The declaration from Asher seemed to provoke the stormy sky further, as if the gods themselves were listening to his every word.
Gad had finally had enough. Impatiently, he raised his hand, pointing directly at Asher and his soldiers.
"Seize them!"
His voice thundered across the massed ranks behind him, echoing with authority.
At first, no one moved. The men around Gad exchanged nervous glances, fear vividly etched on their faces. The sheer intensity of the aura radiating from Asher made them hesitate. This wasn't the hero they had known—the one who always wore a smile, even in dire situations.
Standing before them now was no longer a beacon of hope but a cold, murderous ranker, ready to cut them down without hesitation.
His gaze alone told the story. He was prepared to fight back, without mercy or restraint. Gad had initially planned to exploit Asher's soft heart, believing the hero wouldn't dare harm ordinary citizens. But even Gad couldn't believe his eyes.
The Asher he had known his entire life—the man who despised bloodshed despite his immense strength—now radiated an aura so cold and filled with murderous intent that the night air felt sharper than the storm's wind. It was as if he intended to slaughter them all.
At that moment, Gad understood. Asher had cast aside his moral code for the sake of his family. Swallowing hard, Gad felt the weight of the brewing storm bearing down on him.
But he couldn't falter now. If he let the moment drag on, his army might lose its nerve, and such cowardice would disgrace both him and the empire.
Gathering every ounce of his resolve, Gad called out to Asher, his voice loud and commanding, hoping to rally his soldiers.
"Asher, do you really think that you alone—a mere Nine-Star Imperium Rank—can stand against thousands of us? Rankers of the Common and Imperium Ranks alike?"
The question sparked a ripple through the army. Murmurs spread among the ranks, and fear began to fade, replaced by growing confidence.
"He's just one man!"
"Even a hero's stamina has its limits!"
Chuckles turned into laughter, filling the air with mockery. Encouraged by this shift, Gad pressed on, his voice rising above the storm.
"This is the will of the gods! We are on the righteous path! The hero has turned against the heavens—he's no longer our savior, but a villain!"
The soldiers rallied behind his words. The fear of divine wrath was replaced by fanatic zeal. They were now fully convinced that they were fulfilling the gods' will.
Blinded by greed and a chance to claim a god-tier reward, the rankers' fanaticism ignited into a frenzy. Like beasts starved for blood, they awaited only Gad's command.
At the perfect moment, Gad raised his hand and shouted.
"Attack!"
A primal roar erupted from the ranks, and they surged forward like an unstoppable tide. Some glowed with mantra energy, others summoned beasts to their sides, while clerics cast buffs and mages unleashed long-range attacks.
As the enemy forces charged, Asher and his soldiers stood unmoving, statuesque. Dark, ominous expressions adorned their faces as they watched the oncoming wave of zealots.
The jeers and insults from their enemies struck harder than any blow, but the silent fury within Asher's ranks began to manifest. Tremendous mantra energy radiated from their bodies, burning with rage.
All they awaited now was their leader's command.
Asher's deep, unwavering voice cut through the chaos.
"Who are we!?"
The Wolven Warriors roared in unison, their voices filled with righteous fury:
"We are the Wolf Banes! We fight for the Alpha, for the pack, and for honor!"
The chant sent a shiver down the spines of the front-liners in Gad's army. The sudden, unified display of resolve from Asher's men made them falter, and doubt crept in.
Just as the two forces came within ten meters of each other, Asher moved.
His cold gaze remained fixed as a sword began materializing in his right hand, glowing with divine energy. In his left, a golden sphere of light erupted, forming into a shield that gleamed with honor and purpose.
Time seemed to slow.
The sword, known as World Breaker, radiated with mantra energy, vibrating with the intensity of living lightning. A Divine-grade artifact famed throughout the six mortal realms, it had been Asher's trusted weapon in countless heroic battles.
Without a word, Asher extended his blade, slashing it in a precise arc. The energy from the swing tore through the front lines of the oncoming army, leaving a path of utter destruction in its wake.
Armor, flesh, and steel alike were cleaved asunder. Dozens of men fell in a single stroke, their screams filling the night.
For a heartbeat, silence fell over the battlefield.
Then, Asher turned to his men, his face fierce with determination, and roared:
"Eat them alive!"
