Lyon POV:
A black and red sword attached itself to his open hand while he entered a stance for the first time since the fight began. His weaponry glowed as the biomass surrounding his whole body solidified itself further.
“Which limb would you like to lose first?”
The blade sliced through the air as I twisted my body to the side. A blackish-red wave of Ki exploded the area behind me when blood trickled out of my nose.
‘...’
I watched the glowing visor representing his eyes curve upwards slightly as I wiped the blood away. I shifted my gaze to my hand, noticing several cuts that weren’t there earlier.
“A naive child who has yet to skim the surface of what Ki can truly do.”
‘Ghost.’
My intent accelerated along the optimal lines of attack while his hand flickered at the same time. He sliced through it, bursting the air apart on either side of him as he took a step forward.
I narrowed my eyes, replaying the scene I had just witnessed repeatedly in my head. His technique rose his base higher, but his perception seemed to be the aspect that was affected the most.
‘Pantheon Style: Omniscience.’
My eyes took on the same golden brown light that spread out over the entire battlefield. I took a step forward as the Ruler lowered his stance.
We flickered forward, crashing against each other head-on. He swung his blade, shooting out various arcs of blackish-red Ki that even when avoided, still sliced up parts of my body, seemingly ignoring my Ki Armour in the process.
The weaponry on his back wasn’t just for show either. He actively switched weapons by having the biomass transport them across his body or moving them with his will alone. Every time he used a different weapon, the force of his next attack at least doubled.
‘Ghost.’
I slipped past his sword and sank my fist into his stomach. The subsequent burst pushed him back a few metres as he shifted his gaze to the trail marks left along the ground. I had used the maximum amount of bursts, yet his defence rose by such a drastic degree it only did that much damage.
‘Pantheon Style: Omniscient Mirage.’
I dashed forward as he swung an axe directly aimed at my head. My fist crashed into his back while he manipulated the biomass into sharp spikes that erupted out from behind.
“...?”
My foot chopped through the air, connecting squarely with his jaw and rattling his head. Different weapons shot towards me when a knee crashed into his chest at a new location.
“...!”
He violently swung his sword down, sending out the same wave of Ki that was clearly different in nature. I couldn’t sense it properly, but it didn’t matter—I was already gone.
My elbow crashed into his ribcage, the force lifting him off his feet while I connected it to a high kick that cracked a part of the biomass on his face.
That was the beginning of a one-sided beatdown. The Ruler used more violent and widespread attacks, but it was no use.
Mirage completely shifted my presence to a different location, so what would happen if that was combined with Omniscience? To the Ruler, it would vividly look like I was in any place I wanted him to think I was. As long as Omniscience was active, the Ruler would never land another hit again.
“Keuk!”
The biomass around his body continued to crack apart while my assault intensified. He fanned out his fingers, launching columns of earth at wherever I led him to think I was. The Ruler splayed his other hand, wrapping himself in a bubble of water.
‘How rare.’
Other than my Master, it was my first time seeing another person with water as their Ki Nature. However, the fact that he had chosen to use Elemental Ki instead of his own ability was telling; he was probably reaching his limit soon.
“There you are.”
My fist repelled the water when the Ruler immediately spun his head in my direction. Dozens of biomass weaponry shot towards me instantly while the sword in his hand flashed.
‘...’
I peered down at him all the way from the top of the sunken crater. I lowered my fist that was in line with what he saw and examined the current situation.
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‘I need to get rid of that barrier.’
The Ruler wasn’t weak. That attack he had just launched would have dealt serious damage if that was the real me. I was currently standing at the edge of Omniscience, which I was now able to place down in a set area. This had its advantages and disadvantages, but judging by the Ruler's character, there was nothing else he could do.
I shifted my gaze to the monitors broadcasting the battle. I concluded that the Ruler did not want to give any viewer the impression that he was running away. As a result, he was now in a predicament that could be solved rather easily.
I flickered forward, bursting open his water barrier from multiple angles at once. The Ruler's eyes widened as my fist shattered more of the biomass protecting his face.
“Heuk!”
Blood spewed out of his mouth while my foot crashed into his stomach. He lurched forwards, directing the biomass to protect him, but it was too late.
‘!’
My hand was about to grab his neck when the biomass abruptly launched him backwards. Blood poured down the Ruler's face while his veins threatened to explode from the humiliation he had just received.
“This is the difference between you and me.”
I narrowed my eyes as the biomass opened its hand, revealing a small syringe that contained a red liquid. He grabbed it and stabbed it right inside the glowing red veins while the corners of his mouth rose.
His Ki exploded, taking him to around the mid Monzen stage. The Ruler's ability also evolved. The biomass became mostly red with shades of black in some areas. It pulsated like a heartbeat while the weaponry he had created took on stronger forms.
“Biomass: King.”
