As a Wind Element Saint, Ankus quickly caught up to Ka'imaha, flicking his sword to unleash a sharp, horizontal blade of wind aimed directly at his opponent's back.
Ka'imaha impatiently turned his head, and a surge of flesh power erupted from within him. The scales on his body trembled slightly, and the area on his back, lined with sharp spikes, suddenly glowed with a silver light, forming a shield with blurred edges. The wind blade struck the shield, producing a clear metallic clang before dissipating into nothingness.
"Ka'imaha, we agreed to fight away from the battlefield. Are you planning to break our rules?" Ankus roared in anger.
"Rules? Hahaha!" Ka'imaha laughed furiously, his spikes standing on end as his emotions flared. He snarled, "Hmph, you humans are the last ones to talk about rules! You developed something as cruel as the Extinction Poison! Now that you've killed the subordinates I've painstakingly trained, let's settle all our scores together. Don't blame me for being ruthless!"
Ankus gritted his teeth, his chest heaving as he tried to suppress his rage and anxiety. He warned, "If you dare to do this, don't blame me for targeting your scattered forces. I heard... quite a few mainline descendants from your orc tribes are here. If they all die, you'll be under a lot of pressure too, won't you?"
"Hahahahaha!" Ka'imaha laughed wildly, his spikes vibrating with his mirth. "Do you think they matter to me? If they die on the battlefield, they should consider it an honor! Besides, as long as I kill Rhett, it would be worth burying their entire families!"
"You're asking for death!" Ankus, seeing that Ka'imaha was unrepentant, grew even colder, his killing intent rising to new heights. He stomped the ground, his battle energy forming a pattern that increased his speed significantly. On closer inspection, this pattern was similar to Locke's, but far more advanced.
In his fury, Ankus unleashed a flurry of sword strikes, filling the air with countless sword energies. The green wind energy swept through the space, stirring up a violent storm.
Ka'imaha stood motionless amidst the storm, dodging several sword strikes at the critical moment. He took a few hits, but even though the ground around him was scarred with deep sword marks, his scales showed only shallow cracks on his chest. As a silver light flowed over them, the cracks healed one by one.
"Are you trying to tickle me? Huh? Hahaha!" Ka'imaha licked his lips with a twisted smile. "Without the Dimensional Arcana, what do you think you can do against me? So what if you're fast?"
"Hmph, don't be so confident. I have ways to deal with you. Keep those bug eyes wide open!" Ankus struggled to remain calm. It was true that facing the Saint Dragonman's impenetrable scales made it difficult to achieve a breakthrough with his attacks alone, but that didn't mean he was out of options.
Another rhythm of Arcana energy flowed through Ankus' body, carried by the wind, invisible and traceless. Suddenly, the air pressure in the area began to converge in one direction, and countless tiny particles crackled and popped under the intense compression.
Silently, a ring of faint green light formed, surrounding Ka'imaha on all sides. Within the ring, countless blades of wind crisscrossed, slicing at every inch of skin. But they couldn't penetrate the silver mist around Ka'imaha's body, let alone his tough scales.
"The Wind Barrier... I almost forgot you had this move." Ka'imaha's expression darkened. He crouched slightly, his massive tail leaving countless afterimages as it whipped against the highly compressed barrier. At the same time, his fists pounded against the walls, wearing down the barrier's strength. But his movements were constrained by the barrier, forcing him to stay in place.
Ankus sighed in relief but remained tense. He knew his Wind Barrier wouldn't hold Ka'imaha for long. His understanding of the Wind Barrier was shallow, and with the Saint Dragonman's strength, breaking free was only a matter of time.
"Ka'imaha, give up your plan to head to the front lines... I'll allow you to turn back and seek revenge..." Ankus, watching the barrier weaken, took a deep breath after a moment of inner conflict.
Inside the Wind Barrier, enduring the relentless assault, the Saint Dragonman paused, understanding Ankus' implied offer—exchanging the lives of over thirty high-level supernaturals for Rhett's alone.
Ka'imaha looked at Ankus with disdain. "As expected, the most ruthless and deceitful creatures are you humans. But even if you offered your life in exchange, I wouldn't agree! He likely carries the World's Will; even a Saint's life doesn't compare to his!"
"Then die!"
Ankus abandoned all thoughts of negotiation, his face darkening. As he felt the Wind Barrier begin to shatter, he gripped his sword tightly and once again charged forward, breaking through space to strike!
