Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 1287 - 1286 - Half Step Sovereign Tier

Kora had been frustrated that she could not join in the active fight. While they trusted the intelligence they got from their sources, it was best to assume a nasty surprise was waiting to catch them off guard.

The majority of their forces were Sliver Tier or lower. Some were also not good at combat but more supportive roles so they were used to power the formations or weavings as needed.

The Radiant Tiers were much smaller or too engaged to walk away from their positions at the Frey Clan. The Crystal Tiers had similar issues but were far more numerous.

While the founding family was important, their duties were more as needed than regular obligations.

Now, Kora wondered if they had not planned enough.

Ethry and Chu were considered the strongest fighters. Even her own bloodline would have to bow in combat to them. The others were powerful dragons that had a long track record of battles and showing power above their realm.

They had blown through their cultivation foundation like it was nothing to them but now they faced an enemy that was above them by a magnitude they had severely underestimated.

"Get the healers here now! I do not care if they are unsure, we need them and all elixirs we have on hand!" She was directing the chaotic storm as the severely wounded dragons were taking to the stables as it was the only place their large forms could lay down.

Fey, Cyntilla, and Shoti were in better shape but they were clearly exhausted mentally.

Once all were inside, she erected the seals as the Trio arrived. They had not a scratch on them but her feathers ruffled just looking at them. They were vastly stronger than anyone she had ever met in her life!

Her race memory warned her. It recognized the state their enemy was in.

Normally, any step beyond one's current tier or realm would trigger a breakthrough but Immortals could suppress the next step better than any other cultivator. Sliver and Shard Tiers could only polish their foundation and hold off on breaking through.

Crystal and Radiant Tiers, on the other hand, could tap into part of the power of the next step for a short time, as Immortals measured things.

Depending on how far they pushed it and exerted themselves, it could be years, even decades before they were forced to face their tribulation. Once they made that step, however, it was inevitable.

Very few would choose to do it due to the risk of inciting their tribulation randomly, but the advantage was clear. It granted power beyond the peak of the 3rd layer without violating the rules of Heaven and Earth.

The Trio were disturbingly identical auras as well. How that was possible she had no idea but it meant their previous confidence in their defenses were not as solid!

"Kora!" Annabelle came sprinting down which was a bad sign. It meant the outer arrays were broken already!

"What happened?!" Her face was pale but she seemed ok otherwise.

"I think those bastards activated a failsafe! They have pushed their cultivation to Half Step Sovereign Tier!" Her words met some confusion but the sudden shaking of the fortress around them made it clear the kind of power they were dealing with.

Annabelle became grim but then quickly began to summon materials as she inscribed on a large blank plate. Kora knew her duty then.

She could not take the bastards on directly but rocs had far better weapons at their disposal. They were not called the Lords of the Skies for nothing!

She flew up to a window and looked out to see only 1 of the Trio slamming only their body against the barriers! She could also tell the barriers were buckling!

It was pure physical strength!

She paid it no mind as she transformed. Her body felt free as her wings extended to cover the castle but the enemy paid her no heed. She sneered as the winds shifted. It was like breathing to her but she had learned far more than just dominating the elements to fly!

The air shimmered as she pushed fire Qi with the air. The enemies did not seem to care but they were greater fools for that.

The air began to become wavy to the eye. It was only as the figure at the front gate stumbled that she smirked in her mind. Her beak chirped as the air outside the barrier became a scorching sauna.

The body was made of 70% water. No control or modification could change that fact. She was boiling them alive!

If not for the fact all 3 fell at once, she would have been happier. They were still in sync which meant they were connected!

She increased the darkness Qi to make pressure build but then felt resistance. The figures were covered head to toe but she felt all 3 sets of eyes lock on her.

[Go to Hell!] She used all her innate ability to command the elements but the 3 figures suddenly stood up and focused on her. She felt the pressure build and the elements were fighting her! They were not under her full control.

How were they doing that?! Once under her command, how could it be stolen?

[[[Give us the aether child. We will leave.]]]

A trio of voices entered her head. She screeched as she lit up with all 6 elements dancing around her. She would not bow to them!

She was a mighty roc! She was not going to bow to these humans!

Her golden wings tipped in black flapped with enough force to topple mountains but the Trio ignored it with ease. They had adapted to her attack with stunning ease!

Was that the power of Sovereign Tiers?

Radiant Tiers exerted more control outside of them with the way they interpreted Laws and elements, but Sovereign Tiers supposedly went far beyond that.

They imposed their will on the world.

She began to grasp the next step but she pushed it aside to deal with her current enemies. It was no time for enlightenment!

She screeched and the air rippled. The enemy in front of her hardly seemed bothered but she sneered in her mind. Anyone that thought it was a simple sonic attack would be a fool.

Blood suddenly leaked from the head wrap but she noticed the other 2 in her range also bled. Confusion filled her mind as she had simply been trying to break the synchronicity between them to lessen their power.

Yet, one was injured and so were the other 2. She tried to figure it out but pain lanced in her chest. She looked down to find an injury!

When did she get attacked? The barrier was still up but now she was injured. How?!

[Kora, do not attack them again. If they really are Half Step Sovereign Tiers, they can impose what is done to them on their attacker. They did not grasp your Laws or Intent completely so it was not too bad this time.] Qing's voice entered her mind.

Kora was frustrated but could not deny the reality of the situation. If her attacks were reflected back, even poorly, a critical strike would kill her body before she knew what happened.

If her crystal was shattered unprepared, she could lose her soul as well!

She returned to her human form but then froze when a cracking sound was heard. The barrier was collapsing! Despite the injury, or maybe because of it, they put even more strength into their attacks!

Qing and stood over Annabelle looking grim before she summoned a weaving plate. Her blonde hair was moving like wind was flowing around her. Her white robes never budged a centimeter as she infused her Qi into the copper colored plate.

The sigils blazed before a powerful aura swept outward. It fused with the weakening barrier and a buzzing sound filled the air. Kora narrowed her dark gold eyes as she felt a true threat from that weaving!

"What was that?" Qing smiled and simply showed the bottom of the plate. A sinuous emerald dragon stood out on the copper background. No more words were needed on its origin but screams made both women quickly look back outside the entrance.

The Trio were writhing in pain and grasping their heads. What was going on?

"He said if we ever faced anyone able to reflect attacks to use that Interspatial Dissonance Weaving. It is not lethal but it will be extremely painful to the person experiencing it. He said it would feel like their head was splitting in half while a hot poker burned in their ears. He said it hurts other areas by disrupting space but since it does not cause damage, there is nothing to reflect." Kora swallowed.

Lind was known to be cruel to his enemies but that seemed a very specific method to inflict pain for maximum effect. Where did he learn to do that?

"How much time will it buy us?" No formation or weaving was eternal. If it was not supplied with appropriate Qi, it would cease functioning.

"Difficult to say. It has never been used on such powerful individuals. Against a normal Radiant Tier, it might knock them out for months but Half Step Sovereign Tiers I do not–" The answer came quickly as a shockwave slammed into the barrier.

It had time to recover but the Trio now stood up and for the first time seemed to express an emotion. Anger.

[[[You will all die.]]]

Four words. It was just four words and hardly original ones but Kora felt her spine go cold. Their deaths would not be easy ones. Did they have anything that could kill them without it bouncing back on the user?

Annabelle kept inscribing but Kora was not sure if they had enough time.