Nothing should be able to breach the Sky City.

Rezar had been moving with that in mind. Thinking that as long as he’s in the Sky City—there’s no one who could touch him. The superior overall strength of Sky City’s military is absolute. The paladins, the Elders who have many favors from powerful figures, and also the dominating Gatekeepers.

In the entire Spirit Realm, there’s only a handful of factions that could match this level of power.

Who would’ve thought the entire thing would be taken down in one strike?

Nobody could’ve expected this. Certainly not him.

’I’m the temporary Gatekeeper of the Sky. I’m not as strong as the others. If they couldn’t do anything to this damn Rex Silverstar, then what can I do?’ Rezar stopped mid-air and glanced to the side. Only now did he remember his wife.

She must be somewhere down there and hurt, perhaps even dying.

Rezar wanted to find her, but he couldn’t.

He wasn’t someone romantic. If it came down to it, he would prioritize saving himself more than saving her, but he was feeling guilty. She was the one who warned him that until they got more information on this master of Devo, they should play it slow.

It was he who didn’t want to wait. And now, it’s too late to trace back.

’Damn it! I need to get to Devo!’ He gritted his teeth and continued. ’I need to find a middle ground.’

Reaching back to the temple, Rezar quickly ascended the stairs.

He arrived at the entrance and immediately saw the restrained Devo on the other side.

Sensing his approach, Devo looked up. A smirk touched his pale lips as he took in the evidence that Rex had done a number on Rezar. He didn’t know the specifics, didn’t know how—but after staying at Rex’s side the longest, Adhara aside, he had learned one truth: Rex would always find a way.

No matter what.

It’s simply the kind of man he is. Nothing can stop him.

Just not too long ago, Rezar was acting all high and mighty, even undermining all warnings.

Now, that arrogance was no more. He was akin to a lost puppy after its owner died.

“Devo, dear nephew, listen to me,” Rezar approached. His steps were hurried, almost frantic. Had it not been for his restraint, he would’ve run to Devo right now. But he knew that not looking desperate was the only way to approach this. “I was wrong. I know I’ve approached this badly, but I was hurt.

“You should understand that more than anyone.” His face melted to a soft one.

He was putting on a mask of vulnerability.

Devo sneered inside.

He may not be as old as Rezar, but he’s not that naïve to be easily swayed by a performance like this.

’Now you wanted to talk? Please… I’ve been trying to talk to you.’ Devo turned his face away.

“Your father promised me his title. His seat. But he lied to me,” Rezar kept crossing the distance—eyes scanning Devo’s reaction—with predatory instinct. “I have always wanted to be a Gatekeeper, and your father played me. I was hurt. I want to hurt him, too, and that’s why I did this to you.”

“Now I know that this… This is a mistake,” Rezar continued. “You’re not your father.”

“A mistake…” Devo whispered inaudibly.

He looked back at Rezar with a completely blank expression. His face betrayed nothing.

Rezar stopped a few paces before the platform. A sweat trickled down the side of his face. A sweat of nervousness. He quickly wipes it with his hand—not wanting Devo to see it. “I’ve already been talking with your aunt, and I was planning to let you go. But I was already too late. Your master is here.”

Just addressing Rex as Devo’s master put a sour taste in his mouth.

No Spirits should be the servant of someone from the Mortal Realm, but he persevered through.

Devo’s eyes sparkled with small lightning currents.

He had heard the commotion. Heck, the destructive wave from something hitting the barrier was hard to ignore, but he thought it was another enemy of the Sky City. Rex is powerful, that’s proven—but he thought Rex asked someone else to help.

This is only the initial wave.

Despite his strength, the Sky City is still a formidable opponent.

But it seemed he underestimated Rex. He was cramped up inside this temple and tortured that he could not wrap his head around his surroundings properly. Outside—the moonlight was red. And it was then he realized today was the Blood Moon.

No wonder.

He was expecting Rezar to move him to another place.

Since Rex was already here, Devo assumed Sky City already fell.

’He’s truly the one who would ascend to the top.’ A light chuckle escaped his dry lips. ’Who could even destroy the Sky City as fast as he did?’

Looking at Rezar again, his gaze now was different. He now knows that Rezar came here for amnesty. He must’ve seen Rex, and it’s not a pleasant encounter.

“I’m sorry for doing this. I really do.” Rezar rubbed his hands and offered the best smile he could make right now. “But can you broker a peaceful talk with him? This situation had gone out of hand. Even after everything, this is still your home.”

Devo lowered his head.

And Rezar took it as a sign that he was swayed.

“Do this, and I’ll let you keep your father’s position. I will also support you as I did for your father.” He stole a glance outside upon feeling an enormous amount of energy closing in on the temple. “No, scratch that. I’ll do more than support you.”

Glancing at the entrance again, he saw a massive, scaled tail moving to the left.

It was now circling the temple.

Rezar could feel his heart pounding hard against his chest.

Many thought that living for thousands upon thousands of years would make one stoic. No, it made one love life more than anything. He doesn’t want to die. Not when he hadn’t achieved what he sought to achieve with his life.

“I’m sorry, oka—”

Devo broke in laughter.

