A wave of goosebumps swept over Stan and his siblings. Even Elder Rooney wasn't immune to the chilling sensation.
The reason wasn't the figure itself—they didn't recognize the man. Rather, it was the overwhelming presence he carried. They all knew exactly what kind of being had just crashed onto the planet.
"This person... is he one of the Divine Realm?" Graham asked, his voice uneasy.
"No... this is different," Elder Rooney said, his tone trembling slightly. "This person's divine energy is far too intense for a single being. I've never encountered a Divine Realm entity with this much aura surrounding them."
Peter's gaze sharpened, and he turned angrily toward Qudsiyah and Zarathul. "Did you bring them here? Were you the one who called the divine beings?!" he shouted, his stance tense as though ready to attack them both.
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Qudsiyah defended herself, her voice calm but firm. "Why would I ever work with gods?"
"Peter, save your energy," Elder Rooney interjected. "We may need all of it just to make it out of this alive."
Elder Rooney quickly shifted focus. "Graham, head back to the ship and order all crew members to return to the base immediately. You'll join them as well."
"Wait a moment! What are you saying?!" Graham protested, stepping forward. "I'm the only one here closest to his level of evolution, and you want me out of the fight? You're all going to die!"
For the first time since he had joined the Dragon Roar Faction, Graham was prepared to defy a direct order from Elder Rooney.
Meanwhile, Stan's attention remained fixed on the distant figure. For a normal human, the being standing ten miles away would be impossible to see. But Stan and his siblings were far from normal.
Stan's fists were clenched so tightly that blood was dripping from his palms. His eyes were locked on the strange entity, his thoughts racing.
"Elder Rooney... what are our chances of making it out of this alive?" Stan asked, his voice steady despite the tension in the air.
Elder Rooney hesitated before answering, choosing his words carefully.
"If it's an average divine being and we all use our bloodline powers together, we might stand a chance of taking it down. But I'm more concerned about what comes next. If we use our bloodline powers, it could draw more of those beings here. And I don't know how many of them we can handle."
"None of you will be fighting," Qudsiyah said suddenly, stepping forward.
The group turned to her in surprise.
"Normally, I would let you handle this," Qudsiyah continued. "But you're right—if you use your bloodline powers, more of these beings will come. I suspect that this one is already here because of Stan's use of his bloodline power earlier."
Her calm but resolute tone made it clear she was ready to take action.
"What are you saying?" Stan asked, his voice steady but cautious.
"I'm saying that Zarathul and I will deal with this problem ourselves," Qudsiyah replied confidently.
"And how exactly do you plan to do that?" Stan pressed.
Qudsiyah smiled, her pink lips curving upward, and her long, white hair cascading elegantly down her back.
"This isn't the first time we've had visitors like this," Qudsiyah said calmly. "Trust me—they've all been dealt with before."
As she spoke, the distant figure they'd been watching began moving toward them. Its speed was incredible. In less than ten second, the being had closed the ten-mile gap and arrived right in front of them.
The impact of its landing unleashed a powerful gust of wind, tearing through the snow and uprooting nearby trees like a tornado.
In response, Qudsiyah and Zarathul stepped forward to shield the group. Zarathul spread its massive wings, digging them into the ground for stability. In her human form, Qudsiyah gracefully climbed onto Zarathul's muscular back, ready to face the approaching figure.
Now that the stranger was up close, everyone could see it clearly. Its features were bizarre and unnerving. It had no nose, just four eyes set across its face and a wide, animal-like mouth. Its skin was an otherworldly shade of blue, further emphasizing that it wasn't human.
The being surveyed the group with its piercing gaze before finally speaking.
"Humans... Has your race started moving from planet to planet again, looking for a life force to colonize? Perhaps it's time we remind you of your rightful place—beneath us," the alien-like being said, its voice filled with disdain.
The group didn't fully understand the stranger's cryptic words. But one thing stood out: this being saw them as invaders. However, there was no time to dwell on its accusations.
When no one responded, the being continued, its tone growing sharper.
"Fortunately for you, I'm not here to deal with humans right now. I'm looking for dragons. If you've seen any, tell me where they are, and I might consider sparing your pathetic lives," the being said.
Qudsiyah didn't flinch. Instead, she pointed directly at Stan and his siblings.
"I know exactly what you're looking for," she said boldly. "These are the ones you seek."
The group froze in shock at her declaration, but Qudsiyah wasn't finished.
"However," she continued, her voice firm and unwavering, "I cannot let you touch them. For one, you've trespassed by barging onto this planet uninvited. If you're wise, you'll leave now. Return to wherever you came from and tell no one about what you saw or who you met here."
Her tone turned cold as she added, "Do that, and I might consider sparing you from entering the reincarnation cycle prematurely."
The god, who had introduced himself as Gbághàrám-Moth, stared at Qudsiyah for a moment before bursting into a booming, belly-deep laugh. His voice was so loud and powerful that the ground beneath them shook violently, and the air vibrated with energy.
"Me... Gbághàrám-Moth, a god of the universe, and you dare to challenge me? I can enter any planet I please!" he roared. "Wait... so you're the one who set up the barrier. How dare you try to stop a god from going where he wishes?"
Gbághàrám-Moth's grin faded, replaced by a furious scowl. "And now, you've had the audacity to claim you could send me to the reincarnation cycle? For such outrageous treatment, I have decided-this planet will no longer exist in the universe. I will kill you all and destroy this world!"
As he spoke, a massive surge of energy erupted from his body, spreading across the area like a tidal wave.
The force was overwhelming. Everyone -even those still aboard the spaceship -collapsed unconscious. Beasts in the surrounding forest panicked, running wildly in all directions.
Stan and his siblings, still standing on the battlefield, felt the crushing pressure of Gbághàrám-Moth's aura. It was as though the air itself had turned solid, squeezing the life out of them. Breathing became nearly impossible.
'This aura... this pressure... It's far beyond that of the nine divine realms. Could this be a stage even higher than the divine stage?' Elder Rooney thought, struggling for air as he fought to stay conscious.
Just as it seemed they wouldn't be able to withstand the pressure any longer, something within Stan and his siblings began to stir. Their dragon bloodline was reacting.
"It's the bloodline! Suppress it as much as you can!" Stan shouted, his voice strained but firm.
Stan could tell what was happening.
Their bloodline, sensing danger, was preparing to activate as a defense mechanism. He had experienced this before and knew it could escalate the situation further.
Following Stan's command, his siblings focused and forced their bloodline to remain dormant. As they did, the overwhelming pressure around them began to subside, fading to nothing.
However, the same couldn't be said for Graham.
Unlike Stan and his siblings, Graham didn't possess the dragon bloodline.
The immense pressure had taken a severe toll on him. He had fallen to his knees, barely able to stay conscious.
His breaths were shallow, and his body trembled uncontrollably.
"Graham!" Cressida cried out, rushing to his side. She wrapped her arms around him, trying to hold him up. "I think he's dying!" she sobbed, tears streaming down her face as she looked around desperately for help.
"I said no one is dying," Qudsiyah's voice rang out from atop Zarathul.
Raising her hand, Qudsiyah pointed in their direction. Although no visible energy emerged, the oppressive atmosphere began to dissipate entirely.
A moment later, everything and everyone-Graham included-was transported back near the safety of the ship.
The group took a moment to steady themselves, catching their breath.
"Everyone... this person..." Elder Rooney gasped, his voice filled with dread.
"He... he is at a stage above the divine stage!"