Book 8: Chapter 9: Diasho Ken (3)

Diasho Ken’s features contorted in rage, but the energy he wasted clenching his fist made it feel as though the whole world was spinning around him. He was far too weak, if he really collapsed in this danger zone, even if he could normally ignore its so-called danger with impunity, he would still die a hundred times over.Rationality told him that he needed to leave, but his pride and arrogance got the best of him. How could he simply turn and leave? Even though no one had recorded what happened, the whole world would know after today that he, Diasho Ken, had released his Sword God’s Harmony and still lost!Communicating with one’s ancestors as a sprite in order to release their battle form was something every sprite was incredibly sensitive to. There was no doubt that every sprite not just on the lower tier, but even the higher tiers, had felt it the moment Diasho Ken went all out. If he had to leave in shame now, he would be humiliated!Captain Diasho roared into the skies, ignoring the ramifications, he unleashed his battle form once more. His body flickered into and out of existence, but he could feel his soul tearing apart with every step he took toward Dyon.This wasn’t a battle he could afford to lose! If he ever wanted to catch up to his brother, if he wanted to protect the prestige of the Heavenly Sword Guild, he had to win!Dyon turned back to see what looked like a streaking sword approaching him with blinding speeds.His eyes flashed with a murderous intent. I allowed you to live yet you haven’t accepted my act of kindness and have instead decided to foolishly attack me?!Dyon’s body turned into a resplendent gem. The blood shimmered upon his flawless skin, dripping downward as though his body had become frictionless.Diasho Ken’s attack was rebuffed. His body flew backward, but he lifted himself up and charged once more.He wasn’t a fool, he realized that Dyon was capable of reflecting what amounted to at least 50% of the power of his strikes. Every time he attacked, he was inflicting more and more damage to himself. But, he had practically lost himself in battle. His desire to win fueled his everything.Dyon’s arrogant gaze was like a looming guillotine, lifting high above his prideful heart and preparing to cleave down at any moment.Dyon became akin to an impenetrable wall, his sword attacks become swifter and swifter. His energy seemed endless to the point where it caused despair in his opponent.How could Diasho Ken know that Dyon’s energy reserves were multiple times that a normal celestial of his realm? Even without the Energy Core to constantly supply his inner world with more power, saying that he had 5 times the qi of Diasho Ken was an understatement!Captain Diasho tried to enter his selfless Magic Swordsman state, trying to reach that realm of perfection and beauty he had before. But, he found it absolutely impossible.At that moment, something incomparably shocking was happening.Every time Ken tried to form a new magic circle, Dyon would create a weapon’s hell array in the exact same spot. Ken couldn’t imagine the level of reaction time and speed that was needed to replicate such a feat…Because Dyon’s Presence was infused into his every action, the moment the array and magic circle tried to form in the same spot, the magic circle would shatter under Dyon’s might. Then Diasho Ken’s piercing sword would be deflected by a spinning spear.The experience was absolute maddening, and every occurrence resulted in a new heavy injury.Diasho Ken’s eyes reddened. He had never been so humiliated in his life. Those of the Heavenly Sword Guild who remained couldn’t comprehend what they were seeing. Was it possible for a lower celestial to be so powerful?The veins bulged along Diasho Ken’s forehead, giving his handsome features a sinister appearance.“I’ll kill you!” Diasho Ken roared as his shoulder was pierced by another one of Dyon’s attacks. His body flew backward, crashing into the rubble his previous [World Revolves] attack created.Diasho Ken stood in a rage, his eyes looking no different than that of a wild beast’s. He suddenly became a man who was willing to give up any and everything.In that moment, the skies all across the lower tier darkened. An aura descended that froze Dyon’s body in place.Dyon’s eyes contracted, a cold sweat permeating his back. The last time his knees had felt so weak, that his body trembled like so, was during his third trial. Back then, he had charged through, defeating one Presence expert after another. But, when he came up against an Emperor Level Presence, his King Level Presence of back then stood not a single chance and he was forced to give up without even trying…In the far distance, Empress Aspirant Cativa’s eyes contracted as she repelled several puppets. It wasn’t just her, the armies of the lower tier True Gods, and even the three dragon and qilin True Gods, all stopped simultaneously, looking up and into the skies.“Tsk.” True God Aurum spit to the side, a view that was in sharp contrast to his blemishless golden hair. “Shameless half-sprites, utilizing the Faith of your ancestors when you yourselves aren’t good enough to win. If it wasn’t for your kind being so shameless, would our Drago-Qilin Lands be ranked second behind such swine?”Cativa’s eyes narrowed. ‘The only one capable of eliciting the Diasho Clan’s accumulated Faith to this level is Diasho Ken… But, he’s only a step away from becoming a Peak Celestial. Are you telling me that he couldn’t win even after using his Sword God’s Harmony and was actually pushed to this extent?’As though to answer her thoughts, lofty figure after lofty figure began to appear in the air. In those moments, all of the celestial floors descended into darkness to pay respects to the images of the Ancestor Diasho…Dozens of figures stood in the skies, each dressed with spotless golden robes, their backs marked with the sword crossed Holy Grail. They seemed to support Diasho Ken in silence. The whole world weighed down on Dyon… The matter was simple. If their descendent wanted him to die, he would die!