"Afterimage."
Valerius' pupils shrank violently.
A chill rose along his spine.
He turned abruptly and retreated at the sa ti.
Ethan had already appeared behind him.
There was no pause, no transition, no rcy.
The long sword in Ethan's hand swept out in a ruthless arc, slashing straight toward Valerius' neck without giving him the slightest room to breathe.
Valerius leaned backward in an instant.
The sword wind scraped across his face like a blade.
Several strands of blond hair at his forehead were severed cleanly by the tip of the sword.
Without hesitation, Valerius mobilized the power within his body. He twisted his torso midair and slashed horizontally with the golden long sword in his hand, drawing out a brilliant arc of golden blade light.
Clang.
A crisp tallic collision resounded.
Sparks scattered in every direction.
Ethan retreated with his sword, sliding back three feet before stabilizing himself.
"Chief Palace Master."
"I told you."
"I only need one move."
Ethan's voice was calm.
He opened his palm.
A few strands of golden hair lay between his fingers.
Silence.
Valerius did not speak.
His brows were tightly furrowed. His face had darkened, and his eyes were heavy with shadow.
The change in his aura was obvious.
Anger.
Killing intent.
They rose slowly, like oil igniting within a sealed furnace.
Ethan exhaled gently.
The strands of golden hair in his palm ignited instantly and turned to ash.
Below.
Stunned.
Shocked.
These expressions appeared on nearly every face.
Among the Sky family, after the initial disbelief ca wild joy. So could not help but leap and shout.
But within the ranks of the Palace of the Four Cycles, the atmosphere was entirely different.
Shock.
Then fury.
Then humiliation.
They had just witnessed their chief palace master boast ten moves.
Now a single move had severed his hair.
The silence that followed was suffocating.
Ember clenched her fists so tightly her knuckles whitened.
She bit her lip until it nearly bled.
Her father was the chief palace master of the Palace of the Four Cycles.
The strongest figure within their ranks.
He embodied their dignity.
And now that dignity had been struck openly, without restraint.
"Ethan."
Her voice was hoarse, low, grinding through clenched teeth.
Her fingers tightened until joints cracked audibly.
Ethan remained suspended in midair, gaze sweeping across the battlefield.
The silence from the Palace of the Four Cycles was deafening.
He inhaled slowly, savoring the mont.
"Why is the Chief Palace Master silent."
"Are you regretting your words."
"Or do you intend to break your promise."
He tilted his head slightly.
"Forget it."
"I will treat your promise as empty talk."
"The Palace of the Four Cycles has never been known for credibility."
His smile was faint, but the mockery was unmistakable.
Valerius let out a low laugh.
"Heh."
His expression smoothed artificially.
"How could I, the chief palace master, regret my own words."
He smiled.
Yet behind his back, his fists were clenched so tightly the knuckles had turned pale.
He wished to tear Ethan apart on the spot.
"I promised to spare the Sky family."
"But I made no promise regarding you."
The mont those words left his mouth, he moved.
Violent killing intent surged skyward.
Terrifying flas erupted instantly.
In a blink, half the sky was consud by a descending ocean of fire, like a reversed waterfall crashing toward Ethan.
"You are impatient."
Ethan chuckled softly.
Then he struck again with words.
"The Chief Palace Master spoke boldly of ten moves."
"One move left you in such a state."
"Where does your confidence co from."
Valerius' face twisted.
"Sharp tongued brat."
"When I sever your limbs and tear out your tongue, we shall see if you can still speak."
His roar echoed across the sky.
With full force unleashed, he gripped the golden long sword and descended from above, carrying destructive fla power capable of shattering heaven and earth.
Ethan's lips curved slightly.
Valerius' mind had been stirred.
His judgnt had been influenced.
In a battle at this level, a shaken ntality was a flaw.
"The Way of Boundless, Boundless Moon Severing."
Ethan ceased speaking.
His body sank abruptly.
Terrifying sword intent surged upward, carrying gray blue flas like a curtain rising to et the heavens.
It collided head on with the descending golden sea of fire.
Cyan light enveloped Ethan entirely.
With his tyrannical physical body, he tore straight through the ocean of flas.
His long sword swept outward.
A silver blade light dozens of feet long stretched across the sky.
That single slash tore open a chasm like crack in space itself.
The sword light hung across the firmant, dividing the golden sea of fire into two halves.
Under the overwhelming radiance, Valerius' figure seed small.
The flaming light he unleashed was crushed upon contact.
In the span of a breath, he was swallowed by the dazzling silver arc.
The golden sea of fire shattered into countless fragnts, breaking apart into fireballs that fell to the ground and blasted massive craters into the earth.
When the brilliance finally dimd, Ethan stared intently into the fading light.
His expression had turned serious.
Valerius stood at the peak of the Perfect Demon Lord realm.
It was impossible that he could not block even that strike.
Within a few breaths, Ethan sensed it.
Valerius' aura had not vanished.
Then a violent rumble echoed through the sky.
"Ethan."
"You are the only one in hundreds of years who has left a wound on ."
The voice was low.
Cold. Raging.
Then he roared again.
Golden divine power erupted without restraint.
Countless bolts of golden lightning descended from the heavens, striking Valerius' body.
Blinding golden light flared outward, lifting him slowly upward.
The mbers of the Palace of the Four Cycles exhaled collectively in relief.
When Ethan's sword had fallen, many had felt dread seize their hearts.
The power had been overwhelming.
For a mont, even they had feared the worst.
But now, the chief palace master stood unhard.
"Father."
Ember stared upward.
Golden lightning poured down in torrents, covering half the sky.
An indescribably terrifying aura began to rise.
It was like an ancient beast awakening after endless slumber.
The pressure alone made scalps tingle.
"Is this."
"Valerius' true strength."
Linus gazed upward.
The fluctuations emanating from that golden radiance caused his heart to pound.
He had not expected Valerius to have reached such a level.
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