The wolf king cub became increasingly frustrated as the battle went on. Of all its companions, it is the only one being hit.

With its fur puffed up in anger, it jumped into the air and bit John Doe on his head.

Unfortunately, it is still small and unable to swallow its target with its tiny maw like it imagined.

The man yelled in pain with the wolf attached to his head like a new hat, but no matter how he struck the creature, it did not bulge as if it wasn’t an animal but a plushie.

John Doe suddenly felt himself pitiable. While being bitten by the wolf cub, he is also ridden with fleas.

Of course, those bugs are controlled by the Apoidea Queen and did not jump onto the wolf cub’s fur, but the little one’s eyes kept twitching as it looked at all the insects squirming around.

John Doe looks at his partner in crime, Glittersprout, and sighed internally.

The gnome had been wrapped up with ropes by the fennec fox, and the moon rabbit now sits on his chest.

The gnome, not willing to disturb the adorable little thing, tried his best not to move. Even his breathing was soft and controlled.

Seeing this, John Doe’s self-pitying went off the charts even as he tried to scratch himself. He promptly gave himself up and sat down on the ground.

Only then did the fleas jumped away but the wolf king cub did not let go of the man’s head. Blood poured down on the man’s face, but the little thing thought about the few punches it received only bit harder.

Ignoring the two fools, the Circle 9 Arcane Archer Exterminus Starwalk is completely focused on Kairos.

“My disciple that you killed. You do not know who she is?” the archer asked in a dangerous voice.

Kairos nodded, “Let me think… Was she the arcane archer I killed at the embassy?”

Despite having perfect recall, it is difficult to link up the arcane archer from the embassy with this Circle 9 archer. The reason is simple, this man only shot an explosive arrow at him and there are too many bowmen in this world with the same type of attack.

Besides, the Circle 7 Arcane Archer at the embassy could rapid fire a rain of arrows and make them explode with immense precision to cause percussion damage to him, while this man only shot one arrow that exploded after being deflected into an assassin.

To Kairos, this person is poorly skilled compared to his disciple.

He did not know that this is in fact the truth, and also the reason why Exterminus is furious to learn of her death.

She was an apprentice that could take what he taught her and improve on it to much greater heights. It isn’t surprising that she could set off a volley of explosive arrows that could resonate their shockwaves to do incredible damage while her teacher can only launch one measly normal explosive arrow.

Such a precious resource that could bring him unlimited potential had been destroyed by this boy.

That anger must be repaid by blood.

Furthermore, he can tell from the lad’s eyes that he is being underestimated. Exterminus might be less skillful as an archer than his apprentice, but the arcane archer is made up of two components, and he is plans to help Kairos understand he is far more talented than any other Arcane Archer.

For the mighty, a slight on their abilities is a great offense.

But no matter, the result of such affront shall be extracted from the foolish through endless pain.

He looked at Kairos with a smile, “It seems you recall. Very well, at least you will not die befuddled.”

“Are you so certain I will be the one who dies?”

The archer’s smile widened at such confidence.

“Boy, you have yet to fight a Stage 9, Class 9, or Circle 9 adversary I believe?”

Kairos nodded, “Indeed I have not.”

“Then you know not of the power fighters of our class possesses.”

As he spoke, the man seemed to lean back into a chair, and just like that he sat down on thin air.

In Kairos’ eyes he could see the changes happening to the archer.

Air resistance… Nullified.

Gravity pull….. Released.

Spatial Tether....... Anchored.

This was a greater levitation spell casted without incantation.

Kairos’ hair stood on ends when he understood the complications.

This man might perhaps be a greater magician than he is an archer.

The greater levitation spell is a Circle 9 spell that should only be found in the repertoire of a grand magus.

Kairos who had been captured by a grand magus before accidentally portalled into this world started tensing up.

At the same time, the man’s followers started surrounding him. Three gnome assassins transformed into bulky plant monsters. They are sent by the gnome king to protect and defend the arcane archer. The fourth and last assassin turned into a petite humanoid being that floats in the air made of blades of leaves and flower petals, a being well-known in mythology that is called a dryad.

Kairos had avoided fighting the other assassins to wait for Exterminus and his party, leaving all his defenses to Boink and Lulatia, because this is a group that he had to give his all to handle.

