Previously on Awakening The Only SSS-Rank Class! Now Even Dragons Obey Me...
Elisira retrieved an ancient book from the imperial library for Daniel. The book, made from the tree's bark, revealed the "Tree of the Beginning of the End" and its divine fruit, potentially a source of salvation rather than corruption. An image depicted a fearsome creature kneeling before the tree, suggesting the tree's true nature is not what is believed. As Daniel realized the importance of the unfinished prophecy about the fruit, a powerful, ancient presence arrived.
"So, my son’s killer stands before me." A deep, rumbling voice, more akin to an avalanche than a man’s, permeated the forest. Instantly, the very fabric of reality seemed to warp. It wasn't just the ambient mana or the air that shifted, but the entirety of nature itself responded. The immense branches of ancient trees groaned and bowed, as if subjected to an unseen, crushing force. The earth beneath the cursed tree’s roots vibrated subtly, fissures snaking through the soil. Even the perpetual, thick mist blanketing the woods recoiled, as if the forest itself lacked the courage to linger in the path of the approaching entity.
Elisira remained frozen, her eyes widening in alarm, her body instinctively stiffening. She recognized this overwhelming presence. Not from direct experience, but from the hushed tales of her childhood, from the legends of bygone wars. It was a name spoken with the same dread reserved for cataclysmic events in the continent’s chronicles.
Walterk Bloodfang, the Mountain Breaker, a figure among the continent’s ten most formidable Eternal Warriors. Such a terrifying and suffocating aura could only belong to one of these legendary beings. An aura potent enough to shatter the resolve of armies and cleave mountains and seas asunder. This, then, was the aura of one of the supreme Eternal Warriors, individuals who had truly touched the zenith of power.
Elisira’s breath hitched. "...He actually came." Her whisper was nearly lost to the wind, yet the palpable terror in her eyes was undeniable. She had anticipated an Eternal Warrior’s pursuit of vengeance for his son’s demise, but the swiftness of his arrival had caught her off guard. His determination for retribution was starkly evident.
Suddenly, hundreds of crimson and gold lights flared to life amidst the trees. The metallic clang of armor, the thunderous percussion of heavy boots, and the chilling symphony of clashing weapons announced the arrival of a massive army, encircling the forest from four directions. Warriors clad in heavy armor, wielding imposing spears and swords, mingled with adept mana users whose hands were wreathed in swirling arcane circles. Corruption beast hunters stood ready, alongside colossal war beasts held in check by formidable chains. The once tranquil forest now resembled a meticulously prepared battlefield, poised for the downfall of a king.
Yet, despite the overwhelming military might arrayed, no soldier dared approach the immediate vicinity of the cursed tree. Not a single one. They maintained a respectful, or rather, fearful, distance. This apprehension was not directed at the cursed tree or Daniel; the assembled forces, both terrestrial and aerial, harbored but one profound fear: their commander. They would not presume to interfere in his personal quest for vengeance.
Then, he materialized. Moving with deliberate slowness, his arrival was devoid of fanfare, yet each step he took seemed to press the earth deeper beneath his immense weight. His stature was colossal, surpassing even the other formidable warriors of the continent, resembling an ancient Titan. His body bore the marks of countless battles, each scar a testament to forgotten conflicts. Long, dark hair cascaped over a cloak fashioned from the hide of corruption beasts. A colossal axe rested upon his shoulder, a weapon so massive it appeared less like a tool of war and more like a fragment of a sculpted mountain.
But the most chilling aspect of his presence transcended his sheer power. It was his unnerving tranquility. He didn't seem like a man who had achieved great strength, but rather like an embodiment of a natural disaster that had assumed human form. Walterk halted several meters from the perimeter of the death zone. His gaze methodically swept across the ground, lingering on the hundreds of traces left by the fallen. Nothing substantial remained of them, merely desiccated bloodstains and the faintest vestiges of residual aura. Nevertheless, Walterk perceived that these individuals were not to be underestimated. Though they were as insignificant as ants in his estimation, many were warriors capable of subjugating entire cities. And amidst the ephemeral traces, he discerned the lingering essence of his son.
All had perished in this singular location. Finally, his gaze settled upon Daniel. A tense silence ensued, so profound that even the army arrayed behind him held their breath. "I am told my son... could not even draw close. Is this true?" Walterk inquired softly, his voice devoid of overt anger or malice.
Daniel responded with a subtle nod, his expression unchanging. "So, my son did not meet his end with the honor of a warrior," Walterk murmured, exhaling slowly. His tone remained calm, yet beneath the surface lay the devastating gravity of a force capable of annihilating armies. He understood his son’s disdain for death, but his greatest fear was to perish as a weakling. And ultimately, he had fallen like one.
His gaze shifted once more. The tree, its gnarled roots, the luminous fruit, the deathly zone, the surrounding mana, even the subtle vibrations lingering in the air – he analyzed it all with the precision of a seasoned war beast. After a few moments, his eyes narrowed. "...That power does not originate from the tree." His focus then locked directly onto Daniel’s eyes. "It comes from you." He sensed no discernible power emanating from the youth, yet his depth appeared unfathomable. No matter how intently he peered, he could not fathom its limits.
He initially suspected that his strength might be drawn from this cursed tree, but a quick examination revealed this was not the case.
Elisira’s attention suddenly shifted to Daniel, who remained unfazed.
"My son was killed because you protected it," Walterk declared, his voice heavy.
His eyes briefly swept over the ancient tree.
"What is your reason for protecting it?"
"Moreover, your Qi... it feels alien to this world," he added in a lower tone.
"Where do you hail from?"
The atmosphere grew dense, and the army behind Walterk stood in silent anticipation of Daniel's response.
"Does it truly matter?" Daniel replied with a faint, emotionless smile.
Walterk regarded him for several moments.
Then, a subtle smile, the first to grace his scarred visage, emerged.
However, it carried no warmth or friendliness; it was the grim smile of a warrior who had finally encountered a foe worthy of death.
His army stood poised for battle. Commanders’ hands rested on their weaponry.
Mages had their mana circles activated, and the war beasts stirred restlessly.
Elisira realized that if conflict erupted, the entire forest would be annihilated, potentially threatening the empire's capital.
The crucial question remained: could Daniel stand against an Eternal Warrior? Observing his serene composure, she harbored a sliver of hope that this unknown youth possessed such capabilities.
Yet, it was difficult to fully accept. Facing them was an Eternal Warrior, and not just any warrior, but one of the top ten.
His renown spanned the continent, lauded for his unparalleled might.
Whispers claimed that in terms of sheer physical prowess, Walterk was unmatched in this world.
And this young man was expected to confront such a formidable entity, all while exhibiting such remarkable calmness?
Daniel, however, was not focused on them. His gaze penetrated the assembled army, perceiving the vibrant life energy within.
Thousands of lives, whose demise here would fuel the tree's fruit to mature at an astonishing rate.
This realization stirred a peculiar satisfaction within him, a genuine pleasure at the sight of such a vast host.
"It seems you are in for quite the feast," he remarked with a chuckle, addressing the tree directly.
