Ex rank talent Awakening: 100% Dodge rate
Chapter 257 - CHAPTER 257: EYE OF THE STORM

Rebecca stared calmly at the battlefield, her posture regal and unshaken, every subtle movement scrutinized by both the Celestial King and the Demon King. Her cold eyes scanned the war-torn plains where dominant figures from the opposition clashed with her own, ensuring her armies didn't hold an overwhelming advantage.

"It's time for you all to join the battlefield," she said coolly.

Twenty masked figures behind her bowed their heads in silent acknowledgment. Without hesitation, they descended into the chaos below, streaking through the sky like comets, each one choosing their place in the ever-escalating conflict.

The Dragon King stood tall, his scales glistening like emerald fire as he faced Asmodeus—the Demon Lord of Pride. Not far off, the Elven Queen took her stance before Zeph, the Celestial of Storms, her presence serene yet lethal.

The Orc Chief grunted, muscles bulging as he stepped before the Celestial of War, an ancient rivalry rekindled. The Dwarf King clenched his hammer, challenging the Celestial of Wisdom with a battle-hardened glare. The Titan King loomed like a mountain before Baal, Demon Lord of Wrath, the air around them crackling with raw tension. And the Goblin Leader, small yet unnervingly confident, confronted the Demon Lord of Envy, grinning beneath the shadow of death.

Rebecca's twenty elite servants scattered across the battlefield, each selecting a formidable opponent—eleven Celestials, seven Demon Lords, and even Greg. The battle between the true deterrents of war erupted, drawing a clear line between the ordinary and the divine. Soldiers from both sides instinctively retreated, unwilling to be caught in the crossfire of these terrifying entities.

Meanwhile, Grey was approached by a bizarre and eerie figure—a foreign being whose oversized head wore a numbered mask: 18. The creature's body, resembling an inverted ice cream cone, was attached to the head like an afterthought. Dozens of sinister, abyssal eyes embedded in the "cone" body gazed at Grey, each one exuding malice and unknowable hunger.

Grey couldn't help but grimace. Damn, that thing's ugly. Didn't even need to see its face to know that.

As if sensing his disdain, Number 18 burst into a frenzy. Its eyes glowed malevolently, firing dark beams of destruction at astonishing speeds.

Grey weaved between the attacks, his concentration razor-sharp. One misstep, and it would all be over. The beams weren't just fast—they were impossibly precise and infused with a deadly hunger. They didn't just hurt. They devoured.

One beam came too fast. With no time to dodge, Grey raised his sword and braced for impact. The dark energy struck, corrupting his blade instantly. Without thinking, he hurled it away.

The sword hit the ground and was consumed in seconds—its metal turning black, disintegrating under the beam's creeping corruption.

Grey's eyes narrowed. Even one hit means death. The reality dawned on him like ice water down his spine. This wasn't a duel—it was an execution waiting to happen.

Driven by instinct, his mind slipped into a heightened state—flow. All distractions vanished. Every heartbeat echoed like a war drum, each movement precise and calculated.

He extended his hand, and a new sword materialized in his grip—born from thought, shaped by will.

This was one of the reasons Grey was so deeply treasured by the Celestial King. Unlike the Twelve Celestials—first created from the Celestial King's blood—Grey possessed the complete form of the Creation Ability.

Each of the Twelve had partial access to the power, but their scope was limited. The Celestial of War could create weapons for battle, but not complex tools or inventions. The Celestial of Wisdom could craft inspired inventions, but not general-use weapons unless they were his own designs or improvements.

Their creative power was siloed, bound by their titles.

But Grey? Grey could create anything—provided he had enough mana. He was the first being since the original Celestial to possess the full Creation Ability naturally.

Even the Celestial King himself couldn't wield it fully. He depended on the siphoned power of the First Celestial's heart implanted in his chest.

And yet, Grey had it by birthright.

Grey charged forward, but Number 18—the Oculor—fired a barrage of beams, making approach impossible. Each shot forced Grey to retreat or deflect. He grit his teeth in frustration. If he couldn't close the distance, this fight would become a stalemate—and he didn't have time to waste.

He leapt back, escaping the Oculor's range.

"Heaven's Fall," he said calmly.

The sky darkened as his words echoed across the battlefield. A celestial vision unfolded above—a giant star-like body, severed cleanly in two, began to plummet toward the earth.

Soldiers across the battlefield paused, awe-struck. The sheer scale of the spell brought everything to a standstill.

But the Oculor was anything but amazed. It shuddered, every eye glowing in terror as it fired desperately, trying to halt the falling star. Beam after beam shot upward, but they were meaningless before the overwhelming force crashing from the sky.

The star fragment struck with apocalyptic force.

A shockwave tore through the landscape. The ground shattered and melted into lava. Molten rock surged like a river, incinerating everything in its path. Flaming debris rained from the heavens, catching many off guard—friend and foe alike.

It was the first large-scale spell to kill millions in a single blow.

And in the eye of the storm stood Grey, unmoving.

His body trembled slightly, his breaths labored. The spell had consumed a tremendous amount of mana and stamina, but he fought to remain composed. The destruction around him spoke louder than any words. A crater had formed—massive, smoldering, and final.

No sign of Number 18 remained.

Grey straightened, standing tall. A symbol of power incarnate.

But then—a ripple.

Behind him, a dark portal opened soundlessly. The Oculor reemerged, charred but alive, its abyssal eyes glowing with unrelenting fury.

Grey's instincts flared.

The battle was far from over.

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(A/N: Just to clarify—The Celestial King is not the First Celestial. He is one of the Twelve Celestials who overthrew the First Celestial with the others' support. Grey is considered precious because he possesses the complete Creation Ability naturally, something even the Celestial King lacks.)