Silence completely covered the ceremonial hall. The gravity of the situation was clear to anyone with half a mind to realize just what had just happened. Although an attack of Spiritual Qi was the fastest in all of existence, it also had very clear and obvious markers when so unrestrained. Everyone realized exactly what happened the moment Nuri's figure came fully into view.
While some were stunned that Ryu had such a beautiful Death Guard, others were far more worried about exactly what the fallout of this situation would be. And, maybe exactly due to the gravity of the situation, they didn't need to wait very long for an answer.
Elena paled with rage, immediately stepping to Nuri's side to protect Ryu to her back. However, she didn't even get the chance to attack Gale in her rage because the Tatsuya Clan heavenly couple had completely lost their minds at the thought of how close they had come to losing their son. Today would be the day the Shrine Plane learned that as domineering as Priest Saint Tatsuya was, Himari Tatsuya was even more so!
A flash of blue and red erupted with a rage that shook Tatsuya Palace. Minerals the likes of which were rare even in their society shattered to mere particles of dust. The sky quaked and the earth splintered as though the heavens were personifying their anger.
"Please, have mercy!" Priest Saint Ventus stood quickly. With how the situation had devolved, he had no choice but to act like this. His grandson had truly brought shame to their family. He had not only lost to a mortal, but he even refused to accept it even in the face of so many witnesses. Then, he had the audacity to attempt to murder the heir of the Tatsuya Clan before not only his parents, but his grandparents as well!?
Priest Saint Ventus was filled with infinite regrets. If only he had known, he wouldn't have spoiled his grandson so much, he would have refined his Mental Realm more, he would have cultivated his Martial Way to a greater extent. But it was all too late, much too late.
Gale could only watch as two palms – one fierce and tyrannical, the other gentle and deadly – collided with his head. Despair colored his foggy eyes. Would he really die like this? To die at the hands of the number one and two expert of the Shrine Plane was a sort of honor, was it not? So why did he feel so bitter?
There was no suspense in the matter. Although Gale's Death Guard too stepped forward, his body was obliterated along with his young master. Maybe this poor old man's silver lining was that unlike Gale, he could take appropriate pride in the hands by which he died.
"NO!" Priest Saint Ventus' chest convulsed, pulsing with rage and sorrow. Blood infused with his anger flew from his lips, coating his green robes. If it wasn't for the members of the Ventus Clan catching his falling body, he would have graced the ground.
"VALESKA!" Two roars pierced through the Heavens.
Titus' red robes fluttered with his rage, his fiery hair projecting backward akin to the backdrop of a bloodthirsty demon. Flames the likes of which rarely appeared in the world erupted along his valiant figure, bathing the ceremonial hall in a heat so profound that the ground beneath him burnt to ash. It was clear that if it wasn't for Nuri's protection, even Ryu himself would have died to his father's rage!
Himari stood directly to her husband's side, her white gown making her the picture of a heavenly goddess. Sparks of blue lightning shattered the tiles beneath her feet even as a blue flame enshrouded her seemingly delicate body. Her blue eyes shook with a piercing cold, staring daggers at the Old Mistress before her.
A beautiful array of blues and reds swirled around the angered heavenly couple. To dare to attempt to lay hands on their son right before them, were these fools tired of living?!
Who here didn't understand the meaning behind Old Mistress Holy Wing's inaction? Did she take them for children who didn't know the ways of the world? Or did she think that she was so far above reproach that her actions didn't matter?
Old Mistress Holy Wing wanted to sneer and make a snide comment about how she had no obligation to protect their son for them, but she never got that opportunity. Himari and Titus cared little for her explanations and wanted to hear her petty words even less. Ryu might have entertained her nonsense, but that was only because his fists weren't large enough to teach her a lesson. However, did they have such an issue? Of course not!
Above Himari's fluttering white hair, the call of a phoenix and the roar of a qilin sounded. In the next moment, a beautiful heavenly bird covered in sapphire flames appeared right beside a sturdy four-legged creature with a majestic aura and shining blue, gem-like scales.
To her side, Titus evoked the same call allowing an untouchable heavenly bird covered in ruby-like flames to appear. However, the roar that coupled it was far more domineering. The presence of the sovereign dragon overwhelmed the ceremonial halls, appearing with it a crimson-scaled emperor of the skies.
Old Mistress Holy Wing's pink diamond eyes widened before constricting to the size of mere pinholes. Had the Tatsuya heavenly couple really improved this much?! It was impossible! She was a member of the oldest generation, she had reigned supreme for billions of years, she shouldn't be feeling so suppressed!
A roar escaped her lips as she tried to shake herself of this feeling. She pulled her short sword from her hip, taking a step forward to meet this couple head on.
A collision the likes of which rarely seen in the Shrine Plane eviscerated the palace hall. A cacophonic eruption of earth-shattering noise and destruction blew out in every direction. Directly behind it, a wave of blue, red and white plumes of flames shot into the sky, finally destroying the oppressed ceiling of Tatsuya Palace.
By the time the smoke settled, the only thing that remained was a devastated ceremonial hall and a scene that shocked those of every generation. To one side, a heavenly couple stood shoulder to shoulder, the ten-meter radius around them completely unaffected, protected by their valiant auras. However, to the other, a once gallant woman of the oldest generation lay.
Valeska lay on the grown sprawled, her life and death unknown as fresh blood flowed from her depressed chest.