The Guardian walked forward as he summoned two more purple crystal swords, one in each hand.

He knows that killing the five Phantoms would not be the end. The other Phantoms would soon arrive, swarming this place, and it would turn situation sour for both groups.

Both sides prepared to fight, intending to swiftly finish the other off and quickly retreat, however before their battle began they became aware that they are already surrounded.

Registered on their soul perception, the Origin Energy users could tell that many powerful individuals had arrived and are closing in on them from all sides at high speed.

"Well, seems like we have company," The Guardian who also noticed, said merrily, "since it is too late to retreat, why don't we fight to our hearts' content first and think of a solution later?"

Surprisingly, Kairos nodded in agreement. He steps towards the guardian, and when his friends wanted to follow, he lifted a palm at them indicating he wishes to go forth alone.

Kairos said coolly, "I will fight him alone. I had discovered several things during my training, and sorely needs a sparring partner to practice with."

The others, including Syriong himself, are stunned by his words. To treat a Peak grade triple S ranker who is one of the top 3 practitioners of an entire Empire as a training partner, if it is not arrogance it must be foolhardiness.

But Kairos' side quickly retracted their hasty assumptions. Anyone could be foolhardy but not Kairos, if he is confident, then things would turn out alright.

Syriong however, believed that this boy has overestimated himself, and also insulted him. Him, as a training partner? He may enjoy playing others for as a fool but scorns it when done on him.

"You thought yourself beyond death, after getting a lucky shot on me once or twice?" He growled and without waiting for a reply, dashed towards Kairos.

Syriong swung his arms around like how a swordsman would draw his blade, but his hands remain empty until the moment he is in the position to cut his foe up, then the purple crystal sword would be summoned for the attack.

Without the need to draw an actual sword out of a sheath, he could slash at Kairos with a much higher speed, and Kairos soon found himself overwhelmed.

Not only is Syriong much higher in rank, but he also happens to be a dual sword master.

To handle two weapons at the same time requires the swordsman to be versatile with both hands and have an impeccable balance, but once mastered, it is a technique that allows many more options when attacking than a single sword.

Attacks came at Kairos from all kinds of odd angles and even from opposite ends, and he quickly found himself entirely on the defence.

Though he handled himself expertly with his Swallow, the weapon that usually had the advantage of a longer reach instead made his action slower than a sword user. Every exchange only left a new cut on his flesh.

Fighting at Peak A rank using Origin Infusion and five grades above his actual cultivation at Entry B, it is a miracle he could last for so long. No practitioners at his level could hope to challenge a foe so significantly superior like Syriong and survive even a single blow.

But now, with the martial techniques he learned, it has become a possibility. In the past, even to challenge someone a single grade above, is challenging for them. Out of all the opponents they had met, only the Orc King could challenge those that had superior cultivation. It wasn't such an easy thing to do so.

For example, though five double S rankers surrounded Syriong, they were still killed with one attack each, because they underestimated the guardian.

On the other hand, Kairos using the divine-grade movement techniques along with his ability to perceive everything within his soul perception range, managed to continue avoiding death by the skin of his teeth. Multiple hands started appearing, trying to grip at his ankles, but without fail all of them did not reach him.

This observation ability of his that did not miss anything within his soul perception actually has a name that is rarely heard even in the higher realms, the All-seeing Eye. The holders of this ability could notice every detail happening within their sight. And when combined with soul perception, the information Kairos gathers every moment, is tremendous indeed.

There are others who were born with the All-seeing Eye, but many become autistic when overwhelmed by the things they perceive. One can only guess Kairos' mental capacity to be wholly unaffected when he could see so much more with Soul Perception.

He continued bravely fighting a losing battle, as the number of cuts on him increased. Against the guardian's furious slashes, he made the Lightning Flicker Body as the primary method of handling. Without a doubt, if a single attack landed properly, he would be dead before he could blink twice.

During the critical moments where Syriong guessed the place he would dodge to, he is forced to use the Ice walk to back away quickly. But after a few times, the illusion of rushing forward no longer worked.

Those that watched felt their hearts in their throat. Any mistake that Kairos make would be instant death.

On the other hand, Syriong who is getting used to his techniques is getting closer and closer to defeating Kairos. Every cut now draws a shower of blood from Kairos.

"Just give up you whelp. All you have to keep you alive is those slippery techniques you use, but I can see past them now. It is your mistake to repeatedly use them against me" Syriong barked.

