Peizhi Xiuying’s group had 12 members in it at the beginning, and right now all 12 were present and in good health. It could be seen that in terms of keeping her team safe and well she was very adept. As her group rushed in to fight the beasts she gave orders clearly and precisely.
“Saint Pee, take the long range cultivators and tie down the flying beasts. Ra Mhen and Nu Dhuls you two are responsible for protecting them from close range attacks. Lil Mheet, take the close combat fighters and relieve some of the pressure off of Akata’s group, circle the perimeter and try not to stay in one location for long. Penny, stand in the center and keep an eye on the battlefield, if you see someone about to die, quickly drag them back and out of harm's way with your spectre abilities.”
Peizhi Xiuying obviously knew her group well and employed their abilities in the best way possible. Her setup made it possible to bring out the most power and keep them all safe while doing so.
“Leemurs, make two clones and have them assist and communicate with Peizhi Xiuying and Akata when he wakes up. Squad 2, form a defensive perimeter around the long range combatants and keep them safe from unexpected attacks. Squad 3, take position in the center and setup a healing station for the injured, for those that can’t make it back on their own then Jamiil and Peerless are responsible for getting them with their fast speeds. Squad 5, stake around the edges of the battlefield and gather any intel on some unusual changes to the flow of battle, that includes any absurdly powerful beasts or a change in their formation or tactics.” Sno Re, the defensive twin that wielded Silvermoon Energy, gave orders to his squads as well. He was extremely tactful and thought ahead instead of in the moment. It could be seen that he was very capable of holding down positions.
“Squad 1 join in the battle and face off against the long range ground beasts! Utterly annihilate them with your area of effect abilities. Squad 4 take up positions at the frontlines and fight the close combat beasts, I want you to tank the damage and give Akata’s group a chance to catch their breaths. Squad 6, you’re responsible for sneaking through the beast horde and killing off any unsuspecting beasts, make sure you’re not noticed. Also flank them from the northeast, I want you to push them away from the Central Circle. Right now they have the numbers so anymore beasts wouldn’t make much of a difference, but if strong beasts from the Central Circle joined then it would be problematic.” Cho Re, the offensive twin that wielded Goldensun Energy, gave his orders too. He was much more brash than the others but his tactics were well thought out and it could be seen that his leadership skills weren’t inferior to the other two.
Sno Re and Cho Re were combined into one group so they had plenty of people to work with. Due to so many people in their group and the fact that they shared a group they decided to form mini squads consisting of around 3 to four people that specialized in certain areas. Each of the twins controlled three squads.
Sno Re’s squads specialized in blocking, healing, and espionage. It could be seen from this that his defensive awareness was really put to the test with a setup like this. Cho Re’s squads, on the other hand, specialized in AOE attacks, tanking, and assassinations. It was easy to see that Cho Re was gifted in all forms of offense and he knew them well enough to employ the best squad setup for his group.
With the addition of Peizhi Xiuying, Sno Re, and Cho Re’s groups, Akata’s group felt much more at ease. The tension they felt fighting all of those beasts by themselves was truly driving them into despair. If they didn’t believe in Akata’s strength they would have been given up and left him for dead.
The vine aura slowly condensed within the other two auras. The cloud and lightning aura were already fully condensed and only the vine aura was left. As it further stabilised Akata found new insights into the Inner Elements of Vines. Flexible, thick, vast, all these traits and more were applied to the three elements as they were grouped as one. These traits formed a new aura around Akata and this aura brought a fear inducing feeling to every living being close by.
“Wha… What is thata aura coming from Akata?” Peizhi Xiuying couldn’t help but sweat when she felt that aura. It was as if a heavenly pressure was weighing down on her, it was simply something that she couldn’t possibly go against.
Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
Not to mention her, who was at the 8th Grade of the First Rank, but the twins who were at the 7th Grade felt that way too.
Fwoosh! Bzzz! Pop! The sounds of clouds flowing, lightning zipping, and vines snapping could be heard across the whole battlefield at this moment. A dangerous feeling arose within the hearts of everyone present. They couldn’t help but take one step away from Akata’s body.
