Chapter 87: Wrath of the Heavens and the Axe of Destruction

The sky could no longer withstand the power of the battle.

Above the battlefield...

Five Divine Ascenders were facing one another.

Leon.

Andor.

Sylvus.

Teresa.

And Azrael.

Below them, the four armies continued to fight without pause.

The earth trembled with every explosion.

The sky ignited with every clash.

But the true battle...

Was taking place above them all.

Leon raised his sword.

Heavenly Energy flowed around his body and began gathering within his blade.

His eyes were fixed on Azrael.

He said:

"Azrael..."

Then he charged.

"Heavenly Sword Art — Heaven-Splitting Slash!"

BOOOOOOM!

A massive sword slash erupted from his blade.

It split the clouds in two.

At the same time, Andor charged from the side.

He raised his weapon.

"Divine War Art — Mountain-Shattering Fist!"

A tremendous force erupted from his body.

Then Teresa attacked from the opposite direction.

Her body moved with blinding speed.

Dozens of afterimages appeared around Azrael.

"Heavenly Shadow Steps — Phantom Barrage!"

Dozens of strikes were launched simultaneously.

As for Sylvus...

He raised his hand.

Mysterious circles of Heavenly Energy formed behind him.

"Seven Heavenly Seals — Heavenly Chain Bind!"

Seven enormous chains of light appeared and shot toward Azrael from different directions.

Four techniques.

Four attacks.

At the same moment.

But Azrael...

Did not move.

He stood in the sky.

His face was grim.

His eyes were cold.

His great axe was still resting on his shoulder.

The first attack approached.

Then the second.

Then the third.

Then the chains.

Only then...

Did Azrael lower his axe.

He spoke in a low voice:

"Axe of Destruction Art..."

The sky changed.

Red lightning began gathering around the axe.

"Fall of the Crimson Thunder."

KRAAAAAAAK!

A massive bolt of red lightning descended from the heavens.

It struck the axe.

Then exploded into a devastating wave in every direction.

BOOOOOOOOOOOM!

Leon's attack was shattered.

Teresa's afterimages disappeared.

The heavenly chains broke apart.

And Andor's fist was stopped in midair.

The four were thrown backward.

But they did not fall.

They quickly regained their balance in the air.

Andor looked at Azrael.

Then said:

"He destroyed four techniques at once..."

Sylvus did not answer.

His eyes narrowed.

He was trying to analyze Azrael's movements.

But something did not make sense.

He had not sensed any obvious increase in Azrael's energy.

As if Azrael had not made any real effort.

Teresa said:

"He hasn't even used his full strength."

Sylvus answered:

"I know."

Then he looked at Azrael.

"And that's the danger."

On the other side...

Leon was growing even angrier.

He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

Then raised his sword.

Heavenly Energy intensified around his body.

Caesar spoke within his soul:

"Leon."

Leon answered:

"What?"

Caesar said:

"Do not let your anger control you."

Leon looked at Azrael.

"It won't."

Then he charged.

"Heavenly Sword Art — Ten Thousand Heavenly Blades!"

In an instant...

Thousands of swords made of Heavenly Energy appeared in the sky.

The horizon was filled with them.

Then they descended toward Azrael.

Azrael looked toward the sky.

He raised his axe.

And said:

"Boring."

Then he struck.

"Axe of Destruction Art — World-Splitting Slash!"

KRAAAAAAK!

The sky split apart.

Massive cracks appeared across space.

Thousands of heavenly swords shattered before reaching him.

But Leon appeared behind him at the same moment.

He held his sword with both hands.

He shouted:

"Heavenly Sword Art — Heavenly Star Annihilation!"

He struck with all his strength.

Azrael turned.

He raised his arm.

The sword collided with his armor.

BOOOOOM!

Azrael's body shook.

But...

He did not move.

Leon's eyes widened.

Azrael looked at him.

Then said:

"Weak."

He pushed him away with one hand.

BOOOOM!

Leon was sent flying backward.

But before Azrael could continue his attack...

Andor arrived.

"Divine War Art — Heavenly Hammer!"

A tremendous force erupted from his weapon.

He struck Azrael from above.

Azrael raised his axe.

He blocked the attack.

