A Warrior Undefeatable

The Nether Duo had fallen within a handful of breaths. Jared's crimson gaze now settled on the remaining Underworld Shadow Guards still entangled with the battered disciples of the Azurecloud Sect.

Pinned down by the disciples of Azurecloud Sect, the Underworld Shadow Guards had already been wavering; when they witnessed the brutal death of their two elder commanders, whatever order remained in their ranks collapsed, and their once-fluid movements turned stiff and panicked.

"You worthless b*stards, go to hell!"

Jared vaulted skyward, the Dragonslayer Sword whirling in his grip. In an instant, the blade became a storm of crimson demonic fire, a rain of swords that swept across the battlefield as though plowing up an old field, leaving no corner untouched.

Poisoned daggers and agile footwork meant nothing before such absolute power. Wherever the flaming sword rain passed, the Underworld Shadow Guards dropped in swathes, charred to cinders before they could even cry out.

The few survivors who tried for a last-ditch ambush were blown apart by the casual flick of a demonic aura blast from Jared's palm.

Flaxseed, Jhaelyn, and the others stood rooted to the spot, staring at the figure wreathed in scarlet flame as he cut through the enemy lines like a god of slaughter, leaving a carpet of corpses in his wake. A wordless, bone-deep awe rose in every heart.

Moments ago, these foes had left them utterly helpless; now, beneath that oppressive demonic might, they looked no stronger than straw dolls.

None felt the contrast more sharply than Saleto. Terror shone on his face as he stared at Jared; had Jared displayed such might during their duel a moment earlier, Saleto doubted he could have withstood even a single blow.

"Cough... cough, cough..."

When the last Underworld Shadow Guard was devoured by the flames, Jared doubled over, hacking violently. This time, the fluid that spattered from his lips was not black but a thick, crimson ichor threaded with demonic energy.

The flames around him flickered unsteadily. Within his scarlet pupils, a faint clarity struggled to the surface.

"Mr. Vermilion, that was a bit much. If you keep exploding with power like that, my body's not going to make it!"

Jared grumbled at Vermilion Demon Lord inside him, utterly at a loss for words. "All right, all right-I might have overdone the showboating. My apologies!"

The moment the joking reply faded, the crimson fire in Jared's eyes receded. His knees buckled; he would have collapsed had Jhaelyn not darted in to catch him.

His face was paper-white. Though the rot on his chest wound had stopped spreading, black energy still seeped from it—Vermilion Demon Lord's power had clearly taken a toll on his mortal flesh.noveldrama

"Jared! Are you okay?" Jhaelyn asked, her voice tight with worry.

He waved her concern away, then surveyed the scorched corpses and the dissipating nether energy. Feeling the churn of demonic aura and spiritual energy within him, his gaze grew complicated.

He lifted his head toward the northwest, where a bank of inky clouds had yet to disperse ande

muttered, "Whoever is bennet

this-our score has only just begun."

Amid the rubble, the reek of blood and scorched flesh mingled. Survivors of Azurecloud Sect looked at Jared with a mix of reverence and lingering dread.

Saleto staggered over and stared at Jared's wounded form in disbelief. "Jared, were you... possessed just now?"

Jared nodded candidly. "A friend of mine-only his divine soul-borrowed my body for a bit."

"That friend of yours, he..."

"He's from the Ninth Heaven," Jared answered.

Saleto sucked in a sharp breath.

A friend from the Ninth Heaven-no wonder even a single wisp of that divine soul could be so terrifying.

"I'll relay everything to Lady Beatra,” Saleto promised. "I'll also do what i can to persuade the Celestial Palace to o treating you as an enemy."

He sighed. "My voice is small; whether it helps depends on the decision-makers

up in Celestial King Palace."

merge "Still, I'll make the stakes clear let them know you have a friend even in the Ninth Heaven."

Right now, Saleto was openly courting Jared's favor.

A Ninth Heaven ally meant near-invincibility here in the Third.

"Much appreciated," Jared said with a polite bow of his head.

"Think nothing of it! A good fight breeds friendship. I have resources to spare— stay here and recover as long as you need."

Saleto's eagerness was palpable; all he wanted now was to befriend Jared, not offend him.