Coiling Dragon

by welyjesch

  “All these various established mechanisms…brought a sense to me. A sense that the countless planes of the universe were being guided by an invisible hand.” Orloff said.

  Linley was stunned. Orloff’s words were very reasonable. It did indeed seem as though an invisible hand was governing the countless planes.

  “I want to break free from this regulation! Break free from this control!” Orloff’s gaze was sharp. “Countless years ago, my goal was to surpass the other Sovereigns. Now, I am invincible, and so my goal is to develop the most powerful material attack, to shatter the universe itself. I will make it so that neither the heavens nor the earth can stop me, can bind me! I will surpass and transcend the samsara, this cycle of the universe!”

  Linley’s heart was quivering as he listened. “Countless years of research. I’ve analyzed countless races and discovered quite a few secrets.” Orloff’s smile was filled with delight. He didn’t want to tell the other Sovereigns about this matters. But as for Linley…as he saw it, Linley was going to die. And so, he would finally speak to Linley these words that he had hidden within his heart for so many years.”

  “The universe is filled with ‘space’. Thus, I paid particular attention to some innate divine abilities that were linked with space. As I saw it, if I were able to develop an attack that could break through and shatter space itself, what would happen? Would the universe collapse? Or would I reach a different universe? I don’t know…but I am eager to find out.”

  “This technique, Samsara Transcendence, remained unperfected, despite countless years of research. Still, I absorbed much experience and constantly improved my own power. And yet, I still felt that something was off. Afterwards, when I learned ‘Spacetime Paradox’ from Wodred, I realized where the problem lay, and so when you gifted me with the blood essences of the Four Divine Beasts, I spent most of them in research.”

  Linley finally realized why Augusta and Orloff had each used only a single drop of the many drops of Four Divine Beasts blood essences which Linley had provided.

  “Despite that, however, the ‘Samsara Transcendence’ technique remained rough and disharmonious. But when I saw the ‘Samsara Battle Formation’ the Emissary under your command had developed, I suddenly understood! A magical formation…this technique of mine could be merged with a magical formation and thus be set up even more perfectly.”

  Orloff’s face was filled with a smile of self-delight. “I finally succeeded. I personally believe this ‘Samsara Transcendence’ attack of mine to be at the peak of what is possible. In terms of power, it is definitely superior to ‘Spacetime Paradox’.”

  “Linley, to show my respect for you, I will permit you to die under this technique. Experience for yourself…my Samsara Transcendence!”

  Orloff’s face began to glow with an almost holy light. He appeared almost like one of those holy figures amongst mortals as he raised his Fate Overgod Sword.

  “Rumble…”

  Four sword illusions suddenly appeared around Orloff. One was jade-green, one was earthen yellow, one was fiery red, and one was light blue. The four sword illusions swirled around Orloff at high speed, and instantly…

  “Rumble…”

  The universe began to change. It darkened. All of the spectating Sovereigns were completely stupefied. What sort of terrifying power was this? This technique, ‘Samsara Transcendence’, was the most terrifying technique Orloff had developed, after spending countless years drawing from and analyzing the best parts of various other techniques and powers!

  “I only have one chance.” Just as Orloff began to unleash his technique, Linley reacted. And what he did was…

  “Swoosh!” Linley frantically fled in into the distance. And as he did, the four sword illusions swirling around the Fate Overgod Sword formed into a gigantic illusory sword that was more than a hundred meters long.

  The sword chopped out…

  “Crackle…” A terrifying spatial chasm appeared in front of it, stretching off into infinity. It created spatial vibrations for countless kilometers around, causing the deaths of countless living creatures within the Chaotic Sea. This illusory sword that contained four types of sword illusions almost instantly arrived in front of Linley.

  When his opponent had launched this attack, Linley actually separated his body into three; a Dragonformed Linley, the water-type Sovereign clone, and the wind-type Sovereign clone.

  “Haaargh!” The Dragonformed Linley let out a low growl. Wielding the Life Overgod Sword in his hands, he swung savagely against the sword illusion.

