The area around Harry was now an unrecognizable wasteland. The battle had left its mark, as trees lay shattered, their trunks splintered and scattered like matchsticks. The mountain that had once loomed in the distance had collapsed into jagged rubble, its grandeur reduced to ruin. The air was heavy with the smell of charred wood and crushed earth, the remnants of a clash that could have leveled an entire district.
Harry surveyed the devastation, his sharp gaze lingering on the destruction. 'It's a good thing this was out in the wilderness,' he thought. If the fight had taken place within the boundaries of Malian City, the chaos would have surely drawn the attention of other members of the Black Council. He didn't doubt for a second that the Council had more than one Elder stationed there. From the intelligence he had gathered, there were at least four Elders within their ranks. The question remained: 'How many are currently in Malian City?'
With no time to dwell on it, Harry acted quickly. He bound the old man's lifeless body, his movements careful and deliberate. Even in death, the Elder's body radiated a faint aura of power. Slinging the unconscious George over one shoulder and securing the Elder's corpse with his other hand, Harry set off at a brisk pace toward the Red Bird Martial Arts Dojo.
The night was still thick with shadows, and the city streets were mercifully empty. Harry's silhouette moved like a phantom through the quiet alleys, his steps measured but swift. He smirked faintly to himself. 'Carrying two bodies in broad daylight would certainly raise some questions.'
---
When Harry finally returned to his room at the Red Bird Martial Arts Dojo, he exhaled softly, the weight of his prizes now a comforting presence. The room was just as he had left it; simple, spartan, with little more than the necessities. In the center stood a stone table, its surface faintly glowing with an otherworldly light. Veins of energy pulsed through it, ancient and mysterious, as though the table itself were alive.
Setting George down first, Harry placed the body on the glowing stone. He stepped back, his eyes narrowing as he observed the ritual beginning to take form. The table's glow intensified, its light growing richer and warmer as the room filled with a low, resonant hum. Harry could feel the pull of energy as it began to draw life force from George's body.
A surge of vitality coursed through Harry almost immediately, flooding his veins with warmth. His wounds, inflicted during his brutal fight with the Elder, healed as though they had never existed. The lingering aches and hidden injuries from countless battles evaporated in an instant.
"This feeling…" he murmured, his voice low, almost reverent. His entire body felt rejuvenated, his strength renewed. Though the infusion of life force was modest; George had been a powerful fighter, but not extraordinary, it was enough to make a difference.
Harry clenched his fists experimentally, feeling the enhanced strength coursing through him. 'A small gain, but satisfying nonetheless.'
He turned his attention to the real prize.
---
Harry's eyes gleamed as they fell on the Elder's body. To him, this was no mere corpse, it was a treasure, a once-in-a-lifetime bounty. The Elder's vitality, even in death, was immense. If George's sacrifice had been the appetizer, this was the main course.
Lifting the Elder's body with care, Harry placed it on the stone table, positioning it precisely within the glowing veins of energy. He took a deep breath, centering himself as he activated the ritual once more.
The reaction was immediate and overwhelming. The table pulsed with blinding light, the hum rising into a deep, resonant vibration that shook the room. The life force began to flow, slow at first but quickly building into a torrent. It surged into Harry like a flood, waves of energy pouring through his body with such intensity that he almost cried out.
He clenched his teeth, forcing himself to remain silent as the power threatened to overwhelm him. The vitality of the Elder was unlike anything he had ever experienced; vast, untamed, and rich. Harry's body felt as though it were expanding, his very cells brimming with energy. Every fiber of his being screamed with raw strength as the life force intertwined with his own.
---
As the ritual continued, Harry could feel the transformation within him. His strength, once hovering near the peak of knight-level fighters, surged forward. The gap between potential and mastery closed, and he could feel himself reaching that elusive summit. And then, as the energy continued to pour in, he surpassed it.
Bang! Bang!
