Chapter 229: Phantom Golden Spirit (1)

The brilliant golden glow emanating from Crow Theo's chest was almost blinding to gaze upon. 

Darcel, Aniela, and Masami squinted their eyes as the golden glow made them feel a noticeable sting. Their dread began to slowly increase as a considerable pressure began weighing down their bodies.

As this sudden power frantically increases from Crow Theo's chest, the golden light only intensifies. Suddenly, the golden light shot towards the skies, becoming a radiant golden pillar of light.

Minor cracks in spatial space from within inches of Crow Theo's body began appearing. Small spots in the air was torn open, revealing abyss-like darkness.

And from the center of it all, Crow Theo's expression was turning increasingly cruel and vicious. His Killing Intent had reached an all-time high! 

There hasn't been a single person in his life that he wants to kill more than Darcel, Aniela, and Masami.

Out of everything Crow Theo could've expected when participating in this year's Mercenary Exchange Event, getting pressure to the point of near-death was not one of them. 

He really didn't want to use this Spirit Artifact. However, the situation demanded it, or else his life and Crow's Apollo and Joe would be forfeited. 

"You three….I don't know what or who you are. But know this, your deaths will not be a slow one!" Crow Theo arrogantly boasted as the golden light power increasingly surged with each passing split second. 

His confidence hit an all-time high, and he was fervently eager to reverse the shame brought upon him by these unknown brats.

"Tch….this power…." Darcel was muttering to himself as he was reinforcing his body with a mass sum of bloodline power just to stay balanced. 

Aniela and Masami were doing the same as him while clicking their teeth with equally frustrated expressions. 

The smart move would be to cut off Crow Theo's Spirit Artifact surging power. However, the increasing aura of that Spirit Artifact tightly locked down Darcel, Aniela, and Masami's bodies.

If they wanted to break free and attack, they would need at least a couple of seconds to do so. 

Darcel's bloodline arm darkens its Darkness glow. Aniela's bloodline arm intensified her white Light energy. And Masami's blue firefox cloak was becoming brighter. 

They thought they could equal out of the Spirit Artifact Power in just another second. 

But right then, their bodies abruptly froze. 

The feeling of immense dread in their minds explosively increased to the point where Darcel, Aniela, and Masami could feel cold sweat instantly form on their brows. 

Their pupils became tiny dots as Crow Theo's Spirit Artifact power explosively changed!

'Chi!' 

The pillar of golden light burst into numerous rays of golden lights as a whole new level of power exploded into the area. The golden rays of light sailed right towards Crow Theo's chest, tearing right into his clothes.

"What….wait-this power!" Darcel loudly exclaimed while an incredible pressure suppressed his entire being. 

"The power of a Grand Sage!" Masami finished Darcel's sentence as she violently clenched her hands under such mighty pressure.

"I didn't think it would come this soon!" Aniela also exclaimed her surprise as she rooted her feet to the ground against this incredible pressure.

"Oh? So can you recognize what's going to be your executioner?" Crow Theo savagely mocked. 

All of his power was zapped away from him, and he could barely stay standing. But sacrificing all of his power and a sum of his lifeforce was worth it to unleash their ultimate Spirit Artifact!

"Heh. Can't believe it's happening now." Crow Apollo spoke in a weak tone of voice. 

He and Crow Joe were still on their knees, both of their bodies still bloodied and battered. But cold smirks were lifting up their lips even with all the pain wracking their bodies.

Without wasting a second, Crow Theo reached into his chest pocket after the numerous golden rays of light entered in there. His hand violently clenched down on something, and he tore it straight out of his clothes.

What was in Crow Theo's hand was a small amulet in the shape of the God Beast Golden Crow! 

As soon as the Golden Crow amulet appeared, it burst with a blinding golden shine that forced Darcel, Aniela, and Masami to shut their eyes.

When that prowess of a Heavenly Sage burst in the area, it severely limited their movements even more. Essentially, as soon as their Martial Skills were utterly destroyed, Darcel, Aniela, and Masami lost all of their chances to potentially escape.

Now, they have to face whatever was coming up head-on. 

Before the aura of the Heavenly Sage Spirit Artifact could thoroughly crush the trio, they had once again overdrawn on their souls, fueling their bodies with a burst of speed.

"Nnng!' 

This time though, Darcel, Aniela, and Masami were feeling a considerable strain on their souls. 

Back to back, repeated use of overdrawing soul powers nearly put the trio in an instant exhaustion state.

But Darcel, Aniela, and Masami gritted their teeth and pushed through the soul strain. The power of an unfathomable Heavenly Sage powerhouse was indeed immense. It gave the trio the greatest suppression they ever felt while on their journey.

However, Darcel, Aniela, and Masami could just barely match this power by combing their bloodline powers and soul powers. Their soul's core was frantically pulsating as it significantly boosted Darcel, Aniela, and Masami's maximum prowess.

