Although Astra was a Transcendent Lord and had seen her fair share of nightmares, she had never been shaken to the core like this.
Michael was a human male. There was no doubt about it. Yet as she observed his critical state and the nonchalant expression on his face, it felt as though she was facing a monster rather than one of her own kin.
For the first ti in ages, panic clouded Astra’s senses.
"L—Let go!" She scread.
She attempted to stomp down on his head but failed miserably. Before her leg could connect, Michael released Heaven’s Judgnt and seized her leg instead.
In that mont, Astra’s panic turned into horror as she realized she was unable to move either of her legs. Michael’s iron grip was akin to that of a Lord, especially with the Warlock technique fueling him further.
"It doesn’t feel good being looked down on, you know?" Michael chuckled, pulling Astra’s legs and causing her to crash to the ground.
"How about we reverse our roles?"
Crash!
The two collided with the hard ground, cracking it in a spiderweb pattern. Normally, the snow would have broken their fall, but due to Astra’s earlier attack, the snowstorm had long since turned into smoke, still lingering in the area.
An involuntary gasp escaped Astra’s lips. By sheer force of will, she managed to break free, rising to her aching feet.
"Unbelievable. This is the guy with a reputation for being gentle?" Astra muttered, wincing. "I can still feel the bruises from where he held ."
She wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry. She was supposed to be of the second stage of the Lord realm, yet a re Grandmaster had made her lose her composure.
Unlike the other enemies who had faced Michael, she was one of the few who hadn’t underestimated him. And yet, she still found herself unpleasantly surpassed.
"Co out. I don’t believe for a second that you took the fall that badly!" She bellowed, her gaze fixed on the smoke. "Or what? Did you get scared and choose to run?"
In response to the provocation, Michael acted. Astra’s eyes narrowed to the size of needles as he hurled Devil with terrifying accuracy.
With a curse, she ducked. A single glance told her everything she needed to know... the sword was a soul weapon. Attempting to take hold of it would only weaken her instead.
A heartbeat later, Michael was before her again, the double barrel of Heaven’s Judgnt aid directly at her abdon.
"Crap—" Sadly, Astra was too slow to react.
Boom!
A plu of smoke and fire erupted from the shotgun, zeroing in from a shorter distance than an extended hand.
Gah!
Astra’s lips parted, letting out a small gasp. Luckily, since the weapon was still only of Epic rank, it wasn’t able to penetrate her skin. Though, she still felt the monstrous backlash, as if Michael had punched her several tis in quick succession.
"You’re one tough opponent, I’ll give you that!" Her eyes began to shine even brighter.
In a flash, thousands of particles scattered. Unlike last ti, however, they didn’t coalesce into one form. Instead, they focused on Michael’s figure, sending an uncountable amount of energy beams from every angle.
Evidently, by the pressure these lasers emitted, they were all infused with spiritual energy. They undoubtedly had the power to pierce most surfaces.
If there was any comparison to be made, these beams were to cultivators what bullets were to mortal n.
Cursing, Michael did his best to dodge. Dash and Blink proved invaluable, allowing him to move out of harm’s way at the last mont, while Perfect Senses and Parallel Sight made it easier to predict where he would be hit.
Still, the projectiles were far too many. He had to choose what to sacrifice.
One grazed his neck, another his cheek. His palms and feet weren’t spared. Organs and joints were the most essential parts of his body, which Michael protected. Everything else was quickly riddled with holes.
Psychokinesis was the thing that kept him going. Halting the blood spilling from his wounds, he forced his vitality from dropping too rapidly.
Without halting, Michael swung with Devil the mont the weapon returned to his grip.
Astra broke out in a cold sweat. Her opponent was monts away from death, yet he was unwilling to give up. Was she really about to lose to a Grandmaster?
’Pain is supposed to bring uncertainty, hesitation... instead he is becoming more ruthless!’
Unbeknown to her, Michael and Devil were having a conversation during the battle.
’I see! This is starting to explain so things!’ Devil remarked.
’During the battle you kept throwing glances towards your teammates...’
Indeed, just like the weapon had claid. Michael was aware of the state of his companions.
He had seen Richard lying in a pool of his own blood. Victoria grew limp. Claire’s head crushed. Ava burned to a crisp. Robert, overwheld, fell from an attack from behind.
’If those who follow you are suffering, then it’s only natural that you endure the most anguish, right?!’ Devil laughed. ’That nonsensical sense of duty is what keeps you going!’
At that mont, the last mber of the Indomitable Alliance, with the exception of Michael, had fallen... Yet the battle still continued.
"Lady Astra!" Sirius roared, realization settling in. "Michael was assigned the leader’s role!"
"Impossible!" Astra hissed. "The mad man knew acting recklessly, making a simple mistake, would cost them everything, yet he chose to attack the front directly?!"
It was a critical oversight on Flawless Starlight’s part. If the remaining Lords had focused on Michael, this would have ended in their victory... But perhaps it was already too late to change anything.
Everyone still standing rushed toward Michael, determined to end this hellish battle, while their leader, Astra, was re seconds away from being overwheld.
"How? Why?"
Crimson liquid began to trail from her lips.
"Every strategy I’ve employed was completely countered. It’s like you’ve fought countless battles and know exactly how to counter every tactic!"
Astra’s spiritual reserves began to dwindle.
"What are you?!"
Stab!
In that mont, Devil, having been hurled out of Astra’s view once again, neared, guided by Psychokinesis. This ti, however, it pierced the unsuspecting Lord from behind, the blade of the Mythic weapon protruding from her stomach.
"It would be so fucking funny if it turned out I guessed wrong and Astra isn’t assigned as their leader..."
Michael breathed shallowly.
"Well... those who don’t gamble don’t win."
Lifting his foot, he kicked Devil. The sword followed the trajectory of his strike, traveling upward, carving Astra’s body along the way. It stopped just at the upper part of her chest.
Astra’s vision grew dim, barely making out Michael’s silhouette. The mbers of her faction were closing in on him, ready to tear him to pieces, yet he still stood upright utterly unfazed.
Now, it made sense why Michael had been branded a Demon.
If she had held on just a second longer, they might have won. Yet, sadly, she had been bested in every conceivable way. Her heart stopped beating before Michael’s did.
Swosh!
A mont later, the two factions were back in the arena, under the Emperor’s gaze.
"..."
No one had the strength to utter a word. The pain of the battle still haunted their minds.
Though all knew the outco.
By the skin of their teeth, the Indomitable Alliance had erged victorious.
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