Back on the front lines, the stars had come out. Rhett and Tucker, father and son, fought side by side, battling orcs from dawn to dusk and then from night to the early morning, killing countless foes.
Soon, a new day would dawn.
By now, the stench of blood in the air was overpowering, and a visible mist of blood rose into the sky. But this time, Rhett didn't use a trace of his mental energy to disperse the blood mist with wind elements. Instead, he endured the foul smell, holding a shell to inhale a strand of pure blood mist.
Standing before a mountain of orc corpses, Rhett inhaled the blood mist through his nose. It exploded within him like a powder keg, sending energy coursing through every corner of his body, transforming and strengthening him from within.
A euphoric sensation washed over him, but it lasted only a few seconds before it was replaced by a twisting agony that felt as if his very essence was being torn apart. Pain spread like vines through every nerve, and Rhett bent over, clutching his knees as he swayed, nearly collapsing.
Beside him, Tucker, who had been watching with his giant bow, quickly moved to steady his father, a flash of concern in his eyes. He couldn't understand why his father was putting himself through this, why he was choosing to hurt himself. Despite having pleaded with his father countless times, he had been unable to change his mind.
Time passed slowly, and as the first light of dawn broke over the horizon, the sky brightened. The soldiers who witnessed the sight were horrified as Rhett's already twisted body suddenly cracked open, oozing a strange, eerie blood.
At that moment, a silver light and a green light appeared in the distance, accompanied by a booming shout: "Rhett, run!"
Rhett struggled to lift his eyelids and saw the two beams of light. But in the next moment, as his life force rapidly drained away, he lost consciousness entirely.
A ripple spread, and Rhett returned to reality, feeling more comfortable than ever before. A light screen appeared before his eyes.
[Simulation complete. Please select an attribute to retain.]
[1. Physique]
[2. Battle Energy]
[3. Mental Energy]
"Choose mental energy..."
This was Rhett's first simulation of the day.
Since his mental energy had already reached its limit on the way to the front lines, he was now just one step away from reaching the Saint level. However, he still wanted to see if the Blood Source Pearl or the Aurora Elixir could help him break through to the Saint level. The recent simulation had proven they were of no use.
"I can only rely on meditation to grind my way through..."
Rhett sighed inwardly, but the vast barrier before him felt as insurmountable as the cosmos, leaving him unsure of his chances...
"Time is running out. I only have one day. If I can't break through, the Saint-level orc will hunt me down relentlessly..."
Rhett exhaled, his resolve hardening as he looked around at the battlefield littered with orc corpses. Having painstakingly accumulated over forty thousand fate points, today he would use them to fuel his ascent to the skies!
With a thought, he opened the system once again.
[Start a simulation? Each day consumes 1 fate point.]
"Yes, simulate one day!"
A ripple spread before his eyes. Beside him, Tucker, panting heavily, put down his giant bow and said to Rhett, "Father, my arms feel like they're about to break. Can I rest for a bit?"
"Yes, you have a day to rest. No one is allowed within a hundred meters."
Rhett's voice was calm as he left Tucker with a light command, then sat down cross-legged and entered a state of meditation.
"Yes, Father."
Tucker, who had been feeling a strange unease, hesitated for a moment. Seeing his father so calm, he tried to shake off his worries and focused on his duty. He drew his sword and took up a guard position in front of his father, ignoring the envious and cautious glances of others, ready to defend with unwavering loyalty.
Time passed.
In one simulation after another, Rhett sat alone, spending what felt like over a hundred years in silence, like a seed taking root and gradually growing into a towering tree.
Outside, the smoke and flames of battle slowly faded.
But in Rhett's mental world, an unprecedented agitation grew.
After spending over thirty thousand days meditating without food or drink, Rhett's relentless effort finally paid off. He gradually wore down the vast barrier that had terrified all supernaturals. His mental sea began to expand rapidly, transforming from a small lake into a raging river. At the same time, it shifted from a crystalline state to something like flowing diamonds—magical and wondrous, with an inexhaustible, limitless quality. It felt as though with a mere gesture, he could unleash world-shattering power.
Rhett's expression gradually relaxed as he immersed himself in the sudden and vast increase in his mental strength. Crossing this threshold was as refreshing as the night sky filled with countless stars, bringing an unparalleled sense of peace and relaxation.
The sheer change in power alone was enough to exhilarate Rhett. And soon, he discovered that after reaching the Sanctuary level, it was as if a new pathway had opened, connecting him directly to the world's essence. This connection instantly brought back the fleeting glimpse of the world's core he had seen when first comprehending the Arcana of Disintegration. Now, he could experience that sensation at every moment, and it was nothing short of divine.
