Chapter 2596 The return of the Scarlet King
Chapter 2596 The return of the Scarlet King
The display of power unleashed by the NeoPrimarch was nothing short of awe-inspiring, a radiant and overwhelming force that pushed the warriors of the Nine Empyrean Suns Alliance to surge forward with renewed determination.
Even as exhaustion gnawed at their bodies and despair lingered in their hearts, the sheer might of Noah's presence acted as a blazing beacon, urging them to keep fighting. However, not all were deceived by that dazzling performance. There were those capable of seeing beyond the surface, individuals who could perceive the truth hidden beneath the brilliance. Among them stood the True Depravita of Original Sin.
Her gaze was sharp and cold as it lingered briefly on the Crimson Exarch. She understood him in a way most could not. To the rest of the alliance, Noah was a savior, a pillar of strength who stood unyielding against the tide of destruction. But to Meylin, he was something entirely different—an entity driven not by loyalty or compassion, but by self-interest and purpose. Still, she did not dwell on him for long. The battlefield demanded her full attention, and distraction meant death.
Turning her focus back to the chaos unfolding around her, Meylin's expression hardened. During the brief respite they had been granted, every warrior of the alliance had pushed themselves beyond their limits, striving to grow stronger, to prepare for the inevitable continuation of the war. Yet despite all their efforts, it was still not enough. The forces of the Curse Eaters were simply too overwhelming, their power too absolute.
She could see it everywhere.
She saw the devastation carved across the battlefield, felt the storm of emotions that flooded the void—rage, despair, fear, and defiance clashing in a chaotic symphony. She felt the lives of her warriors flicker and fade under the relentless assault of their enemies, each loss like a distant echo against her soul. It was a horrifying sight, one that would break the spirit of many, but she did not have the luxury of being consumed by it.
Because she herself stood in the midst of a deadly confrontation.
Her eyes sharpened as she gripped Longinous tightly, channeling every ounce of her strength into a powerful strike that collided head-on with a massive fist wreathed in black lightning. The impact sent violent tremors through her entire body, the sheer force behind the blow threatening to overwhelm her defenses. Before she could even recover, five additional arms lashed out toward her, each one carrying enough power to shatter worlds.
Meylin reacted instantly.
Her form dissolved into a dense fog, her body becoming intangible as the barrage of attacks tore through the space she had occupied just moments before. In the next instant, she reappeared high above her opponent, her sword already descending with unstoppable momentum. Longinous blazed with destructive energy as it released a massive arc of power that engulfed the Curse Eater and drove him downward with tremendous force.
A roar of fury erupted from within the storm of energy.
"ARGHHH!"
The arc shattered as if struck by an invisible hammer, and the Curse Eater burst free, his monstrous form radiating raw power. This was Kardul, the Asura Curse Eater. The first time he had appeared, he had already been a formidable Middle Alpha Omega Overgod capable of contending with Noah to some degree. Now, however, he had grown even stronger. His time within the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe had granted him the opportunity to break through into the Late Alpha Omega Overgod Rank, elevating his strength to terrifying heights.
Black lightning coursed through his body as his eyes burned with killing intent. Without hesitation, he launched himself toward Meylin once more.
The True Depravita took a deep breath and surged forward to meet him, her resolve unwavering.
Not far from their clash, three more Curse Eaters were locked in battle against the Knights of the Scarlet Throne. Leonidas, Amon, and Bael—each of them Alpha Omega Overgod lifeforms with near-infinite energy pools and immortal bodies—fought with everything they had. Their supreme treasures unleashed devastating power, yet even that was not enough.
Their opponents were relentless.
Jason the Thousand Arm, the Empress of Annihilation Elizabeth, and the Flaming Speed Erodan had all suffered severe injuries during the conquest of the Empyrean World months prior, and they had yet to fully recover. Even so, they continued to dominate the battlefield, overwhelming the Knights again and again. Unfortunately, no reinforcements could come to their aid.
A few thousand kilometers away, another battle of equal magnitude raged. Amara, Cipher, and Zephirax—three supreme powerhouses of the Six Sacred Races—were engaged in a desperate struggle against two additional Curse Eaters. Though their enemies had only recently awakened, they still possessed enough power to crush the trio repeatedly.
Only the resilience granted by their Samsara Immortal Bodies and the desperate use of the Samsara Runic Set, which allowed them to burn their life force for strength, kept them alive. Even so, it was clear that they were only delaying the inevitable.
Elsewhere, Uriel and Arkam faced the Warlock and the Monster of the Root. Their situation was no better. Mikela and Robuke, having recovered significantly in recent months, had regained much of their former strength, placing them far beyond what Uriel and Arkam could currently match.
There was no one left to support them.
Though the Curse Eaters numbered only seven, the forces of the Worlds of the Root filled the battlefield with High Lords, Champions, and endless hordes of monstrous entities. These abominations kept the remaining warriors of the alliance occupied, preventing any coordinated effort to turn the tide.
In every aspect of the battlefield, the Nine Empyrean Suns Alliance was losing.
The realization was unavoidable.
Meylin saw it clearly. She saw the courage of her allies, the fury with which they fought, and the tragic futility of their efforts. For a brief moment, a solemn light flickered in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by unyielding determination. Her hand moved subtly toward a unique treasure stored within her spatial ring, her mind already set on a course of action that carried immense risk.
Yet just as she was about to act, her eyes widened.
She turned toward the distance.
Such a reaction in the midst of battle was dangerous, even suicidal, yet her opponent did the same. In fact, it was not just the two of them. Across the entire battlefield, every single entity—ally and enemy alike—shifted their attention in the same direction.
Something was coming.
The warriors of the Nine Empyrean Suns Alliance felt it first. Their eyes began to glow with a sensation they had nearly forgotten. Hope. Their hearts pounded faster as an indescribable presence approached.
On the other hand, the abominations of the Root began to tremble. Even those with little to no sentience shuddered instinctively, as if faced with a nightmare beyond comprehension.
As for the Curse Eaters, their reactions were more controlled, yet no less telling. Hatred and killing intent surged within them, but beneath that, hidden deep within their expressions, was a flicker of dread.
Then it came.
"SHRIEEEEK!"
The cry of a majestic, mythical bird echoed across the battlefield, cutting through the chaos like a blade. Moments later, massive wings of scarlet plasma appeared on the horizon, blazing with overwhelming power.
A figure followed.
It moved at a speed so extraordinary that it distorted space itself. The very fabric of reality trembled as this presence descended, carrying with it an aura so immense that it silenced the war for a fleeting moment.