Zero, his voice firm, gave the command. "Here goes. Be careful, Kiana." With a wave of his hand, the portal surged forward, enveloping Kiana as she was carried towards their location at astonishing speed.
Orion, ensconced in his shadowy domain, caught sight of Kiana as she materialized through the portal. His sinister gaze honed in on her presence, his eyes narrowing as he assessed this new addition to the battlefield.
A cruel smile played upon Orion's lips as he regarded Kiana with a mixture of curiosity and disdain. His voice, laced with mockery, echoed throughout the domain. "Ah, a new challenger has arrived. Welcome to my domain."
Kiana, her voice steady and filled with confidence, met Orion's gaze with determination. "Your domain and your army can't scare me, Shadow Emperor. I've faced far greater threats than you."
Kiana's hand glowed with intense light, and with a fluid motion, she dispatched the vast army of undead that had been giving Behemoth such a hard time. The undead creatures crumbled and vanished, their fearsome forms disappearing under the onslaught of her light magic.
Kiana, her moves swift and precise, closed the distance to Orion in a matter of seconds, positioning herself directly in front of the Shadow Emperor. Her eyes locked onto his, her expression resolute and fearless.
Orion, a hint of perspiration on his forehead, found himself face-to-face with Kiana. His eyes narrowed, a mixture of surprise and wariness in his gaze. "Impressive. You're faster than I expected."
Orion, his composure shaken, mentioned the presence of Rai amidst the chaos. "You may be powerful, but you forget one thing. Even if I fall, there is still Rai... and his Divine Ascending. Remember that."
The mention of Rai and his divine plan added an extra layer of urgency to the already tense situation. The existence of an uncertain power, the Divine Ascending, cast an ominous shadow over the battlefield. Kiana's determination sharpened, knowing that the stakes were now even higher than before.
Behemoth, rising from the chaos, roared loudly, a smirk playing on his face. He spoke up, his voice full of resolve. "If even Rai is ascended and spreads chaos towards the Xuē Island, our lord Kanji will surely come. He will not tolerate such actions."
The mention of Kanji's potential involvement added a chilling undertone to the confrontation. The idea that Kanji, their powerful lord, would personally intervene if things escalated any further imbued the situation with a greater sense of gravity.
Zero, his tone confident, scoffed at the mention of Kanji's potential involvement. "No need to worry about lord Kanji. We're handling this. We'll put an end to Orion's reign, and we don't need our lord's intervention for that."
Kiana, her hand transformed into a blade of concentrated light, struck with incredible speed and precision. The blade pierced through Orion, ending his reign of terror. Before his demise, Orion managed to utter his final words, "B-Beyond Ranker?" The surprise and realization in his voice hinting at a recognition of Kiana's extraordinary abilities.
The realm of Shadow Domain, which had been wrapped around them like a menacing shroud, began to shudder and crumble, its power unraveling. The world around them shifted, and they found themselves no longer in the chaotic domain but back in the cold and quiet cave where everything had started.
The atmosphere in the cave palpably shifted as Rai stood before them, his form having undergone a monumental transformation. His once familiar features were now infused with an otherworldly aura, his hair glowing red with an ethereal energy. Molten, golden lava eyes blazed with newfound power, reflecting the immense power coursing through his being.
Kiana, her tone laced with mockery, spoke up. "So, you're an ascended being now, are you? Doesn't seem like much compared to what the legends say about the God of Strength."
The mockery in Kiana's voice was evident, hinting at her disbelief of Rai's newfound power. Her words carried a sense of mockery, suggesting that his ascension fell short of the expectations set by the legends.
Zero, standing beside Kiana, echoed her sentiments with a smirk. "Yeah, I expected something a bit more impressive from the legendary God of Strength. Seems like you haven't really lived up to the hype."
Zero, his smirk growing wider, chimed in, joining Kiana in mocking Rai's supposed transformation. He shared her skepticism, suggesting that Rai's ascension hadn't quite lived up to their expectations.
Rai, his laughter carrying an ominous undertone, confirmed Kiana's mockery. "You're right. I no longer possess the title of God of Strength. I have transcended those limited confines."
A sinister smile spread across Rai's face as he declared his newfound status. "Your mockery is misplaced. I have surpassed my previous title. I have now transcended to the level of God of Chaos."
