Let's Watch This City Burn
The other 7 figures then accompanied the old azure-cloaked man, each taking an angle of the circle that Yun Beishang was tightly locked in and mimicked their 'eldest brother's' pose.
"We call upon the Azure Dragon's Sacred Beast Protection, vanquish the enemy!"
"We call upon the Azure Dragon's Sacred Beast Protection, vanquish the enemy!"
"We call upon the Azure Dragon's Sacred Beast Protection, vanquish the enemy!"
"We call upon the Azure Dragon's Sacred Beast Protection, vanquish the enemy!"
"We call upon...
At the same time and with perfect timing, the 7 figures called upon the strength of their dear and very dead Azure Dragon so-called Sacred Beast Protector in a manner of chanting, of summoning... of Rising!
And right as the word 'enemy' went off, the oldest azure-cloaked figure then timely spoke -chanted- at the same time, "...AND GIVE RISE TO THE GLORY OF MAIN KINGDOM!!"
CRACK!! CRAAAAAASH!!!
As soon as the old azure-cloaked figure's words ended, Yun Beishang , the 8 azure-cloaked figures and a bored Rosey swiftly looked below Yun Beishang 's feet before then witnessing the incomparably terrifying scene of that 20m x 20m circular area with the so-called traitor human turned 'Demon' in its center... be completely engulfed by a waterfall that instead of falling, was soaring to beyond the sky where the naked eye could still discern its image.
FWOSH FWOOSHFWOSH FWOOSHFWOSH FWOOSHFWOSH...
As it endlessly poured water into the sky, the 8 azure-cloaked figures then realized that what they were seeing and which was also what took all of their breaths and even heartbeats away from existence; wasn't an endless current of water, but Essence! It was Essence, soaring into the sky limitless-ly, free and unrestrained!
"Brrr..." Looking at such a sight, as long as one had a little bit of experience even for when dealing with wild monsters alone, one would be able to understand the prospects of nature's strength and the connection between creation and power. Let alone a being born at the apex, and that could very easily take control over the Core Elements wherever she went, however she wanted, and as for as long as she wanted.
With but beautiful and lost eyes and expression, Rosey glanced up in the air as her eyes furthermore flashed fiercely, anheling a 'something' which she was not only deprived of -and cruelly at that-, but also for the sake of fulfilling her innate dreams and desires.
Meanwhile, the 8 azure-cloaked figures were ingeniously looking in stupefaction at the sight right in front of them. At the moment that the 'sound' of gushing water moving underneath the ground was heard, the eldest brother of the 8 pulled everyone apart along with the rain, which was now nowhere to be seen; by the way. Successfully saving his juniors from the depressing casual death of each of them upon entering a complete baffled state at witnessing such implacable... beauty and perfection.
"Ah, Eldest Brother, you've saved us!"
"Eldest Brother, we-we almost died like idiots, we're sorry to have made it difficult for you."
"Thank you, Eldest Brother!"
'Eldest Brother' was content, not only he saved his juniors but they even foolishly thanked him. Their eldest brother gave them a foolish small equal to their foolish behavior as they then all gazed at the huge torrent of water rising up in the air-no! Ratherm huge torrent of water-like Essence.
Come to think of that, the huge thing was of a mix between light azure, azure -yes, the ordinary for all that matters-, dark azure, pale azure and even greenish azure colors. It was like watching the countless bubbles that suddenly chose to arm up and raise into the sky to no end. Yet they did so in the form of water, or rather, water-like Essence. As the 8 azure-cloaked figures looked on at the tower of Essence, they began murmuring to themselves in shock before taking this time to try and comprehend to their very best, all they could from this wonderful miracle.
After all, this wasn't something that could just be activated like an energy blast in New Earth after just having to charge a certain 'instrument' up. Though the oldest azure-cloaked figure looked fine and was standing straight, the pain all over his bones wasn't compared to his depletion of energy or even to that of his juniors' energy depletion altogether. Hell, he even his own organs about to rupture, only by witnessing this miraculous wonder of the world could he slowly start healing up. If just about any 'Journeyer' could see them now, they would see countless +1,000 as their HP bars went up quite a few % every now and then.
