Journey to Become the Zenith

Gathering Before the Storm

After warning the Spirit Rulers, Victor and Diana left.

Only after their figures completely disappeared beyond the horizon did the crushing pressure blanketing the battlefield finally begin to dissipate.

The six Spirit Rulers remained where they stood for several long moments.

None of them spoke.

It felt as though an invisible mountain had been lifted from their shoulders.

Several quietly let out the breaths they had unconsciously been holding.

The silence lingered before the Spirit Ruler of Earth finally spoke.

"We should regroup."

The others nodded.

Brilliant lights enveloped their bodies one after another before space rippled around them.

The six Spirit Rulers vanished simultaneously.

...

The moment they teleported, an icy wind greeted them.

They had arrived at the kingdom of the ancient forge clan from Forge God Mountain.

Far above the clouds, atop the tallest mountain in the realm, stood the greatest fortress ever constructed by mortal hands.

The massive stronghold blended seamlessly into the mountain itself.

Its towering walls were carved from countless layers of enchanted stone.

Gigantic gates reinforced with legendary metals reflected the pale sunlight.

Ancient runes glowed faintly across every defensive structure.

The fortress radiated an imposing aura that had stood unshaken for generations.

It was the masterpiece of the ancient forge clan—the greatest craftsmen on the continent.

Every wall...

Every tower...

Every gate...

Had been created with one purpose.

To endure the assault of Dragons.

The fortress had long been regarded as humanity’s ultimate sanctuary.

Yet...

The Spirit Ruler of Chaos knew better.

Standing near the fortress wall, she silently observed the distant horizon.

In her mind, even this magnificent stronghold would not be enough if Victor truly wished to destroy everyone gathered here.

At best...

It might delay him.

For a few days.

No more.

That thought alone sent another chill through her body.

The freezing winds screamed across the mountaintop.

Snow danced through the air as temperatures dropped well below freezing.

Isabella continuously circulated mana through her body while maintaining a heating spell to keep herself warm.

Another layer of mana surrounded her, shielding her from the violent mountain winds that threatened to freeze an ordinary human within minutes.

Beside her...

The Spirit Ruler of Chaos continuously cast concealment magic.

Dark ripples quietly spread around the area, carefully suppressing their presence as much as possible.

Even now...

She refused to lower her guard.

When the six remaining Spirit Rulers appeared nearby, Isabella immediately noticed them.

Concern crossed her face.

"What happened?"

The Spirit Ruler of Earth answered first.

"We were spared."

Those three simple words made Isabella’s heart sink.

After a brief silence, she asked the question weighing most heavily on her mind.

"Tell me..."

"...is Victor truly that strong that none of you can face him?"

The Spirit Ruler of Darkness slowly shook her head.

"We aren’t really sure what Victor truly is."

Her expression grew increasingly solemn.

"Though we do have a few guesses."

She glanced toward Diana in the distance before continuing.

"But we do know the one beside him."

"That was the former Goddess of Death."

One by one, the Spirit Ruler of Darkness explained everything she knew about Eliora.

She spoke of the ancient records.

The forgotten legends.

The terrifying reputation the former Goddess of Death had once carried among both mortals and divine beings.

As Isabella listened...

Her expression gradually paled.

Each revelation was more unbelievable than the last.

When the explanation finally ended, Isabella remained silent for several moments before asking softly,

"If she’s that powerful..."

"...then why is she following Victor?"

"I have never heard of a divine being following a mortal..."

"...and making him her master."

The Spirit Ruler of Darkness slowly turned toward the only person who might know the answer.

"If you want an answer to that..."

"...then you’d better ask her."

She pointed toward the Spirit Ruler of Chaos.

"She’s the one who knows more."

Noticing everyone’s attention had shifted toward her, the Spirit Ruler of Chaos quietly folded her arms.

After a brief pause, she finally spoke.

"That man..."

"...that you wished to face..."

"...is one who has walked across countless battlefields."

Her voice became strangely distant.

"He seeks the strong..."

"...and crushes them."

She slowly closed her visible eye.

"Within his soul lie monsters from ages long past."

"Heroes."

"Demons."

"Saints."

"Gods."

"None may be his match."

Silence followed.

Rather than answering Isabella’s question...

Her explanation only created countless new ones.

Isabella rubbed her forehead helplessly.

She had long since grown accustomed to the Chaos Spirit’s unusual way of speaking.

Every sentence sounded mysterious.

Every explanation seemed wrapped inside another riddle.

Trying to understand her literally almost never worked.

Still...

One message was painfully clear.

Victor was someone they should never provoke again.

Taking a deep breath, Isabella straightened her posture.

"We need to head to the capital and warn the king."

The Spirit Ruler of Fire looked at her with a complicated expression.

"What will you say to them?"

She sighed softly.

"Even if you explain everything..."

"...they will never believe that one man can wipe out the entire Skyfall Kingdom."

Isabella lowered her gaze briefly before answering with quiet determination.

"I still need to try."

"If we don’t do anything..."

"...then the royal capital might turn into a pile of ash."

She clenched her fists.

"Even though I’m a fallen noble..."

"...even though I have been discharged as the general of the army..."

"I still wish to protect Skyfall."

The Spirit Ruler of Chaos suddenly spread her enormous black wings of flame.

A dramatic smile returned to her face.

"Very well, my servant."

"I have heard your pleas."

She raised one hand grandly toward the distant horizon.

"Then we shall go and save the kingdom from the fangs of the beast."

Before Isabella could respond, the Spirit Ruler of Chaos effortlessly lifted her into the air.

With a powerful beat of her flaming wings, she shot across the sky like a streak of black light.

The remaining Spirit Rulers exchanged weary looks before letting out collective sighs.

Without another word, they followed after Isabella.

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