Chapter 1115 Show of Power
Chapter 1115 Show of Power
"A monster?!"
"A mere Fourth Stage monster dares to act so boldly in front of us?!"
The titans' fury surged as they felt the intensity of Souta's energy. Dozens of them glared at him, eyes cold with killing intent, as if ready to tear him apart on the spot.
But the Mad Giants reacted differently.
Their brows furrowed as they took in Souta's unwavering gaze.
"A Fourth Stage... This presence feels familiar," one of the giants muttered.
"Have you heard of the legend of the Blood Lightning Monster?" another asked, his tone suddenly wary.
"You mean..." The giant's eyes widened as he turned sharply to look at Souta.
"It's probably him. He can control blood, after all..."
It was only natural that the titans—recently unsealed—were unaware of past events. But for the Mad Giants, stories of the Blood Lightning Monster's legendary rampage in recent months were impossible to miss, especially around Olympus.
Swoosh!!
A nearby titan couldn't hold back any longer and charged straight toward Souta.
One of the giants reached out his hand, shouting, "Don't—!"
But it was already too late.
A powerful surge of best feram erupted from within Souta, flooding the entire area with overwhelming pressure. The shockwave rippled outward, and the weaker titans instantly plummeted from the sky, unable to withstand the force.
Boom!!
Everything happened in a flash.
The countless droplets of blood suspended in the air sharpened into deadly spears. In the next moment, they shot forward at high speed, streaking toward the titans like a crimson storm of death.
As for the titan who had launched an attack at Souta—an explosion erupted, and a moment later, his severed head rolled through the air.
The head tumbled several times before landing with a dull thud at the feet of the giant who had reached out moments earlier.
"Ugh..." the giant muttered, staring down in disbelief.
It was real.
This was truly the infamous Blood Lightning Monster.
And the head... it belonged to a titan at the Sixth Shackle Realm.
All of it had happened in an instant.
The weaker titans who had fallen to the ground lay injured, their bodies pierced by blood spears. Some, struck in vital points, had perished instantly.
Whoosh!!
The smoke began to clear, revealing Souta in his released form. The energy radiating from him now was entirely different—denser, darker, and far more dangerous.
"Weak. Too weak," he said coldly. "Sure, they're stronger than average warriors... but against a veteran—this is nothing."
His eyes swept across the battlefield, locking onto the stunned expressions of the remaining titans.
"There are still thirteen Sixth Shackle Realms, thirty-five Fifth Shackle Realms, and the rest are Fourth Shackle or below... This really is the den of titans," Souta muttered, scanning the battlefield.
He glanced down at his sword, feeling the surge of power flowing through his body. His muscles tensed, crackling with energy.
He was level 78 now—one level higher than before his seclusion. It reminded him of the time he mastered the Vajra Extremity: another moment of breakthrough, another step into deeper power.
Behind him, Arvidal watched in awe.
"I've heard the stories... but this? This power is far too exaggerated for a Fourth Stage monster!" he said, barely believing his own words.
"It's normal for him," Vashno said to Arvidal, his tone calm. "Don't overthink it—it won't make sense anyway."
Alice turned back slightly, her expression firm. "Let's go. Souta will handle all of them."
The three of them moved out, and no one dared to stop them. All eyes were locked on Souta, still floating mid-air—an overwhelming presence radiating terrifying energy.
Souta slowly turned his head, eyes narrowing. He muttered, "For now... let's start thinning the herd."
The moment Souta spoke, an unexplainable pressure descended upon the weaker titans. They staggered, their strength draining from their limbs like sand slipping through fingers.
[Serpent Dominance]!!
Souta flicked his fingers.
From the ground, shadows surged upward, and from above, blood rained down like crimson blades. The weaker titans didn't even have time to resist—as shadow and blood intertwined, they were torn apart in an instant.
Bang!!
Even the Sixth Shackle Realm titans instinctively stepped back.
"What just happened?!"
"There's no way this is a fourth stage...!!"
It was a scene no one could have imagined. Many had dismissed the legend of the Blood Lightning Monster as exaggerated—an embellished tale. After all, in all recorded history, no fourth-stage monster had ever wielded such overwhelming power.
"Ah~"
Souta let out a satisfied sigh as he felt his stats rising—his title [Slayer] was taking effect. A wide grin spread across his face. There was nothing quite like the rush of growing stronger.
One by one, he activated his skills. A doppelganger emerged behind him, immediately darting off to follow Alice, Vashno, and Arvidal. They were strong, yes—but just two warriors. His clone would support them if anyone tried to block their way.
"Everything's set... Now—let's get this started!"
Souta's bloodlust surged like a storm unleashed. With a wicked grin, he charged straight toward the Sixth Shackle Realm titans, energy crackling wildly around him.
The titans quickly dispersed, spreading out in the sky.
Souta opened his palm—countless webs of blood and energy burst forth like tendrils.
Whoosh!!
