My Celestial Ascension

"Quick! Reinforce the barrier immediately! Don't let them destroy it and escape! We can't let them take that treasure at any cost!"

Emperor Philip shouted as he stood on the balcony, clad in his battle armor—not only for protection but also to enhance his strength and defense significantly. His armor was a powerful magical artifact that greatly amplified his magic power and physical strength.

The armor he wore was the heirloom of the Lionheart family, passed down through generations. It was the same armor once worn in battle by the first Emperor of the Lionheart Empire—the Regalia of Eternal Pride.

Regalia of Eternal Pride—a legendary artifact of immense magical power—could easily rival even the most powerful enchanted relics. It had the ability to deflect any magic spell below Tier-6 and could even reduce the damage from some Tier-7 spells.

As Emperor Philip took in the scene before him, his eyes widened in shock.

"This is unbelievable! They're breaking the barrier with sheer strength alone… They're far more dangerous than I expected!"

Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as the situation spiraled out of control. He hadn't anticipated the leader of the Golden Skull organization to be this overwhelmingly powerful.

At that moment, Emperor Philip's gaze met the leader's for a split second. Their mana clashed in an invisible battle, creating a suffocating tension throughout the stadium.

The sheer force of their mana caused everyone fleeing toward the exit to freeze in place. Their bodies refused to move, as though they had been paralyzed by the immense pressure in the air.

'This pressure… He's definitely a Magic Knight General! I'm certain of it! And on top of that… he's also a Grand Mage?! This is truly unbelievable!' Emperor Philip thought, his mind racing as he assessed the overwhelming power radiating from the enemy leader.

Crown Prince Daniel, standing beside his father, also felt the staggering mana emanating from the man. His legs trembled involuntarily.

'Can Father even defeat him without asking Aunt Valeria for help? Or without turning to Yuan and his wives? This seems impossible without their aid…' Daniel swallowed nervously, his eyes unconsciously drifting toward VIP Room Number 1.

As if that weren't enough, the leader wielded a mythical dagger, further amplifying his already monstrous strength. With that weapon in hand, defeating him—let alone fighting him—seemed almost impossible.

At the same time, the leader of the group grinned widely as he looked at Emperor Philip and sneered, "How very disappointing… I thought the Emperor of the Lionheart Empire—Philip Lionheart—would be a formidable opponent. But it turns out you're just a weakling. How utterly disappointing."

Hearing this, Emperor Philip's blood boiled with fury. He wanted nothing more than to skin the leader alive in front of everyone. But deep down, he knew the man was right—he was too weak.

"Father…" Daniel called out hesitantly, his voice laced with worry. He hoped his father wouldn't act recklessly out of anger.

Taking a deep breath, Emperor Philip forced himself to stay calm. Then, in a deep, unwavering voice, he spoke, "Don't look down on me like that. You're nothing but a criminal who relies on Forbidden Magic to gain power. But I… I am not like you."

"Unlike you, I take pride in my duty. I fight for my people. I protect my Empire from invaders. You, on the other hand, are nothing but a madman—a murderer who doesn't deserve to live."

His voice grew heavier, filled with righteous fury. "You have slaughtered countless innocents, destroyed homes—homes filled with years of memories, happiness, and hardship alike. You have no right to judge me, you worthless piece of filth!"

As his words echoed through the stadium, Emperor Philip unleashed a powerful wave of mana, shaking the very ground beneath them.

"And today, your reign of terror ends here, Golden Skull dog! Before everyone present, you and your goons will fall!"

Golden mana surged from his body, taking the form of a majestic, fearless lion.

But the leader of the Golden Skull simply smirked, unfazed. "How amusing… Do you truly believe a mere barrier like this can stop me from slaughtering everyone in this city? If so, you're gravely mistaken."

Crack! Crack!

Suddenly, lightning crackled around his hands, surging with power. Within seconds, both his arms were engulfed in blinding white energy.

Even more terrifying—he wasn't using a magic wand to cast his spells.

Gasps filled the stadium.

"Unbelievable! He can use magic without a wand?!"

"T-This is the end! He's about to destroy the barrier!"

Panic erupted. People screamed as they frantically rushed toward the exits, desperate to escape before the leader shattered the barrier and came after them.

"This is bad! I don't think this barrier can hold for more than a minute against his power…" Emperor Philip muttered, barely able to believe what he was witnessing.

