NOVPUB
Chapter 186: The Devil’s Plan B
After Aldrian’s display of power, the devils finally regained some clarity. Although those with lower cultivation levels struggled to control the nature of their negative energy, they weren’t entirely foolish. Watching Aldrian hover in the air, effortlessly dominating the battle, they hesitated to charge recklessly. There was something about Aldrian that felt distinctly off to them.
However, Aldrian didn’t wait for them to approach. After devastating everything within a five-kilometer radius in front of him, he prepared to unleash another technique outside his domain. This time, he created a massive spear using the fire element, combining it with the power wind laws. Once the spear was ready, he aimed it at the distant devils who were reluctant to come any closer.
The devils who saw the spear aimed at them felt a chill and began to flee frantically to avoid the impact. Watching their retreating figures, Aldrian didn’t give them another chance. He immediately sent the giant spear hurtling toward them, which instantly breaking the sound barrier before it struck its target.
BOOM!!!
The spear exploded on impact, with flames spreading outward like ocean waves. Fire engulfed a vast area of the battlefield, but it was clear to all that its power was weaker than the lightning attack, reaching only the strength of a low king stage. Aldrian nodded at this second test, beginning to understand how his techniques and domain functioned together.
The first test was to see if creating his technique within the domain and then sending it outside would allow it to retain the domain’s power. The result showed that it did indeed maintain the domain’s strength, even beyond his domain.
The second test was to see if he could create his technique outside of his domain from the beginning, while he remained inside the domain. The result showed that he couldn’t transfer his domain’s power to the technique this way, making it significantly weaker.
With these two experiments, he now had a better understanding of his ability and how to utilize it in the future. He then looked toward the devil army, which seemed to be preparing something in the distance. Suddenly, the entire battlefield trembled as a pillar of red light erupted from the center of the devils’ army. Everyone’s eyes widened as they looked at the light, realizing exactly what the devils were trying to do.
The Rivas family’s commander looked toward the red light, feeling his heart tighten with unease. He could also sense a pressure stronger than any being on the battlefield. With a swift slash of his halberd, he struck the devil’s commander and then put some distance between them.
Rumble!
In the center of the red light pillar, a giant silhouette appeared. The Rivas family’s commander widened his eyes as the aura of a low emperor stage spread across the entire battlefield, even reaching the town itself and when the red light pillar finally dissipated, the Rivas family’s commander’s eyes dilated in shock.
"Low Emperor stage Black Rock Snake."
Shriieekkk!!!
The snake’s voice echoed across the entire battlefield and the town, the pressure it exuded causing panic among the people. The evacuation process quickly descended into chaos. The morale of the soldiers plummeted as they witnessed an emperor-level entity and its Black Rock Snake. This beast, infamous for its potent venom and formidable strength, appearing here was a clear sign of the devils’ unwavering determination to attack this region.
The devil’s commander grinned, feeling that the outcome of the battle was already decided. Even though the Doria Empire had a man like Aldrian, it wouldn’t change anything. With the appearance of the Black Rock Snake, the battle would end much faster than they had predicted. However, summoning such a giant beast had drained a significant portion of the devils’ resources—resources they would need for a prolonged war.
"You are all dead," the devil’s commander said before striking again at the Rivas commander with his sword. The snake beneath him seemed to grow more energized with the appearance of the low emperor-stage Black Rock Snake. The Rivas commander countered with his halberd, but he had already lost some of his momentum.
The Rivas family’s commander was nearly in despair at the situation, but he gritted his teeth and ordered his men.
"Activate the town’s last barrier! Though it won’t hold the snake’s attack for long, it’s better than nothing!"
However, a few seconds later, he received a report from one of his underlings.
"Sir, it’s not good! The operator of the city barrier has already fled! We’ll have to activate it manually!" the soldier shouted as he grabbed the communication device.
