The Ether Church was a powerful evil organization that spread throughout the whole Antheia World.
They were a group of lunatics that worshipped the Ether Gods and wished for the annihilation of the human race along with the other races in Antheia World.
Not much is known about the Ether Church, but it was well known that each one of its members was extremely cruel and vicious just like the real Ether beasts.
"The nickname Mad Prince truly suits you, 13th Prince, your Imperial Highness. Even when entering the Ether Domain you didn't bring any Imperial guards with you."Said the leader in a mocking tone.
"Even after knowing that I am the 13th Prince of the Helios Empire, you still dare to ambush me."Mikhail coldly asked the leader as a hint of a vicious smile appeared on his face.
[Ether Church Follower- 6 Star Aura Knight]
[Ether Church Follower- 5 Star Aura Knight]
[Ether Church Follower- 5 Star Aura Knight]
[Ether Church Follower- 4 Star Aura Knight]
[Ether Church Follower- 3rd Circle Mage]
[Ether Church Follower-.....]
Mikhail already saw their stats and knew that none of them was his match. As such, he didn't look afraid at all. He was as calm and relaxed as ever.
Though the system didn't give him much information about them except for the fact they were Ether Church followers and their power level, Mikhail didn't complain. It was still extremely useful.
"Since when did the followers of the Ether Church care about such a thing. In our eyes, all of you humans are filth and our Ether Church will become the blazing filter that will cleanse this world of your existence in the name of the Ether Gods." Coldly answered the leader.
"But you are also a human," Mikhail said with a hint of mockery in his voice.
"Don't compare us with filth like you. We have been baptized and reborn by the power of the Ether Gods."
"I see. I guess you're all bat shit crazy."Mikhail didn't look surprised by the ideology of the Ether Church or the fact there were also many humans followers among them.
Even back on Earth, there were organizations like that and they were all comprised of fellow humans just like himself.
Some of them were targeting him because he was clearing the dungeons. Because once all the dungeons were cleared, the Earth will return to normal and they would lose all the powers they had over the populace.
Others wished for the annihilation of the human race and side with monsters in the dungeons just like those lunatics of the Ether Church.
Mikhail didn't care about such people. He would mercilessly kill them whenever he encountered them.
"Anyway, I thought you guys were strong which was why I was saving my energy and hiding my power, but it seems like I greatly overestimate you." He added with a sinister smile on his face.
Indeed, the reason he didn't go all out while fighting the Ether beasts was that he was saving his strength. He knew that he was being followed. However, he couldn't find the stalkers.
They seemed to carry a device that somehow erased their presence. As such, he didn't know how many they were and how powerful they also were. Now seeing them, he was greatly disappointed.
"What do you....."
However, before the leader could even finish his sentence, Mikhail suddenly drew out his sword which was enshrouded by a blue sword aura and casually slashed it toward them.
Swoosh!
Suddenly, the surrounding space seemed to have been slashed apart like cloth by an extremely sharp crescent shape sword aura which shot directly at the Ether Church followers
It was swift, precise, and fierce!
Facing that strike, the Ether Church followers suddenly felt a feeling of suffocation that struck directly at them. It was too terrifying.
Meanwhile, the complexion of the leader darkened after seeing this scene as he shouted in horror." Dammit! We've been tricked! He's not a 5-Star Aura Knight but a 7-Star."
At the same time, he quickly laid down flat on the ground to evade the crescent sword aura that was flying horizontally towards them. He wasn't strong enough to block such an attack.
Unfortunately, many of Ether Church followers were too slow and didn't have time to dodge in time as they were cleanly sliced in half like a watermelon by the crescent sword aura.
Though it was only separated by one rank, the difference between a 6-Star Aura Knight and a 7-Star Aura Knight was immeasurable to the point of being unbreachable. It was also the same for a 3-Star Aura Knight and a 4-Star Aura Knight
....
Unlike the Earth, the power level of this world was divided into fourteen ranks. Whether it was Aura Knight or Mage.
From low to high they were, 1-Star Aura Knight, 2-Star Aura Knight, 3-Star Aura Knight, 4-Star Aura Knight, 5-Star Aura Knight, 6-Star Aura Knight, 7-Star Aura Knight, 8-Star Aura Knight, 9-Star Aura Knight, Noble Rank Knight, Heroic Rank Knight, Legendary Rank Knight, Mythical Rank Knight, and Transcendent Rank Knight.
For Knight to be considered a 1-Star Aura Knight, he had to sense the mana in the air and open one of his 360 Aura Nodes which were resided throughout his body.
By opening the 36 main Aura Nodes in his body, a knight would be considered a peak 1-Star Aura Knight. He would also be able to store the Aura absorbed in the air within them.
He could channel the aura stored within his Aura Nodes throughout the various Aura channels in his body which would greatly strengthen his body, giving him the strength and speed that far surpassed that of a regular human.
The more Aura Nodes one opened, the more energy one could store within the body and the stronger one became.
Aside from being used as storage, the Aura Nodes could also serve as a switch. It could close and open the circulation of the aura in the Aura channels like a dam.
While 1-Star Aura Knights and 3-Star Aura were only able to strengthen their bodies with Aura, a 4 Stars Aura Knight was able to release their Aura outside and coated their weapons with it or even created Aura Armor.
They could cut through metal like butter with their Sword Aura and had some status in the army as well as Antheia World. They were way more powerful than a 3-Stars Aura Knight.
As for 7-Star Aura Knights, they were able to use long-range attacks just like a mage and numerous powerful skills which made them even more deadly.
They were able to open more than 160 Aura Nodes in their body and they possessed a vast amount of aura energy. Before them, a 6-Star Aura knight and below were ants.
The previous owner of this body was also a 5-Stars Aura Knight. However, after taking over his body, Mikhail found out that he had miraculously opened another 36 Aura Nodes and broke through the peak of the 6-Star Aura Knight.
However, that wasn't all, even his Aura Nodes and Aura Channels seemed to have to become bigger and sturdier, including his Mana Circuits. He didn't know the reason for this sudden transformation. As such, he blamed it all on the system.
...
"Dammit! Everybody run! We're not his match."Said the leader with an ugly expression on his face as he was looking at his comrades' corpses on the ground.
Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!
Unfortunately, Mikhail didn't give them a chance as he sent waves after waves of sword aura towards them.
The entire area was filled with waves of sword aura that were like streams. Everywhere they passed, plants were cut in half, trees were cut in half, humans were cut in half.
The cold and sharp waves of sword aura cooperated to form a crisscrossed as they assaulted the Ether Church followers, transforming them into headless corpses.
In less than a few seconds, Mikhail had mercilessly massacred all the fourteen members of the Ether Church, including the leader. They didn't have the power to fight back. That was the terrifying difference of power between a 7-Star Aura Knight and a 6-Star Aura Knight.