[214] Bar for Bar, Icon for Icon

[214] Bar for Bar, Icon for Icon

Chapter 214: Bar for Bar, Icon for Icon

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“What the fuck,” Ryxara, the Enchantress of Shadows said. The sight beneath her feet was awe-inspiring.

A single attack erased all of their backup numbers. All those monsters were erased with a thundering sword technique, which was more like a nuke.

“That was surely an Icon earlier,” Umbrithar, the Obsidian, replied. “It seems these invaders are not to be taken lightly. I wonder how he is able to use an Icon so easily, despite not being from this world?”

The Gods of Atlanton could only use their Icons by tapping into their True Form. It was a taxing thing to do, and it caused visible changes in them when used. How was this human doing it so easily?

They were hundreds of kilometers far from the main battlefield, yet due to the portal opened by Umbrithar, they could see everything closely. The Hero, the person who performed that attack, looked perfectly fine despite just having used an Icon. Since the Icon vanished, it should have caused him some trouble, like a backlash, yet he showed no reaction.

“It's probably just not as visible since he's a human,” Malakar the Clown scoffed. “Otherwise it doesn't make sense. This world has never seen Icons before we came, there is no way he can tap into an Icon's strength easily when the stream of the Way is weaker. It's probably just an act.”

“...How strong are they in their world, if they're this strong in another?” The Enchantress asked.

Umbrithar shook his head, his voice raspy, “I think this is their true power. Because the Goddess, as the ruler of the central world, as well as a Voidvorne, can use her Divinity to allow guests over without them falling under the suppression field. So it's natural to assume the Goddess allowed them to have their full power here.”

Which made even less sense if they thought about it. How could a man so young use an Icon so easily in another world, when his strength was nothing to brag about? While it was quite an impressive sight for this world's standards, in the grand scheme of things, Icon users were far stronger than what was shown.

“Kekek...” Malakar the Clown crackled up. “Well, since we're so curious about his secrets, why don't we just go and ask him...?” He looked at his two companions. “We're going to break one arm at a time and make him spill everything he knows, doesn't that sound fun?”

“You nasty bastard,” Ryxara crackled, licking her lips as she stared below the portal. The Hero Seriphoth was seeing the Emperor and his followers off, while he and his personal group remained behind. “Let's go already~ it's the perfect time. Just when they think the weaker turkeys will be able to escape, we'll bomb them to death. It'll be fun to see his enraged fa-”

From hundreds of meters below, the Hero's head turned from the retreating humans and at the little palm-sized portal in the sky. Purple eyes matched against her own purple, as Ryxara’s breath froze.

“What's wrong?” Umbrithar asked when she suddenly stopped talking.

Malakar the Clown crackled, “I agree, I agree, let's go and devour those little pests!”

“A-ah,” Ryxara cleared her throat. “Actually, let's take it slow. If they grow desperate in trying to stop us from hurting the retreating humans, things might be dangerous.”

“What?!” The Clown glared at her. “You're the one who suggested the fine idea, why're you backing off suddenly? And what, you think any of them can actually pose any danger to us?!”

Umbrithar closed the portal, focusing on the conversation as Ryxara frowned.

“What? You saw how he-”

“Sure, that Hero, whatever he is, can use the Sword Icon, but how can that scare me? You coward bitch.” The Clown growled at her in a thin, cracky voice, laughing to mock her. “Here I thought you were getting likable after suggesting such a tasty plan, but you just had to back off like the weak bitch you are. There are three of us, and a single Icon user scared you? We can easily deal with him by going all out for a bit in the beginning. Once we deal with him first, we chop off his limbs, and then we play with the rest of them! Killing one of his allies at a time would force him to answer any questions we have.”

Ryxara frowned, growling, while Umbrithar sighed under his mask. “Let's just take a careful step. He's not the only otherworlder there, that dragon woman is quite strong too. What if she can use an Icon as easily as he did, too?”

“....” Malakar the Clown didn't say anything when the possibility of a [Dragon Icon] was raised. Of course, he wouldn't lose if the enemy was just that strong, but the victory wouldn't be instantaneous if that Icon was involved.

Ryxara and Umbrithar exchanged glances when he didn't object, nodding to one another. A moment later, Malakar grumbled, “Alright, no teleporting above their head and dropping super-sized marble on them. Let's fly to them instead.”

By the time they reach there, the retreating humans should be far enough to not be a liability. Of course, they wouldn't be allowed to just go like that—after the Hero's group would be annihilated, Malakar would hunt them down himself. How could he let those monkeys escape?

