Awakening The Only SSS-Rank Class! Now Even Dragons Obey Me Chapter 778: The Cursed Tree's Breakfast

A heavy silence descended between Daniel and Kaylen after the final declaration, so profound that even the act of breathing felt like an intrusion.

The forest, moments before alive with the subtle whispers of mana and unseen currents, grew eerily still, as if the very fabric of existence held its breath, awaiting a decision that would shatter everything.

No words were exchanged, yet the choice was made. Both parties were resolute, unwilling to yield, and acutely aware of the other's unwavering stance.

Given this impasse, an attack was the only recourse.

Kaylen initiated the action, determined not to allow his opponent any breathing room or the slightest advantage.

His objective was a swift conclusion, minimizing casualties—ideally, none—before proceeding to deal with the tree.

A minute shift in his stance, an almost imperceptible flicker in his eyes, and his four companions moved in perfect unison.

In the span of a breath, five distinct energies converged on Daniel from as many directions.

The aggressive youth advanced head-on, his speed cleaving the air, a smile still gracing his lips, though a sharp, ruthless focus now sharpened the depths of his gaze.

The female assassin seemed to melt into the surroundings, reappearing behind Daniel from a void even shadows could not penetrate, her blade poised to sever a neck that would have no time to react.

The hulking fighter stepped forward with earth-shattering force, his impending strike imbued with power sufficient to obliterate anything in its path.

With meticulously executed maneuvers, the supporter ensnared the very space, sealing off any avenues of escape and regulating the flow of mana to ensure the coordinated assault proceeded unimpeded.

Kaylen himself held back from direct engagement. He simply stood, raising a hand slightly, and an unseen formation materialized. The area Daniel occupied was instantly brought under his absolute control, an invisible cage whose confines were inescapable.

Their strategy was clear: deny any possibility of evasion. The true extent of their opponent's abilities remained a mystery, and to their astonishment, all attempts to gauge his power proved futile.

Two possibilities presented themselves: either he possessed power far exceeding theirs, or he was employing an artifact to conceal his true strength.

Within the tower, the established rules dictated that all cultivators on the same floor operated on an equal footing. Consequently, they harbored no fear of being outmatched.

This conviction fueled their decision to launch a simultaneous, decisive strike.

The attacks converged, the distances rapidly closing.

Blades, fists, concentrated blasts of mana—all teetered on the precipice of impact, a single movement away from collision.

And then, everything ceased. Not with the clang of steel, the roar of an explosion, or even a ripple of spiritual energy.

Instead, it stopped with absolute nothingness.

Mere centimeters from Daniel's form, all incoming attacks froze. They did not slow; they did not rebound. It was as if they had encountered a barrier that was simultaneously non-existent and utterly impenetrable.

Space itself.

The very essence of space had become a shield.

An invisible, boundless, and absolute layer had materialized between the attackers and Daniel. This layer could neither be seen nor touched, its composition defying comprehension, yet its reality was undeniable.

An eternal, immutable barrier that nothing could breach.

"...What—?" The aggressive youth's eyes widened in disbelief, his confident smile faltering for the first time.

The female assassin, whose face had remained an impassive mask until this point, faltered for a fleeting instant. Her blade, which had never known stillness, hung suspended in the air.

The burly warrior exerted greater pressure, but to no avail; he remained rooted to the spot, unmoving by even a millimeter.

The supporter frantically attempted to reconfigure the mana flow, to reopen pathways, to undo the spatial lock—but no alteration occurred.

Kaylen's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with unprecedented speed to analyze the situation.

Yet, for the first time, he found no answers. Faced with something indefinable, analysis became meaningless.

In that moment, understanding dawned. This was not a battle; it was a chasm. A disparity in power so vast it defied measurement.

Could this immense difference be the reason they had been unable to discern his true strength? Because he was simply too powerful?

Daniel remained seated, perfectly still. Not a single muscle in his body had shifted.

His gaze was serene, devoid of any flicker of excitement, anger, or even satisfaction.

"I warned you," he stated. His voice, though not loud, echoed through the silent forest like an irrevocable decree.

