The Conquerors Path Chapter 972 - 970-Good Beating.

The air seemed to solidify, turning into a frozen void where time itself stood still. For a fleeting instant, the world held its breath. Then, the silence shattered. A torrent of raw power surged through my veins, saturating my soul and elevating my existence to an entirely different plane. Or, at the very least, it created that illusion.

In truth, the stone does not actually grant a breakthrough to such heights. Advancing through those stages requires a domain, which necessitates the study of laws and the manifestation of one's own will to bring those laws into reality. To the world's perception, I possess no such thing. Consequently, the stone merely bestows upon me the "power" associated with that realm.

A smirk played on my lips at the realization. To any observer, my physical form was overflowing with energy, enveloped in a soft, ethereal golden radiance. As previously noted, the stone's primary function is to elevate my power level, energy reserves, and physical capabilities to match those of a dragon. This meant every technique in my arsenal would now operate at that devastating magnitude.

Before the spectators could even process the transformation, my form blurred into a flash. I saturated my body with the same attos I had utilized to fell the Juggernaut before the public eye. This time, however, the attos burned with a brilliance and intensity far beyond anything they had ever witnessed. A strange contradiction took hold as the energy coalesced, manifesting as the spectral image of a dragon coiling around me.

I marveled at the sheer, unadulterated strength coursing through me. To the eyes of the crowd and those watching from the shadows, the display was overwhelming. With a mere thought, I drifted upward, my feet leaving the earth as I hovered effortlessly. Above, the heavens seemed to tear open as heavy, dark clouds gathered in response. My body emitted a piercing golden light that surged upward, forming a massive draconic sigil in the sky—a golden omen visible to every soul below.

The sigil shattered following a resonant roar, and the light returned to me. My hair whipped in the sudden gale, and a golden hue bled into my irises. My pupils even sharpened into vertical slits, resembling those of a reptile. The attos surrounding me seemed to propagate, merging with my power to form shimmering scales across various parts of my skin. This entire metamorphosis occurred in a heartbeat as I remained suspended in the air.

PUFF!

A violent shockwave erupted from my center as the transformation reached its peak, knocking back the weaker onlookers. As everyone stared in awe, I floated there, appearing like a divine entity descended from the celestial realms. The attos had knitted together around my features, granting me a more beautiful yet terrifying draconic visage.

I scanned the surroundings. The low-level reporters and onlookers were visibly shaking, gripped by an instinctive, irrational dread. A faint trace of dragon fear began to radiate from my presence. Under their collective gaze, I lifted my right hand, clenching and unclenching my fist to test the sensation. That simple movement caused the local mana to surge and ripple, submitting to me as if I were its master.

Satisfied with the sensation of power, I lowered my arm and took a deep breath. My glowing golden eyes turned toward the sky, locking onto the stunned Imperials who were still hovering amidst the clouds. My gaze eventually found Eleanor’s, and I whispered softly.

"Don’t worry. I will take care of it. After all, I have a promise to keep."

My words reached no one but Eleanor. Then, before the disbelieving eyes of the crowd, I vanished. A moment later, I materialized directly in front of the Imperials, who failed to even register my movement until I was at Eleanor's side. Maintaining my composure, I offered a small smile as I tore through the restraints they had used to suppress her.

"How?"

Eleanor remained in a state of shock, staring at me as if I were a stranger. She clearly couldn't comprehend how such a massive change had occurred in the blink of an eye. I smirked at her and responded.

"Don’t worry. Let me deal with everything, master."

Having said that, I shifted my attention to the Imperials. They were wide-eyed, struggling to process the reality of the situation. The elf, who served as their leader and was the most powerful among them, finally spoke.

"You had more of the Dragon God’s blessing?"

Given his level, he recognized the source of the power I was channeling, especially with the omens surrounding me. The man was clearly panicking, trying to keep his mind from unraveling. A slow, predatory smile spread across my face, brimming with battle intent. As the other Imperials flinched, my internal power began to expand outward, and the mana of the world rushed to serve my whim.

Thread-like golden lights radiated from my skin, stretching out to dominate the very atmosphere. It was then they realized they were about to receive the most brutal beating of their lives.

"We come here under the dignity and right blessed on us. We come with permission. The war council has the right to do what we are doing. It is to protect the wo—"

"Blah... blah... bluh..."

I interrupted.

"..."

"This is not som—"

"Yama... yada... yani."

I mocked him again.

"..."

The provocation worked; I could see the man's fury rising as his aura fluctuated. I casually rolled my shoulders and shook out my hands as if preparing for a common brawl.

"I don’t care what or any kind of shit this is. You humiliated my home. You held my master. And you tried to bring down the ones I care about and love. When that happens, I beat up the ones responsible."

That was my final warning. Before the elf could even attempt a defense, my knuckles had already collided with his jaw. I watched in slow motion as the impact distorted his face, perhaps even dislodging a tooth as his body was launched backward.

BOOM!

The sonic boom followed a second later. The remaining Imperials could only blink in confusion before turning to see their leader being hurled into the distance. They didn't hesitate further, immediately activating their domains. Each one attempted to ensnare me within their unique laws, elements, and abilities.

The three domains converged on me simultaneously. I simply smiled and flexed, releasing a burst of pure physical force amplified by draconic power. It was enough to shatter the domains like fragile glass. Cracks raced through the three distinct spaces, and within a second, they disintegrated entirely.

"Cough..."

"Urgh...."

"Krukh!...."

The trio suffered a severe backlash from the violent destruction of their domains. They groaned in unison, blood trickling from their mouths as dread filled their eyes. Still smiling, I cracked my knuckles, the energy within me thrumming with renewed vigor.

"Someone needs some manners."

As the words left my mouth, I reached up and caught a sword aimed at my skull, gripping the blade tightly. No matter how much strength the elf exerted, the weapon wouldn't budge. The moment I caught it, another massive sonic boom rippled through the air.

"Puff..... that’s a nice look."

I muttered, looking at the elf whose face was now grotesquely swollen from my previous strike. The skin was discolored and the bone structure seemed warped. My smile widened as the golden light in my eyes intensified. The other three launched their own attacks, imbuing their weapons with elemental laws.

The sheer force of their combined assault seemed to fracture the very space around me. As the attacks closed in, the glow surrounding my body brightened, as if feeding on the incoming pressure. Suddenly, the world slowed to a crawl.

The sensation made me want to laugh. From a technical standpoint, I had used the Dragon's divine power to push my physical vessel beyond its natural limits. My mind was functioning at an incomprehensible speed, and my body was keeping pace. I was burning through the dragon's limitless energy to sustain this state.

With that thought, I shoved the sword away. In slow motion, I watched the elf struggle to regain his balance as my eyes tracked every incoming strike with ease.