Chapter 106: Observing the Battle

The desolate sky, the dead silence of the earth, the surging lava all adhered to a certain order, in a structured battle of demons, their natures forcibly twisted by the power of the Epic Titan.

Originally chaotic beings, they had transformed into creatures of order, yet their intrinsic nature to revel in battle and slaughter was preserved, for the Lord of the Abyss, Ulysses, needed the demons to maintain this trait.

Otherwise, if they all turned into peace-loving beings of order, what would the Lord of the Abyss gain from expending such effort? Ulysses merely wanted a demon legion that could obey commands and wage wars across the endless void for him.

Within the first layer of the Abyss, ruled by Lord Ulysses, eight roaring sounds that shook the void simultaneously erupted from eight directions. The battling demons, upon hearing these roars, promptly ceased their skirmishes and orderly divided into eight groups, retreating towards the sources of the roars.

When the demons were scattered throughout the first layer of the Abyss fighting, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. However, when they ceased their battles and gathered together, the sight was enough to astonish any creature.

The notoriously chaotic demons, upon the summoning of the eight roars, formed eight neatly arranged arrays. As they marched, their steps were initially disordered, but gradually, their movements became more synchronized until finally, their steps unified, each one landing in unison. The dead silence of the earth trembled, the pools of lava churned fiery waves, and the barren mountains shook.

Soon, under the summoning of the roars, a vast area in the first layer of the Abyss was cleared. Within this area, no demons remained except for the "gurgle gurgle" sounds of flowing lava.

However, this calm was short-lived. A series of dazzling teleportation lights swept across the dead land. As the teleportation lights vanished, one after another, young Titans and Celestial Offspring of impressive demeanor appeared.

Muria surveyed the surroundings, noting many familiar and unfamiliar Titans and Celestial Offspring. He quickly understood that the news of this legendary battle had spread throughout the land of the Titans.

All Titans, including those who came for exchanges, had received notifications. Virtually everyone with knowledge of the combatants had chosen to come here to observe the battle, which was to be expected.

"Muria," a familiar voice called out.

"Gerard," Muria turned and saw a robust young Titan approaching him with a smiling face.

"Look over there," the young Titan walked up to Muria, crossed his arms, and nudged him with his shoulder while tilting his chin towards a girl standing in that direction.

"Mikaela." Following Gerard's gesture, Muria turned to see a Celestial Maiden, her form resplendent with ten burning wings, catching his eye.

"Aren't you going to say hello?" Gerard raised an eyebrow teasingly, "Didn't you say you'd pursue her after winning the duel? Now's your chance."

"I see her from time to time, what opportunity does this occasion offer?" Muria looked towards the Celestial Maiden surrounded by a halo of admirers and smiled wryly.

"True, those guys around her are a bit of a nuisance," Gerard muttered, then looked at Muria, "But I can find someone to help you out."

"No need," Muria grabbed Gerard, who was eager to divert the group of third wheels surrounding Mikaela, "We're here to observe the battle, let's not play around. There will be plenty of opportunities to pursue Mikaela."

"Plenty?" Gerard looked askance at Muria, "They've been in our Titan lands for six years already, and they'll soon leave for the Boundless Heavens. Before that, you have all the time you need to win Mikaela over, and your time is running out."

"Hey, Muria, she just nodded at you," just then, Mikaela noticed Muria's gaze and gave a gentle nod in greeting, which delighted Gerard even more than Muria himself.

"I saw it, brother," Muria put an arm around Gerard's neck, "Calm down, let's talk after the battle, okay?"

"Balor, be careful!"

Just then, a Balor Demon enveloped in swirling red flames, flying rapidly towards Muria and the noble group with bat wings extended, spread a legendary pressure as it approached.

The approach of the legendary demon altered the expressions of many Celestial Offspring, who were there to observe and had not expected such an adversary, while the Titans remained undisturbed.

"Put down your weapons," Mikaela's brother, a Soul-Level eight-winged Celestial Offspring named Silvester, commanded loudly to his kin who had already drawn their weapons.

