Silence.
There was only silence to the onlookers after they saw what happened.
Byron showed them what a peak Half Saint Malevolent Magnate could accomplish. Yet, he had actually been defeated with overwhelming ease by the man that was floating in front of them.
No signs of struggle. Not a single drop of sweat.
The white haired man was truly almighty.
He whispered as he spoke to the dead Byron, "I applaud your determination, Malevolent Magnate. Your actions made me recall my idol. That's why I didn't stop your last act of desperation to save your disciple. Let this be my way of honoring you."
Alistair and Michael could not believe what they have witnessed.
'That Black Hole just now... If he used that on the city, the entire city would have been decimated...' Michael shuddered at the thought of that disastrous attack being directed to his home.
He surveyed around him. Everything within a two kilometers from them was completely destroyed. A crater the size of two kilometers was created from that attack
'If the white-haired immortal did not descend, then the wrath of the Malevolent Magnate would have been directed the entire city and resulted in everyone's death... He was actually at the peak of the Half-Saint Realm' Alistair realized that the moment Byron turned serious, he could have killed them all if he wanted to.
Byron was holding back since he wanted to capture Victoria. But the moment he stopped holding back and used his Essence-Soul Fusion, he would have easily turned the tides to his favor and eventually kill them as well as capture Victoria.
They both looked at the floating white-haired who was still looking at the empty space.
'We were lucky that he showed up...'
They both knelt to him and said in gratitude.
If anyone from the Soaring Cloud City were here to witness this scene, they would probably pass out from shock because they would not expect that the prominent City Lord Alistair Cloudsoar and the Genius General Michael Paulson would bow their heads to someone that looks seemingly younger than them.
"Thank you very much, oh Great One. You are our benefactor!" Alistair thanked him.
"We will never forget this debt for the rest of our lives. Only say the word and we shall do our utmost to fulfill it!" Similarly, Michael also expressed his gratitude.
"I will make sure to hold you guys to that. I think that will be very useful in the future." The white-haired young man commented.
"?"
"??"
The two army general could only look at each other in confusion. They had the same thought,
'In what aspect could we possibly help the great one?'
The white-haired man turned around to Kris and said, "She is your sister, correct? I shall leave her to you."
With a wave of his hand, the floating Leila moved to where Kris stood.
Kris was slightly stunned as he once again knelt and thanked this godly being for keeping his sister safe. He embraced her sister's body and felt her heartbeat. After realizing what may have happened, he could not help but uncontrollably cry.
"Thank you... Thank you very much, oh Great One. Thank you for protecting my sister... She is the only one I have left... I don't know what I would have done if anything happened to her... I am completely indebted to you." Kris cried from relief and gratitude.
"Is that so? Then, you may have to prepare yourself for the day that she leaves your side might be much sooner than later." The white-haired man mysteriously said.
"What do you mean by that-" Kris tried to pry further but the white haired man floated elsewhere.
Victoria just snapped out of her awe, "Big bro Kai!"
In a blink of an eye, she reached the spot where Kaiden should be but he was not there.
"No, don't tell me that he died because of that attack..." Victoria was in the verge of crying again. It was apparent now that she was the only survivor in her group.
"What's the use of all this strength and talent I gained if I cannot protect the ones I love?! I am useless!!" Victoria grabbed her head as she broke down.
"Benefactor, do not resort to self-blame. Your knight friend is not dead yet." The white haired man who was now behind Victoria, told her the truth.
Victoria looked back at the white-haired man as the tears in her eyes slowly ebbed, "He's not dead?"
"Yes!" The white haired man readily nodded.
"How certain are you?" Victoria wanted a confirmation.
Sensing her intent, the white-haired man thought that he ought to explain, "One hundred percent certain, benefactor. The Malevolent Magnate who controlled darkness actually transported the black haired female and your knight friend away to his own abode."
"Into his own abode? What makes you say that?" Victoria was a bit puzzled.
"Are you familiar with teleportation markers?"
"Yes." Victoria immediately knew what it was and suddenly, everything made sense.
