This was because he was able to sense the subtle change in the arenaâs atmosphere.
ââŠmy technique is about to break?â
With a loud noise, the invisible barrier that was covering the entire arena shattered.
Aram couldnât tell what happened.
According to his calculations, the barrier should have persisted for a while longer.
Nevertheless, a glint appeared in Aramâs eyes.
Since the omnidirectional annihilation of ki had been broken, it meant that he could use sorcery again.
This was proven by the huge amount of natural ki that came rushing into the arena like a raging river. The arena, which had been like a desert just a moment ago, was slowly being filled once again.
Although the amount of natural ki in the environment was still a bit lacking, Aram knew several techniques that he could make use of.
He quickly began to do the required hand seals for the technique.
He had to do something to hinder that monster, Li Hao, even a little.
But, to his surprise, his technique didnât trigger.
Was it because he was too agitated?
Thinking that this was the case, Aram calmed himself down before doing the hand seals once again.
This time, he made sure to be more precise and certain with his movements.
Nevertheless, his technique still failed to appear.
A slight look of disbelief spread across Aramâs face.
What the hell was going on?
There was definitely natural ki present in the surroundings.
It was present. But it wasnât obeying his commands.
This was the first time heâd ever experienced such a phenomenon since heâd started learning sorcery.
âYou seem pretty relaxed.â
Suddenly, the voice of the Death God sounded from right beside him.
He was standing beside Aram, his face covered in blood that didnât appear to be his own.
Only their gazes met, but Aram became so afraid that he accidentally hiccuped.
âA Fighter⊠cannot afford to lose focus within the arena.â
The sword in Lee Jong-hakâs hand flashed.
And another scream echoed in the arena.
He could only feel an overwhelming sense of fulfillment at that moment.
His mana, which had been emptied to the last drop, became full in an instant, and even overflowed to the extent that it had to be released through his skin.
The released mana shot into the sky like a beam of light, easily shattering the ki annihilation barrier that had covered the entire arena.
It cracked and fell to the ground like a broken window.
Lukas stood in the middle of the arena, slowly calming his raging mana.
Kangki, who had been quietly watching this scene, finally opened his mouth.
ââŠrefining the heart of an Ancient Dragon. Thatâs a rumor that most Dragonmen donât believe. It was only recently that I learned the truth about refiners, but you seem to have believed in it for a while. The fact that you can use an Ancient Dragonâs heart to make an unprecedented elixir.â
âTell me. Who did you hear it from?â
âIf I were you, I wouldnât be asking such trivial questions, Kangki.â
Lukasâ indifferent gaze scanned across Kangkiâs large body.
His eyes seemed to contain an entirely different glow from before.
âNow I understand, Kangki. That armor of yours.â
Kangki snorted derisively.
âDonât be ridiculous⊠[The Creed of Kamesh] is one of the greatest feats of engineering in the entire Heavenly Realm. It wasnât just made by the hand of the Hammer of Babylon. It was also made with the help of most of the talents you found in the underground space below. Those are all geniuses that you would be hard-pressed to find equals to even if you were to search the entirety of Combat Island.â
âDo you understand what Iâm saying? It was only after countless talented people put their heads together and revised the blueprints hundreds and thousands of times that the Hammer of Babylon finally gave it shape. And even after that, it was modified hundreds and thousands of times before it was finally completed.â
A cold glint flickered in his eyes.
âAnd youâre saying that you can see through this armor with just a glance?â
There was nothing wrong with what Kangki said.
It was true that [The Creed of Kamesh] was created after many top-tier talents who all dominated in their respective fields toiled away for several years. And it was true that no matter how much Lukas had changed, he wouldnât be able to see through it with just a single glance.
But that wasnât what Lukas was talking about.
âThe Heavenly Realm really is a blessed land.â
âIâve never seen a place this rich with natural ki⊠and mana, as this place.â
âWhat the hell are you talking about?â
âThe reason that armor can move so freely is because of the natural ki.â
Kangkiâs expression showed that he didnât understand what Lukas was talking about.
But there was no need for him to understand.
If they had been in Lukasâ homeworld, a suit of mechanical armor that large would have needed at least 100,000 ME just to move.
And when considering its other abilities like the breath attack he had launched before or the sudden increase in defense, that number would need to be multiplied several times.
However, The Creed of Kamesh had no power source. In other words, it was like a horseless carriage that was moving on its own.
To put it simply, it would be impossible.
If this werenât the Heavenly Realm.
âSome of the geniuses you trapped must have been Sorcerers. The runes engraved on the scales are techniques carved by them, and they are probably responsible for attracting the natural ki in the surroundings.â
Kangki forced himself to not look down at his body. No runes were visible on his scales.
After all, they had been coated with a special paint so that they couldnât be found easily.
And yet, Lukas was able to recognise them with a single glance.
âDid he see them when my scales got affected by that lava attack?â
Even so, that had been fixed in an instant.
Unlike Kangki, who was growing increasingly anxious, Lukas continued with a flat tone and blank expression.
âYouâre probably storing the mana you attract within the body. Thatâs why you could still move within the field of the omnidirectional annihilation of ki.â
In other words, there was something within that armor that played a role similar to the mana room in a Wizardâs body.
Kangki furrowed his eyebrows.
âFine. Iâll admit that you are skilled at analyzing. But so what? Do you think thatâs the weakness of this armor?â
He would continue trying to find it and he never would.
Because there was no such thing as a weakness in the Creed of Kamesh.
âDidnât you say that this was the second round? Why are you just running your mouth? Or are you trying to waste my time?â
âIâm not trying to waste your time, Kangki. Instead, the result of this match has already been decided. You lost.â
Kangki couldnât help but burst into laughter when he heard that ridiculous statement.
âI think Iâve heard enough of your bullshit. Since it seems you donât want to come to me, Iâll come to you.â
He increased the output of the armor even more than before. Lukas seemed to have grown stronger after consuming the Ancient Dragon Heart elixir, so he couldnât afford to hide his strength any longer.
But Kangki didnât move at a speed nearly invisible to the eye as he did before.
Far from it. Instead, he couldnât even take a single step before falling heavily to the ground.
He tried his best to move the armor, but it refused to move no matter what he did.
A look of shock pasted itself on Kangkiâs face.
Has he ever experienced a situation like this before?
Lukas just quietly watched him struggle.
The greatest proof to distinguish the difference between a 7-star and an 8-star Wizard was the fact that 8-star Wizards could materialise an embodiment of their mana rooms, which were located inside of them, on the outside.
This ability gave them absolute dominion over all the mana in a specific area around their bodies. For this reason, a single 8-star Wizard could theoretically nullify the powers of dozens of 7-star Wizards.
The interesting part was the fact that the Creed of Kamesh actually had an internal structure similar to that of a Wizard. This was something Lukas realised immediately after returning to 8-stars.
And upon finding that, his next decision was easy to make.
He would simply neutralise Kangkiâs mana, just like he would neutralise a Wizard.
Suddenly, green energy shot towards Lukas, forming a ball above his palm.
This wasnât the natural ki, nor was it the mana from inside him.
âThis is all the mana that was stored in your armor. Itâs less than I thought.â
âTh-, thatâs impossibleâŠâ
âItâs possible for a Wizard.â
Lukas shook his hand as he spoke in an indifferent tone.
Then, Kangkiâs body began to tremble on the ground with a terrible rattling noise.
âS-, stop. L-, let go of me. Wh-, what are you, t-, trying to d-, do?â
Kangkiâs voice came out in parts, almost like a broken radio, but Lukas didnât pay any attention to it.
And soon after, Kangkiâs body was ripped open.