Rumble! Crack! Dark clouds formed in the sky and lightning could be seen crackling within. Along with the changes in the sky the ground underneath Akata started to crack as lava could be seen within. However, whether it be the lightning in the sky or the lava in the ground, none of it was normal. The lightning was completely golden in color and the lava was a dark black. The lightning felt righteous while the lava felt ominous.
At the same time this was occuring Akata opened his eyes abruptly and his gaze seemed to be misty, sharp, and full of vitality. He looked up at the heavenly lightning and then looked down at the hellish lava. He was not afraid but rather expectant. “Just one more step and I can finally form this new element.” A fierce battle intent formed around his body as he was ready to face this tribulation head on.
He had already taken notice of Peizhi Xiuying and the twins but at this moment his main attention was on the heavenly lightning in the sky and the hellish lava in the ground. If he succeeded in withstanding these two powers then his element would gain the approval of one and be truly formed. If he couldn’t withstand them, then not only would his element not form, he would also suffer grievous injuries to his cultivation and may never advance again. He may even well die.
Even though Akata knew these things he was not scared at all. He suddenly laughed out loud and spoke with a clear voice, “Come at me! I will walk atop hell and fly through the heavens! Nothing will impede me as I rise.” As he finished speaking a bolt of golden lightning fell from the sky struck Akata. At the same time, a pillar of black lava shot from the ground and engulfed his figure.
Beasts and cultivators alike were instantly shocked by this scene. They could feel the terrifying power from both the lightning and lava, yet they both attacked Akata at the same time? There was no possible way that he could withstand something as terrifying as this. But what happened next was surely to surprise them.
“Ah!” A loud roar came from the pillar of lava and all of a sudden a boom sent the lava flying away. Akata stood there unharmed, neither the lava nor the lightning injured him. He gave a snort, “That was nothing, is that all you have?” Akata looked up and down at the sky and ground with a look of disdain on his face. Clearly, the lightning and lava wasn’t nearly strong enough to hurt him.
However, seeming to be enraged by Akata’s remarks, the clouds turned to a golden color and the earth beneath Akata’s feet turned black. All of a sudden three bolts of golden lightning and three pillars of black lava shot towards Akata from three different directions.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Akata was hit from six different sides and was engulfed in the wrath of heaven and hell. In truth, Akata already had passed the tribulation from the first bolt of lightning and pillar of lava. When it hit him then energy from both flowed into his new elemental aura and nourished it. If the aura couldn’t withstand the energy then it would be overwhelmed and explode, leaving Akata to fend for himself from the might of the heavens and hell. The only reason the tribulation kept on attacking was because Akata’s intent asked for it. The more energy Akata’s new element could take in the more powerful it would become. But if he overestimated himself then he would surely die a horrible death.
Akata could feel his new elemental aura cracking under the pressure of the lightning and lava. He knew that the pressure was going to increase but he didn’t think it was going to be by so much. It was at least 9 times greater than the first one! That was an insane increase in might. Akata let out a yell of might and his eyes turned bloodshot. He forcefully poured in his own energy to sustain his elemental aura and repair the cracks.
‘I will not let this thing kill me now! I will hold on, even if I have to use my own strength!’ Akata could tell by now that his elemental aura wouldn’t be enough to hold back the lightning and lava and that he needed to do something else in order to keep it from being destroyed.
Akata looked fierce and bewildered. The energy of heaven and hell seeped in through the cracks and, even though it was really miniscule, it was enough to tear off Akata’s skin and lacerate his body. Akata gave another roar and he rotated his crimson and golden rune vigorously. All of a sudden a vortex appeared within his body that took in the small amount of energy that seeped through the cracks.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Banging resounded out but it wasn’t from Akata getting harmed but from repeated breakthroughs in cultivation! His rune was absorbing and refining the energy of heaven and hell after all.
Mortal Realm Mortal Rank Grade 9. Plant Realm Seed Rank Grade 9. Demon Realm Imp Rank Grade 5. Beast Realm Docile Rank Grade 6.
In a short amount of time Akata went to the peak of the Mortal and Plant Realm. His Demon and Beast Realm cultivations also went up by 5 Grades. Even with this insane increase in power, it still wasn’t close enough for Akata to even begin to struggle free from the pressure of the lightning and lava.