bantayden Chapter 334 334: This Is a Work of Art
Chapter 334 334: This Is a Work of Art
The pirates were clearly shaken by what they were witnessing. Panic spread through their ranks as they intensified their assault, even deploying heavier weaponry. Yet no matter how fiercely they attacked, none of it could touch the Flame Emperor.
"This is impossible! How is he doing this?" the pirate leader's voice rang out over the comms, thick with fear and disbelief.
The Flame Emperor offered no reply. He simply continued forward at an unhurried pace. When he came within a few hundred meters of the nearest pirate vessel, he slowly raised his right hand.
"Spatial Sever."
He spoke the name softly and flicked his finger.
A nearly invisible fracture tore through space itself, extending from his fingertip straight toward the target ship. It was as thin as a strand of hair, yet carried a terrifying force.
The moment the pirate ship touched that fracture, it split cleanly in two, as if it had been made of soft clay. The cut was impossibly smooth, exposing the intricate inner structure of the vessel. A brief silence followed, then both halves erupted into a violent explosion.
Inside the observation deck, Rowan stood frozen.
He had seen countless forms of attack before, but never anything like this. There was no buildup, no overwhelming surge of energy, no blinding flash. Just a simple motion, and a warship ceased to exist.
"So this is the power of spatial law…" he murmured, his heart pounding.
The pirates were utterly terrified. They had never encountered such a method of attack. Faced with power beyond comprehension, fear spread like wildfire through their fleet.
"Retreat! Retreat! That thing is a monster!" the pirate leader shouted frantically.
But the Flame Emperor had no intention of letting them escape. They had dared to attack a vessel of the Great Axe Arena. There would be consequences.
"Since you came all this way," his voice echoed through the vacuum, carried by the resonance of law itself, "there is no need to rush off."
He raised his hand again, this time extending all five fingers.
Five spatial fractures appeared simultaneously, each streaking toward a different pirate ship.
The result was immediate. Five ships were cleaved in half at once, followed by a chain of explosions. In less than three seconds, six vessels had been completely destroyed.
The remaining pirates collapsed into chaos. Engines roared to life as they attempted to flee, but their efforts were futile. The Flame Emperor moved faster than they could comprehend, and the reach of spatial law ignored distance altogether.
"Spatial Lock."
This time, he invoked a large-scale control over space itself. The region around him thickened, as though it had turned into liquid. The pirate ships slowed dramatically, struggling forward like insects trapped in syrup.
"Now, it ends."
He brought his hands together, then spread them apart.
Countless spatial fractures erupted, weaving through the pirate fleet like a vast, invisible net.
The remaining ships had no chance. One after another, they were sliced into fragments, reduced to drifting debris.
In less than a minute, the entire pirate fleet was annihilated. Not a single ship escaped.
Silence returned to the void.
Only scattered wreckage remained, slowly drifting through space, a silent testament to the battle that had just taken place.
The Flame Emperor floated calmly amid the debris, the glow of energy around him gradually fading.
From the observation deck, Rowan watched everything unfold. Words failed him.
This was true power.
This was what stood at the pinnacle beneath the Immortal level. A single individual, effortlessly erasing an entire fleet.
"Incredible…" he whispered. "This is beyond anything I ever imagined."
A few minutes later, the Flame Emperor returned to the ship. When he stepped back into the observation deck, his expression was calm, as if he had merely taken a short walk.
"It's dealt with. We can continue."
Rowan was still trying to process what he had seen. "Those pirates…"
"Foolish insects," the Flame Emperor said dismissively. "In this universe, strength is everything. Without it, daring to challenge the strong leads only to death."
"That was spatial law, wasn't it?" Rowan asked.
"Yes. It is my primary discipline."
"It's terrifying," Rowan said quietly. "Those ships… they looked like paper."
"For those who master spatial law, conventional defenses mean very little," the Flame Emperor explained. "Unless specifically designed to counter spatial attacks, most protections are useless."
"Will you use the same methods in the battle at Blue Crystal Planet?"
"That depends on the opponent," the Flame Emperor replied thoughtfully. "Against Immortal-level enemies, simple spatial severing may not be enough. They each possess their own defensive techniques, and their reaction speed is extraordinary."
