Reincarnation Of The Strongest Sword God Chapter 3948 - 1022 - Anomalies

“Is that truly Elise?” Fervent Samsara whispered, his eyes fixed on her in disbelief.

Having competed alongside Elise in the Continental Championship, Fervent Samsara was well-acquainted with her. While she had been a top-tier genius among the three races back then, the contrast between her former self and her current state was night and day. Claiming they were entirely different individuals would not be an overstatement.

Putting aside her staggering Level 251, the sheer pressure she radiated while suspended in the sky made Fervent Samsara feel as though he were standing at the foot of a colossal mountain.

Elise’s suffocating aura didn't just affect those who knew her; every sixth-floor expert within the Twilight Fortress was left in a state of shock and awe.

“It’s no surprise she was recruited by that side. She is nothing short of a monster,” Verdant Rainbow remarked, a bitter smile playing on her lips as she felt the weight of her former rival’s presence.

While the Seven Luminaries Alliance and Demon’s Gate weren't engaged in a total war, they were frequent adversaries. As a genius cultivated by the Alliance, Verdant Rainbow had naturally clashed with the Demon’s Gate’s chosen ones of her generation many times.

Back during the Continental Championship, Verdant Rainbow felt she could still hold her own against Elise. Now, however, her instincts screamed that she stood no chance, despite having reached the sixth-floor standard herself. She couldn't help but wonder exactly how much Elise had grown during their time apart.

“Such an extraordinary combat standard! I can actually sense a hint of danger from her!” Shi Feng noted quietly, his gaze fixed on Elise.

Lunar River gave Shi Feng a flat look and rolled her eyes, her expression clearly mocking him for stating something so obvious.

Shi Feng found himself unable to come up with a retort to Lunar River’s annoyance.

Even though Elise possessed an unidentified Divine Set comparable to the human race’s Six Great Divine Sets, she remained a Tier 6 Lifeform. A massive chasm still separated her from a genuine Tier 7 Lifeform.

Beyond the disparity in Basic Attributes, the difference in the tiers of Spells and Skills available meant that a Tier 6 player like Elise should normally be unable to threaten Shi Feng. Bridging the gap between Tier 6 and Tier 7 abilities required techniques far beyond the reach of a standard Peak Gold Combat Technique.

...

“No one is permitted to strike Elise! We shall handle her ourselves! The rest of you, begin the siege on the fortress!”

As players both inside and outside the Twilight Fortress were paralyzed by Elise’s arrival, Daystar watched her old competitor with caution while barking commands to the Holy Race legions.

The remaining members of the Five Absolute Chosen Ones signaled their agreement with silent nods; none of them questioned Daystar’s tactical choice.

In truth, seizing the Twilight Fortress was merely a secondary goal for the ten royal powers of the Holy Race. Their primary motive for uniting to attack the fortress was to manufacture a chance for the Five Absolute Chosen Ones to engage Elise in combat.

During the previous Hundred Race Battlefield, Elise was the sole player to be scouted as a core member by an imperial power. This development had left the various factions of the Hundred Race Battlefield burning with jealousy.

The Hundred Race Battlefield was named for the fact that over a hundred races participated. Every race involved was formidable; even the weakest among them possessed several apex powers, while the strongest boasted more than twenty royal powers. To these dominant races, even the powerful Holy Race was considered little more than slightly larger prey.

Among the participating races, only three possessed organizations that transcended the royal standard to reach the imperial level. Two of these imperial powers were led by two Tier 7 experts, while the third was commanded by three.

Historically, the imperial power with three Tier 7 experts rarely took in players from the Hundred Race Battlefield. Consequently, its proactive invitation to Elise—and her immediate promotion to core member—left every faction in the Hundred Race Battlefield bewildered. Even the other two imperial powers were caught off guard by the move.

To uncover why she had been recruited, the other two imperial powers offered a bounty to test her capabilities. Anyone capable of providing significant data would receive a massive reward: those who had cleared the basic entry tests would be granted immediate membership, while existing members would see their status elevated.

The ten royal powers of the Holy Race found this temptation impossible to ignore.

The entry requirements for the three imperial powers were incredibly steep. Even a first-place finish in the Hundred Race Battlefield didn't guarantee acceptance. Furthermore, the Holy Race’s best historical performance was only in the top 50, which barely met the minimum criteria for the imperial powers.

Moreover, the benefits provided to members of an imperial power varied wildly between normal and elite status.

Normal members, even if they paid a fortune and accumulated massive contributions, could at most hope to buy the coordinates for a Tier 7 Promotion Land containing a few dozen common Chaos Creatures. High-tier privileges—such as the Guild capturing a specific Chaos Creature from the Void Sea for research—were strictly reserved for those above normal rank.

Chaos Creatures were so lethal that even Holy Ancestor-level figures risked their lives against them, let alone Tier 7 players. Capturing even a basic one typically required a team of Tier 7 experts risking permanent death over several months of effort.

With hundreds of millions of normal members, the imperial powers simply couldn't provide such resources to everyone.

Elite members, however, were entitled to such support. The only drawbacks were the potential decades-long wait times and the requirement of astronomical contributions. Nevertheless, such costs were viewed as worthwhile, as they significantly boosted the chances of reaching Tier 7.

To secure the Holy Race's future, the ten royal powers were determined to assist the Five Absolute Chosen Ones—who were already normal members of the two imperial powers—in seizing this opportunity. Even royal powers with no direct ties to the Five Absolutes were willing to lend their full support.

“Who among us will take the first turn?” Tyrant Claw inquired, looking toward Daystar, Garuda, and Morning Echo.

“I’ll go. She and I are rivals from long ago,” Garuda stated, cracking his knuckles. He looked at Elise with a complex mix of admiration, envy, irritation, and thrill.

In the beginning, he hadn't even viewed Elise as a serious competitor. Now, he found himself forced to challenge her. He had to admit that the whims of fate were truly unpredictable.