Chapter 385: Clash of Domains

FWOOSH!

The golden light consumed everything. The Frostbite Pass, the snow-capped peaks, the frozen riverbeds—all of it was swallowed by the blinding radiance of King Alaric’s Reality Annex.

The Void Behemoth reacted instantly. Its spatial horn blazed with purple energy, wrapping itself in a dense barrier of folded space. The light bent around the barrier, unable to penetrate the spatial distortion.

But Kael and Bjorn were not so fortunate.

CRACK!

Bjorn coughed out a mouthful of blood as the light slammed into him. His Frost Rule Power flared desperately, trying to create a barrier of absolute zero, but the light came too fast, piercing his defenses. His skin began to blister, the golden radiance burning through his aura like paper.

BZZZT!

Kael’s Tier 1 armor—the Voidscale Armor Cassandra had gifted him—activated automatically. The intricate runes blazed to life, forming a violet barrier that absorbed the piercing light. But even the armor was struggling, the runes flickering under the relentless assault.

I need to counter this, Kael thought, gritting his teeth.

He unleashed his Four Rule Powers simultaneously. Lightning crackled around his body, forming a storm of blue-white energy. Gravity warped the air around him, bending the light at odd angles. Darkness pooled beneath his feet, absorbing the radiance that touched it. Flames swirling around him.

Alaric’s eyes widened. "Four Rule Powers?!"

The light domain pressed against Kael’s quadruple-layered defense, the two forces grinding against each other like tectonic plates. But Kael’s rule powers were only at the Third Step—Articulation with his flame rule power still at the second step. Alaric’s Light Rule was at the Fifth Step. The gap was immense.

This isn’t enough, Kael realized, sweat pouring down his face. My rule powers can’t match his domain.

Bjorn, meanwhile, was faring even worse. His Frost Rule Power flickered weakly, barely able to maintain a thin barrier of ice around his body. His mana was draining rapidly, the golden light eating through his reserves like acid.

"I... I can’t hold this!" Bjorn gasped, blood streaming from his nose.

Kael’s mind raced. He had one option—one technique that could counter a domain of this magnitude.

He closed his eyes, his voice dropping to a cold, resonant whisper.

"Light is an illusion. Creation is a lie. From the void I was born, and to the void you shall return."

Both Bjorn and Alaric froze. The words carried a weight that transcended language—a primordial authority that made the very air tremble.

Kael’s eyes snapped open, blazing with silver light.

"Reality Annex: Eclipse of the Primordial Void."

FWOOSH!

A massive cloud of absolute darkness erupted from Kael’s body, expanding outward in a perfect sphere. The darkness didn’t just block the light—it consumed it, devouring the golden radiance like a starving beast. The two domains collided at the edges, creating a boundary line that was a catastrophic, rotating ring of annihilation. Light and void ground against each other, space itself screaming under the strain.

Alaric stared in absolute shock. A Reality Annex?! From a Spirit Soul cultivator?! That’s impossible! He had never heard of anyone below the Origin Realm comprehending a domain. What kind of monster is this?!

But even as he watched, his light domain began to push forward. The golden radiance ate into Kael’s darkness, the boundary line inching closer and closer. Kael’s rule powers—even with four of them—were simply not strong enough to sustain the clash against a Fifth Step law.

I’m losing, Kael thought, blood dripping from his nose. I need more power.

Bjorn, seeing the darkness faltering, made a decision. He planted his feet on the air, his frost-iron boots compressing the molecules beneath him into solid footholds. He raised his greataxe, his eyes burning with desperate determination.

He began to chant, his voice rumbling like an avalanche:

"In the endless winter, the world was still. The frost remembers what the flame forgets. The ice preserves what the fire destroys. I am the son of the eternal blizzard. I am the keeper of the frozen throne. By the authority of the first winter, I command the laws of this world to halt. Let the light dim. Let the warmth fade. Let all that moves be still..."

His Frost Rule Power erupted, a massive wave of absolute zero that coalesced into a domain of its own.