“Follow me! Kekekeke~” The Clown let out a laugh as he shot through the air, followed by the other two.

****

[First Person Point of View]

The sky was bright, all clouds had cleared from the pressure of the attack I performed earlier. The winds blew high, and I sat atop a stone, wearing my old armor, and resting my hand on the hilt of my sword.

The rest of the troops had fled far enough by now, and we were waiting in our spots.

“Um, shouldn't we get moving too?” Shoko asked softly, confused. “I thought we were stalling for the troops to retreat properly. The pole is still far from here, should we really be sitting still?”

I wasn't surprised that Shoko didn't understand my actions. Only Quetzalcoatl did among everyone around me, while the rest of them followed blindly. Even Elara looked restless, eager to tear the Outer Gods apart.

“Why waste our breath when the enemies would be coming to find us themselves,” I replied. “The Outer Gods don't want to fight us near their Blood Towers, what if they get damaged?”

The witch's distant laugh echoed through the air, her illusions twisting and turning, trying to disorient them. "You’re no match for me, little girls," she taunted, her voice eerie. “Why not call your father?”

Holy slashes lit up the sky, but the witch dodged them with illusionary movements. Elara’s spear thrust forward, piercing through an illusion and narrowly missing the witch's side. "We’ll end you if you're not careful," she retorted, her eyes shining while Sieran cast a series of detonating explosions.

Sieran’s magic surged, golden lightning bolts striking the ground around them. "Your tricks won’t work on us, witch.”

“Ooh~ scary!” The witch dared to mock them.

Seraphina’s light enveloped the area, dispelling the shadows and revealing Ryxara’s true form. The witch's eyes widened for a moment. "Got you," Seraphina said, her voice filled with satisfaction, as she sliced a gush on the woman's cheek. “Bitch.”

“You dirty sluts!” Ryxara shouted, and the sky brightened with an Icon. A dark, boarding Icon shimmered overhead.

The [Shadow Icon] manifested.

....

Meanwhile, Quetzalcoatl’s battle with the Clown was a clash of power and chaos. Her club crackled with energy as it collided with Malakar’s knives, the Trickster's Daggers, and the ground trembled with each impact.

"You think you can handle me, lizard bitch?" Malakar sneered, his voice dripping with malice. His body let out a green gas, as he crackled, “Let's see how you can maintain your sanity, you filthy lizard!”

The Joker's Laughing Gas filled the air, and the crazy Dragon Goddess inhaled it like a psychedelic. “Try me- ah.” Quetzalcoatl stopped, suddenly her body changing. Her blonde hair grew into light green, and her sharp horns became dull. Her abs grew into a soft tummy, and her sclera grew dark. She grinned, “Mhm, AHH! Can I get more?” She looked ahead, sharp rows of teeth shining as the clown growled.

“Weird bitch- ak!” Malakar shouted, while her tail whipped through the air and smashed into his side, sending him flying.

Malakar regained his composure, rushing back at her with maddened eyes, as the sky grew red. “That's it, you're done!”

The world hummed.

The [Chaos Icon] manifested.

Right against it, the [Dragon Icon] shone brighter.

....

In Aqua's own battle, Umbrithar’s scythe moved with precision and deadly intent. Each swing was calculated, aiming for vital points. But Aqua's senses were sharp, and he parried the strikes with ease.

"You’re not bad for a weak human," Umbrithar said, his voice calm. “How do you have two Icons despite being such a weakling?”

“I'm not here to make small talk, you old bastard,” he replied, his voice cold and measured.

Umbrithar frowned under his mask. Shadows flickered around him, portals opening and closing as he tried to catch Aqua off guard. But Aqua was ready. His sword moved with speed and precision, cutting through the shadows and striking at Umbrithar’s defenses.

"This ends now," he declared, his voice firm.

“No, it's not,” Umbrithar said, teleporting from his spot with ease. How easily he did that was startling.

The world hummed again, and the [Space Icon] shone.

“Ah, so that's the thing,” that Icon was the reason why this bastard managed to slip by attacks made by the Crown Icon.

The ground trembled beneath their feet, the air crackling with energy. The entirety of Pangeal trembled as five Icons shone in the sky. They were ready to face whatever came their way, determined to protect each other's worlds.

The war had begun, and there was no turning back. And Aqua couldn't take it slow, “Your luck is bad today,” Aqua said as the Crown Icon shimmered, and another Icon bloomed beside it. “This is the end.”

The [Time Icon] manifested. The earth rumbled, the dimension trembling as many Icons hummed in unison.

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