บท 896: Chapter 896. Purge.
People thought that the fight would drag out when Yasenia called only three maids to fight one of the strongest peak-level Epoch Cores. However, their expectations were completely betrayed.
Selena slithered forward, sword and shield in hand. Her speed was not terrifying, but when the peak-level Epoch Core's attack landed, everyone present was stunned.
Instead of a giant explosion, there was a muted banging sound of his fist hitting the shield, followed by nothing but a strong gale.
Selena's red lamia tail sneaked through the air at tremendous speed toward the surprised senior.
Of course, being more than ten thousand years old, he wouldn't make a basic mistake like being distracted. Agilely, he twisted and blocked Selena's attack.
The strength behind the tail lash pushed him several steps, and without a single instant of rest, a barrage of meteor-like arrows fell from the sky from all directions.
The omnidirectional attack felt like it had been shot by an army of archers. Nevertheless, the thousands of arrows streaking through the air came from a single woman who was pulling her bow with her arms seemingly blurring. Moreover, as the arrows flew, they exploded midair, multiplying and gaining strength.
The elderly wolf's face became severe as his body blurred, and he tried deflecting all the attacks.
Sadly for him, there was a third person in the enemy team.
With his attention focused on the arrows, he was a moment late to feel the terrifyingly cold chill caused by Eira unsheathing her sword.
For the spectators, it felt as if the world was suddenly divided in half by a white line.
SLASH!
The wolf man's eyes widened as his back exploded with blood, and his body was thrown flying through the shower of arrows. The combined forces were too much for his defenses, and the arrows pierced into his body in the hundreds.
As he flew through the air, Selena appeared in front of him, and her shield arm moved.
BANG!
The edge of the red lamia's shield, razor-sharp thanks to Selena's Glass affinity, divided the wolf in two, throwing the right part of the chest flying in opposite directions from the actual body.
There was a reason why this was a complete beatdown.
While their raw strength was not that much different, the maids wielded Level 8 and 9 Intents while the wolf elder used Level 5 and 6 Intents.
Continuing the chain attack, one of Clara's arrows streaked across the sky like a ray of light, suddenly increasing in brilliance and its speed multiplying several times.
BOOM!
The remaining part of the wolf was struck head-on, and this arrow managed not only to penetrate but shatter all of his internal organs and bones.
His body rag-dolled for several kilometers, eventually smashing against a distant mountain.
The three maids used their movement techniques and reappeared in front of him, wordless.
Since the beginning of the fight, their faces had been emotionless, carrying their Young Miss orders to the best of their abilities.
Still, before the finishing blow, Selena bothered speaking. "A fish born in a pond and thinking they are the biggest. Tragically, that has been your life." Then, she added. "At least, before death, I will show you new horizons. [Empyrean Battle Maid Art…"
Tatyana's eyebrows shot up. "Really? Is she using the official battle art?"
Alaia stepped forward, followed by the other 47 maids, and lifted their hand, creating a massive wall of pure energy as a shield.
This surprised both sides because Alaia and the rest were protecting the Wolf Capital.
The girls wanted to ask, but Selena's voice suddenly spread around as if it came from the world itself.
"... Spiritual Cataclysm]."
Selena's aura exploded and swallowed everything in a radius of several hundreds of kilometers. Then, an image of her body made of pure raw energy manifested in the sky, towering above the clouds.
From the sky, the image's fist descended like the judgment of a Heavenly God.
What followed was, as the name said, a cataclysmic explosion.
BOOOOOM!
An aura of raw energy swallowed everything and hit the shield invoked by the other maids. Thankfully, the giant protection they previously prepared was more than enough. People noticed that it didn't even tremble as the waves of raw energy that were leveling everything in the surroundings slammed against it.
The effects lasted for a few seconds before disappearing. When they could look again, their hearts jumped in fright. Everything several kilometers around the impact zone had been razed to the ground.
The previous flourishing mountains and valleys were now a barren land with a kilometric crater at the center.
The three maids that fought were floating in the air, the previously out-of-place maid-outfits looking more terrifying and imposing than ever.
"G-Goddesses? Are they immortal fairies?"
The murmurs of that person were not loud, but in the silent place, they hit the hearts of many like hammers.
Selena extended her hand, retrieving the spatial ring, and then they returned to Yasenia's side, bowing to her formally. "We've completed the mission, Young Miss."
Yasenia smiled. "Excellent, like always." Then, she looked at the remaining six wolf elders and commented. "As we discussed, Zephyrith is the new leader. She has my backing unless she does something stupid. Remember that I don't want a tyrant in charge. If the Steel Back Wolves are honest and follow me with a clear heart, I will never mistreat you, and changing the person in charge if they become tyrannical and unreasonable is completely possible."
The six elders looked at Yasenia and the fifty maid-clothed people around her with trembling eyes. 'If all of them have that lamia's strength… No. If they have even a tenth of her strength, that group of fifty is probably the most powerful elite group Distancia Continent has ever seen.'
Yasenia looked at Zephyrith and commented. "Your relationship with Sierra doesn't give you complete impunity." Her words were said aloud for everyone to hear. "While I will naturally take your side, that will be as long as you remain sane and focused. Not even I am a tyrant for those inside the Astral Sky Sect. I don't want one of my subordinates to be a tyrant in their assigned power. Less so if they are family."
Yasenia looked around and made two proclamations. "First, I declare the Fu Clan within the Steel Wolf Back Clan to be traitors. Their schemes and greed nearly brought your entire race to extinction." Her words echoed around and were communicated to everyone in the capital. "However, their tyranny has come to an end thanks to the collaboration of the distinguished ancestors of the wolf race!"