"Reality Annex: Frozen Throne of the Eternal Winter."

CRACK!

A second domain materialized—a frozen wasteland of jagged ice and howling blizzards. It was weaker than both Kael’s and Alaric’s, but it was enough. The Frost domain slammed into the boundary line, reinforcing Kael’s darkness and pushing back against the light.

The three domains clashed, the boundary line wavering violently. The golden light dimmed, the darkness surged, and the frost bit into everything.

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!

The domains shattered simultaneously, unable to sustain the three-way collision. The explosion sent all three cultivators flying backward. Alaric coughed up a mouthful of blood, his golden armor cracked and smoking. Bjorn collapsed to one knee, gasping for air, his body covered in frost and burns. Kael landed heavily on the Void Behemoth’s back, his demonic wings folding, his chest heaving.

That was too close, Kael thought, wiping the blood from his lips. Most people avoid using a Reality Annex because it’s so draining. The clash only lasted ten seconds, and I’m almost completely out of mana.

He glanced at Bjorn. The King was in even worse shape—his mana reserves were nearly empty, his body trembling from exhaustion. After all, he was still just a Peak Spirit Soul cultivator.

Alaric, meanwhile, was already recovering. He reached into his spatial ring and pulled out three glowing pills—Tier 4 Mana Restoration Pills, each one worth a fortune. He swallowed them in quick succession, his aura beginning to stabilize.

Kael reached into his own storage ring, pulling out two shimmering, silver-white pills. They were Tier 5 Mana Restoration Pills, personally refined by Kelvin. He tossed one to Bjorn, who caught it with trembling hands.

"Swallow it," Kael ordered.

Bjorn didn’t hesitate. He crushed the pill between his teeth, the potent medicinal essence flooding his meridians. His mana began to recover, his wounds slowly closing.

Alaric’s eyes widened as he sensed the pill’s aura. A Tier 5 pill?! Tier 5 alchemists are incredibly rare on Vaelor! Where did this demon get one?!

Kael didn’t give him time to ponder. He drew his Shadow Slayer blades, the Blood-Iron Alloy humming with dark resonance. He channeled his two intents—Slaughter and Wrath—into the blades, the edges turning a terrifying crimson-black.

Crackle! He activated Lightning Body, his form dissolving into a streak of blue light as he launched himself at Alaric.

"Sky Rending Technique, Fifth Form: Skyfall Cascade!"

CRASH!

He swung both blades in a devastating cross-slash, unleashing a massive wave of crimson-black energy. The attack split into dozens of smaller crescents, each one raining down on Alaric like a meteor shower.

Alaric reacted instantly. "Light Rule: Prism Barrier!"

BZZZT! A dome of golden light materialized around him, the prismatic surface reflecting the cascading slashes in all directions. CRACK! CRACK! CRACK! The barrier held, but spiderweb fractures spread across its surface.

Before Alaric could counter, Bjorn appeared behind him. The Frost-Blooded King swung his greataxe with all his remaining strength, the blade infused with his Frost Rule Power.

SHLICK!

The axe tore through Alaric’s golden armor, carving a deep gash across his back. Blood sprayed into the air.

"ARGH!" Alaric screamed, spinning around. He fired a blast of pure light from his palm, sending Bjorn flying across the sky. BOOM! The King crashed into a distant mountain, disappearing in a cloud of dust.

Kael didn’t waste the opening. He formed a hand seal. "Soul Weaver’s Requiem: Soul Shockwave!"

BUZZZZZT!

An invisible shockwave of soul power slammed into Alaric. But this time, Alaric was ready after falling for Kael’s previous soul attack. He coated his soul with his Light Rule Power, the golden energy forming a protective shell around his consciousness. The soul attack shattered against the barrier, unable to penetrate.

Kael clicked his tongue. Tch. If my soul power had been at the Peak Soul Condensation realm, I could have shattered that barrier. My current soul cultivation isn’t enough.

Alaric smirked, blood still dripping from his back. "Your tricks won’t work on me twice, boy."