The Conqueror of Zones

by Shadows Finger

  “Tsk! You should count yourself, lucky human! Now die!” Kimia said as he gripped his hands fiercely causing the space around Feng Yu to ripple and compress.

  Feng Yu hearing his words smiled as ignored the harsh pressures getting ready to crush him to bits, “You’ve forgotten something…” After saying this, he pointed his finger above Kimia’s head and continued, “I’m not alone…”

  “What?!” Kimia asked in confusion as he currently had no memory of there being others within the vicinity, a mysterious side effect of Jing Mingyun’s ability.

  However, after thinking for a while, a strange feeling began to rise up within both Kimia and Pelkan. They clutched their foreheads as beads of sweat trickled down, in mere moments their faces became unsightly as only now did they recall the scene of the alliance army battling the hawkmen before vanishing.

  “How can this be? Who can use such a powerful Dao Spell?!” Pelkan exclaimed in shock as a look of horror came over his face, he quickly recovered his mood and glanced towards the sky sending his fiendish sense across the entire vicinity.

  Soon, he eventually felt a ripple a few meters above Kimia location, as he felt this ripple and energy hidden within his eyes widen in surprise as she opened his beak to warn his subordinate, “Kimia! Get out of there now!!!”

  “Eh?” Kimia replied in confusion as his mood was still in a state of shock due to the sudden memories about the vanished alliance members, he didn’t even remember to continue his attack towards Feng Yu who had already escaped with his flying artifact.

  The area around him became bright as if a star was descending the world. He lifted his head gazing at the bright rays of light which illuminated the entire his entire field vision in shock as he opened to speak, “Oh sh---”

  It was a pity, however, for he was too late as the bright light collided with his body carrying him into the ground where the pillar of wood once stood.

  BOOM! The tree stump exploded as a bright amount of light illuminated the area, after a short while, the lights faded, and a massive block could be seen pressed into the upper section of the stump with an extended handle stretching out of a few dozens of meters. A muscular looking dwarfin currently gripped the handle with both of his arms as his expression was one filled with excitement.

  “Haha! Brat, your magical prowess is quite handy indeed! To think it could even hide my overwhelming hammer smash!” Zyne said while laughing heartily, he then lifted his arms causing the area to rumble as the massive hammer shrunk to a size where he could stand on as it floated in the sky.

  If one looked at the scene below, they would see an empty section as the body of Kimia had vanished as if it had never existed. A few moments after he spoke, the void shook as a large number of individuals appeared, the entire alliance army now reappearing into the world as they floated in the sky with their various flying artifacts, the leaders of the alliance armies stood at forefront with a cold look in their eyes as they gazed at the shocked Pelkan.

  “You! Bastards!” Pelkan cursed in anger as his body rose slowly while he gripped his claws together tightly causing the area around him to ripple with energies.

  Bang! Instantly, his immense True Soul Aura erupted causing the area to become shrouded by purple lights. His eye-catching purple feathers now glowing in a bright shade as they rustled back and forth due to his rising energies.

  As they felt his power, the faces of the leaders changed as although they expected him to be strong, they didn’t think his strength was at such a scale.

  “Now what? Do you weak ants intend to fight me?!!” Pelkan said in an incredibly arrogant fashion as he gazed at the numerous members of the alliance army which had surrounded him in disdain.

  “Haha! I would have certainly loved to battle you in your prime as your strength is pretty good just by feeling your abundant energies I can already tell that you must be a variant, a Variant Mid-class fiend at early levels of Stage 5…” Zyne said as his eyes carried a hint of battle lusters, but it soon faded as he spoke calmly, “But it’s a pity, for your fate, has already been decided…”

  “My fate?” Pelkan replied in shock, he was about to respond with a sneer but before that could happen his eyes opened wide as a stared to his right.

  A peerlessly beautiful woman whose long white hair flowing brightly in the night, with beautiful silver eyes that shone like stars and a majestic aura that emanated from her being, as if she was superior entity above all things.