The wolvens, already energized by their leader's actions, sprang into motion as one. Each ranker radiated tremendous mantra energy that swelled around them like an approaching storm.
They charged into the enemy ranks with relentless speed, the clash of swords and the echo of spells reverberating across the battlefield.
In just thirty minutes, the air was heavy with the scent of blood and the desperate cries of men scrambling to defend themselves. Despite their smaller numbers, the wolven warriors began to dominate the battle. One by one, the enemy forces crumbled.
Gad, engrossed in the chaos, could only bear witness to the one-sided slaughter. Something was wrong. The wolven warriors were annihilating everything in their path like a pack of wolves on the hunt. Yet what made it truly horrifying was their leader, the Alpha of the pack—Asher.
With a few effortless swings of World Breaker, enemy rankers fell like paper under his devastating energy-blade attacks. Each strike tore through their defenses with raw, destructive force, over and over again. Truly deserving of the title "Humanity's Strongest," Asher's rank and class specialty as a Guardian, combined with his weapon, made him a near-impossible foe to contend with.
Not wanting to be outdone, Gad poured more mantra energy into his attacks, smashing down any wolven warrior in his path. As the battle raged on for nearly an hour, countless had fallen, a few barely clung to life, and the strongest on both sides fought relentlessly.
Amidst the carnage, a fated moment unfolded. Asher's gaze locked onto a familiar face in the crowd—a face twisted in a smug grin.
Gad.
The two froze, staring at each other across the field of death and devastation they had wrought. The sound of battle faded into the background as Gad met his brother's gaze. He was both startled and pleased by the encounter; he hadn't expected to face Asher so soon but welcomed the opportunity.
"Now I can cut you down with my own hands, brother. What perfect timing," Gad said, letting out a long, exaggerated sigh as he spread his arms wide, feigning disappointment.
"Ah, Asher," he murmured in a mocking tone.
"You know, I don't want to hurt you."
A smirk twisted Gad's lips as his eyes burned with determination. Slowly advancing toward Asher, he added with a biting edge...
"But I can't help it. Every time I see you, I get… annoyed."
Gad preparing to attack, stretched out his right hand covered in green aura, within his grip a miniature spinning hammer engulfed in green mantra energy materialized, gradually expanding into a massive war hammer—nearly as tall and heavy as the wielder.
Although not as renowned as World Breaker, it was a weapon of considerable fame in its own right.
This was an energy weapon, much like Asher's, but of a high-tier legacy-grade artifact. If Gad grew stronger, there was a chance his weapon could ascend to the divine grade, similar to World Breaker.
With a crazed expression, Gad pointed the war hammer at Asher, his body radiating a dark, violent green energy aura that pushed aside nearby warriors—friend and foe alike.
Gad was no longer an ordinary ranker; he wielded the power of the C-Rank stage, though he restrained himself from going all out just yet—just like Asher. In a mocking tone, he declared:
"This, brother, is Colossus. It's not the same weapon it used to be. As I grew stronger, it evolved from a mid-tier legacy-grade artifact into a high-tier one with new abilities." He paused, grinning wickedly.
"And soon, perhaps in just a few years, it'll ascend to a divine artifact with a soul-consciousness—just like World Breaker."
Asher responded with nothing more than a slight tilt of World Breaker, the weapon glowing with a radiant golden aura. He was clearly prepared to strike, uninterested in Gad's boasting.
Gad's rage flared at Asher's indifference.
He shouted desperately, "You won't even say anything, Asher?! I've trained every single day of my life just to catch up to you! And yet, no matter what I did, you were always ahead! You did so little, yet you were always stronger…" His voice trembled with anger and desperation.
"But now, I've ranked up to Imperium Rank, just like you! Even if I'm a few stars behind, I refuse to believe you can completely overwhelm me like before. I've grown stronger, and I'll make you acknowledge it!"
Asher, noticing the desperation in Gad's eyes, gave a faint smile. His golden gaze glinted under the moonlight as he raised World Breaker and pointed it at Gad, mimicking his brother's gesture.
"Show me, then," Asher said calmly.
"Show me how strong you've become. Show me how you'll defeat me here… Come on, brother. Show me."
Gad, now tasting his own medicine, burned with fury at Asher's smile and mockery.
Without hesitation, he raised Colossus high above his head, green mantra energy surging around him.
With all his might, Gad swung the hammer downward, releasing a devastating arc of green energy that tore through the battlefield toward Asher.
