The Conquerors Path Chapter 973 - 971-Well Done Beating.

As the world slowed to a crawl, I moved with blinding speed. I wanted this display to be unforgettable. In a single, fluid motion, I struck the three Imperials with such force that they were slammed into the ground, their bones shattering upon impact. Maintaining that same velocity, I turned my attention to the lead elf. I unleashed a barrage of at least a hundred strikes, hitting every part of his body before he could even blink, finally dropping him at the base of my tower right next to his fallen companions.

Normal time seemed to resume around me almost instantly. As soon as reality caught up, the air was filled with the sounds of agony.

"Urgh!"

"Ahh!"

"Kurgh!"

"AHhhhhh!"

The lead elf’s screams were the most piercing as he writhed on the dirt. The three Imperials lay there, broken and paralyzed by shock. The man who had led them remained pinned to the earth, a pool of blood forming around him, his body covered in the marks of my rapid-fire assault.

His face was a mess of swelling and bruises from the beating I had delivered. In that heartbeat, the rest of the world caught up to what had transpired. The war council guards on standby sprang into action, their eyes wide with disbelief. In the distance, the watching reporters looked on in horror, and even those hiding in the shadows to enjoy the spectacle were left stunned.

Reflecting on the situation, I made sure to channel the surging power within me to seal away the Imperials' abilities. I placed their natural healing and powers on standby; for now, they were nothing more than a group of elderly men enduring immense physical torment.

"There will be consequences to this..."

The lead elf managed to mutter. Despite his swollen face and the pain that had him rolling on the ground, his words were surprisingly clear. I met them with a smirk.

"I am just a kid who acted out in a moment of reckless anger. I’m certain the elders will find it in their hearts to understand that."

My voice dripped with sarcasm, which only served to heighten his rage. I could feel several elite guards surrounding me, their weapons drawn and aimed. Fear was etched onto their faces as they stared at me. Even now, I remained hovering slightly above the ground, a confident grin on my face.

"Are you certain you want to proceed with this?"

I asked. My voice carried across the area as they all watched me. Above us, the three floating ships in the sky pivoted their weaponry, locking onto my position. Massive cannons were aimed at me from three different vectors. The guards tightened their circle, leaving no room for me to move—at least, in their estimation.

My smirk widened as I glanced toward the heavens. As I had instructed, Eleanor remained floating high above, refraining from intervening despite her obvious desire to help. Her involvement would only complicate things. If I handled this alone, I could play it off as a youthful outburst and bury it later. If Eleanor joined the fray, the political fallout would become far more twisted.

So, I stood my ground. I felt the weight of their weapons focused on me, even as their wielders trembled with terror. Shrugging my shoulders, I noticed that some of them still hadn't processed the reality of the situation. Their minds were struggling to accept what their eyes were seeing.

"I’ll give you ten seconds. Why don’t you all just back off? No one else needs to get hurt today."

With those words, I waited, floating with my arms folded, looking like a golden statue. I counted down the ten seconds. It felt as though the entire world had paused in a moment of silence, but it was merely the quiet before the storm. At my feet, the Imperials were still groaning in pain.

I could sense the guards' desire to move in and assist their fallen leaders. However, my proximity to the wounded men meant they would have to go through me first—a daunting task. Once the ten seconds elapsed, I spoke.

"Time is up."

Once again, reality decelerated for me. I moved through the frozen ranks of guards, systematically dismantling them. I didn't want to be as brutal as I was with the leaders; I focused on breaking just enough bones to leave them unconscious. I tore through them, my heightened senses registering the sound of their bodies falling in slow motion.

Finally, I stood between the two guards who had originally blocked my path. Dread filled their eyes as they remained trapped in that slowed state, looking toward the tower. Smirking, I delivered a heavy punch to both their faces. I watched their skin ripple and teeth fly out before I broke their legs and moved on.

I ascended fully into the sky, crossing my arms. As time resumed its normal pace, a chorus of pain erupted below.

"Ah!"

"Kurkhg!"

"Nooo!"

"Um~"

"Grukh!"

For a split second, even I was caught off guard by one of the sounds. I tried to mask my disgust toward the guard who made that peculiar noise. He was already receiving strange looks from his suffering comrades. Regardless, every guard who had participated in the confrontation—at least those outside—was now down.

They lay scattered across the ground with fractured limbs and cries of agony. At the epicenter of the carnage were the Imperials, still writhing. As I floated above them, the pressure I emitted was suffocating. I smirked down at them.

"See? I told you guys to stand down."

Looking up at the three vessels hovering above, I projected my voice, my senses having already intercepted their internal communications.

"You idiots in the ships—I suggest you stand down as well. Or would you prefer it if I brought those ships down to the ground too?"

The tension in the air became razor-sharp at my threat. The weapons remained locked on me for a few tense seconds before the ships finally powered down their systems. They had received a direct order from their superior. Satisfied, I smiled and descended to the earth. I looked at the lead elf, whose face was now a balloon of bruised flesh. He looked up at me and asked:

"What happens when this power fades? Do you think you can survive the consequences of what you've done?"

"We’ll find out."

I replied, before kicking him squarely in the face to knock him out. Shrugging off the tension, I walked toward the tower entrance. The doors slid open to reveal the members of my tower. They stared at me with expressions of pure awe and borderline worship; I could practically feel the goosebumps on their skin. Inside, a few guards remained to keep them contained. I gave them a single look, and they immediately recoiled.

By this time, the remaining guards had congregated on the ground. Quiver Lord Eldon stood among them, upright and proud, though he looked at me as if I were a terrifying monster.

A man with a slimy grin on his face stood surrounded by guards. He gave me a respectful nod and began to speak.

"My name is Lorel Von—"

"Who gave you permission to stand?"

As I spoke, I unleashed a crushing wave of killing intent and pressure. The weight of it slammed into the guards and the man instantly, forcing them all to their knees. Their frames trembled, unable to support the immense burden I had placed upon them. Smiling, I walked through the field of pressure until I reached the struggling Lorel.

I grabbed a handful of his hair and yanked his head back to face me. His features were contorted as he fought just to draw breath. I found it satisfying. Clenching my fist, I gave him a warning.

"You’d better keep your mouth shut."

I punched him in the face—not with my full strength, but with enough to cause significant damage. I didn't stop at one; I landed several blows before finally lifting the pressure. Most of the guards had already passed out. I released Lorel’s hair, and he slumped to the ground unconscious, his face now as swollen as the lead elf’s.

"Man, that was fun," I remarked.