  “BANG!” Linley felt as though a mountain was crushing down upon him. In almost an instant, the two hands which Linley was using to wield his Life Overgod Sword completely shattered. His bones split apart, and blood flowed everywhere. The Life Overgod Sword trembled, then slipped out of his hands, with the edge of it being knocked backwards and slicing through Linley’s chest, as easily as slicing tissue.

  With a ‘slash’ sound, Linley’s chest was completely chopped open, from shoulder to waist. Linley’s bisected body flashed, and he instantly exchanged it with his earth-type Sovereign clone.

  The Life Overgod Sword, due to having been used to block that sword illusion, was actually knocked far into the distance, flying away like a meteor.

  “How terrifying.” Everyone was completely awestruck. The three Linley’s were currently fleeing into the distance, but the strange thing was…Linley wasn’t actually in pursuit of his Life Overgod Sword.

  “The Life Overgod Sword is indeed quite resilient; by relying on it to block, he was actually able to save his life. However, there will not be a ‘next time’.” Orloff chased after Linley at high speed, also preparing to unleash his supreme technique yet again.

  The Chief Sovereigns and the ordinary Sovereigns were all filled with terror. This included Beirut and Bluefire, who were closest to him.

  “Too powerful.” Linley, thinking back to that scene, thought to himself. “The attack power was so strong, it actually shattered the draconic scales on my hand and broke my bones, knocking the Life Overgod Sword onto my body and then sending it flying far into the distance.” It must be understood that Linley’s body, especially when infused with his Will and when filled with his fused Sovereign power, was far more powerful than most Sovereign artifacts.

  And yet, despite that, he had still suffered such a fate. That technique, Samsara Transcendence…it was simply too powerful.

  “The fruits of his countless years of research is indeed powerful.” Linley’s gaze was locked onto a distant figure…the Sovereign of Fire, Borte. Borte was currently alongside the other Sovereigns who served the Chief Sovereign of Fate, Orloff.

  “Lord Orloff is too powerful. That technique…is absolutely invincible.” The man with two black horns said with a laugh.

  “Haha, Linley was actually able to stay alive. However, his Life Overgod Sword was knocked flying. What is he going to use to block the next attack?” Borte laughed disdainfully. He was rather envious of Linley to begin with, and last time, Linley had barked at him. This made it so that Borte had a very negative impression of Linley. Naturally, he hoped that Orloff would kill Linley.

  “Everyone, Linley is flying over towards us. Quick, step aside.” The Sovereigns all hurriedly moved away, but they weren’t in too much of a rush. After all, they believed that Linley was simply fleeing, and just so happened to flee towards their direction.

  But the strange thing was…

  “Swish.” As the Sovereigns flew away, Linley suddenly changed directions as well. Linley’s speed was more than a hundred times greater than those Lesser Sovereigns, and he instantly appeared before them.

  “What?!” Borte’s face changed dramatically. “Bang!” Linley’s fist smashed onto Borte’s head. A weak little Lesser Sovereign of Fire, in front of Linley, wasn’t able to fight back at all.

  “Fire-type Sovereign spark.” In virtually the same instant as he struck out, Linley sent a drop of his blood into that Lesser
Sovereign spark. His gaze was sharp. “By now, I have no other options. Only by fusing with his fire-type Sovereign spark will I be able to rise in power yet again!”

  Linley had no other choices. He didn’t want to die. Once he died, Beirut, Bluefire, and even the Four Divine Beasts clan and Linley’s family members…who knew what would happen to them?

  Thus, Linley had to act. There were quite a few Sovereigns of Fire present, but the only one Linley felt antipathy towards was Borte. Thus, without hesitating at all, he chose that poor bastard.

  “Rumble…”

  The world began to change yet again. Countless amounts of fire elemental essences swirled about in midair as the fire-type Sovereign spark entered the divine fire clone in Linley’s body. It only took an instant to refine a Sovereign spark, and so Linley’s souls once more began to transform, and Will once more flooded his soul. Aside from this…

  “Four types of Sovereign power…FUSE!”

  Book 21, The Peak – Chapter 44, A New Name (part 2)

  Within Linley’s body, four types of Sovereign power instantly began to bubble and froth.

