Journey to Become the Zenith

Chapter 396: The Gathering of Spirit Rulers

The Gathering of Spirit Rulers

The instant the final announcement ended...

Six massive currents of magical power erupted beside Isabella.

One after another...

Six figures gradually materialized from swirling pillars of light.

The first stretched lazily before laughing.

"You’re finally awake, Isabella!"

The second remained completely silent.

"..."

The third smiled warmly.

"I can’t believe you still remembered us after all this time."

The fourth crossed their arms and snorted.

"Hmph."

"So you finally decided to call me..."

Their gaze shifted toward the others.

"...Wait."

"Why did you summon these guys too?"

The fifth calmly observed Victor before speaking.

"I see..."

"Our opponent must be someone extraordinary..."

"...if Isabella has summoned all six of us at once."

The sixth sighed.

"Let’s just get this over with."

Six overwhelming presences stood beside Isabella.

Victor’s smile slowly widened.

The excitement burning within his golden eyes became impossible to hide.

Isabella...

Had summoned six of the Seven Spirit Rulers.

--------------------

Victor looked at the six Spirit Rulers and slowly revealed a fierce smile.

The corners of his lips curled upward as excitement flickered within his golden eyes. A faint tremor ran through his body—not from fear, but from anticipation.

It had been a very long time since something had stirred his blood like this.

Before him stood six beings who embodied the pinnacle of elemental power. Their mere presence distorted the surrounding mana, causing the evening breeze to change direction as if the world itself acknowledged their authority.

"...Interesting."

His quiet murmur carried genuine admiration.

During his previous life, Victor had heard countless legends about the Spirit Rulers.

Ancient tales spoke of them as sovereigns born from the purest elements of creation—beings who rarely answered anyone’s call. Kings had searched for them, sages had devoted entire lifetimes to finding them, and countless prodigies had dreamed of forging contracts with even one.

Yet no one had succeeded.

At least...

No one Victor had ever encountered.

Back when he had stood at the peak of humanity, even the greatest summoners had failed to call forth a single Spirit Ruler.

And now...

Six of them stood together before him.

His gaze shifted toward Isabella.

The overwhelming magical power surrounding her continued to rise with every passing heartbeat.

The six released seals had transformed her completely.

Mana flowed through her body like a roaring ocean, dense enough to make the surrounding space shimmer.

Victor’s smile widened another fraction.

Amazing...

Among every human I’ve fought...

She’s carrying the greatest amount of mana I’ve ever witnessed.

He had battled emperors.

He had crossed blades with legendary heroes.

He had slain monsters whose names had become myths.

Even then...

None of them possessed such an immense reservoir of magical energy.

It was almost unbelievable.

The air itself seemed to grow heavier beneath its weight.

Leaves floated upward instead of falling.

Tiny pebbles trembled across the ground.

Even the clouds above slowly began to swirl.

Diana silently observed everything from behind Victor.

Her crimson eyes moved from one Spirit Ruler to another.

Although she trusted Victor completely, even she couldn’t deny how extraordinary the opponents before them were.

The six Spirit Rulers stood calmly beside Isabella, each radiating a completely different aura.

One carried the calmness of an endless sea.

Another burned like a blazing sun.

One felt as immovable as an ancient mountain.

Another was as wild and unpredictable as a raging storm.

Each possessed a presence capable of overwhelming ordinary people before a battle had even begun.

Victor quietly studied every one of them.

His eyes missed nothing.

Their posture.

Their breathing.

The flow of elemental energy surrounding them.

Every tiny movement told its own story.

Yet...

Instead of concern...

His heartbeat only accelerated.

A laugh escaped him.

"Heh..."

His voice was soft, but the excitement behind it was impossible to hide.

"So these are the Spirit Rulers..."

"No wonder people worship them."

One of the Spirit Rulers narrowed their eyes.

"You’re smiling?"

Victor nodded honestly.

"Of course."

"I’ve wanted to meet opponents like you for a very long time."

The statement caused several of the Spirit Rulers to exchange brief glances.

There was no arrogance in his tone.

No attempt to provoke them.

He simply sounded... delighted.

One of them folded their arms.

"You’re either incredibly confident..."

"...or completely insane."

Victor chuckled.

"Maybe a little of both."

Diana couldn’t help releasing a nearly inaudible sigh.

There he goes again...

She had already realized something about Victor.

The stronger the enemy...

The happier he became.

Danger only fueled his excitement.

It was a side of him that few people could understand.

Across from them, Isabella remained composed.

She knew Victor’s personality well enough by now to recognize that his smile wasn’t an act.

He genuinely looked forward to difficult battles.

You’re impossible...

She thought quietly.

Even now... you’re enjoying yourself.

Victor slowly rolled his shoulders before taking a single step forward.

His movements were relaxed.

Casual.

As though he were preparing for a friendly spar instead of facing six legendary spirits.

His golden eyes swept across each of them once more.

Every Spirit Ruler represented the pinnacle of a single element.

Each possessed power that countless mages could only dream of attaining.

To challenge even one would be considered madness.

To face six simultaneously...

That bordered on the impossible.

Victor’s breathing slowed.

The excitement burning within him only intensified.

His fingers twitched slightly.

Not because of nervousness.

Because his body instinctively responded to the promise of a worthy battle.

It had been so long...

Far too long...

Since he had encountered opponents capable of making his instincts awaken like this.

The thought alone sent a pleasant shiver down his spine.

His fierce smile became even more pronounced.

Excellent...

This is exactly what I was hoping for.

The evening wind swept through the clearing once again.

The silence before the coming storm settled over everyone present.

Neither side moved.

Neither side spoke.

The entire world seemed to pause, holding its breath in anticipation.

...

The battlefield had been set.

The clash between Victor and the six Spirit Rulers was about to begin.