Lui slapped Bastian’s shoulder.
"I told you! It’s him—the red-eyed Celestial! Damn, he survived the Hell’s Layer! And now that Nathaniel’s pointed it out, I can see the other one is alive too! OMG, how shocking!"
Nathaniel’s eyes returned to Cassian and Kyle. The golden clock Celestial symbol in his possession had reacted in the abyss. It didn’t matter who was responsible for that reaction—he wanted to eliminate these two pests, driven by a powerful hunch that they would become a huge nuisance later on.
He watched as everyone around Kyle and Cassian rose with them, hastily retreating to a safe distance from the eleven Rulers while taking defensive stances. Valance smiled at their tense, grim expressions.
Nathaniel turned his gaze to Ares.
"Ares, you still have the chance to step away from this matter. I respect you—as someone who once studied under you. So, hand these two Celestials over..."
He pointed directly at Kyle and Cassian.
"...to me. I won’t harm anyone else. These two, as you know, are no good. That’s why I punished them, but their luck was so good that they even survived the Hell’s Layer."
Ares scoffed at his words and laughed.
"Respect? You? Don’t taint that word. It feels filthy coming from your mouth."
His words were so provocative that Kyle was taken aback. He wouldn’t have held it against him if Ares had stayed away from the matter, as Nathaniel suggested. After all, Kyle had the skill to vanish right under the Rulers’ eyes and emerge unscathed.
Besides, Ares owed him nothing—so why would he expect the man to endanger his life and the lives of his people for him?
Also, Kyle was certain Ares would have accepted Nathaniel’s offer, given how he always avoided dangerous situations. Yet, the man was doing the exact opposite.
Unlike him, Cassian just sighed.
’Still the same as before. You haven’t changed at all, Clan Leader.’
Cassian stepped forward, pushing Ares back with an emotionless expression.
"No need to interfere. This is my battle."
Ares glared at him, unwilling to stay back. The group paid no attention to Nathaniel, whose face had turned ugly at his words.
Kyle rubbed his forehead at the scene, muttering a curse under his breath as he noticed Nathaniel gesture for a Ruler to attack Ares. He felt utterly helpless.
"Damn it... I was going to disappear, but now I’ve to change the plan. Hah. Really."
Despite his complaints, a faint, almost imperceptible smile tugged at his lips.
He cracked his knuckles, then snatched a rather old-looking sword from one of the nearby statues, quickly testing its weight and adjusting his grip until it felt natural.
"Alright. You want to end me, don’t you? Then come kill me. I’ll face you head‑on. Let’s see just how strong you Rulers are!"
His sudden declaration silenced everyone. The Rulers around Nathaniel looked at him mockingly and started laughing, thinking he had lost his mind. Clan Leader Ares began to sweat, already envisioning his death, yet he still rushed to stand firmly beside him.
Cassian hummed as he drew his sword.
"I agree with that"
He muttered, his crimson eyes narrowing dangerously at Nathaniel, filled with cold hatred, screaming just a single word: Kill.
"Let’s see just how powerful... how strong the so-called mighty Rulers really are. Are they even worthy of the title ’Ruler’?"
Nathaniel pressed his lips together, trying his best to hold back the urge to laugh at Kyle and Cassian’s words. Ruler Lui shot Cassian a glare and stepped forward.
"I alone am enough to kill all of you! Don’t take advantage of Nathaniel’s good nature! You want to battle him because you know he would let you two live? Dream on!"
Her words made her friend, Bastian, cringe, inwardly admitting she was a fool with not a single braincell. It was clear from the way she still believed Nathaniel was a good guy.
Maybe she was the only one among the Rulers who was blind to his true nature.
Nathaniel finally couldn’t hold back and laughed, patting Lui on the shoulder.
"Okay, you handle them—"
Kyle interrupted with a click of his tongue, swinging his sword in a deadly, perfect arc.
"Stop talking. Let the battle begin."
His confident words were followed by a thunderous roar as he disappeared. In the Layer of Ancients, it was clear to everyone that they couldn’t rely on their natural laws or extend their senses too far. Yet, a single swing of the sword in his hand tore through the void with unimaginable force, sending a shiver down Lui’s spine as she was caught off guard and instantly hurled backward.
Nathaniel and the others nearby flew back, startled by the sheer intensity of the strike.
Then—boom—the floor of the statue-filled chamber exploded, fragments of stone and dust scattering like a violent storm. Cracks raced in all directions, statues toppled, and the air itself rippled under the weight of the seemingly ordinary attack, leaving nothing untouched by the devastation of the strike.
Kyle tilted his head, noting that the old sword in his hand hadn’t disintegrated.
"Haha, it’s old, but surprisingly sturdy. It’s been a while since I wielded a sword, yet I see—my skills haven’t gone rusty at all."
Ares clung to Zami, who had grabbed his and Cassian’s collars just in time to pull the two out of the attack’s range. He looked at the older woman, trembling, and asked.
"What the fuck was that??"
Cassian let out a chuckle.
He already knew Kyle’s sword skills were extraordinary! How could he not? He had faced Kyle head-on once before and had almost seen his end beneath his blade!
Zami narrowed her eyes at Kyle.
"His sword is dangerous—or rather, him wielding a sword when the power of our natural laws is limited is dangerous. How many more abilities is this person hiding? He’s so young, yet this young man has already surpassed even you and me."
Ares wanted to cry. Then what was the point of him trying to help?! Kyle could clearly handle everything on his own!
That damn bastard didn’t even warn his own allies that he was about to attack!