Han Shuo had slaughtered a number of experts as soon as he appeared. Those he killed were not Salas' followers, but innocent bystanders who wanted to leave the dangerous area.
The seventeen flying swords whistled and took a dozen or more lives. Before the crowd could react, these innocent bystanders were reduced to bloody liquid. There was nothing left of them.
This was the first time Logue and Wasir had met Han Shuo. When they discovered that Han Shuo's strength was unfathomably great, they hesitated. Instead of immediately joining hands with Salas to attack Han Shuo, they just stood there gawping.
"Hello Bryan, long time no see. I have been relentlessly fighting Salas to keep your Pandemonium safe," Ossora said with a faint smile.
Han Shuo, who had been wearing a cold face since his appearance, finally noticed that the Pandemonium had only suffered minimal damage and his consciousness could sense the life aura of the Five Elite Zombies. Curling the corners of his lips, Han Shuo said to Ossora, "Thank you. I will remember this favour in my heart."
"You're welcome, it's no big deal," Ossora replied politely. In his mind, however, Ossora could not be happier. He thought that he had used Han Shuo's presence in the fringe to his advantage.
After Han Shuo had killed over a dozen of the spectators as a warning, not a single person dared to move an inch. They stared nervously at Han Shuo's majestic figure.
Logue and Wasir were unable to determine Han Shuo's true strength. They did not know if they should risk getting injured to help Salas fight Han Shuo.
"Oi! Logue! Wasir! What is the meaning of this!" Salas cursed as he saw Logue and Wasir not keeping their promises, "Where are your balls you sons of bitches?! All right, you don't have to fight him. Just keep him from escaping while I kill him!"
Salas thought that with Logue and Wasir preventing Han Shuo from escaping, he would be able to slaughter Han Shuo. With Han Shuo dead, Ossora would have no reason to defend the Pandemonium, and Salas could proceed with his destruction, saving what little was left of his reputation. Then, given some time to regain his strength, he could rebuild his sovereignty and eventually restore it to its former glory.
Han Shuo suddenly burst out laughing and said, "Cut the nonsense, Salas! I will not try to leave today. Hehe, but I wonder if you could do the same!"
Upon finishing these words, Han Shuo seemed to have instantly transformed into a demon from hell. A terrifying, sinister energy erupted from him. It was filled with ruthlessness, cruelty and the desire to end all existence.
The faces of Logue, Wasir and Ossora changed simultaneously. They stared at Han Shuo with great astonishment, as if they could not believe that this was the Bryan they had heard of.
All the gods in the vicinity were affected by the burst of sinister energy, especially those with just Midgod strengths. Their minds were overwhelmed by fear and they trembled. They were so frightened that they almost subconsciously kowtowed at Han Shuo.
Han Shuo at this moment seemed completely unstoppable, as though he was the Master of the Universe who could vaporize any being that displeased him with a snap of his fingers. All those Fringedwellers who came to watch suddenly had a strange suspicion – that Salas might lose to this outsider!
Logue and Wasir, after snapping out from their daze, turned to stare at Salas puzzlingly. They couldn't understand how Salas managed to force Han Shuo to flee from the Empyrean Peak. Based on the terrifying demeanor displayed by Han Shuo right now, they reckoned that Salas would unlikely win in an all-out fight against Han Shuo.
What in the world is going on?! shouted Logue and Wasir in their minds, but they couldn't get any answer.
Of all the Sovereigns, Ossora was perhaps the happiest at the moment for he realized that he had made the right bet. Although he did not know how Han Shuo could become such a terror all of a sudden, he knew that he had established himself as Han Shuo's friend. As long as he could remain united with Han Shuo, he would have no fear even if he was pitted against Tyre, the strongest of the lords.
And of the four, Salas had the hardest time accepting the new situation. He felt the terrifying sinister energy emanating from Han Shuo and realised that this was not the same Han Shuo he had last met on the Empyrean Peak. Back at the Empyrean Peak, Salas had sensed a power from Han Shuo that couldn't threaten him. This time, however, Salas sensed a power that could kill him!
"Tell me, Salas, who is going to die here?" Han Shuo raised his head to the sky and laughed in a mad, savage voice. He felt that his body was filled with an energy that could seemingly destroy everything. Having this unstoppable power coursing through his veins felt awesome.
