Meanwhile, Armad and the judge returned to the battlement, prompting confusion among the Core formation cultivators and wild people nearby as they struggled to distinguish between the real judge and the impostor. They recognized that only one of the two was genuine but couldn’t determine which was which— the one stationed on the battlement or the one preventing their comrades from fleeing.

However, what followed made the previous battle seem like a mere prelude to the ensuing conflict. Despite the efforts of the wild cultivator to aid their overwhelmed allies, their endeavors proved futile, leaving them filled with fury and frustration at their losses.

Channeling their anger, they launched a vengeful assault on the prince’s army. Yet, as always, facing opponents bred within the disciplined confines of Wilberforcian fortress proved vastly different from combating wilderness-raised fighters.

Initially, amidst the chaos of battle, few noticed the descent of yellow balsam leaves. Gradually, however, their weight began to impede movement, rendering lifting swords an arduous task. Strangely, this phenomenon affected only the wild people, while the city’s defenders remained unaffected.

Amidst this surreal turn of events, Armad conjured a great sword, its yellow hue reminiscent of balsam leaves, signaling a shift in the battle’s dynamics.

As Armad summoned the sword, he opened a portal from which the weapon emerged, triggering the cascade of leaves. Simultaneously, three stars adorned the sword, adding to its mystique.

Wherever the leaves landed, the wild people felt a profound weight, as if gravity itself had intensified, grounding them to the earth. Yet, Armad’s strategy extended beyond this initial assault. Aware of his limitations against Deva adversaries and the outnumbering Core formation cultivators among the wild people, he recognized the necessity of reducing their ranks to secure victory.

Without hesitation, he unleashed his Miyura, unleashing a surge of potent cultivation that caused his 7200 cultivation years to accelerate rapidly until reaching 13,500. Sensing the limits of his endurance, Armad refrained from pushing further to avoid risking his health unnecessarily.

Confident in his abilities and aided by his other skills and Negrinki's world, Armad anticipated overcoming most of the Deva adversaries among the wild people. With the judge by his side, though unarmed and likely not engaging in combat, Armad ascended into battle.

This role suited the judge, whose primary duty was protecting their royal ward, relegating direct engagement to a secondary concern.

The judge’s paramount duty was safeguarding the prince from harm, regardless of the battle’s outcome. His role did not entail engaging in combat or slaying wild people, as long as he fulfilled his assignment.

Without warning, Armad invoked the Kaban’shisu spell as he leaped, swiftly disappearing from the judge’s side and reappearing behind one of the Deva. One of Armad’s captains, facing the targeted Deva, was the first to notice Armad’s sudden appearance. Meanwhile, the wild person sensed Armad’s presence but found himself inexplicably weighed down by a mysterious gravity, hindering his movements further.

Struggling to maintain his balance, the wild person exerted his remaining strength, leaving him vulnerable and unable to defend himself. Seizing the opportunity, Armad swiftly struck, slashing through the wild person’s right shoulder before he could react. The force of the blow cleaved the wild person in two, causing blood to spurt and drench the ground as he fell lifeless.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Silence fell over the battleground as onlookers witnessed the fair man’s lethal deed. It dawned on them that the mysterious assailant was none other than the prince they had been tasked to harass. Their instructions had forbidden his death, instead demanding his abuse and the destruction of the city, along with the slaughter of its inhabitants.

How did he become so fair? They pondered, recalling the prince’s previously tanned complexion from photographs and eyewitness accounts. It was a family trait among the Wilberforce, with none ever appearing as albino-white as he did. Their surprise turned to speculation as they considered how and when the prince had undergone such a drastic change in appearance. Perhaps, they mused, he had employed some skill to achieve it.

However, their primary concern shifted upon realizing his identity. The specifics of the skill he used could be addressed later. What truly baffled them was the disparity in cultivation levels between the prince and a Deva. Both princes of Wilberforce were known to be at the Core formation cultivators level, specifically the Province of Core formation stage, a fact widely acknowledged due to the constant scrutiny surrounding Arion’s family. It seemed inconceivable that a Core Formation cultivator could dispatch a Deva with such ease, especially on the very first day of their level advancement. It defied all expectations and disrupted the flow of battle, capturing the attention of everyone on the battlefield.

The mystery deepened further as they considered the prince’s sword, adorned with three stars at its tip. Its yellowish hue added to its enigmatic aura, leaving them to wonder if the same skill that altered his appearance also granted him unmatched strength.

Its yellow hue was so intense that light radiated intermittently from its edge. Yet, such a vibrant color seemed unnatural, even for a dyed sword. Could there be a spell imbued within it, granting him the ability to dispatch a Deva with such ease?

However, considering the lineage of Arion, it seemed unsurprising that his son would possess such extraordinary powers. For an ancient clan like the Wilberforces, mysteries, and powers were likely woven into their lineage. Yet, why had they not been informed of these details by those who hired them? They had only been briefed on the prince’s strength level and what to expect, leaving them ill-prepared for the reality they faced.

Now, with no time for regrets, their sole focus was to ensure that the lives lost were not in vain by defeating the prince. Before they could fully process their thoughts, Armad materialized behind a second Deva, his sword swiftly decapitating the man before he even fully materialized.

This initial strike, while successful, carried uncertainty even for Armad, who understood the intricate process of creating a Deva. While his cultivation matched that of a Deva’s, it did not signify that he truly embodied one. His enhanced cultivation years merely aligned with theirs, lacking the specific mechanisms that defined Deva’s essence.

However, Armad lacked the inherent protection and authority bestowed upon true Deva, as he merely possessed Deva-level cultivation years without embodying the essence of one. He harbored doubts about whether it was the balsam sword’s influence or something else that enabled him to dispatch the first Deva. Despite his success, he felt unworthy of such a remarkable feat.

Another factor he considered was the influence of his Negrinki world, which enhanced his attacks by 4.1% and reduced incoming attacks by 3.5%. Yet, Armad found these percentages insufficient to single-handedly enable him to defeat a Deva in one strike. Instead, he believed that a combination of his cultivation years enhancement, assistance from his world, and the formidable Yellow Sword contributed to his achievement.

The gravity manipulation of his sword immobilized his opponent, rendering evasion or retreat impossible. Coupled with the enhancements from his realm, the sword became a formidable weapon. Even without additional enhancements, the sword was already fearsome, but with even a minor increase of 1%, it transformed into a weapon of unparalleled terror.

While Armad could be considered a Deva in terms of cultivation years, his temporary cultivation status also classified him as such. Fueled by these factors, he chanted the Kaban’shisu vanishing spell and swiftly struck at the second Deva from behind.