Awakening

"Not bad, for a Sect Master who resides in the weakest nation. However... we have not come here for you. Where is the boy with silver hair?"

Aerion looked down and saw five cloaked men. He took a closer look and found out that they wore the same masks as the cultists did. The grandmaster's blood was spread across the floor of the stone path. He looked powerless against those who encircled him. He could barely stand...

One late Sovereign 3... three Sovereign 4's... one Sovereign 5!

If Aerion valued his life above else, he would've run away like a coward. But he wasn't. The Crimson Dragon never runs... especially if the enemy is in his domain.

"Heavenly Fire Demon..."

"I am ready to combat them." The Heavenly Demon whispered in response.

"Good."

Aerion then approached the cultists, his sword and halberd drawn.

"I, Jun Long, am right here!"

"Oh... at last!" Their leader let go off the Grandmaster's robe and dropped him to the floor.

"Our Lord will love to see you chained at his feet... it is so very convenient that you've come out yourself."

"That's right, it would've been annoying to hunt you down if you actually ran."

Their leader laughed. "No... not really. We could have lured him in by using his wife as bait."

"Leader is a wise ma-"

Aerion stabbed Sky Piercer into the ground.

"Shut up already, you hideous bastards. I have something to say."

"What?"

"I would like to propose a deal that will make things better and faster for both of us. A one-on-one battle! If I win, you all immediately leave. If I lose... well, I lose."

"Were not falling for your tricks, our Lord has said many things about you. Your battle power is exceptional and you can surpass your limits several times over while also injuring yourself because of it. To top it off, your regeneration can completely counter the side effects after some time spent recovering. A one-on-one match would put me at a disadvantage and we're not taking ANY chances!"

"I see... then it can't be helped."

I don't think surviving this encounter without breaking my body (one way or another) is possible. I'll just have to make certain THEY don't win.

PURGATORY, STAR GOD'S BROKEN SHADOW.

"NOW!"

"???"

*SLASH*

*SLASH*

The Heavenly Fire Demon flew in and killed one of the Sovereign Profound 4 cult members. Aerion left behind three afterimages as he exploded towards the weakest link. With one swing of Sky Piercer, the Sovereign Profound 3 cult member's head left his body and rolled on the floor. His blood sprayed out like a fountain from his neck. However, by the time his blood sprayed, Aerion was already gone. Aerion's next attack was blocked by the leader and the surprise factor faded.

"Good, very GOOD! HAHAHAHA... THE LORD SHALL BATHE IN YOUR BLOOD!"

Aerion focused Stormcaller's wind energy into a wave and stepped away. Then he released the wave and flew away from the Noble Rogue Sect. The leader licked the blood dropping down from his cheek. The wind-wave barely did anything... just a small cut on the cheek.

"Where do you think you're going, nonbeliever?"

The leader chased after Aerion. Why did Aerion fly away? He didn't want to destroy the Sect, of course! His low-mid Sovereign battle power is frightening destruction-wise especially when he uses the wind and fire element.

The Heavenly Fire Demon looked at what remained of the cultists in the Noble Rogue Sect. Two Sovereign 4 cultivators. One is heavily injured while the other is in almost perfect condition. He took a deep breath, this battle will be hard but not impossible for the mighty Emperor Heavenly Demon!

"Stand behind me, brother."

"No... I won't be a hindrance!"

The Heavenly Demon noticed that the wounded one's profound energy increased rapidly. Is he just angry or planning a suicide attack? The Heavenly Demon wondered.

"Hmph, very well, then turn to ash."

He released a ball of fire in the wounded one's direction, but the other one blocked and pushed back the attack with his blade. The wounded one went around his 'brother' and sprinted towards the Heavenly Demon. The other one came from the side and slashed at the Heavenly Demon with his sword. The Heavenly Demon blocked the attack with ease but...

"THIS IS FOR OUR GREAT LORD!"

The other cultist sprinted away while the Heavenly Demon was entrapped by the wounded one.

BOOM.

The wounded cultist blew himself up in seconds...

"How troublesome!"

The Heavenly Fire Demon's whole left arm was broken and his clothes were tattered. He spat out some blood and looked at the other cultist with anger. He would have died from the explosion if he hadn't formed a barrier in the few seconds. Still, he didn't have enough time to fully form it... hence his arm being broken.

"How did you survive!?"

"I am the Heavenly Demon and you're a dead man, that's all you need to know."

The cultist was frightened of the Heavenly Demon who stood before him. His eyes burned with both fire and killing intent as he walked closer, his long white hair swaying to the light wind. Then the cultist noticed that he still had a chance... the demon's left arm was broken!

"We fight for the Lord, for he is the one who shall bring salvation to this World!"

"What nonsense."

The cultist charged the Heavenly Demon.

~

*CLASH*

*CLASH*

"Your spear is slowly breaking apart... how unfortunate. Once it breaks you won't be able to keep up with me."

Damn it... we're around the same strength even when I'm using everything I have. If I don't do something soon, my loss is inevitable.

"Are you sure you don't need this princess' help?"

"I can fight my own battles, thank you very much."

"It doesn't look like you can..."

The cultist aimed to stab Aerion but he blocked the attack with Stormcaller. The cultist smiled and grabbed the tip of Sky Piercer.

Aerion's stamina was fading very quickly, soon he won't be able to maintain Purgatory. As a last-ditch effort, he gave everything he had. He kicked away the cultist and formed a ball of flame.

Star Scorching Demon Lotus.

The third gate, Purgatory instinctively closed itself on Aerion. He fell back to Draconic Heart from exhaustion. Aerion sent the Demon Lotus after the cultist. It hit him good, real good. But the battle was far from over, Aerion's confidence in his survival decreased.

He's wounded but I've been reduced to Draconic Heart... the odds aren't in my favour.

