Chapter 43: The Unyielding Will

Chapter 43: The Unyielding Will

The Divine Ascension cultivator and the Azure Flame Roc unleashed their combined might upon Kayode, a fusion of celestial fury and azure fire designed to obliterate him in a single blow. The cultivator's glowing fist roared through the air with the might of a star, while the Roc's talons blazed with the scorching power of azure flames.

Kayode, bloodied and battered, was barely able to stand. His body felt like it was on the verge of collapse. He could feel the intensity of their power closing in on him, and the weight of his life hanging by a thread. But as the attacks neared, a surge of instinct took over, and a technique long buried deep in his bloodline awakened.

"Naija Mother's Divine Slap!" he shouted with conviction.

In an instant, Kayode's palm glowed with a power beyond comprehension—raw, primal, and filled with an indomitable will to survive. The moment his hand made contact with the celestial fist, an explosion of energy rippled across the battlefield.

The Naija Mother's Divine Slap was a force like no other—an attack born from generations of enduring strength, passed down through Kayode's bloodline. The slap not only repelled the cultivator's celestial strike but sent a wave of energy that pushed the Roc back, its wings flapping wildly as the shockwave rocked it.

And then, an unexpected and mystical thing happened. The phantom of Mama Tao, Kayode's ancestral guardian, materialized in the air above him, her figure radiant with a motherly but fearsome aura. She hovered for a moment, her smile fierce and full of pride, before fading as quickly as she appeared, leaving behind an overwhelming energy that resonated through Kayode's very being.

"What was that!?" the Divine Ascension cultivator growled, wiping the blood from his lips. He wasn't just surprised; he was disturbed by the sheer power behind Kayode's slap.

The Roc, its fiery wings now flickering with unease, turned its head toward Kayode. The once confident beast now shrank back, its eyes widening with sudden fear. The last time it had encountered such power was in the presence of the ancient dragons. This slap—it wasn't just a technique; it was a curse of fate, something far more potent than anything they had expected from this human.

"You—!" the Roc stammered, its fear palpable. "This is... impossible..."

The initial shock of the attack reverberated through the air, but the aftershock, still fierce with raw power, slammed into Kayode with devastating force. His body was tossed back by the force, crashing into the dirt, blood spattering from his mouth as the pain surged through him.

Kayode gritted his teeth, struggling to push through the excruciating pain. He had no time to waste. As the Roc and the cultivator reared back, readying their next strike, Kayode stood up again, his eyes burning with an even greater resolve. He would not die here.

"Enough!" Kayode shouted. "This isn't how I go out!"

The Apex Rend

Kayode's body trembled, but the fusion of his bloodlines surged to life. He raised his spear high, feeling the power of the three-tailed technique awakening within him. His bloodlines pulsed with energy, and the Apex Rend manifested behind him—three powerful tails, each radiating an overwhelming force.

This time, it wasn't just a single tail or a single technique. All three tails surged forward at once, powered by the fury of the Azure Dragon Flame and the vicious might of the Demon Claw. Kayode's spear crackled with energy, infused with the combined might of his bloodlines.

With a spooky scream, Kayode lunged forward, the three tails and his spear crashing into the cultivator's and the Roc's attacks with terrifying precision. The impact sent shockwaves through the air, knocking the cultivator back and pushing the Roc into a spiral of fear and retreat.

The Roc, already intimidated, had no time to react. The tails slammed into its body, burning through its wings and scorching its feathers with the azure flame. The beast screeched in pain, struggling to maintain flight as its once-unshakeable confidence shattered.

The cultivator, now staggering from the blow, looked at Kayode with wide eyes. "This... this power!" he gasped.

The Roc's Fear

The Roc, its wings smoldering from the attack, backed away, its fear evident. It had seen countless powerful cultivators and beasts in its time, but this... This was different. The feeling of terror had gripped it unlike anything it had experienced before. The aura surrounding Kayode was one of destruction, of something far older and more powerful than anything it could face.

The Roc's fear wasn't just about the power Kayode wielded; it was about the ripple that his very existence had caused. Just like Oba had appeared from the ripples of Kayode's fate, the Roc now saw that Kayode was no ordinary opponent. He was a force of nature, an embodiment of destiny itself.

"Why do I feel so powerless...?" the Roc muttered, its wings faltering as it tried to regain control.

A Temporary Reprieve

Kayode stood amidst the aftermath, panting heavily, his body aching from the injuries but filled with an unstoppable drive. His hands shook, but his resolve remained unbroken. The world seemed to pause, the air thick with tension.

"You'll regret this," the cultivator spat, clutching his chest, still reeling from the attack. His aura flickered and dimmed as the energy he had used began to take its toll.

Kayode's gaze never wavered. "I'm not finished yet." His voice was steady, filled with an unwavering confidence that could not be shaken. "You've not only attacked me you've also awakened something much worse than you could imagine."

Oba, watching from a distance, smirked. "About time."

The battle was far from over, but one thing was clear now: Kayode had become a force to be reckoned with, and neither cultivators nor beasts could take him lightly anymore.

To Be Continued...