Right as Exterminus’ four protectors were reverting to their original forms, the archer prepared his own attack. He raised a fist and slowly straightened his fingers one by one. Each time, a hundred arrows appeared hovering over his head.

This is the archer’s most famous attack spell.

The difference in each batch is the type of arrow they are. The first hundred are dense concentrations of arcane energy, almost solidified into physical arrows except far more destructive.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Kairos paled just thinking of the power each arrow held.

The second batch are arrows made from all kinds of elements, from fire to darkness, wind, or lightning.

They have a hundred different property, a hundred different effect. Some like the lightning arrow and corrosion arrow can spread across the victim’s body dealing tremendous damage. Others like the poison arrow, sleep arrow, tranquilising arrow will dive deep into one’s veins and wreck one’s body. A few arrows are stranger still, like the chaos arrow that can change the law of motion or the sorrow arrow that can cripple the target emotionally.

Most people who face this group of arrows will not know just how dangerous their situation is, but nothing could hide from the Veritable Sight. Moreover, with the Heavenly Sight spell enhancement, Kairos do not need to actively pursue solutions to each arrow and this second group is less dangerous than the first to him.

If people know of Kairos’ thoughts, they would be utterly defeated.

The third hundred arrows are all equipped with a spiralling arrowhead, meant to drill through defences, both physical and magical. Just looking at them causes shiver down his spine.

The fourth batch seemed like regular magic arrows, except for a smaller dainty size.

But through Kairos’ eyes, they are enchanted with powerful homing magic fully capable of accurately striking any part of target exceeding the skills of a master archer.

The last group of arrows are vastly differently shaped than the rest. Each looked like barrels with the standard width and length that floats in the air.

Once released, they will continually split apart until they became needle-sized arrows that can cover the entire battlefield.

If these arrows are shot out, not only will Kairos be in grave danger, even his friends and the other assassins will not be spared.

However, none of the assassins were worried. The attacks will definitely be concentrated on Kairos and his friends and the stray arrows are not life threatening to them.

Exterminus waved his hand forward like commanding an army to charge. The arrows shot towards Kairos, instantly covering him like a black cloud.

A provocative smile hung on the archer’s lips, as if saying, “It’s your turn now.”

Never could he imagine that in Kairos’ eyes the solutions needed to get out of this situation is being reflected clearly like a puzzle having its every part labelled and explained. The properties of the arrows and their trajectory are calculated with a glance, their weaknesses deduced instantly by his powerful intellect.

A few arrows landed first, starting from where Kairos is while the surrounding areas will be blanketed next.

If seen from far, the missiles are travelling in a cone shape, meant to keep one person from escaping. The others are merely to accompany him on the way to hell, for this act, Exterminus felt he had acted generously.

Kairos did not panic, he quickly decided on the best course of action. Not only is he confident in surviving this, he can keep Relestia, Lulatia, Clef, and Boink alive without much effort. In exchange, there will be some wounds that are unavoidable.

A few arrows struck him. The fastest ones are the homing arrows. He did not bother to avoid them either, since those needle-sized things are unable to penetrate far beyond his skin in the first place.

Homing arrows that aimed at his weak points turn into dust the moment they struck him.

Astral Cataclysm.

A physical combat skill that allows Kairos to concentrate the strength of a punch into a single spot and turn the target into dust.

At the early stages before he mastered this skill, he could use it to shatter armours with his fist, but over the years as his proficiency improved he learned to use it defensively.

The secret to this technique is deceptively simple. All it takes is two steps: To optimise the strength when hitting a target, and to contract your muscles at the right time so you can increase your power.

Just like striking a rock with a fist is much less effective than striking with a hammer and nail, the first step is meant to reduce as much recoil as possible.

The second step is of course to add your strength to the concentrated point of impact. It is similar to Kairos’ Eternal Empyrean technique that hardens one’s body, but instead of contracting muscles in an area, it is focused into a single dot. The smaller this dot is, the more masterful is the user.

After practicing this skill for so long, Kairos could use Astral Cataclysm defensively on most parts of his body, and it is strong enough to fend off weaker attacks like these needle-sized arrows.

