The Flames of War - II

Azkar was taken aback by the princess's behavior, rendering him momentarily speechless. The situation outside was spiraling out of control, so he decided to conclude everything as quickly as possible. His brain functioned like a supercomputer, instantly creating the best situational plan. Whenever he contemplated something significant that required time, like creating a plan, his [Thought Acceleration] ability would passively activate, making him feel as though the world had slowed down.

[ Thought Acceleration:** This ability allows its user to accelerate the thought process to the maximum degree. The user, named [Azkar Oblivion], possesses a unique innate ability [Limitless Numerical Consciousness]. Due to this, the "Thought Acceleration" ability has been restricted, as the user cannot use this ability to its full extent with their current capabilities. Thought Acceleration: ×1M Factor. ]

He continued to use his [Thought Acceleration] ability, causing everything in front of him to come to a stop. He double-checked his plan, which was simply how he would gather as much loot as possible. After creating a perfect plan, he noticed Alena still attacking him as if he had committed a horrible crime.

"You demon, I'll kill you..." She exerted her utmost effort, but Azkar effortlessly dodged her attacks. However, when she saw Azkar's face, her heart skipped a beat. It felt as if she would die if she uttered even a single word.

"Enough," Azkar said with a serious face.

"You got the wrong idea, Princess. I'm smiling because they'll become my loot, and don't irritate me. Okay, there's a limit to how much I can handle someone's behavior," Azkar explained, hoping she would leave him alone.

After saying this, he left his room and headed straight towards the city gate. Azkar continued to smile because this time he was sure to gain enough loot for his next plan.

Princess Alena was frozen from the shock she received from Azkar because not even her father talked to her like this. One question bothered her the most.

"What did he say... loot? Is he going to rob in this dire situation? Disgusting," she thought, snapping back to her senses.

"My lady, please head toward the bunker. It's not safe here," Layla said, one of the receptionists and Princess Alena's shadow guard.

"No, we are going to help. Gather everyone," Alena said with a solemn face.

==========

Azkar stood on the city wall, able to see everything from this high vantage point. This time, he wasn't smiling because, regardless of anything, he couldn't allow these demonic beasts to enter the city; they would surely turn the place into a living hell.

However, he couldn't go outside and engage in fighting, playing the role of a hero. No, that wasn't his style. Still, he had to do something because if he didn't, he would lose a significant amount of loot. "Let's do this. First, I need some origin points to continue my plan."

"Let's wait and see the reaction of the empire because, no matter how weak the empire is, they're at least able to defend themselves." He sat down on the wall, preparing to wait until he collected some origin points.

=========

In front of the gate, a multitude of hunters from the guild stood shoulder to shoulder with the empire's armies, strategically positioned to defend against any monsters attempting to breach the walls. The river in front of the city gate played a crucial role in controlling the number of monsters, as their access was limited to the bridge.

Thousands of hunters and soldiers stood resolute in defense of the city. Motivated by the presence of their families within the city walls, they were prepared to protect it, even if it meant making the ultimate sacrifice. Their eyes bore a somber determination, acknowledging the harsh reality that they might not survive this impending war.

"Hey, control yourself. You'll be done for before even starting if you let fear take over," one of the hunters advised.

Every hunter near the gate stood stunned, trying to locate the source of the voice.

"It's Master Charlie, the leader of the Hunter Guild, one of the most powerful hunters in the city! We're saved," Hunter A exclaimed in relief.

"Hey, newbie, you don't know our guild leader. He's at the peak of the S-rank, soon to reach the epic rank," Hunter B boasted with pride, instantly dispelling the fear among the others.

"We are saved! These demonic beasts will learn their place, hahaha! We are saved!" Many hunters near the city began to regain their confidence, shifting from a state of fear to newfound ignorance.

RUMBLE!

Suddenly, a large presence descended onto the battlefield. Twelve imposing figures landed at the forefront. They were none other than King Rudas himself, accompanied by his eleven guardians.

King Rudas was adorned in a full-body black armor, wielding a long sword in his hand. His hair was scattered, giving him the appearance of a demon emerging from hell. Behind him stood eleven shadows, all clad in black, obscuring their faces. Each shadow gripped two daggers, poised for battle.

Soldiers and hunters began to converse upon witnessing their king's arrival.

"Your Majesty, they're approaching," Veldora reported from behind King Rudas.

"Veldora, let me talk to my people one last time. Once I'm done, destroy the bridge," King Rudas instructed with a solemn expression.

"As you command, Your Majesty," Veldora replied.