It was as if he had peeled back a layer of the world's veil, seeing it more clearly. If before, it was like standing in a thin mist, now it was like diving into the depths of the ocean, where he was closely intertwined with the world itself. The earth elements swirled around him, showcasing various Arcana transformations. The difference between the two was like deciphering a code versus reading a well-written guidebook.
Perhaps due to this newfound clarity, Rhett began to gain further insights into the Arcana of Solidification and Disintegration, which had been stagnant for a while. He felt that given enough time, he would soon grasp these to their highest levels...
It was as though he had opened the door to a new world, and Rhett was so deeply engrossed in the boundless ocean of Arcana that he lost track of time...
Suddenly, a booming voice echoed in his ears: "Rhett, run!"
Rhett's consciousness stirred, pulling him out of his deep state. He opened his eyes to see a silver light and a green light speeding toward him from a distance.
But before he could react, a ripple spread out before his eyes, and the scene shifted, returning him to reality.
A hint of regret flashed in Rhett's eyes. He had already sensed who those two were—Ankus and a Saint Dragonman. After breaking through to the Sanctuary level, he had wanted to test his newfound strength against an opponent. But now, it seemed that would have to wait.
At that moment, Tucker, still panting, put down his giant bow and said to Rhett, "Father, my arms feel like they're about to break. Can I rest for a bit?"
"Yes, rest," Rhett replied calmly, then a light screen appeared before his eyes.
[Simulation complete. Please select an attribute to retain.]
[1. Physique]
[2. Battle Energy]
[3. Mental Energy]
"Mental energy!"
With excitement bubbling in his chest, Rhett made his choice and quickly closed his eyes.
This time, he felt as though he was bathing in light, with his mental energy receiving a massive, yet gentle and nourishing influx.
As the infusion gradually faded, Rhett's aura reached an extreme, radiating a mental force that sent shivers down the spines of those nearby.
It was as if an endless wave of sound spread out rapidly, causing everyone on the battlefield to feel this terrifying pressure, as though they had been plunged into an icy world, their boiling blood suddenly chilled, and their limbs turning cold.
"T-this is... the aura of a Sanctuary!"
On the front lines, Commander Bomir's neck stiffened, and his heart felt as if it was being crushed by the overwhelming power of a Sanctuary, causing him to cry out internally.
Until just moments ago, he had been fully focused on his role as commander, responsible for the entire battlefield, always on the front lines. But now, as he sensed this tsunami of mental pressure, he could hardly believe it. When had a Sanctuary Mage appeared at the Coldstream Front?
By now, only a few orcs remained, and Bomir had enough presence of mind to look back. He saw a figure floating up from behind, slowly rising into the air, surrounded by countless earth elements, like grains of sand sworn to follow their emperor.
Through the swirling yellow sand, he saw the face of the person at the center, and Bomir's eyes widened, his arm trembling so much that he nearly dropped his sword. For the figure standing at the center of the sandstorm was someone he knew all too well!
"Rhett? It's Rhett?!"
Bomir's pupils contracted as a mad roar echoed in his heart: "What the hell is going on? When did he ascend to the Sanctuary? Just now?"
At this moment, under this awe-inspiring might, not only were the human soldiers stunned, but even the orcs were gripped by overwhelming fear.
The battlefield seemed to pause.
By this point, the orcs were little more than remnants, and both the humans and the orcs turned their eyes to the sacred figure in the sky.
Though some human soldiers were unfamiliar with Rhett's face, many others wiped their eyes in disbelief. Wasn't this the officer of the Sixth Legion? The one who had just demonstrated his might on the battlefield, leading his troops to slaughter tens of thousands of orcs, and now he had directly ascended to the Sanctuary?
All the soldiers felt a bit dazed as they slowly processed this reality. But they at least understood one thing: victory in this war was now assured!
The joys and sorrows of living beings are not the same, and while the humans were overjoyed, the morale of the orcs plummeted even further, clearly affected by the presence of a human Sanctuary.
Just as some orc leaders were contemplating whether to fight or flee, a wind began to blow across the battlefield...
The bright sky suddenly turned sand-yellow, quickly forming a vast cloud sea. Then, countless spikes rained down from the sky, covering the entire battlefield.
As a Saint Mage, Rhett instantly conjured a Spiked Rain spell, and its power far surpassed anything he could have achieved as a Grand Mage!
