The explosion that rocked out seemed to shake the very fabric of reality itself.
For a moment there was complete silence, like the world was trying to mourn for its creations.
And then...
"BOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!"
There was a point blank blast, that occurred at the point of contact, where the two skills met.
This was the true strength of their most condensed energies. But the explosion wasn't the only thing that blasted out.
At first it seemed like a little flame, but that flame grew into an inferno that blasted upwards like fireworks announcing its presence to the world.
And then the flames spread outwards, at the beginning it seemed like it could be contained within their domains.
But soon even their domains combined together couldn't stop the Flames.
These violet runic Flames spread out of the domains, and continued stretching till it encompassed the entire valley.
But the Flames didn't seem to be satisfied with just that, and so they spread the more till it even encompassed the Hage village, and it's environs, turning everything it met into ash.
It was at this moment the villagers were even more glad that they had been evacuated on time, or else they might have met a terrible end.
The crowd of spectators were so stunned that it took them a few minutes to even get a sliver of composure.
And then they erupted into a huge cheer, they were so excited that their voices almost seemed as loud as the explosion that had occurred.
They chattererd amongst themselves, discussing the epitome of the last battle...
"Oh my God, did you see that?!!!"
"My Oh my, this battle sure is an eye opener."
"What the hell is wrong with this people"
"It's truly a curse being born in the same generation of such monsters"
"It can also be a blessing too, at least we get to experience their legends"
"Wait, they're only in the Spirit Sea Realm right??"
"Yeah, so what?"
"That explosion, do you think someone in the early stages of the Sea Expansion Realm could survive that?"
"Yeah, that's true, I don't think anyone could, only genius as monsterous as them could survive that"
"But, what do you think happened to them?"
"Yeah, who won the battle?"
The crowds chatted amongst themselves as they waited for huge Flames around the battlefield to die down.
And soon enough something strange happened, the Flames that surrounded everywhere, they started retreating backwards to the source.
And it didn't take long before they were absorbed back into the body of a person.
This person was clothed in violet colored runic battle robes, with hoods covering his identity, there were huge, violet colored runic flame wings sprouting out from his shoulder blades.
The wings were about a hundred meters in wingspan, and they flapped with gently behind him.
His back was straightened, and he stood erect in midair gazing downwards at the world below him.
When they all saw him The crowd erupted in awe-inspired whispers, recognizing the emergence of a new force called the Exodus Order.
Even the powerhouses among them were moved as they nodded their heads in approval.
"It's seemed as if they never needed our help"
"That's very certainly so"
"They have done very well after all"
"I have a feeling, this leader of theirs was holding back"
"What?!!. A battle like that an she was still holding back?"
"Yeah, how is that possible"
"Well it's just a hunch, Is all."
"But if he was truly holding back, that goes to show that the Eye Of The Midnight Sun is in for a serious trouble."
"I guess you're right"
"So do we approach them?"
"Let's wait and see a while"
While they were still chatting amongst themselves, three figures broke out of the group and headed towards the battle field, and genuflected in reverence and declaration.
"Lord Zero!!!!"
These people were naturally Aildris and Henrycus of the Nexus Primes and Zidane of course.
The moment these three went out, it caused a chain reaction as the rest of the Exodus Order also matched forward and genuflected while declaring.
"Lord Zero!!!!!!!!!"
Vin who was still in the air gazing a particular direction, turned his attention to the members of his Order and nodded at them with a faint smile on his lips.
"You have all done very well everyone, I couldn't be any more prouder" Vin was truly proud and happy at that moment as he reeled in a sense of accomplishment.
This mission could at this point be considered a job well done.
After a while, Vin returned his attention back to where he had been gazing before, then he took a step and blinked out, appearing in the far left corner of the base towards the west.
There standing among the rumbles was a figure who was all battered and bloodied.
Vin landed on the ground as he pulled back his wings in, now he was standing face to face with this person, and they stared at each other in silence for a while until the other decided to break it.
"You held back in that last attack, why?" Archon asked as he looked straight at Vin.
"Because of I didn't, you'd be dead by now" Vin replied.
"You think I'd be dead if you didn't hold back?" Archon laughed in self mockery.
"I don't think Archon, I know" Vin stated matter-of-factly "I might as well let you know that since I'm hiding my true identity, I'd only used half of my skills which amounted to only about half of my combat strength"
When Archon heard these words his eyes widened in surprise as he almost couldn't wrap his head around it.
"From the very beginning, I never stood a chance, did I?" Archon asked in self derision, he felt it was incredulous.
"Do not belittle yourself Archon, I have a feeling you still have something up your sleeves too" Vin stated with a faint smile.
But Archon didn't answer to that, giving a silent approval.
"Now then, would you like to join the Exodus Order. Archon?" Vin asked
"It would be an honor, Lord Zero" Archon said as he genuflected as a show of subservience.
But Vin helped him up immediately "First of all, just call me Zero, and second there's no need for any formalities between us" Vin stated.
"So what do you plan to do now?" Archon asked.
"We've already secured the important files and rescued the hostages, so we'll be returning to the base now." Vin replied.
"You're trying to build an army out of those kids right?" Archon asked as looked in direction of the crowds.
"It's for a good cause, they have nowhere to return to, I want the Exodus Order to be a home for them" Vin replied as he followed his eyes.
"Well then if you're not in a hurry, I think we need to make a quick stop at a city not too far from here" Archon said as he raised his head at a certain direction towards the west.
"What's happening there?" Vin asked as he tilted his head in confusion.
"There's something awaiting us there"
"Which is??"
"An army!"
Vin was surprised at that, as he wasn't expecting it. He nodded his head in approval.
"Do we need the others?" Vin asked as he looked at the members of the Exodus Order, who had already gathered together with the rest of the kids and researchers.
"There wouldn't be any need for that, it's just a small containment, besides they have just come out of an exhausting battle, let them get some rest" Archon said.
"Very well then" Vin stated, then he held Archon's shoulders and blinked away appearing a while later in front of the others.
The moment he appeared there, Zidane took a step forward immediately and said with a bow "Lord Zero"
"Zidane?!" Vin nodded at her. Zidane raised her head to look at him but didn't immediately speak, as she took a glance at the rest of the crowd.
Vin understood, and he raised his hands and snapped his fingers while muttering.
"Celestial Authority ~ Neptune's Protection"
A large amount of concentrated violet colored runic flame symbols condensed around them like a small world. The world encompassed everyone one of them, including the researchers and the other kids.
"You can speak now" Vin ordered
"Lord Zero, they have all agreed to join the Exodus Order, I already have an idea on where to place them all. I only seek your approval on granting them their tokens." Zidane said with her head bowed.
"There will be no need for that for now" Vin stated "We first of all need to make a quick stop in another base"
"We're going for another battle?" Aildris asked.
"You all won't be fighting, your job this time will just be a rescue mission, only the both of us will be fighting this time" Vin said indicating towards both him and Archon.
"Are we going to tell them anything?" Henrycus asked as he indicated towards the curious crowd.
But Vin shook his head and said "There will be no need for that, let's go"
Then he muttered.
"Celestial Authority ~ Hermes Celeration"
The small world surrounding them flashed in a violet light, and blinked away, vanishing with all of them.
**********