  “This is Dragonic Aura!!! You, who are you?!!!” Pelkan exclaimed in shock, as he didn’t believe that the person who was behind the offensive spell was related to the race, he feared the most in the universe.

  “You’re not worthy of knowing… now die!” Jing Mingyun said as he stretched out her soft looking palms pointing her finger towards Pelkan, her towering energies soon after formed around it creating a tiny ball of energy whose dazzling white light lit up the surrounding regions for more a few hundred meters.

  “Dammit! Felman, you dare to hide this fact from me?! You won't get me this easily! I will live… I will live and overcome!!!” Pelkan shouted hysterically as his body exploded with immense fiendish energies that formed a gigantic bird behind his back, its eyes glowing darkly as it opens its mouth and breath a wave of energy towards the now minuscule form of Jing Mingyun.

  “Hahaha! So what if you’re a dragon! You will still die to my hands!!” Pelkan who seemed to have lost his mind shouted as they wave of energy finally swept across Jing Mingyun’s body. However, as this energy streamed across her being, a strange scene occurred.

  The tiny ball of energy which was before the finger of Jing Mingyun’s outstretched arm acted similarly to a type of barrier which created a region within the endless stream of purple energies devoid of its power.

  “How could this happen?” Pelkan was stunned again as he looked at the scene from outside of massive bird made of energy.

  Jing Mingyun who had now finished gathering the energy needed within the ball of energy finally smiled as she spoke, “It’s only the Virtue of Karma… it is time to accept your fate, Dragonic Arts: Void Eraser!”

  Immediately after her voice ended, the ball of light before her instantly started to expand as it grew at an alarming rate quickly covering the forms of both Jing Mingyun and Pelkan who was surrounded by the energies that formed the gigantic bird.

  “Noooo! I refuse to accept this fate! I was almost there, almost… supreme…” Pelkan yelled as his voice slowly faded away into the blinding ball of light which continued to expand for a region of 4 kilometers.

  “Ah, such a beautiful technique… it's been such a long time since I’ve last seen it in action…” Zyne said in a tone of rare admiration as he gazed at the ball of light which had stopped growing after blanketing the region of 5 kilometers.

  Demetria who was nearby also nodded her head as she commented, “Their race has always been the dominant kind in both close quarters combat as well as large scale destruction… though her strength is limited due to her inability to enter dragon form, she having an understanding of the strange and complex Principles (Dao) of Fate could only be considered as an asset to her real strength…”

  “Zyne hearing this nodded his head while replying, “Um. Still, despite her natural advantages, the sheer potential of that Chosen brat will probably exceed even hers…”

  “Oh, why do you say that Zyne?” Myria who had obviously been eavesdropping on their conversation asked, as she happily flew over.

  “Why bother? He’s only spouting nonsense once again!” Leon said with a tone of displeasure as he looked at Zyne.

  Demetria seeing the two of their actions smiled revealing a beautiful appearance from usually strict queen-like manner, she glanced at Zyne awaiting his reply.

  Zyne lifted his head and gazed at the stars of the beautiful night scene as reminiscent look came on his face, he sighed for a bit before he answered, “That Feng brat reminds me of that man…”

  Demetria hearing this ha
d a surprised look on her face, but soon, she also replied in agreement, “Indeed he does…” Her eyes glowing in a light much like Zyne’s as she started to recall the days of the ancient past.

  Myria and Leon both had a look of confusion on their faces as though they were quite old from a human’s perspective; they were still too young to recall those old scenes.

  Feng Yu was too far away from the group to hear their conversation and even if he did, he wouldn’t care too much for his eyes were dazzled by the destructive scene shown below him.

  “This… so this is the power of a dragon…” Feng Yu muttered in a soft voice which trailed away with the winds, as if it heard his voice, the ball of light quickly started to retract at a quick speed.

  Eventually, the light faded as it had receded to nothingness revealing a devastating scene that lied underneath. The towering ancient branches of the Titan World Tree which was previously thought to be indestructible had vanished as if someone had put a small vacuum within the area that erased a spherical section of the forestry within the Chaotic Cloud Sea.

