Chapter 423 - 423: Absolute
[Mythic cybernetic gained, 5,000 Skill Points gained]
Michael chuckled at the lovely view. Even if he was immensely strong, he was never going to refuse extra power.
Leaving the 5,000 Skill Points aside for now, he focused on his new technique.
A cybernetic chip materialized in his hand. Putting it into his neural link, it took him but a moment to comprehend it.
[Technique: Authority Manifestation]
[Rank: Mythic]
[Description: Utilizing the power of your Spirit, you are able to manifest a territory governed solely by your authority.]
"Perfect!"
Although the Demonic Form granted him exceptional physical capabilities, Michael would have been in trouble if his enemies had triggered an Authority Manifestation, leaving him defenseless. It had been his weakness.
Essentially, this technique covered his one and only weak point. Should he ever face a Supreme Lord in his current form, it was almost guaranteed that he was bound to emerge victorious regardless of what trick they could deploy.
"A Radiant Lord, comprehending Authority Manifestation? That has to be the first!" He laughed out loud.
He chose to keep the 5,000 Skill Points, for rainy days. Even in his current state, he could deduce that his thoughts were too scattered to redistribute them smartly.
"Job's done." Michael cracked his neck. "Time for play…"
Still carrying Ruby, he took calm steps toward a certain destination.
Of course, he could have gotten there in a heartbeat.
However, he was the strongest now.
Why would he rush?
Whether others liked it or not didn't matter… Everybody would obey his whim.
If Michael wanted to take his time… Others would wait.
His feet carried him over the fractured ground of the hollow valley.
The unusual vegetation had largely been destroyed under the intensity of Michael's clash with the Monarch.
Not that it mattered. It was a cruel world.
A few plants, even though they might have been unique, bore no importance to him.
The lava, which had been flowing from the hole he had carved toward the surface, spread inside the chamber, blocking his way.
Inferior beings would have taken a detour.
Cautious cultivators would have flowed over the molten liquid.
Scared entities would have shielded themselves.
Michael scoffed at the very thought.
Changing his route according to the environment?
Him?
Without a second thought, he entered the lava, not bothering to deploy a technique as a protective measure.
There was no change in expression on his face as he moved forward.
Reaching the middle, the molten liquid climbed up to his waist, not that it bothered Michael in the slightest.
Throwing a glance toward Ruby, he observed her reaction. She seemed a little agitated in her sleep but otherwise fine.
As expected of his dear possession.
Exiting the lava, he tread forward.
Deliberately moving as slowly as possible.
On the other side, Absolute Lord Eleanora observed the entity that approached her with a conflicted expression.
Unable to truly perceive her surroundings due to her blindness, she was only capable of seeing souls.
Considering she had seen both Michael and Devil before, she had assumed that had been the worst.
In her mind, that abyssmal darkness could never be surpassed.
Today, she learned her assumption had been wrong.
One thing she had overlooked at the time had been that, regardless of how heavy and sinister Michael and his soul weapon spirits had been, they hadn't leaked to the outside, staying confined in their physical vessels.
Now, witnessing the menacing energy Michael was emitting, she realized her grave mistake.
Far too late.
"Stay back!" She bellowed, managing to keep her composure.
At her feet lay Robert, utterly defeated, barely clinging to his life.
Had it not been for the display of power Michael had shown in his battle against the Monarch, Eleanora would have killed Robert in a heartbeat. But now she was willing to use him as a hostage.
"If you don't heed my words, I will kill him!" Eleanora warned.
A smile tugged at Michael's face, his steps never faltering.
"You will not."
Biting her lower lip, Eleanora realized she might have overestimated the importance of the Lord, yet pressed on nevertheless.
"I am not bluffing!" She shouted. "I will really kill him!"
Michael's smile grew.
"You. Will. Not."
An intense aura clashed over her, almost stripping her of her strength.
Still, if she was going to die, she might as well cause the most havoc.
Her head thrust downward, ready to deliver the final strike.
Robert wasn't there.
Lifting her blind eyes, she noticed that now three souls now stood before her.
Michael's free hand was now holding Robert.
"When did he?" Eleanora paled, realizing the difference in speed.
Shifting his attention to the wounded Lord, Michael observed Robert.
Being so close to each other caused the man's healing to be halved due to Michael's Egoistical Restoration.
Putting both Robert and Ruby gently on the ground, Michael continued approaching Eleanora.
"Stay back, you monster!" Eleanora roared, summoning her soul weapon and striking it.
The golden triangle produced a pleasant melody.
Michael remained unfazed.
"H—How?" Eleanora could hardly understand.
Her powers were meant to debilitate that which wasn't human, yet first Ruby and now the monster that stood before her didn't express pain.
Michael tilted his head to the side.
"It's because your plan was flawed from the start." He explained.
"It doesn't matter how void of humanity a being is. Your soul weapon works by worsening the instability in a person's soul. Ruby has accepted her origin. There is no instability to exploit in her case. The same could be said about me… There is no longer hesitation in my mind."
"Stop spouting nonsense!" Eleanora disagreed, ready to retaliate.
"Ah…" Realization struck her a moment later, her knees buckling. "Why can't I feel my arms?"
Michael stopped, towering above her.
"Did I permit you to kneel?"
Taking hold of her throat, he lifted her with one arm.
Just like her arms, her legs disappeared a second later.
Eleanora's lips parted, letting out a pained cry.
Michael frowned.
"Did I permit you to scream?"
Her tongue vanished, blood starting to stream down her throat.
Ignoring the sound she made, Michael focused on her eyes.
"Is there a point to them when you are blind?"
No answer came… So he carved them both.
Looking at her pitiful figure, he pondered for a few seconds.
"Am I supposed to be the bad guy? I mean, you did far worse to innocent felines…" Michael mused, letting go.
Lord Eleanora fell to the ground, writhing.
Michael waited patiently, taking his sweet time. Delivering the final strike would have been too merciful.
Crouching, he observed the Lord in her final struggles.
With carved limbs, tongue, and eyes, she bled profusely. It was only a matter of time until her demise.
Perhaps there could have been a chance for her body to heal the damage, at least enough to keep her alive until external help arrived.
However, with her natural healing halved due to Michael's Egoistical Restoration, even her body betrayed her expectations, unable to mend itself fast enough.
"Online there are people who claim I'm too virtuous, too righteous... that I should be more ruthless." He chuckled in amusement. "I wonder if they'd be happy with me now. In the end, they got what they wanted, didn't they?"
Eleanora wasn't able to answer, her body growing limp.
With a shrug, Michael rose and stomped her head, ensuring the kill.
Putting his two arms together, Michael stretched leisurely in satisfaction.
"That felt good."