Asher's golden eyes reflected the incoming attack. Raising his left hand, he summoned a guardian shield glowing with energy. The barrier he projected successfully intercepted the strike.
Without a moment's pause, the brothers lunged at each other. World Breaker clashed against Colossus mid-air, creating shockwaves that rippled across the battlefield.
The sheer force of their impact split the ground beneath their feet, causing nearby rankers to stumble and shield themselves from the debris and dust flying around them.
The two warriors exchanged blow after blow, each clash sending tremors through the earth.
Mid-battle, Gad lifted his hammer and unleashed a skill. "Earth-Shattering Spikes!"
Slamming Colossus into the ground, green energy spikes erupted, surging toward Asher and cutting through nearby foes.
Asher reacted swiftly, sidestepping the attack and countering with rapid swings of his blade. Energy-wind blades tore through the air, obliterating Gad's spikes and overwhelming his offensive strike.
Meanwhile, the two rankers had captured the attention of everyone on the battlefield. All eyes were fixed on them as the spectators witnessed the intense exchange between the two relatives.
Back to the fight, it seemed Asher was being forced onto the defensive. Gad swung his hammer sideways, aiming for Asher's ribs, but with precise timing, Asher parried the attack with his shield. Using the absorbed force from the impact, Asher countered by slamming Gad in the face with his shield, taking advantage of Gad's inability to recover his hammer in time.
The strike sent Gad staggering backward as he struggled to regain his footing. After a few paces, he finally stopped a short distance from Asher. He touched his face and, upon lowering his hand, saw blood trickling from his nose.
"You bastard! I'll make you pay for that!"
Gad roared furiously, his pride wounded once again as he found himself faltering before Asher.
In a fit of frustration, Gad charged at Asher with increased speed and strength, relentlessly slamming his hammer in rapid succession. However, Asher effortlessly deflected the attacks using his Guardian Skill: Energy Barrier, shielding himself from the onslaught.
Behind the barrier, Asher watched Gad slowly unravel, smiling faintly as he taunted.
"Is that all you've got, Gad? Falling apart from a single strike? You really are simple-minded." To add insult to injury, he gave Gad a mocking thumbs-down gesture, further enraging his opponent.
Fueled by rage, Gad raised his hammer high, channeling a swirling tornado of green mantra energy above him. His voice thundered with fury, "I'll show you who the simple-minded one is, Asher!"
But this was exactly what Asher had anticipated. He knew Gad's desperation would lead him to use a high-powered technique. One critical flaw of artifacts below the Divine grade was the delay in activating their strongest abilities.
In that brief moment, Asher seized his opportunity. Dropping the energy barrier, he dashed forward. Before Gad could react, Asher twisted his blade and crouched low, delivering a devastating slash to Gad's side.
The impact sent Gad hurtling across the battlefield, his hammer slipping from his grasp and spinning in the air.
When the dust settled, Gad was barely standing, one hand clutching his abdomen tightly.
"He survived that?" one of the rankers murmured in disbelief.
It was true. Gad had narrowly avoided death. Realizing he couldn't dodge or block in time, Gad had abandoned his hammer and used his arms to defend himself. Luckily, his cosmetic armor absorbed some of the damage, but Asher's blade still cut deep.
The divine nature of Asher's weapon was undeniable. Without the unique Gladiator Skill: Defense Stance—a technique allowing gladiators to reduce incoming damage at the cost of attack power—Gad wouldn't have survived.
Gritting his teeth, Gad glared at Asher with one eye shut, barely standing upright. Relief came as a Cleric class ally of the 'Healer' specialty rushed to his aid, using healing abilities to restore his stamina and mend his wounds.
Asher watched calmly, unshaken by the intervention. He broke the silence with a measured voice.
"I know you're holding back. Even fighting at this level of the common rank, you're still too weak. If you don't go all out, the next opportunity I get might cost you your life."
Despite the pain, Gad smirked, his confidence gradually returning as the healer's magic took effect. He stretched out his hand, keeping his eyes locked on Asher.
"I'll take the loss for this round," he admitted. "But now, it's time to get serious."
With that, the spinning war hammer flew back into Gad's grasp. Gripping it tightly with both hands, he stood upright and slammed the posterior edge of the hammer into the ground.