They broke the Heavenly Sage pressure and flashed over seventy feet backward. 

While they did so, the golden light from the Golden Crow amulet was quickly morphing into a shape.

The blinding golden light almost immediately died down as a massive phantom image started to solidify. 

In just a second, the golden light cleared up entirely and what was left was a sight that would leave anybody in utter awe.

The phantom image was a humongous vast beast that covered over fifty feet of space in the sky. A radiant golden glow covered every inch of this massive beast, and it exuded a majestic natural presence that most would feel the need to bow to.

The tremendous phantom beast had taken the shape of the Legendary God Beast Golden Crow! 

"Holy hell…." Darcel, Aniela, and Masami muttered at the same time. They felt legitimate awe staring at a majestic beast like this.

Its wingspan had gone far beyond anything they had ever seen before. When comparing it to the vast Spirit Monster Hawk they previously fought, it was even slightly shorter than this majestic beast.

Everything went to a pin drop silence once the phantom Golden Crow Spirit appeared. 

The power of the Heavenly Sage realm continuously discharged from the beast, causing small ripples in the area and for the air to get visibly sizzled.

Darcel, Aniela, and Masami matched their eyes with the phantom Golden Crow Spirit's golden fiery eyes. 

The phantom Golden Crow Spirit dangerously narrowed its golden fiery eyes on the trio. Not even a split second passed, and the phantom Golden Crow Spirit can sense a major threat from these three youths.

"Skwa!!" 

With one mighty battle shout, the phantom Golden Crow Spirit flapped its vast golden wings and unleashed a massive wave of golden fire towards Darcel's group! 

Darcel, Aniela, and Masami's pupils dilated. 

Their minds had instantly recalled the time they fought that Heavenly Sage Spirit Monster down in the cave where that silverish-blue crystal orb was. 

They could vividly recall the powerful danger sensation they felt from the Spirit Monster.

But when compared to this….this phantom Golden Crow Spirit was on a whole other level! 

Even though it was causing an increasing strain on them, Darcel, Aniela, and Masami had no other options but to stay using overdrawn soul powers.

Simultaneously when they continue using their soul's powers, their Darkness soul link begins to slowly writhe. 

The pressure of the phantom Golden Crow Spirit couldn't majorly affect their movements in their full power bloodline state and soul's power state.

'Hua!'

Darcel, Aniela, and Masami took a tremendous leap into the skies, just narrowly avoiding the wave of golden flames. Immediately while in mid-air, Darcel, Aniela, and Masami surged their Martial Skills.

Their flames burst upon their hands as Darcel, Aniela and Masami strut their arms towards the phantom Golden Crow Spirit. 

"Fiery Slice/Fox Claw!" 

As the trio unleashed their mighty battle cry, streams of black flames exploded from Darcel and Aniela's hands, heading straight to the phantom Golden Crow Spirit.

And a vast blue firefox claw spewed from Masami's palm, blasting towards the phantom Golden Crow Spirit. 

"Scree!!" 

The phantom Golden Crow Spirit wasn't slow at all and immediately screeched out a vast golden fire beam towards the trio's Martial Skills.

'BANG!!' 

Darcel, Aniela, and Masami's Martial Skills exploded on impact against the vast golden fire beam. The mere clash of their tremendous prowess utterly collapsed the spatial space around it and tore the ground open wide for several miles.

The phantom Golden Crow Spirit gave the trio no time to breathe as it flapped its massive wings and instantly appeared above the trio in one step! 

"Shit!" Darcel, Aniela, and Masami snapped their heads up in genuine surprise.

That speed wasn't anything like they saw before; that was actual instantaneous speeds! 

The trio couldn't appropriately react as the phantom Golden Crow Spirit took another flap of its vast wings.

A bright golden glow sparked on its wings as it unleashed a chaotic Wind Qi gale storm down at Darcel, Aniela and Masami. 

'Hua!' 

Darcel, Aniela, and Masami tried to resist the Wind Qi gale storm, but the power behind it was far greater than they could ever expect.

"Nng!" Despite their resistance, it all ended up futile. 

The power of a Grand Sage was nothing like a Heavenly King. The phantom Golden Crow Spirit Sage aura shredded through Darcel, Aniela, and Masami's bloodline power and soul's power!

The Wind Qi gale storm blasted the trio straight towards the ground while parts of their clothes got shredded by the razor-sharp winds. 

'Bang!' 

Darcel, Aniela, and Masami crashed deep into the ground, each of them forming massive craters underneath them.

"Geh!" Simultaneously, the trio coughed up large botches of blood. 

In just one attack, multiple bones in their back and their organs violently churned. Aniela and Masami were left entirely dazed for a second.

But for Darcel, an instant surge of intense rage fueled him once again! He was instantly back on his feet; his eyes exploded with wild savage Killing Intent as his bloodline powers began to overflow.