Within Harry's chest, he felt it; something shifting, something awakening. It was as though a seed within him had been struck by lightning, bursting to life with newfound vigor. The pulse of his life energy beat stronger, deeper, resonating with the transformation taking place.
Sitting cross-legged, Harry focused inward, his will sharp as a blade. He guided the energy with precision, weaving it into the core of his being. His breathing slowed, controlled and steady, as he molded the power to his will. The excess vitality coursed through him, not just healing and strengthening but refining, reshaping his very essence.
When the ritual finally ended, the room fell silent. The glow of the stone table dimmed, its power spent. Harry rose slowly to his feet, his movements fluid and effortless. The weight of the transformation settled into him like a second skin; familiar, yet entirely new.
---
Harry glanced down at the Elder's now-drained body. The once-mighty warrior was nothing more than an empty vessel, his vitality entirely consumed. Harry nudged the corpse with his foot, his expression indifferent. "You served your purpose well."
Turning toward the window, Harry looked out at the night sky. The stars glittered above, silent witnesses to his ascension. He felt the newfound power coursing through him, steady and unyielding.
"On to the next stage," he muttered, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips. For Harry, this was only the beginning.
After that day, Harry, as the deputy head of the Red Bird Martial Arts Dojo, ordered most of the students of the Red Bird Martial Arts Dojo to leave Malian City.
This order is mandatory, and all students of the Red Bird Martial Arts Dojo must obey it.
Most people didn't understand this, but still did as they were told.
At this point, most of the people in the Red Bird Martial Arts Dojo had left, except for a few people including Harry.
After most of the others had left, Harry stopped hiding his identity.
As the deputy head of the Red Bird Martial Arts Dojo, he openly rebelled against the Black Council and called on all fighters in the city of Malian to join forces and drive the Black Council out of the city.
In a short period of time, he and his men breached several strongholds of the Black Council, and most of the Black Council members lost their lives.
In a short time, Harry's reputation became soaring that he became a banner of resistance against the atrocities of the Black Council.
At his call, fighters from all over the city of Malian took action and began to attack the Black Council.
Bang!
A crisp explosion sounded.
Not far away, houses collapsed one after another, and tall buildings were instantly shattered and fell down.
A large number of members of the Black Council, wearing black robes and masks on their faces, were slaughtered and fell to the ground, turning into corpses.
"Damn it!"
In the chaos, Howard took the remaining people away from the place.
He looked at the chaos behind him, and at the familiar figure that could be vaguely seen in the ruins, and couldn't help but curse inwardly: "Mad dog!"
"Is he crazy? Why is he picking on us?"
Howard was a little puzzled.
In recent days, Harry has been leading people from all over to attack the Black Council's strongholds. In just half a month, he has killed countless of them.
He looked like he had some deep hatred with the Black Council. Every day he did nothing else but frantically looking for trouble with the Black Council, as if he was determined to fight to the death.
In fact, it is because there is enough motivation.
Harry has discovered that the more he goes against the Black Council and the more Black Council members he kills, the more world energy he can obtain.
After figuring this out, the enthusiasm will naturally be maximized.
But in the eyes of those who were not in the know, it seemed as if he had a deep hatred with the Black Council.
"Maybe the guy who pretended to be us did something again?"
The young man at the side thought for a moment and guessed, "I heard that guy did a lot of things pretending to be our Black Council."
"Many core members of various forces were forcibly captured by that guy, and some of them might be from the Red Bird Martial Arts Dojo."
"That's a lunatic too."
Speaking of the man who had pretended to be them, Howard was also full of resentment: "He obviously has such terrifying strength, why did he pretend to be us?"
"have no idea."
The young man sighed and expressed his incomprehension. "But what's the point of not being able to figure it out? We can't beat him anyway."
"Even the Third Elder has been defeated by him."
Speaking of the Third Elder, Howard immediately became discouraged.
After that night, they had completely given up the idea of seeking revenge on that person.
Even their elders were no match for that man, so what were they, the little guys?
If they went to seek revenge, they would probably just be killed.