Divine Emperor of Death



Dark crimson thunderous clouds formed above the valley, enclosing the mountain range with a tyrannical aura. Adding on to the apocalyptic flames burning almost everywhere in the region, the spectacle appeared like a scene from mythical end times.

With the skies colored red, it was almost like the Minor Realm was going to collapse.

Within this dreadful atmosphere, a fiery purplish-black sphere wobbled in the air, its ethereal form pulsating with an otherworldly radiance.

The heavens above roared with crimson lightning, the bolts crackling like fiery serpents in the darkened skies. A storm of unparalleled fury raged, and with each thunderous clash, the lightning bolts streaked down toward the sphere as if the very heavens sought to challenge its existence.

It appeared to be repeatedly struck by lightning, but each time, it held on, and it continued to endure by simply remaining afloat.

*Bang!~*

The seventh crimson lightning bolt struck with searing intensity, a scorching lance of pure energy. It collided with the Apocalyptic Flame Essence, unleashing a cataclysmic burst of light and power. The air crackled with ferocious might, and the ground trembled beneath the ferocity of the impact, picking up waves of dust.

This dust spread to the distance, brushing past two individuals, a man and a woman. However, the dust ignored them and didn't even taint them as they cleared.

"…"

Davis watched the Apocalyptic Flame Essence breeze through its Annihilative Heavenly Tribulation like it was nothing as it endured the seventh strike lazily, shaking its body as though it was standing against a cold breeze and was going to let out a suppressed cough.

'This should be an Empyrean-level tribulation… right…?'

Even though the Apocalyptic Flame Essence was going to only become a spirit, as he relayed to it time and time again with crappy acting and the usage of soul force manifestation, wasn't this tribulation too easy?

'Is this what happens when there is little to no karmic burden…?'

The annihilative lightning was only four or five levels higher, while he knew the Apocalyptic Flame Essence could transcend six levels higher. In fact, he had never seen the Apocalyptic Flame Essence use its full force, so he wasn't worried one bit but rather wondered if this was all an illusion as he felt like he had never seen such a weak tribulation before.

At this point, Davis wondered if he should even be here wasting time as he received that his people had captured assassins back there. The timing of it certainly intrigued him, but he inwardly sneered at the fact that these assassins couldn't even last a minute under the threat of Nadia.

When it came to concealed attacks, even he might fall short in front of Nadia if they were at the same level.

Nonetheless, this was a heavenly tribulation where he wouldn't be able to help the Apocalyptic Flame Essence no matter what, so he felt incredibly lucky that it could handle this tribulation without breaking a wisp of its energy.

*Bang!~*

The eighth strike fell, causing the Apocalyptic Flame Essence to shudder, but once again, it didn't display vulnerability or let out a weak yelp, which it was already able to do.

Davis had heard the Apocalyptic Flame Essence's voice. Although it wasn't able to speak, it was able to echo noises with certain tones that let them know whether it was happy, sad, or any other emotions. He knew this was its adaptive ability as it had to communicate with Lea if it wanted to get any treats, so it went without saying that its ability to communicate grew day by day.

Perhaps, if he gave it a month, it would already learn how to speak.

The Sky Word Language was all present even in the true immortal world, as even the Transcendents spoke the same language.

*Rumble!~*

Three seconds later, Davis saw an enormous crimson dragon appear. Its thunderous crimson body crackled with annihilative heavenly lightning. Its eyes were unearthly, flashing with killing intent that froze the space.

When it appeared, Davis's gaze flickered. He didn't lower his gaze but stared at the dragon that also stared back at him. Its pressure was heavy, vindictive, wanting to slaughter him as it opened its jaws as though wanting to roar at him, but ultimately, it didn't shoot toward him as though something was restricting its Will from moving to attack him.

Davis reached out his hand to the side and grabbed Lea's waist, pulling her closer.

Her shivering body slowly came to a stop as she felt secure in his hold. However, her gaze still trembled, unable to believe the embodiment of such a tyrannical nature could exist. It was as though it didn't allow her to exist in its presence, demanding that she submit to its authoritative might.

"Absorbing apocalyptic flames could invite annihilative heavenly tribulation as well. Are you ready to face it?"

"Yes!"

Davis smiled at Lea's answer as he saw her make a brave expression while clenching her fists.

Despite shivering like a scaredy cat, she didn't lower her gaze once. It made Davis feel prideful about her and place more faith in her, knowing that she would stand beside him even if the heavens were to plunge at him one day.

