Chapter 69: The Wrath of the Great Ones

Silence descended upon the entire arena.

Everyone held their breath at the sight of the imminent clash between two beings standing at the peak of the Mortal World. Everyone understood that a confrontation between Azrael and Jonathan Ashbourne at this moment would not merely be a battle between two individuals—it would be a catastrophe whose consequences could spread throughout the entire arena and beyond.

The auras of the two collided in the sky, creating enormous vortices of energy above the arena, while the protective formations surrounding the battlefield began to tremble beneath the terrifying pressure.

Azrael gripped his black great axe, its purple blade still radiating that ominous light.

Jonathan Ashbourne, meanwhile, held his sword firmly, a sharp sword aura surrounding his body.

The first strike was about to descend.

But it never came.

At the final moment, two figures appeared between them.

Titania, Empress of the Central Empire, stood before Azrael.

On the other side, Caesar, Supreme Guardian of the Association for the Protection of Races, appeared before Jonathan Ashbourne.

The axe and sword stopped.

Yet their auras did not disappear.

The entire arena remained under terrifying pressure.

Whispers began spreading through the crowd.

"Empress Titania herself has intervened..."

"And the Supreme Guardian Caesar as well."

"If they hadn't intervened, the battle would have already begun."

An old man gazed at the turbulent sky and said,

"Do you understand what it means for two beings of this level to clash here?"

A young man beside him answered,

"I don't want to find out."

Another spectator said,

"Even if they don't target us, the shockwaves alone could kill weaker cultivators."

Someone else added,

"Look at the protective formations... they're barely holding."

Titania looked at Azrael and spoke in a clear voice that carried throughout the arena:

"Lord Azrael, this is neither the place nor the time to lose your temper and cause a massacre among the spectators."

Azrael's expression did not change.

He continued gripping his axe, his eyes fixed on Jonathan from behind Titania.

Meanwhile, Caesar turned toward Jonathan and spoke loudly enough for the entire arena to hear:

"I, as the Supreme Guardian of the Association for the Protection of Races, bear the responsibility of protecting the innocent and those in need."

He then looked at the two men.

"Therefore, Lord Jonathan and Lord Azrael, stop this conflict before innocent people are harmed."

Some of the whispers began to quiet after hearing Caesar's words.

One elder said,

"The Supreme Guardian is speaking in his official capacity."

Another replied,

"And it would be difficult for anyone to reject such a request."

But someone else muttered,

"Except Azrael."

Those around him turned toward him.

The man continued,

"Look at his eyes."

Silence fell among them.

Jonathan had heard Caesar's words, and he calmed slightly, his aura weakening by a small degree.

Then he said coldly,

"I wasn't the one who started this. Azrael was."

He glanced toward Azrael.

"So talk to him, not me, Caesar."

As for Azrael...

He did not calm down.

Not even slightly.

His eyes continued glowing with that frightening purple light.

He had already made his decision.

Jonathan would die.

He had heard Titania and Caesar's words, but he did not consider them sufficient reason to retreat.

Then his voice thundered across the arena:

"Who are the two of you to tell me what I should do?"

The sky trembled with his voice.

Some of the weaker auras around him instinctively retreated.

The expressions of numerous spectators froze.

One of them whispered,

"He spoke to the Empress like that..."

Another replied,

"He doesn't put anyone in his eyes."

But another man said seriously,

"This is not the time to judge his arrogance. If they clash, nothing here will remain."

Azrael continued, his eyes fixed upon Jonathan:

"I warned him before not to cross the line with my wife."

The glow in his eyes intensified.

"But he ignored my warning."

He raised his axe slightly.

"Therefore, he will pay for that disregard with his life."

Titania's expression darkened.

Azrael's attitude was arrogant even toward her, but she realized that his anger was no longer an empty threat.

He was completely serious.

She spoke despite her displeasure at his disrespect:

"Lord Azrael, Jonathan was wrong to ignore your warning, and he is willing to compensate for it."

She continued,

"So let this matter go this once."

Caesar stepped forward and spoke in a more serious tone:

"Forgiveness is a virtue of the great, Lord Azrael."

He looked directly at him.

"So let this matter go this once."

His tone became firmer.

"But if you insist on fighting, I will not allow you to endanger the lives of innocent people for the sake of your pride."