A suffocating surge of green mantra energy erupted from his body, spiraling violently into the sky.
The clouds above turned a sickly green as lightning crackled through the air. The energy radiated like a storm, climbing higher into the heavens and bathing the battlefield in an eerie, otherworldly glow.
Asher stood quietly, observing Gad's ascension. It wasn't just him—everyone else on the battlefield watched in surprise, murmuring in awe.
"That…that aura mark is definitely the Imperium Rank. What terrifying power," one ranker muttered, sweat trickling down his face.
"I've only ever heard of the Imperium Rank but never seen it. So this is how powerful an Imperium-ranker truly is…" another whispered, barely audible.
"He's not just an Imperium-ranker—he's at the Seven-Star Imperium Rank. No wonder his presence feels so oppressive," a third ranker added, his tone laced with disbelief.
Through it all, Asher stood silently, arms crossed, his eyes fixed on Gad.
The aura exuding from Gad completely engulfed him as he floated just above the ground. Slowly, his body began to transform. The green mantra energy coiled around his legs, solidifying into thick, plate-like armor. It climbed up his torso, forming a dense, layered chestplate radiating raw power.
Piece by piece, the energy molded itself over him, crawling up his arms, encasing his shoulders, until finally, a helmet materialized around his head. Moments later, it turned translucent, leaving Gad's face visible.
Asher allowed a faint smile to curl his lips, his thoughts racing.
𝑆𝑜 ℎ𝑒'𝑠 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑔𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑜𝑢𝑡. 𝐴 𝑠𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛-𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑠 𝐼𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑢𝑚 𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 — 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ℎ𝑒'𝑠 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑑 𝑎 𝑐𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑎𝑤𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑙𝑙 ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑏𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝑏𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑟𝑡𝑦 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡. 𝑊𝑒𝑙𝑙, 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑜𝑟—
But Asher's musings were abruptly cut off when Gad's energy spiked again. Behind Gad, faint wisps of energy began to materialize. Thin tendrils of green light unfurled from his back like ghostly wings.
The tendrils thickened and stretched outward, expanding into massive, spectral feathers. These were his Astral Plumes—translucent, shimmering wings of pure mantra energy that allowed him to soar effortlessly into the sky.
The plumes radiated an intense light, their hypnotic flow making them seem alive. They cast an ethereal glow over Gad, who now resembled a green-armored phantom against the storm-darkened sky.
Asher, visibly impressed, noted the manifestation of Gad's mantra energy into Astral Plumes. This was a hallmark of Imperium-ranked experts, a symbol of their mastery over their energy.
"So… Gad really has reached Imperium Rank. And not just that—Seven Stars," one of the wolven warriors murmured.
"Only rankers of this caliber can summon Astral Plumes or channel mantra into armor this potent," another replied, their voice tinged with awe at Gad's transformation.
Hovering in the air, Gad finally turned his gaze downward, locking eyes with Asher. A mocking smirk spread across his face as he taunted, asking how Asher felt about his newfound power and daring him to transform, claiming the next round would be one-sided.
Asher merely smiled back. Without a word, he began to let his own energy flow. A radiant golden aura spiraled upward, piercing the stormy clouds in stark contrast to Gad's green energy.
With calm confidence, Asher replied, "Don't misunderstand, Gad. Even now, with your fully awakened class, Seven-Star Imperium Rank, and gladiator specialty, I still don't need to transform."
But Asher had no intention of staying on the ground.
In one smooth motion, he summoned his own Astral Plumes. Golden and radiant, the ethereal wings unfurled behind him, lifting him effortlessly until he floated at Gad's height.
Below, the remaining rankers stared in awe. Their gazes were fixed on the two hovering warriors, their glowing plumes illuminating the battlefield like celestial beacons.
"They look like gods…" a woman whispered, her voice trembling with admiration as she watched, eyes sparkling.
Gad's face flushed with rage.
"You arrogant fool!"
In a flash, Gad lunged forward, his hammer raised high. The air around him rippled as he swung down, aiming for Asher with all his might.
Asher moved to meet him, his sword brimming with mantra as he parried the blow. The impact was explosive—a clash of green and gold, sending a shockwave that shook the battlefield below.
Gad, furious at Asher's words, shouted:
"You arrogant fool! Underestimating me will be your downfall!"
Asher, unfazed, raised his sword and pointed it at Gad, his expression serious. This time, he made the first move.