King Rudas observed the multitude of people behind him, all eager to defend the city. Witnessing their determination, his face took on a solemn expression, and he addressed them using magic to amplify his voice.

"My people, as you already know, our chances of winning this war are slim, and many of us may not survive. Yet, despite this, we stand here united to prevent anything from destroying our home—the last bastion of defense for humanity. If our city falls, our empire will cease to exist. Humanity will lose its place to call home, and our children will be left without a future. We must safeguard everything, ensuring our children see a day where they can live freely," King Rudas solemnly declared.

"Are all of you ready to join me in protecting our home?" he inquired.

"Are you prepared for the sacrifices needed for our future?" he questioned.

"Will you face our enemies without fear of losing your lives?" he asked, rallying his people.

The soldiers and hunters of the empire's capital city erupted in shouts. With the largest army among all the cities, supported by the Hunter Guild, hundreds of thousands had gathered to defend their home.

"We are ready, Your Majesty!" echoed the unified voices of the hunters and soldiers.

"We will not allow the enemies to breach our home!" proclaimed many hunters and soldiers.

"We will secure a better future for our children and for humanity!" proclaimed others.

"We are prepared to die defending our home!" proclaimed more voices among the soldiers and hunters.

"Then, prepare for battle, everyone," King Rudas commanded with a solemn expression, rallying his forces for the Bloody War of survival.

=======

Azkar observed everything from the city wall, impressed by the rare dedication displayed. Kings willing to sacrifice for their people were a rarity. Despite being moved by the king's final words, Azkar hesitated to intervene, aware that he couldn't save everyone.

As the situation grew increasingly dire, Azkar noticed four potent presences concealed within the void. His [Numeric Eyes] granted him the unique ability to perceive beyond normal sight, interpreting the world through numerical patterns and data. This exceptional capacity allowed him to see through the concealment of these powerful entities.

So, he'll wait until they decide to enter the battlefield. Also, he needs some origin points to advance his plan. Let's take it slow; there's no need to hurry. He began analyzing the battlefield to see if anything was wrong.

BOOOM!

"..."

"What the hell! King Rudas destroyed the bridge. Well, that makes sense; with this, they'll gain the upper hand in the battlefield. But is it really necessary? Because he knows that one Domain rank warrior is watching everything from inside the void," he thought.

A Domain Rank powerhouse is no joke, capable of wielding firepower to destroy an entire continent with a single attack. There must be something they desire from this Empire, leading them to avoid a more destructive route.

However, acting recklessly is not an option for Domain Rank powerhouses, considering other empires also possess individuals of such formidable strength.

In this world, there are people who claim to be the embodiment of justice. But if someone destroyed the Zenith Empire out of the blue, no one would seek justice for humans. Regardless of how much they cherish justice, everything ultimately boils down to the fact that power is all that matters.

"That reminds me, this place has no law to protect the weak. Without power, you cannot do anything. Huh," he thought.

Currently, Azkar is a Domain Rank powerhouse, yet he lacks comprehension of any law, rendering his Domain a blank space. Upon comprehending a law, he will gain the properties of that law. For example, if he comprehends the law of water, he'll gain [Water Domain].

If he wants to fight, he has to use his full power because he doesn't know if his [Reality Negation] ability will work.

{{Reality Negation:: This is an authority you gained after you fused with your origin. Because your very origin follows a different unit concept from reality, a person with the same cultivation rank as you will not be able to harm you even in the slightest. This ability only works on the same rank and lower ranks. If a person with the same rank as you comes in front of you, they will feel powerless against you. The same can be said for lower ranks; they can even lose their life if they show the slightest amount of hostility.}}

He once again checks the details of this Authority, which is effective for handling large numbers of smaller enemies, but won't work against someone more powerful than him in Cultivation rank.

So, he is left with only two Authorities that will aid him in the fight, with one of them being his trump card, reserved for dire situations.

{{God Mode [Evolvable]:: This is an absolute authority that being named [Azkar Oblivion] possesses. This authority increases the user's base power by 10×. The power of this authority will increase with every advancement the user makes in his cultivation process. This authority can only be used with [Limitless Origin Human Bloodline].}}

"If I use this Authority, my power will be multiplied by 10, which is way too op. But here comes the risky part: I have to use this Authority with [Limitless Origin Human Bloodline] in my real form. So, even if I hide my face with a mask, then my halo will spin behind my back. That's dangerous because if someone destroys it, then welcome to the afterlife," Azkar thought.

