Chapter 363
“Dad, who are they p>
Gareth’s voice cracked with strain.
His eyes fixed on Reginald, desperate for an answer. He was strong, but he was younger. He did not know who they were.
Reginald’s pupils shrank. His tone grew heavy.
“The man in the thunder robe is Ares. Forty years ago, the world named him the King of Thunder.
“The one with the Jesund blade is Enderman Briggs-Higgins. Tsaric was his student. He was the Sword Master of Jesund, a titan of his era. He once drew a single blade that stopped Mount Fellstone’s eruption.
“Both of them stepped onto the International Combat Units list ten years ago. Both are still counted among the strongest alive p>
Gareth’s face twisted. His chest rose hard and fast.
“The International Combat Units p>
He had never reached that list. But even he knew its meaning.
Every fighter, every sorcerer, every metahuman alive longed for it. That list stood above all others. Even the Astria Power Index paled beside it. It was the crown of crowns in their world.
The Astria Power Index was released by the Divine Loom, the most trusted voice in Astria’s martial world. It appeared once every twenty-five years.
The International Combat Units was something far different. It was compiled by the hidden master behind the Global Warrior Network.
No one knew if that figure was a man or a group, but the list they created every ten years was final. The world accepted it without question.
The list named only twenty. Each was a giant, a living storm. To step onto it was to rise above nations, to stand as a weapon feared by armies. Ten years ago, Ares, the King of Thunder, had held fifteenth. Enderman, the great master of the sword, had held fourteenth.
Their rankings seemed low, but that was an illusion. Out of countless fighters across the earth, only twenty had made it. Those twenty were gods among mortals.
Now both of those names had come, summoned by Greed. Leander had been in control. In a heartbeat, the ground shifted.
Ares looked at Leander once, then turned to Greed with a sneer.
“Greed, you’re supposed to be one of the Arbitration Office’s best. And yet you can’t even crush four houses? Do you really need us to carry your weight p>
Enderman let out a cold laugh. “So the Arbitration Office has slipped. Standards must be low if you’re what they call elite p>
Greed flushed red. He didn’t dare fire back. He forced a bitter smile. “I gave it everything. But the four houses had a protector. That man is Jeff. I need you both to kill him p>
“Jeff p>
The two turned together, their eyes locking on Leander.
Enderman’s gaze cut across him like a blade. His voice dropped heavy.
“So you’re Jeff. You killed my disciple on Glidewing Mountain. I have waited for this day. At last, I will see you face to face p>
Ares’ eyes lit with hunger. His mouth curved into a grin.
“Jeff, the rumors about you spread farther than those about the Dragon Emperor. Astria calls you its strongest. I wanted to meet you. I never thought it would be like this p>
Their words carried no fear. They spoke down to him, like elders to a reckless youth. To them, Leander was still new. His name burned bright, but they had walked through decades of battle.
They had bled on battlefields. They had torn empires apart. Their names were carved in fire and steel.
They had earned their place on the list of twenty with scars and blood.
To them, Leander was still climbing.
Leander’s gaze slid over them, cold as ice. A faint smile touched his lips.
Ares and Enderman shared a glance. Enderman’s tone softened, though pride rang in every word.
“Jeff, we rarely bother to share our
names But you
have earned that
right. Your famë rose faster than
anyone’s. At your age, even together,
we never shone so bright p>
“I am Enderman Briggs-Higgins. Ten years ago, I stood on the International Combat
Units. Tsaric was my disciple p>
Ares followed, his voice ringing like thunder.
“My name is Ares. In the West, they call me the King of Thunder p>
They stood tall, expecting awe.
Expecting him to bow in respect et
Not many earned the right to their names, especially not through their own mouths, face to face
Leander raised a hand. His face did not change.
“You don’t need to say your names. I don’t care who you are p>
Their eyes darkened. Irritation flashed across their faces.
Leander’s voice stayed level, every word sharp. “The only thing that matters is this.
Do you want to live, or do you want to die?
“If you want to live, then leave. Go as far from here as you can.
“If you want to die, then stand with him. I’ll kill you both together p>
The air went still.
Gasps tore from the crowd.
Ares and Enderman were names etched into history. Ten years ago, they were already giants. Now their power was greater still. Yet Leander stood before them, fearless. His words struck harder than blades.
Even Daphne and the others who trusted him most felt their hearts clench.
They had seen him beat Greed. They had seen him rise like fire. But now he stood before two titans. And still, he did not bend.
Ares’ eyes flared with lightning. His smile was gone.
“Jeff, I could have spared you. I might have dragged you alive to the Arbitration
Office.
“But your arrogance burned that away p>
“Now you face judgment. Thunder will fall on you until nothing is left p>
Enderman’s sword intent roared out, sharp enough to cut the air. His eyes burned with killing light.
“Jeff, my blade Hellbringer has stayed clean for ten years. Today, it drinks your blood p>
The verdict was spoken.
They would take Leander’s life.
Greed’s eyes blazed wild. He clutched a sphere in his fist and crushed it. Shards scattered as light poured into him. His aura surged higher, fiercer, brighter. “Jeff, I told you before. No matter how strong you are, you die here today!
“Doomlight p>
The three of them stood together, their power rising like a storm. The sky cracked. The sea split. Waves climbed high as mountains. Their presence smothered the
world.
Leander stood alone, a single figure against the tide. He looked like a lone ship on a raging ocean, ready to be torn apart.
And then he laughed. The sound thundered across the sky. It struck every heart.
The laughter faded. His smile vanished. He raised one finger. His voice cut through the chaos. “This fight will end immediately.
“Devourer Form. Open p>
For the first time since stepping into the Transcendent Realm, Leander unleashed the Devourer within him.