Back to the Battlefield
The moment the beam erupted skyward from the tower, Diana, Rachel, and Kara's expressions hardened. They'd run out of time. Even as they fought the berserkers, their attention was drawn to the rift tearing through the sky—a glimpse into another reality that was both mesmerizing and deeply unsettling.
"Guys, I'm picking up exotic energy readings from that rift," M'gann's voice crackled over the comms. "It's washing over the planet, but most of it's being siphoned into the tower. The energy is even affecting the atmosphere. I'm getting strange readings from the moon's exposed side too."
"So that really is a Higher Realm on the other side?" Kara muttered, her eyes fixed on the swirling colors beyond the rift.
"Yes," Rachel said grimly. "And that exotic energy is exactly what Zaria needs to fully awaken the Tuffle."
Rachel watched the stream of Higher Realm energy flowing into the tower. This was the moment she'd been waiting for—the shields would be down during the transfer. Rising to her feet, she spoke quietly, "I need to act now." She shot upward, tapping into her inner realm and drawing on her father's God Ki. Her wings spread wide as she took position, arms raised above her head, channeling her power.
"Dark Sun," she intoned. Power flooded through her as her inner realm churned in response. Dark magical flames coalesced between her palms, forming a sphere that grew hotter with each passing second. As she infused it with Orach's God Ki, the sphere transformed—shifting from a dark star into a blazing dark red sun.
The sphere expanded rapidly, forcing the clouds to part. The eerie red light cast by Rachel's spell illuminated the entire battlefield. When the spell reached critical mass, she hurled it at the tower. "FINISH THIS!" she shouted.
"GO RAVEN!" Kara yelled, smashing through a berserker's skull before turning to witness the attack.
"DESTROY THAT THING!" Faora shouted from below.
"END THIS NIGHTMARE!" Jer-Em roared.
"You can do it, my Raven," Diana murmured, sparing a glance at the attack before diving back into combat.
"GO RAVEN!" Even M'gann, watching from the Javelin through Mother Empress's link, shouted her encouragement.
They all hoped this attack would end the battle before things took a darker turn.
As the Dark Sun descended, the tower's outer layers began to melt, then incinerate. With no shields to protect it and Orach's God Ki empowering the attack, nothing could stop it. The world fell silent for a brief moment before a deafening roar erupted as Rachel's attack connected with the tower's energy core. The resulting explosion vaporized what remained of the city. A violent shockwave accompanied by a massive dust cloud exploded outward, hurling berserkers and champions alike across the battlefield. The tower disintegrated in a cascade of destructive energy, severing the channeling process—and causing the Higher Realm energy to scatter across the planet instead. The sky blazed with auroral phenomena as exotic energy washed over everything.
"This is… Ki," Rachel muttered, quickly reaching out to Diana and Kara through their comms.
Sensing the rich Ki from the Higher Realms, Kara, Rachel, and Diana immediately engaged their inner realms and began absorbing it. The flow of energy shifted toward them, forming massive vortexes of Ki that swirled around each of them. This foreign energy was too potent—their inner worlds needed time to channel and refine it. But soon their injuries healed, their fatigue vanished, and their vitality and Ki reserves surged to near-peak levels within moments.
"Unbelievable," Kara breathed, opening her eyes as she hovered in the air.
Diana inhaled deeply, feeling her power reach full capacity. "It really is." She looked up at the rift, her expression conflicted. "This isn't what we wanted. But with this, we should be able to handle whatever comes next." Then she heard roars in the distance. Turning her head, she saw the remaining berserkers releasing guttural cries—and her eyes widened in shock. "Oh no!"
She shot forward, Lunar Edge in hand, her voice sharp over the comms. "Everyone, attack those creatures NOW!"
While Diana, Rachel, and Kara had refined the Higher Realm energy to their benefit, the berserkers had also absorbed it—and their bodies were mutating in response. They convulsed violently as bone spikes on their shoulders and backs grew wildly, extending outward nearly thirty feet and sprouting leathery membranes that formed massive wings. Their jaws split wider, jagged teeth elongating into fangs. Some began spewing streams of dark green fire. The bone spurs on their heads twisted into crown-like horns wreathed in dark green flames. Their entire forms grew larger, more monstrous—like beasts torn from the depths of Hell itself.
Diana's eyes blazed with killing intent. She channeled her God Ki through Lunar Edge and slashed outward, releasing a crescent wave imbued with her understanding of the Primordial Law of Destruction. The attack screamed toward the monstrous creatures.
The beasts roared in response, releasing torrents of dark green fire breath that collided with Diana's slash. The resulting explosion sent both Diana and several creatures tumbling backward, kicking up massive clouds of dust and debris. Kara caught Diana mid-air, helping her stabilize.
"Did it work?" Kara asked urgently.
"I don't think so," Diana replied grimly. "They countered my attack. They're evolving."
"Damn it," Kara cursed, her expression darkening. "They just became a lot harder to kill."
When the dust settled, they saw the beast-like creatures spreading their massive wings and taking to the sky.
"Well… that's not good," Kara muttered, stunned by their transformation.
"Definitely not," Diana agreed, taking a steadying breath and resuming her combat stance. "But we still have to stop them."
Suddenly, the ground trembled violently. From the ruins of the destroyed tower, a figure erupted through the rubble, carrying a large spherical construct. An oppressive aura exploded outward, washing over the entire battlefield and pressing down on everyone with crushing force.
The mutated beasts, Faora, and Jer-Em were forced to their knees. Rachel and Kara plummeted from the air, the pressure slamming them to the ground. They quickly channeled their Ki to resist, barely managing to stand under the immense weight.