So, he decided to use this Authority if the situation got dire. The second Authority he could use was [Deleted Authority], which can delete anything from existence upon coming into contact with his body or when he uses skills while combining with this Authority. However, if someone has absolute Authority or ultimate authority, then his delete Authority will not work against them. So he focused on the battlefield.

First, if you're wondering why no one saw Azkar sitting on the city wall, the answer is simple: he can control his body's energy with absolute accuracy, hiding his presence. No one can tell he was sitting on the city wall. Second, when Azkar thinks about something, his Thought Acceleration ability will activate passively. So, in just one second for everyone, it's like 200+ hours for him. When he uses Thought Acceleration, everything comes to a stop.

RUMBLE!

On the river's other side, a multitude of monsters has gathered. Despite their demonic aura and substantial sizes, these creatures resemble ordinary animals. Each demonic beast, marked by intense red eyes, moves in unison without control over their own bodies, obediently following unseen commands. The assembly features a diverse array of animals, all sizable, with each creature standing at least 2 meters tall.

Behind the demonic beasts is a formidable demon adorned with two imposing horns and wings that unfurl behind him. These features unmistakably symbolize his status as a demon with Transcendent rank Cultivation. His very presence exudes a stifling aura, enveloping the surroundings with oppressive energy.

"..."

"How come this guy is alone able to destroy a city with his power, and according to my analysis, Domain rank powerhouses are using this demon and demonic beast as a means to assess the empire's strength. Why are they hesitant to attack the empire? It seems they fear the Dragon Empire, which is pretty obvious at this point," Azkar thought, then he focused on the battlefield.

"I'm Duke Belilar from Reven Empire. From today onwards, there will be no Zenith Empire on this planet," Duke Belilar, the demon leading the demonic beasts, declared.

"Surrender, and some of you will survive; your children will only become slaves. But if you want to fight, then not a single soul will be left alive. Hahahaha," Duke Belilar proclaimed.

RUMBLE!

Hearing this, everyone on the battlefield felt their blood boil; even those who harbored fear had it completely erased. They all yearned to silence that demon's menacing voice.

"Prepare for battle," King Rudas commanded, and his words resonated across the battlefield.

"Your Majesty, I'll handle this demon. I have a feeling this is not the battle you need to fight," Veldora said.

"I know, Veldora. I'm feeling uneasy. Something is not right," King Rudas responded.

On the other side of the river, Duke Belilar heard this, and he already knew the answer. However, seeing the other party not even dignifying him with a reply hurt his pride.

"Go, kill them! Tear them into pieces; not a single person needs to be alive," he commanded with immense anger.

=======

In the void, four royal vampires observed everything unfolding on the battlefield.

"My lord, this moron lost control of his emotions. What should we do? How will we find the mutated soul in this city if he's going to kill everyone?" Isabella inquired of the person in front of her.

"Isabella, do you think this will be enough to destroy this empire?" Armand asked.

"My lord, I... I..." Isabella hesitated before stopping herself.

"I felt a powerful presence near the battlefield for a second before it completely disappeared, and it was of the same rank as me. So, this war is not going to be simple," Armand concluded.

"How is this even possible, my lord? This is impossible! How can this lowly empire have a Domain Rank expert? This is impossible," Isabella exclaimed.

"Look here, you idiot! Who said this powerhouse is from this empire? There are other forces on this planet that can do harm to our empire," one of the other royal vampires argued.

"You shut your mouth, Vladious, otherwise I'll skin you alive. Did you hear me?" Isabella warned, locking eyes with Vladious.

"Cut it out, you two. We're in a dire situation. If this powerhouse decides to help this empire, the situation will be more than we can handle," Armand said with a solemn expression.

"Lysandra, did you see anything?" Armand inquired of one of the vampires sitting behind him.

"My lord, I did not see anything. Everything is going according to our plan," Lysandra reassured.

She is one of the royal vampires who can see two hours into the future. This ability bred confidence among them as they had blind faith in her foresight.

However, these idiots were unaware that Azkar possessed immunity to this kind of prediction. His Multidimensional Barrier protected him, and his existence negated any attacks from lower Cultivations, thanks to the Authority of Reality Negation.

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[Author Note: As this chapter marks the beginning of the second volume, "The Bloody War of Survival," I've decided to make it longer as a bonus for you guys. If you appreciate longer chapters, please share your thoughts in the comments. If not, let me know as well so I can adjust accordingly. If you enjoy my novel, consider adding it to your collection. Supporting my work with a power stone is entirely optional—just kidding! Do as you like, and I'll be happy. Your thoughts and comments about my novel are highly valued. Your feedback motivates me, and I'll strive to enhance the story with each character.]