"Look here, you ant!"
Suddenly, a sneer came from right behind Aengus, just a breath away.
Bang!
Before Aengus could respond, he was instantly smashed by the opponent's broadsword.
It was only thanks to Aengus' quick reaction that the sword didn't pierce him.
However, the force behind the hit was immense. He felt his bones shake as he plummeted downward like a meteor.
BOOM!
Under everyone's worried eyes, Aengus crashed to the ground like a blazing fireball, creating a deafening impact.
The earth shook, and so did the hearts of everyone present.
Just a moment ago, the new Emperor had been dominating the battlefield like an unstoppable menace. Who was this new force that appeared out of nowhere and struck Aengus so fiercely?
Aria's knuckles turned white as she witnessed Aengus being hurt.
She rushed forward desperately to save him, a white shadow streaking across the battlefield.
The three Generals and Shadow Assassins were engaged in a fierce battle against higher-level Transcendentals. They were injured and outnumbered due to the enemy reinforcements.
It was only thanks to Aengus' blessing that they could hold their ground and match the power of the high-level Transcendentals.
However, they immediately recognized the new, dominating presence.
"Ah, that's His Excellency, Emperor Kairos himself!" one of Kairos' soldiers shouted excitedly, despite his battered and bloodied state.
"Hell yeah! Finally, that devilish menace is going to get what he deserves. How dare he devour our brothers!" another soldier yelled, his eyes burning with fury.
The cheers of the Kairos Empire's soldiers echoed across the battlefield, their morale surging as they shouted:
"We're saved!"
"I will show you true despair, you ant!" Emperor Kairos sneered, increasing his speed. His confidence in reaching Aria first grew with every passing second.
Aengus' heart skipped a beat, but he forced himself to stay calm. He knew he needed more than just speed to match the emperor's pace. Drawing upon his mana reserves, he focused entirely on comprehending the Laws of Space, a gamble that seemed like the only viable option.
His mastery over the Spatial Laws was at a meager 0.15%, despite his prior attempts to use them more frequently. But now, desperation and unshakable willpower spurred his mind to operate at an unprecedented pace.
MANAS had also increased his comprehension speed by many times.
The world seemed to slow around him, every fraction of a second stretching into an eternity. His thoughts became a flurry of calculations and insights, driven solely by his resolve to protect Aria.
Space Law Comprehension +0.03, +0.05, +0.02...
In that fleeting moment, his comprehension began to soar at an extraordinary rate.
When it reached 1%, Aengus felt a monumental shift within himself. His connection to the spatial fabric deepened, granting him newfound mastery over its intricacies and the ability to manipulate quantum entanglements with far greater precision.
With this heightened comprehension, his steps now spanned ten times the distance they had before.
In a flash, Aengus appeared at Aria's side, just as Emperor Kairos' massive sword was about to strike her back.
"Flash!"
With a blinding burst of energy, Aengus raised Aegis, intercepting the deadly blow in the nick of time.
Aria stood frozen, stunned by Aengus' sudden appearance in front of her. She had no idea of the intense exchange of speed and power that had just transpired. Unaware that someone had been moments away from ending her life, she blinked in confusion, trying to piece together what had happened.
While she remained puzzled, Aengus stood firm, shielding her from the destructive energy unleashed by the collision. The force rippled outward like waves across a stormy sea, tearing through the air and ground with an intensity that left deep scars in the battlefield.
"A-Aria," Aengus said, his voice steady despite the chaos around them. "Don't come close until I am done. But know one thing—today's victory will be ours!"
"Uh, okay..."
Aria nodded reluctantly, but the next moment, she disappeared from the spot completely through a spatial portal far away.
Aengus turned his attention to Emperor Kairos, who seemed displeased.