The Conquerors Path Chapter 978 - 976-Reckoning Has Arrived.

"What the hell is this!?"

The young human male shrieked as he stared at the barrier. Confusion filled his eyes as he rained attacks upon the shield, yet he failed to leave even a single scratch on its surface.

"Young master, this is something else."

The Imperial stepped forward as he spoke, his eyes trembling while he observed the barrier before him. It should have been impossible for any defense to withstand the power of an Imperial. If such a feat were possible, why would anyone struggle to reach the Imperial rank if a mere device could negate an Imperial’s attack power?

"This is a formidable barrier. Even from my perspective, how it can possess such strength while remaining invisible to my senses..."

As the man spoke, he began manifesting his domain around the area to strike the barrier. The shield stood tall and resilient, yet to the naked eye, it was clear that it was waning; its energy was depleting bit by bit. Seeing this, the tension in the young men's eyes relaxed slightly, but the expressions of the older men only grew more grave.

Whenever a barrier of this magnitude was activated, it was a certainty that some form of alert or warning had been dispatched to others.

"Young master, I will begin utilizing the majority of my power. We must shatter this before any attention shifts back toward us. It is vital that we move with the utmost speed."

The Imperial’s words weighed heavily on the two young men. The situation had escalated into something far beyond their initial expectations. They had planned for every variable, even going as far as forcefully sealing off the local mana, yet a protective artefact had still manifested, defying the logic they had established.

"Tillian, it appears something has gone wrong."

The lion beastman noted, to which Tillian, the young human student, merely smirked.

"So what? No signal can penetrate this location, and even if one did, we would have erased all evidence and vanished long before anyone could arrive."

"This scenario has already deviated from our original plan. We must remain cautious," Imin, the lion beastman, cautioned. At his words, Tillian glanced at the shroud protecting Elda, which was rapidly losing its potency and shrinking as they spoke.

"Do you truly wish to abandon this? To give up that taste? Think of the power we will wield once she is ours, especially when we are this close."

At Tillian’s prompting, Imin turned his gaze toward Elda, his eyes flickering with the same lust and greed as Tillian’s. Such peerless beauty, the likes of which he had never encountered, was something he couldn't bring himself to let go. Beyond mere lust, however, there was a far deeper motivation for kidnapping the girl. Her bloodline would elevate their faction’s power beyond all measure.

This was a scheme they had set in motion long ago, ever since they confirmed the potential of fairy blood and the vast influence it offered. The timing was perfect to execute the plan; the entire academy was currently reeling and buzzing with the excitement of the recently concluded battle.

It was the ideal moment, while everyone’s attention was diverted. The focus, the heat, the thrill, and the blood-pumping chaos provided the perfect opening—a time when mistakes occur and vigilance wavers. Furthermore, the incredibly mysterious Austin Lionheart had just been lured away.

In this window of opportunity, the plan was launched. Failure now would result in consequences far too severe for any of them to survive. This was a ride-or-die moment. Imin acknowledged this reality as he turned back to Elda within her protection. Meanwhile, the two teachers, Kovick and Mansi, watched on with anxiety and tension visible in their eyes.

They had gambled everything on this single moment. Both had been planted by the families and powers backing Imin and Tillian, making this a life-or-death situation for them as well. If they failed here and failed to cover their tracks as planned, death would be the most merciful of their options.

Tension gripped everyone, but that stress began to dissipate within seconds as they witnessed the Imperial's attacks rapidly eroding the golden barrier. The Imperial, Obion, wore a slight frown as he exerted his domain power against the shield, causing it to dissolve.

"I never imagined a barrier could exist that could endure an Imperial’s powered attacks for this long. This warrants study."

Obion’s remark caused the teachers' eyes to light up as they scrutinized the hairpin on Elda’s head. Its design appeared mundane and minimalistic, but the power it contained was far beyond their wildest dreams.

"I suspect it originates from the ancient era. According to our intelligence, Austin Lionheart traveled the entire world during his journey. One can only guess what treasures he might have collected."

The greed and thirst for knowledge burning within Kovick were obvious, though he carefully masked the fear he felt toward the student who had arrived at the academy like a falling star. He had risen from a name barely whispered to the center of the world's stage—a meteoric ascent so rapid that even the War Council’s hidden elders, who interpret the stars and worship fate, had failed to foresee it.

He was a disturbance so potent that the very essence of the world seemed to gather around him; his power and lineage were not to be trifled with. Thus, as their excitement surged and their worries faded, they watched Elda, now nearly within their grasp. Only moments remained before everything fell into place...

Then, the world froze.

To be more precise, it felt as though time had stopped specifically for them. It was that sensation one feels when adrenaline is surging and excitement is at its peak, only for the world to suddenly slow down. However, this time, the sensation was accompanied by a feeling of overwhelming dread.

It was as if a predator of incomprehensible horror had fixed its gaze upon them. That chilling sensation radiated through the room. Their bodies locked up, their domains collapsed, and they found themselves unable to move a single muscle. It was as if the very fabric of space had been torn asunder as a majestic, floating figure, adorned with glowing golden tattoos, materialized in the room beside Elda, hovering just inches above the floor.

None of them could even draw breath, having forgotten how to do so. To them, it felt as if the world had ended, but for Elda, the presence felt like the warmest embrace imaginable. She knew only one person who could make her feel this way, and despite the tattoos and the aura surrounding Austin, it took her only a heartbeat to realize who had come to save her.

"Brother..."

Elda whispered. In the absolute silence that had gripped the room, her words carried as much weight as a shout. In an instant, the blood of everyone present ran cold. Those most severely affected were the Imperial Obion and the half-step Imperial Quax. They felt the pressure more intensely than the others, as if the jaws of death were tightening around their throats, dragging them into the abyss.

"Ho—How...?"

That was the only word Obion could manage to stammer, his body trembling violently. Even he was unable to move. Time seemed to stretch as Austin looked down at Elda, a soft smile appearing on his face as the barrier dissolved. He floated beside her, checking to ensure she was unharmed, and asked,

"You alright?"

"Um..."

Elda nodded shyly, all her fears vanishing instantly. Seeing this, Austin smiled and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.

"I can’t leave you alone for even a moment, can I?"

With those words, he playfully booped her nose. Elda shyly swatted his hand away. Austin then turned his attention to the others in the room. He didn't have much time. Within seconds, the overwhelming terror he projected would fade, and a barrage of attacks from the authorities would likely descend upon this location, given that he had violently torn through spatial restrictions to arrive so quickly. He had no time to waste.

Every powerful figure in the vicinity would now be aware that a being of supreme power had breached the restrictions here, meaning reinforcements would be arriving shortly. However, those few seconds were all Austin required.

And so, Austin moved. In the blink of an eye, he appeared to return to his original spot. To an observer with sharp eyes, he seemed to flicker for less than a second before standing by Elda’s side once more, but the actions he had performed began to unfold like clockwork.