Rustle!

The leaves of the tenacious World tree, the only surviving tree in the battlefield danced to the tune of death as the emperor was forced into a corner.

The thick forest surrounding the mountain was now a desert, a testament of the terrifying effects of the stupendous astral energy that was expended today.

Today, the peak of God Mountain seemed as bright as the sun.

Afterall, it was the battlefield for the battle of fate.

Despite being backed into a corner, the Fate Destroying Emperor had a constant smirk on his face as he proudly faced his pursuers.

He was an old man with eyebrows that were carved like sharp daggers, with straight combed long white beards that stretched all the way to his waist.

His flowy long white hair blew in the wind, seemingly as a reflection of his wild personality even as his predatory eyes gleamed with excitement.

He held a long gray staff with a white orb at its tip as his weapon.

"Muahahaha…!" He cackled with confidence.

"I love this…!" He roared.

"The thrill of battle at the highest level, the excitement and blood rush as astral energy run through my veins, the goosebumps, the thrill of putting your life on the line…, this is the joy of a warrior!" He laughed maniacally.

"This is why I became a traveler…!" He stared excitedly at his pursuers.

Standing before him were 9 of the strongest astral travelers in the world.

They were part of the strongest astral travelers because, well, the Fate Destroying Emperor was the strongest in the world.

Gustas Impetus, a Giant of a man with short brown hair and a physique that could put the most famous bodybuilders to shame led the assault against the criminal from the front. 

Wearing only a pair of blue jean shorts whose bottom ends were tattered, his ripped upper body was left naked, showcasing his specialty as a physical fighter.

His fists were his weapons.

Iyana Olenor, a slim lady with snake-like eyes and long flowing white hair that fit her luxurious purple robes led the assault from the right flank even as she held a long staff that was extremely similar to the one that the Fate Destroying Emperor wielded.

Like him, she was a mage.

Radyn, a determined gray-haired man on tattered sack clothes led the assault from the left flank even as lightning and electricity crackled round his fit body.

Tyrak, a red-haired man with fire moving all around his body.

Hywell, the youngest of the 9. He was a golden-haired handsome young man with 2 swords on his hands.

Odenne, the famous Puppet Emperor. This old woman with wrinkled face had scattered spiky black hair like a witch, her scarlet eyes supported this belief even further as she glared with unwavering attention at their target.

Around her, puppets with terrifying astral energy hovered.

Brie, the purple-haired mage like the Fate Destroying Emperor also wielded a staff even as terrifying wind blew around her, inducing a powerful hurricane. 

Cirris, a slim man with white eyes and white hair with handsome facial features, also this era's wielder of the Psychic Calamity heavenly restriction hovered in the air even as terrifying astral energy circulated around him.

Gul, a dwarf with immense physical power wielding a powerful hammer completed the line-up of warriors assaulting the Fate Destroying Emperor.

It was 12 hours already since the battle started in God Mountain.

Despite facing 9 of the strongest astral travelers in the world, having announced the battle to the whole world, the Fate Destroying Emperor sacrificed a whole lot of his astral energy to broadcast it to the world.

This was through his special ability, conjuring the Fate Crystal that broadcasted the battle in God Mountain to the whole world.

Despite this handicap, he fought against his 9 assaulters fiercely.

People around the world watched with different intents.

Billions wanted him dead, perhaps some wanted him to live…

This old man didn't care though, he was the Fate Destroying Emperor!

"Muahahaha…!" He cackled maniacally as he fought against them.

After 12 hours of constant fighting against these 9 geniuses, paired with his handicap through the Fate Crystal, his astral energy started being depleted.

The Fate Destroying Emperor started being pushed to a corner.

Yet, he had a constant grin of excitement on his face.

"Hahahaha…!" He laughed loudly after receiving another deadly punch from Gustas even as his thick skin for a mage withstood it.

Then, staring at them excitedly, he finally did it.

"Self-Created Ultimate Ability: Destroyed Fate; Altered Reality!"

As soon as they noticed the rapid swell in his depleting astral energy, all 9 of his assaulters reacted but they were not fast enough to leave before it triggered.

BZZZT! 

Terrifying astral energy blasted out of the staff of this Emperor.

The skies could not withstand it as a large crack opened up in the sky the next moment even as space and time seemed to be torn apart.

For a brief moment, it was like the world was coming to an end.

Then…

BOOMMMM!

"…!" 

Silence reigned across the whole world.

The aftermath left all the viewers of the broadcast in shock.

There stood 9 of the strongest astral travelers in the world, barely standing while gasping for breath even as blood flowed from their mouths and nose.

As for the Fate Destroying Emperor, blood also flowed from his nose but it still didn't manage to wipe off the grin away from his face.

His stance never wavered once as he landed and stood on the peak of God Mountain, his back standing as straight as a sword pointing to heaven, then he addressed the whole world.

"I am the strongest in the world".

"I am the Emperor".

"I am the wielder of the Heavenly Restriction, Fate Destroyer".

"I am the Fate Destroying Emperor!"

"Even in my old age," He smirked. "No one can defeat me".

"But it is boring when you already achieved everything, from fame to riches, power and there is no one to challenge you anymore".

"The so-called astral authorities claim to keep the peace in the world, but who cares about peace in a world of astral travelers?"

"This is a world of violence!" He grinned.

"Astral travelers…, we thrive in violence".

"This is why I want to leave an inheritance".

"Astral travelers…!" The eyes of this old man gleamed mischievously as he stared at the Fate Crystal even as his 9 opponents' eyes widened in desperation.

He ignored them and continued and they dared not go on the attack. 

"From a young age, I embarked on the path of power and I accomplished my goal, becoming the strongest".

"During my journey, I met powerful magical beasts, I fought Ancient Dragons, I fought Krakens, and I prevailed against them all, and I also got to the end of the world". His eyes twinkled as he said this.

"There, I found the ultimate treasure of astral travelers".

"The treasure befitting of the King of astral travelers".

"I shall die today".

"I'm old now and the world is boring, my wish is for a more exciting world. I want to place my belief on the younger generation to take the mantle and birth the new King of astral travelers".

"Hehe…," He grinned.

"Fight, evolve, become the strongest, then get to the end of the world to get my ultimate treasure".

"This is my test".

After his speech, with a mischievous smile on his face, the Fate Destroying Emperor raised his staff and pointed it at himself.

Terrifying astral energy gathered at its tip even as the whole world watched.

"Granting our wish is one of fate's saddest jokes".

He laughed. "I believe in fate".

"I am the Fate Destroying Emperor!"

BOOM!

The Fate Destroying Emperor died…, no one could kill him so he killed himself.