  Soon, the figure of Jing Mingyun could be seen floating in the void as her hair gently swayed back and forth in the night winds. The figure of Pelkan now skinny and pale as if he had lost all of his life forces, he gazed at Jing Mingyun with the last of will with eyes filled with horror and regret as she spoke, “Divine Dragon Prestige… my loss is not, unfounded...”

  The light in his eyes completely vanishing as his body crumbled into the dust that faded away in the desolate night scene…

  Chapter 157

  Seizing the Sky Palace! Targeting the Final Zone!

  Swooosh! A cool wind swept across the area, carrying with it the once dreadful atmosphere that saturated the air. Jing Mingyun floated calmly at the center of the devastated spherical region of the cloud see gazing at her surroundings with a layer of indifference on her face.

  Suddenly, a smile that seemed no different from the flowers during springtime blossomed on her beautiful face as a figure swiftly appeared by her side.

  “Yun’er are you ok?” Feng Yu asked as he looked at the peerless beauty before him, hearing his words Jing Mingyun smiled as she felt sweet about his concern. She looked into his eyes and replied, “Um. He wasn’t worth me using too much strength!”

  As Feng Yu heard this, he couldn’t help but feel a tinge of weakness as he thought to himself, “Such powerful guy wasn’t even worth her time… it looks like I have a long road ahead of me If I hope even to supersede this lass of mine…”

  Feng Yu was so surprised by her statement that he didn’t even realize that he subconsciously referred to her in a manner implying ownership as if they couldn’t stand the two’s flirting, the Myria, Leon, and Zyne swiftly appeared by their sides with noise...

  “Haha! Yun girl it seems you’ve awakened quite a few abilities, how is it can you now call upon your Dragonform?” Zyne asked while looking at Jing Mingyun with interest.

  Leon who was nearby sharply retorting as he heard Zyne spoke, “What question are you asking a woman? It’s a given that after recovering her ability to use such a spell that she would naturally be able to assume Dragonform!”

  “Leon, I know you hate me, but you don’t have to try and pull me down when I speak!” Zyne who was feeling a bit annoyed by Leon’s behavior responded.

  “Both you shut up! This is no ti---” Myria was about to break up the father-son spout but was soon interrupted by Jing Mingyun.

  “I still can't use it…” Jing Mingyun said as her face turned a shade of red as a tinge of embarrassment was now visible on her usually glacier like face, Feng Yu seeing this expression couldn’t help but feel a flame in his chest, but even that didn’t manage to last long as only now did recall her words.

  “What?!” Feng Yu along with Zyne, Myria, and Leon each exclaimed in surprise, Zyne looked at the embarrassed Jing Mingyun and spoke, “How can it still be like this? I thought it would have at most been a temporary lapse due to you having recently existing the Healing Chamber, but now it may just be another case all together…”

  Zyne had a deep expression on his face as he pondered the possibilities for the rare case, Leon and Myria looked at each unable to hide the great surprise in their eyes as they too knew how strange it was for an ‘Awakened Dragon’ to now be able to use its dragon form.

  As they remained in a state of thought, the voice of Demetria could be heard as she pulled them out of their current state. “This is her matters, and it is not your turn to ponder them, the battle with the Watcher of this realm is over, so we should prioritize seizing the Sky Palace before the remnant troops realize and activate its defenses…”

  “Tsk! I suppose you’re right…” Zyne said upon hearing Demetria’s words, Leon and Myria nodded their heads and replied, “That’s right!”

  Feng Yu and Jing Mingyun who also heard her words replied, “Let's get going!”

  As Demetria heard their words, she lifted her head and swept her eyes across the newly organized army which was just about ready for combat as she commanded. “We march to the Sky Palace!”

  “For the glory of all kinds!” The alliance leaders and their subordinates shouted in unison as their voices rumbled the surroundings and stirred the misty clouds of the ever so mysterious Chaotic Cloud Sea…

  ∞ ∞ ∞

  Today was a new day for the Sky Palace, the sea of clouds beneath the contrast of crystal-like twigs gracefully glided back and forth as a few common aerial class force beats roamed the vast skies openly as the air of freedom was prevalent.

