Chapter 163: One Strike
"No way! Why is her energy suddenly so overwhelming?!" Leonardo’s internal horror was a tempest.
The very fabric of his powerful barrier, a creation born of a lifetime of cultivation, was tearing apart under Lola’s unleashed power.
"Such a strong presence... These two ladies have such an increase in strength in a blink! Is it because of the howl?!" Valerie muttered, her eyes locked on Sunny. She saw not just a person, but a force of nature:
"What a kid... having such a skill makes him a deadly weapon. Instantly turning two grandmasters into peak God-rank warriors, that’s terrifying."
Marie’s expression was grim, a silent admission of her earlier foolishness. "I thought he was stupid. I should have known he had such a skill... That’s why he added that condition."
A sense of profound relief washed over Leonardo: ’I knew the moment Richard accepted the challenge, his death was signed. Thank goodness we have another elder from the Three-Eyed Nation.’
His gaze lingered on Sunny, a mixture of respect and fear: ’I made the right decision not crossing such a person. If he could turn two grandmasters into peak God-rank warriors, what will happen if he turns a celestial rank?’
Sunny snapped out of his shock, his focus sharpening. "In one strike, hold nothing back!" he commanded, his voice a low, urgent rumble.
Lola, hearing the seriousness in his tone, nodded once, her face a mask of fierce concentration. She unleashed all her celestial energy. A tidal wave of power erupted from her, shattering Leonardo’s barrier as if it were glass. The energy stopped just an inch from the bewildered crowd, a testament to her precise control.
"....?!"
"So strong?!" Jabari was horrified, a cold sweat breaking out on his brow.
"You! What are you?!" Richard’s voice was a choked whisper, his arrogance and confidence extinguished by the sheer power radiating from Lola.
"You gave me five strike chances... but I will only use one," Lola said, her voice now filled with an icy calm. In a flash, she was gone from her spot.
"....?!!"
Richard’s eyes widened in panic. His vision was a blur, but he could feel the chilling approach of a force he couldn’t comprehend. She appeared directly in front of him, her fist pulling back for a seemingly ordinary punch. But to him, it was the hand of death itself.
’Fuck! Her speed is just too fast! I have to block this!’
He unleashed all his strength, sending out a desperate punch to meet hers.
BOOOOM!!!!
The two fists collided, a thunderous crack that sent a shockwave of celestial energy rippling across the square. Everyone was pushed back, except Sunny and Jinx, who stood as immovable as mountains.
BOOOM!!!
Richard flew backward like a broken doll, and crashed into a building thirty yards away. The silence that followed was deafening.
Everyone’s gaze shifted to the gaping hole in the building, waiting, but there was no trace of Richard’s energy.
"She... she killed Richard in one move?" Jabari stammered, dumbfounded.
{Congratulations! Subordinate Lola killed a Demigod, stage five warrior. Gained 250,000 EXP.}
"Father!!!" Jolie’s scream was a piercing cry of anguish.
"No! We are dead! So dead! Elders! You must help us—"
WHOOSH!!!
A flash of light. Frederick dropped to his knees, a thin red line appearing on his neck.
"Son!!" Jolie screamed, her voice breaking.
Jade stood still, her eyes closed, accepting her fate. She felt the wind blades slice towards them, and in a matter of seconds, both her and Jolie’s heads were separated from their bodies.
"....?!!"
A deadly silence fell over the square, broken only by the whimpering of the few commoners who were brave enough to witness the massacre.
{Congratulations! Subordinate Lola killed a celestial rank, stage one warrior. Gained 25,000 EXP.}
{Congratulations! Subordinate Lola killed a heavenly rank, stage five warrior. Gained 20,000 EXP.}
{Congratulations! Subordinate Lola killed a half heavenly, stage three warrior. Gained 13,000 EXP.}
{Current rank progress: 55/100%.}
Sunny chuckled to himself. With a single step, he appeared before the ruined building and stretched out his hand. Leonardo and the others watched, their eyes wide with disbelief, as a long, golden sword flew from Richard’s body and into Sunny’s waiting palm.
’What sort of skill is that?!’ Valerie thought, her mind reeling.
"Directly taking equipment from the dead... is that even possible?" Leonardo muttered to himself.
BAM!
The crowd turned to Lola, who collapsed to the ground, unconscious. Vince rushed to her side, checking her pulse and letting out a sigh of relief.
"She is sleeping," he announced, his words calming the panicked onlookers.
"Take the Queen inside," Sunny instructed, walking toward the group.
’Seems this is the side effect after the boost wears off... I must be careful using this in the future.’ He turned to Jinx, a question forming in his mind:
’How come this girl didn’t feel anything? Even when it wears off? Is God-rank bloodline this terrifying?’
"God Wolf, we kept our deal, and you kept yours... I hope our alliance still stands," Leonardo said, a respectful smile on his face.
"Yes... As long as you don’t cross me or my people, we are good," Sunny replied, his gaze unwavering.
Leonardo nodded. "If the God Wolf is right, we won’t interfere. But if he goes against the nations’ balance... we will act." He looked at Lola, who was being carried to the castle.
"You took over this nation; we didn’t interfere because they attacked first, and you gave it to one of their own to rule. It shows you are wise." He turned to Marie, who nodded in understanding. With a thought, a swirling gateway appeared behind them.
"You can keep the sword. We will have our leave." He turned and walked towards the gateway, followed by Valerie, Marie, and Jabari.
"First Elder... why are you so respectful towards him?" Jabari whispered as they walked.
"That kid entered the peak of the demigod rank in less than a month... his potential is endless. And it also seems he has some bad blood with Lester. With his help, our world might have a footing," Leonardo said, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"Losing one demigod rank to gain someone more isn’t a bad deal." He entered the gateway, followed by the others.
Valerie paused, her gaze lingering on Sunny:
’Why does his aura feel so familiar?’ she wondered, her eyes narrowed in contemplation. After a few more seconds, she followed the others, and the gateway vanished.
"How come you’re okay?" Sunny asked the moment the elders disappeared.
Jinx looked at herself, then at him. "Why? Should I have felt something?" she asked, genuinely confused.
"Forget it," Sunny said, shaking his head and storing the golden sword in his system storage.
"What is the sword for?" Jinx asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Come on. Let’s go back; it’s time we grow Yggdrasil." He created a gateway and stepped through, with Jinx following behind, leaving a dumbfounded crowd in their wake.
"What just happened?!" a commoner finally blurted out, their voice a mix of awe and terror.