At the same time...

Teresa arrived.

"Heavenly Moon Art — Crescent Blades!"

Dozens of silver blades appeared around Azrael.

Then they shot toward him.

Azrael turned.

He swung his axe.

Once.

BOOOOM!

The blades shattered.

But Sylvus had already moved.

He raised his hand.

"Heavenly Domain — Eternal Prison!"

An enormous amount of energy erupted.

A vast area around Azrael was sealed.

His movement stopped for a moment.

Sylvus looked at him.

And said:

"Now!"

The three charged.

Leon joined them.

Four attacks.

One combined assault.

But Azrael...

Raised his head.

Then tightened his grip around his axe.

The red lightning around him intensified.

He said:

"Axe of Destruction Art..."

Everyone's expressions froze.

"Heavenly Massacre."

BOOOOOOOOOOOM!

A tremendous force erupted from his body.

The Heavenly Domain shattered.

Red lightning shot in every direction.

The four were forced backward.

But this time...

There was blood.

Teresa looked at her arm.

A long wound stretched across it.

She said:

"This lightning..."

Andor answered:

"It pierces Heavenly Energy."

As for Sylvus...

He was staring at Azrael.

He was not looking at his wound.

He was looking at something else.

He said:

"He isn't fighting randomly."

Andor looked at him.

"What do you mean?"

Sylvus said:

"Every strike he makes is calculated."

Then he added:

"He is testing us."

Silence fell.

The four looked at Azrael.

He stood in the midst of the red lightning.

His face remained grim.

There were no signs of fatigue.

Then he said:

"Four Divine Ascenders."

He raised his axe.

"And this is all you have?"

The black-purple Dragon Flames behind him ignited.

Their heat intensified until the rocks below began to melt.

On the ground...

The soldiers of the alliance stared toward the sky in terror.

One of them said:

"What is happening up there?"

Another answered:

"I don't know..."

Then he looked toward the sky.

"But they are growing stronger."

Elsewhere on the battlefield...

The Golden General was fighting one of the Heavenly Council's members.

Their weapons clashed.

BOOOOM!

The general said:

"You rely on your strength."

Then he delivered a powerful strike.

"We rely on thousands of years of warfare."

The council member barely managed to block the attack.

On the other side...

Flames consumed the earth.

The Fire General was fighting the other council member.

Their battle was even more intense.

Each of them knew that their fall would affect their entire army.

Meanwhile, above the battlefield...

Leon raised his sword once again.

His breathing had become heavier.

But he did not retreat.

He said:

"I won't retreat."

Andor looked at him.

Then said:

"Neither will we."

Teresa raised her weapon.

As for Sylvus...

He closed his eyes for a moment.

Then opened them.

And said:

"This time..."

Heavenly Energy gathered around the four.

"We won't attack him one by one."

Leon looked at them.

He understood what he meant.

Then nodded.

The four spread out in four directions.

Azrael stood in the center.

Heavenly Energy began gathering around them.

Leon in front.

Andor on the right.

Teresa on the left.

And Sylvus behind.

They were preparing their strongest attack.

But Azrael...

Did not appear concerned.

He lowered his axe slightly.

Then said:

"Come."

The four charged.

At the same moment...

Azrael moved.

BOOOOOOOOOOOM!

The sky shook violently.

The five forces collided.

A massive shockwave spread across the continent.

Below...

The battles stopped for a moment.

Everyone raised their heads.

No one could ignore what was happening anymore.

The sky itself seemed as though it were on the verge of collapsing.

Yet amidst all of it...

Azrael was still standing.

There were small marks on his armor.

And a few drops of blood on his arm.

But he did not appear angry.

Nor did he smile.

He simply looked at the four before him.

Then said in a cold voice:

"Now I feel that you are finally worthy of fighting."

The red lightning ignited.

The black-purple Dragon Flames behind him burned even more fiercely.

And at that moment...

Sylvus felt something that made his heart grow heavy.

He said quietly:

"He..."

Andor looked at him.

"What?"

Sylvus continued staring at Azrael.

Then said:

"He still hasn't revealed his level."

Silence fell.

And in the sky...

Azrael raised his axe once again.

As if the real battle...

Had not even begun yet.