"He utilized one on those two before he died."
"How were you able to see all of that amidst all that darkness?" Victoria was a bit dubious since she could not see everything at all.
"Let's just say I am very sensitive to all energy." The white haired man smiled.
He continued, "I can also tell you that he will not be dying any time soon. You will have a chance to meet him again in the future."
"Would you care to elaborate further?" Victoria asked.
"I cannot get into too much details. But my eyes are able to see even the flow of destiny." The white haired man reassured.
"Thank you for letting me know." Victoria nodded and bowed to show her thanks. For some reason, she believed what this white haired man was saying.
Maybe it was because he had proven time and time again that what she and the others perceived as impossible was something that was easily done by the otherworldly power he possessed.
"Again, you are too formal with me. Hahaha. Though I believe with this, my debt to you has been repaid." The white haired man heartily laughed.
"I feel like I owe you more. You have saved all of our lives and also reassured me of my friend's condition. If I may ask, what is your name?" Victoria said.
"If that's the case, I'll take you upon that offer. Like I have told you when we met earlier, I am Dylan but this might be the last time you see me. You will probably meet those two others more often..." The white-haired "Dylan" stated.
"The other two?" Victoria blinked in confusion.
"You will eventually understand what I mean. But I would have you take me to this location here." The white-haired "Dylan" pointed his pointer finger to Victoria's forehead as a gentle light suddenly pierced through her brain.
"?!" Victoria did not understand what just happened but a location suddenly appeared in her head. She saw what seemingly looked like an old abandoned and run-down house located near the edge of the town in a town surrounded by trees not so far from here.
After confirming the information that was just sent directly to her brain, she inquired, "How did you- I guess I should just ask, why do I need you to take me there? I think that you would be fully capable of doing that by yourself?"
"Hahaha, well, as a mere remnant of who I was, I am running out of time, benefactor. I don't know when and how I will be able to meet you again. Haha. So, l will tell you some of the truth of what happened to your body today as my farewell gift to you." The white-haired "Dylan" told her.
"A mere remnant? You're running out of ti- What do you mean?"
The white haired "Dylan" waved his hand and it seemed like the space around them had once again been frozen. It was as if he did not want anyone to hear what he will be saying next.
"What did you just do?" Victoria asked
"A precautionary measure. Hahaha." The white-haired "Dylan" remarked.
He continued to explain, "You possess a one-in-trillion bodily cultivation mutation that is geared towards the way of the sword, it is called the Heart of the Sword Sage as I have mention earlier. It is a miracle of miracles. Something that even Sword Gods will covet if they ever found out that you have it."
"In fact, the last recorded wielder of the Heart of the Sword Sage had reached the pinnacle of all creations but he was poisoned by one of his beloved disciples. That disciple managed to transplant the Heart of the Sword Sage to his body and reigned supreme using its abilities!"
"It is distinguished by a subtle heartbeat that would be heard throughout the entire battlefield. It also creates a distinct bright glow on the chest of its user as each heartbeat resonates..."
"It gives you the ability to gain any swords full acknowledgement to be your master. It can also make you relive sword memories. It also gives you a boosted understanding and comprehension to all sword arts that you encounter."
"Heart of the Sword Sage..." In that moment, Victoria realized that everything that "Dylan" has just said actually happened to her already earlier.
The advantages that she has just received from simply unlocking this mutation was something that would drive a lot of people insane.
"If you are able to gain more proficiency with it, you may be even able to communicate with Sword Spirits!"
"Sword Spirits? I have never heard of such a thing before..." This was the first time Victoria has heard of a Sword Spirit which says a lot especially since she comes from a well-distinguished clan of swordsmen.
"Indeed! Additionally, it also-" The white-haired "Dylan" suddenly stopped as his expression changed.
His body swayed and buckled. He was no longer floating as he knelt on the ground. The solidified space that he made earlier also dissipated along with the weakening of his energy...
"Oh great one! What happened to you-" Victoria also dropped to her knees to check on the white-haired "Dylan".
"I guess time is up..."