  “Linley, by fusing with a Lesser Sovereign spark of fire, you’ll just gain a bit more Will. Without an Overgod artifact, there is no way you are capable of withstanding my blow.” The Chief Sovereign of Fate’s body once more was surrounded by those four illusory swords, which began to rotate around him.

  But Linley only closed his eyes, the muscles on his face twitching slightly. “These, these four types of Sovereign power…”

  In the past, the uniqueness of the fusion of four types of divine power made Linley feel certain…that upon fusing four types of Sovereign power, there would definitely be a unique product as well. But the uniqueness of it completely surpassed Linley’s imagination.

  “Crackle…” After the four types of Sovereign power fused, they instantly transformed into a unique, gray, foggy sort of energy. This gray energy wildly filled every inch of Linley’s body. His bones, his skin, his blood vessels, his organs…even his mind and his soul.

  Linley’s flesh was trembling. His entire body was twitching. “Crackle…” It transformed his muscles, his bones, and every tiny, minute part of him. Earth-shaking changes were occurring in his body, and in virtually every second, Linley’s body would be strengthened hundreds of times. He was constantly rising in power and gaining in strength. In front of the gray energy created by the four types of fused Sovereign power, Linley’s body seemed to respond by simply growing stronger, stronger, stronger…

  “Careful, Linley.” Beirut’s voice rang out in Linley’s mind. Linley opened his eyes. “Swish!” That Fate Overgod Sword, flowing with four types of colors, had already arrived in front of Linley. “Slash!” Linley’s clothes shattered…and on Linley’s chest, the Fate Overgod Sword left behind a single bloody scratch.

  “What!” The eyes of the Chief Sovereign of Fate and the others all widened. “How can this be?” The Sovereigns who were spectating this battle were completely stupefied. The unsurpassed supreme technique of Orloff, ‘Samsara Transcendence’, in front of Linley was only…only able to just barely scrape open Linley’s skin?

  “Crackle…” That bloody scratch instantly healed, while at the same time, Linley’s body continued to strengthen. His bones, his muscles…every component of his insides was constantly shattering and reforming, rising in power time and time again. Each rise in power was terrifyingly great, and yet, they seemed to happen without end. Large amounts of gray energy were being used up by Linley’s body.

  “I’ve researched for countless years to develop this, my most powerful sword attack. How…how can it be that I’m not even able to pierce into his skin? Impossible, impossible!!!” Orloff couldn’t help but begin to bellow. He actually swept out with his Fate Overgod Sword to attack Linley yet again, and the quad-colored sword illusions once more manifested, resulting into that terrifying sword!

  “Slash.” The Overgod sword once more slashed out onto Linley’s body. But this time…it didn’t even break his skin.

  Orloff and the others all stared at Linley, stunned. “Rumble…” The space around Linley trembled violently, unleashing a wave of energy that actually knocked Orloff flying away. As for Linley, he stood there silently in the center of that wave of energy, his eyes closed, like an invincible divinity of war.

  “Inconceivable. Inconceivable.” Linley, after receiving that blow from his enemy, completely focused on his self-transformation. His body was undergoing a heaven-shaking evolution. Linley had expected this, but he had never imagined…that his Sovereign sparks would actually melt!

  Right. They melted, as though they were ice cubes. The Sovereign sparks were indestructibly tough, and none had ever been destroyed despite the passage of countless years. But they were actually beginning to melt!

  Surrounded by that gray energy, Linley’s four fused Sovereign sparks actually began to melt. The four sword-shaped souls that were within the Sovereign sparks were revealed, and the four sword-shaped souls, as well as the sword-shaped soul of the main body, also began to transform after becoming submerged into that gray energy. It was as though they were breaking free from a cocoon and becoming a butterfly…

  Slowly…the five hovering sword-shaped souls actually fused together, merging like flowing liquids, then finally transforming into a single sword-shaped soul. This sword-shaped soul began to change in color. First, it was azure; then it was earthen yellow; next, it became jade; afterwards, it became red; and in the end, it became completely translucent. A virtually invisible, translucent, sword-shaped soul.