Even Diana felt her knees buckle—but Lunar Edge vibrated in her grip, its power extending to envelop her. The blade's support bought her precious seconds. She engaged her inner world, channeling God Ki and touching the threshold of her Cardinal Pink form without fully transforming. Strengthened, she straightened and looked up just in time to see the figure ascending into the sky, hurling the construct toward the closing rift.
Diana's eyes narrowed. She activated her comm. "M'gann, target that thing and shoot it down. Don't let it enter the rift."
"Got it," M'gann replied. The Javelin's thrusters roared to life, lifting the still-cloaked ship higher.
"I'll assist with targeting," Mother Empress added. "The ship's systems can't lock onto something moving that fast." She interfaced with the Javelin's weapons array, tracking the construct's trajectory and predicting its path. The turrets shifted, energy charging in the barrels. Just as the construct was about to slip through the rift—which was already beginning to close as the Higher Realm's laws started repairing the breach—the Javelin's weapons fired. The shots struck true, and in the next instant, a brilliant flash lit up the sky as the construct exploded.
Planetside
"Interesting…" the figure murmured, watching the explosion with narrowed eyes. He traced the trajectory of the shots back to their source. "There." Raising one hand, he channeled his energy into a concentrated blast and fired it toward the cloaked ship.
BOOM
But the blast never reached its target. Diana, reading the figure's intent, slashed upward with Lunar Edge, releasing a crescent of God Ki that intercepted the energy blast mid-flight. The two attacks collided, triggering an explosion high in the atmosphere.
"Ho…" The figure turned his gaze downward, studying Diana with newfound interest. Something gleamed in his eyes.
Diana looked up and met his gaze. For a split second, her eyes lost their color, turning blank. But in the next instant, a thunderous roar reverberated from deep within her, and she shook off the intrusion. The moment their eyes had met, the figure had launched a soul attack, sending a thread of his consciousness into Diana's inner realm. But as the thread approached her inner world, the Golden Oozaru residing there sensed the invasion. Its eyes blazed with primal rage. It reared back its head and released a devastating roar accompanied by a surge of energy that obliterated the soul attack entirely. The roar echoed throughout Diana's inner realm, snapping her back to full awareness.
"What?!" the figure exclaimed, his expression twisting from interest to shock. For a fleeting moment, he saw it—a looming, faint silhouette behind Diana as she roared, a giant form with menacing red eyes locked onto him.
"Oozaru," the figure whispered, his body trembling. He covered his face with one hand as ancient, unbridled rage flashed in his eyes—memories of the war flooding his mind. But then his expression shifted. A soft chuckle escaped his lips, growing into full-blown laughter as he tilted his head back toward the sky.
The Figure's POV
HAHAHA!
I couldn't help but laugh at the sheer irony of it all. The opportunity that had just fallen into my lap was too perfect.
"This is magnificent! Truly magnificent! To think that the very moment I revive, I encounter a Lower Realm insect carrying the legacy of that savage race—the legacy of the Saiyans!"
HAHAHA!
"Perfect. Absolutely perfect. Not only do I rise again today, but this will also mark the beginning of my revenge. The rift won't close that fast. I will use this time well. I will tear her apart, piece by piece."
HAHAHA!
I paused, my laughter fading as I sensed another interesting signature nearby. My gaze shifted to the ground, where another figure stood near the woman with the Saiyan legacy. This one's aura flared as she rose to her feet, her eyes locked onto me.
"Interesting…" I narrowed my eyes, studying her carefully. "Could she also possess a legacy from my Higher Realm?" Intrigued, I extended a strand of my soul power to probe her essence.
But the moment my soul thread neared her, a crimson aura tinged with dark Ki reacted violently, deflecting my attack. I felt a powerful force push back against me, and I couldn't help but be stunned.
"What was that?" I murmured. "That aura… it's familiar, yet so different. It carries a feeling of antiquity. Just what ancient legacy does she possess?"
This keeps getting more and more interesting.
As I descended slowly toward the battlefield, my gaze never left the one carrying the Saiyan legacy. I could see the wariness in her eyes—the recognition. 'Interesting. Does she… know what I am?'
I smiled, my voice calm and pleasant. "Hello, creatures of this Lower Realm."
Diana's POV
The moment he spoke, a chill ran through me. His voice was smooth, almost pleasant—but every instinct I had screamed danger. His aura, especially those eyes—they made me feel like I was facing something ancient and dangerous.
I tightened my grip on Lunar Edge and shifted into a defensive stance. Despite the oppressive aura pressing down on me, I kept my voice steady. "Who are you?"
The figure continued to smile as he descended until he hovered just above the ground. He appeared young—a tall boy on the cusp of manhood with brown skin—but something about him felt deeply wrong. His eyes, his aura… the more I sensed, the more certain I became that what stood before me was just not what he appeared.
"Who am I?" he repeated, as if savoring the question. "You know, if you were ordinary Lower Realm creatures, this emperor wouldn't tolerate such blatant disrespect. In the presence of Higher Realm beings, you should kneel." His smile never wavered. "But I sense Higher Realm power in you both, so I'll overlook this… transgression. I can be generous… sometimes. So here's a proposition—introduce yourselves first, then I'll reciprocate. Sound fair?"
Behind me, Faora's strained voice broke through. "Lor…"
This confirmed my suspicion about whose body the Tuffle was possessing. But another realization hit me even harder.
'Emperor?' My heart sank. Mother Empress had warned me about Rachel's encounter during M'gann's rescue and knew we could be facing a late-stage Emperor rank threat in the worst-case scenario. But I hadn't expected him to awaken with his full cultivation intact. 'We failed to stop him in time.'
'No. I can't afford to think like that.' Knowing, Mother Empress, she should have sent the emergency signal to Orach by now. I just need to buy enough time for everyone to evacuate.