"Those bastards!!" The commander muttered in frustration, knowing exactly why they had run away. He understood that they stood no chance against the low emperor-stage Black Rock Snake. Not only did they lack an emperor-stage figure here, but they also had no formation or barrier that could withstand an attack from such a creature. In fact, even if they had a low emperor-stage figure, it wouldn’t guarantee they could hold off the Black Rock Snake.
The snake’s strength and venom were dangerous even to middle emperor-stage cultivators, so it was no wonder the Black Rock Snake was one of the most feared beasts on the continent. The Rivas family’s commander gritted his teeth, deciding to use a secret technique that would temporarily boost his power. This was the same technique Eleine had used when she battled the devils alongside Aldrian a few years ago.
However, he knew that using this technique came with a side effect: it would leave him much weaker for somtime. The technique pushed his body and dantian beyond their limits, and after its use, a cooldown period would follow. During this cooldown, his cultivation and strength would temporarily decrease before gradually returning to normal. The duration of the cooldown depended on how long the technique was used, but at most, it would last for two minutes.
The side effect wasn’t deadly if the situation weren’t so dangerous, but this time he was in the middle of the battlefield. Even though he could kill his opponents, he knew he would be dead for sure afterward, as there was no way he could battle effectively in a weakened state. He also knew that even with his secret technique, he couldn’t defeat the Black Rock Snake. But at least he could kill the devil’s commander, the snake, and as many of the enemy forces as possible. In the end, it would be his sacrifice.
"I hope my sacrifice will bring a change in this battle," he thought to himself. But he knew he was only fooling himself. With the appearance of the Black Rock Snake, he was certain Vicanti town would fall shortly after.
Before activating his secret technique, he glanced at Aldrian to see what he would do, but he was stunned to watch Aldrian take out a sword. The sword was of peak heaven grade, causing his eyes to widen, as not everyone could afford such a weapon. Though Aldrian’s expression was serene, like a calm surface of water, the commander couldn’t shake the feeling that there was a quiet confidence in Aldrian’s demeanor.
The soldiers that were already trembling in fear also looked at Aldrian’s figure with confusion, but they were also shocked when he drew the heaven-grade sword. The soldiers, already trembling in fear, looked at Aldrian’s figure with confusion, but their shock deepened when they saw him draw the heaven-grade sword. Aldrian focused on the giant snake, which locked eyes with him before letting out a shriek and charging toward him with full power. The devils, whose morale had been boosted by the snake’s appearance, followed suit, intensifying the battle. Fear had completely vanished from their eyes.
The devils, having regained their momentum, began to push back the defense line, their morale bolstered by the appearance of the Black Rock Snake. Aldrian, watching the giant snake charge toward him with incredible speed, followed by the devils with crazed expressions, simply ignored them. With his mother’s fate still unknown, he needed to end this battle quickly so he could finally search for her.
While floating, he took a stance and slowly unsheathed his sword. With each inch the sword moved out of its scabbard, the swords across the entire battlefield and in the town—trembled. The powerful sword intent and sword will radiated from him. In some parts of the battlefield, the fighting seemed to halt as soldiers’ swords trembled uncontrollably, rendering them unable to use them.
The devil’s commander felt a foreboding sense as he watched Aldrian’s technique, instantly dashed toward him, leaving the Rivas family’s commander behind.
"STOP HIM! DON’T LET HIM UNLEASH THAT TECHNIQUE!!"
Trusting his instincts, the devil’s commander instantly ordered the devils in the surrounding area to charge at Aldrian, each unleashing their own technique to disrupt him. However, it was already too late by the time Aldrian began to unsheathe his sword. He glanced at the incoming waves of the devil’s army rushing toward him, but his focus remained on the Black Rock Snake—it was his main target. As for the others, he considered them nothing more than ants. 𝑛𝘰𝑣𝑝𝑢𝑏.𝘤𝑜𝘮
At that moment, he decided to use his technique, one that may not be the greatest, but powerful enough to end the battle with a single slash.
Slash of the Vanguard
