BZZZZZZT—
BZZZZZZT—
BZZZZZZT—
A low, droning hum spread slowly across the skies above Erald Castle.
It didn’t sound like thunder. It wasn’t the crackle of energy either. It was deeper—like sothing ancient and vast was drawing near, brushing against the very fabric of the world.
The castle’s defensive barrier, still in the middle of recalibration, was the first to react. The air rippled faintly, as if an invisible hand had stirred it.
And then—
A figure appeared, suspended high in the sky.
Its form was unforgettable—and impossible to categorize.
A drooping dog’s head, with narrow, icy eyes.
A bear’s hulking torso, its skin weathered like stone worn down by centuries.
Limbs shaped like a goat’s, joints bent the wrong way, twisted and unnatural.
And embedded in its abdon—
A leopard’s head, eyes closed, but subtly rising and falling in sync with the creature’s pulsing energy.
It just hovered there, like sothing stitched together by force, never ant to exist.
RUMMMMMBLE—
Power leaked from its body, making the entire sky feel heavy.
The energy it gave off was laced with destruction—thick, corrosive, and dark. Anything it touched would slowly dissolve, break down, and lose its shape entirely.
If an ordinary lifeform ca into contact with that aura, they wouldn’t even have ti to scream. They’d lt into a puddle of aningless goo on the spot.
"...So this is Erald Castle."
The creature spoke. Its voice was low and hoarse, layered with multiple throats speaking at once.
"Lives up to the na."
Its gaze swept slowly across the city-state and the newly expanded territories beyond. There was no attempt to hide the scrutiny in its tone.
"To swallow up so many nations and still be standing... this place speaks for itself."
Before the last word even faded, it began to descend.
At the sa ti, several swirling vortexes opened across its skin—black holes spinning slowly, pulling in the surrounding energy.
In that instant, the flow of power across the land was forcibly redirected toward its body.
This wasn’t just "approaching."
It was a clear probe. Maybe even a provocation.
And almost imdiately, a figure shot into the sky.
Ataneya.
She hovered midair, fifteen tails unfurling behind her, each one wrapped in dense, unfiltered earth-elental energy.
She didn’t bother hiding her presence.
Tier 28.
Still early-stage, but her power was solid—like a mountain already forged and set in stone.
"Stop."
Her voice was cold, but not loud.
Yet the mont she spoke, the energy flow around them stuttered—suppressed by sheer force.
"You’re in Erald Castle’s territory."
She raised her eyes and locked onto the creature.
"Entering without permission. Trying to absorb our energy—"
"You looking to die?"
The air went taut.
The creature paused, clearly caught off guard.
It hadn’t expected soone of this level to be the first to confront it in this world.
But it recovered quickly.
Slowly, it raised one hand.
A strange energy gathered in its palm, swirling and stretching until it ford a massive scythe in midair.
The blade wasn’t sharp. But it radiated a repulsive aura—like it wasn’t ant to cut, but to end.
Ataneya narrowed her eyes.
No more words.
The earth’s energy surged around her. Several tightly compressed energy spheres launched forward, each one heavy enough to warp the air around it, aid straight at the creature.
But—
The monster casually swung its scythe.
Swish.
The energy spheres shattered midair—no explosion, no impact. Just gone, like so unseen law had erased them.
"Tch."
It let out a low grunt, clearly annoyed.
"Feisty little thing, aren’t you?"
"I didn’t co here to fight."
It looked past her, toward Erald Castle.
"I ca to talk. About sothing big."
Ataneya let out a cold laugh—clearly not buying a word of it.
Just as she was about to strike again—
A more familiar, steadier presence approached from behind.
Ethan had arrived.
He ca to a stop beside Ataneya, his gaze calm as it settled on the creature. He scanned it from head to toe, taking in every detail.
"You said you want to cooperate," he said, voice even and unhurried.
"Then be clear."
"What is Kharaxes?"
"Who are you?"
"And what makes you think Erald Castle would ever listen to you?"
The creature went silent for a mont.
Then suddenly, it laughed.
A low, grating sound—like gravel grinding against bone.
"Heh..."
"Cooperate?"
The laughter faded, and its eyes turned cold.
"You’ve misunderstood sothing."
"I didn’t co here to ask."
It raised its scythe and tapped it lightly in the air.
"I ca to inform."
Its gaze locked onto Ethan, voice dropping to a chill.
"The Kingdom of Kharaxes will fall—soon."
"You can choose to stand aside and take a share of the spoils."
"Or you can choose to refuse."
Its tone was flat, almost emotionless.
"But either way—"
"Once it’s over, Erald Castle... won’t be allowed to exist."
Ethan froze for a beat.
He looked the creature over again—its twisted form, its aura, the hostility laced through every word. He ran through the facts in his mind.
—No grudge.
—No history.
—Not even a formal act of aggression yet.
And still, the first thing out of this thing’s mouth was the destruction of Erald Castle.
This wasn’t a negotiation.
It was a sentence.
"You’re pushing it," Ethan said, voice dropping low.
His anger didn’t explode all at once. It rose slowly, like soone had pressed a switch at the base of his spine, letting it climb up his back in a steady burn.
Power stirred in his body, gathering in his palm. A spinning Energy Disc began to form, its edges so sharp they seed to slice the air itself.
But before he could move—
A shadow moved faster than thought.
BOOM!
Ataneya shot past him like a bolt of unleashed lightning, her fist slamming straight into the creature’s face.
No warning.
No hesitation.
Just judgnt—and execution.
The impact cracked through the sky like thunder. The creature didn’t even have ti to roar before the raw, violent force sent it crashing down to the earth.
The ground caved in.
Stone and dust exploded outward.
...
User Comments
0 comments from readers