After Elreich opened his left eye, Arvengal immediately realized and was shocked. This was the first time an Elreich he knew to be extremely lazy during critical moments like this, finally did something very serious.
"Yes… in the end humans will keep trying to survive. Even if they are lazy, that is the law of nature." He grinned, showing a joyful yet serious expression as he saw Elreich open his eye. Yet he threw a bit of sarcasm toward Elreich.
"!!?" Instantly, both of Elreich's eyes looked upward extremely fast! Then he immediately leaped very high into the sky, leaving traces on the ground.
Arvengal, who immediately understood the meaning behind Elreich's reaction, turned his gaze toward Aldebaran who was previously lying on the ground… now vanished without a trace!!
…
Then, behind the forest, Arvengal saw an old man, who appeared to be holding a hoe. So frail, with wrinkles marking a life that would not last much longer, Arvengal saw the old man walking limply while carrying some herbs.
However, Arvengal instantly moved! He was suddenly behind the old man, leaving a golden streak resonating from his speed.
Then he spun his body, swinging his leg one hundred and eighty degrees and kicked the old man with great force!
Strangely, the old man showed no reaction at all, only staring at Arvengal with a blank and innocent gaze.
"BRUGGHH!"
Arvengal's eyes showed pain, his body shocked, as he suddenly was thrown back by something!
"Damn…" Arvengal uttered, spitting out a bit of blood. His body staggered.
But as he was about to crash, Arvengal swiftly grabbed the old man's hand, pulling them both into the crash together!
"Hehe!" Arvengal smirked at the old man.
"SWOUSHHHH!...DUMPPP!"
They both finally landed near the village settlement due to the prior impact. Panic immediately erupted there, grey smoke from the blast, villagers who were previously asleep woke up to the sound.
A village elder instantly came out of his house, which was very close to the scene. He narrowed his eyes. "What is this?" said the man.
…
As the smoke began to fade, the elegant and shining golden armor, and the white cloak over the large body, with orange hair, face scarred with wounds…
It was Aldebaran, lying down while struggling against Arvengal's force pressing down on him from above.
Their faces twisted, resisting each other's immense strength in an intense exchange of blows.
They stared at each other, Aldebaran filled with anger and resentment. Meanwhile Arvengal gazed with high satisfaction, not feeling any pressure from Aldebaran who was already furious.
"Ghrrrdd…" However, as time passed, Arvengal began to struggle against Aldebaran's strength, which grew increasingly stronger!
…
On the other side, Elreich, who was leaping toward the dark sky… Suddenly! A massive claw, sharp and dark, was charging toward Elreich's movement!
He was shocked, opening his eyes wide in midair. "What!!?"
Then the giant black claw, twice the size of the moon, struck Elreich! The aura of the claw overshadowed all fear among the people there. Even the darkness of night was outmatched by the darkness of the claw's power.
Elreich was immediately slammed down into the ground. His body was wounded and seriously bruised.
Soon after, a massive blast shook the senses of all around.
"BOOMMMHHRR!!"
Huge fractures spread, the ground trembled, souls awakened from a peaceful slumber.
"Whose claw is that?" Elreich said calmly, as he wiped the blood from his mouth. His eyes continued to follow the movement of the claw descending faster toward the ground.
Not long after, water droplets began rising from the earth around Elreich one by one. His eyes darkened, producing a glowing blue crystalline staff, with two sharp horns mounted atop it.
"Manipulation of unreality… Come forth. LEVIATHAN!!" Elreich declared with a serious tone, chanting a reverberating incantation.
Then…
He pulled the staff back, right foot extended backward, left knee bent low, forming a solid stance!
Soon after, LEVIATHAN EMERGED! A dimensional portal releasing the enormous sea creature roared with terrifying sound!
As the Leviathan — white, dark blue, sharp fins, rows of bright yellow eyes, displaying sharp fangs, and colossal in size — manifested,
Elreich immediately leaped onto it!
"Come on… Leviathan, it's been a while."
He rode atop Leviathan's head to counter the claw. When they were close enough to collide, Elreich jumped off.
He then leaped slightly upward. Slowly raised both hands, then lowered them… As they reached his waist, glowing blue particles radiated from him!
