In the fifth layer of the abyss, the day began with great commotion. The three clans inhabiting the place were the first to stir, and hundreds of demons from each clan gathered near a large dome in the center of that layer.
The colossal dome spanned about 100 kilometers, and from the outside, one could only see a mass dyed in intense red. As all the demons approached, the fire laws seemed to envelop them, penetrating deeply into their bodies. The younger demons turned pale immediately, while the older ones activated their high cultivations to protect the members of their clans, but not entirely.
This was a training for them, something that would be useful to improve the density of Yin in their bodies, as they would have to struggle to balance the Yang coming from the fire. That was the reason they arrived early. With the proximity of the opening, the laws were more intense, creating this luxury training for the younger ones.
The hours passed slowly, and soon, the three clans from the fourth layer approached in silent respect for the three larger clans of the fifth layer. Unlike the larger clans, the newcomers came with just a slightly smaller number of demons, each numbering less than a hundred. This small group represented the best and most powerful of their clans. They couldn’t send the younger ones, as their demonic diagrams didn’t have enough energy to support everyone, which would be suicide to send them.
The flaming dome flickered and distorted, indicating that less than an hour remained for the full opening. Everyone looked around, and, to no one’s surprise, no superior clan came to explore the realm of flames. No one even thought about the weaker clans, considered pathetic to the point of being practically forgotten.
In a short time, an adviser from a fifth-level demon clan noticed a large number of dense auras emerging in the skies. His eyes narrowed as he suddenly turned around, staring in that direction.
All members of his clan noticed this reaction and turned to see what was happening. It didn’t take long for representatives from the other two larger clans to turn as well. The three clans from the fourth layer, not fully understanding, observed the sky in intrigue.
In a matter of minutes, thousands of gigantic black shadows approached, emanating a suffocating presence. Everyone was frightened as they recognized that aura, but they could hardly believe what their senses were witnessing; it was a subtle feeling of pressure mildly oppressing them.
A few seconds later, their eyes clearly discerned on the horizon. There were thousands of half-wyvern giants. Ahead of them, a much smaller half-wyvern with a softer aura advanced. Everyone flying behind him seemed to follow calmly and submissively.
At the same time, some noticed, coming from the ground, another mass of thousands of figures. They were all half-demons, but there was no pressure coming from them, and their cultivation was lower than average. When cultivators from the more powerful clans noticed this second group, they scoffed in disdain, but their advisers didn’t have the same reaction.
As they focused on the walking demons, only the highest ones could feel a subtle, deadly pressure emanating from them. It was as if something tormenting lay dormant within all the half-demons, waiting only for the right moment to awaken and devour the world.
"Soul Eater Clan and Serpent Wing Clan?" Some murmured strangely.
The adviser leading the Illusory Demons clan frowned. A few years ago, his clan had made a move, attempting to increase their numbers. They were preparing to initiate a total fight against a fifth-layer clan called Underworld Demons, aiming to take a superior position in the abyss.
To achieve this goal, they accepted to recruit some half-breeds from the lower clans. They chose leaders and some advisers from both clans, planning to assimilate their clans and use them later as a front line in sacrifice to minimize losses and increase the chances of victory.
Everything was planned to happen shortly after the abyss closed again to the outside. However, just over a month ago, the life crystals of the recruited half-breeds were destroyed. This meant they were dead, and the whole plan seemed compromised. However, they hadn’t been able to investigate properly yet, as the realm of flames was about to open.
"You’ve got a lot of guts to come here, great." The leader of the Illusory Demons’ advisers spoke sarcastically loud enough for everyone to hear, then took steps towards the approaching clans.
"Who’s your new leader, mongrel beasts?" He roared disdainfully, and on the faces of most behind, a playful and malicious smile emerged.
All the half-demons on the ground stopped, and a tall, slender figure with a single white horn on her head continued to take light steps.
"What? A half-breed woman, half-human? It seems that the traitors of the Soul Eater clan are doomed to be destroyed."
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
Suddenly, the sound of air being cut by thousands of bestial wings echoed, and everyone looked at the half-wyverns that remained in the sky, flying without returning to their human forms.
Soon, a strange glow appeared falling, and everyone saw a small wyvern landing next to the half-human woman; soon, her peculiar human form emerged. It was a little girl who walked calmly beside Calirer, and then they both stopped.
