The atmosphere was heavy. No. Heavy couldn't begin to describe the current atmosphere.
The borders between the human and vampyros domains, which had usually been calm and quiet, had turned into the complete opposite.
Complete and utter chaos had descended upon the entire region. The wall marking the borders of both domains had crumbled and turned to dust, like a sandcastle on a beach.
The apex of humanity, a 17 year old figure that every single one of the human paragons had agreed to support and protect with their lives, was currently battling a grand elder of the vampyros race, a being centuries older than him.
But this wasn't even the mind boggling part.
The mind boggling part was that he was winning. Not just winning, he was dominating the battle.
While it was a scene that sent waves of pride through the human paragons, unfortunately, none of them could stop to watch the magnificent scene unfold.
The paragons' figures blurred, appearing like streaks of light that illuminated the battlefield with their blinding radiance. They zipped past the ranks of millions of blood constructs that dotted the sky, leaving behind carnage and destruction in their wake.
Their numbers fell, thousands disintegrated in a single second. And yet, despite the speed at which they were destroying them, more constructs still formed, screaming toward the human domain like harbingers of cataclysm.
'She's smart,'
Oberon thought calmly as he engraved multiple runes in the air at impossible speeds, his arms appearing like blurs of wind.
'She chose to target the human domain.'
While the Blood Queen's power was incredibly potent in its own right, the ability to summon constructs with powers in the grandmaster rank was an extraordinary skill, one that was extremely valuable in battle.
However, in a battle of paragons, it was next to useless. Grandmaster ranks, even those at the peak, were still akin to ants before paragons.
The paragons could mow them down, regardless of how long it took, without breaking a sweat. The Blood Queen knew this, which was why she hadn't targeted the paragons in the first place.
Her words, "Blood will be repaid with blood", echoed in Oberon's mind.
She hadn't targeted them. She had targeted the human domain directly.
Currently, the paragons were spread out in all directions along the border, stopping the blood constructs from reaching the human domain. Their hands were full.
Jezeneth had done this to keep them occupied while she dealt with Atticus. But, unfortunately for her, Whisker had appeared, stopping that plan. This left the paragons free to focus on their task of guarding the human domain.
However, Oberon knew it wasn't over. Somehow, he knew this was only the beginning.
The sound of the atmosphere tearing reverberated across the battlefield, and the gazes of the paragons darkened, their eyes darting toward different directions.
It wasn't just coming from one place. From all directions, streaks of crimson tore through the air, heading toward the border with impossible speed.
"Oh! What now!"
Luminous's voice boomed, frustration burning through his radiant figure as he stopped midair. His entire body blazed with golden brilliance, siphoning energy directly from the sun.
His gaze never wavered from the crimson streaks rapidly approaching the battlefield, though the subtle clenching of his hands revealed just how dire the current situation was.
No words were exchanged between the human paragons. They didn't need to. The power radiating from the approaching figures said it all.
Paragons. Seven of them.
Oberon's expansive gaze scanned the horizon, his thoughts churning. 'Seven of them. Nine of us. It's not enough.'
To any observer, the humans clearly outnumbered the vampyros. But the paragons knew better.
These weren't ordinary enemies. From their terrifying speed to their oppressive auras, these could only be the vampyros' grand elders. And against them, even paragons of humanity would struggle to survive.
Oberon's mind raced, scenarios flashing through his head like a lightning storm. In moments, his decision crystallized, and his voice rang out without hesitation.
"We have no choice! Leave the blood army to him! We'll face them together!"
The other paragons froze mid movement, each turning to face a different direction. Their expressions sharpened, their auras crackling with power.
It was an unspoken rule: in any crisis, Oberon's judgment was law.
As if they were invisible, the millions of blood constructs surged past the human paragons, their shrill cries echoing across the battlefield as they shot toward the human domain at supersonic speeds.
Magnus's figure shone like a storm god incarnate, lightning roaring around him. His gaze was locked on the horizon, though he occasionally darted glances toward Atticus's battle, ready to intervene if necessary.
