"I, Gale Storm Emperor, hereby declare this young female elf as wanted, with a bounty of 10 Billion Superior Grade Spirit Stones! Bring her alive to me!" The proclamation echoed grandly and solemnly throughout the Gale Storm Dimension, the urgency in Gale Storm Emperor's voice resonating across the vast expanse of his rule. The decree hung in the air, casting a weighty aura over the entire dimension, as if the very fabric of the Gale Storm Emperor's will demanded compliance.
"What was that?"
"Is that the overlord of this dimension?"
Cultivators went into a frenzy, each harboring their own thoughts and greed.
***
"10 Billion superior grade spirit stones! I don't know what you have done, girl, but those 10 Billion are mine!" A powerful cultivator exclaimed, his eyes gleaming with avarice and determination. The proclamation had ignited a spark of covetousness among those who sought wealth and power.
***
"Wait, isn't that the elf accompanied by a man that entered this planet through the teleportation array?" One cultivator commented, and his words spread like wildfire. Messages were swiftly transmitted through artifacts to various sects on other planets, catching the attention of the majority who were now making haste to travel to this particular planet. The allure of the substantial bounty had ignited a collective interest, and cultivators from far and wide were converging, eager to seize the opportunity presented by the proclamation of Gale Storm Emperor.
***
Meanwhile, Cecilia was shaken as she gazed at the image in the sky, realizing that the Overlord of the Dimension had declared her wanted. Only one person came to mind who could orchestrate such a move.
While Cecilia was currently shocked and shaken, Azrael looked at the image above the sky with a solemn expression. He approached Cecilia and gently grabbed her, causing her to flinch. However, Azrael ignored her reaction and enveloped her in a tight hug, offering comfort and reassurance in the face of the unfolding chaos.
"Azrael..." she uttered. "L-leave!" she said, then attempted to push him.
However, with his strength, Cecilia couldn't even budge him. His embrace remained steadfast, a grounding presence amid the turmoil that surrounded them.
"I said MOVE! You have to leave, or else, t-they, he will kill you!" Tears started to flow, and she couldn't contain her emotions. The memories of the day her mother sacrificed herself to send her to this dimension haunted her. Now, that nightmare was knocking at her door again, and she didn't want to lose another precious person.
"I don't want to lose you too," she pleaded.
"Don't worry. No harm will befall me," Azrael reassured, his eyes glinting with ruthlessness.
He then looked at the sky.
Rows upon rows of cultivators were flying toward them, and among them, a group arrived claiming to have found Cecilia first.
"HAHAHA Jackpot! Like I said, brothers, they went into this forest! Thankfully, I am observant enough to remember their faces."
"Ohh, it seems they were having an emotional moment before the tragic event fell upon them."
"Hey, brothers, look at that elf! She is definitely a beauty! Let's have a taste before giving her to the emperor!"
"Are you braindead!? If you want to die, then die by yourself!"
"Why?"
"Sigh, I don't know what kind of mind you have. It is very obvious that Gale Storm Emperor is using his authority to capture this beauty for himself! Not because she is genuinely wanted!"
Different conversations were taking place as the cultivators eyed them, and rivalries formed among the different groups.
"Fellow Daoist, leave, we found them first!"
"You guys are the ones that need to leave!"
"B-Blue Sword Saint!"
"Ohhh, I didn't know you had the audacity. Do you have the strength to fight us all here, Blue Sword Meh," chuckled a lady in a red dress.
The Blue Sword Saint's countenance soured when he saw the female cultivator. "What do you want, poisonous vermin."
"Huh!?"
While these cultivators were having small bickering, Azrael tightly hugged Cecilia when he felt her trembling at the presence of these cultivators. [It seems her past trauma is haunting her.] Azrael thought, [at this rate, she wouldn't be able to fight for herself.]
"Cecilia, Cecilia," seeing that she wasn't responding, Azrael cupped her face to get her attention. "Look at me. I have a treasure here that is capable of storing a living person as long as they are willing to be stored. I am planning to put you there. Are you willing?" he asked.
"B-But what about you?" She asked as she gripped Azrael's arm.
"Don't worry about m-" His voice was suddenly cut off by Cecilia.
"Of course, I will worry about you!"
