The Verdant Vale Lower Realm, at this moment, was strangely silent. A chilling piece of news spread that the Divine Emperor of Death's forces were here to take over the realm, as he said. Countless people stopped what they were doing, paying attention to the news. Some even started migrating from the realm when many had already left since the Verdant Vale Lower Realm lacked a ruler.
The Verdant Vale Realm Core was not accepting anyone for some reason.
They didn't know what kind of fate awaited them.
In the skies above the Verdant Vale Sect, a terrifying tribulation had just seemed to have finished.
A crimson-robed figure hovered in the skies, crimson flames enveloping her buxom figure. Her crimson hair swayed along with the rippling of the flames, creating a wild hot blazing atmosphere around her.
"So this is the Empyrean Stage…"
Zestria raised her hand, looked at her palm, and clenched it into a fist, causing more crimson flames to blaze. She felt like endless power was dwelling within her, waiting to be unleashed. She took a deep breath, causing her bosoms to heave as she closed her eyes and sensed the energy coursing through her meridians.
The Fire Dragon's Retribution Flameworld Codex - Empyrean Grade was obtained by hiring the Heavenly Blight Hall to steal from the Fire Dragon Minor Realm. It was easy work done with Cyprusio personally handing it, so she was able to enter the Empyrean Stage without having to go forward blindly.
Her passive divergence that stemmed from learning annihilative heavenly flames also receded after clearing her tribulation. As long as she doesn't use annihilative heavenly flames, it wouldn't return. She had no plans to use it as she was confident in her flames since she managed to infuse the destructive property into her flames.
Moreover-
*Swissh~~~*
A tumultuous wind picked up around her, causing the flames to burn brighter and hotter while expanding in range.
"I did it…"
Zestria's eyes glazed as she looked at her new flames. It was so many years of work, and she was able to make the final step after binding the Verdant Vale Realm Core, which was rich in Wind Laws.
*Booom!~*
The sound of a giant explosion went off in the distance.
Zestria turned to look and saw that a huge palace belonging to the Heaven's Warriors was destroyed. It was melted all the way as two different yet powerful flames clashed.
"Shishishi~"
A melodious peal of laughter echoed across the burning land.
Purple-black apocalyptic flames whistled across the area, trying to engulf a pyre of gold-crimson flames that tried to surge but were continuously suppressed to no end.
"Calypsea is overpowering that Venerable Knight… unbelievable…" Illumina was full of admiration as she watched Calypsea repeatedly squash Venerable Knight Foredawn's flames.
"Well, Calypsea did enter Level Three Empyrean Stage. With that, she is barely away from breaking the layer limit. She has to be careful." Lereza held her fists.
If they interfered, they would only be getting in Calypsea's way. Still, they were dumbfounded to see Calypsea winning since they thought it might take a combined effort to defeat at least one Venerable Knight. Even if they came here prepared to face Venerable Knight Foredawn, they were not expecting it to be this easy.
From the information they had at hand, Venerable Knight Foredawn's warflames were said to be even equivalent to annihilative heavenly flames. Yet, Calypsea still held the upper hand.
When did apocalyptic flames surpass annihilative heavenly flames? They didn't know. However, they began to think that apocalyptic flames at the Empyrean Grade were far more powerful than the current annihilative heavenly flames Davis possessed.
After all, he still hadn't had a taste of Empyrean Grade annihilative heavenly flames from the heavens.
"Isn't she kind of like a natural phenomenon? Do you think the layer limit applies to her?" Illumina asked, appearing worried.
"No idea." Lereza shook her head, "Can't say without trying, but natural phenomena usually don't have sentience. They come and go, unlike Calypsea, who is here to stay."
"…"
Illumina paused and was about to reply when a furious roar resounded.
"Do you think you can burn me, you calamitous spirit!? My flames have reduced countless evildoers to ashes, and you will be no different. Ahhh!"
He roared as he stood up, his red hair dancing like the flailing mane of a lion while his mustache also blazed.
He unleashed a torrent of golden-red flames, intending to burn her, but with a wave of her hand, she simply reduced those flames down to the shape of a cone that barely protected Venerable Knight Foredawn.
However, Calypsea frowned.
