The sound of crumbling, the smell of desolateness. The paradise island of the World Government is now burning.
Like the burning of the Roman Empire, Lord Shadow was like Nero as he looked upon the destruction joyfully.
At least that is what Hirate must have thought Lord Shadow felt.
Coming out from the Quorum Headquarters, he looked upwards, expecting to see a clear blue sky only to be greeted with crimson clouds and suffocating heat.
Hirate look at the destruction in front of him the moment he stepped outside the Quorum Building and he could not help but gasped in horror.
Thousands of buildings decimated, a deep canyon in the middle of the island leading to a deep abyss, crimson color clouds, firestorm and thunderstorm ravaged the periphery of the island, the waves and winds churn and howl violently.
If Hirate had not known he would not believe that one man could create such disasters.
He sighed and then laughed.
‘It is truly the age of Gods. An age of magic’ he said to himself.
One man could create this much destruction akin to Gods of Calamity. It takes time for him to arrive from the Underground Prison to the surface.
And even when he returns to the surface he did not immediately went outside the Quorum building.
Instead he enacted a protective array barrier. Amidst the thundering lightning, amidst the shaking of the Earth, amidst the heaven shattering sound, he did his job.
If not for that, this headquarter of the Quorum would have already been flattened by that last attack.
But now, the end is near. And the conclusion is almost finalized. Unless, Hirate activate that.
But he won’t. The risk is too great
Smiling bitterly he said under his breath
‘Maybe he already knew I won’t activate that. Because he knew I won’t go that far. Or maybe he had the confidence to also beat that. But he doesn’t know the true power of that thing’
The Eight Monks that appeared to halt Lord Shadow has been decimated leaving only one monk.
These Eight Monks was created from the Sage of Eight Path Bracelet.
It was a divine item that could summon Eight Golden Warriors with the level of Energy Disperse Stage with Eternal Spring body refinement.
They have no emotions or thoughts. Only orders. But Lord Shadow managed to invoke the emotion of fear and shock.
Each time when they die, their essence would return to the primary soul and increase in level.
The final transformation of the Monks should be Disk Formation High Realm but Lord Shadow destroys two souls.
Meaning the last transformation of the primary soul would be Disk Formation Low Realm.
And that is why Lord Shadow managed to invoke the Monks emotions. Usually they die but they will always return to the Bracelet when the order is accomplished.
But to have sent their souls into nothingness, this is no longer the kind of attack the soul inside the Bracelet has ever seen.
For anyone in the world, having a Disk Formation expert as a guardian would grant that faction almost unrivalled power.
Hirate was betting on the superiority of a Disk Formation High realm expert to force Lord Shadow to retreat.
‘Heh’ Hirate sighed as he walks along the destroyed pavement outside the Quorum Headquarters.
There are no longer the beautiful lush green gardens, or the beautiful fountain, or the beautiful stone buildings.
Only desolateness and parched land.
In the end, he did not expect Lord Shadow could purify souls. In the end, his information is not good enough.
But he was not mad at Lord Shadow. He was mad at Loki.
Lord Shadow might implant Will as a spy but that is not enough to warrant his anger. After all it is a norm, to send spies to your rivals and enemies faction.
Hirate understand such action and he himself did this.
What he is angry of how perfect the barrier that Loki has erected against his spies.
Hirate knows why his spies never could into the tight circle of Lord Shadow faction and it is all because of the Trickster.
A year ago, a long time before Lord Shadow established his dominance upon the world. Hirate already marked Loki group as dangerous and requires supervision.
Each of Lord Shadow supporters while at the time, were not a large force, each and every one of them were powerful experts and possess Artifacts.
Lady Sofia possesses the Houyi Bow.
Just by thrumming its bowstring a killing aura could envelops the whole battlefield and it is rumored to be able to shoot down the sun into destruction.
Lady Sina while she doesn’t possess any powerful Artifacts worthy of mentioning, her knowledge in Pill Making and her potential as a quick strength solution for low level users would made her extremely important in the strengthening of armies.
It is why the World Government desires her so much, more than the other combat related users.
Oreki the Thunder Lord once said in private, that having Sina is as good as having ten thousand armies.
Then there is Wang Jian, the White Tiger as he is famously known.
His Artifacts are the Cloud Walking Boots, the War God Gold Chain Armour and the Phoenix Feather Cap
And if that is not enough Loki gifted him with the Ruyi Jingu Bang
With all of these Artifacts with him it was like giving wings to a fierce tiger.
Even though he is an Energy Disperse Stage user, Raymond estimated that Wang Jian could fight toe to toe with Seed Formation Low Realm user.
And then there is Loki…the Trickster.
The information about him is scarce. He is the most mysterious one among the people in Lord Shadow group.
He is even more mysterious than Lord Shadow himself.