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...
It was as if the apocalypse had descended upon the orc army. The endless spikes fell, taking the lives of orc after orc.
"So this is the power of a Sanctuary... It's incredible..."
Rhett closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and a smile crept onto his lips. This experience of wielding ultimate power was unparalleled in its satisfaction...
At that moment, another light screen popped up before him.
[Family member advanced in strength. Fate points +5.]
The brightness of this late-arriving screen surprised Rhett. He blinked and carefully studied it. Compared to the screen that appeared after the simulation, this one was almost identical in brightness but much more radiant than it had been at the Grand Mage level, with streams of light constantly rotating and emitting a divine glow.
But the next moment, as Rhett finished casting his spell, his expression changed. He sensed a tremor in his mental sea—faint but keenly perceptible.
Rhett's eyes were filled with doubt as he grew increasingly cautious, trying to identify the anomaly in his mental sea.
But soon, the tremor occurred again, each time with shorter intervals and greater intensity, leaving him feeling slightly dizzy...
"What's going on? Did I break through too quickly and suffer some side effects? Or... does this have something to do with the system?" Rhett furrowed his brows, considering both possibilities. Regardless, he had no choice but to sit down on the ground.
At that moment, the soldiers closest to him surged forward like a tide, their expressions excited as they prepared to offer their gratitude.
"Everyone, hold your positions! Do not approach!"
However, Rhett's cold voice stopped them in their tracks. He scanned his surroundings with a serious expression. The sheer power of the Sanctuary made everyone freeze, unable to take another step forward.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Rhett took a deep breath and sat down cross-legged, closing his eyes as if entering a meditative state.
Tucker, who had been overjoyed moments before, now watched this scene with growing concern, his happiness fading away. Worry crept into his eyes.
"Hmm? What's happening? Could something be wrong with Father? Such an unusual breakthrough... Could there be some hidden danger?"
"No, it can't be... Father is invincible. He won't have any problems..."
Tucker took a deep breath, trying to reassure himself as he silently prayed. He stood in front of his father, abandoning any thoughts of rest. Despite the pain in his arms, he drew his sword, resolute in his duty to protect.
At this moment...
Just as Rhett sat down, prepared for a thorough self-examination, the tremors in his mental sea suddenly ceased.
"Is this some kind of joke?"
Feeling puzzled, Rhett was suddenly greeted by a brand new light screen. This screen flickered as if it were an old TV set, struggling to display a clear image.
[Family member has ascended to the pinnacle of the current world. Home permissions have been activated. Please choose how to handle the world.]
[1. Set as Home]
[2. Devour]
[Note: Once a Home is established, any changes will require the destruction of the original Home.]
The appearance of this screen made Rhett's body tremble as if struck by lightning. His attention was locked onto every word.
As expected, after reaching the Sanctuary level, the family system had indeed undergone new changes, confirming his earlier speculations. It turned out that ascending to the pinnacle of the world was the prerequisite for activating the so-called "Home."
Rhett had guessed many possibilities regarding the system's evolution, but he had never imagined that it would allow him to transform an entire world into his "Home" or outright devour it!
"This is terrifying... Where does this system come from?" Rhett couldn't help but feel a sense of awe as he grew more curious about the system's origins. But he quickly pushed aside any thoughts of investigating it further. Achieving something of this magnitude was far beyond his current capabilities. It was better to focus on increasing his strength and developing his foundation.
Gathering his thoughts, Rhett studied the options presented by the light screen. Instead of making an immediate decision, he first opened the family panel. He needed to understand all the changes the system had undergone before making a choice!
[Family Head: Rhett Green]
[Second Generation Members: Tucker Green, Reile Green, Tyrus Green]
[Third Generation Members: Dick Green, Tricia Green, Kares Green, Kazena Green, Aileen Green, Abel Green]
[Home: None]
[Text Simulation]
[Real Simulation]
[Fate Points: 4217]
As expected, there had been some changes to the family panel, though not many—just the addition of a "Home" section.
Rhett immersed his mind in the system, and information related to the changes began to surface automatically, gradually becoming clearer.
As the name suggests, "Home" refers to the family's exclusive base, where family members will enjoy various benefits. However, Rhett wasn't yet clear on what those benefits would be.
The panel had explained that the specific attributes would be determined by the type and characteristics of the world occupied. So, everything would only become clear after fully claiming a world.
Rhett felt a surge of excitement but also a hint of confusion. "So now, the new question is, how do I claim a world?"