"Your Highnesses, please follow me," the Balor Demon, now in front of Muria and the others, not only refrained from attacking but addressed them courteously, "The viewing area has been prepared."

"This is a demon of the Abyss Lord." A Titan pointed out to the Celestial Offspring, referring to the Balor Demon, now stripped of its chaotic nature and absolutely obedient to the Abyss Lord's commands.

Furthermore, affected by the power of the Epic Titan, this Balor Demon's reverse-jointed legs had morphed to resemble those of humans, and changes in its demonic tattoos, horns, and wings differentiated it significantly from traditional Balor Demons of the Abyss.

Had it not been for its trademark weapons, the beheading sword, and the whip of flames, it might have been unrecognizable as a Balor Demon. But these were merely superficial changes.

What truly transformed was the power of the Balor Demon; no longer filthy or chaotic, it now conveyed to Muria a sense of ferocity, slaughter, and, strangely, purity.

Muria watched the imposing, muscular Balor Demon in the sky, puzzled by the feeling of pure power it conveyed. He turned to see a similar mix of emotions on the faces of many Celestial Offspring and Titans, who also sensed the unusual nature of this Balor Demon.

"This is no longer a demon," a Celestial Offspring murmured, "but a completely new creature."

And as the Balor Demon hovered in the air, it ignored the many strange glances from below and flapped its broad demonic wings, scattering sparks of altered flame.

The Soul-Level Titans surged into the storm to follow this unique Balor Demon, prompting the remaining Golden-Level Titans and Celestial Offspring to follow without hesitation.

Finally, the Balor Demon led everyone to a barren, rugged mountain strewn with broken rocks.

"This is the viewing area. The master's power will protect this mountain. Once the battle starts, do not step off this mountain, or the master will not intervene should you get caught in the legendary battle," the Balor Demon warned, focusing on the Golden-Level Titans and Celestial Offspring, who could be severely injured or killed by a stray attack from the legendary battle. The Soul-Level Titans and Celestial Offspring, capable of withstanding a few hits, needed less concern.

After speaking, this thoroughly transformed Balor Demon vanished in a flash from before Muria and the others.

"Your Titan clan's Epic Lord is truly unique, using a demon as a follower," a Celestial Offspring remarked in amazement

 once the Balor Demon had disappeared.

"Cough!" Hearing this, many Titans frowned, and Silvester, noticing this, cleared his throat loudly and glared at the speaking Celestial Offspring, then gestured with his eyes to another Celestial Offspring to change the subject.

"This mountain seems unremarkable, so why did that Balor Demon ask us to stay here to watch?" another Celestial Offspring quickly diverted the conversation.

The same question troubled Muria; aside from being desolate and barren, his mountain base showed no special features that could guarantee their safety from the legendary duel unfolding above.

"Boom…" Just then, the dark heavens above burst without warning into dense thunderous roars, followed by a majestic torrent of golden and dark thunderbolts interweaving into a waterfall that engulfed the mountain where the Titans and Celestial Offspring stood.

Muria watched in trepidation as thunderbolts, thicker than his Titan form, struck the rocks beside him, hard swallowing the realization that any contact with these thunderbolts would mean he could only leave this place horizontally today.

But clearly, this grandiose cascade of thunderbolts was the handiwork of the master of this realm, Epic Titan Ulysses, submerging the mountains in thunder without harming any Titan or Celestial Offspring.

Endless thunderbolts fell upon the barren mountain, integrating into it rather than destroying it, causing a curious transformation in the gray-black, rough mountain rocks as they began to emit a dual-tone light of black and gold from within.

Under the baptism of the thunderbolt waterfall, the mountain transformed into a divine and sublime peak, its rocky surface turning dark with a metallic sheen, and intricate golden patterns emerged and intertwined, forming an unfathomable array beyond Muria's comprehension.

"This is the epic force that rivals the gods!"

In just a few breaths, the barren mountain had turned into a majestic, awe-inspiring sacred mountain. This transformation left Muria and the others in awe, with a Celestial Offspring unable to help but whisper.

"Epic indeed!" Seeing such a display of creative power, Muria clenched his fists, his eyes gleaming with admiration.