The Conquerors Path Chapter 972 - 970-Good Beating.

The atmosphere seemed to freeze entirely. For a fleeting second, all life ceased to breathe. Then, in an instant, everything shattered. A tidal wave of power surged through my being, saturating my soul and elevating me to a completely different plane of existence. At the very least, that was the illusion it created.

In reality, the stone doesn't truly grant a breakthrough to such heights. To reach those stages, one must possess a domain. It requires the study of laws and the manifestation of one's own will to pull those laws into reality, thereby forming a domain. To the observers below, I lacked such things. Consequently, the stone merely bestowed upon me the raw "power" characteristic of that rank.

A smirk played on my lips at the realization. To any onlooker, my physical form appeared completely overwhelmed by energy, enveloped in a soft, radiant golden glow. As previously noted, the primary function of this artifact was to scale my power level, energy reserves, and physical capabilities to that of the dragon. This meant every technique I had mastered would now function at that exalted level.

Before the crowd could even process the unfolding events, my body erupted in a flash of light. I saturated my form with the attos I had previously used to crush the Juggernaut, but this time, the energy was more brilliant and potent than anything they had ever witnessed. A strange contradiction manifested as the energy coiled around me, taking the majestic shape of a dragon.

I marveled at the sheer strength coursing through me. To the eyes of the spectators—both those in the open and those lurking in the shadows—the transformation was absolute. With a mere thought, I drifted off the ground, hovering effortlessly. Above, the heavens seemed to split apart as heavy, swirling clouds gathered. My body radiated a golden luminescence that ascended into the sky, forming a massive, golden dragon sigil for all to see.

The dragon let out a silent roar before shattering, its colors bleeding back into my form. My hair whipped wildly in the sudden gale, and my eyes took on a shimmering gold tint. My pupils shifted, sharpening into the razor-edged slits of a reptile. The attos surrounding me began to multiply, merging with the power to manifest draconic scales across portions of my skin. This entire metamorphosis occurred in the mere blink of an eye as I remained suspended in mid-air.

PUFF!

A violent shockwave erupted from my body as the transformation reached its zenith, forcefully pushing back the weaker onlookers. As the world stared in awe, I floated above the earth, resembling a divine entity descended from the celestial realms. The attos coalesced around my face, creating a visage that was as breathtaking as it was terrifying.

I surveyed the surroundings. The weaker reporters and bystanders were visibly trembling, gripped by an instinctive, irrational terror. A faint aura of dragon fear had begun to emanate from me. Under the collective gaze of the crowd, I lifted my right hand, clenching and unclenching my fist. That simple movement caused the surrounding mana to ripple and bow, as if acknowledging its master.

Having gauged this newfound strength, I lowered my hand and inhaled deeply. My glowing, reptilian eyes turned toward the sky, locking onto the stunned Imperials who were still hovering amidst the clouds. My gaze finally settled on Eleanor as I whispered softly.

“Don’t worry. I will take care of it. After all, I have a promise to keep.”

My words reached no ears but hers. Then, before the disbelieving eyes of the masses, I vanished. I reappeared instantly in front of the Imperials, arriving at Eleanor’s side before they could even register my movement. Maintaining my composure, I offered a small smile and tore away the restraints they had used to bind her.

“How?”

Eleanor looked at me, her mind clearly in a daze. She seemed unable to grasp how such a radical transformation had occurred in a matter of moments. I smirked at her and spoke reassurances.

“Don’t worry. Let me deal with everything, master.”

Turning my attention to the Imperials, I saw them staring back with wide, incredulous eyes. The elf, the leader and most powerful among them, was the first to find his voice.

“You possessed more of the Dragon God’s blessing?”

With his level of Cultivation, he undoubtedly recognized the source of my power, especially given the omens surrounding me. The man was clearly panicking, struggling to keep his composure. A slow, predatory smile spread across my face. As the other Imperials flinched, my internal power began to radiate outward, the local mana rushing to serve my will.

Fine threads of golden light shot out from my body, weaving through the air and dominating the atmosphere. In that moment, they realized they were about to face the most brutal beating of their lives.

“We have arrived under the authority and divine right granted to us. We come with full permission. The war council is entitled to these actions to protect the wor—”

“Blah... blah... bluh...” I interrupted.

“...”

“This is not some—”

“Yada... yada... yani,” I mocked again.

“...”

I could see the fury boiling within him as his power fluctuated wildly. I casually rolled my shoulders and flexed my hands, preparing for the confrontation.

“I don’t give a damn about any of that. You insulted my home. You laid hands on my master. And you attempted to destroy those I hold dear. When that happens, I break the people responsible.”

That was my final warning. Before the elf could even twitch, my fist slammed into his cheek. I watched in slow motion as the impact distorted his face, perhaps even dislodging a tooth, before his body was launched backward.

BOOM!

A sonic boom thundered a split second later. The remaining Imperials could only blink in shock before turning to see their leader trailing into the distance. Realizing the threat, they didn't hesitate to activate their domains. Each one attempted to ensnare me within their unique laws and elemental powers.

I was swallowed by three different domains, yet I simply smiled. Flexing my muscles, I released a burst of pure physical force amplified by draconic energy. It was enough to shatter the domains like fragile glass. Cracks raced through the three constructs until they disintegrated entirely.

“Cough...”“Urgh....”“Krukh!....”

The trio suffered immediate backlash from the destruction of their domains. They groaned in pain, thin trails of blood leaking from their mouths as dread filled their eyes. I simply cracked my knuckles, the energy dancing across my skin with renewed vigor.

“Someone needs to be taught some manners.”

As I spoke, I reached out and caught a sword aimed directly at my skull, gripping the blade tightly. No matter how much strength the elf exerted, the weapon wouldn't budge. The moment of impact sent another massive sonic ripple through the air.

“Puff..... that’s a nice look on you,” I muttered.

I looked at the elf; the side of his face I had struck was horribly bruised and misshapen. I grinned at the sight as my internal power surged even higher. My eyes burned with golden light as the other three launched a coordinated assault, their weapons glowing with the intensity of their laws and elements.

The concentrated power of their strikes seemed to tear at the fabric of space itself. As the attacks closed in, the aura surrounding my body grew even more luminous, as if feeding on the tension. Suddenly, the world slowed down.

The thought made me want to laugh. From an outside perspective, I was using the divine essence of the dragon to push my physical vessel far beyond its natural limits. My mind was processing information at an incomprehensible speed, and my body was moving to match it, fueled by the limitless energy of the dragon being consumed to maintain this state.

With that thought, I shoved the sword away. In slow motion, I watched the elf stumble back while my eyes tracked every incoming strike with ease.