Star God's Broken Shadow.

Aerion quickly attached the Weapon Upgrade (Emperor Profound) and Sky Piercer was quickly reforged. The reason why he hadn't done that before was that he wasn't confident in his ability to wield an Overlord Profound Stormcaller and Emperor Profound Sky Piercer at the same time. But now, at Emperor Profound 5 and due to the dire situation, he had to do it.

"Your strength has drastically decreased, even with your stronger spear, the chance of your victory is zero. It is time I end this fight."

Aerion blocked the first strike and dodged the second. But, deep inside, he knew it was over. Without Purgatory, the difference in strength was simply too large.

"Ga...h..."

The cultist punched Aerion in the gut using all of his strength. Then, while Aerion was dazed, the cultist stabbed Aerion's profound vein. Then he kicked him down to the ground.

My power... cultivation strength is fading...

Aerion dropped onto the ground, helpless. The cultist soon joined him.

"I will be rewarded well by the Lord for capturing you... hahaha."

"Is... that... so? Then..."

Aerion's body failed him... he couldn't even finish his sentence. Was this really how things end? A Sovereign 5 cultist... the man is not even in the divine realm.

"First, I'll have to make you suffer for making things so... difficult."

*SLASH*

Aerion turned and saw his own blood spray onto the green field. His whole left arm detached itself from his body and fell to the floor.

"Maybe I should cut off the other hand too... maybe your legs... maybe your tongue... so many choices..."

"Aerion?"

Aerion turned... "Iza... na...mi?"

"Oh? Who's this pretty lady?"

"F...ly... away... please..."

"I'm not leaving you to die."

Aerion mustered his strength. "I said... "

"This is quite the development. It seems that there is a love interest that the Lord hadn't informed me of. Well... the Lord did say I should heavily punish you for making him suffer before bringing you to him. Yes... breaking you even more... breaking you mentally will be fun."

The next few seconds were painful to watch. Izanami couldn't even damage the cultist. He simply beat her up and forced her on two knees before Aerion.

"Feast your eyes, feel the hopelessness and suffer the consequences of defying the Lord. Yes... this will be your punishment!"

He raised his sword.

"N... NO!"

Star God's Broken Shadow.

I'm too slow... I have to be faster!

Blood came out of his left eye and both of his eyes began to spin into their Mangekyou form. His dormant powers had finally been awakened. His profound vein returned to normal and his cultivation strength came back to him as if it was never lost. His arm was returned to him. Aerion denied the cultist's sword strike and so, it never happened. Both of his eyes temporarily turned white but then they regained their red glow.

Henceforth, I shall deny reality. My wounds were nothing but a lie uttered by my foes! Those that I wish to protect will be protected by the greatest and most undying shield! The shield which was born from my blood shall serve me for all of eternity! It shall be so for I am the Great Deity himself, Izanagi-No-Okami!

A huge crimson arm formed behind Aerion and formed a fist... it slammed the cultist away with brutal force.

"Aerion...?"

"Stay right here, I have to finish this quickly."

PURGATORY, STAR GOD'S BROKEN SHADOW!

"You...!"

Aerion's left fist collided with the cultist's. Aerion gave a swift yet powerful right hook in response. The cultist spat out some blood and was temporarily dazed. Aerion wasn't done yet. He slammed the cultist's face with his elbow, the cultist backed away in pain. Aerion punched him in the gut and then he bombarded him with countless punches, ending it off with an almighty kick to the face.

"Die, follower of Rotias."

Susanoo.

The crimson arm manifested a sword instead of a fist and this sword was driven directly through the cultist. Another arm formed with a sword at its end. This second crimson sword sliced the cultist's head off.

Aerion closed the Purgatory gate and looked down at his fallen enemy.

Aerion realised the evolution of his eyes and the abilities which came with it. Well... he just read the red words which appeared before him.

-------------------

Shared ability: Izanagi

Description: The ability to deny basic reality and alter it (such as your death, someone else's death, an injury, and even the outcome of a clash). After a second of use, the eye becomes blind and useless. It takes about 3 days to recover from this state. This ability can be used in both eyes.

Izanagi-No-Okami (left eye): The "Great Deity" Izanagi! Able to temporarily reverse the blindness caused by Izanagi and regain full eyesight... no, even greater visual prowess than ever before! It can only be activated once both eyes have been blinded through the use of Izanagi. There's a chance that a new Mangekyou Ability/God will be born from your blood when Izanagi-No-Okami is used. There is a huge drawback for using Izanagi-No-Okami... the eyes will only last ten minutes (at the very most) and you will find yourself completely blind (in both eyes) for at least a week (the longer it is used, the longer the drawback). But after you recover, your eyes will be even more powerful.

Izanagi-No-Mikoto (right eye): "He who invites"! The abilities created through Izanagi-No-Okami are stored in this eye. You can use the abilities you have birthed and bend them to your will through this eye. There is almost no drawback to this apart from profound energy consumption. Only the use of Izanagi can blind it. The strength of the abilities drastically increases when Izanagi-No-Okami is active.

-------------------

So I'll be blind soon... damn it. Hopefully, Izanami will pick me up. Izanami... Izanagi... huh, they do sound quite similar.

Aerion walked away from the dead body and slowly made his way to Izanami. Izanami ran towards him... once he was certain that he was safe, he closed his eyes and fell into her arms.

What a night... I was supposed to be enjoying some sleep not fighting off some crazy Sovereigns!

~

The Heavenly Fire Demon looked at the fallen cultist before him. He grabbed his dead body by the neck and absorbed his cultivation strength. He did the same to the three other dead cultists.

"The peak of Sovereign Profound Two... not bad. I hope my disciple won his battle."

He healed the Grandmaster and flew away to look for Aerion.