mighty’s best effort and all the physical strength he had to offer, the invisible blade only slammed into the God’s figure, failing to pierce it in any way.
Yet, the God could look past that seemingly primitive attack. Nothing could escape his scarlet eyes, which ignored the grinning giant in front of him to fall on the invisible blade, knowing what was about to unfold.
And, just like the God had predicted, the invisible blade exploded into a flurry of sharp energy that stretched beyond the physical world, engulfing him and Lord Mighty in that suicidal attack.
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