Things had only just begun
With the Thirty Three Heavens, there existed a plethora of different spirit beasts, Fae, Races, Fae Grounds, hidden treasures and heavenly medicines.
With only a single exception, every living creature that was born within the Thirty Three Heavens possessed an Attribute from birth. Some existences possessed two, three, or even four Attributes which they could awaken one at a time.
The Shadow Race awakened to Shadow Attributes and Ghost Attributes.
The Light Race awakened to Light Attributes and Soul Attributes.
The Mermaid Race awakened to Water Attributes and Dark Attributes.
The Myriad Races were only capable of utilizing Fae that matched their innate Attributes. However, in exchange the powers and strengths of these Fae were increased dramatically, in addition to some other racial bonuses.
Special hidden treasures and heavenly medicines also possessed Attributes. Usually a minimum of two, but some even possessed three, four and even five Attributes!
Foreign Treasures, that came from foreigners were the only exception to that rule.
Since they weren't very numerous in any generation, most people ignored this exception and focused on another.
Humanity.
They were not born with an sort of Attribute within their bodies, and could freely choose which sort of Fae they want to use, regardless of the Attribute. They were only limited by their own cultivation.
Even spirit beasts, who awakened their origin essence seas in the same manner as humans, possessed an innate Attribute. This didn't limit their choice of Fae like it did the Myriad Races, but as a result of their Bloodlines, certain Fae with particular Attributes were strengthened as a result.
The Noxious Venom Spider Beast King.... was a spirit beast with only a singular Poison Attribute.
The Impure Rain Crab... was a spirit beast with two Attributes.
A Water Attribute, and a Taint Attribute.
As such, those Fae whom match either of those Attributes would find their abilities exceed the limits of their Rank.
Even a simple Rank 3 Rain Fae.... wouldn't reach the power of a Rank 4 Rain Fae, but.....
The differences were almost too minute to notice.
Niklos and the other Elders, who were in the middle of discussing what to do with the corpse of the Noxious Venom Spider Beast King, lifted their heads towards the Falling Snow Famous River.
The trembling had come in that direction, and the sudden onset of this strong wind and rain was too strange to be natural.
All of the colour drained from Niklos' face.
His worst dream, or nightmare rather, had come true.
He turned around, and pointed to the Fae Masters gathered in the fields on the other side of the Village.
"Get all Rank 1 Fae Masters into the shelters! If they can't fit, put them in the Clan Reserves! All injured Rank 2 Fae Masters will follow them as well! Everyone else, will come with me and fight the second Beast King!".
All of the Elders, including Elder Velika and Elder Sagan shivered where they stood.
They had just fought one battle, and hardly had any time to rest in between. And yet, Niklos was telling them that another Beast King was heading their way!?
Most of the weaker Elders took a step back, but felt Niklos' pressure bare down on them.
"If you don't stop them here, our descendents, your descendents will all perish right here and now! There is nowhere to run to! If you want to survive, you're all going to have to fight!".
These Elders weren't like those hot blooded young men and women, who would willingly die for the Clan. These Elders had experienced a life of luxury and power ever since they became Elders.
Why would they want to even fight, if it meant giving that life up?
Both Elder Velika and Elder Sagan turned their heads before snarling at the group.
"Any Elder who dares to disobey the Clan Leader, will be killed regardless of their station or authority! This is a war we're fighting, not some stupid debate! You have no say in the matter!".
Despite butting heads with Niklos at any given opportunity, neither one of them wanted to watch their sons, daughters and grandchildren killed right in front of them.
Family, was the most important thing in the Kovacs Clan, and that motto wasn't just carried out by Niklos and his own family.
Even Elder Vova, who was missing an arm walked towards Niklos and the others.
His origin essence was pretty much restored, although he had used quite a few origin essence stones to forcibly refuel himself.
He knew, that after such a thing, his cultivation, or his progress in understanding the Laws of Wood would never be furthered.
But-
If he knew that doing so meant he could fight, and protect his students, then he would gladly do it all over again!
A figure flickered before appeared directly beside Elder Vova.
"Elder Anatol! We told you that you must guard the juniors! We must have at least one Elder remaining even if the Kovacs Clan were to be destroyed to-".
Elder Anatol exerted his cultivation, baring down his peak Rank 3 Fae Master cultivation.
He took a deep breath before gazing at the growing water levels in the distance.
"I used Longevity Attributed Fae to forcibly increase my lifespan. I probably have less than two years left anyway. It's been a long and tedious 500 years.... I think I better put these old bones to use, lest I be remembered as a wastrel....".
Elder Anatol... only had a third-tier talent. A bottom tier third-tier talent at that.
He had spent more than five hundred years cultivating, and yet he had only reached the peak of Rank 3. If that wasn't a waste, than he didn't know what was.
His body burned, as an intense heat flashed causing an area around him to be completely dry.
He might be the worst when it came to talent, but with enough time and resources, anyone could comprehend Laws and Attribute Control Skills!
Even though Elder Vova only took a hundred years to understand his, Elder Anatol had taken more than 400 years! That was the difference between perception and comprehension!
More than two dozen Elders, all Rank 3 and above gathered at the front of the Clan.
To be perfectly fair, the Kovacs Clan had close to six or seven dozen Elders at the beginning of the battle, but after the Baron Ranked spirit beasts and the Beast King, all those whose combat abilities were too weak, were weeded out.
Theoretically it may have been a tremendous loss to their overall combat strength, but Leon and Dominic could probably defeat most of those Elders in a one on one. Perhaps Arthur could as well, the moment he broke through to Rank 2.
Niklos gritted his teeth, ignoring the blood spilling out of his lips, eyes and nostrils as he grew rapidly, once more activating the Transformation Attribute Control Skill.
Elder Anatol glanced towards Niklos before showing a grim expression.
"You can probably only maintain the Umbral Shadow Wolf Transformation for less than 10 minutes. Probably less if you don't want to die".
Elder Anatol had seen this technique be used before and knew the repercussions of using such a technique.
Niklos who had grown to his hill-sized form once again, nodded before gazing out towards the Impure Rain Crab.
He could see its massive, hulking physique, which exceeded his own in length, width and height.
He grimaced.
"I know.... I've already prepared things, just in case things go wrong. I've.... already made my peace with her as well".
All of the Elders eyes widened as they felt the resoluteness come from the Clan Leader.
If he were to die, the Kovacs Clan would lose their only Rank 4 Fae Master. The peace that Niklos brought them, might be shattered in the wake of his massive vacuum of power.
They steeled their gazes and suppressed the sinking in their stomachs.
Things had only just begun.