The sound of knees hitting the earth echoed as the force of the clash sent Ae'ark deep into the ground, his whole body straining and bulging, trying his utmost to hold up Atticus's blade.
However, he wasn't even given a second to comprehend the situation.
Atticus abruptly leaned in, sparks flying where his katana and spear made contact. Once again, their eyes met, intense and unyielding.
Suddenly, Atticus's head shot forward, his forehead striking Ae'ark's head like a wrecking ball slamming into a wall. The sound of bone meeting bone resounded like a thunderclap, shaking the very air.
Ae'ark's head snapped backward from the immense force, his body rocketing backward like a missile. He tore through the debris in the area, obliterating everything in his path.
Then, he crashed through the hill that encompassed the platform they had been on, the impact sending shockwaves rippling through the ground.
He burst out of the other side in a cataclysm of shattered rock and dust, his momentum undisturbed as he kept on shooting through the air.
Ae'ark felt his mind go completely blank, his brain shaking like a ping pong ball. The headbutt Atticus had just delivered had been so intense that he was finding it hard to form a coherent thought.
However, he hadn't gotten to this level by playing around.
Ae'ark's fists holding his spear tightened, the crimson aura around his head exploding for a second. He felt his head become clearer, his unfocused gaze becoming focused just in time to see a kick whizzing towards his face.
Ae'ark's gaze widened, and he instinctively crossed his hands in front of his face in response.
The kick landed like a battering ram smashing into a fortress gate, the force reverberating through Ae'ark's entire body in waves.
The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the air, creating concentric circles that expanded outward from the point of contact.
Ae'ark's defenses shattered under the immense pressure, his arms buckling as the sheer power of the blow drove him backward, the force propelling him like a cannon.
The concentric circles continued to ripple through the space around him, distorting the air and leaving a visible trail of destruction in their wake.
The gazes of the crew members and Atticus's subordinates widened as they saw the direction Ae'ark was currently heading. They had both completely left the area they were battling, moving their intense battle and heading towards one of the cities!
The cities had millions of people in them and were as big as entire regions. Given the intensity of the battle, the number of lives that would be lost could not be counted.
The crew members were about to act but they each suddenly remembered Magnus's words—they weren't allowed to do anything. And his words were law.
However, they didn't have to do anything.
Ae'zard turned towards Magnus, "If you would, please."
Magnus didn't respond in words. His figure turned blinding, both eyes radiating an intense white.
Not a second passed before thick clouds formed above the city towards which Atticus and Ae'ark were headed, more than 700 meters from his position.
A multitude of people had already gathered outside the city, each one armed and battle-ready as they faced the direction from which two figures were heading towards them at supersonic speeds.
The cities in the buffer zone were ruled by master-rank individuals, and although they had each decided to create their own city away from the human domain, the city was well-developed.
Paved roads and concrete skyscrapers filled the streets, along with a tall wall surrounding the entire city.
The leaders of the city wore cold expressions on their faces, standing on the wall while overlooking a small army of expert ranks gathered outside, armed and ready to battle.
However, the area suddenly began to darken, akin to an eclipse. Each of their gazes shot upwards to witness a frightening sight.
Thick clouds swirled ominously over their heads as they expanded, darkening the entire sky.
The air grew heavy, a palpable sense of impending doom settling over the city.
The clouds roiled and churned as flashes of lightning crackled with unrestrained fury within their depths, illuminating the dark mass with sudden, brilliant bursts of light.
The first rumble of thunder echoed like the roar of an ancient beast, shaking the very foundations of the city.
The sound rolled through the streets, growing louder and more intense with each passing second.
At this point, the hearts of the leaders and the people alike quickened, their eyes trembling as their legs shook.
This power… this wasn't something they could even dream of handling. The power of a Paragon…
Many got on their knees about to say their last prayers but not even a second was given.
Suddenly, with a deafening crack, the sky split open. Millions of lightning bolts erupted from the clouds.
Each bolt was a spear of pure energy, descending with unerring precision. The city was illuminated in a stark, eerie glow as the bolts struck every single one of the people below.
But this was no ordinary lightning. As each bolt struck, it didn't dissipate upon impact. Instead, it enveloped the person in a brilliant halo of light and then, in a stunning reversal, the lightning streaked upward again, carrying the person with it.
Bodies were lifted off the ground, caught in the grip of the ascending bolts, their forms outlined in electric blue as they were yanked skyward.
The ground trembled under the relentless assault, the air filled with the sizzling hiss of superheated energy and the acrid smell of ozone.
Buildings shook, windows shattered, and the very air seemed to vibrate with the power of the storm.
People were plucked from the streets, their screams lost in the roar of the storm as they were pulled higher and higher, disappearing into the thick cloud above.
As the last of the lightning bolts struck and then ascended, the city was left in a stunned silence.
The thick clouds above began to dissipate, leaving behind a scene of eerie calm and utter devastation.
Not a second later, the cataclysmic sound of a figure bursting through the walls of the city echoed like a war drum.
Ae'ark's body shot back with unending speed, crashing through buildings as if they were paper. Each impact was a thunderous explosion, shattering concrete and steel.
Debris flew in all directions, dust clouds billowing into the sky.