Having dealt with them, he calmly awaited for the more dangerous bulk of arrows to arrive. Exterminus’ signature move that struck fear to the hearts of all who faced him is far from threatening for Kairos.

However, while he did not fear the attack, he did not account for the dread and horror he will incite when covered by arrows.

Before Kairos did anything to neutralise the rest of the arrows, he heard a cry so despondent his mind blanked. Just as suddenly, a tremendous pressure washed over everyone in this area.

Yet, this is only the beginning.

The heavens and earth turned as if the skies are falling.

A look of shock crossed his face.

The ancient mountain creaked and groaned terribly. Above them the sky darkened. Even if those within could not see it, the oppression pushing down on everyone in this place is undeniable.

The arrows shattered one by one.

The source of such terrible power echoed from mere paces next to Kairos. He looked over with widened eyes and enlarged pupils.

Relestia Vestimore, the second Omega-level threat recognised by the gnomes.

The princess of Saint Empire, the source of this phenomenon, shrieked as she saw the countless arrows shot into Kairos.

Her piercing cry was so despairing that all who heard wept with her.

Her heart nearly broke, because despite her blind faith in Kairos, she had never seen him this helpless looking.

This time the little princess had really been scared.

Kairos is her anchor in this world, giving her the confidence that she can still return to Gaia one day. If she is left alone, the princess dare not think more…

Every night when she go to bed she suffered from countless nightmares, in those dreams she lost her way and couldn’t find Kairos. She will always go and search for him. Sometimes she was searching in the dwarven city, but more often in the wilderness, and surely she will find him at the end.

Each time, only a cold, dead body with lifeless eyes will be staring at her as if reprimanding her for coming so late.

In fact, these nightmares started shortly after Kairos first sanctified the devil right after they saved the merchant’s family because it was from that time that Relestia faced her trial of the heart demon.

The Trial of the Heart Demon is named as such because a cultivator’s Dao Heart will be questioned, and if one cannot answer to one’s conscience one shall fall into a mental abyss and become a demon.

This ‘demon’ is neither the offspring of the devil-possessed nor related to the demonists that walk the path of self.

It is the generic meaning of the word, turning one into a cruel, evil, being formed by insanity and endless madness.

However, the Trial of the Heart Demon is not easily discovered.

Oftentimes the one undergoing the trial may not know death is around the corner.

When the danger erupts, one is already at the brink; one step to reach heaven and one step to fall into hell – of course, how to take the right step is the question that torments the tested.

When Relestia saw Kairos being engulfed by arrows, her trial came infinitesimally close to that last step.

In her moment of bottomless fear, she unleashed all the power she could muster in an instant and unleashed them wildly.

With a single scream a-third of her Ki was spent and Ki that is used cannot be replenished naturally on the Axis. The effect was likewise devastating, well-worth the energy used.

It turned the arrows into dust, shaken the enemies with internal wounds, and even threatened to tear this part of the city in two.

On the ground, large and terrifying gashes were formed, cracks and splinters are all over the nearby buildings.

Because Ki is a much higher energy type than anything this realm possess, the release of such a large amount nearly unravelled the fabrics of this world.

Everyone looked at Relestia’s breakdown, both astonished and frightened.

Even the very air still to still.

Kairos was the only one who moved, and he walked swiftly to the princess and held her in his arms.

The girl finally noticed that he was safe blushed with realisation that she might have slightly overreacted. It did not stop her from giggling with pure relief, “I’m glad you’re okay. I wouldn’t know how to carry on if something happened to you.”

It was a rare chance for her to say out the things she kept in her heart, and it eased the burden greatly.

Of course, she mistook Kairos to be in grave danger because she did not know how powerful his physique actually is, moreover she has very little actual fighting experience.

But even if she had known the damage Kairos suffered was insignificant to him, she would still feel strongly in seeing him injured because of her trial.

Unknowingly, this hug from Kairos had indirectly saved her a little from her demons.

For the others, they continued to stare in silence as the couple remained in embrace.

Some are speechless that they can do that in the middle of a battle, others still frightened by what happened.

Exterminus, for one, is seriously considering should he start running because he is the only person here who knows exactly what it takes to destroy his prided arrows.