"We are the leaders of the two clans. Who are you?" The half-wyvern girl spoke dryly, neither loud nor soft, but everyone heard.
The adviser laughed thunderously, then spoke between his laughs. "A newborn? How ridiculous. The former leader of the Serpent Wings had a daughter, or were you the..."
"Shut up, I asked who you are. A little bastard adviser like you has no right to ask anything, just answer. Where is your leader?" The little girl spoke emotionlessly, cutting off that adviser.
Everyone behind fell silent; suddenly, another thunderous laughter echoed from all sides like an avalanche. Then it spread among all the fourth-level clans, and soon, the fifth-level ones laughed in ridicule. But no one noticed that all the advisers from the three fifth-level clans were silent and serious. They felt that something was very wrong in the air.
Applause erupted from that adviser, who smiled, enjoying himself. "Great, great. It seems that courage is not lacking in the new commanders. It’s a minimal advancement."
He then snorted lightly, and his cultivation at the third level of the Elemental Condensation Realm was fully released. Of course, he took care to ensure that it only affected the people in front and did not bother the larger clans behind him.
"By the numbers, you brought both clans? Decided that this would be the last total attempt? Hahahahahhaha." The adviser spoke, his voice and Qi falling over everyone in front. "There are still a few minutes until the opening, great. Illusory Demons, let’s sharpen our blades with warming blood."
He spoke, and everyone behind got excited. Blood was always the greatest fun for demons.
"Let’s kill only half; the leader won’t complain since they need to be disciplined. After we come back, we’ll go to your clans. We have a lot of issues to settle." He finished, taking out a spear and jumping into the air.
His entire clan roared and ran excitedly, and right behind them, all the clans that saw the show had envious looks; everyone wanted to have some fun.
But, in just a second after that adviser jumped into the air, something changed. Soon, all the advisers from the more powerful clans looked at the sky, furrowing their brows deeply.
CRACKLE!
The space trembled, and the air became dense as if a mountain were falling from the sky onto all the weaker ones.
The adviser leading the Illusory Demons fell to the ground, astonished; his spiritual root lost connection with the laws as if an oppressive force had emerged and repressed him.
Behind, all cultivators and the five Illusory Demon advisers froze. Then, that leading adviser stood up and looked at the sky; soon, his body trembled in disbelief. All the half-wyverns were suspended in the air as if the laws and the world were one with them. And their cultivation was fully unleashed, along with a suffocating draconic bloodline.
"...everyone... everyone is in the Elemental Condensation Realm?" The adviser muttered in fear.
All cultivators from the other clans heard and forgot to breathe. Those thousands of half-wyverns were in the Elemental Condensation Realm?
In all clans below the top 20 of the abyss, those in the Elemental Condensation Realm were promoted to advisers or became candidates for one.
In these two weaker clans... probably only their leader should have this cultivation. But now, all the half-wyverns were at this level; what kind of insanity was this? None of them could believe it. However, the smarter ones who looked at their advisers were even more shocked, while the more experienced ones were serious, making it clear the truth of it.
Crack!
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Fractures in space appeared slightly, and everyone saw the thousands of black beasts in the sky open their giant mouths. Then, a cold sweat ran through everyone watching.
"Great, great. A pathetic adviser really has courage. I will discipline you on behalf of your leader. After that, I will personally go to your clan and demand an answer from him." The little wyvern girl spoke emotionlessly and raised her small arm upward.
"But you don’t need to worry about that; you won’t be in this world anymore; in fact, none of you will be." She added, lowering her arm and pointing forward.
"NO!"
Everyone shouted, then the signature move of a dragon, the ’Dragon’s Breath’, was unleashed by thousands of wyverns at the same time. Soon, the world above the Illusory Demon clan, who ran forward, was erased.
BOOM!
The earth trembled and rose like a demonic black curtain. All five clans that were a little further away took steps back in fear. But, to their surprise and joy, not a single trace of power from that colossal strike leaked beyond the Illusory Demons.
The advisers from the larger clans were even more frightened. In addition to cultivation and strength, those half-wyverns had precise control of their power. How did these seemingly foolish beasts manage to do something at this level?