In an instant, Asher vanished and reappeared above Gad, who reacted instinctively, swinging his hammer upward. Their weapons clashed mid-strike, sending a shockwave through the air.
Gad stepped back, visibly surprised. Tightening his grip on his war hammer, he poured mantra energy into it continuously—a strategy Asher found absurd.
Seizing the moment, Asher launched multiple energy blades, but Gad unleashed the true form of Colossus. Burning like molten lava, the war hammer transformed, radiating fiery energy. With a sudden swing, Gad caught Asher off guard, sending him crashing into the ground. The impact created a massive crater, shrouding the area in dust and debris.
Wasting no time, Gad raised his molten hammer and thrust it skyward.
A fiery beam shot into the clouds, creating a swirling vortex of flames. Hovering in the air, Gad held his hammer high and shouted:
"I told you, Asher! Underestimating me would be your greatest mistake. And look at you—already down in less than an hour!"
He smirked.
"If you value your life, transform and face me as an equal! I want to defeat you at your best. Otherwise, I'll unleash my ultimate technique—the Blazing Gladiator."
The fiery aura surrounding Gad blazed like the sun, dimming the moon's light. Yet there was no movement from the crater. For a moment, even Gad began to wonder if Asher had truly been defeated.
But then, a silhouette emerged through the haze of dust and debris, silencing the battlefield.
Asher smirked as he wiped dirt from his face. Without a word, he ascended once more.
Gad, taunting him with a mocking gaze, asked, "Still refusing to transform? Do you really think you can beat me in this state?"
For the first time, Asher gripped his sword with both hands. The weapon began to radiate immense mantra energy, causing Gad to tense.
Realizing the threat, Gad unleashed his ultimate technique.
"The Blazing Phoenix Gladiator!"
Pointing his hammer at Asher, Gad summoned a colossal phoenix from the vortex above. The fiery creature screeched, its radiant wings illuminating the battlefield before merging with Colossus. Now, the hammer brimmed with the raw power of the phoenix. With a powerful swing, Gad hurled a blazing wave of energy toward Asher.
Asher, watching the fiery attack hurtling toward him, channeled his own power into World Breaker. The sword crackled with divine lightning as a beam shot skyward, forming a vortex from which a massive lightning dragon emerged.
The dragon coiled around Asher with grace, its roar echoing across the battlefield. It surged into World Breaker, amplifying the sword's power.
Asher shouted, "Divine Judgment!"
With a devastating thrust, he unleashed a bolt of lightning toward Gad's phoenix attack.
The two forces collided in a blinding explosion, shaking the heavens and throwing both warriors backward. Regaining his footing quickly, Asher flew toward Gad, who was still spiraling away from the impact, his massive energy armor slowing him down.
Taking advantage of Gad's momentary vulnerability, Asher appeared directly in front of him.
"What? You—!" Gad began, but Asher cut him off.
Raising World Breaker high with both hands, Asher stared down at Gad and said coldly:
"Overestimating yourself is also your greatest weakness."
With that, Asher delivered a cataclysmic strike, sending Gad plummeting to the ground like a meteor. The impact shattered mountains, and lava erupted from the earth in the aftermath of the destruction.
Asher descended toward the crater, hovering just above it. He saw Gad, battered and broken, his once-imposing energy armor cracking and falling apart.
"What's the matter, Gad? Is this all you've got?"
Gad slowly lifted himself from the rubble. This was the second time he had nearly lost his life, and it felt as though Asher was deliberately letting him live. He was being toyed with.
"How? How is this possible...? After everything I've done, yet somehow, you're still stronger than me, even when we fought at the same level," Gad stammered.
He paused and looked at Asher, terrified.
"What are you? What trick are you using? This must be a trick... Yes, it can't be possible!"
Now Gad seemed to be losing his mind, clearly conflicted about what was happening. Though, in a way, he was right—it was strange. Both of them were fighting at their peak.
Although Asher was a Nine-Star Imperium Rank and Gad was only at the Seven-Star Imperium Rank, Gad had compensated for the gap by using class awakening to boost his power by a staggering thirty percent. That should have been enough to overcome the two-level difference. Yet somehow, through it all, Asher stood there, unharmed—not even a scratch on him.