He directed his gaze at the Apocalyptic Flame Essence and saw that it was also shivering heavily, finally feeling the threat of the heavenly tribulation's ninth strike. However, he was sure that it could easily pass this tribulation, but just as his own last ninth strike in his Immortal King Tribulation, he saw that this dragon was ultra-wide and long, possessing an immense energy capacity that might last for ages.

However, he couldn't help but feel pity.

After all, he wasn't going to interfere at the end as he knew karmic burden would befall him if he boldly interrupted the heavenly tribulation. This was an Empyrean Stage Annihilative Heavenly Tribulation, so there was no way he was going to risk such a high karmic burden in return for some resources that he probably had no way of using now.

After all, they're probably four or five levels past Level Nine Immortal Emperor Stage.

There was some worry if this would really bring the end of the world as the dark crimson clouds covered the entirety of the skies he could see as far as his vision went, wondering if this would finally cause the higher-ups of the true immortal world to descend and investigate but in that case, he was ready to leave as he had Myria's soul body on standby at the entrance that was hidden by the formation expert they first encountered.

*Aooo!~*

Davis watched the crimson dragon descend. Despite its huge frame, its speed was terrifyingly fast as it pulled its weight along with it, creating tumultuous winds in its wake and quickly enveloping the Apocalyptic Flame Essence in its giant body as it opened its mouth and swallowed it whole. Its entire body, made up of annihilative lightning, sought to destroy the Apocalyptic Flame Essence within.

But a low rumble resounded from within, and purplish-black flames erupted in the crimson dragon's body, causing it to come to a sudden stop. It twisted its long neck and took its gaze off Davis to see what was going on in its body, only to see dark flames expand within its body as though devouring it from inside out.

*Aooo!~*

A raging shockwave spread throughout heaven and earth as its wrathful voice resounded in the region.

Davis saw the dragon shudder and roar at the Apocalyptic Flame Essence, pouncing towards its own tail and once again snapping its ripping lightning jaws. It swallowed the Apocalyptic Flame Essence again as though putting it through a whole new round of hurt, trying to cause it immense damage. However, the Apocalyptic Flame Essence was like a ball of iron, withstanding the damage with ease as it burned the annihilative dragon's body from the inside.

*Sizzle!~* *Sizzle!~*

The apocalyptic flames spread as the purplish-black hue spread everywhere within its body, its spirit remaining unwavering despite the overwhelming capacity of energy it had to erase in order to survive the heavenly lightning tribulation.

He could advise the Apocalyptic Flame Essence to snuff out the Will of the dragon, but the Apocalyptic Flame Essence wouldn't understand that, leaving him no choice but to watch it use all its energy to erase it from existence.

However, with the dragon's head meeting the apocalyptic flames once again, the clash of Wills occurred, causing the entire dragon to shudder.

'What the…'

Davis was stupefied as he watched the Apocalyptic Flame Essence slightly have an edge over the dragon's Will. After all, even if the dragon had a lower prowess, its will was bound and boosted by the heavens, allowing it to lord over all the lifeforms in the world.

Even he would have trouble if he were to go against it Will to Will. That was not fighting with soul force but becoming vulnerable and clashing with one's soul essence, practically committing suicide.

However, the Apocalyptic Flame Essence was like a flaming sphere refusing to die out in the raging storm of annihilative lightning. Its resilience was off the charts, causing him to be full of admiration for it, but at the same time, he saw that this destructive Apocalyptic Flame Essence had the tendency to be unyielding unless fed and taken care of.

'Phew… It's a good thing I didn't discipline it using force…'

Davis now understood that it might've backfired.

Suddenly, he saw the dragon shudder before no longer moving as though it was its last movement. He then saw its crimson lightning body crackle away as though receding, causing him to understand that the Apocalyptic Flame Essence had finally shattered the dragon's Will!

It was fast, not even three seconds, causing him to be stumped once again.

This newborn Spirit Attribute Source was too powerful, causing him to wonder what kind of shape it would turn into. Moreover, he also wanted to collect this ungodly amount of annihilative heavenly lightning teeming in the air despite the threat of karmic burden.

He waited and kept waiting until the dark crimson clouds would finally leave so that he could somewhat plunder and refine the crimson strand of lightning that was disappearing second after second.

However, the dark crimson clouds never left, causing him to narrow his eyes as he came to understand that the tribulation didn't end yet and there was a tribulation unique to the stage left, just like how Heavenly Wind Tribulation was unique to the Immortal King Stage.