Chapter 40: The Weight of Heaven's Judgment
The aftermath of Kayode's explosive strike left the battlefield in a stunned silence. His spear cut through the air with devastating precision, and the shockwaves reverberated throughout the region. Yet, despite the destruction, the Divine Ascension cultivator—the figure who had once seemed like an unstoppable force—was still standing.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, but his eyes burned with a cold fury, undeterred by the blow. He had underestimated Kayode's power, but now, he was ready to show just what it meant to be in the Divine Ascension realm.
"You dare defy me?" The Divine Ascension cultivator's voice was a low growl, filled with pure malice. His energy surged, rippling outward in waves that distorted the air itself. His aura intensified, a terrifying, crushing weight that threatened to engulf everything in its path.
Kayode's body trembled as the pressure bore down on him. His Nascent Soul pulsed with power, and his bloodline energy surged in response, but even with his vast reserves of strength, he felt himself being drawn into a crushing vortex of power. The air around him became thick with oppressive energy, and every step he took felt like wading through mud. The bloodlines within him screamed for release, but even they were struggling against the force that was overwhelming him.
Oba, perched on a nearby rock, hissed in frustration. "You've got to be kidding me," he muttered, his golden eyes narrowing. "How is this possible? You've broken through to Nascent Soul… and yet, this guy is still able to suppress you?"
Kayode's spear wavered in his hand as the Divine Ascension cultivator's full strength descended upon him like a mountain. The cultivator lifted his hand, and the earth beneath Kayode cracked, as if the very land itself was rebelling against him.
"You are nothing more than a child playing with fire," the Divine Ascension cultivator sneered. "Even with the power of your Nascent Soul, you are still no match for the divine might of the Ascension realm. Feel the weight of heaven's judgment!"
Kayode struggled, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His bloodlines fought to rise up, to shatter the pressure around him, but the Divine Ascension cultivator's power was too immense. The pressure intensified, pushing down on him from all sides. His body began to ache, his internal organs crushed by the overwhelming force. The Heaven Dao's True Eye above him flickered, its light dimming as if struggling to resist the suffocating weight of the Ascension cultivator's might.
"You are weak," the cultivator taunted, stepping forward with unyielding confidence. "Your little tricks won't save you now. All of this power, and yet you are nothing but a speck before me."
Kayode's chest tightened as his knees buckled under the pressure. His Nascent Soul flickered uneasily within his body, and for a brief moment, he feared he might lose control. His bloodline energies struggled to rise but were stifled, suppressed beneath the crushing might of the cultivator's aura.
Oba's voice sounded through the chaos, tinged with a rare seriousness. "Kayode, don't back down. You've come too far to let this scum defeat you. You know what you have to do."
Kayode's mind raced. His thoughts were muddled, his body on the verge of collapse, but there was a fire burning within him. This wasn't the end. Not yet. He had survived worse, endured impossible odds, and now was the time to stand tall.
With a grunt of effort, he began to circulate his Qi, forcing his Nascent Soul to fight back against the suppression. His bloodlines roared within him, a chorus of beasts and ancient powers, and the Heaven Dao's True Eye flickered once again, its light pulsing with renewed vigor. Kayode's body shook as he pushed himself further, ignoring the pain, ignoring the suffocating pressure.
The Divine Ascension cultivator's smile faltered for a moment. He hadn't expected this resistance. His eyes narrowed as he raised his other hand, focusing all his energy into one final, world-shaking attack. "You don't know when to quit, do you? Let me end this now!"
With a thunderous roar, the cultivator unleashed a wave of energy that could have shattered mountains. The air crackled with violent power, and the very sky seemed to tremble under the force. Kayode's eyes went wide as the full brunt of the attack came crashing down toward him.
For a moment, everything seemed to slow. Kayode's vision blurred, and his heart thundered in his chest. But then, something within him snapped. He couldn't let this be the end. Not when he had come so far.
His bloodline surged to the forefront, all of his absorbed powers converging within him. The beasts, the spirits, the divine entities—every fragment of strength he had devoured and assimilated awoke with a primal fury. Kayode's Nascent Soul thrummed with life, its energy vibrating in harmony with the storm of power around him.
His spear, still gripped tightly in his hand, began to hum with energy, its tip glowing with the combined power of his bloodlines and the will to survive. He focused all his Qi, all his resolve, into that single point.
And then, he struck.
With a blinding flash of light, the wave of energy collided with Kayode's spear. The force of the impact sent a shockwave across the battlefield, scattering the cultivators and beasts alike, but Kayode held firm. The spear resisted the full might of the Divine Ascension cultivator's attack, the two forces colliding in a maelstrom of power.
The Heaven Dao's True Eye flared to life, shining with divine brilliance, and for the first time, Kayode felt the full extent of his power. His Nascent Soul expanded, rippling with energy, his bloodline evolving further. He could feel the very foundations of the world tremble around him.
The Divine Ascension cultivator's eyes widened in disbelief as the tides of power began to shift. Kayode's spear cut through his attack, deflecting the force and sending a wave of energy back toward the cultivator.
"You… impossible…" the cultivator whispered, his confidence shattered.
But Kayode was already moving, his body now fully attuned to the immense power coursing through him. He would not stop until his enemies were eradicated.
The battle was far from over, but the tide had turned.
To Be Continued...