Furious, Gad yelled, "You're not human! You're a monster! I thought the blessings of the gods were on my side... How wrong I was. But…"
Though broken and clearly injured, Gad summoned all his strength and charged toward Asher, who had just landed before him.
Asher observed Gad approaching with a clenched fist, visibly aiming for his face. He didn't bother to move, as Gad's speed was now laughably slow.
"Even now, you won't give up, huh? What a fool."
Asher muttered, sighing as he stared straight into
Gad's greedy eyes. He stood prepared to take Gad's punch head-on, knowing it wouldn't cause him any harm—not even to a regular human in this state.
But it was a decoy. A faint, evil smirk spread across Gad's face, making Asher instantly alert—too late.
Gad's clenched fist suddenly opened, revealing a small, gleaming crystal. Without hesitation, Gad crushed it.
A surge of mantra energy exploded around them, forming golden lines that traced intricate patterns in the air. In moments, a massive barrier took shape, enclosing them in an entrapping array. The array floated, lifting the two of them and cutting them off from the rest of the battlefield, trapping them in the dark sky.
Asher, surprised, turned his focus back to Gad, who was overjoyed at having tricked him.
"This is your last resort? You've fallen that low, huh?" Asher asked in disappointment.
But Gad placed a hand over his face and, with a sinister grin, began to laugh. Looking down at Asher again, he gestured toward the battlefield below.
"Do you really think I came here unprepared?" Gad asked, his voice brimming with confidence.
"My instincts told me something wasn't right about you. Even though I was confident in my strength, I still had my doubts."
He paused, lowering his hand to his chin as he studied Asher, who remained silent but visibly puzzled by this sudden move.
"In the human continent, it's rare to see anyone in the Mystic Rank or Ancient Rank. It's even uncommon to encounter a demi-god; ranker who's achieved Semi-Divine Rank but I know they exist in secrecy and the world knows such monsters exist. Yet here you are, proclaimed the strongest ranker. Something doesn't add up."
Gad stretched his arms wide, thumping his chest as he shouted.
"You are a false ranker!"
False rankers were individuals who concealed their true level or rank to deceive others or gain certain advantages. They were especially dangerous, as they often appeared weaker than they truly were, like predators lying in wait.
Asher, visibly confused, asked what Gad meant and how it related to his current stunt.
With confidence, Gad gestured to the battlefield once more.
"Don't you find it strange that all those rankers I brought with me—soldiers from different empires—don't include their strongest prodigies? Shouldn't they have sent their best warriors to capture Lady Helle?"
Now that Gad had spilled the truth, Asher began piecing it together. He glanced at Gad, then at the barrier, recalling how Gad had single-handedly led an army of rankers from various empires.
"No empire would let an outsider lead them so easily...unless you made an agreement to use this entire battle as a distraction,"
Asher concluded, suspiciously staring at Gad.
"Checkmate!"
Gad laughed mockingly, taunting Asher to pay attention to the battlefield below.
"You're about to witness the downfall of your army and the capture of your wife."
At that moment, a small light shot into the dark sky, glowing like a signal fire.
On the main battlefield, the rankers continued their intense clash. At that point, the Wolven Warriors had undoubtedly proven their valor.
However, the fire flare caught the attention of one of Asher's generals, his armor drenched in blood from the carnage. He looked up and murmured grimly to himself.
"This can't be good."
Acting quickly, he ordered the war drums to signal the Wolven Warriors to retreat, but it was too late.
As the warriors heard the drums and began to fall back, a powerful silhouette cloaked in a blue aura descended from the sky, landing with an impact that sent shockwaves through their ranks.
Within moments, other silhouettes, radiating diverse auras, followed, their heavy landings catching the attention of everyone on the battlefield.
At the forefront stood Lysander, the Spartan prodigy from the Sparta Empire—a formidable early-stage Imperium Ranker clad in gleaming Spartan armor.
Next was Pericles of the Indigean Empire, a two-star Imperium Ranker. A bard by class, his presence alone shifted the tides of the battlefield.
Adeimantus, the geomancer from Corinth, conjured massive earthen pillars and launched them into the fray, crushing anyone who dared approach. He was a peak-stage Common Ranker.
Then came Androcleides, a heavy-tank specialist from Theones, renowned for his staggering strength and skill. His three-star Imperium Rank aura radiated power as he joined the fight.
