CHAPTER 276: A DEADLY BATTLE

"What is he doing?" Logan frowned as he watched Kaelos pull several objects out of his inventory.

"Those...? Those are national-rank items! Damn it." Schneitz recognized the aura of the items and scowled deeply.

"How the hell does he even have national-rank items?" the chairman of the Awakened Association almost cursed.

National-rank items were extremely rare—so rare that even people like them, who had reached the national-rank awakened level, only owned one or two such items each.

Kaelos ignored their reactions and began activating his national-rank items — [Eternal Duality Talisman], [Bloodshadow Armor], and [Starbreaker Amulet].

An aura of darkness and light flared around him, and the combined power of the items shook the heavens and the earth.

"Shall we begin?" He glanced at them with pure disdain and spoke.

Schneitz and Logan exchanged a glance, then nodded toward the four S-rank awakened around them, signaling them to move first.

Until they could gauge Kaelos’s true power, they preferred not to take unnecessary risks.

The awakened nodded and charged toward their enemy.

Kaelos’s body flickered like a ghost between light and shadow, moving with unimaginable speed toward Karina — one of the S-rank awakened.

Eclipse Blade gleamed with a mix of darkness and light, and with one swing, it tore through Karina’s [Infernal Flames].

The flames shattered, and Karina was flung back with a scream, her body scorched and her armor cracked.

Kaelos laughed and said, "This is only the beginning!" as he unleashed [Twin Destruction Ray].

A massive wave of dark and luminous energy ripped through the crimson sky like a storm, turning the surrounding buildings to ash and splitting the earth apart.

Raik, another S-rank awakened, tried to counter with [Chain Lightning], but Kaelos’s [Contradictory Aura] absorbed the lightning and reflected it back at him.

Raik panicked and tried to retreat.

However, Kaelos leaped toward him, striking his chest with [Duality Blade]. The air split with a thunderous explosion, and Raik was slammed into the ground, his armor cracked and a deep gash across his chest.

Selene attacked with [Blizzard Storm]. A torrent of snow and ice engulfed the battlefield, making the ground slick and the air foggy.

Kaelos, using the Starbreaker Amulet that boosted his energy and pushed his power closer to the national-rank awakened, continued his [Dance of Shadow and Light] and emerged from the storm like a phantom.

He dashed at Selene and shattered her [Ice Blades] with Eclipse Blade. The strike was so forceful it obliterated Selene’s ice walls, sending her flying back with cuts along her arms and face.

Torn, the last S-rank awakened, seized the moment and attacked from behind with [Massive Earthquake].

The ground quaked, massive cracks opened, and waves of stone surged toward Kaelos. Using his Bloodshadow Armor, which deflected impacts, Kaelos leaped and countered with [Twin Destruction Ray].

The energy wave closed the cracks and engulfed Torn. Torn defended with [Stone Shield], but the shield shattered, and he was slammed down, wounds covering his legs and chest.

The four S-rank awakened, despite their skills, were overwhelmed by Kaelos’s items and speed, falling one after another, their bodies marked by burns and gashes, their armor in ruins.

"Still planning to hide?" Kaelos stood, looking at the two with mockery and contempt.

Even without those items given to him by those people, he could’ve killed the S-ranks — it just would’ve taken more time.

Now, with the items, he had crushed four S-ranks like insects... this power was truly addictive.

Logan and Schneitz glanced at each other. From their analysis, Kaelos’s national-rank items didn’t seem to have offensive capabilities, only defensive and support effects.

So from that perspective, there wasn’t much to worry about. Still, something about it left a bad feeling in their guts.

Logan started with [Cycle of Samsara]. A golden-green aura slowed time around Kaelos, turning seconds into hours.

Kaelos, using the Eternal Duality Talisman to boost his magic resistance, resisted the time manipulation and charged at Logan with [Dance of Shadow and Light].

Eclipse Blade, glowing with darkness and light, slashed at Logan’s chest, but Logan countered with [Breath of Life].

A golden surge of life energy blocked the strike.