In the stands, one cultivator said,

"Even Caesar has warned him directly."

His companion replied,

"Now we'll see whether Azrael will back down."

A third said,

"I don't think he will."

The first looked at him.

"Why?"

The man looked toward Azrael.

"Because a man who raises his axe like that even after the intervention of the Empress and the Supreme Guardian... doesn't look like someone who came here intending to retreat."

Silence followed.

Azrael remained silent for several moments.

Then he said,

"You people..."

His eyes shifted toward the two interveners.

"I warn once. I do not forgive twice."

His axe slowly rose.

"Since he ignored my warning..."

His expression became frighteningly cold.

"I will spill his blood today."

Several people shuddered.

One spectator whispered,

"He's serious..."

Another added,

"Jonathan is in real danger."

But Azrael was not finished.

After a brief pause, he continued:

"Furthermore, I will not stop you—or anyone else—from protecting the innocent."

His eyes turned toward Caesar.

Then toward Titania.

His voice became cold.

"But understand this..."

His aura momentarily stilled, as if the heavens themselves had held their breath.

"Anyone who intervenes..."

Killing intent intensified around his body.

"Had better be prepared to lose their life."

Then he added without the slightest hesitation:

"Mercy is not among my virtues."

Absolute silence descended upon the arena.

No one had expected such a response.

Even some of the great powers watching the scene changed expressions.

One elder said,

"He has declared it openly..."

Another said,

"Anyone who interferes in the battle will become his target."

A third elder asked,

"Even the Empress?"

No one answered.

Everyone understood the meaning behind Azrael's words.

In the stands, anxiety began turning into genuine fear.

One spectator said,

"If the battle begins now, run!"

Someone beside him asked,

"Where?"

He pointed toward the turbulent sky.

"Look up there... even the heavens are beginning to crack."

Another man shouted,

"Stop the tournament! No tournament is worth our lives!"

Meanwhile, a young man staring at Azrael said,

"And yet... I can't take my eyes off this."

His friend turned toward him.

"You're insane."

The young man smiled nervously.

"Perhaps."

He turned his gaze back toward the arena.

"But when will we ever see a battle like this again?"

Some of the Immortal cultivators, however, did not share that recklessness.

One of them said,

"I'm not staying here for another minute if they start fighting."

Another immediately agreed,

"Neither am I. We're not even strong enough to withstand the aftermath of their attacks."

Elsewhere in the stands, an elder said,

"The All-Races Tournament has become a stage for a clash between the great ones."

Another shook his head.

"No."

The elder looked at him in surprise.

He gazed toward Azrael and Jonathan.

"This is no longer a tournament."

His voice became solemn.

"This is the beginning of something much greater."

Even Lunaria, who was standing before her family to shield them from the pressure of Jonathan's aura, looked toward Azrael seriously.

Alex's face was pale.

He muttered,

"He threatened everyone..."

Selena looked at him but said nothing.

Her eyes remained fixed on Azrael.

She could not deny her fear.

Yet deep within her was another feeling she did not fully understand.

As for Lilian, she watched Azrael silently.

She knew he was an extraordinary existence, but seeing his rage like this made her realize that the power this man possessed was far greater than she had imagined.

Meanwhile, Jonathan Ashbourne tightened his grip around his sword.

His expression was grim.

He finally understood that this had gone beyond a mere dispute over his daughter.

Azrael was no longer merely speaking out of anger.

He was speaking of killing.

Titania remained standing before Azrael, her eyes narrowing slightly.

She was not afraid of him.

But she understood that calming this man would not be easy.

Caesar likewise did not move.

His position was clear.

He would not allow a battle to erupt that could destroy the arena and kill innocent people.

And so...

Between Azrael and Jonathan Ashbourne stood two of the most powerful figures present, attempting to prevent a catastrophe.

But Azrael's words had made everyone realize something far more dangerous:

If the conflict continued, Jonathan would not be his only enemy.

Anyone who stood in his way...

Could become an enemy.

His aura continued rising.

His black great axe remained raised toward the heavens.

Jonathan, meanwhile, tightened his grip around his sword.

For the first time since the beginning of the tournament, no one cared about the battles or the advancing participants.

Every gaze was fixed upon the four great figures.

Because what happened in the next few moments...

could determine the fate of the entire tournament.