Accompanying them were Hyperbolus and Tisamenus, both Imperium-ranked spearmen from the empires of Megara and Argoz. Together, they formed a deadly formation, unleashing synchronized attacks with devastating precision.
The overwhelming presence of these prodigies struck fear into the Wolven Warriors, who trembled at the realization that the weakest among them was a peak-stage Common Ranker.
The morale of the enemy soldiers soared as they cheered for their princes, the prodigies of their respective empires, who had finally joined the battle.
Without hesitation, the prodigies, their eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure, swung into action. Within minutes, they began massacring the Wolven Warriors, who fell like prey to predators. Nearly half of them lay lifeless, their blood soaking the battlefield, as the enemy soldiers roared in triumph.
From above, Asher witnessed the horror unfolding below. His men were falling one by one, and he was trapped within the array, helpless to intervene.
Desperation clawed at him as he slashed at the barrier with all his might, but the array's defenses were crafted to withstand the attacks of Mystic rankers and below. As an Imperium Ranker, Asher's strength was insufficient to break it.
Behind him, Gad watched in delight, his joy uncontainable as he reveled in Asher's desperation.
"You might as well give up," Gad taunted.
"The prodigies will be finished with your warriors soon, and they'll head straight for the fortress."
He paused, a cruel grin stretching across his face.
"You'll never make it in time."
Asher's fury surged. Gripping his sword tightly, he began to emit a suffocating wave of mantra energy, the air inside the barrier growing heavy with his rage.
Images of his wife, his children, and his comrades flashed before his eyes. The thought of them vulnerable against the prodigies ignited a storm within him.
Gad, unfazed, continued to mock him.
"Is this the best you've got, Asher? Go on, show me your rage. Pour it all out on me. You'll see them again… in the afterlife."
Meanwhile, on the battlefield, the Wolven Warriors had been all but wiped out. Only a handful remained, clinging desperately to life, their hope resting on the belief that their hero would come to save them.
Despite their bravery, their strength was fading.
When all seemed lost, a blinding force erupted in the sky, its radiance piercing the dark night like a reborn sun.
The prodigies halted, their faces contorted with concern. Whatever it was, they knew it wasn't good.
Inside the Wolven Fortress, Abaddon watched the radiant light above the battlefield with wide, terrified eyes. Clutching his chest, he whispered anxiously.
"Mother… will Father be alright?"
Helle knelt beside him, brushing his hair gently, her voice calm but firm.
"Your father will be fine," she assured him.
Belladon, the elder sibling, scolded Abaddon, urging him to think positively.
"Nothing can happen to Father," Belladon declared with confidence.
Helle wrapped her arms around both children, her warmth shielding them from fear. Despite her serene demeanor, her eyes betrayed the concern she felt as she sensed the enormous energy surging on the battlefield.
Smiling softly, she whispered, "Your father is the strongest there is. He's faced worse… he'll come back."
Around them, maids, cooks, and other non-combatants huddled together, their voices trembling as they murmured prayers to the gods, pleading for mercy and protection.
But on the battlefield, mercy was nowhere to be found.
Back on the battlefield, the prodigies, pressured by the strange energy, felt the urgency to accelerate their plans.
Standing in a loose formation, their armor soaked with blood and sweat, Lysander, the Spartan, turned to glance at the others, who also felt the oppressive nature of the force.
"I don't know about you guys, but whoever's producing such power isn't an ally, that's for sure. We'd better leave these common warriors behind and head straight for the real fight."
"I agree with Lysander."
Another prodigy added.
"Let's strike fast, take down the fortress, and end this. If the hero is the source of this energy, we'll be annihilated for sure."
Pericles and Adeimantus, who were already ahead of the others, began advancing toward the fortress.
Then, in an instant, the energy fluctuations exploded, freezing all the prodigies in fear. Above them, a thick, devastating swirling vortex shattered the barrier.
It was Asher, exuding an immense power. He was no longer holding back. For eons, he'd restrained himself, keeping his strength buried. But not anymore.
As if that wasn't enough, he let out a war cry that reverberated across the atmosphere, its echoes crossing the boundaries of nearby empires and instilling fear in the hearts of all who heard it.
Asher's power continued to rise without limits. Though he was at the Imperium Rank, the energy he radiated reached the realms of Mystics, a level far beyond.
This suffocating ocean of energy forced everyone below to their knees. It was oppressive and raw.