Kaelos roared and unleashed [Eternal Duality Wrath]. A colossal burst of light and darkness tore the crimson sky apart like a rift into another dimension, reducing the surrounding structures to dust and shaking the ground violently.

Logan countered with [Samsara Reversion], forming an aura that rejuvenated both him and Schneitz, though the shockwave still forced them several steps back.

Schneitz engaged with [Moonlight Waltz]. His body blurred into a silver shadow as he lunged at Kaelos with Lunar Fang, his blade gleaming with the law of destruction.

Kaelos blocked with [Contradictory Aura], but Schneitz’s strike was so heavy it cracked the aura, carving a deep wound along Kaelos’s left arm.

"Damn it," Kaelos growled, attempting to retreat.

"What’s wrong? Getting scared?" Schneitz sneered.

Blood dripped steadily, and the pain stung like needles through Kaelos’s body. Empowering [Duality Blade] with the Starbreaker Amulet, he slashed at Schneitz.

The strike split the air, sending Schneitz flying back, his silver hair singed and his armor cracked. Schneitz retaliated with [Obliterating Crescent].

A black-and-silver crescent burst from Lunar Fang, tearing through the ground and splitting the sky.

Kaelos dodged with [Dance of Shadow and Light], but the edge grazed his thigh, searing pain flaring like fire down his leg.

That wasn’t his only problem. His items — the Eternal Duality Talisman and the Starbreaker Amulet — were draining, their glow fading, and his armor was cracking further.

Even as national-rank items, they had their limits, especially while facing two of the strongest national-rank awakened simultaneously.

Logan attacked with [Life Tempest]. A golden storm of vitality engulfed the battlefield, shaking the earth and smothering Kaelos under crushing life energy.

Kaelos defended with [Contradictory Aura], but his aura began to collapse under the storm’s force. Roaring, he unleashed [Twin Destruction Ray], but the energy was weaker now, and Logan was shielded by Schneitz’s [Full Moon Barrier].

Schneitz charged with [Crimson Moon Rage].

A scarlet-silver aura flared around him, and Lunar Fang descended like a meteor toward Kaelos.

The strike was so powerful it launched Kaelos into the air, shattering his armor and ripping a deep gash across his chest. Blood spattered the ground as he slammed down, writhing in pain.

Logan followed up with [Eternal Cycle Blade], his sword manipulating time as it slashed Kaelos’s arm. The wound deepened, and Kaelos felt his energy being drained away.

Yet Kaelos didn’t surrender. Using his last reserves, he unleashed [Eternal Duality Wrath] one final time.

A massive eruption of light and darkness ripped the crimson sky apart like torn fabric, quaked the ground, and obliterated the remaining buildings into dust.

Their battle had destroyed a massive section of the capital, though it was still contained within their combat zone, not yet spreading to the rest of the city.

Logan and Schneitz defended with [Samsara Reversion] and [Full Moon Barrier], but the explosion’s force drove them back, leaving their armor cracked and their bodies bruised and bleeding.

Kaelos stood, panting heavily, his wounds pouring blood, his armor nearly obliterated. Logan and Schneitz were exhausted too, their breaths ragged and their armor battered.

The three glared at each other, tension thick. Logan and Schneitz were especially furious.

They had never expected a mere S-rank to match them — even with the help of items. And where the hell had he even gotten these items?

The battlefield was now nothing but ruins and ash, the crimson sky streaked with energy rifts, and the ground riddled with deep cracks and splattered with blood.

"Still not ready to surrender?"

"I told you, old man. Until I kill the chairman and that bastard kid, I’m not backing off." Kaelos shrugged.

"You really think you can beat us? Your items have already reached their limit." Logan growled.

"Oh, you mean these? Well, these aren’t all I have." A twisted grin spread across his face.

"What do you mean?" Logan and Schneitz said in unison, a sudden sense of dread tightening in their chests.

Kaelos didn’t answer. He opened his inventory and pulled out the last item those people had given him — the one that could turn the entire battle in his favor.

More importantly, Daniel, watching through the orb from within the private dimension, froze in shock when he saw this item.