Chapter 162: True Power
Scene: The Final Clash
The battlefield was pure chaos. The three Ascended Aquarians, their bodies pulsing with Overdrive energy, stood like unyielding titans against Eren and Rylan. The ocean currents around them twisted and churned under the immense mana pressure. The sheer force of the battle was enough to crack the seafloor beneath them. The entire area was illuminated by flashes of red and violet lightning, clashing violently with the Aquarians' sinister dark purple aura.
Zarek, kneeling on the ground a few meters away, gritted his teeth. His fists trembled with frustration as he watched Eren and Rylan battle at a level beyond anything he could match. He wanted to fight, to prove himself, but his injuries left him struggling just to stand.
Eren & Rylan vs. The Ascended Aquarians
Eren vanished from sight, reappearing above one of the Aquarians in an instant. His Scarlet Blade, now infused with red lightning, crackled with raw destructive force as he swung downward.
Eren:"Raging Scarlet Slash!"
The Aquarian barely reacted in time, raising an arm to block. But as soon as Eren's blade connected, a massive shockwave erupted, sending the Aquarian hurtling backward, crashing through jagged stone pillars that had formed on the battlefield.
Rylan faced off against another Aquarian, his Abyssal Blade infused with his signature black lightning. His eyes burned with focus as he dodged a barrage of dark mana projectiles, twisting his body through the water with unnatural fluidity.
Rylan:"You like throwing mana around? Let's see how you handle this!"
He spun mid-air, his blade pulsing with dark energy.
Rylan:"Abyssal Thunder Fang!"
A single crescent-shaped slash shot forward, coated in a veil of black lightning. The moment it connected, the Aquarian was engulfed in a massive explosion, electricity crackling through the water, causing shockwaves to ripple outward.
The third Aquarian, watching his comrades struggle, smirked coldly.
Aquarian 1: (grinning) "They're stronger than we thought."
Aquarian 2: (growling, standing up from the rubble) "Overdrive alone isn't enough…"
Aquarian 3: (muttering in ancient Aquarian) "Kād'osh ra'ken va'tal…"
Translation: "We must fully ascend."
The three Aquarians raised their hands, their bodies pulsing violently as they unleashed one final technique—
The ocean trembled.
A deep purple glow surrounded the Aquarians, their bodies undergoing a second transformation. Their tails disappeared, their skin darkened, and their bodies became more humanoid—but far deadlier. Their eyes turned pitch black, void of emotion, and their mana skyrocketed.
The pressure was immense.
Even Eren and Rylan, both in their High Elf and Mystic Elf forms, froze for a second as the raw malice radiating from their enemies crashed into them like a tidal wave.
Zarek, still watching from the sidelines, felt his stomach twist.
Zarek: (thinking) This… This is different from before…
The lead Aquarian grinned, his voice now distorted.
Aquarian Leader:"You should be honored, humans. This form… is the pinnacle of our evolution. You will be the first to witness it… before you die."
Without another word, the three Ascended Aquarians attacked at once, moving at speeds neither Eren nor Rylan had ever encountered before.
The fight erupted into a blur of speed and power. Eren barely had time to react before a dark energy fist slammed into his stomach, sending him flying hundreds of meters backward. He barely managed to regain control before another Aquarian appeared behind him, slashing with an energy blade formed from pure Overdrive energy.
Eren: (panting) "Damn it—!"
He twisted his body just in time, countering with his Scarlet Blade, the clash of energy sending tremors through the water.
Rylan wasn't faring much better. He dodged a flurry of deadly strikes, but every movement felt like he was a step behind. The speed difference was terrifying.
Rylan:"We need to finish this—NOW!"
Eren gritted his teeth, his eyes glowing with High Elf fury.
Eren:"Rylan—let's do it!"
Rylan nodded, understanding immediately. The two of them moved into a deadly stance, their bodies radiating synchronized lightning energy.
Eren: (shouting) "Mana Burst: Shockwave!"
A colossal surge of red lightning erupted from his body, forming a massive storm of electrical tendrils that shattered the very ocean floor beneath them.
Rylan: (roaring) "Abyssal Arrow!"
His black lightning condensed into a singular, massive arrow, crackling with an overwhelming destructive force.
Together, they unleashed their ultimate attacks, their combined energy merging into a colossal thunderstorm, enveloping the battlefield in an apocalyptic display of power.
The Aquarians screamed, their bodies torn apart by the sheer force of the attacks. Their Overdrive-enhanced forms shattered, and as the energy dissipated, their bodies slowly reverted to their original human appearances.
The battlefield fell into silence.
Eren and Rylan, now drained, collapsed to their knees. Their aura flickered weakly, the last remnants of their transformations fading.
Zarek, still conscious, stared in shock.
He had just witnessed a level of power he could not comprehend.
Zarek: (thinking) They… They're beyond me…
As the last breath escaped the lips of the fallen Aquarians, Eren heard one final whisper.
Dying Aquarian: (softly) "Thank… you…"
Eren clenched his fists, his heart heavy.
Back in his chamber, Kuzan's grin vanished.
Kuzan: (coldly) "So… the Overdrive protocol was worthless."
He exhaled sharply, before grinning once more.
Kuzan:"No matter. The real battle has already begun."
He turned to his commanders, Yuno and Meril, who stood awaiting orders.
Kuzan: (grinning) "Send the signal. Tell the Aquarian battalion to increase their speed. I want them at the Four Great Nations within days.
Meril: (bowing) "Understood, my Lord."
Yuno: (smirking) "Let's see how long their victory lasts."
As the signal was sent, a fleet of monstrous Aquarians surged through the ocean, heading directly for the undefended Four Great Nations.
Eren looked up, sensing something… a distant, incoming danger.
Eren: (whispering) No…
Rylan: (panting) What now…?
A telepathic message from Kaitaro suddenly echoed through their minds.
Kaitaro:"Eren, Rylan… Listen carefully. We have a problem… The Aquarians… They've already sent an army to the Four Great Nations."
Eren's heart dropped.
Eren: (whispering) No… Mom… Dad…
The war was far from over.
The real fight had just begun.