Zephyr Aurelius's silver aura flared like a celestial tempest. His body radiated divine brilliance, and behind him, a phantom image of a Celestial War Saint loomed.
His strength was undeniable—a Peak Saint Realm genius, cultivated by one of the Ten Great Celestial Families.
But against Alexander Magnus, he was testing the depths of an abyss.
The First Clash
Zephyr vanished.
In an instant, he was above Alexander, his hand forming a divine sigil.
"Celestial Sun Spear!"
A lance of blazing silver light shot downward, carrying the force to obliterate mountains. The ground beneath them split apart, forming deep cracks from sheer pressure.
BOOM!
A massive explosion of light engulfed the street.
Dust and debris clouded the area. Murmurs and gasps echoed from the crowd.
"He struck with full force from the start?!"
But then—
From within the blinding light, a calm voice echoed.
"Too weak."
The dust cleared, revealing Alexander standing in the exact same spot.
Untouched.
Zephyr's eyes widened. Impossible.
Alexander raised a single finger, and the remnants of the Celestial Sun Spear dissipated into nothingness.
The crowd fell silent.
A True Test of Power
Zephyr's shock turned to determination. His aura surged again, forming a domain—a Celestial Realm, where the laws of light and space twisted in his favor.
"Let's see you endure this!"
He charged forward, each step shattering the air, his fists glowing with divine radiance. Every punch could shatter mountains, every movement bent reality.
Alexander simply stood there.
His golden eyes followed Zephyr's every motion, analyzing, understanding, calculating.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Zephyr unleashed a barrage of celestial strikes, each one carrying the force of a Saint's full power.
The ground caved. The buildings trembled. The sky itself shook.
Yet—
Alexander never moved.
His hands remained behind his back.
He let Zephyr attack freely.
Letting him exhaust every technique, every divine ability.
Zephyr panted, sweat forming on his brow. His celestial energy was draining rapidly.
"How… how are you…?"
Alexander finally spoke. "Are you finished?"
Before Zephyr could react—
Alexander moved.
Just once.
He stepped forward.
A shockwave rippled outward, shattering the air.
Zephyr was sent flying backward.
His body slammed into a stone pillar, shattering it. Blood dripped from his lips. His celestial armor cracked.
The crowd went silent.
They had barely seen what happened.
Alexander didn't even use a technique. He just stepped forward.
Zephyr groaned, pushing himself up. His celestial bloodline refused to let him collapse. His pride burned too strongly.
Alexander slowly approached, each step echoing in his ears.
Zephyr clenched his fists. "You… you're truly a monster."
Alexander tilted his head. "You misunderstand."
Then, for the first time, he unleashed a fraction of his aura.
Zephyr's breath caught in his throat.
The world itself trembled.
The very laws of existence bent around Alexander's presence.
In that moment, Zephyr understood—
This was not a simple genius.
This was something beyond mortal comprehension.
Something even the heavens feared.
Alexander spoke softly.
"I was holding back."
Zephyr's knees buckled.
The fight was over.
The onlookers were shaken.
Whispers filled the air.
"Zephyr Aurelius… lost?"
"He's a Celestial Prodigy… and yet he was powerless."
"How strong is Alexander Magnus, really?"
Among the hidden spectators, several powerful figures took notice.
A shadowy assassin, hidden in the darkness, narrowed his eyes. "His power is beyond expectations. I must report this immediately."
A Beast Monarch, watching from afar, rumbled, "This child… he is already an a monster among mortals."
A veiled woman, her presence obscured by divine mist, murmured, "The heavens shudder at his existence… this is beyond what we predicted."
Meanwhile, Zephyr slowly stood up. He looked at Alexander—his pride wounded, but his spirit unbroken.
Then, to everyone's surprise—
He bowed.
"…I acknowledge you."
Alexander nodded imperceptibly.
Then, without another word, he walked away.
His journey was only beginning.