Just then, Rachel's voice cut through my thoughts. "You're the ancient Tuffle consciousness that the Psion named Zaria was trying to awaken, aren't you?" She stepped forward, her aura tinged with the familiar crimson God Ki enveloping her as she moved to my side.
Pride and worry flickered through me, but I pushed them aside. With Rachel at my side, I'd have a better chance of stalling him. Our eyes met for a heartbeat—no words needed—and we turned to face him together.
I saw his expression shift, the pleasant mask slipping away to reveal a cold expression. "So you do know about the Tuffles. Interesting. That makes me even more intrigued about your Lower Realm." He leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharpening as it swept between us. "Tell me—did you attack the Psions knowing about my existence from the start? Was this assault meant to prevent my awakening?" He paused, as if studying our reactions. "And if so, how did you know? You might have learned about my race through your legacies, but how did you trace me specifically?"
His eyes narrowed dangerously. "I suggest you explain. Now."
'Legacies.' The word clicked into place. This Tuffle sees us as legacy bearers. Technically, he isn't wrong, but if he thinks we're simple legacy bearers, that could work to our advantage. A glance at Rachel told me she'd caught on as well—I noticed the subtle shift in her expression.
I steadied my breathing and met his gaze. "Very well. I'm Diana of Earth. We came here for two reasons. First, to bring justice to the countless victims the Psions have brutalized across this sector, and second, to end their inhumane experiments and free those they've enslaved. We didn't know about you until we investigated the Psion named, Zaria." I paused. "Now it's your turn."
For a long moment, the only sounds were the groans of my teammates and the muffled, guttural roars of the distant beasts. The figure before me studied me in silence, as if weighing my words. Then, slowly, his expression shifted.
"Too similar… no wonder." A deep, unsettling grin spread across his face. "I can see how you earned recognition from that legacy of yours. You even speak like those savages—always prattling on about balance, about preserving the potential in all life."
The grin vanished as abruptly as it had appeared, replaced by cold indifference. "But legacy or not, before this emperor, you're nothing more than insects from the Lower Realms."
In the next instant, his eyes flashed with power.
The pressure around us intensified dramatically. Even Rachel and I found our heads lowering involuntarily under its weight. Behind me, pained groans echoed as Faora, Jer-Em, and even Kara struggled beneath the crushing force. Faora and Jer-Em could barely keep themselves off the ground. Kara—who had been channeling her Ki to strengthen her body and had just managed to stand—collapsed back to her knees. Though she walked the cultivation path like Rachel and me, she was still a beginner. Against a possible Emperor rank opponent, the pressure must have been overwhelming.
'Even in my Cardinal Pink form, I wouldn't stand a chance against him—not if he's truly regained his full strength.' I tightened my grip on my sword, forcing myself to think clearly. 'But he doesn't know about my transformations. That's my advantage. If I'm going to act, it has to be now—before he realizes what I'm capable of.'
Gritting my teeth, I tapped deeper into my inner realm. God Ki surged from within, flowing through me as I straightened. The pressure that had been weighing on me dissolved. My expression turned cold as killing intent began to rise within me.
But just then, his voice cut through my thoughts. "Do you wish to die that quickly?"
A chill ran down my spine. 'He's that sensitive to killing intent?'
I forced myself to breathe, suppressing the intent before it could fully manifest. My expression hardened as I met his gaze. 'I am the future Mistress of the House of Gula. I will not be intimidated—especially not by the sworn enemy of my House.'
"Hehe. You both are good. Alright, a deal's a deal." His expression shifted, interest flickering across his face. "I am indeed a Tuffle—but more than that. I represent the culmination of Tuffle ingenuity, the pinnacle of evolution we achieved in the final days of the Great War. Unlike other races, my people transcended the limitations of flesh and mortality itself. We are no longer bound by the Primordial laws of Life and Death." He gestured to himself with evident pride. "This body was once called Lor-Zod, though that identity no longer matters. You may call me Citro. Dr. Citro of the Tuffle race."
Faora's strained voice suddenly came from behind me, breaking the tension. Even on all fours, barely keeping herself from being crushed flat, she forced out the words, "What did you do to Lor-Zod?"
"Quite the strong will you have," Citro said, his gaze sliding to Faora. "I know you. The boy cared deeply about his people, but two souls lived in his heart above all—his mother and you." His expression twisted with cruel amusement. "No, it wasn't just care. With you, it was more. He wanted you. Saw you as his." A soft chuckle escaped him. "I still remember his rage when he discovered what the Psions had done—forcing you and his mother into breeding experiments. That fury was the crack I needed. His psyche degraded faster after that, allowing the dormant gene to stir just enough for me to begin taking control."
He paused, his expression turning cold. "But I am not the boy. And this defiance won't do."
His eyes flashed.
I heard a heavy thud, then muffled groans. Turning my head, I saw Faora sprawled on the ground, blood trickling from her mouth.
"Much better," Citro said coldly. "That's where Lower Realm creatures belong." He paused. "As for your question—Lor-Zod is gone. He'll never return."
The contempt in his voice was unmistakable. I couldn't help but think back to when I first met Orach—he'd brought us to our knees too, but his heart was good, his reasons justified. But, this man? This ancient consciousness wearing a stolen body? He acted purely from disdain.
'He doesn't see us as people. Just insects to crush. No wonder all realms came to hate the Tuffles.'
Just then, I saw his gaze shift between Rachel and me before settling on me. "Tell me something, Diana of Earth. Where did you acquire your legacy? A Saiyan legacy in a Lower Realm is... strange, to say the least." Interest flickered across his features. "Last I checked, beings in this realm didn't even know Higher Realms existed—at least not in this sector or neighboring ones. My servant verified as much. So tell me—in which forgotten corner of this pathetic realm did those savages leave their legacy for you?"