No one knows his true face and the people that first met him have all died, missing or disappeared.
Everything about him might be a lie. Even his name might not be his name.
Even though Hirate notice this danger a long time ago, and he send his spies, none of them returned alive.
Those who returned alive have misleading information.
So, it is only right that Hirate views Loki as his rival. Not Lord Shadow. It is pointless in comparing between two people who have different weight class.
Hirate was never a fighter. He was a schemer, a plotter, the man with the plan, the brains of the operations
Comparing his strength with Lord Shadow? Hirate knows he would not last even one bout with the Prince.
He walked towards the direction of the battle. The Bracelet in his hand is cracking. The lifesaving treasure of the World Government will be destroyed today.
Thinking of this, he could not help but smiles bitterly as the wind around him rushed violently, scratching his cheek.
Lord Shadow was battling two of the Monks right now and the effect of his battle extend even to Hirate, miles away from the center of the battle.
‘At least it is used for the right purpose.’
Hirate muttered under his breath, his eyes seeing the explosion that happens not too far away from the Quorum headquarters.
He could hear the sound of explosions, of air cracking and breaking and the thunderstorm and fires ravaging the island.
The clouds are red and it was like the world is overturned. He could only sigh.
The reason why the bracelet was not fought over by the lords of the World Government is because everyone agreed that the bracelet is to be the lifesaving treasure of the World Government and will only be used to protect the World Government when a calamity happens.
‘This qualifies’ Hirate said to himself.
The Bracelet was his last gamble.
People might think there are many lifesaving treasures for the World Government. The reality is different.
It is not easy to encounter Artifacts. It is not like weed, growing everywhere.
But then….why? Why does he keep moving towards the battle? Even though he knows if the Bracelet Soul could not stop Lord Shadow he also could not stop him?
Why does he keep moving forward? Is it that important to not let Lord Shadow knows the thing in the Closet?
Is this battle worth it? It cost Hirate this island. It cost him the amiable relationship that the World Government has forged with Lord Shadow.
It cost him…everything.
‘Is it worth it?’ He ask himself
Smiling he answer, taking another step forward, reaffirmed what he knows in his heart
‘It is worth it. I thought there is a slight chance I could win this battle. I took it. And I was wrong. But I took the chance. At least, I won’t regret. Even if that is the only thing I got from this battle.’
He walked faster, deflecting any stray rubbles of stones, steel and soil flying to him from the distance with his Psionic power
‘But the battle is not over. I have one last fight in me before I could accept this outcome.’
Hirate doesn’t know what will happen after this battle.
Will Lord Shadow kill him? Will he hunt down everybody that has anything to do with this? Or is there another way?
Even as he is walking towards the center of the battle he did not show any sign of regret. He did what had to be done.
Because honestly Hirate doesn’t know what Lord Shadow will do if he knows the truth about this world.
Lee Sangmin chose to close one eye and instead become the Guardian of the Forest. Many people called the Forest Region as a paradise for the low level users.
But Hirate knows the truth. It is not paradise. It is a prison.
This whole world is a prison.
And the only one who knows about this is only a few….and they all decided to keep quiet. Because the alternative would be unfavorable to the current status quo.
And because they all knew that this world will not last.
Thus, they seal that thing, not allowing it to see the light of day, not allowing it to fuse with each other.
Hirate was too afraid of the Old World. Lee Sangmin was too kindhearted. They both knew that they only hinder the inevitable.
So, they closed their eyes….and pray. Hoping that their secrets would not be uncover, praying the problem to go away.
This world is good enough.
But will Lord Shadow think the same as them if he knew the truth? One thing Hirate learned, people like Lord Shadow seek more than just wealth or ethereal fame.
They seek the apex.
And they just step on the first step to the apex. Would they be satisfied with the truth of this world? Or will they seek the truth no matter what?
This is the reason why Hirate even chooses not to tell of the secret of the world to even Raymond.
Hirate shakes his head
No, it is not the location of the thing in the Closet that Hirate is trying to hide. It is the intention of why the thing in the Closet must stay in the Closet.
And Will knows the truth of this world. It is why only Oreki and him can visit Will in the Underground Prison.
Hirate once tried to solve this peacefully. He tries to wipe Will memories. But as it turns out, Will mind is being protected by an external energy source.
So, he had no choice but to offend Lord Shadow.
Looking in front of him he could see from ten kilometers away, Lord Shadow ripping out the heart from one of the Monks.
The Monk fall down lifelessly and an orb of white light enters the Primary Monk and wind and tempest filled the surrounding of the Monk.
A battle between a Disk Formation Low Realm user and a Seed Forming High Realm user.
‘Lord Shadow, if even after this you managed to win, then I really have to accept my defeat’ Hirate said before he takes a step forward.