Azrael smiled, "Trust me, I am stronger than the one that caused you trauma. Are they Divine Emperors? I will cut them. Are they half-step saints? I will destroy them. Even a Saint would have a hard time dealing with me. I will definitely save you." Azrael's voice seemed like a light in her dark surroundings, constantly giving her comfort and hope. Her turmoil heart started to calm down. She couldn't help but lean on him, depend on him, as if he was the savior she was waiting for. Azrael's unwavering confidence acted as a source of reassurance for Cecilia. As she observed his poised demeanor and felt the strength emanating from him, a sense of trust blossomed within her. In the midst of turmoil, his steadfast assurance became a comforting anchor, assuring her that, with him by her side, she could face whatever challenges lay ahead.
"Then let me fight with you."
"That won't do."
"Why? Is it because I am too weak?"
"It's not about strength. It's because you mean too much to me."
Cecilia couldn't but feel warm inside her.
"Just promise me, live and stay with me forever."
"I will, definitely."
Then, suddenly, a small pagoda artifact appeared and sucked Cecilia in. This small detail was noticed by the other cultivators.
"The Female Elf disappeared!"
"Where did you put her?"
"It's definitely that small pagoda!"
"Interesting. Not only do you have beauty by your side, but you also have loads of treasures! Unfortunately, the beautiful elf will be Gale Emperor's possession, as your treasures will be mine!" Said a female in a red dress.
Azrael, who was looking at them coldly and calmly, suddenly floated.
"Don't think of escaping!"
"Don't worry, I won't," Azrael said, "Cecilia, that girl, she was constantly haunted by her past trauma. I can feel it and see it. There are multiple times at night when she was resting; she would mutter some names, but she would constantly utter the word 'mother.' Although we started off bad, I still enjoyed her company. She was a good person, naive, and, most of all, I consider her as precious. I kept her in a treasure because I don't want her to see more traumatic scenes. Her trauma should remain in the past. And by traumatic scene, I mean a massacre that was about to happen here and now!" Azrael's eyes glinted with ruthlessness. A sword appeared near him, and he drew the sword horizontally in an instant. The cultivators around him seemed oblivious to his action; rather, they couldn't follow. In an instant, their bodies started to fall simultaneously, split in half.
As Azrael's blade swept through the air, a grisly scene unfolded. Blood sprayed in every direction, forming an eerie crimson mist that hung in the air. Limbs separated from torsos, and bodies fell in halves, creating a gruesome tableau on the forest floor. Guts spilled out, mingling with the earth, and the stench of death permeated the surroundings.
The once-boisterous cultivators now lay motionless, their eyes forever frozen in shock and horror. The ground beneath them soaked up the blood, creating a morbid tapestry that spoke of violence and destruction. The silence that followed was punctuated only by the soft patter of blood rain, adding a macabre ambiance to the aftermath of Azrael's ruthless display.
"Ohh, it seems you're able to dodge. I still need to practice," Azrael said as he approached a female in a red dress.
"Wh-who are you!? I am a Divine King! You are just a Divine Human! How can you deal damage to me, and I can't even heal it!" The female in red questioned as she grasped the wound in her stomach, missing one arm.
Azrael chuckled, "Yes, I am a Divine Human, but I am also stronger than you."
Azrael then disappeared from her view, and suddenly her perspective shifted upside down before it rapidly rotated to the ground, rolling around. Her head was forcibly separated from her body, and her lifeless form fell, marking the end of her.
Azrael then took a deep breath, drawing upon the power of the moment.
"Those who dare to hunt, come to Werriazol Planet! I will personally usher you to your demise!!!" Azrael's voice thundered, resonating with a commanding presence that echoed throughout the dimensions, creating a grand and resounding proclamation. Waves of authority emanated from his words, invoking a mixture of fear, awe, and determination among those who heard his call. The very fabric of the Dimension seemed to vibrate with the weight of his declaration.
Crack!
"Not only that unreasonable elf but even some random guy is trying to disrespect me!!!" Gale Emperor's voice echoed throughout his palace. "Let's see, Werriazol Planet, is it." He focused all his attention and sent his senses there, searching throughout the planet. What he saw made him tremble—a man at the Divine Human Realm was looking at him with an oppressive aura. His danger sense and experience warned him: this man is dangerous!