Souta glanced at the warriors of Olympus. He didn't know how many warriors would die in this war. His only concern was protecting those close to him and providing them with a place to further improve their skills.
With these thoughts in mind, he disregarded the pressure he was shouldering.
Thud!
Souta took a step forward, causing a ripple in the air.
Genzu, Heido, and Santu quickly turned their heads to look at him.
"What are you planning, Grain Leader Souta? We need to stick to the plan," Santu asked hastily.
Souta ignored him and continued forward. His voice resounded, "Sixth Grain War of the Tenth Set Pallas Division. Under the orders of your Grain Leader, it's time for war."
Shen Yao turned her head and furrowed her brows.
Adel laughed at Souta's actions, "Is the Blood Lightning Monster unable to restrain himself?"
"Huhu, Blood Lightning Monster. Are we finally going to see him in action?" Naruse chuckled as she covered her mouth with a fan.
"Blood Lightning Monster..." Li Guan muttered. He wanted to discern the difference between himself and the so-called Strongest Fourth Stage Monster. With the blood of the Monkey King flowing in his veins, he believed he was qualified for that title as well.
The other representatives turned their heads, observing Souta's movements.
The Heads of the Five Master Clans furrowed their brows, but they refrained from speaking. They simply watched as Souta stepped into the air.
Souta positioned himself three kilometer above the surface, gazing down at the entire battlefield. His blood flowed from his finger, forming a crimson throne.
He seated himself with a cold expression. His energy soared through the sky, manifesting as a pillar of dark red light. The pressure he emanated grew increasingly intense.
"Warriors of Athena, go forth and ravage the enemies. Do not concern yourselves with those beyond your level. You have my unwavering support."
His words invigorated the warriors from Athena's Champion. Nothing was more reassuring than the words of their Grain Leader. They charged forward with fervor, secure in the knowledge that they had their leader's backing. The S-rank warriors had no fear of being encircled and defeated by the Army of Gluttony's Shackled Realm experts.
"Let's move," Alice declared, taking flight ahead, with Eztein trailing behind.
Edilon and Fremi, the only Four Shackles Realm fighters of the Sixth Grain War, exchanged a glance before rushing forward to dismantle the forces of the Army of Gluttony.
At the rear, the commanders of the Army of Gluttony stared at Souta, seated arrogantly upon the crimson throne, their brows furrowed in displeasure.
"So that's the Blood Lightning Monster, huh?"
"No wonder he's so arrogant. Just look at that energy density; it's incredibly strong."
"We must eliminate him. He's one of the obstacles in our path to conquer the Selnes Country."
"So, who will confront him?"
"Let's observe a little longer. Moreover, there are individuals who are eager to deal with him. We can entrust the task of facing the Blood Lightning Monster to them."
"Very well, then let's respond to his allies."
"Our plan will commence shortly. Prepare yourselves to take action."
They dispatched more Shackled Realm experts to handle figures like Edilon, Fremi, Alice, or any practitioners at the Three and Four Shackles Realm. They dispatched an equal number of experts to counter the warriors on Souta's side.
Edilon and the others found themselves swiftly embroiled in combat, their attempts to reduce the enemy's numbers hampered.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The battle grew even more chaotic with the introduction of several Three and Four Shackles Realm experts.
Eilish clenched her teeth, stepping back and waving her hand. Instantly, a magic circle materialized beneath her feet.
[Ocean Waves]!
An immense surge of water erupted in every direction, engulfing the majority of people within the vicinity.
The Two Shackles experts from the Army of Gluttony remained undeterred. They tore through the water torrents and advanced toward her.
Swoosh!!
Franklin's form darted as he pulled three of the experts beneath the waves.
"Follow me!"
His aura brimmed with potent intent to kill, his body swelling as he transformed into a massive bulk.
While Franklin dealt with three enemies, six Two Shackles experts still persisted in their pursuit of Eilish. Not only were Two Shackles experts involved, but even the One Shackle experts of the Army of Gluttony were converging on her.
Eilish continued her retreat, simultaneously weaving spells in her defense.
Their skirmish lasted a mere few seconds, leaving Eilish covered in bruises. Despite her efforts, she had only managed to eliminate a handful of One Shackle opponents. None of the Two Shackles experts had suffered as severe injuries as she had.
