Bang!
A gigantic explosion of sand and dust rose at the inner area of the city gates when Gustavo's attack landed on it. The soldiers that had been in the way had either jumped away, or were either killed or grievously injured by the attack.
Gustavo's blood boiled within his veins and a red mist began to hover over his skin, giving him an even scarier look. His body spun as he unleashed another powerful attack. This time, the city gate was shattered into pieces, falling down and crashing into the sandy ground.
"Go!" He roared as the automobile sped past him. He could only catch a glance of Eugene's face bent down. He was unable to see his features clearly, but it did not take a sage to know that the young master was shedding tears.
'Forgive this selfish decision of mine, Eugene.' He sighed in his heart before turning back to the furious soldiers that were just getting back on their feet. The whites of his eyes had turned blood red and dark veins wriggled under his exposed skin.
At this time, the soldiers were beginning to get back up. Several powerful auras flared around Gustavo and he prepared himself for a fight to the death. Four 4-star warriors brandished their weapons that ranged from swords to spears. There were dozens of lower ranked warriors among the soldiers that had manned the gate.
No words were exchanged between either side as the warriors joined their strength to attack Gustavo. However, they were met with an unexpected fury and force to his attacks that suppressed them entirely.
"What?! How???" The strongest of the four of them was shocked. His eyes gradually widened as he saw how easily and effortlessly Gustavo unleashed his qi to repel and fight back against dozens of people at once.
Normally, only 4-star warriors that were close to the boundary that separated them from Masters would be able to unleash their qi externally. It was already public knowledge that Gustavo was at that level. However, even still, the normal him should have been overwhelmed by now. Not even by burning away his own lifeforce should he have been able to withstand all these attacks.
'Impossible! He could not have advanced to Master here!!!'
Indeed! It was just as he thought! Deny it as he may, there was nothing his denial could do to refute the fact that Gustavo had advanced to a 5-star warrior! He had become a Master!
Unfortunately, this feeling was just short lived. Even with all that, Gustavo was still rapidly burning away his lifeforce to ensure that Eugene would be able to get away. This would be the last thing he could do on Eugene's behalf.
"COME! MEET MY BLADE!" Gustavo roared, his aura swelling and exploding. The Masters that were on the side of Tahan were stunned when they felt this aura. They were currently held back at the orders of the king, but they felt a strong urge to go and confront such a powerful threat.
Gustavo held nothing back as he unleashed a storm of attacks onto the soldiers. His powerful will flared and created a heavy pressure that pressed down on the minds of all those weaker than himself. Wherever he swung his blade, a powerful qi manifestation would be released, slicing through the earth and destroying any property that was close by.
Because of the way he utilized his qi, in a way that burnt up his lifeforce without an reserve, his qi also took on the same quality, turning into a corrosive element that burnt up anything that it came in contact with.
Screams of soldiers in pain and the silence of death rang altogether as one. Loud in the ears of those not even present.
Several Masters had already moved out and were rapidly closing in on the city walls. Hazzan had finally given out the order for them to move out.
Gustavo stood, his arms trembling ever so slightly. All around him, the soldiers were either badly injured, or had fearful expressions on their faces as they beheld the monster that he was. His eyes narrowed when he felt a powerful aura zero in on him. He tilted his head just as an invisible force flashed by his head, slicing open a small cut on his cheek and allowing his blood that had turned into a dark red to trickle down.
"Want to deal with me so you can get to my young master? Think again." He said and spread his legs slightly. The muscles in his lower body began to bunch up as a tremendous amount of power was condensed in his legs.
BOOM!
The earth beneath him exploded as Gustavo's body vanished from the spot. He appeared on the rooftop of a building not too far from the wall where a shocked 5-star Master was. The man had been completely taken aback because his technique had actually made him invisible!
Knowing that his cover was already broken, the Master quickly used his qi to condense a white cloud underneath his feet while canceling out the technique that had made him turn invisible. His body was exposed, revealing a middle aged man in white robes. His hair was white and some wrinkles could be seen on his face.
"You damn bastard! You killed our men!" The middle aged man cursed as he distanced himself from Gustavo.
"I did not tell you to chase after me and my young master! You despicable scum stabbed us in the back first! After all these years of peaceful cooperation!" Gustavo spoke back as he tried to keep close to the white haired man. However, it was hard. The man was as evasive as the wind itself, and he was able to dodge most of Gustavo's attacks. The rest of the attacks were warded off by the man's thin sword.
Just as Gustavo was getting ready to unleash a powerful attack, he felt a blade stab into his back and pierce through him.
"Urgh!" He grunted as blood pooled in the back of his throat. The man he had been chasing faded away like smoke in the wind while the same person appeared behind Gustavo, holding the sword that was stabbed through his chest.
"You do not know the depth of my power. You have only just advanced, and yet you wish to fight me? Naïve fool." The man pulled out his sword and let Gustavo's body drop down and fall onto a rooftop.
Gustavo laid on the rooftop, unable to move his body. Blood pooled beneath him and his vision grew hazy. He could see multiple figures appear around him as the other Masters that had come to the city walls arrived. They were saying something, but his ears were filled with static.
'Young... Master... Please, survive...'
With those words, Gustavo drew his final breath.