Before Behemoth could join in the mockery, Rai unleashed an explosive charge, unleashing a torrent of icy energy that engulfed the depths of the cave. The icy blast spread throughout the cave land, freezing everything in its path.
Zero, Behemoth, and Kiana, having been outside the cave, observed the aftermath from a distance. They witnessed the devastating effect of Rai's attack as the cave and surrounding area succumbed to a frigid freeze, the icy blast spreading like a silent conqueror.
Rai, his gaze fixed on Zero, Behemoth, and Kiana, smiled sinisterly. His eyes held an ominous gleam as he assessed their reactions to his power. He exuded a sense of malevolent confidence, evidently relishing the fear and awe he inspired on their faces.
Amidst the chaotic, Zero, observant and sharp-witted, pondered the situation. As he observed the sheer power and intensity of Rai's attack, he wondered if the God of Strength had indeed reached the ranks of a Beyonder.
"Behemoth," he called out to his companion, his voice steady despite the frenzy of the fight, "I'm beginning to think Rai has indeed ascended to the ranks of a Beyonder. His power is undeniable."
Behemoth, his attention also focused on the unfolding situation, nodded in agreement. "You might be right, Zero. The sheer intensity and power he's displaying, it's unlike anything we've faced before. He's definitely reached a new level of strength."
Kiana, her determination evident in her expression, spoke up. "If Rai really is at the same Rank as me, perhaps it's time to put that theory to the test."
The confidence in Kiana's voice was unwavering. Her desire to challenge Rai and test her own limits shone through her words. Zero and Behemoth, sensing the resolute determination in her voice, exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of concern and support.
Kiana, her swiftness and agility on full display, dashed towards Rai, closing the distance between them in the blink of an eye. She engaged in close combat, her attacks precise and relentless, testing Rai's abilities and defenses.
Rai, his eyes glimmering with newfound power, couldn't help but laugh aloud as he felt the limits of his ascension being shattered. The battle had pushed him to greater heights, and he reveled in the newfound strength coursing through his veins.
"You fools," he chuckled, his voice booming, "You have no idea what you're dealing with now. I've transcended the confines of mere Godhood. I am beyond your comprehension now."
Rai, his voice booming with an unnatural resonance, spoke with unbridled confidence. He smirked, relishing the feeling of his newfound power. "You underestimate me," he declared, his eyes gleaming with an otherworldly glow. "I am no longer bound by the limitations of your understanding. I have become something far greater, exceeding the realms of mere gods."
Kiana, undeterred by Rai's boastful words, reminded herself that not all gods were equivalent in power. Some gods were weaker than other ranks, like legendary rankers. She maintained her focus and resilience, prepared to confront Rai despite his claims of transcendence.
Kiana, her voice filled with determination, posed a question to Rai. "You claim to be the God of Chaos now. What's the point of bringing chaos to the world? Do you seek to spread destruction and despair?"
The inquiry hung in the air as Kiana waited for Rai's response. She wondered whether his newfound powers were driven by some deep-seated desire to sow chaos and disorder, or if there was a deeper, more convoluted motive behind his actions.
Rai, facing Kiana, responded to her question. "Chaos is the natural order of things," he declared, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. "The world is too complacent, too orderly. I am here to remind everyone that change is inevitable and that chaos is the true essence of existence."
Rai's tone shifted as he mentioned Kanji, a hint of frustration and resentment evident in his voice. "One of the reasons for my actions is because of Kanji," he said, his eyes narrowing. "I'm one of six unique gods sent to defeat and seal him away. But instead, I was the one who got sealed."
Kiana, her voice steady and resolute, spoke up and asked a direct question. "Is your intention here to kill lord Kanji?"
The weight of the question hung in the air as Kiana waited for Rai's response. She knew that the answer could have far-reaching implications, affecting not only their current conflict but the fate of the world itself.
Rai's gaze seethed with a mixture of anger and determination. His single-minded goal at that moment was to seek revenge against Kanji. However, the thought flickered in his mind, a hint of doubt as he pondered if he could actually prevail against the Nightmare of many In history.
~Next chapter "The Nightmare Disciple Vs the Victim"