One by one, the paragons unleashed their auras. They hovered midair with solemn gazes.
These were grand elders of the vampyros race. Any misstep, any hesitation, and it could cost them their lives.
They didn't have to wait long.
The streaks of crimson light converged on the battlefield with a thunderous crash, and the grand elders' presence descended like a physical weight.
Their crimson eyes burned with bloodlust as they took in the scene before them, their blood swirling around their forms like living armor.
Their expressions shifted. Shock rippled through their ranks. They saw everything.
Their queen, Jezeneth, stood opposite a blue haired man radiating complete confidence, his body poised for battle.
The sight of her blood constructs surging toward the human domain, leaving her to fight alone.
But if was the final sight that left them speechless.
A fellow grand elder, a being of equal standing to them, was being battered relentlessly by a mere seventeen year old boy. Grand Elder Yorowin's face was bloodied, his once proud form reduced to a pitiful state.
"What in the heavens is going on?"
Before they could process the chaos, the battlefield erupted.
Jezeneth and Whisker collided.
The impact sent a shockwave tearing through the air, so fierce it cracked the sky itself. The ground quaked violently, fissures splitting the battlefield as dust and debris exploded outward in chaotic torrents.
The light from their clash was blinding, forcing even the grand elders to shield their eyes.
Then they clashed again.
The two figures blurred, their blows igniting the battlefield with every collision. Craters formed where they struck, the air vibrating with energy as their battle spilled into the sky.
Whisker's voice rang out, casual despite the chaos. "Come on, beautiful! Why are you so angry? I only want to give you the world. Am I not handsome enough…?"
Jezeneth's only response was the relentless fury of her spear, her strikes growing faster and more ferocious.
The grand elders could only watch in shock.
Who was this man that dared to match their queen? The Blood Queen Jezeneth?
The air suddenly shifted. Their gazes dropped to the ground, where the human paragons floated with their unleashed auras, their eyes blazing with battle intent.
It took a second. As the realization of the situation hit, they saw red.
The humans had grown bold. Too bold.
The grand elders' auras erupted, blood swirling violently around them as they shot forward with blinding speed. Their bloodlust blanketed the battlefield, suffocating and oppressive.
As the vampyros elders moved, their blood control tightened around the human paragons. The paragons felt it, an oppressive force weighing on their blood,.
This had always been the major reason why, compared to the vampyros, humans were still considered inferior. Unlike Atticus with his will, the humans, even paragons, still had no way to completely counter the vampyros' blood control.
While paragons had a modicum of resistance, it still affected them, slowing their movements.
Regardless, the paragons of humanity unleashed their full power, the battlefield igniting with raw chaos.
But before they could erupt, from above, a voice suddenly rang out, calm and casual. Whisker's.
"You all look tense. Need a hand?"
A palpable wave of blue energy surged downward, blanketing the battlefield before converging on the human paragons.
Their gazes widened in disbelief.
"This… It's will!"
They instantly realized. Whisker had extended his will, shielding them from the vampyros' blood control.
The weight resting on them vanished. Their bodies felt free. Unrestrained.
Oberon's thoughts raced. 'With this…'
But he didn't have time to finish.
Thunder roared, and Magnus moved. Lightning crackled as his spear tore through the air, blinding in its speed.
The vampyros elder had no time to react. His eyes widened as Magnus's spear collided with devastating force, the shockwave splitting the earth as the elder was thrown backward, utterly overwhelmed.
Before he could recover, Magnus closed the gap with lightning speed. His movements were fluid and brutal, his attacks relentless.
The elder's expression twisted in shock as Magnus's fist crashed into his chest like a cataclysm, sending him hurtling through the air. He tore through the battlefield, the force of the blow leaving a blazing trail in his wake.
The other elders froze momentarily, stunned.
A human paragon had bested one of their own.
Before they could act, the other human paragons moved.