Chapter 342: Spatial Destruction

Orion paused slightly as he saw the vast devastation caused due to their clash. However, the vampire generals didn’t give him time to think as he spun around with blinding speed, countering the barrage of blood spears, slicing them apart, before smoothly retaliating.

“[Blazing Execution Arc],” Orion’s deep voice resonated ominously, sending out fiery slashes that tracked each general individually, exploding fiercely upon impact.

The vampires screamed in shock and agony, scattering desperately as their defensive barriers shattered.

Yet, with animalistic rage, they regrouped swiftly. Blood and darkness mana surged violently, intermingling to form chaotic maelstroms that threatened to swallow Orion entirely.

“[Sylvan Bastion],” Orion calmly invoked, causing enormous vines, glowing with rich, life-sustaining wood mana, to erupt violently from the shattered earth and rise even into the sky.

They absorbed the corrupted energy and shielded him perfectly, enabling a swift counterattack.

“Not done yet,” he growled, his deep voice echoing amidst thunderous roars. “[Chain Lightning].”

Brilliant lightning surged forth, rapidly chaining through the airborne vampires. Their bodies convulsed violently, movements temporarily paralyzed.

Orion seized the opening, instantly appearing amidst them, his dual swords weaving effortlessly in devastating arcs.

His movements were majestic yet ruthless. Each strike carried both his blazing Fire Aura and electrifying Thunder Aura, cleaving through dark defenses and leaving sizzling wounds.

The generals retaliated desperately, their combined might forcing Orion to remain constantly on the move. The brutal aerial battle shifted rapidly from one devastated location to another, each clash flattening cities, splitting mountains, and evaporating seas.

Below them, the Tigerkin and Lionkin factions abandoned their futile war, now united in helpless terror as they desperately fled the apocalypse unfolding above them.

Yet, there was nowhere safe to hide. The world’s spatial integrity weakened further with every clash, devouring entire populations within spatial rifts that swallowed even screams of agony.

Orion, locked in relentless combat, paid no heed to these tragic collateral losses. His mind was fully immersed in battle, consumed by the need of killing nine elite generals as quickly as possible to cut the losses.

“You’re losing, beasts,” Orion shouted coldly, flames enveloping one sword while arcs of lightning surged from the other. His eyes gleamed with battle fervor. “Show something worthy before I erase your pathetic existence.”

Enraged by his mockery, the slender female general shrieked, eyes blazing, “Kill him! His arrogance ends now!”

In unison, the generals channeled their strongest combined spell, chanting in sinister harmony. Their bodies shuddered violently, blood mana surging skyward, merging into an immense, terrifying orb, a pulsating crimson-black sun poised to obliterate all before it.

“[Scarlet Catastrophe]!” they screamed, hurling their ultimate attack toward Orion.

Orion’s expression hardened. Calmly, he lifted both swords, crossing them elegantly as a simultaneous attack of fire and lightning erupted from his blades. He calmly muttered, “[Stormpiercer Bolt, Infernal Lance.]”

A spear of pure elemental destruction formed—part fire, part lightning, blazing crimson and azure intertwined shakily. He threw the spear directly at the Scarlet Catastrophe, causing an explosion unlike any witnessed before.

The sky cracked open, enormous spatial fissures tearing through reality itself. Hundreds of millions below vanished instantly as the world’s foundation trembled violently, nearing collapse.

Through the catastrophic aftermath, Orion emerged unharmed, wings beating majestically as he gazed upon the generals—battered, wounded, and gasping raggedly. His expression remained emotionless as he inwardly grieved the loss of lives, but he knew he couldn’t stop now.

“Impossible,” the female general whispered, terror finally staining her beautiful yet cruel features. “He… he’s unstoppable… just like Lord Valerian…”

Orion hovered closer, coldly eyeing each vampire. “Realizing your mistake now? It’s far too late.”

But desperation birthed madness. The muscular general, spitting blood, screamed, “No! He must die! Attack again!”

Yet, each assault only met Orion’s perfectly calculated counters. With every exchange, another general plummeted downward, bodies broken, hopes shattered.

Until finally, only the female general remained airborne, staring helplessly at Orion, her eyes filled with despair and disbelief.