  Despite the absence of the Sky Watcher, Pelkan along with his palace guard Kimia, as well as the fully mobilized elite guardian forces led by the previous unit leader, the palace remained as strict as ever as the Birdmen guards as well as the remaining elders continued vigilantly survey their surroundings.

  A group of elders were currently convened around a meeting table with grim looks on their faces as they locked in a heated discussion.

  “It’s been an entire night, and we have not received a word from the Sky Master… what do you guys think has happened?” One of the elders asked with a worried expression.

  “Maybe there was an unexpected hindrance…” One of the elders replied after a short while of thinking. A few others also agreed with his statement as one even added, “I think so too, the cloud sea is still a vast sector with too many unknowns…”

  As these elders discussed one of them who was at the side suddenly frowned as he spoke, “It’s too early to make assumptions as dawn has only just arrived, but as there are no certainties in any plans, I believe that we should alert the guards the maintain their vigilance in the event of the unexpected.”

  The elders hearing his words each nodded their heads as after thinking about it for a while, seeing this the elder who made the proposition rose to his feet.

  “Good! We should dismiss for now and see what happened during the day, reschedule for another gathering at nighfa---” The elder said, but before he could finish his words, there was a sudden change…

  “Caww!” A loud sound which came from the depths of the palace itself sounded as all of the birds started to make noises, as the elders heard this their faces became surprised before transforming to a look of anger.

  “Who dares to attack Sky Palace?!” The elders shouted in rage as they took to the sky; they then swept their sharp, keen eyes across the boundless cloud sea eventually zeroing in on a section that was rippling unusually.

  Soon, a large group of individuals belonging to different races appeared from the clouds soaring towards the palace at high speeds using a variety of flying artifacts. The elders seeing this became stunned as they realized the identities of their intruders.

  “Damn! How did they survive the plot? All guards begin the battle! Do not let the enemy get any c----!” The leading elder who had managed to press down his shock earlier than the others exclaimed as he began to try to warn the palace guards.

  However, his
words were swiftly cut short by a flash of white light that swept across not only his but all of the stunned elder's forms. This light was strange as it carried an aquatic hue with a hint of iciness around it.

  The instant this light faded, each of the elders became no different from a glacier that was many years old as they soon after crumbled to pieces fading away with the chilly morning winds…

  Swish! Swish! Swish! A few figures soon after descended from the sky as the bodies of these elders where destroyed, Zyne, Feng Yu, Jing Mingyun, Myria and Leon, before them was the ever so Queen like Demetria whose outstretched arms glowed in a cyan light before returning to normal.

  Feng Yu looked at Demetria with a gaze filled with respect as he thought, “That spell was rather unique…”

  Myria who seemed to have become depressed suddenly flew over to her mother as she asked with begging eyes, “Mother, when are you going teach me the Zero Banishment Spell?”

  Demetria hearing her words smiled as she touched her head before replying, “I’ll teach you once this war is over…”

  “Really?” Myria asked in surprise, as she knew that this spell wasn't supposed to be taught until succession ceremony.

  “Um.” Demetria said while nodding her head, she then gazed towards the swarming units of allied army that continued to charge towards the poorly defended Sky Palace before speaking in a soft tone, “Times have already changed…”

  Myria hearing her words was about to fly around in joy, but after hearing the rest, she became silent looking at the scene around her with an eye that seemed to be filled with a hint of regret.

  Zyne sensing the mood moved forwards as he spoke, “Let's go kiddos! This battle won't last any time…” As he said this, his body turned into a ray of light which shot towards the sky nest in front of them.

  “Chet! Always looking to be dramatic…” Leon muttered in displeasure as he swiftly acted rushing towards the nest, with Myria who had cleared up her previous mood.

  Feng Yu looked at Demetria who was still gazing at the palace with a lost look in her eyes before glancing at the beauty beside him, “Shall we go!”