At the same time, it wasn't as if this 'art' could be executed anytime and that people could just spam-abuse this feature to gain insight and provoke the surge of another Heavenly being. Rather, the description and in the instructions of the use of this spell alike, were that of only utilizing it when a great enemy capable of destroying half their Main City alone appeared. Because only in such pure and heartfelt intentions could the spell be successfully executed and for it to even be powerful at all. It wasn't about the spell having consciousness and deciding when and when not to function properly, but more as a matter that goes along well with the saying 'the world is breathing'. Which, naturally, was impossible for anyone and for many generations; to decipher its meaning at all in so many thousands of years.
Naturally, though complex and betting on about it, the 8 azure-cloaked figures didn't thought they would just simply succeed and call it a day to grab some chicks and studs at some inn or pub, they were even prepared to die for their Sub-Division. And their Sub-Division, indeed, didn't let them down at all.
"Haah~, the kid should be dead by now, right?"
"Mn, I think so, Eldest Brother."
"It must be so, indeed."
"It is thanks to Eldest Brother, otherwise, we wouldn't even have been able to avoid a direct confrontation. Then, it would have been hard to say whether or not we would've been able to even start up the array." As the azure-cloaked figures talked and slightly restfully chatted amongst each other, obviously not in the fullest as they were true seasoned warriors with such rich experience; they had their arms crossed in front of their chests as they all -male and female ones- spoke candidly to their senior.
"Heh heh, even if the mission was a failure and you punks died to that evil filth, I wouldn't retreat. After all, these ol bags of flesh and of me are all too wasted and rusted, there wouldn't be a point for such an old warrior to die peacefully. Heh heh heh heh!"
"Eldest Brother..."
"Mn, to the death! Once this wonder of the entirety of Main Kingdom comes to an end, let's report back to the city lord so that he could make the Azure Dragon City great again!!"
"And then we'll go for drinks and to eat until we get our fill in celebration!"
Meanwhile, as their cute chatter resounded through a few meters around; they were muffled sounds instead for a certain presence that was yet ever so closer towards them than any other life form nearby.
[Loyal City Protector, Team Leader]: Type: Human, Grade: Enlightened, Level: 95, HP: 326,428/700,000. An individual power and wise enough that he or she is able to become the chosen one for giving their lives out for their beloved land, leaving behind all pleasures in life to give themselves a self-tormentingly life from then on in exchange for the recognition of the Sub-Division they are situated in.
[Loyal City Protector, Vice-Leader]: Type: Human, Grade: Enlightened, Level: 85, HP: 600,000. With their roles in life turning from an ordinary being into that of a selfless, pitied but well-respected; from living their own life and adding up to the world like an ordinarily living being, to a powerful and ever-present hidden protector for the rest of their lives.
[Loyal City Protector, Member]: Type: Human, Grade: Enlightened, Level: 80, HP: 537,000. Letting go of life as anyone else would so ordinarily come to know it, as not even a true expert, soldier and veteran of old wars or outer terrain wars could ever comprehend their burden and their free shoulders; only someone who is even willing to give their joy for the sake of maintaining it for others could ever become even just a member of the Loyal City Protector Team in a Sub-Division Main City or even a Main Division Main City; and that's only a requisite. With only their sense in life not being turned upside down and vice versa by the brotherhood and sisterhood among the team, they protect until their ashes become the very foundation of their beloved land.
'Pathetic.' Such were Yun Beishang's cold thoughts but more calmer and indifferent than anything else as his body felt like magic when he woke up from his previous self-guarding mechanism in which his body was about to enter into a superficial comatose state to avoid being even more shakily injured in any way or form.
