My Celestial Ascension

However, such immense power came at a cost. Every action had its consequences—especially when wielding great power. That single attack had drained most of Emperor Philip's mana, leaving him vulnerable.

The leader of the masked group immediately noticed this, let out a wide grin, and began mocking Emperor Philip blatantly, trying to break his will to fight.

"Hahaha! Is that all? Was that the best you could do? How laughable! The Emperor of the Lionheart Empire is nothing but a pathetic, weak bastard! You can't even do anything despite wearing such powerful armor and wielding such a mighty sword!"

The leader's wicked voice echoed throughout the entire stadium as he shamelessly mocked Emperor Philip in front of everyone, aiming to disgrace him and crush his fighting spirit.

However, at that moment, a powerful magic attack suddenly appeared out of nowhere and struck the leader square in the chest, sending him flying several meters before his body slammed against the rock wall of the stadium.

Bang! The masked leader's body crashed into the hard rock wall, but he immediately got back on his feet, protected by high-ranking armor hidden beneath his hood.

"Whoa! That was… unexpected! Took me by surprise!" The leader rubbed the back of his head where it had hit the wall, but the injury was minor, and he only felt a slight sting.

'That magic attack came out of nowhere. I couldn't even react before it hit me! I underestimated these people… that was my mistake.' The leader sighed inwardly as he brushed the dust off his clothes.

He had been overconfident in his own strength and that of his men, overlooking the possibility that the Lionheart Empire might have powerful individuals capable of matching them—or even defeating them.

"Your Majesty! Are you alright?!"

Suddenly, a voice called out from behind, drawing everyone's attention. The voice was familiar, and people began to wonder who had come to the Emperor's defense.

King Richard entered the scene, striding forward to approach Emperor Philip and ensure his safety. After all, Philip had been fighting alone against the leader of the masked Golden Skull organization.

Emperor Philip was surprised to see King Richard, with Crown Prince Tristan at his side, rushing toward him. Both were fully prepared to face the leader of the masked group.

"King Richard, why are you here? Are the other kings coming too? Are we joining forces against the Golden Skull?" Emperor Philip asked, his face brightening with hope and a flicker of relief.

"Forgive me, Your Majesty. However, it's just me and my son. We didn't see any of the other kings or their soldiers on our way here," King Richard replied with a guilty expression, his concern evident in his eyes.

"I see…" Emperor Philip's heart sank at those words. He had never imagined that his own allies would abandon him in such a crucial moment.

Yet, as he looked at King Richard and his son, a warmth filled his chest. At least someone had stayed by his side. He wasn't completely alone.

"Well, let's forget about the others. I'm truly grateful that you and your son came to aid me. This means more than you know—I'll remember this moment forever," Emperor Philip said with a genuine smile, despite the looming danger surrounding them.

"Your Majesty, we should focus on the fight. My earlier attack barely did any damage, and that crazy bastard is already back on his feet," Crown Prince Tristan warned, an awkward expression crossing his face as he noticed the masked leader approaching, radiating a powerful, murderous aura.

"You bastards! How dare you ambush me?! You'll pay for this! I'll skin both you and your son alive!" the leader roared, his eyes blazing with fury. The short sword in his hand suddenly glowed with a menacing red light.

"Now, die! All of you! Die!" the leader bellowed, swinging his sword at Emperor Philip, King Richard, and Prince Tristan with deadly intent, aiming to cut them in half.

"Dodge! We can't block this!" Emperor Philip shouted in panic, a chill racing down his spine as he sensed the overwhelming danger emanating from the blade.

King Richard exchanged a quick glance with Tristan, both preparing to evade the attack. But the leader's speed and strength were overwhelming—dodging him wouldn't be easy.

'How the hell is this guy so strong?! This is unbelievable!' Tristan cursed inwardly, his heart pounding in disbelief.

Woosh! A red arc of energy shot toward them, slicing through the air with terrifying speed. The force of it created a shockwave that rippled through the entire stadium.

"Now!" King Richard shouted, his voice tinged with desperation as he pushed his body to the limit, enhancing his legs with magic for faster reflexes.

Emperor Philip and Tristan nodded in unison, channeling magic into their legs as well. Their bodies glowed faintly as they darted out of the arc's path.

Swish! The sword arc tore through the air, its sound chilling everyone in the stadium to the bone. Spectators felt their legs tremble from sheer fear.

Though Emperor Philip, Tristan, and King Richard managed to dodge the brunt of the attack, they weren't completely unscathed. The edge of the arc grazed their skin as they moved, leaving shallow cuts that stung sharply.

