Grand Ancestral Bloodlines

Chapter 2192 Respect

Chapter 2192  Respect

The Phoenix Princess' blood didn't so much as soak Ryu's blade. He stood there in silence, his body beaten and broken, more shattered than even before. And yet, it wasn't he who stood there as a headless corpse. It was the once beautiful woman in front of him.

The Phoenix Princess' body collapsed and then morphed into her true form. A bird of prey that could only be described as one of the most gorgeous creatures in all of existence lay there, its rainbow flames dimming before their eyes.

Even after several seconds, no one could seem to understand what happened. It was only Young Master Bright, who sat silently on his pillar, that showed a flicker of rage in his eyes.

He didn't enter this competition because he was a close combat expert first and foremost. Also, his pride told him that he didn't need these Titles; all he needed was his own.

He was the sun that lit the skies. He didn't need anyone else to illuminate his path forward.

But he knew exactly what was happening here. His arch nemesis of this lifetime, the Mystery Lineage.

In a battle where one could only use their blade skills, where their other talents were suppressed and oppressed, not allowed to be tapped into or used… just who would have the greatest advantage?

Would it not be the man with the eyes that could see through the Mysteries of everything?

While the Phoenix Princess was unleashing all of her moves, one after another in a bid to humiliate Ryu, he was simply calmly analyzing.

Unfortunately for them, the Godblade Title didn't suppress either Ryu's eyes or his Dao because both were key parts to the creation of his Blade Aura.

Normally, the fact Ryu's Dao didn't provide raw combat power was a bit of a detriment to him. With all of these geniuses around with shocking abilities, like Sarriel—who could even break into the Dao God Realm when activating her Dao—he seemed to be lacking.

But Ryu never felt that his Dao was lacking compared to anyone. And the world would learn of that right this moment.

Silence greeted his words.

"What? No takers?" Ryu asked, taking a step forward.

He could feel the field tense. Like he was a looming mountain stalking forward, they gripped their weapons, their eyes sharpening.

"I didn't know that the best geniuses in Existence were such cowards."

Ryu stepped onto the Phoenix Princess' corpse, his blade piercing down and right through her heart. With her size, just the thickness of her walls was taller than he was.

But there was a pulse that ran through the world, Ryu's Bloodmancy activating as the Phoenix Princess' blood rose out in a rainbow mixture that poured into his body.

Ryu raised his head to the sky, releasing a hum. Flakes of rotted, ashen, and burned skin fell off of him.

It was clear at a glance that Ryu wasn't even truly healing. He was using the Phoenix Princess' blood like jet fuel.

The lingering effects of the Karmic Flame refused to allow him to heal, but that didn't mean that Ryu couldn't use the extra energy.

Flames appeared across Ryu's body again, the burning fires of an infuriated Phoenix Bloodline. But at that moment, even beneath the suppression of the Godblade Title, the call of another Phoenix suffocated it.

The Emperor Phoenix.

Blazing golden flames appeared across Ryu's body.

"I already gave you all one chance. You won't get another."

Ryu took another step forward.

"You overestimate yourself," Falling Snow said slowly, stepping out. "I do not care for the others, but I do not fear you. I have long forgotten you. I have stepped beyond those shadows—."

Ryu's blade swept out and another head flew into the skies.

"Idiot. I have already fought you. I don't need to fight you again."

Ryu took another step forward.

The distance that had separated him and Falling Snow had been as much as thousands of miles. Maybe he thought that at that distance, Ryu couldn't do anything to him. Or maybe he thought that he had improved enough that things would change.

But to Ryu, he was nothing more than an ant. The only reason he killed the Phoenix Princess first was because she was foolish enough to try and be the first to fight him.

He didn't care how much Falling Snow had progressed. With his Dao, he could see not only a person's current progress, but all the possible steps they might take in the future.

He existed on a completely different plane from these so-called geniuses. His Dao had yet to be truly sensed by the world because he was only a Quasi Lord. But there was no doubt in his mind that when it was sensed, it would stand alone at a mountain peak.

Falling Snow had improved. And he had improved greatly. Unfortunately for him, he hadn't improved beyond Ryu's sight.

This was the gap between his talent and Ryu's own. What he had taken decades to accomplish, Ryu had seen through on the day they met.

He had been destined to die beneath Ryu's blade.

Falling Snow's death seemed to awaken everyone else.

The shrill cries of the Phoenixes filled the skies. This was the first time a genius of the Phoenix Princess' caliber had died during the Title Stele event, and she had died so terribly, so unceremoniously.

Roars came from the side of the Feys. A long distance away, Falling Snow's elder brother felt as though his eyes were about to bulge out of their sockets. He gripped his fists so hard that the crackling of space tore into his skin.

Blood dripped from his palms, but he didn't seem to notice in the slightest. There was a sort of oppressive air that hung over his head, heavy and burdensome.

He knew that this might happen. But there was something about the casual air to it, the indifferent swing of Ryu's sword, the careless disregard for the life of someone he cared so deeply for…

Falling Snow's elder brother had killed many people in his life, and maybe some of them had experienced these same emotions. But this was the very first time that he had experienced such emotions.

Something cracked within him, a deathly aura seeping out.

The elders around him didn't say a word. This was a crossroads that he would have to pass on his own. If he chose the right path, maybe he would be able to take that mysterious step. If not, maybe they would lose two geniuses today.

Inwardly, though, they felt regret.

This… was their fault.

"You raised them in a greenhouse, and now you know how to feel regret," the old woman who practically raised Sarriel spoke lightly.

She didn't seem to care at all about what was happening. Her eyes were still on Ryu.

It seemed that Sarriel really knew how to pick her men well. She wasn't sure if she hated this young man anymore.

It was unfortunate… the tides of Fate would inevitably pit them against one another.

The old woman looked to the skies. Whether by coincidence or not, she was staring right in the location of where the Heavenly Court was.

…

Ryu's momentum continued to come.

"Is this all you have?"

Yeger lightly tapped at the ground, his eyes narrowing as he extended the distance between himself and Ryu.

It didn't make any sense. One of them was heavily injured while the others were as fresh as daisies. And yet, it felt like they were the ones trapped here with Ryu.

Yeger realized what was happening and couldn't help but increase the distance. Much like Falling Snow, he too had also fought Ryu in the past. He was familiar with his patterns, and unless he changed on the fly, he just might die no less pitifully than Falling Snow.

After making a decision, Yeger retreated until his back touched the Fate Barrier. Then…

He gave up on the battle, returning to his pillar.

"Smart choice," Ryu said, his voice growing colder.

Now, only three remained. The Roc Prince. Xalvador. And Balthar.

One beast and two Martial Gods.

Facing off against a single human.

Until now, both Xalvador and Balthar were eerily calm. By comparison, the Roc Prince was looking at Ryu with an odd light in his eyes… one that was almost…

Worshipful?

"My father… said that you were the man he respected the most in his life. I thought it was an exaggeration, and it also didn't make much sense to me at all. But now I think I can understand it."

Ryu's gaze shifted and landed on the Roc Prince.

"Father?" Ryu's eyes narrowed before a flash rippled through them. "You are Little Rock's descendant?"

The Roc Prince grasped at the air, a sparkling light of lightning taking shape into a spear that howled.

"I would love to fight you! Mr. Tatsuya!"

The voice of the Roc Prince was almost childish, as though he hadn't quite gone through puberty yet.

A bit of Ryu's aura faded and his gaze softened.

"… Alright."