Chapter 425 - 425: Authority Clash
"Now… what do we have here?" Michael said, his voice dripping with amusement.
At the moment, he was happy, genuinely delighted, and thrilled over Nicole's appearance.
She was, after all, the strongest Lord there was, so strong in fact that Michael had witnessed her killing Monarchs! A feat only cultivators of the next realm were supposed to be able to achieve!
The same woman had arrived to help!
Late…
Like always… Every time Michael desperately needed help from reinforcements, they always tended to arrive just a tad bit too late.
It was the one story of his life that had repeated endlessly.
Perhaps if he had been helped in his prior life, he wouldn't have been forced to endure the eradication of his whole family. Father, mother, sister… and later a beloved and his child.
Because he had shouldered far too much for too long. Which inevitably led him to make mistakes that, in all retrospects, had been foolish beyond belief.
And once again… help had arrived when the threat had been exterminated.
When felines had died.
And so had Cyberfang.
Even though Michael was unable to feel sorrow in his current form, he was more than able to feel anger and wrath.
Cyberfang had been a precious companion, whose loss was going to hurt him greatly…
"How convenient! I express my boundless gratitude for your timely arrival, oh Supreme Lord Nicole!" Michael exclaimed mockingly, giving an official bowing gesture. One hand spread to the side, another placed over his chest. "Such incredible bravery to arrive right after everyone is already dead!"
Nicole's piercing crimson eyes narrowed. She knew that she wasn't speaking to an alien… or at least she didn't think so.
For how horrifying the monster that stood before her looked, he didn't resemble any of the countless alien races that threatened humanity.
'Is he a human? There is a weird sense of familiarity…' She wondered, glancing at the slain Monarch. 'But to be able to kill such a creature… He is on par with the Supreme Lords, no doubt.'
Noticing the hostility in the air, the hairs on Ruby's back stood on end.
"Nicole!" Ruby called out, dropping honorifics, both because they knew each other and because the situation didn't allow time for them. "He isn't a monster! He is Michael, just… a bit confused!"
Ruby was determined to prevent a clash from happening! Otherwise, she couldn't imagine the consequences that would follow.
Taken by complete surprise, Nicole's pupils narrowed in a rare display of pure shock.
Now it made sense why the monster seemed familiar. He was Michael, currently looking strikingly similar to Devil… yet even more menacing.
"Michael…? What happened to you?" She asked, her voice filled with palpable concern.
"..."
Michael stared at the woman who had almost become the mother of his child in his first life… Then he erupted into maniacal laughter.
"Oh, nothing serious!" He reassured, placing a hand over his belly, unable to contain his laughter.
"Just learned there had been a discrepancy against the felines. Naturally, since the higher-ups of the human hierarchy didn't do jack shit to help, I, along with my crew, answered their call for aid. Only to discover a giant underground hollow valley filled with aliens, spiritual beasts planning to take over the solar system led by a blind misguided Lord, and felines trapped in between it all."
He brushed off a nonexistent tear from his eye.
"Then we fought a bit. Some died on our side, but the other side suffered larger losses… In the end, we emerged victorious and killed them all."
He paused deliberately.
"So… as you can see, you are not needed."
Nicole took a deep breath, her eyes scanning the surroundings.
She counted the numbers of dead felines scattered across the ground.
Not catastrophic compared to the most brutal fights she had witnessed… but still a monumental loss, considering how few felines existed in reality.
"There has been a… portal that recently opened leading to our solar system. Due to the severity of the danger, it has required the attention of the Emperor, the Kings, the Queens, and all Supreme Lords to monitor it." She said softly.
"It is classified as Titan tier, the first of its kind… Please believe me. The lack of help isn't intentional. But if we don't tread with—"
"Gorgeous… you misunderstand me." Michael cut her off, his laughter fading.
"I am not blaming you. I understand very well the frustrating feeling of having your hands tied. Being forced to choose what to prioritize."
He declared, taking slow steps forward.
"Honestly, there is no need for an explanation. All I said is that your assistance… is no longer required. You can leave."
The Titan tier portal Nicole mentioned was something Michael had never heard of before.
It hadn't existed in his previous life… Whether due to his own actions or his Echo's efforts to keep the Primordials from turning their attention to the solar system. Those efforts had caused significant deviations from the original timeline, though in the end, such changes had been inevitable.
Regardless, right now, Michael couldn't, for the life of him, care less.
"I can't do that." Nicole proclaimed, her eyes sharpening.
"Not when you are like this. Given the power you possess, combined with your… unpredictable, self-centered nature, you could prove a significant threat to others. According to the Emperor's decree, I have to bring you in if you don't revert to how you were once."
"In spite of the fact that I eliminated the trouble, while the Emperor didn't do a thing?" Michael tilted his head in amusement.
Nicole's eyes darkened. She didn't like what she was doing. By the gods, she loathed the man who was supposed to be her father and despised him for what he had forced her to endure in order to inherit his family technique.
But she was still too weak to defy his will. For now, all she could do was bide her time… Growing stronger until she was ready to challenge him openly. Until then, she had no choice but to follow rules she despised.
More importantly, this was for Michael. Given his current state, it wouldn't be long before he clashed with those at the top and met his end prematurely. His mind was too clouded to think clearly.
"Michael, don't force my hand and revert back. If you refuse, I will have to make you." Nicole's voice grew more stern, leaving no room for disagreement.
"You have always had a way with words…" Michael chuckled. Gently reaching out, he took a few strands of her lustrous hair. "But nobody tells me what to do."
Leaning closer, he whispered.
"Not. Even. You."
It became clear that there wasn't an argument that would get through to him.
"Very well then."
Nicole's eyes began to shine brightly.
"Authority Manifestation, Crimson Phoenix!"
Sensing Nicole form a territory of her own, Michael responded with a menacing smile spreading across his face.
"So dance it is! Let me see what you are truly capable of, Supreme Lord Nicole!"
[Authority Manifestation activated]
[Authority Manifestation is synergizing with Tyrannical Will]
Sinister energy began to leak out of Michael, his will becoming imposed on the world itself.
"Authority Manifestation, Bottomless Hell!"