And as he moves his brain begin emitting weird frequency as psionic power converge in his brain.
‘Let see if I really can’t pierce your mind’ he said smirking before walking closer to the center of the battle.
***
IN THE CENTER OF THE ISLAND
Azief laughed as he was enveloping by a large spinning wind that could shred even steel building beams.
The Monk slowly floats as the laws of gravity crumbles under the Monk feet.
The land beneath the Monk feet sunk to seven feet deep withstanding a mighty pressure.
‘Disk Formation’ Azief muttered. Azief just finished killing one of the Monk and the orb of light from that dead monk went to the Primary Monk.
And now, the Primary Monk finally could unleash its true power.
‘It is not really a Disk’ he said again smiling, looking at the transformation.
‘And there is no Inferno Baptism. You could not reach Perfection’ he mocked the Monk.
‘Three Seeds Creating Leaves of Origins, Six Seeds Creating Branches of Creations, Nine Seeds Creating the Tree Of Life, Ten Seeds Summoning the Purifying Fire’
Azief remembered one of the teachings he read.
‘It is a Halo. And no Inferno Baptism. If it’s not Perfection, then you have no hope. Checkmate, Hirate’ he muttered under his breath as he prepares a pill in one of his hand ready to pop it in his mouth.
But he wanted to see the Monk transformation first.
In the Myriads World and the Otherworlds, he had seen many Disk Formation Expert with Will, but he never did see how they transformed.
A crown of Light rays surround the Monk head before it floats and floats on top of the Monk head, making him look like a sacred and holy Monk.
It is golden because the Law that the monk cultivate is the Law of Righteousness.
He made the Seed sprout the Halo of Righteousness and his body was healed almost immediately and holy and sacred aura fill the island, dispelling the thunderstorm and the firestorm as Azief aura weakened under the suppression of the Law.
The Death aura that spreads through the island immediately evaporates into mist and dissipates into nothingness.
‘HAH’ The Monk shouted and golden light shoots out from his mouth that turns the sky golden and the land sacred.
Booming sound cracked the sky as a surge of energy surrounds the Monk
Then another halo appeared above the first halo. This Halo is blue and it is the Halo of Life as the desolate land began healing itself and sprouted plants and trees.
It was like spring has come for the island and prosperity becomes abound.
The Monk floats ten meter above the ground looking at Azief with apparent disdain. Then the Monk unleashed his Disk Formation aura and the whole world seems to beckons.
The Halo on top of his head spin violently as the pressure of the world conspire to pressure Azief and it strikes Azief, an invisible force that slammed into Azief entire being
Azief only smiles even as his knees about to buckle and sweats formed on his forehead.
His skins was shred apart but even as it was shredded it keeps regenerating as fast as it was shredded.
Now, it finally shows why people desire a Perfect physique. If it was any other Seed Forming High Realm they would already turned into a pool of blood.
But pressuring his body to this point is not enough to kill Azief. His body could not be destroyed by normal means.
The Monks needs to use the Laws to seal his body or destroy his mind or uses such powerful attack that it surpassed the threshold of damage that even Heaven could not supersede.
But The Monk is only a Disk Formation Low Realm. Even if the Monk is Disk Formation High Realm he is still constrained by the power of Heaven and Earth.
The Monk was not like the Demon King that has the Ten Eternal Rings or the Asura that holds the Six World Exterminating Saber.
Now, that was the kind of existence Azief would tremble just looking at their sight. The Saber he acquires by the luck that Loki has guided him.
The Ten Eternal Rings he got because the carelessness of others and his wily tricks. A Idsk Formation Low Real Monk?
Not enough to make him feel fear.
In Disk Formation, one could manipulate certain Laws of the World depending on the Seed that has sprouted and turned into Disk from the consciousness.
The pressure emanated out from the Monk nonetheless exerts mighty powerful aura that wanted to destroy Azief body.
Blood began to seep out of the corners of Azief mouth, and his internal organs is boiling like he is being roasted.
There is a terrible; pressure on his chest and on top of his head as the Law of Righteousness wanted to dispel Azief.
The Monk is the righteous cause and Azief was the Evil it needs to destroy.
‘FORM THE SWORD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS TO DISPEL THIS EVIL’ the Monk said, the first word the monk said since the beginning of the battle.
Before no matter how many times the other Monks fall in battle, no Monks even uttered a word.
But now, like it gained sentience, this Disk Forming Monk can speak.
Then one of the Halos on top of the Monk head dimmed and turned gray and it was like his body withered slightly.
Azief tched.
‘He uses the power of his Disk early in this battle. Not fair’ but even as he said this he was still smiling and his hand is still gripping the pill tightly on his hand.
‘SLASH!’ The Monk spoke calmly yet his voice contains a power that seems to be a declaration from the world itself.