His eyes traced from my battlesuit to my sword. "That battlesuit... and especially that sword. These aren't mere trinkets. Both are powerful artifacts that have no business in a Lower Realm, much less in the hands of someone like you." He paused, his gaze narrowing on the sword as he tried to gauge its power, only to find himself blocked. He chuckled softly. "The fact that you can withstand my aura tells me they're truly special. But they're wasted on you. You can't even unlock their real power, can you?"
He leaned forward, his tone turning cold. "And don't waste our time denying your legacy's origin. When I probed your soul, I felt it—that savage race's presence coiled within you, defending your inner realm like a watchdog." His smile turned cold. "So, don't try to stall and answer me."
'So that's what that was.' Hearing his words, I understood what had happened in that brief moment of disorientation that triggered the angry roar from the Oozaru within me. I'd been attacked. 'This man is extremely dangerous.' Without a protector guarding my soul, I'd already be dead—or worse. I glanced at Rachel, noticing the faint layer of crimson God Ki around her, and exhaled slowly. 'At least she has Orach's soul shard protecting her. The others won't be so lucky if he attacks them.'
My mind raced, but I calmed myself and faced him directly. "I have no need to lie, Dr. Citro. You're correct—my legacy comes from the Saiyan race of the Alacrity Alliance Higher Realm. As for how I obtained it, parts of this Lower Realm have been visited by Higher Realm powerhouses before. I happened to encounter one who granted me this legacy."
I didn't intend to disclose more. This way, I hadn't lied, but kept the specifics to myself.
After a moment's consideration, he let out a light chuckle and met my gaze. "I can tell you're holding something back—but what you said does seem to be the truth." His smile widened. "And considering you must have real talent for a Higher Realm powerhouse to gift you those items, I've decided to keep you alive." He paused. "At least until I cut you open to see what makes you so special. As for your belongings? They won't go to waste. I'll put them to far better use in my future creations. Every part of you will serve my plans." His eyes shone. "Isn't that wonderful?"
His unsettling smile and the words that followed made it crystal clear there was no room for negotiation.
Rachel beside me, spoke with a solemn tone. "We won't let you do whatever it is you're planning."
Citro's smile didn't waver. "You speak as if you have a choice." His grin only grew wider. "But please, do try. I've been asleep for so very long. A little… entertainment… would be most welcome."
Beside me, Rachel's battlesuit engaged fully, her helmet materializing into place. Her voice came through the comms. "Wonder Woman, we need to work together. He's too strong for either of us alone."
I kept my eyes locked on Citro and nodded. "Agreed." Dropping my voice to barely a whisper, I added, "Mother Empress, prepare for plan zero. We'll buy you time."
My terminals vibrated in confirmation. 'Good. Now to face this monster.'
I channeled more God Ki. Lunar Edge hummed in response. I shifted to an attack stance and met Citro's gaze. "If it's a fight you want, you'll get one."
Citro's eyes flashed once more, his smile unwavering. "Excellent." He spread his arms wide in invitation. "Come at me together—it won't make a difference."
End of POV
Rachel and Diana moved in perfect sync, vanishing from their positions and materializing directly before Citro. Diana struck low, Lunar Edge—infused with God Ki and the Primordial Law of Destruction—carving an arc toward his midsection. Simultaneously, Rachel descended from above in her full demonic form, her clawed hand wreathed in dark red flames and crackling with crimson energy as she aimed for his head. She channeled power from her churning inner world, her bloodline, and her father's soul shard.
The instant before impact, Rachel's flames erupted outward, engulfing Citro in an inferno of demonic energy.
Diana's blade cut through the flames, aimed true at its target.
"What?!" Just then both warriors' shocked exclamations rang out in unison.
In that split second, they caught sight of Citro's mocking smile. His hands moved with speed that escaped even their enhanced perceptions. One hand caught Diana's blade between two fingers, stopping it cold. The other intercepted Rachel's strike mid-descent, his palm absorbing the impact effortlessly. The casual ease with which he neutralized their coordinated assault sent a chill through both warriors.
"Nice try," Citro said, his tone maddeningly calm. The dark red flames dissipated around him like morning mist, revealing his form completely unscathed beneath a shimmering grey aura. "But against true power, coordination alone means nothing."
He released both weapon and hand, then pushed outward with his aura.
The force sent Diana and Rachel hurtling backward. Diana twisted mid-flight, driving Lunar Edge into the ground—the blade carving a deep trench as it arrested her momentum. Rachel spread her wings wide, catching the air and bringing herself to a controlled stop several meters away.
Both stood breathing heavily, their expressions grave as they reassessed their opponent. The gap in power was even wider than they'd feared.
"I must say, you both continue to surprise me," Citro remarked, his calculating gaze shifting from Diana to settle on Rachel with renewed interest. "Especially you, hybrid." He took a deliberate step forward. "Now everything makes sense. Your bloodline—it's High Demon heritage. That explains your natural affinity for Higher Realm magic and why you can wield those spells without the typical backlash that would cripple a Lower Realm being without proper cultivation."
He paused, a calculating smile spreading across his features. "But here's what's truly fascinating. High Demons don't mingle with other races. Ever. Their bloodline purity laws are absolute—violators are hunted down and executed without exception." His smile widened into something cruel. "Even after all this time, I doubt that race has abolished those draconian laws. Which means you're an anomaly they aren't aware of—otherwise you'd already be dead. To them, hybrids like you are abominations. Stains that should never have existed."
Citro let out a dark chuckle. "Oh, this is rich. At first, I thought eliminating you might cause complications—Higher Realm attention right now can be... inconvenient, even for someone of my power. But now?" His eyes gleamed with malicious satisfaction. "I don't have to worry about cleanup at all. In fact, I can turn this to my advantage."
