In Zone 5...
Shen Yao was forcefully pushed aside as she endured the relentless assault of the Poisonous Vine and Spatial Whisperer. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.
"Huff...!"
Her breaths were labored as she quickly surveyed the ground battlefield. While she didn't have all the details, the warriors below were engaged in a desperate struggle.
"I have to do this... I can't afford to hesitate any longer."
Determined, Shen Yao steeled herself and retreated several hundred meters from her opponents.
"Also..."
Shen Yao gazed in a particular direction, sensing the presence of the Clan Leader of the Methal Clan. It appeared that he was preparing to engage someone of equal standing. Both of their energies continued to surge without pause. They clearly intended to give it their all right from the outset.
"Don't tell me..."
She widened her eyes, suddenly realizing something. The Methal Clan Leader must have discovered the traitor. Additionally, there was a faint aura of the Windi Clan Leader, but it was steadily fading away.
Whoosh!!
Poisonous Vine and Spatial Whisperer froze in their tracks. A sudden sense of danger gripped their hearts, prompting extreme caution.
In the next moment, the entire area quivered as Shen Yao's energy burst forth, flooding the surroundings like a raging tide.
Boom!!
Li Guan, who lay on the ground, gazed upward and muttered, "Shen Yao... She's going to use it. She's going to risk everything."
Shen Yao floated in the air, her energy radiating wildly. Her hair danced in the wind, gradually turning white.
[Earth Ascending Transformation: Golden Arhat]!
Her pupils emanated a white glow, and golden tattoos emerged all over her body.
Poisonous Vine and Spatial Whisperer exchanged grim glances. They keenly sensed the impending danger emanating from Shen Yao at this very moment.
Shen Yao locked her gaze on her two opponents. One of them had already been wounded by Li Guan, and it was a sufficient cue for her. She intended to take on both of them single-handedly.
"Since the Blood Lightning Monster went all out and took one of you down, perhaps it's time for me to do the same."
Her words resonated as she slowly raised her hand.
[Thousand Desolation Palm]!!
In an instant, a colossal golden palm, spanning a thousand meters, materialized in the air. It descended upon Poisonous Vine and Spatial Whisperer, who braced themselves as the palm loomed overhead.
"Since you've chosen to stand in the way, you shall perish along with the rest!" Shen Yao's voice echoed.
The intense energy radiated throughout the entire landscape. The golden palm in the sky cast its shadow over every corner of the land.
Poisonous Vine and Spatial Whisperer inhaled deeply. Their energies surged as they unleashed their techniques in unison.
[Space Divine Slash]!!
[Omni Poison Strike]!!
Their attacks clashed with the colossal golden palm, generating intense friction in the air and causing the space to tremble violently.
Boom!!
On the opposite side of the battlefield, Souta halted in his tracks, sensing the intense energy fluctuations in the atmosphere.
"Shen Yao..." Souta murmured as he directed his gaze toward the source of the energy surges.
Red Mist also turned her attention in that direction, a grin forming on her lips. "They're taking it up a notch. What about you? Are you still going to hold back, or is it time to go all out? Maybe, your battle with Boulder Jack really took a toll on your body."
Souta stepped back, scrutinizing his opponent. His aura remained as potent as ever, and the injuries on his body seemed to have boosted his strength. He could have healed those wounds, but he chose not to, in exchange for enhanced stats.
"Well, I'm not entirely sure about that," Souta replied before he slashed his sword horizontally. A burst of crimson energy radiated from the blade, but Red Mist skillfully evaded it. Souta then retreated while twenty black spheres spun on his back.
With a resounding shout, Souta gestured with his hand, unleashing a powerful gravitational force.
Bang!!
The gravitational pull was so incredibly strong that it suddenly inverted the entire field. In an instant, light and particles were forcibly pushed away, and various structures and trees were uprooted from the ground.
Red Mist continued to float in the air, though a hint of frustration crossed her face. The gravitational force was formidable, but it wasn't sufficient to completely immobilize her.
She glanced downward, observing the ground that had been thoroughly cleared. Even the warriors engaged in battle had been affected by the pervasive gravity. Only those experts who had reached the Four Shackles or higher could withstand the gravitational onslaught from every direction.
