Ancestor Alissara's expression darkened, "What is this-?"
Before she could finish, a wave of pale-grayish energy burst from Wisteria's body like an expanding abyss. The air itself seemed to wither, growing dry and brittle. The once radiant floating runes of the structure flickered and dulled, corroded as though going through the passage of time. The marble floor cracked as dust coiled into the air, forming a decaying mist that spread toward the Ancestors.
"Careful!" The other Ancestor roared, summoning a barrier of purple light, but the moment Wisteria's energy touched it, the barrier crumbled like dead leaves dispersing amidst a forceful breeze.
Ancestor Alissara's eyes widened as her skin tingled with an unbearable sensation—her very vitality was being drained, her flesh screaming at an instinctive level. She pushed her energy outward, but it faltered, her body failing her.
"You… ghost…!" she snarled, but her voice trembled.
Wisteria's gaze remained blank, even distant, as if she weren't even aware of their struggle, "Decay… is inevitable. As old as you are, you should not be afraid."
Level Three Empyrean Spirit undulations reverberated so calmly that one would think that she had immense control over it, but it was creepy.
She raised a hand, her fingers curling slightly, and the black-gray mist turned dense.
Dozens of sickly gray tendrils coiled around the other Ancestor, whose name still wasn't known. Her body convulsed as her blood essence was extinguished and broke apart, her already old hair whitening at a terrifying pace, her skin shriveling. She let out a strangled gasp before her legs buckled beneath him.
Ancestor Alissara looked horrified. She summoned a Collapse Hex directly using her third eye.
Wisteria's figure barely lit up before it exploded on her.
However, her figure merely dispersed into countless specks of mist before reforming. She had the same disinterested look on her face. She moved forward, hovering like a ghost. The metal rusted, the energy corroded but the formation didn't seem to be affected.
She took another step forward.
The air became thick with death.
The two Ancestors coughed violently, feeling their lungs stuffed with the air of death. Their bodies trembled, their limbs growing frail.
Evelynn watched coldly, arms crossed, as the powerful Ancestors of the Three-Eyed Chromatic Hex Arachnid Clan were brought to the brink of ruin. As for the pillars who called themselves the supporting legs of the arachnid, some clutched their chests, others collapsed to one knee, their bodies refusing to obey them.
"How long will you last, I wonder?" Wisteria mused, tilting her head slightly, "A minute? Or two?"
Her whisper sent shivers down their spines.
Ancestor Alissara's face twisted with fury and fear, "You… think you can- aaggh!"
Wisteria flicked her fingers.
The black-gray decay mist pulsed.
Ancestor Alissara choked, her throat tightening as she felt the vitality in her body slip away like sand through her fingers. The others convulsed, their bones aching, their vision darkening.
"That's enough, Wisteria."
Abruptly, Evelynn's voice echoed out, "It is your last chance to surrender and look forward to the bright future of the Three-Eyed Chromatic Hex Arachnid Clan. Resist, and you shall be exiled. Resist together, I'll simply leave. I have no need for disobedient and delusional clansmen who can't listen to their leader. In fact, it is common sense that one can't lead those who aren't willing to be led."
"If you can't follow, that's simply one burden off my shoulders. This clan absolutely is of no benefit to me. If I reach this point where I can simply erase your entire clan with my powers, it is because of my husband and not others. Even Empress Hexena, whom I respect, don't compare."
She coldly spoke her thoughts and intentions.
"…"
The two Ancestors could barely react even though they were aware. Not only did they feel like they had swallowed death, their bodies were weak. They felt like vomiting blood in copious amounts since they sensed it had gone bad. They had never felt so nauseous in their lives.
"But master- they dared to attack you. What use is their lives? They should wither away." Wisteria said with a somber expression.
She finally displayed a hint of anger.
"True, but I owe Empress Hexena one, and you already drained them of their lifespan by fifty percent, nearly leaving the two Ancestors lifeless husks of their former self. I can excuse their folly this one time."
"Mhmm~" Wisteria pouted.
She wanted to kill but found it hard to disobey Evelynn. She knew master hated those who didn't listen the most.
In the end, she retracted her decay energy and flew back towards Evelynn.
Myria and Katherine neared Evelynn. The former had already taken Tia and Hailac into her life ring since they could be easily harmed by shockwaves alone.
Katherine went around striking the faces of the eight legs with her tail, teaching them a big lesson. Although her tail was in the shape of a lion's tail, it still retained the tremendous power generated from boulders wound and striking together like a rattling whip.
It was imbued with the yang insights of Rumbling Laws.
"Who told you to attack? That play was quite funny. Empress Evelynn, please help us- woah, so amazing~"
Katherine hit the four pillars who came to seek help more.
It left their faces bloodied with each whip. Even the woman who was the first pillar was not spared.
Myria healed Fahzi and the seven other competitors who were still unconscious. However, she blinked at Katherine who punished them so lightly when a Quaking Earthflame Lion was said to be much aggressive. Still, it was a piece of information recorded billions of years ago, so she wouldn't know their true nature.
The eight pillars now looked miserable. Their faces now swelled like they were stung by bees.
However, they didn't ask for forgiveness or curse out, keeping their mouth tightly shut.
Ancestor Alissara slowly stood up, barely managing to keep her legs straight. As she steadied her breathing, her lips parted.
"To think the inheritor has far surpassed us and become so capable. We… we surrender."
"Ahh, forgive us! Empress Evelynn!"
"We are willing to take responsibility for our actions, but please spare our family!"
The moment Ancestor Alissara's voice fell, the eight pillars began begging for forgiveness. It seemed they had long since relegated themselves to listening to their two Ancestors, daring to do anything or daring to die together with them, all for the sake of the clan.
Evelynn could only coldly gaze at their unity, which wasn't misplaced but used wrongly, in her opinion. Her lips moved.