Once he woke up and realized of his genuine situation, it only mattered for less than half a second as he was then inundated by the feelings of perfect harmony and understanding as the Essence and water alike, traveled around, over and hell! Even through his body as it endlessly continued on towards the sky, even then though, Yun Beishang's feet still remained on the ground and even when he had the thought of letting himself be free and let whatever that could happen be; he was met with disappointment for as he felt even more powerful gravity than before. Not being able to soar into the sky and even beyond that as the water current of Essence was, yet not being affected by this augmentation of 'gravity' on his body, or in the space that he was in. Yun Beishang could only refresh himself in this strange 'phenomenon' as his heart and eyes felt wonderful.
A bit later on from then, Yun Beishang finally woke up from such a state and placed his senses beyond the scope of whatever he was in right now, roughly understanding the 'silly' situation outside.
And now, looking up to their information windows provided by dear system and after his hidden stats were 'freed' once Yun Beishang was finally used to being inside this weird AOE 'thingy'. He wanted for nothing more but to end these laughable little minions whose passionate work is being controlled by a greedy and selfish city lord into cleaning his house from rats, his eyes glowed extremely fiercely; but also extremely calmly.
With both his old pals already transformed fully inside the huge torrent of water-like Essence, having done so instantly for some not-that-unknown reason, Yun Beishang placed both his gigantic blades on his left cheek as he had his right arm folded with his right elbow touching the left side of his stomach and his left arm folded with his left elbow sticking out from his back completely.
Then, he waited for a certain moment, the moment they either became distracted or the huge torrent of water finished... spurting.
"Hum, we have all done well today. The Azure Dragon Sub-Division has suffered but it isn't to the point of being at the brink of destruction, with our successful mission, we can no- huh?!" One of the azure-cloaked figures was relaxedly speaking with his arms pointing out at where Yun Beishang was previously standing and to that of the city lord's office, his face was all amicable and appeared quite just simply at ease. But it was at such a moment where the torrential of water finally ceased shooting into the sky; where it was also the same moment where the sight of two soggy legs with a tight suit sticking to them. And just as they saw such an image...
Swish!!
Bvreee-Vwlsht-Bvreee-Vwlsht Pfruiyl!!
"AAAGHHKL-" That one azure-cloaked figure that was talking and the rest alike, saw quite a fast shadow blur into themselves, more specifically towards the one man that was talking just now. With such a sight, even if they were at their peak and in their best mental state possible, they wouldn't -not even the eldest senior- be able to either evade or stop it from coming close to themselves!
They could only see their comrade's neck be penetrated by a huge blade of a sword with only a small part of his neck not being completely severed right away. There were a couple of colors emanating from both of Yun Beishang's blades as the other one was impaled to the azure-cloaked figure's right leg while the fingers in both his hands twisted and contorted, trying to pull the Mind-Sensory Gladius away from his almost completely severed neck only to fail to even lift them high enough to reach his own collarbone height with them.
"T-this... what?!"
"No, brother!" Right after, as they saw their brother-in-arms about to just die by a single blow by the simple swings of two huge swords, they couldn't help but marvel and terrorize themselves from just the sight as they realized not only that Yun Beishang has had the strength to destroy them in a manner of minutes. But also because of the fact that he could survive something like their Azure Dragon Sacred Protection Array!
Nobody should ever be capable of resisting such a powerful surge of energy or whatever it was! Nobody! Not unless... that 'Tongqiu' was of at least at the Mythical grade or higher?! But, even if he somehow managed to get rid of a Mythical BOSS before and now a Sacred Beast Protector; he couldn't just be a Mythical grade 'just in case', right? After all, those 'Journeyers' only had been 9 months in their world, even if they had that strange property that allows them to grow stronger,not even 10 years would've been enough to allow them to grow to such a level!
Confused and incredulous as they may be, they couldn't deny the sight of Yun Beishang who was now taking his swords out of their comrade's body and then swipe them again at their comrade's belly, blood gushed out already from his neck as his right leg was almost fully amputated at once. His neck was only remaining on the spot by supporting itself from the back, powerful and resistant muscles of the human body as his body slowly fell to the left from his front. His image was despondent and that of grey while the two huge swords that had already left his body then moved on to gut him with a clean back and forth sweep with Yun Beishang's powerful arms, capable enough of brandishing such thick and wide gladiuses like they were made of paper.