"Have you ever heard of anyone giving up just because someone told them?" Kairos replied with a smile on his face.

His calmness irked Syriong further, and the Guardian began to launch deadlier attacks that could counter the Lightning Flicker Body and Ice Walk. Unable to avoid being injured even with his movement techniques, Kairos summoned multiple clones of himself made of light and instantly threw the Guardian off. The Mirage Steps.

But, on the other hand, Syriong who was already getting more agitated after each attack that failed to claim his life, became completely infuriated after seeing the boy dodge once again by using a large number of clones.

Even the many earth-hands he summoned to grab at the boy's feet had failed to reach their target. In his heart Syriong repeatedly swore at Kairos, how could all his attempts have failed? Did this boy have a third eye on his back?

Frustrated beyond control, the Guardian of the Realm finally lost his calmness and summoned one of his stronger attacks. Gaia's crystals.

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Two purple shards appeared on either side of his shoulders, and he pushed off the ground soaring towards Kairos, furiously swinging the purple crystal swords in both hands.

Syriong thought to release the two shards as projectiles once he closed up the distance. And with the crystals' that is far beyond a triple S ranker's, they would instantly pierce the boy in the head.

Even against an immortal like Old Ye, they would find his technique trying to avoid at close range.

However, things did not happen as he planned. Kairos instantly felt the danger emitted from the two small shard, and he immediately backed away while infused his body with even more power.

Mana Infusion.

"T...this boy could still increase his power? He was holding back when fighting against ME?"

Syriong's eyes blazed with anger. The boy had sorely wounded his pride by holding back.

Using all the power of his mana core, Kairos enveloped his body the same way he used Origin Infusion. He had come up with this technique right after learning how to use magic, but at this moment, an unexpected yet beneficial situation occurred.

Mana, being the energy of nature, begin to gather within him by beckoning the mana that naturally exists in the air. Beyond his anticipation, Kairos gained more power than he ever thought and instantly surpassed himself for another five grades. From Peak A, he reached Mid SS ranking, an increase that would have precarious results if others saw.

To gain a grade or even three grades to surpass a full rank is nothing at the lower cultivation stages. But to use a technique to exceed even a single grade from Entry SS to Mid SS would be a difficult thing to do.

There are still techniques in the mortal realm that could reach this standard, but five entire grades like what Kairos did would be something found only in the Immortal Realm.

Of course, this is also because Saint Empire and Silent Lambs Empire do not use mana as their martial technique's energy source, and no one knew that Mana would gather this way. For the South Countries, this is a reaction they are familiar with.

All who felt the power radiate from Kairos, even his friends and family, could not wrap their heads around what happened.

Kairos did not allow Syriong to come close, fearing the tiny crystal shards. Running out of patience, the Guardian finally fired his Gaia Crystals at far range and pathetically failed. Only then did Kairos charge forward to engage him in a melee once again.

This time Syriong began to attack more aggressively than ever before, but unlike before Kairos managed to counterattack. The pressure emitted from their clash become even more oppressive, and it was during this frightening dance with death, that Kairos began to turn the situation around fighting the guardian to a standstill.

It wasn't to say that Kairos is unharmed after using his new boost of power, but he finally drew blood from his opponent. Every swing of Syriong's sword he continued to receive a wound, but for every three cuts, Kairos would find the chance to return one. However, not a single wound landed on both person, caused any significant damage.

Pretty soon, a thousand cuts lined on Kairos from head to toe, but the guardian himself wasn't looking much better himself.

Though the cuts did not slow Syriong down, he had to jump back away from Kairos to catch his breath.

"Boy, you are stronger than I thought. I'm not interested to know how you raised your cultivation till double S, but if you tell me, I will let you live," The Guardian said.

Kairos ignored him completely and attacked. How could he not see that his foe is bidding time to recover? Although, Syriong's words did give him pause, "Not interested but would let me live if I tell him?"

The Guardian was not expecting to succeed either, and he prepared to unleash a more powerful move to take his foe down. The technique to surpass one's cultivation by so much is worth more than a boy's life, but if the Kairos does not say, Syriong does not mind the trouble of sifting through his belongings after killing him.

"Chasing Earth's Spikes" The Guardian whispered as he lifted an arm towards Kairos. Following his gesture, sharp edged rocks thrust one after another from the soil outwards pursuing his target, attempting to impale Kairos.

Kairos moved backwards swiftly with the Ice Walk, but every step he took, another cluster of sharp rocks would chase after him. After three large steps that were ineffectual to create a gap, he slammed his Swallow at an incoming spike.

