*** Please Read the Author's Note at the end***
There are times when bravery is rewarded. There are times when cowardice is also understood. And there are times when you have no option but to run if you wish to save your life. And then there are times when even running cannot guarantee your survival.
Against any other foe in this Base, we would have had a semblance of hope, although they are powerful, the Rakshasa of the white and black and even gray color are all within the scope of what we can handle.
But once the level gets cranked up to the silver one, only death awaits.
A person might think that, since the group with me had already defeated many Origin Realm cultivators and came up on top, all four of us who were only at the Void Stage, and still managed to secure better spots than those at the Void Shattering and even the Origin Stage cultivators, we have still managed to be the finalists of this tournament.
But one must not forget one simple factor that allowed us to win.
The Eight Suns forbade the use of Origin Qi, lest the other cultivators at the Origin Realm could simply sweep the entire competition in a matter of hours.
It was simply to give a chance to the rest of us by tying the Origin Realm cultivator's hands.
What a sad thing to believe that one is actually capable of contending with others who have the ability to use a Qi that is on a completely different spectrum. It is the same as comparing a cultivator at the Saint Qi stage, and one at the Ascendant Stage.
Immeasurable difference in ability foretells a death that awaits those who are arrogant.
And right in front of us was the presence of death itself. Manifesting in the shape of a two-legged almost humanoid formed Rakshasa. Its skull which elongated all the way to its back was shimmering in and out of visibility, as if it was forcing itself to remain visible.
A primal predator of incredible prowess, able to easily eliminate all of us without it even having to break a sweat.
There was not much to discuss, not much to speak of, and not much to talk about. My hand went directly to my pistol, and immediately let loose the entire chamber.
The echoes of the explosions were loud enough that it warned every creature in the vicinity of our presence.
Loud and soul-wrenching screeches echoed through the hallways as the Rakshasas who were running all over the place without a clear goal purpose or prey to hunt seemed to all switch their direction.
We were in a position where the entire base was on to us.
The smoke cleared up from the bullets I shot, only for me to realize that the creature didn't even try and block them, it took them head-on.
Several bullets embedded themselves deep into its skin, and soon, were slowly and steadily pushed out, leaving no mark, scar, or even protrusion.
This was an obvious sign of our incompetence against it.
The Scythe of Death was dangerously close to our necks.
It would only take little effort for the Grim Reaper to harvest all our souls.
But I was never a man who'd die without going all out.
"We're no match, Everyone, run for the hatch, I'll stall him," I said.
I knew all of them and all of their abilities, they could not stop it, they couldn't even make it budge. Because although they are all strong, they lack flexibility.
Their power is all in their own cultivation base, Zhang Tian's laws are not applicable to this being as the mere fact that it can use Origin Qi can override any law that Zhang Tian can use.
The bullets I shot had incredible incendiary power, but they didn't even singe his skin so the Fire Lord's flames are useless.
"Golden Titan's Madness!"
My entire body was overcharged with incredulous amounts of Qi. Once I go "big mad", there is no stopping me.
The Golden Titan's Madness muffles sanity and pain which are natural inhibitors of the body from tapping on its full potential.
With the limiters removed and muffled, the body can exert its full potential but there is only one caveat. You lose the ability to distinguish between friend and Foe.
Since the four of them are far away, I wouldn't have any issue with that, the Golden Titan's madness thankfully only lasts for one minute, and in that one minute, I can only watch, not act.
My body, charged with immense amounts of Poison Qi lunged toward the Rakshasa, I couldn't use a sword or a weapon, and could only use the body's own tools, fists, teeth, and my feet to battle.
However, my grip which was aimed at the Rakshasa's neck was easily parried away, while the Rakshasa simply swung its tail at my chest, slamming me right into the nearest wall.
The blow looked simple, slow, and not that powerful, however, every bone in my body felt the impact, my ribcage felt as if it was struck with a sledgehammer, and my back had lightning run through it from the sudden shock.
The Golden Titan's Madness muffled pain, it didn't stop it.
It was only the first exchange and I almost died. But I can't stop myself now, I have to keep going.
The fiend was still not moving from his spot, he only casually glanced at me and at my allies. It was toying with us since it knew well that we're unable to run away.
I lunged back at him, but was once again stopped in my tracks, toyed with, beaten and utterly and mercilessly slammed into the ground continuously.
The fiend knew not to kill me and was doing just enough damage that it was painful enough one would want to die, but not beyond the threshold of killing a person.
Every exchange cost me at least two to three bones, though they broke and shattered, they easily mend back thanks to the regenerative ability of the Golden Titan's Madness.
My sanity was slowly slipping away, and I couldn't allow it to fully dissipate since I wouldn't know how I died if I did so.
This entire exchange didn't last more than thirty seconds, in it I probably broke most if not every bone in my body and repaired them. In it I saw death multiple times, but still I could gamble like that due to one reason.
Twenty-two thousand years they waited, and now the opportunity to get new blood, and use it to release themselves had come. They will not kill us. They need to capture us.
My Golden Titan's Madness ended, without achieving any noteworthy results. But one, looking all the way to the end of the path, they had already made it to the hatch.
While although I was still stuck here with the Silver Rakshasa, they can escape on their own.
Having fully regained my sanity, I felt the pain of going into that mode racking my body and felt like it was being torn apart.
My hands gripped tightly on the floor from the agonizing pain. Enough that my nails scraped and bled on the ground.
But in that second of agony, I felt as if a door had opened inside my head.
I had my eyes closed, but I was still able to see. An impossible thing without Divine Sense, so how could it be?
Then I noticed something, my hand which was on the ground. The large ring which was made of Soulsteel was connected to the ground, and allowed me to feel the Bastion itself.
"Help Me," I heard.
The Bastion was speaking... and I could hear it.