Chapter 820: Just four more to go
Azazeal let out a chuckle, his eyes darkening further, the purple within them threatening to emerge as he stared at the silver-haired man before him.
"Really?"
He muttered with a blink, and in the next moment, Kyle's nose was broken when a punch landed on his face.
He tried to fight back, but he couldn't, just like always. Yet, his face showed no pain, only an eerie calmness.
His eyes glowed white as he shattered the space around him to take Azazeal far away from this place, to make sure no one would be affected. However, almost as if sensing his intent, Azazeal grabbed him by the hair and threw him down. His body tore through numerous branches of the Tree of Fate, causing the elves below to cry out.
With a loud boom, he slammed into the ground, obliterating everything in his path. Dust and debris surged, clouding his vision, which was spinning violently.
Alec and Ronan, who had finally returned after being swept up in the previous attack with Kyle, along with Asher, James, and the elven Queen, attempted to attack Azazeal and save Kyle, but they were tossed aside before they could even reach him. The pair of obsidian eyes glanced at them.
"Don't interfere. Or else I will kill you."
He muttered, sending chills racing down their spines. In the next instant, dark energy surged from his body, spreading quickly to engulf the entire planet.
The ground began to fracture, and the Tree of Fate emitted a heart-wrenching noise as its roots started to wither away.
Queen Ariana, who nearly lost her life like all the others who dared to attack Azazeal, gritted her teeth and shouted at the elves, who were all running in turmoil under the shadow of the Tree of Fate, ordering them to gather and remain calm.
Amidst the chaos, Azazeal sat on his heels and peered at the bloodied, glowing figure of the silver-haired man lying in the crater.
"A Celestial. You achieved that rank only because I let you."
His brow furrowed as the noise around the planet grated on his nerves. With a flick of his fingers, everyone on the planet froze as if a force was gripping their throats.
"Much better."
Kyle burst into laughter upon hearing him. His eyes were fixed on the man as he wiped the blood off his broken nose. Immediately, the dim, icy blue glow surrounding his body began to heal his injuries.
"Then kill me. Hmmm?"
He was laughing, but his eyes revealed nothing-nothing at all.
Azazeal's smile widened.
"I like you this way better, you know. It feels like we are somewhat similar."
He touched his nose.
"You surprise me every time. But you have too many hindrances. You can never truly become powerful if you have so many people to care about."
Kyle shook his head. He understood that if this insane man truly wanted to kill him, he would have done it already.
Why was he waiting so long?
"Why bother involving them? You want to use me, don't you? Then go ahead and do it, because the day I gain enough power to end you... that will be your last day."
Azazeal counted something on his fingers, a hum escaping his lips. He still didn't like the future; he was never going to, but it was the most perfect fate he could meet.
"Correct your words. I don't want to use you. I am already using you."
He held out four fingers toward Kyle.
"Four more to go. Just four more."
Seeing Kyle's confusion, he whispered.
"I am talking about the spirits. Only four more to go. You will find them for me, won't you? My dear friend?"
Kyle blinked calmly. He smiled back. But just like Azazeal, his smile was empty. "Don't call me that. I am not your fucking friend. As for the Celestial spirits, the next time I encounter one, I will consume it. This time, I made a mistake."
Azazeal feigned a hurt expression, but his empty eyes, filled with mock amusement, completely betrayed his facade.
"Ah, and here I thought we were friends. We spend so much time together in No Mana Land... So, I had this idea, you know?"
His eyes quivered with an unsettling intensity, sending goosebumps flaring across Kyle's skin, making his nerves scream that he was about to die.
"Do you want to dig out my bones as well? Or should I unearth one to offer you? Perhaps that way we could finally be friends? Hmm?"
Kyle vanished without a second thought, and in the blink of an eye, a massive portion of the planet shattered into pieces. Azazeal raised his fist when he saw his attack had missed. He blinked and vanished behind him, taking the darkness with him.
The people on the planet, frozen in place because of his power, finally dropped to their knees, trembling, and cried out. The Tree of Fate also let out a faint cry as the dark energy consuming its roots vanished. It almost faced death for the second time in such a short span.
Yet, when they raised their eyes and beheld the destruction Azazeal had left behind, their hearts thundered with fear.
A large portion of the planet lay shattered, leaving behind nothing but dust and debris swirling in the void of space. The roots of the Tree of Fate in that region weren't just destroyed; they were obliterated, severed from existence as if they had never been.
Alec floated out from the crowd, heading toward Jian's unconscious body.
"Where is Kyle?"
His words were met with silence, and he could only grit his teeth hard enough to draw blood because they could do nothing.
"Why the hell is he so powerful? Just why?"
He shouted and slammed his fist into the ground. What happened today reminded them once again of the difference between themselves and Azazeal. They were nothing in front of him. Nothing at all. Just as Azazeal had forced them to their knees in the Lost Treasure Tomb, he did the same again.
"He can kill us with just a flick of his finger. Why does such immense power have to fall into the wrong hands?"