"I require more power..."
Sensing danger from her flank, Eilish instinctively made a grabbing motion.
Whoosh!
A figure materialized and swiftly executed a formidable lightning slash. Eilish contorted her body, narrowly evading the strike through tremendous exertion. However, her opponent pursued without delay.
Bang!!
In the blink of an eye, a potent lightning strike connected with her abdomen. Hurling through the water, she crashed into its depths.
Bang!
Her assailant's intent was to pursue and finish her off, but their advance came to an abrupt halt. They glanced upward, noticing a group of One Shackle and Two Shackles experts observing them. These were the warriors of the Sixth Grain War.
The Sixth Grain War stood as a formidable presence within the Tenth Set of the Pallas Division. While not on par with the First Grain, it commanded substantial influence. Comprising 2 Four Shackles, 9 Three Shackles, 23 Two Shackles, and 47 One Shackle Realms, its might was unquestionable.
"Attack!"
In an instant, the two factions collided, sending shockwaves rippling through the air.
Eztein, Alice, and the remaining Three Shackles Realm experts from Athena's Champion were deeply engaged in combat against the enemies. They found themselves unable to extend assistance to their compatriots. Simultaneously, the Shackled Realm soldiers representing the Five Master Clans had entered the fray, further intensifying the chaos of the battle.
Boom!!
The clash continued.
Deep within the sea she had conjured, Eilish reopened her eyes. Franklin was grappling with three enemies simultaneously. In addition to him, there were A-rank and S-rank combatants locked in combat at a distant vantage.
"They haven't pursued me... I'm sensing energy fluctuations from above."
She lifted her gaze skyward, understanding the implication. The warriors of Athena's Champion had undoubtedly joined the fray.
"I sense it... I'm on the verge of a breakthrough."
Meanwhile, Souta maintained his vigil over the ongoing battles. Though the enemy enjoyed numerical superiority, his forces exhibited formidable strength. Their annihilation would prove a challenging endeavor for the opposition.
Moreover, he was present—an intimidating force that deterred any Three Shackles from targeting Eilish and Franklin. The same held true for Alice and Eztein. None of the Four Shackles would assail them. Unless the rear commanders chose to engage him, no one else could impede his intervention.
Souta was acutely aware of their observation. As he had refrained from taking action, they maintained a vigilant stance, poised for any movement he might make. Should he attempt to slaughter the lower-ranking fighters, it was likely that those leaders would launch an offensive against him.
'Let's see how this unfolds...'
He shifted his attention to the battlefield.
'Ah, it's commencing...'
Souta leaned his chin on his hand, closing his eyes in contemplation. Gradually, a shadowy energy began to seep from his form, eventually coalescing into a magic circle beneath the throne.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
In an instant, ten silhouettes manifested alongside him.
[Doppelganger]!
'I should be capable of managing more considering my current stillness. When engaged in combat, it's arduous to control ten shadows simultaneously. Yet my circumstances differ now; I need not manage my blood or any of my own skills. My focus lies solely on the shadows.'
An orb emerged from Souta's pocket, radiating a faint luminance that introduced an eerie ambiance to the air.
In the subsequent moment, an additional ten shadows materialized.
Thus, a grand total of twenty doppelgangers now occupied the space.
A subtle smile gradually curved on Souta's lips.
[Orb of Arcane Seal].
This object possessed among its functionalities the ability to stack his spells by two. While [Doppelganger] ordinarily permitted the summoning of only ten shadows, the artifact's influence enabled Souta to double his capacity to control these phantoms.
The same enhancement applied to his other spells. Instances included doubling the quantity of black spheres evoked by the [Gravitational Ball] spell. Spells that were non-stackable ceased to pose an impediment. The similar enhancement extended to [Agility Boost], a spell once restricted to being cast just once upon himself. He was now capable of casting it twice consecutively to receive a double boost.
"The moment has arrived..."
The blood of the fallen soldiers transmuted into spears that levitated. Each set of twenty shadows grabbed two spears.
Numerous leaders keenly monitored Souta's actions. He emerged as the first to take a stand, unabashedly positioning himself above the battlefield. An air of readiness enveloped all as they braced for the forthcoming unfolding.
The Blood Lightning Monster's actions vastly exceeded their anticipations.