The six individuals' eyes flashed, instantly understanding their roles.
Yasenia's voice, full of charisma, continued in a calm and measured tone. "The Fu Clan sought to sell your race to the Demons to learn how to break through the limits of cultivation on the Distancia Continent. Their hunger for power was insatiable. However, with the alliance between the Astral Sky Sect and the Steel Back Wolf Clan, such knowledge will now be widespread and shared with anyone loyal to their people and our alliance! As proof of this, I now present your new leader, Lady Zephyrith Dravory, the key to this accomplishment."
Yasenia threw a scroll to Zephyrith containing knowledge about the Transcendence Realm cultivation and the limits of the Distancia Continent itself. She was indeed sharing what she had promised.
Zephyrith was stunned by her sudden change in surname. However, it was clear that Yasenia was acknowledging her. So, taking her roll, she bowed to Yasenia and stated loudly for everyone to listen. "I swear to the heavens that as long as I have a breath in me, I will continue to lead our clan to a bright future!"
Even though it wasn't a real Heavenly Oath, as Zephyrith failed to say her name, the dragoness never had the intention to make her swear one. So, she readily acknowledged her declaration with a nod and continued. "Following that, I hereby proclaim..."
Yasenia's tone deepened as it was infused with her Monarch Intent, War Intent, and Cosmos Dragon Imperial Suppression. As if her words were a sacred and inviolable truth, she stated. "I now declare war on all my enemies! The Silent Fang Sect will be the first to feel the wrath of the Astral Sky Clan and our allies! I vow to annihilate their power and erase their name from the face of this world! Everyone who opposed me will learn the consequences of provoking a sleeping dragon!"
ROAR!
Her aura expanded outward, echoing with an actual profound and imperial dragon roar that left all beast humans feeling insignificant.
Yasenia turned around and walked toward the ship, leaving a single order. "I want the Fu Clan gone by the end of the week. I'll be waiting on the ship. Alaia, you are in charge of the operation. Cooperate with Zephyrith and the seniors… Show no mercy."
Alaia bowed deeply. "Understood."
Angel walked by Yasenia's side and asked, not really understanding. "Yasenia, why no mercy at all? Like, children and such?"
Yasenia asked. "How old am I, baby? Aren't I also considered a 'child' for these people? What if a 'child' like me appears or awakens some kind of power because of the resentment they bear?"
Evelyn asked. "Speaking of which, why did Fu Lang Zu not move all this time? He is standing there, looking at you with a stupid face."
Yasenia looked over and then looked at Tatyana. "What did you do?"
The Death Empress blinked and stuck out her tongue. "How did you discover me? I thought I did it sneakily enough…"
Yasenia laughed. "I didn't see what you did, actually. I just supposed you did something."
Tatyana shrugged. "Well, I used my spiritual sense, which is vastly superior, to summon an item inside his body when he was distracted fighting you. Then, I planted an [Immortal Binding Rope] through that channel right inside his body. The rope has gone around his internal organs and muscles, and he can't move at all, even if he wants to."
The dragoness hummed. "I see. I didn't even know that's possible."
Tatyana smirked. "It isn't."
Yasenia and the girls frowned. "Huh? But you just did it."
The Death Empress rolled her beautiful red eyes. "That's because my spiritual sense is a few realms above his. The skill only works because of the insane gap in skill between us. In a battle against a peer, that's a stupid thing to learn. It will never work! Even spatial masters can't really manipulate space inside other cultivators because of the complexity and natural defenses cultivators' bodies have."
Andrea laughed. "Then, why did you learn it?"
Tatyana shrugged. "I was bored."
The girls didn't know what to say.
Cecile commented. "Easier than expected."
Tatyana asked, confused. "The skill?"
Cecile shook her head. "The war."
Tatyana laughed. "Your soulmate thoroughly analyzed this place, and she probably knew the ongoing deals better than Fu Lang Zu himself. It wasn't even a battle to begin with. When Yasenia said that she was ready, it was then that there was no chance of defeat unless something stupidly nonsensical went wrong."
Tatyana flicked her finger, and Fu Lang Zu was pulled from the sky into her hand. Grabbing his neck, Tatyana muttered. "It has been a while since I saw such a pure Demon Heart Corruption. Very little of Fu Lang Zu remains. It seems that Doriel's curse arts have made a breakthrough." Tatyana chuckled. "She is going to be a scary one when she enters Transcendence~."
Mirrory appeared and agreed. "Assassins specialized in curses have it difficult during the tribulations because their main attacking methods fail against Heaven's raw strength. That's why the classical combat cultivator is the most common, more than the sneaky type. However, as you increase in cultivation ranks, if you find any special cultivators, being careful is always best."
The girls understood the logic behind it. If they could reach that far with such niche arts, it was clear that they were not average cultivators.
Kali asked, curious. "What are you going to do with him?"
Tatyana pondered. "Well… I don't know. If I could, I would send him to my body, but I am a bit occupied with the breakthrough, so… I will just look around his body into how Heart Demons are corrupting him. Perhaps I will understand something new that lets me fight my own demons better.
Yasenia sighed. "Let's hope so."
For the next week, all the cities of the wolf clan were invaded one after another. The people in those cities were stunned when the Fu Clan shops and buildings were all razed to the ground while the Fu Clan people and those who defended them were annihilated.
By the end of the week, around 2 million people died. However, the sacrifice was not considered significant compared to the several billions of the entire race.
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