However, Red Mist noticed something peculiar. She turned her head, and her eyes widened in shock. Suddenly, the scenery around her underwent a dramatic transformation. A massive platform materialized beneath her feet, and towering pillars graced every corner, supporting a grand and imposing ceiling. Dark and light energies permeated every part of this structure, and she felt the elemental suppression inherent in this place.
"You...?!"
Souta grinned and declared, "[Undead Colosseum Party]..."
"Boulder Jack's spell... You've mastered it?" Red Mist squinted her eyes. She was well-acquainted with this spell and understood its danger, as she could feel her elemental power being suppressed within the field. She shook her head and smiled, remarking, "You, with the gravity earlier, that's quite the strategy."
Souta wasted no time and dashed toward her, wielding the vajra sword. "The gravity won't resolve everything, but it'll aid my allies, even though some of them will be affected."
"Good," Red Mist smirked as flames enveloped both her hands.
She retracted her fist and launched it at the opportune moment. Meanwhile, Souta slashed his sword, sending a massive blade of crimson energy.
Boom!!
Following the collision of their attacks, Souta quickly distanced himself from Red Mist, closely observing her every move.
Suddenly, he widened his eyes as the entire ground crumbled into pieces.
"This is..."
Souta quickly grasped what was unfolding.
Red Mist also halted, her attention fixed on the surroundings. The suppression that had been diminishing her elemental powers was gradually fading away. She had a notion of what had occurred.
She glanced at Souta and commented, "It appears he took a drastic measure to counter your gravity scheme. You created a gravitational field to propel every object in this nation toward the device, and he simply annulled it. It's still a spell, after all."
In various regions of the country, numerous experts paused in their tracks, gazing skyward. Even top-tier experts like Naruse, Shen Yao, Kasci, and those affiliated with the Deadly Sins detected the shift in the atmosphere.
"This...? My spells are restricted!" Naruse squinted her eyes.
"The spells have dissipated..." Kasci muttered.
In the space above Zone 7, Adel stood facing a man clad in a black robe, who wore a grave expression.
Adel opened and closed his fist, realizing that most of his buff spells were rapidly vanishing.
"I knew this wouldn't be an easy battle. But I never anticipated encountering someone with this kind of ability here," Adel muttered in a subdued tone.
The man standing before him was Anti-Mage, the nemesis of all spellcasters throughout the world. His appearance had also undergone a significant transformation, as the deceptive spell he had been using had dissipated.
His red hair billowed in the wind, and his cold, red eyes bore into Adel. His features were chiseled, and a menacing scar marred his left cheek. Anti-Mage was, in fact, a pure-blooded barbarian.
Anti-Mage's fingers began forming a peculiar gesture, causing bluish dots of light to coalesce around his body.
[Nullified Area: Dead Spell]!!
At this moment, all spells within the country were nullified. No one could use them in Anti-Mage's presence. Magic circles disintegrated into pieces as the effects of every spell were negated.
This ability transformed the entire country into a dead zone, rendering the use of spells impossible. Anti-Mage's unique ability provided him a significant advantage over any experts reliant on spells.
"You aimed to destroy the device, didn't you? Even the Blood Lightning Monster attempted it, but with my presence in this country, no spells can damage the device," Anti-Mage's voice resounded.
Adel looked down and observed the vanishing gravitational force. Even the vast platform in Zone 6 was crumbling.
"Hmm..." Adel shifted his gaze to Anti-Mage and declared, "I never expected this turn of events. But if you think that disabling all spells in this country will secure your victory, let me demonstrate something."
A smile crept across Anti-Mage's face. "Give it a try, then."
"Your ability couldn't even stop Shen Yao's rampage! She doesn't rely on spells, so I'll simply employ abilities other than spells!" Adel's grin widened, and a potent surge of bloodlust radiated from his body.
Ohm!
A marble materialized in Adel's hand, morphing into a three-meter-long greatsword. His forehead emitted a bluish flame that extended to coat his armor. Instead of heat, a potent frigid energy emanated from him, sharply lowering the temperature.
[Heavenly Formation: Frost Flame]!!