Pitter-patter...
Thud...
*PING*...you've successfully killed a LV80 Enlightened grade BOSS 'Loyal City Protector, Member', as a reward, SP+4,000 and Fame+4,000.
The returning sound of the rain falling heavily on the ground sounded out before even the pathetic fall of the mangled, gutted alive and now dying azure-cloaked figure could, the undeniable despair and bitterness enveloping every single one of the azure-cloaked figures as their faces relaxed and paled instead of growing terrorized and ugly.
Swish~
"You all talk a lot. Just keep talking while you die, if you must." Yun Beishang's words calmly traveled through the rain droplets as he placed his left hand diagonally in front of his chest with his left fist holding the Mind-Sensory Gladius hovering above his right shoulder and with his right-handed Mind-Sensory Gladius slashing from downside up in a slow and heavy fashion. "You're all next."
Without carrying any emotions, neither in his voice nor in his behavior, Yun Beishang then proceeded to deactivate Transcended Divine Burst. This way, he could afford to dance a little bit under the rain while witnessing the several inevitable deaths of the Azure Dragon's Main City Loyal City Protector Team.
. . .
"H-how... w-were you a-able t-t-to-..."
"...Hm... to not die in that previous skill of yours? Hmph." As the oldest azure-cloaked man couldn't speak anymore with his sternum completely broken and with even his spine poking out of his lower back, he gazed upwards at the Caberg helmet on Yun Beishang while his own tongue finally lost completely the ability to move altogether. Meanwhile, a careless Yun Beishang spoke at him as the glint on his eyes slowly faded away at last.
Rude, insensitive and a bastards? Sure. But, just as nor Irllytia nor those innocent civilians deserved to suffer such uncalled for calamity and as such were the final endings of the azure-cloaked Loyal City Protector Team of the Azure Dragon City; Yun Beishang did nothing but respond in the same manner in which their own people acted and in the way that they themselves blindingly followed such a 'City Lord'.
STOMP!
Out of nowhere, Yun Beishang's left foot was furiously planted on the face of the oldest azure-cloaked figure, finally ending that fool's life. As for his killer, Yun Beishang, nor pity nor guilt were present in his being as he looked at the old azure-cloaked figure dying as well; just like the the others did.
*PING*...you've successfully killed a LV95 Enlightened grade BOSS 'Loyal City Protector, Team Leader', as a reward, SP+4,750 and Fame+4,750.
"SIGH..." Letting out a carefree, long and loud sigh; Yun Beishang softly caressed the sides of his face before looking up into the sky. Had he not been wearing the Petals of Destruction Armor Set, his mouth half-opened would've been visible with his face facing the sky and the rain dropping heavily on his lips, nose, eyes and ears.
Pitter-patter, pitter-patter
Zzzz-crackle~
The retinas of his eyes were all slowly being invaded by a pale light rosy color; at the same time, the city from all sides was intensely burning in vivacious but pale, light rosy flames that were abundant as the sky up above. The sight from up above towards the immense Main City of the Azure Dragon Sub-Division would be that of an ever so peaceful and unbelievably calm atmosphere while the smooth pale light rosy rivers of flames abundantly moving incessant.
Even so, Yun Beishang was not feeling the slightest bit of hotness from any of his surroundings, even when only the smallest portion of the center of the city was the only terrain left intact by such powerful flames.
In other occasions, this would've been such a detrimental and sorrowful sight to behold; for as there were many NPCs caught in those flames, mostly guards and troops, that instantly died at the touch of even the smallest of sparks from that very same pale light rosy flame. It was to the point that their Experience made Yun Beishang farm some more Mental Power stats already.
Lowering his head, Yun Beishang turned to look at the towering, observatory-like building that was just a few hundred meters away. A small figure blurred into his arm before gazing at the same building as he was before entering the Petals of Destruction Suit Aegis.
Step, step.
Then he walked.
...