The Sixth Shackle Realm titans darted away, but Souta gave them no time to regroup. With a swift slash through the air, he tore open space itself, allowing his dreamscape to spill into the battlefield.
"Dream is reality. Reality is a dream."
White smoke surged outward at blinding speed, swallowing everything in its path. It twisted the world around them, blurring the line between illusion and truth.
In the distance, Vashno, Alice, and Arvidal paused. They watched as a vast cloud of white smoke consumed the area behind them, knowing exactly what it meant.
"Souta's using his dreamscape... It'll be over soon," Vashno said, his voice calm but laced with certainty.
"Dreamscape..." Arvidal muttered, his gaze lingering on the swirling white smoke. He understood its significance all too well.
The three of them continued their advance, staying clear of the other battles raging around them. Their focus was on one thing: escorting Arvidal out of Calm River County. The rest of the war could wait.
Boom!!
A massive explosion shattered the air nearby.
The trio paused, instinctively turning their heads toward the sound, their expressions tense.
Sensing the surge of energy, Alice spoke first, "A battle between Sixth Shackle Realm titans."
Vashno and Arvidal nodded in agreement, their attention drawn to the clash.
Ahead of them, two figures were locked in a fierce battle, their blows shaking the very earth beneath them. The ground churned with the intensity of their fight.
"Follow me," Alice ordered, her pace quickening as she veered around the area of battle.
As they ran, Alice asked, "What do you know about the titans' plan?"
Arvidal shook his head, his expression grim. "There is no plan. They just want to ravage this land, take it back as their own. If there is one, I'm not important enough to know about it."
Alice fell silent at Arvidal's words. She understood. Despite his talents as a formation and rune master, Arvidal was still a Fourth Shackle Realm expert. His rank wasn't high enough to be privy to the titans' true plans.
After a moment, she broke the silence. "What about the giants? Why are they here?"
Arvidal's face darkened. "The giants... They wanted to integrate us into their ranks. I'm sure they had another plan, but I don't know what it is."
Vashno, keeping his focus on their escape, added, "There are many things we won't understand right now. No need to dwell on it."
The war between Olympus and the titans had become a tangled web of schemes and plots, each move carefully orchestrated in the shadows.
...
Meanwhile, the thick white smoke slowly began to dissipate, revealing Souta standing alone amidst the scattered corpses of fallen titans.
He ran his fingers through his hair, a slight frown on his face. "Too weak. These titans believe everyone should bow to them, but they're far too weak."
Of all the Sixth Shackle Realm titans he had slain, none had posed the same challenge as the Elder of Walpurgis Night. With their strength, they wouldn't stand a chance against the top-tier Sixth Shackle Realm experts he had battled in Selnes Country.
Souta's gaze shifted to the sky, where Hero-ranks were locked in battle.
"I'd like to join the fight, but I have a more important mission," he muttered to himself. "Might as well eliminate a few weaklings on the way."
His eyes scanned the battlefield. Corpses littered the ground, yet the giants from before were nowhere to be found.
"They escaped... They must know who I am."
With a swift motion, Souta launched himself into the air, heading in the direction of Alice, Vashno, and Arvidal.
Souta knew their location thanks to the doppelgangers he had sent ahead.
With a sudden burst, he shot into the air, not bothering to conceal his energy. He made his presence known, loud and clear.
He was here, and no one could ignore him.
His speed was incredible as he tore through the sky. Some of the fighters nearby couldn't help but glance in his direction, their attention caught by the overwhelming energy radiating from him. A sea of blood trailed behind him, a testament to the carnage he had left in his wake.
Ahead, he saw a battle unfolding—Three Shackle Realm experts clashing in fierce combat. Without hesitation, Souta kicked off the air and surged forward, accelerating his pace.
Boom!!
In an instant, Souta barreled through the air, crashing directly into the Three Shackle Realm titan. His body, reinforced and incredibly tough, sent the titan exploding into a mist of blood.
The titan's blood floated in the air, joining the ever-growing sea of blood that followed him.
Nearby warriors stopped in their tracks, watching in awe.
"That's..."
"It's the Hero-candidate!"
"The Blood Lightning Monster!!"
"He's finally here! I haven't heard his name since the war against the titans started!!"
The recognition was immediate. Many had witnessed Souta's appearance when he received the title of Hero-candidate in front of the Goddess, and the sight of him now only confirmed the rumors that had spread across Olympus.
...
After a few more seconds, Souta arrived above Alice, Vashno, and Arvidal.
Alice glanced up at him and asked, "You're done?"
"Yeah," Souta nodded, his expression calm.
Arvidal observed him for a moment, his thoughts racing. He knew that unlike most titans, who were indifferent to others, Souta had garnered much attention. Tales of the Blood Lightning Monster were widespread, and the more Arvidal witnessed, the more incredible the rumors seemed.
'He's done already?! There were more than ten Sixth Shackle Realms, and he finished them in just a few minutes... This is even more exaggerated than I thought.'
He couldn't help but marvel inwardly at the display of power.