He stepped forward, savoring his idea. "Even if the mages of the Aetherium Concordance investigate your death—which they might, given you carry their legacy—I simply need to approach the High Demons first. Once they learn what you are, what you represent..." He spread his hands theatrically. "They'll be grateful I eliminated you. More than that—they'll be furious that such an abomination was allowed to exist in the first place, especially one who has awakened her bloodline powers and is able to use such a magic legacy. After that, I'll simply step back and watch as the High Demons and the Aetherium mages tear into each other over who's responsible for this insult to both their legacies."
His laughter echoed across the battlefield, cold and calculating. "Two Higher Realms at each other's throats, all because of one little hybrid. The perfect distraction for my plans. Today truly is a magnificent day!"
Rachel's expression grew colder, dark crimson energy crackling more intensely around her form. Nearby, Diana's grip on Lunar Edge tightened, her blackberry God Ki flaring brighter as some strands of her hair began to shift toward Cardinal Pink. The two exchanged a brief glance—no words needed between mother and daughter. After their shared training and countless battles together, they understood each other's intentions instinctively.
"You talk too much," Diana said coldly, pink lightning crackling around her with increasing intensity as her aura flared. She turned to meet Citro's gaze directly, unflinching.
Rachel's wings spread wider, her own aura surging outward. "And you're about to regret underestimating us."
Both warriors shifted into combat stances once more, their combined auras pushing back against Citro's oppressive presence—if only slightly.
Citro's smile didn't waver. "Oh? Still have some fight left in you? Good." He glanced up at the dimensional rift above, noting its continued shrinkage, then returned his gaze to them as his grey aura intensified. The air itself seemed to warp and distort around him, reality bending to his power. "Then by all means—entertain me further before I end this charade."
Rachel moved first, launching herself skyward against the oppressive pressure radiating from Citro like an invisible mountain pressing down on her.
"Ho." Citro raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. Then he let out a mocking chuckle. "Truly foolish. Did you think you could simply fly away?" He tapped deeper into his power, intensifying the pressure he was exuding. "Let's see how far you can climb before your wings fail you." A flash of cruel interest passed through his eyes.
The higher Rachel climbed, the heavier the pressure became—as if the very air had turned to lead. Gritting her teeth, she channeled more God Ki from Orach's soul shard. The divine energy responded to her desperation, pouring through her body and imbuing her with unprecedented strength. Her wings darkened from crimson to deep red, the color of fresh blood. Once the transformation completed, the crushing pressure's weight lessened considerably—though she still felt it, the burden had reduced to something comparable to twice Earth's gravity. Manageable. Survivable.
"I knew it," Rachel muttered as her suspicion was confirmed. She gained enough altitude, then unfurled her transformed wings and spread them wide. Looking down with cold eyes filled with killing intent, she saw Citro's expression shift to genuine shock.
"Impossible!" he shouted, staring up at her. "No Lower Realm being should be able to resist my suppression like this!"
Rachel glanced at the power level readings displayed on her HUD. The number that had been climbing relentlessly had finally stabilized, confirming her other suspicion. "Just as I thought. He's not at Emperor rank right now."
Rachel connected over the comms, her voice steady despite the exertion. "Mom, he's not at Emperor Rank." As she spoke, she began gathering Ki—dark red energy swirling around her hands. "He hasn't recovered his full strength. Based on his power level readings, he's likely in the King stage. Early to mid-level at most. And he doesn't seem able to tap into the Primordial Laws."
Diana felt a flicker of relief at this news, though she didn't lower her guard—the situation remained dire. A King rank warrior was catastrophically beyond their realm's power scale. She remembered when Orach had briefly manifested his King rank strength at the end of the Kryptonian invasion—within an hour, the dimensional fabric of their realm had begun buckling under the strain. She understood this was a race against time on multiple fronts. As the rift shrank, severing Citro's lifeline to the Higher Realms, his desperation would only intensify. And once it sealed completely, the Higher Realm energies currently stabilizing his presence would vanish. His King Rank cultivation would then begin tearing their Lower Realm apart from the inside out—exactly as Orach's had threatened to do a while back. Every second mattered. She had to be faster, more decisive.
"How did you break free from my suppression?" Citro shouted, his composure cracking for the first time. Though he had only regained about 65% of his past life's power—placing him at Early King rank bordering on Mid King rank—legacy or not, a Lower Realm being shouldn't have been able to escape his control. Unless... His eyes narrowed, focusing on the change in her wings—the dark red coloration and the faint divine aura emanating from them. His eyes widened in recognition before turning cold and serious. "I see," he sneered. "So that High Demon parent of yours left you with a portion of his power. He must be at least King rank to challenge my current strength with such a gift." He paused, then dismissed the concern with a wave of his hand. "But no matter—though unexpected, it still means nothing against my experience and skill. You both will still die here."
Rachel didn't reply. Instead, her killing intent surged upon hearing Citro credit her biological father, Trigon—whom she despised with every fiber of her being—for power that actually belonged to her true father, Orach. Dark red Ki coalesced around her hands, forming into countless arrows of concentrated energy. She unleashed a devastating barrage toward Citro, each projectile enveloped in dark red flames that seemed to burn space itself. The shadowy arrows tore through the air, rotating at high speed as they descended like a meteor shower.
Citro simply raised one hand, his expression returning to calm disdain.
The air around him rippled and distorted. A barrier of pure grey energy materialized, forming a dome over his position. Rachel's Dark Arrows struck the barrier and disintegrated on contact, unable to penetrate his defenses. The impacts kicked up massive dust clouds, obscuring the battlefield between them.