BANG! The sword arc collided with the hard rock wall of the stadium, triggering a massive explosion that shook the entire arena.

"That was close…!" Tristan muttered, glancing back at the explosion with a bewildered expression, still in disbelief.

"Indeed. That was dangerously close," Emperor Philip nodded, sweat trickling down his forehead as he stared at the massive crater near the stadium wall.

"I'm afraid we might not be able to dodge his next attack, considering how powerful and destructive that last one was…" King Richard muttered, his voice trembling slightly as he surveyed the devastation caused by the masked leader from the Golden Skull organization.

"Oh? You fools actually managed to dodge that attack? Impressive, I guess. As a reward, how about letting me decapitate you all willingly? Seems like a fair exchange, don't you think? Hahaha!" The leader laughed maniacally, his voice echoing through the stadium.

"Shut up! You're nothing but a coward, hiding your face behind a mask like a newly-wedded wife on her first night! Don't you dare look down on us just because we seem weak!" Tristan roared, his voice booming across the stadium. The insult hit its mark, and the leader's expression twisted in fury.

"We're more than enough to deal with the likes of you!" Tristan added with a wide grin, tightening his grip on his custom-made magic sword.

'This… this is preposterous!' The leader seethed inwardly, his bloodshot eyes narrowing in rage. 'How dare they mock and humiliate me like this! I'm a proud member of the Golden Skull organization—the future rulers of this world! They'll pay for this… I'll make sure of it!'

"Just you wait. I'll rip that tongue right out of your mouth!" the leader growled, his voice low and deadly. In an instant, his figure vanished, only to reappear right beside Tristan.

'What?! How… How did he…' Before Tristan could process what was happening, a powerful kick slammed into his chest, sending him hurtling through the air.

BANG! Tristan's body flew like an arrow, rocketing toward the stadium wall. His mind struggled to catch up, shock blurring his thoughts.

'Am I going to die…?' The thought echoed in his head as his vision darkened, preparing himself for the inevitable impact.

"Gotcha!"

A firm but distinctly feminine voice pierced through the fog in his mind, and suddenly, he felt strong arms catch him mid-air.

"Huh?" Tristan's eyes fluttered open, and to his astonishment, he saw himself suspended in the sky—War General Valeria was holding him securely by the arm.

'I'm saved! I've been saved by War General Valeria herself!' Tristan nearly burst into tears, overwhelmed with relief and excitement. 'What an honor!'

"Oh my, what a coward! Attacking a child like that—and you call yourself a man? How laughable!" Valeria sneered, standing confidently atop her flying sword as it hovered in mid-air.

The leader of the masked individuals stared in shock. He had never seen anyone 'flying' on a sword before. The sheer impossibility of it left him momentarily speechless, but his surprise quickly twisted into greed.

'I must have that sword, he thought, eyes narrowing hungrily. It's no ordinary weapon—it must be an ancient artifact imbued with powerful flying magic. Such a treasure belongs in my hands!'

"War General Valeria… I didn't expect to see you here all of a sudden," the leader finally spoke, his voice dripping with contempt. "Are you here to save your pathetic brother's ass?"

He chuckled, convinced of his superiority, unaware that his arrogance only made him look foolish in front of Valeria.

Meanwhile, in the VIP rooms, members of the Ten Great Families watched in stunned silence. The sudden appearance of Valeria—the legendary War General and role model to countless women—had left them speechless.

"Is that 'the' War General Valeria? The one who's led countless victories and defeated SS-rank monsters like they were nothing?"

"Unbelievable! To think she'd show up here… Once this is over, I must pay my respects—and perhaps persuade her to ally with my family,"

Their murmurs echoed through the VIP chambers, a mix of awe and admiration. But it wasn't just Valeria's strength that held their attention—her radiant beauty and commanding presence left many utterly captivated.

Back in the arena, Valeria descended gracefully, her sword humming softly as it brought her to the ground. She set Tristan down gently before stepping forward, sword in hand, her expression cool and fearless.

"So, 'you're' the infamous Skull Hunter from the Golden Skull organization," she said, her voice laced with amusement. "I didn't expect to see you here today. Well… I guess it's my lucky day—and your worst."

As she spoke, a wave of Spiritual Energy pulsed from her body, rippling through the air like a silent storm. The Skull Hunter stiffened, feeling the sudden pressure crash over him like an invisible weight.

Still, he forced a laugh, trying to mask his unease.

"I'm surprised someone as esteemed as 'you' knows who I am… Seems I've become quite famous! Lucky me." His laughter turned maniacal, echoing through the arena.

But beneath his bravado, a sliver of fear had taken root.