The Conquerors Path Chapter 973 - 971-Well Done Beating.

As the world slowed to a crawl, I moved with blinding speed. I wanted this display to be unforgettable. With a single, fluid motion, I struck the three Imperials with such force that they were slammed into the earth, their bones shattering upon impact. Maintaining that same velocity, I shifted my focus to the lead elf. Before he could even react, I landed at least a hundred blows across his body, systematically breaking him before dropping him right at the base of my tower’s steps, joining the three fallen Imperials.

Normal time resumed almost instantly. As reality caught up, the air was suddenly filled with the sounds of agony.

"Urgh!"

"Ahh!"

"Kurgh!"

"AHhhhhh!"

The lead elf suffered the most, shrieking as he writhed on the dirt. The three Imperials lay there, paralyzed by shock and broken limbs. The man who had led the charge remained motionless, a pool of blood forming around his battered frame. Bruises and strike marks covered every inch of his skin where I had connected.

His face was a mess of swelling and gore, looking like it had been through a meat grinder. The moment time sped back up, the entire area erupted into chaos. The war council guards on standby moved to act, their eyes bulging in disbelief. In the distance, the reporters were frozen in shock, as were the hidden observers who had been secretly enjoying the spectacle.

Reflecting on the situation, I channeled the surging power within me to suppress the abilities of the Imperials. I ensured their internal healing and natural powers were completely locked down. For the time being, they were nothing more than a group of frail old men experiencing excruciating pain.

"There will be consequences to this..."

The lead elf managed to wheeze out the words. Despite his distorted face and the pain that caused him to roll on the ground, his voice remained clear. A smirk played on my lips as I gave my retort.

"I am merely a child who lashed out in a fit of impulsive rage. I’m quite certain the Elders will be understanding of such a mistake."

My dripping sarcasm only served to fuel his fury. All around me, powerful guards were tightening their circle, weapons leveled at my chest. Fear was etched into their features as they stared. Even now, I remained hovering slightly above the ground, a confident grin on my face.

"Are you certain you wish to proceed with this?"

I projected my voice so everyone could hear. It wasn't just the guards; I could feel the three massive airships in the sky locking their heavy cannons onto my position from three different vectors. The ground troops surrounded me entirely, leaving no apparent room for me to maneuver—at least, in their estimation.

My grin widened as I glanced toward the heavens. Per my instructions, Eleanor remained hovering high above. Though I knew she was desperate to intervene, her involvement would only complicate matters. If I handled this alone, I could frame it as a youthful outburst and bury the fallout later. If she stepped in, the political situation would spiral out of control.

I took a moment to soak it in—the sensation of dozens of weapons pointed at me by men who were terrified to their cores. I rolled my shoulders, feeling the weight of their gazes. Some of them hadn't even processed the speed of my initial attack; their minds were refusing to accept the reality of the broken bodies before them.

"I’ll grant you ten seconds. Why don't you all take a step back? There’s no need for anyone else to suffer."

I waited, floating with my arms crossed, bathed in a golden glow. The world seemed to hold its breath as the seconds ticked away. It was the classic calm before a storm, punctuated only by the groans of the injured Imperials.

I could sense the guards' desire to rush in and assist their fallen leaders. However, my proximity to the bodies meant they would have to go through me first—a daunting prospect. When the time was up, I spoke.

"Time is up."

Once again, the world transitioned into slow motion. I blurred through the ranks of the frozen guards, systematically neutralizing them. Unlike the leaders, I showed a modicum of restraint, only breaking a bone or two to ensure they remained unconscious. My heightened senses allowed me to feel every impact as they collapsed in slow motion.

I finished by standing between the two guards who had initially blocked my path. Dread was visible on their faces even in the slowed state as they looked toward the tower. Smirking, I delivered a heavy punch to both their faces. I watched their skin ripple and teeth fly from their mouths before I snapped their legs and took to the sky.

Now fully airborne with my arms crossed, I allowed time to resume. A chorus of fresh cries filled the air.

"Ah!"

"Kurkhg!"

"Nooo!"

"Um~"

"Grukh!"

One of the sounds was... unusual. I did my best to hide my judgment toward the guard who made it, as his own comrades were already shooting him strange looks. Regardless, every guard who had participated in the confrontation was now down.

They lay scattered across the plaza with fractured limbs, moaning in agony. Even the peripheral guards hadn't been spared. In the center of the carnage, the Imperials continued to writhe. I hovered above them, letting my crushing pressure radiate through the air.

"See? I warned you to stand down."

I turned my attention to the three ships above. My senses had already intercepted their internal communications.

"You lot in the ships. Lower your weapons now. Or would you prefer I bring those vessels crashing down?"

The tension became suffocating. For a moment, it looked like they might fire, but seconds later, the weapons powered down. They had received a direct order from their superior. Satisfied, I descended to the ground. I looked at the lead elf, whose swollen face glared back at me.

"What happens when your power fades? Can you truly survive the fallout of what you've done here?"

"We shall see."

With a swift kick to the head, I silenced him. Shrugging off the lingering tension, I walked toward the tower entrance. The doors slid open to reveal the members of my tower, all of whom were staring at me with expressions ranging from awe to literal worship. I could feel the collective shivers running down their spines. Inside, a few remaining guards stood watch; they immediately recoiled at my gaze.

By now, the scattered guards had regrouped. Even the Quiver Lord Eldon stood there, appearing upright and proud, though he looked at me as if I were a demonic entity.

One man approached with a greasy, confident smile. Despite being surrounded by guards, he gave me a shallow nod.

"My name is Lorel Von—"

"Who gave you permission to stand?"

I unleashed a wave of murderous intent and raw pressure. The weight was absolute, slamming into the guards and the man instantly. They were forced to their knees, their frames trembling under the sheer gravity of my will. I walked through the suppression I had created until I reached the struggling Lorel.

Grabbing a handful of his hair, I forced his head back. His face was contorted as he fought just to draw breath. It was a satisfying sight. I balled my hand into a fist and leaned in.

"You should have kept your mouth shut."

I hammered my fist into his face. I didn't use enough strength to kill him, but certainly enough to cause significant damage. After a few more strikes, I retracted the pressure. Most of the guards had already passed out. I released Lorel’s hair, and he slumped to the ground, his face now as bloated and ruined as the elf’s.

"Man, that was fun," I remarked.