Chapter 252: The Grand Fight Prelude

The chamber erupted into chaos the moment the two Mythical-Tier Terra Beasts collided.

The Golden Dragon’s molten scales burned so hot that the stone beneath it turned to liquid, pooling in glowing rivers that carved through the floor like lava. Garuda’s steel feathers cut through the air like razors, creating wind blades that sliced through pillars and sent chunks of debris flying in every direction. The sheer force of their clash sent shockwaves rippling outward, forcing everyone still in the chamber to their knees.

The Clan Leader rode atop his dragon with a manic grin on his face. His robes fluttered wildly in the turbulent air, and his eyes burned with a mixture of rage and triumph.

"You old fool!" he shouted, his voice barely audible over the roar of the two beasts. "You think you can stop me? I have spent years planning this! Years consolidating power! You stepped down, and I took everything! The clan, the authority, the bloodline—it’s all MINE!"

Tobias Stormwind, the Grand Elder, remained calm despite the storm raging around him. His white hair flowed like a banner behind him, and his eyes were sharp with resolve.

"You were meant to lead the clan to greatness," he said, his voice carrying clearly through the chaos. "You were meant to cherish and protect everyone within the clan. But what did you do instead?!! You tortured your own daughter, you stole her bloodline, and you turned this clan into a den of vipers!!! Today, I will personally rectify the biggest mistake I have ever made in my life and take care of you for once and for all!!!"

He raised his hand, and Garuda let out a piercing cry that shook the entire chamber.

"I will take back what is rightfully mine," the old man continued. "And you, my son, will learn what it means to be a leader!! Or you will die trying!"

The Clan Leader’s grin widened.

"Fine! If that’s how you want it, then let’s settle this once and for all! I’ll crush you, take your authority, and send you into an early grave along with all the elders who still support you!!"

The two massive beasts clashed again, their collision creating a blinding explosion of light and energy that forced everyone to shield their eyes.

While the two Titans tore the chamber apart above, the scene below was no less violent.

Raiden stood in the centre of the encircling enemies, Woolie still cradled in his arms, Rose coiled around his neck, and Neva perched on his shoulder. The eleven Platinum-Tier Battle Masters closed in slowly, their auras pressing down on the small group like a physical weight.

But they weren’t alone.

Behind each Battle Master stood two or three Platinum-Tier Terra Beasts, their eyes glowing with predatory light. Wolves with fur like liquid metal. Bears covered in crystalline armour. Eagles whose wings trailed flames. Serpents made of living shadow. More than thirty Platinum-Tier beasts in total, all focused on the small group in the centre.

Among the Battle Masters was a familiar face.

Darius Stormwind, the First Core Disciple, stood at the front, his face still bearing the humiliation of his earlier defeat. His eyes burned with hatred as he glared at Raiden. Behind him stood two massive Platinum-Tier beasts: a three-headed hound with chains wrapped around its neck and a floating eye surrounded by rings of fire.

"You," he spat. "You embarrassed me in front of the entire clan. Today, you will pay."

The other three Core Disciples flanked him, their expressions equally cold.

The Second Core Disciple, a tall woman with sharp features and a whip made of crackling lightning in her hand, sneered. Behind her prowled a Platinum-Tier panther made of living electricity and a giant scorpion whose tail dripped with corrosive venom. "You think you can just walk into our clan and take whatever you want? You’re nothing but a thief."

The Third Core Disciple, a broad-shouldered man with a massive axe resting on his shoulder, laughed. Behind him stood a Platinum-Tier gorilla with arms like tree trunks and a rhinoceros whose horn glowed with destructive energy. "Let’s see how long you last against all of us. Even if you beat Darius, you can’t beat eleven Platinum-Tier masters at once."

The Fourth Core Disciple, a thin and lanky man with twisted features, stood there grinning wildly. Behind him stood a Platinum-Tier armadillo with golden scales all over his body and a giant made of metal. "While three of us may have retreated from the trial rounds thinking we weren’t a match for you, the situation is different now. You are not facing us three. You are facing the whole clan!! Do you really think you can win? Give up!!"

Hearing this, Raiden got his answer to who these self-important acting bastards were. They were the same people: the other three core disciples who happened to run away after seeing his powers in the battlefield. What gave them the courage to face him once again, especially Darius?

Manning the last line of defence stood the Diamond-Tier Battle Master, a figure in white robes whose face was obscured by a hood. He didn’t speak, but five massive beasts floated around him like satellites: a tiger wreathed in flames, a serpent made of ice, a golem of living stone, a bird with wings of pure lightning, and a wolf shrouded in darkness.

Theodore stepped forward, his body trembling slightly but his stance firm. Behind him, Garuda and Lily hovered protectively, their wings spread wide.

"I’ll take care of the defence!" he shouted, wind gathering around his blade. "They won’t get past me!"

Aria moved to his side, her hands glowing with golden-white energy. The wind around her swirled violently, responding to her emotions. She had no Terra Beast yet, but the ancestral knowledge Valcoric had given her allowed her to manipulate the wind itself into weapons.

"I am not as weak as I was before!" she declared. "I’ll support you!"

Raiden looked at his partners on his shoulders, who were itching for battle once more. Rose’s golden eyes gleamed with predatory hunger, and Neva’s eight eyes glowed with golden light, her limbs twitching in anticipation.

He looked at the massive battle that was going on in the air before looking at his opponents stood there, forming a circle around them, surrounding them from all sides, making sure they couldn’t escape at all.

Then he smiled.

"Fine. Let’s dance."

The moment the words left his mouth, the battle erupted.