Wood had always thought that the Nine-Headed Dragon, the guardian of the mobile labyrinth, was one of the strongest beings in this world.
But upon meeting Orsted, the Dragon God, Wood finally understood what it meant to face true, overwhelming power.
When they encountered the Nine-Headed Dragon, it had only brought a sense of danger. However, standing before Orsted, Wood felt an intense and primal fear. The sheer aura emanating from Orsted's body was enough to induce a sense of helplessness in them, without him even needing to lift a finger.
What was more terrifying was how this man and woman had appeared before them. Not just Rudeus and Eris, but even Wood and Ruijerd, hadn't noticed their approach.
Wood had honed his Observation Haki, which allowed him to predict danger. Ruijerd's red gemstone on his forehead could sense life forms within several hundred meters. Yet neither of them had detected Orsted and his companion. This left only two possibilities: either their strength far exceeded that of Wood and Ruijerd, or they had instantly teleported within range.
"Dragon God Orsted..."
Ruijerd, being a member of the Demon race and having lived for centuries, immediately recognized the significance of the figure standing before them. He knew at once who this was.
"He must be passing through," Ruijerd whispered. "Let's act like nothing is wrong and quietly leave. This isn't someone we can handle."
If it had been any of the other members of the Seven Great World Powers, with their current formation, Wood and the others might have stood a chance.
But this was Dragon God Orsted. The chances of victory weren't just slim—they were almost nonexistent.
Whenever Orsted used the Dragon Tribe's secret reincarnation technique to reset the timeline, it consumed a vast amount of his mana, leaving him less than at full power. Yet even in his weakened state, Orsted remained one of the strongest beings in existence.
To put it bluntly, aside from Technique God Laplace and the Battle God, the other members of the Seven Great World Powers were not on the same level as Orsted.
"He's just passing through? It doesn't feel like it. From the moment he arrived, I've felt his gaze locked onto me and Rudeus, filled with hostility," Wood remarked, his sharp instincts picking up on the Dragon God's intent.
Ruijerd believed that someone like Orsted would have no reason to notice nobodies like them. But Wood was sure of it—Orsted's animosity was specifically directed toward him and Rudeus. It wasn't that Eris, Ruijerd, or even the Magic Wolf King had been disregarded by Orsted; they simply weren't the target of his attention.
Wood, a seasoned swordsman, could sense danger keenly, and right now, Orsted's gaze made every fiber of his being tremble with fear. This was the strongest presence he had ever encountered—there was no contest. Just looking Orsted in the eye made Wood feel as though resistance was futile.
At this moment, Wood was the only one in their group who could meet Orsted's gaze. Even Ruijerd, despite his strength, dared not look directly at the Dragon God. It was an instinctual respect and fear for an overwhelmingly powerful being.
"Rudeus, did you mess with someone's wife or daughter again without me knowing?" Wood muttered, eyeing the masked girl standing next to Orsted. Though she was draped in a large cloak, her figure suggested that she was a young woman.
Wood knew Rudeus well. Inheriting Paul's "talents" and even surpassing them, Wood's first thought was that Rudeus had somehow caused trouble again, and now the girl's "guardian" had come seeking vengeance. And because Wood happened to share Rudeus' face, he was dragged into the situation as well.
Ever since they were young, Wood had frequently taken the fall for things Rudeus had done simply because they looked alike.
"Pfft—hahaha! Did he just mistake me for your daughter or wife?" The girl beside Orsted burst into laughter upon hearing Wood's accusation.
Compared to the laughing girl, Orsted's face had turned completely black with anger. The mighty Dragon God—mistaken for an avenging parent—was an insult he hadn't anticipated.
"I didn't do anything! Don't just accuse me like that!" Rudeus protested. "Sure, she looks like she could be a beautiful girl, but I've been stuck on the Demon Continent this whole time. Where would I find the time or opportunity to get involved with someone?"
He quickly added, "That's the Dragon God, Orsted. We just killed a bunch of flying dragons. If he's angry about that, I wouldn't be surprised."
While flying dragons were considered the lowest form of dragonkind, Orsted clearly wouldn't care about such trivial matters.
The reason Orsted had taken an interest in them was simple: both Wood and Rudeus were covered in a thick aura of the "Human God."
The intense presence of the Human God on them made it obvious, even if Wood and Rudeus weren't direct followers, they were definitely linked to him.
Better to strike first than let them go. Orsted didn't care about verifying their identities. The fact that they reeked of the Human God's influence was reason enough for him to act.
With just a gesture of his hand, an invisible shockwave—a force akin to an air cannon—was sent hurtling toward Wood and Rudeus.
The attack was invisible, and it moved so fast that even Ruijerd and Rudeus, one of its targets, didn't have time to react.
But Wood, thanks to his enhanced Observation Haki, sensed the danger immediately. His body moved instinctively.
Without warning, Wood kicked Rudeus, sending him flying several meters away.
Rudeus, dazed and confused, was about to yell at Wood when he felt an immense pressure rush past where he had just been standing. Wood, who had taken the brunt of the attack, was sent flying through the air, his body skidding across the icy ground for dozens of meters before smashing through several thick ice rocks.
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P/S: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 400+ at p@treon.com/Betek (@->a)