Ascenders Rift

Chapter 237: A Familiar Scene

A few moments prior to the previous scene, within a sealed off quarter of the Body Shifter's main headquarters. Here, the giant nine-meter large Genetic Blood Corpse stood tall with its endless killing intention that saturated the room's entirety in a reddish hue, giving one an extremely intimidating air as if its sole purpose was to destroy all lifeforms.

The glass container that held Valoz's corpse was glowing in strange lights as the arm holding onto the leg of the Genetic Blood Corpse repeatedly sent energies into its body, resulting in a slight change now and then.

By now, the Genetic Blood Corpse couldn't be described as a corpse as it had a tinge of life within its previously dead flesh; its skin had a reddish luster as if it was suffused with life energy.

There was only one person within this room, observing each of these details with utmost devotion. This person was none other than the slender and gorgeous looking Pira seated in a crossed-legged posture before Valoz. Her face shrouded by her helmet as her hair flowed behind her head as if dancing to the energies scattering from the Genetic Blood Corpse. By now, her entire body emanated a power vastly superior to her previous standard.

Suddenly, Pira's helmet opened, revealing her beautiful eyes that stared at Valoz and the Genetic Blood Corpse as she thought to herself.

'Master Valoz is nearing the point of complete fusion; his essence should have already achieved 95% merger, maybe in a few more days it shall all be complete. Huhu, once that happens, who can stop us? Our kind will pave the road ahead and the World Tree's Blessing shall fall into our hands.'

As Pira's thoughts reached here, she was about to leave the room, but suddenly, the door behind her made a knocking sound.

Pira frowned before she spoke, "Enter."

Following her words, the door opened, and a few elite looking Body Shifters walked into the room; they stared at the Valoz before focusing their attention onto Pira as they bowed and made a greeting.

"We've come to report to Miss Pira."

Pira looked at them and spoke, "What is it?"

The Body Shifters looked at each other before one of them spoke, "Miss Pira, there have been signs of distress from the nearby island facilities, we've received reports that a mere human party was threatening them, but we believe that this was nothing but a..."

The Body Shifter was about to say something, but as if Pira heard enough of his words, her eyes shrunk as she hurriedly cut him off.

"That's enough, hurry and command all forces within the base, tell them to double the security of the entire island."

"This... but... aren't they just hu...?" The Body Shifter was about to speak again, but suddenly, a terrifying power filled the entire room, causing each of them to suffocate as Pira glared at them with glowing eyes as she shouted.

"Hurry and do as your told!"

"Y-Yes, Miss Pira!"

The Body Shifters replied as they left in a hurry, not daring to dally for a moment longer.

Pira, having calmed down, shook her head as she thought to herself, 'Those humans, so they've finally begun to search for our base, they're either reckless or more than prepared. I'd be foolish to underestimate them again...'

When Pira's thoughts reached here, her eyes coldly flashed as she stared at the direction of Valoz and spoke out loud, "No matter, even if they do arrive, it's already too late. My strength has fully recovered to my past stage, and as for Master Valoz, he will be on an entirely different level."

As if he sensed Pira's thoughts, a series of power began to condense around both the Genetic Blood Corpse along with Valoz's body. The two had instantly started to glow in bright red lights as Valoz's original body began to hover from the ground.

Pira was shocked by this; her eyes gleamed with excitement as she thought, 'It's finally happening, the master is entering the final process for the fusion!'

Following her words, she saw Valoz's body turned into a series of red lights absorbed by the Genetic Blood Corpse.

When this happened, a series of resonant heartbeats had started to echo across the entire room as with each beat; its genetic blood energy would rise by an alarming degree, spreading out far and wide as the whole room started to shake as if undergoing a tremor.

Eventually, even its eyes had begun to twitch as if at any moment, the giant would become conscious. The body started to show unusual signs as strange markings began to appear on the surface of its skin, its hair grew longer, and a sinister armor formed over its flesh, one that had mysterious engravings at its core.

Pira started at this excitedly as she thought, 'Yes, it is comp...'

She was about to say something, but right at this moment, there was a brand-new change.

A bright light flashed from all directions, carrying with it a dense cluster of heat that could burn to dust most lifeforms. Pira seeing this scene, had a look of horror in her eyes, but not only her, the eyes of the genetic blood corpse that had only now made their first glimpse of the world, looked at this familiar sight with confusion.

As if realizing what it was, Valoz had a look of shock and anger, knowing full well that he was forcibly awoken, halting the fusion process, he cried out in anger, "Noooo! Not again!"

In moments, this light had enveloped nothing only the entire base, but a good a section of the island before erupted in a cataclysmic explosion.

***

After a good while, the lights faded, and smoke had started to wane. If one looked from above, they would see that starting from the mountains, a giant pit of unknown depths was formed at its center, spreading outward for roughly 60% of the island.

Other than this destruction, if one looked more carefully, they would notice that the rest of the island had scenes of man-made destruction. Corpses belonging to many different scouting parties, scattered about the area. Some of them had their heads severed from their bodies, as others had even sinister-looking wounds.

It was clear that an outside group killed these persons, the very group noticed in a nearby woodland, standing at the very summits of a few ancient trees.

As if unphased by their work, Rick, Joe, Layla, Emilia, and Breya stared at this from a few hundred meters away, their faces had a serious look as they knew that destroying the base was merely the beginning of their war.

At this moment, Breya tapped her wristlet and spoke, "Come in, Evan, what's your status?"

Layla and the other also listened keenly, as they knew that surviving such a blast wasn't so easy. Layla and Emilia even had a look of worry on their face, but soon, their fears seemed to have been for naught.

"I'm fine, I've already finished up over here; you guys should prepare yourself; they should be acting pretty soon."

"Understood." Breya and the others said, as they once more fixed their attention towards the pit and readied their weapons before blurred and dashing forwards at high speeds, vanishing from their previous location.

***

Within the High Elders' council room, the pit's depths were now transformed into a scene of utter ruin and chaos. Evan was currently standing in silence, his arm holding onto the blood-soaked Havengaurd as he stared at his wristlet.

Suddenly, a coughing sound was heard, drawing Evan's attention from the wristlet. His eyes moved towards the front, where one would see a few mangled corpses belonging to the previous High Elders.

Looking at them closely, one would notice that while most of the wounds came from the explosion, what ultimately killed them was none other than the weapon in Evan's hand.

Evan's eyes finally halted onto the figure of High Elder Psy, whose body was mostly protected by colorful energies; his face was pale as most of his body was smashed apart by rocks.

"Y-You darn human! You have no honor in your methods!" High Elder Psy cursed as he coughed out a mouth full of blood.

Evan shook his head at this and slowly walked over while he spoke, "Enemies have no right to slur me, you should have a good trip to the next life."

Following those words, Evan raised the Havengaurd once more, causing High Elder Psy to look at him with hate and regret, his last thoughts unknown as the blade chopped down, splitting him into two halves.

After picking up his loot and checking his exp, Evan nodded as he swung the sword to the side, splashing the blood off as he sheathed it and made his way towards a different direction. His eyes showed a stern look as he thought to himself, "It's time to settle that account..."

The scene here soon after carried a dark mood as Evan faded from the area, traveling towards the more shrouded areas as he made his way towards one of his strongest foes.