"Is that all?" Citro asked, sounding genuinely disappointed as the dust began to settle. "Well now, let me show you what real power—"
He paused mid-sentence, his battle-honed instincts alerting him to something. Through the dissipating dust, he noticed Rachel hovering in the sky, surrounded by countless pieces of rubble—debris from the destroyed buildings and shattered ground. They floated around her in orbit, held aloft by her Ki. She had a cold smile on her face.
"Oh, I'm just getting started," Rachel said, her eyes glowing. With a sharp gesture, she thrust her hand forward. The rubble shot toward Citro like bullets from a railgun.
Citro sneered at the incoming projectiles. "Pathetic." He vanished from the spot, moving at incredible speed that left only afterimages. Rachel continued her assault, hurling wave after wave of rubble while mixing in her dark arrows throughout the bombardment. Since he was more powerful and faster than her, she abandoned precision for volume, saturating the entire battlefield with attacks while maintaining her aerial advantage.
Her eyes surveyed the chaos below. The dust clouds from her constant bombardment had obscured the battlefield, but her enhanced senses—empowered by Orach's soul shard—allowed her to track Citro's general location and movements through the chaos.
Below, Citro moved through the falling rubble and dark arrows with ease, his grey aura leaving distorted trails in his wake. Every movement was calculated, efficient—the experience of a warrior who'd survived countless battles across centuries clearly showing. He was clearly toying with them, barely trying.
"You think quantity can overwhelm me?" Citro called out, his mocking voice cutting through the explosions. He raised both hands, grey energy coalescing into swirling spheres of concentrated power. "Let me show you the difference between a Lower Realm being and someone from the Higher Realms!"
Energy blasts erupted from his palms in rapid succession, each one precisely targeting and destroying Rachel's projectiles mid-flight. The collisions created massive explosions that kicked up even more dust and debris, obscuring the battlefield in a thick haze.
Through the dust clouds, Citro emerged, weaving through explosions and falling rubble as he climbed toward Rachel. A wicked smile spread across his face.
"Die, you ant!" Citro shouted, his arm extended as he closed in.
Rachel gritted her teeth and channeled more power from the soul shard. God Ki surged through her veins as she wove her hands in intricate patterns, drawing upon the Primordial Law of Space. Reality rippled around her.
"Not today," Rachel said, thrusting her hands forward just as Citro's attack was about to connect.
Space warped in front of her, swallowing Citro whole. An instant later, he reappeared below, his momentum sending him crashing into the ground.
But Rachel wasn't finished. Invisible spatial rifts materialized throughout the battlefield—dozens of them, carefully positioned at precise angles.
"What's wrong, Citro? Weren't you going to show me your power?" Rachel taunted.
Citro's aura flared, blasting away the dust clouds and rubble as he rose. His eyes were cold as they met her gaze. "Fine. You asked for it, ant."
His aura intensified, energy coalescing into multiple spheres of destructive power that lit up the battlefield. With a wave of his hand, they shot forth—all aimed at Rachel.
Rachel's eyes widened at the sheer volume and power of the attack, but she didn't panic. Instead, she sneered. "Here—have a taste of your own medicine."
Citro's energy blasts struck her spatial ripples and vanished, swallowed by the distortions. They reappeared from other rifts behind and around him, his own attacks redirected back from multiple angles.
Citro's eyes widened—the first genuine sign of surprise as his senses flared in warning. He twisted mid-air with inhuman flexibility, his body contorting impossibly as he dodged and weaved through his own redirected barrage. Explosions erupted around him, forcing him to defend rather than attack for the first time since the battle began.
"Clever little ant," Citro admitted, his tone carrying a hint of appreciation even as he evaded. "Using spatial manipulation to turn my own power against me. Your understanding of the Space Law is more advanced than I expected. But you're still just delaying the inevitable—"
His words cut off.
Through the chaos, a figure burst forth with devastating speed. Diana, radiating the brilliant Cardinal Pink aura of her fully transformed state, swung Lunar Edge in a vicious arc at Citro's exposed back. She had used Rachel's bombardment and the dust cover to close the distance undetected.
Citro's battle-honed instincts screamed a warning. He began to turn, his superior speed kicking in—but Rachel's distraction had cost him a crucial fraction of a second.
Lunar Edge, imbued with concentrated God Ki and the Primordial Law of Destruction, carved a deep gash diagonally across his back. Dark blood sprayed from the wound as the Destruction-enhanced blade bit deep, its essence working to unravel his physical form at the cellular level.
"Argh!" Citro screamed, his expression twisting with shock, rage—and for the first time, genuine pain.
He vanished in a burst of speed, reappearing dozens of meters away in a defensive stance. His hand reached back to the wound, and when he brought his fingers forward, they were stained with dark blood. He could feel the Law of Destruction actively working to unravel his body from the injury site, spreading like poison through his flesh. He immediately channeled grey energy to the wound, creating a containment field to stop the damage from spreading. This would need proper treatment after the fight—it couldn't be left unattended.
Fortunately, the Destruction energy wasn't highly potent. Diana's understanding of the Primordial Law was only at the early stage, barely scratching the surface of its true potential. Still, the fact remained, he had failed to detect the attack in time. He had allowed Lower Realm insects to actually injure him. His face contorted with rage and humiliation as he looked up—then his eyes widened in shock.
Diana hovered above, her Cardinal Pink aura blazing like a newborn star. Her body had grown noticeably taller and more refined, her proportions perfected—radiating a divine majesty, as if she had transcended her mortal form to become a goddess incarnate. Her vibrant pink hair flowed upward dramatically, surrounded by pink lightning that crackled like living serpents. The transformation had multiplied her base power by a staggering factor, and she intended to press every advantage.