Since Han Shuo had only recently entered the Skybreak Realm, he had yet to grasp most of the new techniques and profound ideas. And yet, the aura Han Shuo exuded was so catastrophic that everyone around him was terrified.
Salas' gloomy face seemed rather hesitant after hearing Han Shuo's provocation. Instead of rushing to attack like he usually would, he was acting much more cautiously.
He's bluffing, he must be bluffing! If he is as strong as he appears now, he wouldn't have escaped from the Empyrean Peak! This is not real! Salas repeated to himself in his mind, trying to make up for his lack of confidence. He glared at Han Shuo hatefully but did not attack.
"Hehe, Salas, are you feeling afraid?" mocked Han Shuo with a nasty grin before he said, "It's alright. If you are too afraid to make the first move, I'll help you!"
As he finished these words, the seventeen flying swords spiralled towards Salas with immense killing intent. The seventeen swords transformed into seventeen beams of light as they flew, before miraculously merging. The seventeen energies were focused into one.
Han Shuo had used the 'Deicide Slash', the second form of the Avici Godslaying Sword Formation, with ease. An immense aura of unstoppable power had locked onto Salas. Every defensive barrier he had hastily set up had been defeated. His lightning energy was easily dissipated by this radiance.
Salas could feel that his soul was trapped, that he could not hide from the great pillar of light, no matter where he ran. And the further he retreated, the more powerful the beam would become. Eventually he would be struck.
There were still several material planes filled with mortals who worshipped Salas. And at that moment, every last one of Salas' worshippers bled from every orifice as the power of faith was drained from their souls. All sentient life forms on those material planes were wiped out in a matter of moments.
The power of faith that Salas had drained from the billions of souls instantly travelled across light years and converged on him. Using the energy to gather the element of lightning, Salas formed a lightning shield above his head, intercepting the beam at the last possible moment.
An explosion of unprecedented size erupted. The earth cracked and two hills were instantly flattened. There was a blinding flash of light, followed by an incomparably loud boom!!!!!!!. It was as if the Apocalypse had arrived.
Apart from Logue, Wasir and Ossora, who possessed powers beyond those of a god, none of the spectators could see what had happened. The blinding light and deafening rumble had caused everyone to temporarily lose both sight and hearing. They could only sense their surroundings through their souls.
A long time later, the light finally faded and the dust settled.
Salas was panting heavily as he gazed at the indifferent Han Shuo. He said, "That will be all for today! But I'm not letting you go! Had I not just fought Ossora, you would have been dead by now!"
Then, before Han Shuo could say a word, Salas turned into a bolt of lightning and darted away. He vanished in an instant, leaving his followers around the Pandemonium.
However, Han Shuo continued to stand his ground, for he knew how difficult it was to pursue a fleeing Overgod expert with all his might. Furthermore. Rose, the Five Elite Zombies, and others happened to emerge from the underground at that time. In the presence of Sovereign Logue and Wasir, Han Shuo had to stay to ensure the safety of Pandemonium and his people.
Having come to their senses, the spectators still couldn't understand what had happened during the immense burst of light. They did, however, see Salas leave the area in a hurry. There was only one conclusion they could come to - Salas was afraid of Han Shuo!
Logue suddenly forced an awkward smile and said to Han Shuo, "Um... I just go where the crowds are. I have no intention of making enemies!" Having finished these words, he too hurried out of the pandemonium without waiting for an answer.
Wasir said nothing. He nodded to Han Shuo and left after Logue. They were gone in the blink of an eye.
"You may all leave now. I don't like having unfamiliar faces in my valley," Han Shuo said as he gestured to the spectators to leave immediately.
"Um, can, can we go too?" asked one of Salas' followers. They were still frightened.
"Go. I don't think you have a future under Salas. A sovereign who would abandon his followers and leave them to fend for themselves is not worthy of followers. Just go. I hold no grudge against you," Han Shuo said magnanimously. Han Shuo spared their lives simply because they were more useful alive than dead. After all, who better to spread the tale of his greatness than the survivors themselves?
All of Salas' followers bowed and thanked Han Shuo gratefully before hastily leaving the pandemonium.
***On a bald mountain some distance from the Pandemonium, a person stood. He said to himself, "Interesting, interesting. The Fringe has been peaceful for far too long. It's time to get chaotic!" As he finished, he vanished in a burst of destructive energy.