"How strong are Immortals, exactly?"
The Flame Emperor considered for a moment. "What I just did… to them, it would be effortless. An Immortal can destroy a planet with a single strike."
Rowan's breath caught. "Destroy a planet?"
"Yes. That is why battles at that level are fought in space. No world could survive such power."
Rowan fell silent, absorbing the magnitude of it.
"What about the enemies we're facing? Do they really have Immortals?" he asked after a moment.
"At least three," the Flame Emperor confirmed. "But there is no need to worry. The Great Axe Arena will send forces of equal strength."
"Equal strength?"
"At least two Immortals on our side. Possibly more."
"And beyond Immortals?" Rowan pressed.
The Flame Emperor glanced at him, hesitating briefly before answering.
"King-tier Immortals."
Rowan repeated the title under his breath.
"Above ordinary Immortals, there exists that level," the Flame Emperor explained. "If Immortals can destroy planets, King-tier Immortals can erase entire star systems."
Rowan inhaled sharply. The scale of that power defied imagination.
"They are exceedingly rare," the Flame Emperor continued. "Even within the Great Axe Arena, only a handful exist."
"Will one appear in this battle?"
"That depends on the enemy."
Rowan nodded slowly. "I understand now why Blue Crystal resources are so important. Anything that can trigger a conflict at this level… its value must be beyond measure."
"It is more than a resource," the Flame Emperor said. "It is also a key material for certain advanced weapons."
"Weapons?"
"Ones capable of threatening even Immortals. Perhaps more."
Rowan gave a small nod. "I understand."
The ship continued its journey.
The pirate encounter had been nothing more than a brief interruption, yet it had completely reshaped Rowan's perception of power.
If someone like the Flame Emperor was insignificant before an Immortal, then what kind of terror would an actual clash between Immortals bring?
And soon, he would witness it himself.
"Oh, right," the Flame Emperor said suddenly. "There's something I forgot to mention."
"What is it?"
"One of the factions involved in the attack… is someone you might recognize."
Rowan frowned. "Someone I know?"
"The Azure Silver Empire."
Rowan's eyes widened. "The empire Alya belongs to?"
"Yes. Though the princess herself likely knows nothing of it, their higher authorities are involved."
"How is that possible?" Rowan struggled to accept it. "Why would they attack the Great Axe Arena?"
"Profit," the Flame Emperor replied simply. "The temptation is too great."
"And Alya…"
"She is probably innocent," he said. "Someone like her would not be included in such decisions."
Rowan fell quiet, his thoughts tangled.
"So this is the reality of the universe," the Flame Emperor added. "There are no eternal allies. Only eternal interests."
"I see."
Three days later, they arrived.
The Blue Crystal Star System unfolded before them like a dream. A brilliant blue-white star burned at its center, casting a soft azure glow across the entire system. Seven planets orbited in perfect harmony, each one unique.
"It's beautiful," Rowan said softly, gazing through the window.
"The color comes from Blue Crystal particles dispersed throughout space," the Flame Emperor explained.
As they drew closer, more details emerged. At the edges of the system, vast artificial structures hovered in orbit. Defense platforms and monitoring stations, elegant in design yet unmistakably powerful.
"Our defenses cover the entire system," the Flame Emperor said. "No ship approaches unnoticed."
"And the attackers?"
"They will find a way."
The ship continued inward, toward the third planet.
Blue Crystal Planet.
As it came into view, Rowan found himself holding his breath.
It was a world of shimmering blue oceans and lush green continents. Faint veins of glowing light traced across its surface, reflecting the presence of Blue Crystal deposits. From space, the entire planet resembled a flawless sapphire.
"It's… breathtaking," Rowan said quietly. "This is a work of art."
"It truly is," the Flame Emperor said, a hint of pride in his voice. "We have governed this world for a thousand years. Not only developing its resources, but guiding its civilization."
"There was already life here?"
"Yes. Primitive, at the time."
"Can I see what it looked like back then?"
"Of course."
The Flame Emperor activated the control panel.
A holographic image appeared across the wall.
The Blue Crystal Planet of a thousand years ago came into view, shrouded in thick clouds, its surface wild and untamed.
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