“Is this all Valerian’s generals amount to?” Orion mocked softly, sheathing his thunder sword and gripping only the Realm Guardian. “Then, this game ends here.”

Her eyes widened as Orion lunged, sword trailing brilliant flames. In one fluid strike, she fell, body aflame and lifeless.

Now hovering alone in the shattered sky, Orion looked upon the devastation he’d wrought. Entire regions lay in ruin; the air was thick with lingering spatial distortions. Countless lives lost, his expression turned sad for a split second before it hardened again.

“I’ll take responsibility for whatever devastation I brought, but these bloodsuckers must die lest they kill me. I won’t place the lives of others above mine.”

He slowly turned around and looked toward the shattered mountains and other areas. “Maybe… this world isn’t doomed yet.”

Orion stared fiercely toward the distant horizon, his eyes locked onto Valerian’s sinister presence, still comfortably seated atop his extravagant war chariot.

Anger and frustration surged within Orion’s chest, causing his breath to quicken slightly. The sheer devastation caused by their brutal battle, the lives of countless innocent Lionkin and Tigerkin, all extinguished in mere hours, weighed heavily on him, transforming his previously calm expression into one of barely contained fury.

The distant glow of the fading spatial storms painted Valerian’s visage in sinister crimson hues, highlighting his pale, aristocratic features twisted into a curious, entertained smile.

Valerian’s casual posture, one leg crossed elegantly over the other, with a hand resting lightly beneath his chin, conveyed a sense of twisted amusement and curiosity.

Orion gritted his teeth fiercely, his heart heavy but resolved. His voice shook with restrained rage as he slowly murmured, each word dripping with hatred, “I hope you’re entertained, Valerian. Because you’re next.”

Without another moment’s hesitation, Orion’s enormous Draconian wings flapped powerfully, propelling him forward at staggering speeds.

The already devastated landscape blurred beneath him, distorted and shattered by the immense spatial instability left by their catastrophic clash.

As Orion rapidly closed the distance, he noticed both armies of Lionkin and Tigerkin had entirely vanished, fleeing desperately from the battlefield turned apocalypse.

Finally reaching Valerian’s position, Orion halted abruptly, his massive Draconian form hovering imposingly before the luxurious war chariot.

His eyes flicked upward momentarily, noticing the distant portal he had arrived from was completely obliterated by the overwhelming spatial distortion.

The realization weighed upon him briefly, but he swiftly brushed it aside. Escape was not an option anymore, not until Valerian was defeated anyway.

He refocused coldly onto Valerian, voice filled with simmering rage, yet surprisingly composed. “Done watching? It’s your turn now.”

Valerian slowly rose from his throne, eyes gleaming with dark amusement as he clapped gently, the sound echoing ominously through the now-silent battlefield.

“Marvelous,” Valerian spoke softly, his cultured voice resonating clearly, his lips curled into a faint, impressed smile. “You continue to exceed my expectations, Draconian. I didn’t imagine you’d improve so drastically within mere days.”

Orion remained utterly silent, his fierce gaze unwavering, clearly unaffected by Valerian’s veiled praise.

Valerian sighed lightly, his expression shifting from amused curiosity to mock seriousness. Gracefully, he rose into the air, robes fluttering elegantly, turning his gaze briefly toward the nearly dispersed spatial storms surrounding the giant celestial staff.

After a brief contemplative silence, Valerian looked back at Orion, a faintly mocking smile forming once again. “Why don’t you become a vampire? I’ll personally invite you into my Noble House. You would instantly become one of its highest-ranking figures. Perhaps, someday, you might even reach my level.”

Orion’s eyes narrowed further, disgust visible in his expression. His voice was icy cold, filled with utter disdain as he replied curtly, “Are you done?”

Valerian’s smile vanished abruptly, replaced instantly with irritation. His eyes hardened, revealing the sinister, dangerous monster hidden beneath his composed façade.

Without another word, he reached behind his back, withdrawing a massive scythe, its blade sinisterly curved and connected to a dark chain that coiled around his forearm.

The scythe shimmered ominously with a malevolent mixture of darkness and blood mana, exuding a suffocating, corrupt aura.