novelraw Chapter 1439 - 1438 - Assessing Sovereigns
Chapter 1439 - 1438 - Assessing Sovereigns
While the other areas were simply assigned foes based on cultivation foundation, Sovereign Tiers were a bit different.
The step between each tier was massive. It would be like comparing a Sky Realm to a peak Sun Tier just between low and mid Sovereign Tier. It was possible for a low tier to fight a mid tier but certain criteria had to be verified.
The most critical was if any Sovereign Tier had touched Dao at all. That facet could transform a Sovereign Tier from a powerful Immortal to nearly invincible against other Immortals that did not have it.
Thus, while battles had long started in the lower tiers, the Sovereign Tier area was set up with several artifacts that mystified all but the Immortals that felt something terrifying about them.
The rectangular blocks stood upright with a massive jewel shimmering at the upper half with the lower half having a chair sticking out. The thousands of Sovereign Tiers participating were in lines but they moved at a snail's pace.
A slim man covered in far too many swords drew many eyes. The younger Immortals had no idea who he was but the older generation paled as they saw him. His long dark hair, neatly kept by hiding his features, marked him as much as his insane crude sword collection.
"Why is someone carrying such poor swords?" A young man murmured and was suddenly slammed into a barrier. The thin man had moved but no one had seen it!
The young man struggled but it was like trying to pry an iron bar for a mortal! A feeling of terror suddenly filled the waiting area.
"You are lucky, fool. I can't kill you here but if you survive, you are now marked. Enjoy your time here to the fullest as we now have an appointment in the wider world." The young man trembled as he was dropped to the stone path.
The thin man then returned to his place in his line. No one dared challenge him but a few noticed the dead silence of the man. Despite being laden with so many weapons, not a sound came from them!
[While it is good you did not kill him, do not do that again. You will be disqualified, otherwise.]
A woman's voice suddenly entered the Immortal Berserker's head. He frowned but nodded. That seemed to be enough as the presence retreated.
No one else spoke aloud but he could feel many telepathic messages for a time. Even he could not intercept them but he could feel an instinct on a few that told him he was the subject.
Poro had not warned him about the boring lines! Why couldn't they just fight?! Where was the damned dragon?
To kill some time he turned to the middle aged man behind him. He had simple gray robes and a simple sword at his hip. His aura was sharp and even Berserker felt a warrior at his level was there.
Still, he did not feel the desire to fight. It told him the man had no true battle drive.
He hated people wasting their skills like that, but he did not care for the moment.
"I do not see Lind Frey here. Does he not have to qualify as well?" The slightly grayed head looked at him as the storm grey eyes measured him. Berserker was well acquainted with such a look.
He did not mind in fact, as 9 times out of 10 it led to a fight! He knew it was not coming regardless but he was surprised when the older man bowed respectfully to him.
"My Master has told me stories of your battles, Immortal Berserker. You refuse the Sovereign title as you await a worthy battle to prove your supremacy. Is that correct?" The gravelly voice was steady and full of respect.
Berserker's eyes narrowed but he could not exactly say the man was wrong.
"I do await a worthy battle to claim my Sovereign title. I will find it here, against Lind Frey. Now where is he?" He did not care who the man's master was. If they were still alive then that only meant they were a good fighter or had simply seen him from afar.
Either way, they were too weak to draw his attention once more.
The man did not seem offended at all but summoned a slate tablet that he quickly infused with Qi. A list came up to show the existing brackets.
The far top left corner had a name.
{Lind Frey: Dao of Defiance, 6 elemental emerald dragon.}
The Berserker felt a thrill of excitement pass through him. A Dao! Not touched on Dao as he had seen others be classified, but a full fledged Dao!
His aura flared briefly but he quickly tamped it down as that could likely also get him disqualified.
He had zero desire to leave now!
So, the True Lord had already been qualified and was likely the first to use the artifacts they were going through.
"Next!" A voice broke him out of his concentration and he saw his line move forward once more. There were nearly a hundred of the artifacts but there were still thousands of them to sort.
It would take so long!
He was getting the itch. The desire to make a foe bleed and beg for their lives. The desire to fight a being far above his strength but there were so damned few! He had become too strong!
He needed a release or something. He summoned his token and infused his aura into it. Some information came to him but nothing to sate his need!
The sound of swords suddenly filled the air and all turned as one to look at him. His smile was slowly growing as he knew things were about to go bad if he did not do something.
Three figures suddenly appeared around him looking grim. They were all low Sovereign Tiers but he actually felt threatened by them!
Harmonic Dragons! They had to be the Harmonic Dragons he had heard so much about!
"Senior, you must contain yourself or you will be disqualified. Please comply." The demonic dragon spoke up. She was lithe but the power he felt likely would destroy men four times her size! He wanted to fight her!
"He, he, he. I can't help it! I can't–" A shift occurred and all grew pale as a powerful pressure shot upward. The world actually became dyed in blood colors with the Berserker at the center.
Every single jewel reacted as the Harmonic Dragons fell to their knees! They could not resist it at such a close range!
A Dao! A full Dao!
How was the Berserker still only an Immortal?!
He was a peak Sovereign Tier with a full Dao, the qualification to become a Divine Realm but he was not!
"HA! HA! HA! COME TO ME! FIGHT ME!" The Berserker was losing control and only a fight could stop him now!
The world suddenly changed once more. The Dao was shattered as a serene valley surrounded them. A gentle breeze with a warm sun made a comfortable setting. A few oak trees full of birds, squirrels, and other small animals showed there was no threat at all.
The snow capped mountains in the distance promised an adventure but the Berserker was on his knees unable to appreciate the serene scene. His Dao had been forcibly severed! How?!
A different feeling filled him. Happiness! Someone strong was behind it!
"Have you been freed from your Dao? It is a dangerous one you have chosen. Given that once triggered, even the user can't stop it, you will not be disqualified. You have been added to the brackets and may retire to a chamber to exhaust yourself if needed." A woman's voice drew up his head.
He looked around and found a gorgeous aether child standing not far away. Her sapphire and gold colors were accentuated by her white robes but he felt a chill go down his spine when he looked at her.
"You are not there but you are. How does that work?" His instincts were screaming at him that she was dangerous. That he would only know death if he tried to fight her.
She smiled at him but the smile was like a predator being amused by prey!
"The Dao of Bloodlust is terrifying. I am the Goddess of Illusion. I have already settled your disturbance. Go to one of the training rooms and let it be satiated." The scene vanished and he was now in a large hall he recognized!
It was the very hall he had been shown that contestants could use to consolidate gains or train!
He had no sensation of movement nor of being moved through space but the corridor was real. He looked around and suddenly realized one other change. His token!
It now glowed with new information!
{Immortal Berserker: Dao of Bloodlust (uncontrolled), 4 Primary elements and 2 Secondary elements}
It was the same basic information but it was his location that made a smile spread on his face. He was in the same bracket as Lind Frey!
Laughter filled the corridor as he took a room and his bloodlust was fully unleashed. Before the door closed, anyone in range were left feeling horrified and wondered who could beat such a man.