Chapter 668: Allegiance.

The Heavenly Alliance was on the brink of destruction, and their downfall was due to a single Grandmaster. The world would laugh at them when the Heavenly Alliance believed they were the pinnacle of humans. In this moment, everything they were so proud of, it was meaningless, and they realized how petty they were in the eyes of the world.

"You were right, Master Strategist. About us being the frogs in the well," Ma spoke calmly as he stared at the blade that was pointed in between his eyes. "Even with everything we have learned, experienced, and reaching enlightenment. Deep down, we couldn’t help being prideful of ourselves... even arrogance," he smiled as he closed his eyes, ready to accept his fate.

"No, Alliance Leader Ma, it’s called living with principles," Ogun answered as he shook his head. "In the face of evil, being humble is the same as to admit submission," he glared at Ruen.

Ogun didn’t want to accept that this was the end of the Heavenly Alliance. He didn’t want to accept that their fate was to be lost single-handedly to a Grandmaster of the Demonic Cult. His pride didn’t want to let the Demonic Cult get what they wanted.

"I apologize, Alliance Leader Ma..." Ogun muttered as he lowered his head. "The fall of the Heavenly Alliance is the same as showing my incompetence as the Master Strategist that everyone has entrusted that responsibility to me," he added.

Ma and the other Zeniths turned to look at Ogun, and they realized that Ogun was about to do something that they couldn’t accept.

"You weaklings know nothing but to speak philosophy. Die for the Heavenly God!" Ruen raised her sword and imbued it with Mana filled with corruption and decay that put everyone in fear.

Ma and the Zeniths were ready to accept their death because they knew there was nothing that could stop Ruen. However, Ogun slowly stood up and stared at Rasmus, even though fear had taken over his body.

"Count Rasmus Blackheart, the Heavenly Alliance will no longer treat you as our enemy! We swore to the Gods that the Heavenly Alliance will swear our allegiance and protect your from the Imperial family and the whole Khan Empire!" Ogun shouted as he lowered his head. "Please save us!" He screamed his lungs out as he could feel the gush of air from Ruen’s sword swinging down at them.

The gushing air that was filled with corruption suddenly disappeared, the air felt like it was being sucked out. Slowly but surely, a cold that pierced the bones began to fill the air. Everyone lifted their heads and saw Ruen’s right arm up to her neck frozen by ice, preventing her from swinging her sword.

"There’s no shame in wanting to live," Rasmus said as he walked toward them with Aris, Rullein, and the Ancient Great Spirits following him from behind.

Ruen flicked her arm and broke free from the ice as she slowly turned around to face Rasmus. Her expression was cold and showed resentment in her eyes that was visible to everyone else.

"Why choose to side with them when you can side with us?" Ruen asked as she swung her sword around. "(Are we really going to fight now?)" She telepathically asked Rasmus.

"I already have enough people that stand by my side," Rasmus answered. "(Yes, and I have to kill you here. But if you want to fight with everything you have, that’s fine by me)" he answered as he walked to the side to have a duel with Ruen.

Ruen tried to not grin in excitement because she wanted to stay in character. She immediately released Mana around her that was visible with naked eyes. She then showed a tiny bit of her power to make it believable that she wasn’t that powerful compared to Rasmus.

"And you’ll regret that," Ruen followed Rasmus to the side and readied her stance before she disappeared and reappeared in front of Rasmus.

Rasmus’ heterochromatic eyes began to glow and time began to move slowly around him. He could see Ruen in front of him with a sword pointed at his throat, grinning in excitement. He pulled out his blacksword from his spatial ring, and the blade got covered in ice the moment he held the sword.

As time moved normally, Rasmus deflected Ruen’s sword and watched her lose her balance and move pass him. It surprised Ma and the others, they were stunned when a sword suddenly appeared out of thin air and the fact he effortlessly deflected Ruen’s attack. Spatial rings weren’t known to East Neva due to its patent and exclusivity that only the Magic Tower could make it, and they weren’t sold to anyone without the Great Sage’s approval and authority.

Ruen didn’t expect Rasmus could easily deflect her attack like that. Although she was currently pretending, she didn’t hold back in that attack. She wanted to go all-out, but she knew that it would only blow her cover and reveal that she was too powerful for a human being.

"Who are you people?" Ruen asked as she looked at her blade that got coated by ice from the clash.

"it’s pointless to get information because you’re not going to leave this place alive," Rasmus answered with a straight face.

Ruen readied her stance once again, and this time she planned to use what she learned from Ma’s martial arts and techniques. The way she changed her stance that mirrored Ma, Ma and the others were baffled because they knew it was his stance.

Rasmus didn’t say a word when he readied his stance, but his stance mirrored Ruen’s, which meant they both were using Ma’s stance and martial arts. At that moment, Rasmus revealed that Ruen wasn’t the only one who could copy someone’s technique. It was thanks to the Overlord’s bloodline that ran through his veins, a new ability that he had hid from everyone, including Aris and Rullein.

The moment they clashed and exchanged blows, it was proven that both of them were indeed using Ma’s martial arts and techniques. However, the difference in speed and strength was like the earth to the sky. Rasmus’ unbelievable speed instantly showed who had the upper hand.

Ruen received a few cuts that slowly painted the ground with her blood. She knew that she had to lose in this fight and die, but she didn’t want this to end that easily. She decided to use Demonic martial arts that she saw in Ma’s memories, recreating them while at the same time trying to make her look stronger.

The atmosphere grew heavier and felt darker when Ruen imitated the demonic arts. Her eyes began to glow dark purple, and it reminded Ma of the previous Heavenly God that he defeated back then. She then dashed toward Rasmus and clashed her sword with his. The power spike was visible when the ground began to wave like water before a crater was formed around them.

The longer they fought, the more destructive the power and damage they had done to their surroundings. The three Ancient Great Spirits had to protect everyone with a barrier, or they would get killed from the shockwave alone.

"They’re monsters..." Ogun muttered.

"No, she’s using her life force to fight him. That technique is the same as the one that the Heavenly God used when I fought him back then. The only monster here is him," Ma shook his head, his eyes couldn’t keep up with the fight anymore.

Ruen was indeed pretending to use her life force, while at the same time the Overlord’s power that Rasmus used to fight her began to slow her down and weaken her. After countless exchange, Ruen’s body had been covered in frostbite, and she could barely move her body anymore.

"Impossible..." Ruen muttered as she collapsed to her knees and leaned on her sword. "I can’t accept this..." She clenched her teeth as she slowly raised her head to look up at Rasmus. "You’re an obstacle to the grand plan for the Heavenly God! I must kill you here!" She screamed as she glared at Rasmus.

"You tried," Rasmus swung his sword and decapitated her without hesitation.

Ruen’s head fell next to her body, but her body didn’t collapse, it still leaned against her sword. Rasmus looked at her for one last time before he snapped his fingers and burned her body until she turned into ashes.