He smirked as the biomass covered his face. It extended down from his shoulders, creating a red cape. The change continued across his body, taking on a form not only regal in appearance but also incomparable in strength to the previous variant.
“!!”
He raised a hand towards the sky, and a burst of Ki rippled out from around him. The Ruler shattered Omniscience, causing it to fall to the ground like fragmented pieces of glass. The golden brown colour left my eyes just as he appeared in front of me.
“Kneel.”
My face shot into the ground, unable to withstand the pressure of his Ki that continued to crush my body effortlessly.
“Ugh...”
I tried to get back up, but I felt his foot rest on the back of my head. He pushed it down slowly as my face gradually smashed through deeper layers of the earth.
“Come. Let me show the masses what happens when they listen to the foolish drivel of a child.”
He lifted me up by my hair, and we locked eyes.
“First, I’ll get rid of the light in your eyes.”
His fist smashed into my stomach, and I instantly spat out a mouthful of blood. I switched to the Defensive stance as hundreds of more blows arrived. I did what I could to dodge, using Ghost to try and offset his attacks, but the beating only became more intense.
“...Coward...”
He stopped his fist centimetres away from my face as blood gushed out of my nose. The biomass rippled back, revealing his face underneath.
The Ruler's lips curved upwards while his fingers wrapped around my neck tightly. He shifted his gaze to a nearby screen that floated down towards us.
“Is this what you have been reduced to? Is this who you placed your hope in? You all disappoint me. The real enemy is beyond those walls, yet you cling to the pathetic dreams of a mere child.
Today, I put an end to the weak-minded, to the weak-willed, dirty parasites who have no vision of what the future truly needs to be.”
His grip tightened while my hands frantically moved around his wrist.
“Watch carefully. The hope that you have been deceived by is about to be extinguished. Your dreams have come to an end, for this is your reality. This will be the only time I remind you all, so listen well.”
My vision blurred as I began to run out of time.
“I am Baekan, the Heavenly King of the South!!”
‘Found it.’
My knee shot upwards, cracking through the thinnest part of the biomass and right into the pressure point near his wrist. His fingers loosened against their will while he took a step back unsure of what had just happened.
It was now or never. I took a deep breath inwardly and shifted my gaze to the monitor while parting my lips.
“I am Lyon Asphalios...”
‘Sorry, Isabelle.’
I grabbed hold of my left arm, ripping off the cloak sleeve and revealing the Mark of a Pantheon to the world.
“...The Disciple of Zane Pantheon!”
***
Lissandra POV:
“...I wonder what my Master will say about this.”
My lips curved upwards while I watched the District Leader announce himself to the South. I knew he used the Pantheon Style, but to hear that he was the disciple of the Zane Pantheon was completely unexpected.
Our masters shared history together, and now their disciples did too. It seemed like our meeting wasn’t just by chance but an act of fate.
‘Nice~’
I mused to myself while I felt the probability of him choosing me increase. Gia's words did initially bother me, but the more I thought about it, the more I knew that the Leader wasn’t that type of person.
It wasn’t just because of his age or lack of experience in that area. Instead, it was mainly due to the fact that it wasn’t of importance to him at this point in time. He was here to liberate the South, not to indulge himself in women.
“Heuk...”
I wiped the blood away from a small cut on my cheek as I sat down on the ledge of a rooftop, ignoring the pained moans from behind. I glanced back at the dozens of bodies laying in a pool of their own blood. They were ranked between 1 to 15, but their target was me, not the Leader.
My eyelashes fluttered while my cheek rested against my hand. Isabelle wouldn’t be happy about her favourite creation being ripped like that, but knowing her, she had probably made tens of spares just in case.
“You’re making... A mistake...”
The rank 4 Shadow Guard finally passed out, and I pondered over the current progress of the war. It had been hours since the raid had begun, and I was certain that everyone on the Leader's side would have to go all out to defeat a single-digit Guard.
If anyone lost, then that Guard alone could change the outcome of this war. However, what really took me by surprise was the Ruler—I was positive that I saw him use a KED.
‘Cheater.’
I furrowed my eyebrows at his disgraceful act. The KED most likely pushed him all the way to mid Monzen, which allowed him to temporarily overpower the Leader. It would be a close fight, but I still believed the Leader would win.
There really was no dignity to be found in him, despite his new appearance that would convince you otherwise. Baekan's actions in battle only proved what the people already thought of him: a tyrant obsessed with nothing but his own greed.
That obsession was about to lead to his defeat. He was only at this level, but he had plans of taking over Inner Astril; he needed to wake up and come back to reality.
‘Hmm.’
The sun had almost reached its peak while blinding rays of light shone down from the sky. A thin smile spread across my cupid-shaped lips as a faint heat rose from my cheeks.
“Show them your true strength, Leader.”