His sharp and ridiculing laughter cuts through the air and cuts Rezar mid-sentence.

It was baffling the more he thought about this situation.

Even now, when Rezar was supposedly trying to make amends, the restriction on Devo was still active and was burning his pain nerves. If he wanted to look genuine, then he should have killed the restriction first before even saying anything.

Nothing would prepare Devo for this baffling performance.

It was the biggest joke he had ever heard in a long time.

Much more than when Amanir pranked Rex with the clown Spirit Gladiator form.

“Uncle, uncle, uncle… You must think I’m an idiot.” Devo raised a brow—smirking at the supposed person who wanted to be the Gatekeeper of the Sky. “I’ve stopped being a young man a thousand years ago. That kind of manipulation wouldn’t work on me.”

“You little shi—”

Crack—!

Rezar stopped at the sound of thunder.

For a second, the sky flashed purple, carrying with it a bad omen.

Footsteps. Faint, but undeniably there.

Rezar’s body locked instantly—every muscle seized to stone. Slowly, against the screaming instinct, he turned his head and stared at the entrance. It was no longer a gateway. It was a gaping maw, the threshold to a hell that had come for him.

As the source of these footsteps about to emerge, the massive head of a serpent slithered from the left.

Its reptilian slitted eye peered into the temple and stared directly at Rezar.

The corner of its lips curled a little, almost like it could smell the odour of fear coming from Rezar.

And when the serpent slithered away again, the figure finally appeared. Rex stood like a statue, not too far away from the entrance. His body was ink-black like a silhouette, highlighting only his crimson eyes that were burning with bloodlust and a pair of horns that pulsated with the raw energy of the moon.

Blood dripped from his claws.

It was the blood of the guards and paladins guarding this temple. Loyal to their cores.

Since Rex was here, all of them must’ve been dead.

Even Devo felt a cold chill run down his spine. Being in line with Rezar made him see the perspective of Rex’s enemy, and he could now really feel how truly terrifying Rex was. Especially now that he was blessed by his birth moon.

“You’re in trouble,” Devo whispered teasingly. “You’re really in trouble now, uncle.’

“You, shut up!” Rezar snarled, cutting Devo off with a voice like grinding stone. His burning gaze went back to Rex again. “Usurper. You have truly done it now. All the other Sky Cities are going to come for you and your empire now. The forces of a thousand independent cities are upon you.”

His eyes narrowed to venomous slits, a feeble attempt to mask the cold dread in his throat.

“Unless you stop right now,” He continued with hope. “I’ll even grant you an audience. A fair hearing before the true powers of this world.”

Rex didn’t answer instantly.

He only stared at Rezar silently. Long enough to make anyone shift uncomfortably.

Only the sound of rumbling thunder and the downpour filled the temple.

Its mighty spires and regal decorations were now bleak. Darkness has already tainted its presence, the same as how dread was tainting Rezar’s heart right now. Then, Rex’s head tilted ever-so slightly. It was slow and unnerving.

Almost like the world was tilting, not his head.

“Then a thousand more cities would fall, too.” He answered with a sense of finality.

Rezar’s mind raced.

Using the reputation and military strength of the other Sky Cities was the only thing that he could come up with at the spot. It was a trump card meant for desperate measures. And it would’ve worked most of the time, as the Sky Cities are the rulers of the Spirit Realm.

But it was utterly wasted on a creature like Rex.

In the eyes of a predator, the prey’s threats are meaningless.

The prey is not an opponent to be reasoned with; it is merely the meal for today.

So, what if there was another predator around? As long as it can eat right now—that’s good enough.

Rex entered the temple. His bloodied paws marked the marble floor, and the blood dripping—from his iron claws left behind gory trails. He desecrated the cleanliness of the place with his anger, and such a sight cracked the calm façade on Rezar’s face.

“Don’t come closer! If you get any closer, I’ll kill him! I’ll kill Devo, and your trip here would be a total waste!” He threatened, pointing at Rex with his index finger. Lightning coiled around its surface. “Don’t come closer!”

His finger pointed at Devo, “Believe me, I’ll kill him!”

It didn’t stop Rex.

It didn’t even make him hesitate.

Angered, Rezar’s entire body crackled with life energy. Like Emperor Dominar, he was equipped with an item that could overpower the blessed skill from the Blood Moon. He started to levitate. Lightning strikes licked his skin as his presence cracked the ground.

BLITZ—!

One lightning strike struck the ceiling and tore it away, exposing the sky once again.

Above, new cumulonimbus clouds appeared and swirled, turning into the eye of a hurricane.

At the center of its vortex, lightning rumbled and twisted like living beings.

“I’m the Gatekeeper of the Sky!” Rezar announced overbearingly. His eyes now flashed with something maddening. “Do you think you can kill me easily? I have lived for more than ten thousand years. I have the Law of Lightning empowering my Echo. You cannot kill me easi—?!”

In the blink of an eye, Rex made one last step and disappeared.

Rezar’s eyes widened completely when Rex was already upon him. A few inches away. And his claws already pierced through his stomach and exploded from the back. No time to finish his sentence. There’s not even a time for him to react.

Rex’s lips curled into a nasty grin, “As easy as that.”