(Meanwhile, Leo’s POV)
Leo remained pletely calm despite being surrounded by five lethal opponents, because among everyone currently standing before him, he knew that only Mauriss possessed the capability to genuinely threaten his life, while the others, although dangerous to ordinary warriors, did not concern him nearly as much as the formation beneath his feet.
Because unlike his enemies, whose abilities and bat styles he already understood, the crimson formation continued draining his mana and divine essence with every passing second, making it the single greatest unknown on the battlefield.
"I’ve never quite understood the source of confidence that all you Cult leaders seem to possess.
Because I can swear that if it were anybody else standing where you are right now, surrounded by enemies on all sides while trapped inside a formation specifically designed to weaken them, they would already be trembling in fear."
Mauriss muttered as he slowly circled around Leo alongside the other Gods, deliberately attempting to draw the Cult Master’s attention toward, as he hoped that by baiting Leo into a battle of words, he would help create a small opening that Lu Han, Du Trask, Clarence, or Terrence could exploit.
However, Leo paid him no attention whatsoever.
His eyes never lingered on Mauriss for longer than necessary, while his senses continuously swept across the battlefield, studying every movement, every fluctuation in mana, and every detail surrounding the formation beneath him.
"Want to know what this formation actually is?"
Mauriss continued as he cautiously stepped closer, while the others mirrored his movements and gradually tightened the encirclement.
"I call it the Web Of Lies.
It’s my greatest creation.
And do you know what inspired it?
All I needed was a single loyal follower of yours willing to reveal a few secrets."
Mauriss explained while smiling faintly.
"The tattoos upon your back that convert life essence into usable energy were far more fascinating than I expected.
Once I understood their principles, adapting them into a planetary formation became surprisingly simple.
The result is what you’re standing on now.
A formation capable of draining any being possessing divine essence while continuously feeding upon their power."
Mauriss revealed, as he subtly implied that someone close to Leo had betrayed him and leaked Cult secrets, as of all the current members of the Cult, except himself and Veyr, only members of the Skyshard family had access to the forbidden dragon moves.
"Of course, there is one small exception to bypass this formation’s grip."
Mauriss continued while lifting one foot slightly from the ground.
"Special footwear crafted from unique materials that prevents the formation from affecting the wearer.
Which is why every member of our alliance is standing here fortably while you’re slowly being drained dry."
Mauriss explained as he watched Leo carefully, clearly hoping that the revelation would provoke some sort of reaction.
However instead, it became the key Leo was looking for to break free of this formation’s chokehold.
*Leap*
Leo moved suddenly, as he threw himself sideways and rolled across the shattered battlefield toward Mu Shen’s corpse, causing the expressions of every God present to change immediately.
"GET HIM!"
Lu Han yelled, as the instant Leo lunged toward Mu Shen’s body, Lu Han and Du Trask reacted simultaneously and descended upon him from above, the two gods bringing their weapons down with enough force to split continents apart.
*SWOOOSH*
*SWOOOSH*
The attacks landed exactly where Leo should have been.
However, instead of striking Leo’s flesh, both weapons became embedded inside Mu Shen’s corpse instead, as Leo effortlessly lifted the dead God and used him as a shield at the final moment.
*Sputter*
*Sputter*
The sight would have been ical under different circumstances.
Two Gods inadvertently mutilating the body of their former ally while trying to stop Leo from reaching a pair of boots.
Yet none of them found it amusing.
Because Leo had already succeeded.
The moment their weapons became lodged inside the corpse, Leo grabbed the insulated boots and tore them free in one smooth motion before Clarence and Terrence unleashed long range attacks toward him from opposite directions.
*SWOOSH*
*SWOOSH*
As the projectiles closed in, Leo crossed his daggers and intercepted both strikes before immediately stepping forward and driving his foot directly into Mauriss’ chest, interrupting the Deceiver’s own attempt at joining the assault.
*BOOM*
The kick forced Mauriss backward while Leo finally slipped the boots onto his feet, as almost instantly the draining sensation throughout his body disappeared and the weight suppressing his movements vanished entirely.
Strength surged back through every limb.
His mana flowed normally.
His divine essence circulated freely.
And for the first time since accidentally setting foot on Planet Phoenix Star, Leo found himself capable of expressing his true bat strength once again.
*BOOM*
In the very next moment, he launched himself upward and rose above the formation entirely, as the alliance members could only watch their greatest advantage crumble before their eyes, while Leo unleashed a barrage of strikes their way, as he used the move—
[Thousand Phantom Slashes].
—---------
(Meanwhile, Mairon)
While everyone else focused either on battling the opposing Gods directly or attempting to free Caleb from his restraints, Mairon chose a different role for himself, as from the very beginning, his eyes remained fixed upon Clarence and Terrence.
Ever since the humiliation he suffered at Clarence’s hands a few years ago, Mairon had waited for an opportunity to settle that score, as the memory of that defeat never truly left him despite the years that had passed since then.
And now, after enduring Leo’s relentless training for years, he finally possessed a skill capable of making that revenge a reality.
Because among everything he learned from his father, the most important lesson had been the technique Leo had once used to kill Raymond, which was a technique so devastating that even now Mairon could not execute it carelessly without being a cripple.
Which was precisely why he remained patient.
’Not yet... I can’t reveal my position yet.’
Mairon thought as he carefully suppressed his aura and moved through the ruined battlefield unnoticed, while all around him Gods and Demi Gods fought with enough force to tear continents apart.
He understood his own limitations better than anyone.
Without Origin Metal weapons, killing a God was unrealistic regardless of how perfectly he executed his attack, however Clarence and Terrence were different.
They were still Demi Gods.
They were still vulnerable.
And most importantly, they were distracted.
’The moment they stop paying attention... the moment they expose their neck to me and are focused on dad...’
Mairon thought as his eyes narrowed slightly, while he continued inching closer toward the heart of the battlefield despite fully understanding how dangerous that decision was.
Because he knew that when the opportunity finally arrived, he would only get one chance to strike.
And when that chance came, he intended to make sure neither Clarence nor Terrence survived it.
User Comments
0 comments from readers