Gad could only look on in terror and panic, stumbling backward as his heartbeat thundered in his chest.
"What... what are you?"
His voice broke with fear as he finally saw Asher undergoing his class awakening.
Just as with Gad before, golden mantra radiated from Asher's form, encasing him completely. A golden armor materialized across his body, piece by radiant piece, like molten light sculpted into divine form.
Then, two enormous golden Astral Plumes erupted from his back—wings of pure energy, spanning outward with terrifying, immeasurable power. Even the prodigies knew they were in way over their heads.
Fully transformed, Asher now bore six golden Astral Plumes behind him, resembling a celestial warrior. His golden armor, combined with his radiant smile, made him stand out as a true Guardian-Class Warrior of legendary status.
Below, the warriors could only stare, paralyzed by awe and dread.
"Is this... real?" one whispered, trembling.
"This is something out of legend... six Plumes and such power..."
Back in the fortress, Abaddon and Belladon clung to their mother, their eyes fixed on the golden aura illuminating the battlefield. It revealed their father.
Belladon turned to her mother, her curious and sharp mind already at work.
"Mother, something isn't right about Father. A ranker can only summon one Astral Plume, but Father has six. And his power—it's far beyond the limit of an Imperium ranker. What's going on?"
Helle's gaze remained on Asher in the distance as she answered her daughter.
"There's something few people know."
She began, looking down at her children.
"As we all know, what sets a ranker apart from a non-ranker—or a normal human—is one thing: the presence of a soul-ore."
Abaddon and Belladon stared up at her, wide-eyed, hanging on her every word.
"When you're born with a soul-ore, it means you're a ranker. The ore draws in mantra energy from birth, storing it within and allowing the body to use it. This is why rankers can harness mantra while normal humans cannot. And there are two types."
She raised her fingers, counting them off.
"The green soul-ore and the blue soul-ore. A green soul-ore can store immense amounts of mantra energy, and those who possess it often ascend into the mage class and its related branches, capable of casting powerful spells, alchemy, and healing."
Abaddon nodded slowly.
"So that's why mages have so much magic..."
"Exactly,"
Helle replied.
"And the blue soul-ore, with its limited storage, constantly releases mantra energy into the body instead. This is why warriors and combat class rankers have strong bodies and heightened physical abilities—far stronger than mages. But there's another type of soul-ore."
Belladon frowned visibly confused.
"But, Mother, you've always said there were only two types of soul-ores."
A faint smile touched Helle's lips.
"That's what most believe. But in truth... there's a third."
Both children gasped, staring at her in shock and awe.
"It's called the golden soul-ore."
She paused, letting the gravity of her words sink in before continuing.
"It's incredibly rare—only one is born every million years. A ranker with a golden soul-ore possesses the storage capacity of a mage and the endurance of a warrior. Infinite storage, rapid energy adaptation... and unmatched power."
Belladon's mouth fell open.
"You mean... Father has this?"
Helle nodded.
"Yes. A golden soul-ore marks someone destined to change the world. They are born heroes. The gods themselves call these beings legendary rankers. And your father... he's the one in this era."
Abaddon and Belladon exchanged stunned glances at the revelation.
Back on the battlefield, Asher was ready to strike. The first thing he did after awakening was drive his knee into Gad's gut, sending his cousin flying far beyond the battlefield's perimeter.
It seemed Asher didn't want to annihilate Gad completely. Turning his gaze to the prodigies and their surviving allies, he saw the massacre of his men.
"You... you'll all pay for that."
The prodigies and the remaining enemies below looked up in horror as Asher raised World Breaker toward the sky.
He roared.
"Third Guardian Technique: World Purification!"
A golden beam shot upward, splitting the clouds as the ground beneath trembled violently.
With an intense, furious cry, he swung his sword down toward the enemy.
The technique, World Purification, unleashed a blazing golden arc across the battlefield, tearing through the enemy ranks like a tidal wave of fury.
In a single, decisive strike, Asher obliterated everything below. The ground became a scorched trail of light, leaving devastation in its wake.
The prodigies, unlike the rest, managed to survive the attack with only faint injuries. Yet, across their faces, one expression was clear: absolute fear of the hero and the reason he was hailed as the strongest ranker.
Asher, seeing they had survived, gripped his sword tightly, then launched himself toward them like a meteor.