His mind raced, desperately searching for a way to stop this lunatic before he could slaughter innocent people and shatter the Empire's alliances across the continent.

Seeing the distress on his father's face, Daniel stepped forward. "Father, there's still time. We should ask Aunt Valeria and Yuan for help. They could neutralize these lunatics with ease!"

Emperor Philip let out a bitter chuckle.

"Hah… I never thought I'd see the day where I had to ask for help to defend my own Empire… How ridiculous." He sighed deeply, knowing that no matter how much it wounded his pride, he couldn't risk his people's lives.

Empress Selena gently placed a hand on his shoulder, her voice soft yet firm. "Don't overthink it, dear. There's a first time for everything. And besides, do you really want innocent citizens to die because of a silly mistake?"

Philip's expression softened. "You're right. I can't let my pride cloud my judgment. The safety of my people comes first."

He turned back toward the enemy leader, who was now watching him with a wide, mocking grin.

"Oh my, to think the mighty Emperor of the Lionheart Empire is nothing but a servant to his wife! How hilarious!" the leader sneered, bursting into laughter.

His subordinates joined in, jeering loudly.

"Does he also wash Empress Selena's dirty clothes? From the way he obeys her, I'd bet he's done it—many times! Hahaha!"

"That's a good one! Hahaha!"

The cruel laughter of the Golden Skull members echoed throughout the stadium, their amusement growing as they publicly humiliated the Imperial Family.

Meanwhile, Emperor Philip and his family clenched their fists, struggling to contain their fury.

With a cold, serious expression, Philip turned to his son. "Go. Now. Tell my devilish sister to take care of these bastards. I want them wiped out immediately."

"I-I understand, Father!" Daniel nodded quickly and rushed out of the room, heading straight for Yuan's VIP suite.

Empress Selena looked at her husband, concern etched on her face. "Husband… are you certain Sister Valeria can handle them? They all use Forbidden Magic—it's incredibly dangerous and destructive."

Philip exhaled slowly, his gaze hard and unwavering. "I don't know… But what I do know is that we stand no chance against them unless we call upon people stronger than us."

His voice was steady, but the weight of responsibility pressed heavily on his shoulders. The fate of the Empire now rested in the hands of those more powerful than himself.

"Enough! It's time to destroy this barrier and slaughter as many people as possible! Remember, we need to create absolute carnage today—a true massacre!"

The leader's voice rang out, instantly silencing his subordinates. With slow, deliberate steps, he approached the barrier, his sharp gaze analyzing its structure.

"Aye aye, Boss! Leave the massacre to us!" one of the goons shouted excitedly.

"Yeah! Killing people is the best thrill! I love the smell of blood on my face while I cleanse the world of useless trash! Hahaha!" another cackled maniacally.

The leader smirked but waved them off. "Fine. Do whatever you want. Now shut up and let me do my work."

With that, he clenched his lightning-coated fist and drove it straight into the barrier.

BANG!

A deafening shockwave erupted from the impact, shaking the entire stadium. Cracks spread across the barrier like fractured ice before—

CRACK!

—It shattered completely.

"The barrier is broken! Let the carnage begin!"

His triumphant roar sent a chill through the crowd. Terror took hold as civilians trembled, feeling death creeping ever closer.

"All hail the Golden Skull!"

The masked criminals erupted in excitement, charging toward the panicked masses with wicked grins, their hands glowing with powerful magic attacks.

Just as the slaughter was about to begin, the Magic Knight Commanders sprang into action, intercepting the attackers. Swords clashed, spells exploded midair, and desperate battles broke out across the stadium as the knights fought to buy time for the civilians to escape. Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire

Meanwhile, Daniel finally reached Yuan's VIP room. Without hesitation, he burst through the door, his breath heavy with urgency.

Before he could even speak, a familiar voice greeted him.

"Took you long enough."

Daniel froze in place, blinking in shock as his aunt, Valeria, smirked at him from her seat.

"I knew you'd come running for help. After all, that useless brother of mine is completely hopeless."

Daniel's jaw nearly dropped. 'How did Aunt Valeria know I'd be here? Can she read my mind? No—that's impossible!'

His heart pounded as he stared at her, realization dawning. This wasn't a coincidence. She had been expecting him.