Then, his eyes flashed. This gleam was profound, chilling, and held an unfathomable profundity, hinting at something transcending the purely human.

For a suspended moment, time seemed to stretch before several slender, silent beams of light shot forth from his eyes.

Nobody could react. Defense mechanisms failed to form. No mana had time to gather. And in the instant the beams struck their bodies, it was all over.

Their bodies didn't explode or shatter into pieces. Instead, they were erased from within.

It was as if their very existence had no reason to continue the moment it touched that force.

But prior to this, their eyes were frozen in pure, deep, absolute horror.

The realization that dawned on them in their final moments: there was nothing they could do.

Their bodies crashed to the ground, but they did not remain intact. Particles, like the essence of life, detached from them and were slowly drawn towards the tree.

The cursed tree happily absorbed and consumed the life force of all five individuals, then fed on them, enjoying its first meal of the day.

Daniel closed his eyes. There was no rush. He saw no need to observe the outcome of his actions. He felt no sadness in killing them, as he had done this before.

He had issued a warning and offered them an opportunity to retreat, but they ignored his words, and their own foolishness led to their demise.

They were not weak, mind you. Each of them was at the peak of A-rank, considered among the elite of their tier. Unfortunately, they had chosen the wrong adversary.

"Now that I have some free time, I might as well do it." Paths began to form in his mind.

Concepts and combinations.

His bloodline and his race possessed abilities that could be considered divine, perhaps unparalleled in all of existence, and he had conceived of creating a technique.

Something that could unify all of these, something that might… propel him one step closer to divinity.

He wasn't certain if it would succeed, but in any case, it was better than nothing. Furthermore, he had no other pressing matters.

Perhaps he could unleash the full potential of his race.

In the distance, concealed within the shadows, stood two individuals accompanied by a contingent. The Grand Minister and the Grand Knight, along with the Empire's elite Grand Guard.

Not a single one moved, and not a word was spoken.

What they had just witnessed was an event that defied easy comprehension.

"…What… was that?" The Grand Knight finally uttered, his voice barely a whisper, betraying a dryness that went beyond mere fear.

It stemmed from a dawning comprehension, a nascent understanding beginning to take root.

The Grand Minister remained silent for several moments, his gaze fixed on the spot where the five had stood.

They had journeyed here to witness this phenomenon with their own eyes and, should the situation escalate, to offer assistance to those five individuals.

However, they were not even afforded the chance to intervene.

"That… was not a battle. It was a one-sided massacre." He then let out a sigh and added.

They had anticipated the possibility of that group failing. After all, any outcome is conceivable in such circumstances. Yet, they had never imagined their failure would be so swift and complete.

In truth, it was less a failure and more of a brutal slaughter.

Who was this entity? Though cloaked in human form, his power radiated monstrous intensity.

And that was sufficient. No discussion of an assault arose, nor was any attempt made to approach further.

Only one course of action was decided upon: to retreat. Without even a backward glance, they turned away.

Their pace quickened, not solely from apprehension, but driven by an urgent need to convey this truth. The world needed to be apprised of this revelation as soon as possible.

The gates parted without delay or ceremony, allowing them direct passage.

The Holy Emperor awaited their arrival.

As they entered, even before a word was spoken, the Emperor's gaze fell upon their visages.

And that was enough. He grasped the events that had transpired, a clear understanding evident in their fearful and troubled expressions.

The Grand Minister stepped forward. This time, even he hesitated, carefully selecting his words.

"That man's power…" The words emerged with evident strain.

"…is beyond all description."

"Five individuals… were annihilated in an instant." The Grand Knight continued, his voice still laden with gravity.

This time, the Emperor offered no laughter, no trace of mockery. Only a frown, deeper than any seen before.

A few seconds elapsed.

"So… that is how it is." He then uttered quietly, realizing he had gravely underestimated the strength of what he had once dismissed as refuse.

His gaze turned icy, and a decision was irrevocably made.

"Disseminate this news across the entire continent. A foreign entity… is safeguarding the cursed tree."

"Furthermore, he has defied the Divine Prophet's command." He added, his tone hardening.

The divine decree, intended for the tree's destruction, was apparently poised to transform into the continent's most catastrophic event.