CHAPTER 736: INVADERS

The ascension of a New Plane was like the birth of a star—brilliant, radiant, and filled with boundless potential. Yet in the endless chaos of the void between worlds, such phenomena were often hidden, veiled beneath the storms of energy and the layers of spatial distortion that plagued the cosmic sea.

With a little luck, most new worlds rose quietly, unnoticed by the greater powers that roamed the universe. They ascended in silence, slowly stabilizing over millennia, avoiding the greedy eyes of more advanced civilizations.

But that was not the case for Terra.

Terra’s ascension was anything but subtle. By utilizing the full magnitude of the Universe’s Gift—the massive influx of Origin Power—it had triggered a planetary evolution unlike anything seen before. Its rise wasn’t a quiet shimmer in the void. It was a beacon, blazing like a supernova across the sector.

And naturally, it was seen.

Ten figures appeared outside Terra’s fledgling Crystal Wall, having teleported from their own distant homeworlds. Each was unique—each carried the unmistakable pressure of a Legend.

Some were human in shape, while others bore characteristics of elves or dwarves. One woman had radiant plasma wings flaring from her back, casting arcs of light with every movement. And towering above them all was a draconic entity, so massive that its body rivaled the size of cities. Its scales glimmered like obsidian laced with stardust.

As their gazes swept across Terra, sharpness and calculation filled their eyes. Though they were all members of The Light, this was not a Doomsday World, and no treaties or pacts bound them here. Each of them had come, independently drawn by the immense power radiating from the newborn realm.

And none of them intended to share.

The tension rose quickly as their auras flared, growing heavier by the second. A battle seemed inevitable—until one of them stepped forward.

"Let’s not be hasty," the speaker said.

He was a young man with short black hair, dressed in elegant white armor trimmed with gold. A black blade hung at his side, exuding a faint demonic aura. His voice was calm, but carried a tone that demanded attention.

Seeing that he had drawn their focus, he continued.

"Before doing anything drastic, why don’t we first explore the world? Let’s see if it’s truly worth fighting over."

There was a flicker of confusion among the other Legends. Normally, this wouldn’t be possible. A newly ascended world would be sealed behind a fully formed Crystal Wall, preventing external interference from Legendary entities. But as they focused their perception, realization dawned on them.

The wall was... weak.

While it successfully kept out the chaotic energy of the void, it was far too fragile to resist the entry of Legends. It was like a screen door trying to hold back a storm.

"Hahaha! How could the World King be so foolish as to neglect the development of the Crystal Wall?" the massive dragon boomed with laughter, its voice shaking the void.

"A foolish child," the winged woman sneered. "One who does not understand the true nature of the universe he just stepped into."

The ten Legends shared a look—and a silent agreement. Then, without another word, they crossed the Crystal Wall.

The moment they set foot on Terra, their expressions changed.

The ambient energy, the quality of the air, the resonance of the laws—all of it was astonishing. The world was fresh, yet its foundations were more advanced than anything they had ever encountered from a newly ascended plane.

"Incredible," the black-haired young man murmured. "It would normally take a world millions of years to reach this stage of refinement. But this one... it achieved it the moment it ascended."

A mix of awe and greed shone in their eyes. The idea of claiming this world for themselves—or for their factions—became irresistible.

But once again, before any conflict could erupt, a massive pillar of light erupted from the center of the planet, shooting high into the sky like a divine signal.

All eyes turned.

It wasn’t just a beacon—it was a summons.

The ten Legends exchanged wary glances, then moved as one toward the source.

In mere minutes, they reached its origin—and what they found made them pause.

A city.

Massive. Advanced. Alive.

Its architecture rivaled the capital cities of the great civilizations in the universe. Yet what stood out was not its size or beauty—but its inhabitants. While they detected no overwhelming Legendary auras, the sheer number of Guardians and Sages within the city was staggering—something unheard of for a world that had only just reached ascension.

This world... was not ordinary.

As they approached the center of the city, their attention was drawn to a tower—so tall it seemed to pierce the clouds. The energy surrounding it was immense, enough to make even these seasoned Legends feel pressure on their souls.

Before they could analyze further, five figures rose from the top of the tower and appeared before them in an instant.

The Legends frowned as they instinctively scanned the newcomers.

Three of the figures exuded Legendary soul force. The other two radiated physical pressure that surpassed Level 22. In terms of combat power, each of these five could match them.

The ten foreign Legends exchanged subtle glances. A silent thought passed through their minds:

This world has already been claimed... by a higher civilization.

It was the only explanation that made sense. No New Plane could nurture such beings naturally in so short a time without external aid.

A meaningful glint appeared in the black-haired young man’s eyes as his focus fell on the figure radiating divine power.

"Not a god," he muttered to himself, "but close."

His insight was sharp—his intuition rarely wrong. He took a slow breath and stepped forward, speaking clearly.

"I am Leandro, High Prince of the Kilon Family of the Graecia Empire."

The five figures narrowed their eyes. Recognition—or perhaps caution—flickered in their gazes at the mention of the empire.

Taking their silence as acknowledgment, Leandro pressed forward confidently.

"I would like to know the name of the organization, family, or high civilization... that now controls this New Plane."

His words hung in the air—challenging, diplomatic, and laced with the sharpness of someone who never asked without reason.

However, instead of a tense silence or a careful, diplomatic response, the expressions on the faces of the five figures—at least four of them—shifted into amused smiles. Their lips curled with calm confidence, and they simply shook their heads as if the situation were nothing more than a trivial interruption.

Leandro frowned.

He didn’t like the subtle dismissal in their expressions. He had expected resistance, perhaps caution, even fear—but not humor.

Before he could voice his displeasure, the figure radiating divine energy stepped forward. His presence was poised, his posture relaxed but commanding. When he spoke, his voice rang with perfect articulation, neither hostile nor warm—only precise.

"You are currently on Terra," the figure said. "A world under the jurisdiction of the Xaos Kingdom."

It was Overlord, and while his tone was calm, every syllable carried the weight of absolute authority. He gave no further explanation than necessary, revealing nothing more than the name of their world and the power that ruled it.

The ten Legends turned to glance at one another, silently sharing their knowledge through practiced intuition. Confusion passed between them. None of them had ever heard of the Xaos Kingdom.

Before they could digest that information or draw up new strategies, the mood changed again.

The young man with white hair and piercing golden eyes stepped forward. His light-hearted expression vanished, replaced by solemnity and steel. His voice was quiet, but sharp as a blade.

"You have entered Terra without permission," he said coldly. "Which, by law, constitutes an invasion. What do you have to say in your defense?"

For a moment, silence crushed the sky.

Shock rippled through the visiting Legends. They had arrived with the intention to conquer or at least investigate—certainly not to justify themselves. And yet here they were, being treated not as powerful beings deserving respect, but as intruders expected to answer for their actions.

It was almost laughable.

"Hmph," the Legendary Angel scoffed, stepping forward with disdain. Her glowing wings flared as her divine aura rose like a tide. "Since when does a nobody from a kingdom I’ve never heard of dare to question a Legend of Heaven?"

Her voice was filled with scorn, her tone mocking, as though she expected them to bow from the mere weight of her presence.

"BOOM!"

Her sentence never finished.

A deafening shockwave ripped through the air, followed by a flash of crimson and gold. The Legendary Angel was flung backward with devastating force, crashing through layers of clouds like a broken doll. Blood sprayed from her mouth as she screamed, her body writhing from the impact.

Gasps erupted from the others.

The remaining nine Legends turned in stunned silence to face the source of the attack.

Standing exactly where the Angel had been a second ago, his hand still extended from the strike, was the young man with white hair.