The metallic avian, clearly the captain of this formidable group, called out his six cosmic experts. With a single sharp command, the warriors moved into position, swiftly surrounding both Emery and Grand Magus Soltz.
The aged Grand Magus exhaled slowly, his body pulsing with energy as he conjured a spell that enveloped him in an impenetrable layer of stone, forming a formidable armor. Meanwhile, Emery remained still, a slow, confident smile creeping onto his lips. His pitch-black eyes flickered ominously, dark tendrils of energy coiling around his fingertips. The air around him warped and trembled under the surge of his power.
“Only a first-stage Cosmic, yet you act so arrogant!” one of the avian warriors scoffed before launching himself at Emery. His wings beat with immense force, twisting the wind into a deadly vortex. With a sharp screech, he slashed out with razor-like talons aimed directly at Emery’s face.
But he struck nothing but empty air.
His expression twisted in confusion. “What…?! How?!”
Before he could react, a sudden weight pressed down upon him. Emery was already above, his fists descending like twin meteors. The brutal impact smashed the avian warrior into the ground, sending shockwaves across the battlefield.
“Spatial magic…” The metallic captain muttered, his voice tinged with awe before snapping back into command. “Attack together!”
Three of the remaining warriors turned their attention toward Soltz, while the other two flanked Emery from both sides, their mastery over wind magic allowing them to slice through the air with ease. They moved in perfect synchronization, striking from opposite angles at lightning speed.
Yet, Emery remained calm. With a flick of his fingers, space distorted once more. Their strikes passed through him harmlessly, as though he were an illusion. Again and again, their attacks missed, frustration growing evident on their faces.
Realizing the extent of Emery’s abilities, they abandoned conventional attacks and unleashed their domain power. The warrior Emery had struck down moments ago rejoined them, forming an intense three-on-one battle. Their cosmic energy surged, forcing Emery’s control over space to falter slightly. One of them finally managed to land a hit.
BAMMMM!!
The blow connected with devastating force, but Emery raised his arms in defense. His body trembled under the impact, pushing him back a dozen meters.
“We got you!!” one of them sneered.
Emery had fought dozens of Cosmic-stage experts before. These three, despite only being in the one cosmos realm, were half-bloods with superior physiques. Via’s analysis displayed their battle power ranging from 1,300 to 1,500—stronger than the hybrid pirates he had faced before.
Instead of worry, excitement flared in his chest.
This was the perfect opportunity to test the limits of his strength. His body tensed, and a deep, thunderous vibration resonated from within as the numbers appeared before his vision, measuring the extent of his cosmic body.
Without hesitation, he activated [Immortal Gate], feeling the immense surge of energy flood every fiber of his being.
A deep golden aura erupted from his core, spreading across his body like flowing magma. His muscles expanded, veins glowing faintly with the raw energy coursing through them. His bones groaned under the pressure before reinforcing themselves, hardening like divine steel. The powerful technique surged from level 1 to level 9 in an instant, his body adapting with frightening ease to the newfound strength.
[Battle power increased by 512]
[Battle Power: 920 (1,432)]
BOOOM!!
A violent shockwave exploded from his body, distorting the air and sending tremors through the battlefield.
His cosmic breakthrough had already boosted his battle power by more than 50%, pushing it past the 900 mark. Now, with the added power of Immortal Gate, he felt like a completely new person.
With a grin, Emery raised his fists, feeling the sheer weight of his own power settle within him. His limbs felt impossibly strong, his movements sharper, faster. The wind howled around him as he clenched his fists, and the very air seemed to ripple under the force of his presence.
With a sudden burst of speed, Emery launched forward. His fist blurred as it struck the first opponent right in the chest.
BAM!
The avian warrior’s body twisted unnaturally as he was sent hurtling to the ground, smashing into the rock below with a deafening crash.
Before the other two could react, Emery pivoted mid-air, evading their desperate counterattacks with ease. He grabbed one by the wing and twisted, the sickening crack of bones breaking echoing through the battlefield.
“HAHAHA… this is great!” Emery laughed, exhilarated by the rush of battle. Even without his bloodline transformation, he was overpowering them in pure physical prowess alone. His newfound strength wasn’t just holding its own—it was dominating.
Again, the three avian fighters lunged forward, this time attacking with better coordination. However, their efforts proved futile. Emery dodged and countered with such precision that it almost seemed as if he were toying with them.
Meanwhile, Soltz remained firmly on the defensive. The three warriors attacking him struggled in vain against his stone armor, their blows barely making a dent.
The captain, his metallic feathers glinting under the cosmic light, prepared to intervene. However, before he could move, the female four-eyed avian beside him raised a hand.
“Let me,” she said, her eerie eyes glowing with a sinister light.
She called upon the dozens of Magus warriors around. Together, they unleashed a synchronized attack—a piercing, ear-splitting shriek that reverberated through the battlefield. The air rippled with their combined spirit energy, an invisible force hammering into the target’s mind.
A sharp pain stabbed through Emery’s skull. His vision blurred, and his movements faltered. Unlike his light counterpart, spirit defense was his weaker point. The assault took effect immediately, leaving him vulnerable.
Taking advantage of the opening, the avian warriors struck from both sides.
BAM! BAM!
Two blows connected, sending Emery skidding back, his ears ringing from the relentless attack. Even Soltz, despite his formidable defenses, showed signs of strain as cracks began to appear in his stone armor.
“Damn it… This is cheating…” Emery growled under his breath.
With a low, almost amused voice, Emery murmured, “You asked for this…”
His black eyes gleamed with a sinister light as his rage ignited, and with a single, commanding voice, he called out, “Chututlu… let’s give them hell!”
The air around him shuddered.
A deep, guttural hum resonated through the battlefield as the power of Khaos surged within him. His soul force, now stronger than ever, twisted and expanded, feeding the abyssal energy that lurked within.
Then, from the blackened void behind him, a shape emerged.
A massive, otherworldly form, pulsating with pure corruption. Shadowy tentacles slithered into existence, stretching high into the sky, their grotesque appendages dripping with a thick, inky miasma. The darkness expanded at a terrifying speed, swallowing the battlefield in its embrace.
The avian warriors froze in terror.
A chorus of agonized shrieks erupted as the creeping mists enveloped them. One by one, their bodies convulsed mid-air, their wings spasming uncontrollably as the corrupting energy seeped into their very souls. The weaker warriors dropped from the sky, their bodies twitching violently as the dark aura invaded their systems.
The female four-eyed avian let out a sharp gasp. “P-Poison!!” she cried as she saw her comrades plummeting like dying insects.