The impact, with the full strength of a Titan ranked body, blasted him off backwards into the air.

But when he reached the peak of his jump, Kairos thrust his palm out towards Syriong.

Once. Twice. Thrice.

Along with each hand thrust, he summoned a mighty roaring dragon made of pure Ki from himself. The dragons flew out of his palm, charging at a blinding speed towards the guardian.

Previously during his training, this is the technique he was looking for within the skill tomes he found in the Phrixus' Treasury. A martial art which taught him how to fill up his lack in ranged attacks.

The first dragon turned the heavens dark with its bright flames that seemed to come directly from hell.

Seeing it, Syriong hastily slammed both his hands onto the floor and sent his Ki into the soil. By his martial technique, a thick earth wall instantly raised upwards, shielding him from the fire dragon. The earth wall scorched black from the heat of the flames but otherwise did not break the shield.

The second dragon, made of frost from winter's source, circled around and flew furiously towards his back.

With a haste that came from fear, Syriong swiftly turned and summoned another earth wall to intercept it.

He had no choice but to give his all in defending himself. Though he is much stronger, than these dragon-like SS ranked Ki attacks, he still felt an instinctive fear towards them. The dragons did not seem like mere creations of a martial art but actually held the wrath of a True Dragon.

There had not been any True Dragons spotted in the mortal realm they are in for millenniums, and it made him even more confused on how these Ki attacks could look so lifelike and to even hold dragon aura within them.

But when he was busy summoning his second earth shield, a roar that shook the heavens and a brightness that nearly blinded everyone interrupted all his fleeting thoughts. A pillar of lightning blasted downwards from the heavens, directly upon his head. Too quickly even for him to avoid.

When the lightning struck him, it exploded with a great shuddering of the earth and the thick electric pillar transformed into the form of a True Lightning dragon.

The dragon's wrath forced everyone to move back with pale faces as a loud scream erupted from Syriong. It became the only thing they could hear amid the deafening blast, as they observed the guardian's silhouette within, still trying to resist with all his power.

The aftermath left the land scorched. Glittering pieces of glass created from the intensity of the attack lies on the ground all around Syriong's charred figure.

Somehow, the Guardian had survived the strike. Though it was only an SS ranked attack, it could not be taken lightly. The Ki attack was permeated with a dragon's fury and something similar to the heavenly tribulation lightning which all mortals will face when they try to enter the Immortal Realms.

Syriong quivered violently, every part of his body numbed by the lightning. But in the end, the attack was too low ranked to deal any lasting damage on him.

His eyes glowed with murderous intents, and he silently chanted the incantation to his strongest attack, Secret Art: Gaia's embrace.

But, unexpectedly, Syriong failed to summon enough strength to power his martial technique, and instead, he fell weakly on one knee.

"W...what is happening?" He called out confusedly, and he looked at his outstretched palm that is badly shivering.

Then he finally realised.

By the three hundred slashes he received from Kairos, his soul had been badly damaged. Weakened to the point that he could not control his flesh.

Syriong's eyes widened at his realisation. It could not be helped that he previously did not notice any effect, as injuries to the soul, should have caused anyone tremendous pain. But, because of how weak the spiritual power that Kairos' Swallow has, he only felt a tolerable amount of pain, and mistaken it for physical pain. It was only after so many cuts he received that the damage stacked.

In fact, during battle, he had checked his condition several times, because of how painful it felt to be cut by that weapon. But because the physical damage he had been receiving was obviously negligible, he had ignored it.

He did not know that after absorbing his artificial arm, Kairos' weapon has already reached Immortal Rank.

An injury to one's soul would quickly heal, yet strike after strike accumulated his wounds, and by the time he realised, it has already placed him at a horrible disadvantage. Syriong turned serious for the first time in this confrontation. He may not be high on the list amongst the Triple S rankers, but he is still a Paramount Cultivator with the pride to match. Yet, he is reminded of his mortality by a kid, if the latter managed to stab through him, he will still have to die.

The two faced each other, knowing that this may be the last strike. As tension turned hot white, an interruption they did not expect came. The Phantoms had arrived faster than anyone could estimate. At first, only a few shadows soar across the skies and land near, but the number swiftly increased until there are people dressed in mysterious black in all directions. The entire unit of the Phantoms had been mobilised. All five hundred of the Double S rankers, and they moved to surround everyone.