  “Bang.” Linley’s four Sovereign clones, bereft of both Sovereign sparks and souls, completely collapsed. Only one body was now remaining, and a single, translucent sword-shaped soul. This transformation had used up a great deal of that gray energy.

  “Completely inconceivable.” Although his souls had merged together and he had even lost his Sovereign spark, Linley could clearly sense the existences of all four Elemental Seas. He could effortless pull four types of Sovereign power from them, and not just that; Linley could even sense the Elemental Sea of Light, the Elemental Sea of Darkness…and all the other planes that served as wellsprings for power. Linley, with but a thought, could summon every type of Sovereign power.

  “My power of Will is gone?” Linley discovered that after his Sovereign sparks were consumed and his souls were transformed into one, his original Will had vanished. Only…Linley sensed a unique sort of control over the surrounding space. This feeling of control was like…this part of the world was his own domain. He didn’t need Will. He didn’t need anything else. He could simply use the power of the world to constrict any enemies and kill them all.

  “Im…impossible!” Orloff, who had always been invincible, seemed to have gone berserk. He was repeatedly using his Overgod weapon to strike towards Linley, but the energy wave emanating from Linley’s body forced him to stay far away, and he was unable to draw near.

  All of the Sovereigns watching this were rendered completely speechless. What had happened just now had completely surpassed their expectations. The power which Linley had revealed surpassed the realm of Sovereigns.

  “Has he become an Overgod?” The Chief Sovereign of Death murmured. The nearby Chief Sovereign of Destruction’s chin rose, and he blinked repeatedly. “Can it be that living creatures can actually train to the Overgod level?”

  “Haha. Wonderful.” Bluefire and Beirut, within the Skyrite Mountains, watched as Orloff attacked like a madman, but wasn’t even able to get close to Linley. They couldn’t help but feel wildly overjoyed.

  “Are you done?”

  A calm, quiet voice rang out. Linley, surrounded by that energy wave, opened his eyes and looked at Orloff, who stood before him. In this moment, Linley seemed like a sword. After his soul had transformed, a sword intent seemed to burst out from him. Just looking at Linley made their hearts quiver.

  “Uh?” The Chief Sovereign of Fate violently swung out his hand
with his Fate Overgod Sword, only to realize…he couldn’t move. Because Linley’s right hand had clutched onto the Fate Overgod Sword.

  “This Overgod sword…” Linley let out a sigh. He suddenly had a strange feeling, as though this Overgod sword wasn’t all that tough. Linley’s right hand applied just a bit of pressure. “CRACK!”

  A clear, ringing sound. What it represented…was that the exalted, incomparable Overgod artifact had actually been snapped by Linley in half.

  “How ordinary.” Linley tossed it aside casually, and the half of the Overgod sword in his hands fell from the skies, landing into the seas below. “Plonk.” It sank into the seas.

  All of the spectating Sovereigns were once more rendered speechless. Even the Chief Sovereign of Fate stared, stunned, at the remaining half of the Overgod sword which he held. “This…how can this…” As soon as his words rang out…

  “Swish!” Orloff’s body suddenly transformed into a streak of light, as he fled into the distance at high speed. Even now, Orloff still held a faint hope that he could stay alive…his homeland was a material plane, and he wanted to flee into it. Orloff was going to continue his research, until the day came when he surpassed Linley.

  He felt that although Linley’s attack power had increased, his speed hadn’t necessarily increased. Unfortunately…

  “You want to flee?” Linley’s body flashed, and he actually traversed countless kilometers in a single instant, arriving before Orloff. His speed was countless times faster than Orloff.

  The resolute, unyielding look in Orloff’s eyes turned dim. “I lost. Completely lost.” He understood that Linley, who was able to easily break apart the Fate Overgod Sword, definitely would also be able to easily breach his defensive Overgod armor. The eyes of the Chief Sovereign of Fate, Orloff, suddenly lit up again, and he stared at Linley. “Linley…I hope that you will use your most powerful attack to kill me.”

  Although they were enemies, Linley still felt a hint of admiration for Orloff. Admiration for how insane he was. “Fine, then. I will use my most powerful attack to kill you.”