Gaea’s craggy head was melted by Sam’s newest Ancient skill, and it stubbornly refused her elemental overtures that sought to heal it. As her weapon descended, it brought the weight of gravity itself with it, seeking to pummel Sam to the ground. He pushed back with his Dao, and continued to blaze his path through the heavens, his hammer glistening in the light.

As the edge of the sickle descended, time seemed to slow down as he felt his power crystallize within him. There was no going back from this next strike. It would either lead to his instant defeat, or his eventual victory.

He sent his hammer flying up, catalyzing all of his power into the strike. Revenge was all that filled his mind, and his Dao along with it. A moment later, his hammer, tiny in comparison to the city sized sword falling on him, made contact. There was a moment of nothingness, and then a vast wave of blue and red energy exploded out of the weapon, slamming into the sword.

The skies trembled as the two attacks fought with one another, and Sam was suspended there by the lambent energy, held in position as he warred with the Titan.

There was a devastating crack as the sword split down the middle, and the power continued towards Gaea, sundering her armor. The sword fell apart into streamers of lava, letting Sam fly on through. A notification formed, which he read over quickly.

You have upgraded a skill!

Sky Splitting Vengeance: Ancient-> Manifestation of Vengeance: Primal

Vengeance courses through your Dao, and you follow its path while tempering it with righteousness. In this comes control, and the ability to empower your skill’s power with your own will. Rather than releasing an uncontrolled burst of energy, this skill now focuses its power solely on those who have wronged you. Powered by a Dao Seed, purified mana and elemental energy, it is potent indeed.

It was his first Primal skill, and an indication that his potential was far beyond the norm. This was a skill that only E Rankers and above should have possessed.

Its power was ridiculous, and he found his channels burning within him as he brought it fully to bear. He sensed that he could continue to channel the power, but stopped, fearful of killing himself.

Gaea was knocked off her feet, and fell to the ocean floor, her armor cracking apart into a million shards. Sam flashed up above her head, and came crashing down, repeating his attack. His hammer whipped down, glowing a blinding white, and the Titan raised one hand to block, summoning a shield of stone around it. Gravity decreased around Sam, as Gaea tried to offset his descent.

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He shattered that all with his Dao, and brought the weapon down. His body burned from the inside as he fought to use the raging power, but it was worth it. The shield cracked down the middle, and a ripple of energy coursed down the Titan’s arm. She let out one last grinding scream, and the energy blast reached her head, shattering the core within. With a noise like a thunderclap, she burst apart into the stone from whence she had come. With a rushing noise, the water came crashing back into where it had once been. The other two earthen monstrosities crumbled into nothingness, but even had they not, it seemed like the others had them under control.

The others flew up, with the Overlord carrying the four faction members on his slab of red light. Kane, as expected, simply flitted upwards, eager to secure his own safety.

They aligned upon the coastline a few minutes later, and Sam almost collapsed as his enhancements wore off. He had overtaxed his body with the usage of his newest skill, and he felt like he was going to pass out. A few notifications waited for him, and he raced through them before settling down.

You have killed Gaea, Mother of Titans!

You have leveled up!(x2)

Remaining essence banked until Tier up.

That bit was to be expected. However, there was more.

You have upgraded a title!

Enlightened Butcher: Ancient-> Greater Enlightened Butcher: Primal

You have single handedly defeated an E Ranked monster, proving that your strength is something worthy of praise, even among the entire Multiverse. Your flame burns bright indeed, young Ascendent. Be sure that nothing puts it out.

Bonuses: +15% to all stats, increased potency against enemies of a higher Rank and greatly increased potency against enemies of a higher Tier.

It was a solid title, one that would allow him to repeat these sorts of feats in the future. Less exciting was the next notification.

For using a Primal Ranked skill multiple times before reaching Enlightened Tier, you have suffered 25 percent damage to your mana channels and Dao core.

If not the fact that he was so close to E Rank, he would have been far more worried about it. As it was, the damage would simply repair once he ranked up. As the bonuses from his boosts sank in, he prepared to open his status sheet, but was interrupted.

“Now that that business is over, I believe it is time for me to take my due,” the Overlord said. “Sam, give me that weapon. My own yearns to combine with it.”

“What?” Sam exclaimed. “No way in hell! Besides, you all saw what I just did. Do you really want to pick a fight after that?”

“You will find that I left many of my tricks unused, unlike you. You have no idea of the depths of my power.”

As the Overlord spoke, Jeffrey and the other three captains from Sam’s faction edged backwards, recognizing the rising tension for what it was. None of them wished to be embroiled in such a battle.

“I too, find Excalibur hungering for its brethren,” Rodney Kane hissed, his form beginning to glisten with black energy.

“Fine. If you want my weapon, you can come take it,” Sam replied. He began to channel his energy into himself, trying to mask just how fatigued he was. Although his resources were full, he was not in great shape.