Then he lifted his staff upward with one arm. Immediately, water swirled around it, glowing even brighter amidst the chaotic night.
…
However, the dread spreading across the world could not be denied. They saw the terrifying massive claw looming in the sky.
People scattered in panic, desperate to save themselves, caring only for their own survival, leaving behind those they once called loved ones… The sheer terror made humans forget their sins, yet ironically forced them to contemplate heaven and peace, despite their negligence in life.
…
Elreich slammed the brilliantly shining staff into the ground!!
"THUMMMM!!! KRRRRKKK!"
Instantly, fractures spread everywhere! The earth shook across all directions, Elreich screamed with his soul.
"aaaaAAAAAARGHHH!" His body fused with the blue light from the staff. His face full of rage.
But the claw drew ever nearer, piercing through the ozone layer! Slowly destroying Elevanour's chains embedded in the moon.
Wind howled fiercely, light became hope against the darkness shredding the night.
Suddenly… THOUSANDS OF MASSIVE TENTACLES LINED WITH BLUE LIGHT EMERGED FROM THE EARTH! They shot upward rapidly!
Not just one — Elreich summoned them across various regions, numbering near a thousand!
Leviathan crashed into the claw. "THUMMM…" A thunderous impact echoed from the heavens, winds scattering outward in waves.
"Swoshhh… Fyuhhh~"
The tentacles followed Leviathan. With that, Elreich held back the claw through Leviathan and the tentacles. As the tentacles restrained it, particles burrowed inward, forming extending roots.
Elreich felt the crushing pressure from the claw! He closed his eyes, set a perfect stance, staff still implanted to control the tentacles restraining the claw.
"Ghrrrr…." He kept enduring the force with calm calculation.
But… "GHRRAAAAAAA!!!" He countered the pressure with sheer will! The force so immense that veins bulged across Elreich's body, his expression revealed raw primordial power… pure intensity.
He gritted his teeth, pushing the staff harder! Lowering his head slightly. The light expanded and exploded… strengthening Leviathan and the tentacles, radiating massive pressure.
"Manipulation of unreality type 2… Become eternal… CRYSTAL KING!!"
Slowly… portions of the claw began crystallizing, extending across its surface, turning it into passive crystal.
"CRINGGG!!!" The crystal spread ceaselessly over the colossal claw.
But things did not go according to Elreich's hope. As the crystallization continued, the claw seemed to resist, releasing black, orange, and deep red aura erupting in the sky — producing much greater pressure. Elreich began to struggle holding it any longer.
He kept trying to endure, "GHRRRRAAAAAA!!" Elreich screamed.
The earth began collapsing, birds fled in terror, trees whipped around. Soon, the sound of breaking bone was heard from Elreich's arm. He gritted his teeth, still holding back the claw despite injury.
He closed his eyes and whispered to himself, "Just a little more… Just a little more, Elreich… Elreich? JUST A LITTLE MORE!!!!"
"BOOOMMMM…" The claw finally crystallized.
When it was done, he was thrown backward… His breathing rapid, eyes wide with blood dripping, heart pounding violently!
"So this is… this is? Power? This hurts, damn it." He stared at Leviathan, also crystallized along with the tentacles and the massive claw, filled with confusion.
…
Meanwhile, in the Kingdom of Elevanour. All citizens panicked seeing these events, they cried, they did not want to die! They were desperate, running like dust scattered by wind.
But the third king tried calming the chaos.
"I order you all to steady this kingdom immediately! Come on, we are one! If one person infects the thinking of the others with chaos, then all will fall!"
"That is why stay calm, there is the young lord of Elevanour protecting us."
Unnoticed by them, Elevanour had already been cast into the timeline of the past by Zelga. But some citizens still protested fearfully to the king.
…
Elreich lying on the ground after enduring the claw…
"WHAT?!!" He stared intensely at the sky, as if all of this was merely kindergarten antics to someone.
Turns out… the claw was merely an illusion, Elreich had no idea what was truly happening. He sweated cold, heart pounding, muttering, "What does… all of this mean?" Then he slowly stood and gazed to his side as if something was there.
"I am truly angry right now." said Elreich, still staring toward the darkness in the forest beside him.