Miko stood there before the arch, his gaze still trying to make sense of what was going on before him. He had just left the trial, and had expected the crowd to be just outside the arches, but all he saw was an incredible battlefield, and someone he had not expected at all.
"John? You're alive?" Miko asked in a confused manner. According to his knowledge, John was dead. The Fenix Clan had not let the news out that John was alive, and so Miko still thought he was dead.
An incredibly powerful divine sense suddenly washed over John as Miko inspected him, making sure his eyes weren't somehow playing tricks on him. After a brief moment of hesitation, pure elation appeared on Miko's face as he rushed forward.
"You're alive! Hahahahahah!"
Miko instantly embraced John, confirming once and for all that he was not an illusion. John, after a brief moment of being stunned as well, embraced Miko as well. It had felt like forever since he last saw his lifelong friend.
The faces of the Bloodfiend Sect youths turned grave as they watched John and Miko embrace. They had run into the Soul Sage earlier in these lands, and knew his power was not something they could look down on. If the Soul Sage and John teamed up together, they would be unable to withstand the onslaught.
Miko's cultivation was only in the Middle Core Formation Realm, but even then he was able to match up evenly against the Emperors, showing his incredible battle prowess.
Miko and John parted, and Miko looked around in a confused manner at the battlefield before them.
"What's going on, are you fighting the Emperors?"
"Soul Sage," Damon suddenly spoke up, drawing the attention of John and Miko. "I don't know what relationship you have with this Heavenly Lightning Peasant, but it's in your best interest if you do not interfere."
Miko's elated face instantly turned sour.
"What the fuck did you say to me?" His burst of anger surprised all those present, even his own Divine Soul Sect. They knew him as an ethereal prodigy who stood above all, but they had never seen this side of him before.
"Motherfucker, even without you having enmity with John, just speaking to me like that is deserving of death. But since you and John are enemies, you must die!"
His coarse language stunned all who heard it. John's rage and bloodlust was slightly lessened by Miko's usual antics, and he fought off the urge to laugh in order to keep his optimal battle state.
"You handle the Sword Emperor. The Blood Emperor is mine." John said to Miko, who nodded his head in understanding. Clearly there was extreme enmity between John and the Blood Emperor for him to say something like this.
Miko looked at the Sword Emperor with a look of pity. His figure suddenly blurred, as he nearly instantly appeared before the Sword Emperor. A marble white sword, radiating an ancient aura as well, appeared in his hands and slashed down towards the Sword Emperor.
The Sword Emperors face turned extremely grave as he slashed out his own sword, parrying the attack.
Peng!
Peng!
Peng!
Miko and the Sword Emperor instantly exchanged dozens of attacks. Although even at first, it quickly became apparent that Miko was winning. His incredibly powerful soul infused with every attack, nearly driving the Sword Emperor mad.
At the same time, Kirii was still fighting against Azalea and Kadien on the other side of the formation, the battle still in a complete stalemate.
John's cold gaze returned to Damon, who now had a look of panic on his face. Without the Sword Emperor to help him, he was not confident in being able to withstand John's blows.
However, he could tell that John was nearly at the end of his ropes, and would run out of energy soon. If that happened, he could instantly turn the tides.
John wasted no words, and dashed towards Damon. His body appeared like a blur as he arrived before him in an instant, his sword slashing down onto Damon. Damon's Crimson Hell Domain was still active, but completely ineffective against John's strong body and soul.
Crimson Blood Sword!
Damon slashed out his most powerful attack, meeting John's sword head on. He dashed backwards in an attempt to soften the blow, as he was looking to waste time instead of fight head on.
John smirked at this action, his eyes looking at Damon as if he were an idiot.
"Idiot, without the Sword Emperor around, who will block my Lightning Domain?"
Damon immediately understood the reason for John's smirk. He had became so used to the Sword Emperor neutralizing John's Lightning Domain that he had forgotten about it. Now that the Sword Emperor was gone, he no longer had that luxury.
"Turner, block the lightning domain attacks!" Damon barked out to the King who was still joining him in battle.
Turner grimaced, as his power was only in the Middle Core Formation Realm. He was unable to block the assault of John's lightning single handedly. However, he had no choice. It was do or die.
Turner slashed out his sword successively towards each lightning domain attack, neutralizing several of them. However, there were too many, and he did not have a perfect defensive domain like the Sword Emperor.
"Gah!"
A lightning domain attack landed on Turner, charring his flesh and sending him flying backwards violently.
Lightning Ruin!
John pointed towards Turner, sending out a powerful lightning blast.
Boom!
The lightning blast struck onto Turner, who was still struggling against John's destructive lightning from the previous attack. The lightning struck his chest, piercing directly into his heart. A look of extreme agony and regret washed over Turners face, as the life instantly left his body.
Che!
John slashed his sword down once more at Damon, using only the weight of the sword, with no battle arts. However, the weight of the sword alone allowed these attacks to be more powerful than any battle art Damon could muster.
Panic appeared on Damon's face as he slashed out at John's sword.
"Gah!"
Damon was knocked backwards by the force. His arms felt like they had shattered from the impact, but he knew he had no time for pain.
Che!
Che!
Che!
Damon slashed out continuously around him, each slash sending a powerful sword image towards a lightning domain attack.
Sword images and lightning attacks continuously collided, bathing the battlefield in non-stop explosions. However, Damon was slowly but surely losing out to the lightning domain attacks.
John put away his sword, as it was slowing him down. Now that he was one on one against Damon, he no longer had a concern for his fists not being strong enough.
Lightning coated John's legs as he dashed forward, instantly appearing next to Damon. His fists punched out rapidly in a non-stop barrage against Damon's sword, causing Damon's arms to feel like they were shattering with every blow. John's body was like a blur as he danced around Damon with incredible speed, landing punches and blows from every direction.
Lightning rained down non-stop on the two of them, making the situation even harder for Damon to defend.
Boom!
A lightning domain attack managed to get through Damon's defense, bathing him in pure destructive lightning. The lightning coursed through his body, slowing his movements and filling him with agony.
Bang!
John's fist landed on Damon's unguarded chest, and Damon was thrown back violently by the force of the attack. The sound of shattering ribs echoed out, and Damon violently collided against the formation wall.
Blood spewed out of Damon's mouth, and he struggled to get up as fast as possible.
Bang!
John suddenly landed down from above, having jumped over from his previous position. He landed hard on Damon's outstretched leg, shattering it completely.
"Gahhhhh!"
Damon cried out in pain, and once again as John stomped down with all his might once more, shattering his other leg.
Che!
John's hand pierced forward like a knife, piercing directly into Damon's abdomen. His dantian was instantly crippled.
Damon, the lofty Bloodfiend Sect Emperor who stood at the top amongst all the youths of the land, had lost.