Chapter 497 - 394: Astra Ascends to Catastrophe Level
Chapter 497: Chapter 394: Astra Ascends to Catastrophe Level
BOOM!
Astra’s massive body leaped up and flew to a bare mountain peak not far from the camp.
It coiled its body, settling on the summit.
Countless bolts of lightning and thunder flickered across its body. After a draconic roar, a massive Energy Cocoon, radiating a soft glow, enveloped Astra’s entire form.
Following this, a terrifying pressure far exceeding the Domain Level began to emanate from the Light Cocoon.
"Relay my orders!"
Duke Aiden’s voice was weak, but it still held its authority.
"Thunder Dragon Knight Order, secure this mountain! No one is to come within a single step until Astra has completed its breakthrough!"
"Yes, Your Grace!"
Gaius immediately accepted the order.
The Knights of the Thunder Dragon Knight Order moved swiftly, forming a steel cordon around the small mountain and blocking all curious gazes.
The entire camp once again fell into an atmosphere of tension and anticipation.
Raylo stood in the distance, quietly watching the enormous Jade Light Cocoon.
He could clearly sense a power capable of destroying heaven and earth gestating and sublimating within the cocoon.
It was a qualitative transformation, a leap in the very level of its existence.
Compared to his own breakthrough to Sky Knight, the scale of this event was on an entirely different plane.
This gave him a more direct and profound understanding of the term "Catastrophe Level."
"Raylo."
Supported by several guards, Duke Aiden walked over to Raylo’s side.
"Father."
Raylo hurriedly bowed.
"There’s no need for formalities."
Duke Aiden waved his hand. His gaze fell upon Raylo, his eyes filled with praise and gratitude.
"Once again... you have rendered a peerless service for the Duchy, and for me."
The opportunity to advance to the Catastrophe Level—the weight of this gift was immense.
So immense that even he, the ruler of the Duchy, did not know how he could possibly repay it.
"It was my duty, Father."
Raylo’s reply was as humble as ever.
Raylo then asked about the Duke’s battle against the Demon Serpent Avatar.
At the mention of that battle, a trace of lingering fear appeared on Duke Aiden’s face for the first time.
"That thing... it’s a monster," he said slowly.
"A true monster. Even with Astra and I working together, we could only barely hold it back. Its power seemed endless. Every single thunderbolt was enough to easily inflict heavy damage on a Domain Level expert."
"The only reason we survived is because it was an avatar with limited energy. We had to wear it down, nearly depleting it completely, before it was forced to retreat."
Duke Aiden’s tone was calm, but Raylo could imagine the peril involved.
It had been a battle of attrition where they staked their lives. One wrong move would have meant utter annihilation.
Astra’s breakthrough took an extremely long time.
A full month passed, during which they repelled several attacks from the relentless Lizardfolk.
High above, the sky churned violently!
For dozens of miles around the mountain peak, the clouds began to swirl and surge.
Countless streams of Elemental Energy converged from all directions, forming an immense Energy Vortex above the Light Cocoon.
Thunderbolts crisscrossed the sky, forming a Sea of Thunderbolt.
Innumerable thunderbolts gathered toward the peak, completely shrouding the entire mountain in lightning.
An even more terrifying pressure erupted from within the Light Cocoon!
"It’s about to succeed!"
Duke Aiden’s breathing grew ragged.
CRACK!
A crisp cracking sound came from the Light Cocoon.
One after another, cracks appeared on the surface of the Light Cocoon.
Immediately after, CRACK, CRACK...
Countless cracks spread rapidly across the entire cocoon like a spiderweb.
Brilliant bolts of lightning shot out from the fissures, illuminating the entire night sky as if it were day.
"ROAR!"
An earth-shattering draconic roar echoed from within the Light Cocoon.
The sound was like that of a monarch between heaven and earth, announcing its arrival!
BOOM!
The massive Light Cocoon exploded!
As the cocoon shattered, a flash of white light illuminated the entire world for an instant.
Then, the myriad lights faded.
A brand new Giant Dragon appeared atop the hill.
It was still Astra, yet it was not the same Astra as before at all.
Its body had nearly doubled in size, now measuring over eight hundred meters long.
Every one of its Dragon Scales seemed forged from the purest gold and thunderbolt, flowing with a dazzling brilliance. Occasionally, fine arcs of golden electricity would dance across the surface of the scales with a soft CRACKLE.
Catastrophe Level!
Without a doubt, after devouring the Heart of the Giant Beast, the Thunder Dragon Astra had successfully broken the shackles of its bloodline, taken that all-important step, and become one of the beings at the very apex of the pyramid on this Continent!
An invisible, world-ruling pressure emanated from its body, blanketing the entire land.
In the camp, tens of thousands of Knights, including their mounts, trembled uncontrollably. Some of the weaker soldiers even found their legs giving out as they collapsed to their knees.
This did not stem from fear, but from an absolute suppression based on the hierarchy of life itself.
It was the awe a mortal feels in the presence of a deity, a reverence that stemmed from the very depths of their souls.
Even Domain Level experts like Gaius felt immense pressure, and the circulation of their Fighting Spirit became sluggish.
"Good! Good! Good!"
Duke Aiden looked at his completely transformed old friend, his face flushed with excitement. He exclaimed "Good!" three times before bursting into laughter filled with pride and joy.
"My Thunder Dragon Duchy finally has its own Catastrophe Level Guardian!"