Within the vast basin, scorched into glass, tens of thousands of purgatory-level monsters exuded malice so palpable it felt tangible.
The black aura was the product of countless souls screaming in the utmost agony.
Under Theodore's power, at the cost of countless souls of his own kind, he had created this legion of over ten thousand second-tier purgatory-level beings.
As life tiers advanced, the affinity between flesh and energy grew increasingly potent.
And it was only upon advancing to the second tier that this affinity underwent a qualitative transformation.
The physical body could switch freely between an energized state and a corporeal form. Beyond possessing greater energy,
it became exceedingly difficult for anything in this world to kill a second-tier existence.
Moreover, the energized body had already begun to shed the limitations of lifespan.
The age limit of the physical body could no longer constrain second-tier powerhouses.
Unless the soul itself withered with age, second-tier beings could achieve immortality.
Yet, in reality, ninety-nine percent of all races could never cross the threshold of energization throughout their entire lives, remaining trapped in their physical forms, helplessly awaiting the great cycle of death.
Chen Luo, during his previous battle with Ulquiorra, had, between life and death, stepped onto the threshold of complete energization through the metamorphosis of his vital energy.
However, that vital energy energization was a special attribute derived from the race's foundational skill, "Vital Energy Martial Way," when his vital energy reached 100 points.
The energization of the second tier, on the other hand, was a natural boon bestowed upon every living being upon transcending their life tier.
In a sense, the race's foundational skill had allowed Chen Luo to experience a portion of second-tier power prematurely.
This was why Chen Luo could crush Ulquiorra, who was also a first-tier abyssal level, after advancing to the abyssal level himself.
In essence, combat power evaluation was a measure of strength among different existences within the same life tier.
Life tier, however, was the more fundamental aspect.
...
The black aura continuously coiled and condensed upon the skeletal bodies. On every bone of each skeleton,
crimson eyeballs suddenly sprouted. These eyes fixed upon Chen Luo, their gazes filled with venom and hatred.
Due to the residual shockwaves from the colossal fist attack, the smoke and clouds generated by the sky's nuclear explosion had completely dissipated.
Under the midday sun,
these bizarre and terrifying skeletal remains were immediately discovered by satellites in orbit.
In the supreme command center,
the image on the central display screen abruptly changed, and the terrifying visuals of the skeletal figures appeared on the screen.
Those intently observing the battlefield, upon seeing the images of the skeletons,
*Hum...*
As if an invisible wave swept through the room, everyone froze as if petrified.
【You have observed image data of "Skeletal Remains of Dead Grudges (Purgatory Level)". Fear judgment in progress!!】
Even though the satellites in space observed the images of these skeletal remains of dead grudges and then transmitted them as electrical signals to the display screen,
everyone present was forcibly subjected to the system's judgment.
The strong, even through secondary transmission of mere appearance or sound, were unbearable existences for the weak.
*Hum!*
Zhuge Yun's expression suddenly cleared, but when he saw the vacant stares of others, his expression drastically changed:
"This is bad!"
Zhuge Yun quickly rushed to the front of several elderly individuals and slammed the red button on the table.
*Bang!*
Instantly, all contact between the supreme command center and the outside world was severed.
On the display screen, the terrifying images of the skeletal figures of death naturally vanished.
And all those who had been staring intently at the screen, caught in the fear judgment, now slowly regained their senses, their faces pale.
"What happened?! It felt like I was dragged into hell just now!"
"I was attacked?! My life force actually dropped by fifty percent?"
*Thump! Thump!*
Zhuge Yun heavily rapped on the table before him, and the chaotic supreme command center instantly fell silent.
Zhuge Yun, with an extremely serious expression, stated in a deep voice:
"Immediately terminate all information broadcasts!! That young man was right! We don't even have the qualification to spectate!"
At this moment, recalling everything that had just happened, everyone felt an indescribable sense of dread.
When the gap in power was too great, they no longer had the qualification to even view secondary transmissions of images?
Everyone in the supreme command center were strategic personnel, unlike the Dragon Fang Brigade, who had experience on the front lines. Therefore, they were all at the 0th tier.
Previously, they had considered Nightmare-level beings, who could withstand artillery fire, to be monsters.
But this lesson had truly shown them,
just how terrifying true powerhouses were!
...
*Boom!*
The glass-colored ground shattered violently!
Tens of thousands of black shadows flickered rapidly, charging towards Chen Luo at breakneck speed!
Before each figure moved, they stirred up terrifying gales. Compared to the power of these monsters, the world seemed too fragile!
"Roar!!!"
As the skeletal bodies moved, the crimson eyeballs on their frames constantly rotated, fixing on Chen Luo's direction.
In an instant!
Several black skeletons had already reached Chen Luo. Their sharp bone claws, flashing with ominous black light, slashed down fiercely at Chen Luo!
*Bang!!*
Chen Luo, standing in mid-air, remained unmoved. He lightly raised an arm, easily blocking the attack of these skeletons!
However, the attacking skeletons numbered in the tens of thousands!
The space around Chen Luo was instantly filled with countless black shadows!
The bodies of all the skeletal remains of dead grudges were entirely constructed from dense death aura and terrifying resentment. Their attacks naturally carried a terrifying power that was akin to an unsolvable poison for living beings.
This was the "Claws of Dead Grudges," rated as SSS-class!
Theodore seemed to envision the arrogant young man before him being torn into countless pieces by the multitude of skeletons. Malicious mental fluctuations transmitted with a mocking tone:
"There's an old saying in your Great Yan, 'Even the strongest fist cannot fend off four hands!' No matter how strong you are, how many skeletal remains of dead grudges can you handle simultaneously?"
"Your magic is powerful! Even I cannot underestimate that colossal palm that pierces through heaven and earth!"
"But a mage who is brought into close combat loses all threat!"
"You arrogant human! Be torn into countless pieces amidst pain and despair!!"
From all directions, above and below, there was no safe haven!
The terrifying attacks, laced with the poison of resentment, were even capable of harming Chen Luo at this moment.
The power of S-class "Spark" was insufficient to instantly annihilate these second-tier purgatory-level monsters.
And the SS-class "Silver Hand's" extremely wide-range attack would even engulf Chen Luo.
At first glance, Chen Luo seemed to be in extreme peril!
In a sense, Theodore's strategy was not flawed.
He had sacrificed the terrifying number of undead accumulated within the black mausoleum over endless ages, exchanging them for skeletal remains of dead grudges that could pose a threat to Chen Luo.
Instead of, like Ulquiorra, allowing hundreds of billions of weak undead to become experience for his army and Chen Luo.
But there was one point Theodore had miscalculated!