Chapter 153: Rifts in the Sky

Night had fallen, and the city trembled under a suffocating atmosphere of dread. Even the air seemed frozen, anticipating the fierce battle about to erupt. William, Elder Kasamaki, and Harutemi faced off in a life-or-death duel against Watcher 10 and Watcher 16.

Not far away, Myouka unleashed an icy power that silenced the entire battlefield in an instant. A storm of ice arrows swept across the scene, carrying a chill so intense it felt as if it could freeze one's very soul. Her figure stood tall like a goddess of ice and snow, her frosty aura unrelenting, sending shivers down the spines of all who witnessed her.

William and Elder Kasamaki paused momentarily, their gazes drawn to the ice-covered ground. Their pupils contracted slightly, unable to suppress the shock surging within them.

"Is that the power of the soul's potential?" William murmured, his voice laced with a complex mix of awe, curiosity, and an undeniable spark of battlelust.

Across from them, Watcher 10 and Watcher 16 were equally stunned by the sudden display of power. They exchanged a glance, their eyes reflecting a shared wariness. Though their initial surprise was brief, they quickly refocused on the opponents before them.

"So, those fools have already been defeated... Worthless scum," Watcher 10 sneered, licking his lips with a low, disdainful growl. His piercing gaze remained fixed on William and Elder Kasamaki.

Watcher 10 let out a beast-like roar, his body hunched like a predator ready to pounce. His taut muscles bulged, and his short, spiked hair stood on end. His eyes gleamed with bloodlust, and every movement he made carried the force of an earthquake.

Watcher 16, in contrast, exuded a sense of calm. His elegant, nimble movements made him seem like a dancer gliding across the battlefield. A faint ripple of water flowed around him, its silent menace evoking a sense of dread. Standing at opposite ends of the battlefield, the two Watchers communicated wordlessly, their synergy as deadly as a well-oiled killing machine.

Elder Kasamaki stood firm at the center of the battlefield, his sharp eyes steady and his aura unyielding. With a subtle motion of his withered hand, he stomped the ground, causing it to quake. Rocks erupted from the earth, surging forward like a tidal wave to attack Watcher 10.

"Old man, do you think mere rocks can stop me? Foolish!" Watcher 10 sneered, leaping into the air. His fist, imbued with terrifying power, smashed downwards. The boulders crumbled like tofu under his strikes, scattering debris and kicking up a fierce gale.

Elder Kasamaki, undeterred by the Watcher's savagery, inhaled deeply and raised his hands once more. More rocks burst forth from the ground, transforming into a barrage of stone pillars and earthen fists, sealing off Watcher 10's escape routes.

Behind Elder Kasamaki, Harutemi moved with the grace of a dancer, her hands weaving delicate arcs. Her power merged seamlessly with the elder's stone offensive. Under their joint command, the rocks seemed to gain a life of their own, forming an unbreakable barricade that ensnared Watcher 10.

"Flowing Sands Strike!" Harutemi cried. The rocks coalesced with sudden force, encasing Watcher 10 in an earthen prison.

A deafening explosion shattered the calm. The stone prison burst apart in a cloud of dust and shards, the fragments flying out like deadly blades. Emerging from the wreckage, Watcher 10 grinned arrogantly. "Is that all you've got to trap me?" With a forceful stomp, the ground trembled again, unleashing another torrent of flying debris.

On the other side of the battlefield, William stood shrouded in golden flames. His piercing gaze burned with fierce resolve, and his very presence radiated oppressive heat. His fists, encased in magma-like fire, exuded a power that felt impossible to resist as he closed in on Watcher 16. The golden flames carved dazzling arcs in the air as he charged.

Watcher 16, unfazed, made a casual gesture, causing water vapor around him to coalesce into razor-sharp blades of water that hovered by his side. With a flick of his hand, the water blades shot forward, clashing against William's flames. Steam erupted violently, filling the battlefield with an impenetrable mist.

"Bound powers like this? You think these flames can touch me?" Watcher 16's voice was calm, his movements fluid as he effortlessly dodged each of William's strikes.

William's expression remained stoic, but the battlelust in his eyes burned hotter. With a roar, he leaped into the air, concentrating all his strength into a single, devastating punch. The golden flames around his fist surged wildly, as if they could tear the night sky apart.

"Take this!" he shouted, the explosive force of his punch crashing towards Watcher 16.

Watcher 16's eyes narrowed as he swiftly conjured a thick water shield. The crystalline barrier rose before him, shimmering with an unsettling cold glow. But the instant William's blazing fist collided with the shield, a deafening hiss erupted. The golden flames began to burn through the water, generating a massive burst of scalding steam that obscured everything in sight.

The shield, though formidable, held for only a moment before succumbing to the relentless assault. The flames tore through the barrier with ease, reducing it to boiling droplets that vanished into the air.

Watcher 16's pupils shrank as he struggled to reform his defenses, but the relentless fire surged forward, engulfing him in an inferno of golden light.

Staggering back under the impact, Watcher 16's expression darkened slightly, betraying a flicker of unease.

"Interesting," he murmured, his voice barely audible. The water around him began to whirl with increased intensity, coalescing into the shape of a massive water dragon. With a subtle motion of his hand, the dragon roared to life, launching itself at William with catastrophic force.

The battle raged on, its intensity suffocating. Each clash shook the heavens and the earth. Watcher 10's savage brutality and Watcher 16's deadly elegance formed a stark contrast, yet both posed an equal threat to the combined might of William, Elder Kasamaki, and Harutemi. As the chaos unfolded, the fate of the battlefield remained uncertain, teetering precariously on the edge of devastation.