Ascenders Rift

Chapter 267: All Hands Ready, Looming Danger

A dark wind blew across the surroundings as both sides belonging to the Flesh Mutators, and Insect Horde faced off against each other in a brutal clash despite the oppressive energies released by both Galgorax and Yelshiva.

Naturally, the leading forces' heads fought to a stalemate, their battle causing various rays of sinister light to create shocking explosions across their vicinity.

Nevertheless, regardless of the chaos ongoing, a distance away from this battle zone, Evan, Rick, Layla, Joe, and the others stood at the peak of a silent mountain range as they observed the scene of conflict between both groups. Their auras were suppressed to the maximum, striving not to be discovered by either force as they analyzed the situation.

Evan's eyes flickered as he scanned both Deerut's and Marcruse's details, causing a screen to appear before his eyes.

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[Marcruse - Level 15(MAX)]

[Race - Black Gold Insect Man (Superior Evolved) | State - Stage 2 Lesser Tier Lifeform (Mid-Level)]

[Ascended Path - Vitality and Defense Attribute Ascended Being]

[Health - 1600/ 1600]

[Battle Energy - 140 / 140]

[Strength - 155]

[Vitality - 174]

[Agility - 160]

[Defense - 179]

[Skills: Armored Shell, Superior Guard]

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[Deerut- Level 14]

[Race -Flesh Mutator (Superior Evolved) | State - Stage 2 Lesser Tier Lifeform (Mid-Level)]

[Ascended Path - Strength and Agility Attribute Ascended Being]

[Health - 1400/ 1400]

[Battle Energy - 145 / 145]

[Strength - 165]

[Vitality - 150]

[Agility - 162]

[Defense - 155]

[Skills: Body Change, Flesh Assimilate.]

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"Wow, look at them go, truly a bunch of monsters," Joe said in a soft voice as he observed the chaos before them.

"Indeed, but... they are monsters we'll have to take down," Rick added with a sharp look on his eyes as he firmed held the handle of his spear.

Breya was busy inspecting a few details on her device while Emilia and Layla observed with keen eyes, thinking the same as Rick. Soon, Evan, who finished reviewing the details, addressed the group.

"Guys, I've checked their stats, and there aren't any differences compared to the last time. That Deerut is still a shapeshifter capable of shifting between the powers of those who he's assimilated. In contrast, Ezgods and that Vrak are similar to him with regards to their stats. Vrak can make numerous clones of himself, while that Ezgods can use sonic powers. Each of those destroyers is powerful and shouldn't be underestimated; it's a blessing that we aren't fighting all of them at the same time."

When the others heard those, they didn't seem too surprised as they could see the details before them; Joe, however, spoke with a slightly annoyed look.

"Tsk, aren't they all a bit too diverse? I'm surprised that insect is even capable of holding them off by himself."

Layla, who had been observing Marcruse, shook her head and spoke, "No, it's not so simple; his strength seems to be at the limit; he's even more troublesome when compared to Valoz, simply because of his defense."

"Haha, so he's like me?" Joe said with a smirk.

Rick and the others rolled their eyes at this, but Evan only glanced at him and replied, "His defense stat might by a distance from yours, but his skills, along with the use of his large amount of battle energy, is enough to easily make up the difference."

Joe made a pensive look as he heard this, eying the battling Marcruse for a short while before he spoke, "I see, then he'll likely be a troublesome foe. Hmm, if it's like this, who do we take out first?"

Rick, Emilia, and Layla also had such thoughts; Evan replied, "We won't take action yet; there's still one more target left; we need to wait until it makes its appearance."

When Rick and the others heard this, their eyes flashed as they knew that it hadn't appeared yet. In fact, both Yelshiva and Galgorax hadn't even taken direct actions against each other within the battle zone, as they could sense something ominous lurking.

Evan's eyes narrowed as he stared at the two bosses, he was about to inspect them to compare their stats with the past, but right at this time, Breya had spoken, "Guys, get ready; Milon has sent word that their armada is now in standby."

"Already? That was quick," Joe said with a slightly excited look on his face.

"They must have made some upgrades," Rick said.

Evan felt better hearing this, although they had each strengthened significantly, challenging both hordes would be no different from suicide, they needed enough power to back them up as they take out the leaders.

"Good, relay to them about our positions, tell them only to act when we've given the signal," Evan said to Breya.

"Understood," Breya said as she tapped away on the device.

Emilia had a pensive look on her face as she peered towards the side while muttering, "I wonder if they're all okay, having lost so much in the previous fight?"

Layla also made a slightly pained look, but they remained silent with complex eyes as for Rick and Joe.

Evan shook his head, staring in the direction of the ocean as he spoke, "There's no reason to worry; they've been fighting for a lot longer than our kind. If it's one thing that I believe they will know, a trait that is akin to all our races scattered across the many worlds, it is that no matter how battered and bruised we humans are, our pain will always become a source of power."

Joe, Rick, and the others seemed to have found comfort in those words; their worries soon after faded as the looks returned to one of sharpness, their eyes fixing once more onto the battle zone as if waiting for the moment of the true change.

By this time, Marcruse stood tall like a towering shield as he faced off against Deerut, Vrak, and Ezgods, his massive body glowing in black and gold lights as his armor covered all parts, easily fending off their combined might.

Bang! The sky rippled once more as they all retreated by a few dozen meters, glaring at each other from afar, Marcruse remained calm and indifferent, but Deerut and those from the Flesh Mutators had angered and annoyed expressions.

'Damn! He's even tougher than that Torturous Beast from back then; if this keeps up, we won't be able to beat him!'

Deerut cursed inwardly; Ezgods and Vrak also had similar thoughts; they glanced at each other in helplessness, unable to change the situation.

Seeing their elites at the stalemate, Galgorax and Yelshiva frowned; they stared at each other with poison in their eyes as their auras rose even further, causing a distortion in the air as both energies clashed from afar.

'I can't afford to waste more time like this; that pest of hers is capable of holding back even three of my destroyers. Tsk, I wanted to wait for that monster to appear, but it might be better to destroy her now before I deal with him...'

Galgorax thought to herself; her energies began to retract as they condense around her being. With her mind now made up, the air around her changed as a sinister power seemed as if it was about to break loose.

"Well, she's really not holding back, hmph! I hope she doesn't think that I'm inferior to her!'

Yelshiva thought as when she sensed Galgorax's change, she too had a transformation with her aura, one which gave her an imposing presence no different from Galgorax's.

When both armies detected their queen's changes, both sides roared as their battles grew even fiercer, blood and limbs littering the world as if everyone had turned restless.

Yet, it was at this time, when the battle seemed to have reached its peak, rooted in the earth, below all eyes, a peer of emotionless eyes had appeared, bringing it a strange of terrifying power that startled all beings.