As his attack struck the shield before him, he blasted through the veils of energy surrounding him, following as the shield of Dao energy constructed by his three opponents shattered. However, his own attack was destroyed in the process, and it had almost been too little. All of his foes possessed Dao Seeds, and powerful ones at that. Only his E Rank soul mastery had allowed him to even the odds.

He streaked forwards across the shattered street. The blood that had previously coated the stone beneath had been vaporized by his earlier attack. The concrete was heated to a reddish glow in some places, but it was a far cry from the devastation his attack should have caused.

In any other situation, he would have torn apart much of the city around him, but now that he was confronted with his own weakness in the face of his lower Rank foes, it felt like he had been reduced to nothing in comparison.

An involuntary snarl of rage twisted his face. “I don’t know how you bastards are this strong, but I will not be mocked like this!”

Energy sparked around his body, and a shard of power sliced out from his right fist. A sword formed out of Dao energy, and he carved through the air before him, sending a crescent of purple light streaking forth. It grew and grew until it cast a shadow upon the street below.

The few weaker fighters still left on both sides scattered, leaving the three captains facing off against the E Ranker. Jeffrey leveled his gun and concentrated his power into it. The weapon shook as his Dao Seed was distilled down into a concentrated bullet of pure Accuracy, something that was so unerring in its path that he could have shot a mosquito from a dozen miles with ease.

Talnor slammed his katana into the ground, and raised one hand to the heavens. Bolts of lightning streaked down and into the weapon, with its metallic surface acting as a lightning rod. His hair stood on end, and his eyes flashed with a golden fire.

Lao slammed his palms together, and an infinity sign crafted out of azure light spun around them. Then he thrust them forth, and the air around him shuddered, all of the nearby momentum from the molecules being sucked into his attack.

All three men let their attacks loose, and three expressions of the Dao exploded out. A bullet of concentrated might that represented the concept of unerring air. A dragon wrought from crackling electrons, its mouth open in a snarl. Finally, a beam of cerulean light that grew exponentially in power the further it went.

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The three techniques spiraled around one another until they seemed to fuse into one. None of the three captains individually were able to reach E Rank strength, but together, it was possible. All of the Daos that they had used slotted together as their wills combined. The dragon took the central place, with the other two energy constructs lending themselves to it. Lao’s beam infused the lightning with the power of exponential growth, and Jeffrey’s bullet sent it flying forwards at truly immense speeds.

As their E Rank foe advanced behind his own energy attack, his eyes narrowed. To the captains, it seemed to be from focus, but behind the scenes of the invader’s physical form, his mind was in turmoil. It was not often that an E Ranker was reduced to such a state of uncertainty from so little adversity. Over the coming years, the enemies of Earth would learn to fear the planet and its defenders as if it were the devil itself, and its citizens the unholy host. For now though, its infamy was only beginning to spread.

Most of the interest in the universe had died down now that the initial tournament was over, and although it would pick up later, the majority of the watching eyes were directed towards two men. Sam, and his father. As neither were on Earth, there was far less scrutiny. Although Jeffrey and the other captains were true elites in every sense of the word, talents that could have defined the trajectory of an average faction on their own, compared to the world shattering potential of Sam and the Overlord, they were merely side characters. Everyone, save for those more powerful than them, were. And of those, the number was quickly shrinking.

The ephemeral dragon collided with the arc of purple energy in the middle of the city, warring against it with spectral claws of pure Dao energy. Lao withdrew his energy from the construct, as its purpose had already been served, and wove a shield around the nexus point of the collision. A shimmering half dome of energy the color of the sky rose over the street, walling in the devastating clash between the power of beings that could level small cities. Had it been allowed to run free, just the shockwaves from the battle would have torn apart the buildings around it, and razed the outpost city to the ground.

The shield glowed with a brilliant light as the detonation of the twin techniques within vaporized the rock beneath and turned the air to plasma. Blood ran down Lao’s face, the blood vessels in his eyes bursting as he used his own life force as collateral for his Dao. He let out a pain filled groan as his muscles quivered beneath the strain, but he held in the explosion. It was a testament to his immense power for his level that he could hold in what amounted to twice the potency of an average low E Ranked skill. Though, it was killing him in the process.

The shield began to bulge outwards as the caustic energy pressed against it. Lao fell to his knees, his Dao energy draining like water from a tap. He continued regardless, and eventually, the shield snapped back into place, its goal completed. All of the energy within had worn itself out upon the dome, leaving a hole stretching down into the earth for miles. Lao smiled slightly and then collapsed.