Chapter 474: Unrelenting
Michael moved like thunder, his form blurring from an outsider’s perspective as he used Lightning Surge.
The 2,000% boost to his agility, even if lasting for a brief second, was more than enough to leave the illusions that had gathered around him in a daze.
One moment, they encircled him, limbs and blades pointed high, ready to tear him apart.
The next heartbeat, a line spanning several kilometers appeared, the cores of the illusions standing in Michael’s path dispersing into particles.
[Total slain illusions: 3,145/1,000,000]
One of Michael’s most fearsome attacks had barely put a dent in the enemies’ numbers.
Keeping an open eye for nearby threats, he cast a discreet glance toward Ember.
The marvelous fox howled once more before smashing a creature obstructing her path with a mere swipe of her paw.
[Total slain illusions: 3,146/1,000,000]
"Whether I or the others are the ones who kill the illusions, it doesn’t seem to matter." Michael murmured aloud.
At that moment, Devil, still in sword form, spoke in Michael’s head.
’Partner, you know what to do!’ The soul weapon remarked, eager to experience action for himself.
Michael considered his options carefully. The Titan’s subjects gathered here were equivalent to Master cultivators.
Being in the Lord realm, he was capable of crushing them with his bare hands. Not to mention, most blows would simply bounce off his skin, unable to pierce it.
"So be it."
He unleashed the full extent of his soul weapons.
Once materialized, Devil didn’t waste a single moment. Shapeshifting to his maximum towering height, he charged like a bulldozer through the enemy ranks.
"HAHAHA! Suffer more!"
His maniacal laughter echoed, limbs lashing out like whips. The sharp ends of his claws made no distinction between foe, ally, or even the earth below. Anything that entered his range was at an acute risk of death.
Angel was the stark opposite.
Her graceful wings unfurled as she rose high above, like a deity observing mere mortals.
Her eyes shone with luminous gold as she conjured swords of blinding light.
Maintaining a dignified presence, she sent them downwards, slaughtering countless foes without even bothering to initiate battle from close range.
Beside Devil, Supreme Lord Persephone also took great pleasure in the massacre.
The ring of darkness beneath her actively hindered every enemy that was unfortunate enough to enter its range.
Countless chains erupted from the ground, slowing down the illusions. Frozen in place, they couldn’t react in time as Persephone’s black scythe unleashed a chilling mist, slicing left and right with ruthless precision.
The only thing Persephone regretted was that these creatures didn’t bleed... At least not in the conventional sense. Few sights pleased her more than a battlefield drenched in blood.
Even so, she wasn’t particularly picky. Rather than dwell on the disappointment, she pushed it aside and refocused on the battle.
As terrifying as Persephone’s fighting style was, it paled in comparison to Nicole’s.
Advancing forward, she took nonchalant steps. The illusions saw her and lunged without hesitation.
But their strikes never landed.
Suddenly, the creatures noticed something amiss... though far too late.
Collapsing to their knees, they used their limbs to dig deep within their own bodies, grasping their cores themselves.
With Nicole’s Blood Manipulation at play, they had no control over their movements. The flames coursing beneath their light skin were technically blood, even if they held different properties from a human’s.
After numerous experiments, Nicole had grasped the essence behind it. With the creatures being too weak to resist her authority, they all killed themselves, unable to retaliate.
Noctis didn’t see a point in holding back, unleashing the full extent of his abilities.
"Authority Manifestation, White Heaven."
Using the same power he had once turned on Michael and his faction, a portion of the golden hills bent to his rule.
Faceless angels answered his call, meeting the wave of aliens in a violent clash.
Although they were mere imitations, far inferior to Angel, Michael’s soul weapon. They still proved invaluable, cutting down countless illusions in their path.
The sister Lords, Elina and Eliza, never separated on the battlefield. Fighting as one, they unleashed devastating attacks that far surpassed what either could achieve alone.
The rest of the Golden Vanguard reminded everyone why they were part of the strongest faction in existence. Gloria, Emanuel, and Solomon killed more foes than the eye could count.
Days passed in unrelenting battle. The Lords never had a chance to rest.
Gradually, their refined techniques began to break down. The nonstop slaughter eventually took its toll, and the Lords’ strikes became more crude and barbaric.
What had once been a breeze turned into an agonizing chore. Their limbs grew heavier, their minds dulling under the constant pressure.
Their boundless spiritual reserves were stretched thin, forcing them to become more creative in how much they were able to preserve.
Among the squad, Michael was the deadliest.
Not only was he used to conserving energy when faced with endless waves of foes, but Devil and Angel didn’t experience fatigue from the prolonged battle, adding to his kill count.
They, in addition to Ember, used a fuel source other than spiritual energy, allowing them to fight for much longer.
Even that proved insufficient. Michael’s breathing had grown heavier, yet he didn’t pause.
Leaving the battle to his soul weapons and Ember would overburden them soon enough.
Without a doubt, his Archwarlock technique was his greatest asset. At some point, the blows his body received began to inflict pain... only for the technique to turn it into raw power.
This was the first time Archwarlock had been pushed to such an extent, delaying his inevitable collapse.
Michael glanced at their progress.
[Total slain illusions: 601,555/1,000,000]
"Barely halfway." He gritted his teeth, with no end in sight.
His mind raced, desperate for a solution to their predicament.
Relying solely on the effects of Archwarlock had allowed too much madness to take root. Performing calm analysis had become a real struggle.
The Lords were at their wit’s end.
Suddenly, Michael’s eyes shifted. The golden hue surged, overtaking the crimson entirely.
[Archwarlock has evolved!]
[Rank: Legendary → Mythic → Supreme]
[Technique: God of War]