Her current power level rivaled an early-stage Sovereign Realm warrior. Though a significant gap still remained between her transformed state and a true King rank like Citro, with her understanding of the Primordial Laws and the battle techniques she developed with Orach, she was confident she could hold him at bay long enough. The transformation's limits weighed on her mind—she couldn't maintain this form for long. Energy was burning through her reserves at an fast rate. As such, every moment counted and every strike had to matter.
"Raven, keep the pressure on!" Diana commanded through the comms. "Don't give him a moment to recover!"
"Already on it!" Rachel responded immediately, manipulating space laws to set up more traps before turning in a different direction, her mind racing.
Diana brought her hands together, pink God Ki coalescing between her palms into a sphere of concentrated divine energy. She thrust her hands forward, releasing a devastating barrage of energy blasts that rained down like a meteor shower—each one capable of leveling entire continents back on Earth.
Citro's expression hardened as he faced Diana's relentless assault. Even while channeling energy to contain the wound on his back, he moved—dodging and weaving through her devastating barrage. In the brief windows between her attacks, he fired back with precise grey energy blasts aimed at both intercepting her projectiles and striking her vital points. But Rachel's spatial traps kept interfering, warping his shots off-course by mere inches or redirecting them entirely, forcing him to dodge his own attacks from behind.
"What is this?!" Citro roared, fury and disbelief coloring his voice. For the first time in centuries, he found himself completely on the defensive. Diana's bombardment pressed from the front while his own redirected attacks struck from behind. He crossed his arms above his head, gritting his teeth against the onslaught.
'This ends now.'
Power erupted from his core as he tapped deeper into his awakened gene, drawing upon a sliver of his Emperor Level Soul. His hair began turning white while intricate patterns carved themselves across his exposed skin, glowing with inner power. His aura exploded outward in a shockwave that vaporized Diana's incoming attacks, destabilized the space—neutralizing Rachel's traps—and forced her back several steps.
As the dust cleared, Citro's gaze locked onto Diana, who had just stabilized herself mid-air. His eyes turned bloodshot as recognition struck. "That transformation... that aura..." His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "It's weaker but still similar to the Super Saiyan transformation—no, it even has traces of God Ki. Did that cursed power of those savages evolve even further?"
His expression twisted, something dark bleeding into his grey aura. "You're not just a legacy bearer. You're a hybrid too. Saiyan blood runs through your veins." His voice rang across the battlefield as his aura exploded violently outward, grey energy now streaked with writhing tendrils of darkness that warped the space around him. "The Saiyans—those barbaric savages who destroyed my world, my people—and here you stand, one of their descendants, wielding their transformation. You dare mock me like this!"
In the next instant, the pressure intensified tenfold. Citro no longer cared how much strain this new body was experiencing as he tapped deeper into the awakened gene. Even if he had to discard this shell entirely, it didn't matter—not now that he knew what she truly represented. Vengeance consumed him as his power fully entered Mid King Rank. He had to kill her before he ascended back to the Higher Realms.
Even transformed, Diana felt the crushing weight of his hatred pressing down on her. Her expression grew grave as she locked onto Citro, her instincts screaming at the unnatural shift in his energy. 'What's happening to him?' she wondered, channeling more God Ki to push back against the power erupting from him.
"I've changed my mind about you." Citro's voice—cold and devoid of mercy—rang clear across the battlefield. "I thought you were simply a talented specimen who'd stumbled upon a fortunate legacy worth studying. But it turns out you're Saiyan filth." His lips curled into a vicious snarl. "I'm going to make you suffer every moment before you die. I'm going to make you beg for death."
Everything changed in that instant. His calculated demeanor shattered, replaced by raw killing intent. Grey energy laced with strange black energy erupted from his hands as he unleashed a brutal barrage at Diana.
Diana met his attack head-on, slashing Lunar Edge in a wide arc. A crescent wave of destructive energy erupted from the blade, colliding with Citro's assault. For a heartbeat, the battlefield fell silent—then a deafening explosion tore through the air, the shockwave obliterating everything in its path.
The destructive forces were so intense that space itself buckled around the collision point. Imperceptible hairline cracks appeared, spreading like spiderwebs across reality—unnoticed by anyone in the chaos.
Diana had poured nearly half her God Ki into that attack, imbuing it with her understanding of the Primordial Law of Destruction to match his power. She knew the gap between their levels—this was her only chance to hold him back.
Just then through the blinding light and chaos, a whisper reached her ears: "Got you."
Before she could react, a hand materialized in front of her face and seized her head. Dark tendrils erupted from his grasp, binding her limbs. Citro had anticipated her counterattack—the explosion was exactly what he'd wanted, a perfect cover for his real strike.
He drove downward with brutal force, dragging Diana with him. Her body smashed through debris—the shattered remains of the Psion city, chunks of rubble and twisted metal. She struggled against his grip, channeling God Ki through her battlesuit to absorb the impacts as he slammed her through obstacle after obstacle.
But her battlesuit had its limits. While nearly invincible in the Lower Realms, it was incomplete without her proper armor—still aboard the Void Sentinel, waiting for her to grow strong enough for it to recognize her. Against a King Rank warrior's assault, it couldn't fully shield her from Citro's corrosive energy seeping through with each brutal impact.
They struck the ground with devastating impact. The earth cratered beneath them, Diana's head at the center of the destruction.
"Gah!" Blood sprayed from her mouth as he released his grip.
Citro didn't stop there. He in the next instance raised his foot and brought it down toward her chest with crushing force.
Sensing her master in danger, Lunar Edge dissolved from Diana's hand and rematerialized between them, forming a barrier of pure light. The divine weapon absorbed the brunt of the stomp, but even its protection couldn't fully negate a King Rank's power. Diana's body sank deeper into the crater, the ground fracturing outward in jagged lines.
"Argh!" She coughed violently, more blood spilling from her lips. Her ribs screamed in agony despite her battlesuit's protection.
