Chapter 249: My Turn!

Chapter 249: My Turn!

She stepped forward, her movements deliberate, her posture radiating unshakable confidence. A serene smile adorned her face, but beneath it lay a storm of raw power, barely contained. Before stepping out of the whale spaceship, she took a drop of the universe tree sap and consumed it.

The drop of milky white Universe Tree sap she had consumed minutes earlier had transformed her. Where once her energy had dwindled to a meager 800 kaelrian joules due to her failing the power realm evaluation, or rather, her unusual exit of the power realm evaluation, but now it surged—a roaring inferno that had catapulted her to an astonishing 40,000,000 kaelrian joules, the realm of a Higher God thanks to the drop she consumed.

Her body felt alive, every cell thrumming with vitality and power. The sap had not just restored her strength; it had amplified her in ways she could hardly fathom. This wasn't just energy—it was domination incarnate.

As she descended the shimmering steps of the whale spaceship, her smile widened. She had more than replenished her drained reserves; she had returned the borrowed energy to her baby, a silent promise fulfilled. For too long, she had relied on temporary solutions, fleeting bursts of borrowed strength. But now, with the Universe Tree's gift coursing through her veins, she was limitless.

Her thoughts raced as she tested the boundaries of her newfound strength. She clenched her fists, feeling the unimaginable power coiling within her like a tightly wound spring. "If this is the power of a Higher God," she mused, her voice low and tinged with awe, "then what must the forbidden god level feel like?" The mere thought sent shivers down her spine, and her smile grew.

The air around her seemed to ripple, her presence bending reality itself. Her steps, though measured, resonated like thunderclaps, sending tremors through the ground. Dust and pebbles vibrated and danced in response, as if the planet itself was acknowledging her arrival.

The Deri-Legu people stood in stunned silence. They had seen her before—watched her struggle, falter even—but the being before them now was different. She was no longer just Tessa; she was something far greater, an entity they couldn't begin to comprehend.

"What… what is this?" one of them whispered, his bird like beak quivering in disbelief.

"She feels... endless," another murmured, his voice trembling. "Like a void that could swallow galaxies."

Nzak Deri narrowed his eyes, his usually calm demeanor shaken. He had no idea where she had gone, or what she had encountered in that wormhole, however, she seemed very different from the figure that entered the wormhole. Her determination was much more enhanced and she had this air around her like she could control the very time as it ticks down.

She had such depth to her eyesight that leaves one very disturbed when they look into them. He could sense the sheer depth of her power—a bottomless abyss that made even the mightiest of them feel insignificant.

Tessa paused at the base of the steps, her gaze sweeping over the gathered crowd. Her eyes sparkled with an ethereal light, and her aura radiated with such intensity that the air around her seemed to shimmer. Her smile, though warm, held a silent warning.

The ground beneath her cracked as she took another step forward, the sheer weight of her energy causing fissures to spiderweb outward. The members of the Deri-Legu that stood behind her instinctively stepped back, their earlier confidence evaporating.

Farther away, Otopi and his mercenaries stared in disbelief. The whale spaceship had been intimidating enough, but this… this was something else entirely.

"She's... she's a monster," one of Otopi's men stammered, his hands trembling as he gripped his weapon.

"No," Otopi corrected, his voice low and grim. "She's a god, that is the only explanation."

Tessa's smile never faltered as she turned her gaze toward the Clover Mercenaries. Her eyes, glowing faintly with power, locked onto Otopi. In that moment, he felt utterly exposed, as if her gaze alone could strip him of his defenses.

"You fired first," she said, her voice calm yet carrying an edge that sent chills down their spines. "Now... it's my turn."

She raised her hand, her fingers flexing as if testing the air. The energy around her surged, a visible wave of power that sent a gale-force wind rushing outward. The mercenaries braced themselves, their confidence wavering as the realization of her might began to sink in.

Tessa clenched her fist tighter, and the ground beneath her cracked further, the splintering sound echoing like a battle cry. The air was oppressive, each breath a struggle as her aura expanded, saturating the battlefield with her immense energy. Her gaze swept over the mercenaries, cold and unwavering, as if she were judging their very souls.

"Gba... gba... gba," one by one, Otopi's men fell to their knees, their weapons clattering to the ground. It wasn't an attack that brought them down—it was fear. A primal, bone-deep fear that clawed at their minds and left them trembling.

Their breaths came in shallow gasps as sweat poured down their faces. Some gripped their chests as if their hearts might burst, while others simply stared blankly at the ground, unable to meet her gaze.

"We... we repent," one of the mercenaries stammered, his voice shaking as he tried to form coherent words. "Please, forgive us!"

The sound of trickling liquid drew attention as the man's bladder gave way, soaking his black assassin trousers. His humiliation was complete, yet he didn't care. Survival was all that mattered now.

Otopi's eyes narrowed as he watched his men crumble around him. His pride was being eroded, bit by bit, with every display of their weakness. Fury flared in his chest as he gritted his teeth. 'Cowards! Even if she's a god, find out her limits first! Why cower without a fight?' he thought, disgusted by their lack of resolve.

He stood firm, his tentacle-like beard twitching in agitation. Otopi was no ordinary leader; his defiance was legendary among the Clover Mercenaries. He wasn't about to kneel, no matter the odds.

Tessa's smile deepened as she observed him. His stubbornness amused her, but it also gave her a convenient excuse to unleash the tempest she was holding back. If he insisted on playing the hero, then so be it.

"You stand alone," she said, her voice calm but laced with an undertone of power that reverberated through the air. "But courage without wisdom is just arrogance."

Otopi clenched his fists, his sharp claws digging into his palms. "We don't back down," he growled. "We are the Clover Mercenaries, feared across galaxies. You may have power, but power alone doesn't guarantee victory!"

Tessa chuckled softly, the sound light but chilling. "Oh, you misunderstand. This isn't about victory," she said, taking another step forward. The ground quaked beneath her, the cracks spreading like a spiderweb. "This is about inevitability."