Ex rank talent Awakening: 100\% Dodge rate

A strange calm washed over him.

He thought of the plan he would never see completed. Of the Celestial of Ice who stole his beloved consort. Of the ancestor who watched in silence and did nothing. Of the hatred he carried like armor. Of his children, who would now tear each other apart for power in his absence.

They say a man sees his life flash before his eyes in his final moments.

For Emperor Augustus… it was true.

The Abyssal flames soon reached Emperor Augustus, threatening to consume him completely.

Greg raised his eyes—but in the next moment, the Abyssal fire meant to engulf the emperor flickered out, extinguished by an unknown force. His brows furrowed, confused and annoyed as he searched for the cause of the sudden disruption.

"That will be the end of your destruction upon this empire," a calm voice declared.

A man stepped forward—or perhaps, more than a man. He had long white hair that flowed like moonlight, a flawless face with smooth skin, and celestial armor that shimmered with a divine glow. His features bore a faint resemblance to Emperor Augustus.

"Who the hell are you to tell me what to do?! And by the way, how dare you interfere in my fight?!" Greg snapped, his tone sharp, his fury igniting. His entire temperament shifted, his anger flaring like an inferno barely held in check. freewēbnoveℓ.com

"…Ancestor," Emperor Augustus muttered under his breath, stunned by the sudden appearance of his savior. The flat, almost estranged tone with which he addressed the man did not go unnoticed, but the newcomer chose not to remark on it.

Indeed, standing before Greg was none other than the founder of the Grey Empire—the first emperor, the Celestial of War and Peace—Grey.

Grey turned slowly, his gaze drifting across the ruined capital. His expression grew distant, tinged with melancholy as he took in the scale of the devastation.

After a few minutes of silence, he finally spoke. "I will issue you this warning once. Leave—and never return to this empire. Or face my wrath."

The pressure radiating from him was immense, oppressive—maddening. His eyes sharpened, cold and resolute.

"You don't get to tell me what to do," Greg said, unshaken. "I won't leave until I fulfill my promise—and destroy this empire, just as I said."

"What did you say?" Grey repeated, his aura flaring as he increased the pressure surrounding Greg.

But Greg stood firm. He was completely unfazed, unwavering even before the wrath of a celestial. He refused to retreat. No one—not even a godlike being—would make him abandon his resolve.

"You were warned. You simply refused to listen," Grey said, raising a hand, preparing to decimate Greg's soul and erase him from existence.

Greg felt it—that chill. The call of death. The same terrifying sensation he'd felt when facing Sabbah.

But then, the chill abruptly vanished.

Grey turned his gaze toward the distant castle walls.

"Why are you here, Drakonix?" Grey asked suddenly, his voice calm but stern.

Both Emperor Augustus and Greg blinked in confusion.

That confusion didn't last long. A figure appeared between them—a man with vast dragon wings, two majestic horns, and an aura that roared like an ancient storm.

"What do you think you're doing?" Drakonix asked coldly as he descended in front of Greg, placing himself between him and Grey.

"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm about to obliterate the one destroying the empire I built," Grey said flatly.

"Is that so?" Drakonix's eyes narrowed. "Then you'll have to go through me. I won't allow you to harm my patron."

"…Hah." Grey chuckled softly, a trace of amusement in his voice. "So he is the weak being you pledged your allegiance to. I see where his arrogance comes from." He stared into Drakonix's eyes. "Move."

"No," Drakonix replied instantly, his stance firm.

Grey regarded the unmoving dragon-being in silence. After several seconds, he slowly dropped his killing intent. Emperor Augustus's shoulders visibly slumped in disappointment.

It seems you haven't changed, Ancestor. Still the peaceful man you've always been… Just like back then, Augustus thought bitterly.

Grey caught the subtle shift in the emperor's expression and knew exactly what he was thinking. He could have commented on it—their past, the woman, the other celestial—but he held his tongue.

"That's settled, then. We'll be leaving now," Drakonix said with a smile, grateful Grey had chosen not to press for battle.

"What leaving?" Greg cut in, his tone brimming with defiance. "I'm not going anywhere until I destroy this empire and kill the emperor."

Drakonix's eye twitched. This brat… He resisted the urge to seal Greg's mouth shut with a spell. Grey had already conceded—yet here Greg was, pushing even further, giving him a splitting headache.

"Don't push your luck," Grey warned sharply, his eyes narrowing.

But Greg paid no attention. With fearless steps, he walked past the celestial, as though Grey didn't exist, and stood face to face with Emperor Augustus.

"I'm going to make sure you die," Greg growled. "Not even a celestial can stop me."

Emperor Augustus let out a half-pleased smile. He couldn't deny it—he admired Greg's sheer audacity, that dangerous blend of bravery and madness.

Grey felt something stir within him. Being ignored by a mere human—insulting. Infuriating.

"You leave me no choice," Grey said, preparing to strike once more.

But suddenly, Drakonix's pressure surged, forcing Grey to redirect his attention.

"You still choose to protect him, even knowing he seeks death?" Grey asked, genuinely perplexed.

"Yes," Drakonix said firmly.

But in his heart, he was cursing Greg a thousand times over. Stupid mortal... making me work this hard.

"…Very well," Grey muttered. "I suppose a clash between us is inevitable."

BOOM!

He unleashed his sealed aura. Greg and Augustus were blasted backward like rag dolls, tossed aside by the sheer force.

The ground cracked violently. The air trembled. Space itself groaned, as though the world were straining not to tear apart.

"I guess so," Drakonix replied, his voice cool as he released his own power.

His pressure rivaled Grey's—an equal force. The two immense powers clashed, creating a vortex of raw destruction. Space distorted. The earth fractured.