"Look at you," Citro sneered, pressing down harder. "So weak. So pathetic. That weapon recognized you as its master, yet here it is—forced to play shield instead of sword because you can't even wield its true power. And you thought you could challenge me? A being of the Higher Realms?"
Diana gasped for air, her vision blurring as her transformation unraveled.
"Oh, don't die on me yet, ant. Do try to hold on until I've had my—"
But before he finish, suddenly a spatial ripple appeared beneath Citro and swallowed him whole.
The crushing weight of his aura and that strange corrosive energy vanished instantly. Diana's battered body, which had been screaming in agony despite her battlesuit's protection, suddenly found relief. But confusion flickered across her face the next instant.
ROAR!
Just then, a roar thundered across the sky. Diana mustered her strength and gazed upward, tracing the source.
"Rach...el..." Her breath caught as her body shook, seeing the sight.
Above her, silhouetted against the shrinking rift, loomed Rachel's soul manifestation—transformed. The colossal Raven blazed dark crimson, its eyes burning with fierce light. Three rings of dark red flame wreathed its body, and Higher Realm energies coiled around its massive wings as it opened its mouth and unleashed a torrent of dark crimson fire across the sky.
Alarm shot through her. Her eyes widened as a thought struck—a suspicion of what Rachel was attempting, and the terrible price failure would exact.
She gritted her teeth and closed her eyes, channeling God Ki inward to stabilize the most critical injuries. Just enough to move. Just enough to fight again.
Even as she healed, she reached out through their bond. "Lunar Edge... go. Help my daughter!"
"Master, you're hurt. Let me stay and protect—"
"GO! Lend your strength to my foolish daughter!"
A brief pause later, it replied. "...Understood, Master."
The light barrier vanished. Lunar Edge became a streak of radiance shooting toward Rachel.
"Please..." Diana's whisper was barely audible. "Reach her in time."
High Above - Citro's POV
"Annoying pest!" I snarled, conjuring a barrier of grey energy just as crimson flames crashed against it.
The impact forced me back several meters. My eyes narrowed as I analyzed the attack—this wasn't ordinary fire. Something about it made my Emperor Rank soul recoil instinctively, triggering a warning I couldn't ignore.
One moment I'd been savoring the Saiyan hybrid's helplessness beneath my boot. The next, a spatial distortion swallowed me whole and deposited me high in the sky, directly into the path of this breath attack.
"Damnit!"
I cursed under my breath. Without full access to the primordial laws, my new body remained vulnerable to these spatial tricks—it still needed time to adapt. Getting caught repeatedly by this ant's manipulations was growing tiresome.
I assessed my opponent—a colossal dark Raven wreathed in three rings of crimson flame, its ominous eyes blazing with fierce light. The trace amounts of demonic energy radiating from it helped me identify my attacker.
"A soul manifestation," I muttered with disdain. "Impressive for a Lower Realm creature, I'll grant you that. But do you truly believe this parlor trick can threaten me, little demon girl?"
I roared and pushed back against the flames, my barrier expanding outward with crushing force. The fire parted around me like water around stone—yet beyond a certain point, we reached a standstill.
Troubling.
How much God Ki had this child's High Demon parent transferred to her? Throughout our engagement, both of these ants had grown steadily stronger. The fact that this attack could push me back and trigger my soul's danger sense meant my initial assessment was wrong. This girl's demonic parent wasn't merely a King Rank—they had to be Emperor Rank, like my previous incarnation.
But that raised disturbing questions. High Demons were notoriously obsessed with bloodline purity. What would drive an Emperor Rank demon to mate with another race, let alone one from the Lower Realms? Perhaps this realm held something that attracted Higher Realm powerhouses.
Yet even that didn't fully explain the threat I felt. I'd faced many High Demon warriors before. But, this God Ki was fundamentally different. This fire carried a trace of antiquity—a quality I'd only encountered in artifacts from the Primordial Era.
Could her parent be descended from one of the ancient Primordial Demons?
The rational part of my mind screamed that such a notion was absurd. Yet as the saying goes—eliminate the impossible, and whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth. A truth too disturbing to accept easily.
My gaze shifted upward to the shrinking rift in the sky. Swirling currents of multicolored energy flowed down from the tear in space, converging on the massive Raven before me.
Understanding dawned on me.
"Clever little ant," I muttered, my expression hardening. "You're not just using your soul manifestation—you're channeling the residual Higher Realm energy leaking from the rift, using it to amplify your flames beyond what should be possible in this realm."
That explained the danger I sensed. The fire possessed unique properties, but in this Lower Realm, those properties remained suppressed. Infused with Higher Realm energy, however, it transcended its normal limitations, revealing its true nature. Not strong enough to kill me, but certainly capable of inflicting genuine soul damage if I wasn't careful.
"How resourceful," I said coldly. "But you're wielding forces beyond your comprehension, child. That energy wasn't meant for beings of your level. Even using your parent's power as a conduit, the Higher Realm energy will corrode your soul manifestation as you channel it like this. Stop now, or face permanent destruction—no chance of reincarnation."
Concentrating, I could already see the evidence—hairline cracks spreading across the Raven's form where the Higher Realm energy made contact. She was burning herself out, consuming her own soul essence to sustain this attack.
"Tell me, little demon—how long before your soul shatters completely? Before you become nothing but a footnote in history, your essence scattered across this realm?"
The Raven's only response was to intensify its assault, the crimson flames blazing hotter and brighter.
I smiled coldly. "Very well. If you're so eager to destroy yourself, I'll oblige."
Grey energy erupted from my body in waves. I stopped defending and went on the offensive, my barrier transforming into dozens of spear-like projections that pierced through the flames toward the Raven's core.
"Let's see how long your desperation lasts against true power!"
End of POV