Even if she could oppress him with her apocalyptic flames, it seems like she couldn't kill him. She had also heard about the layer limit a lot of times as she was repeatedly warned about it, so she was careful not to break it. If she increased her power anymore, then it would be difficult to hold him down, and he would escape.
She turned to look back and saw that Zestria had successfully crossed her heavenly tribulation and finally reached the Empyrean Stage.
She was about to call her for aid but then changed her mind as he spotted a man with a dark steel-like body.
"You- come here and sever his head."
Calypsea reached out with her small hand and pointed at an ant with immense authority.
"Me?"
The man looked around before he pointed at himself, his voice rough and manly.
Standing tall at seven feet, he appeared like a striking humanoid figure. He had dark brown skin while some patches shimmered with an azure, dark metallic gleam, clearing ingrained in the form of a protective exoskeleton. His frame was slightly bulkier, which allowed him to naturally carry an imposing aura, but the most important part that relayed his majesty was the four translucent wings behind him.
He blinked his amber eyes, not knowing why he was being called when the situation was under control.
"Yeah, you. Jump into my flames and finish him. I'll hold him off in the meantime."
Calypsea returned her gaze to Venerable Knight Foredawn and didn't bother with the ant anymore.
"…"
The Ant Overlord blinked once again with his big eyes before turning to look at his mother, the Ant Queen.
She nodded with a calm smile.
He turned to look at his father, King, who waved him off, telling him to just go with a prideful look on his face.
The Ant Overlord returned his gaze and shook his head as though fearing for his own fate.
His aura suddenly grew as Level Four Empyrean Stage undulations surged.
The surface under him cracked and formed a crater as he launched himself into the air and pounced into the clash between two flames. His exoskeleton rapidly melted, but he activated his dragon scales by using his innate species technique, causing his entire body to become invulnerable to any attacks at his level for a single moment.
With a solid punch, he smashed his fist against Venerable Knight Foredawn's head, who barely reacted as Calypsea's flames still oppressed him. She didn't decrease the intensity one bit but even made it rise, causing him to roar.
"Ahhh-"
His roar was cut short with his head punched to the ground and turned into meat past, his soul destroyed by the endless darkness energy that swirled from the Ant Overlord's fist.
The next second, the apocalyptic flames receded but the Ant Overlord was already burned as he lost an entire layer of exoskeleton, some locations even revealing his bones.
"You're so cool!"
Calypsea descended by his side, waved her hand, and erased the remnant apocalyptic flames off of him. It allowed his body to instantly start regenerating. He was a magical beast, after all. His regenerative rate was on par with an Azure Dragon.
The Ant Overlord looked at his fists, appearing like he hadn't expected his body to be so powerful. He cupped his hands towards Calypsea.
"Many thanks for making me realize my potential."
"Do it again. Jump into my flames, and let's see how long you can last."
Calypsea jumped thrice, seemingly finding a new toy as her face flashed with excitement. She had never seen someone so brave since nearly everyone was afraid of her apocalyptic flames.
"…"
The smile on the Ant Overlord's face naturally receded. He barely survived for two seconds, even with his defenses. He didn't think he could survive another burning. The smell of his own meat made him feel hungry.
"Enough." Finally, Lereza intervened, saving him.
The Ant Overlord couldn't help but sigh in relief.
"You have taken control of your arrogance. Very good." Lereza nodded at him as she waved her hand and took the rings.
She then added, "Your efforts will be rewarded nicely."
The Ant Overlord nodded and returned to his post. He landed near his father, who patted his shoulder.
"You challenged me the moment you were born, trying to take the reigns, but you lost to me. The second time, you defeated me. The third time, you seem like you learned your place. What truly happened? It's like you were never arrogant."
"…"
The Ant Overlord didn't reply.
Back then, after defeating his father, he challenged the Divine Emperor of Death, and the other party accepted, bringing him to a lone battlefield. There, he got the taste of what true strength meant for the first time.
His head was held with a palm that was about to blast chaos-destruction energy. Although he didn't know what it was, he instinctively knew he was dead at that moment, so he automatically knelt and went silent, hoping the Divine Emperor of Death would spare him.
From then on, he knew his place in this world. Thinking about it now, he still found it scarier than the apocalyptic flames.
Otherwise, as a ruler born to conquer the realms, he wouldn't have been so silent.