Chapter 144: Ashura Plane
In the vast, desolate landscape of the Ashura Plane, the winds howled, carrying an eerie chill that clung to the air. Greta, Eliza, the Shadow Overlord, and the Sage Overlord stood frozen, staring at the figure before them. They had all expected to encounter something formidable, but what they found shook them to the core.
Adams, or at least a version of him, stood there with a serene smile on his face. His mere presence seemed to warp reality itself. The four Overlords exchanged wary glances, their faces masked with confusion, wariness, and a hint of fear.
Eliza's brows knitted together, her lips parting as if to speak but no words came out at first. She was visibly unsettled, her hand instinctively resting on the hilt of her weapon, fingers tightening around it as if grasping for control. Her mind raced, desperately trying to make sense of what she was seeing.
"How… how are you here, and back at the Heavens at the same time?" she finally asked, her voice barely concealing her shock.
Greta shifted on her feet, her usual cold, composed demeanor slipping for just a moment as she tried to steady her breathing. The Shadow Overlord's eyes narrowed into thin slits, his usually impassive face betraying a rare flicker of doubt. Meanwhile, the Sage Overlord folded his arms, his eyes darting between Adams and the others, as if searching for some hidden explanation in their expressions.
Adams, still wearing that calm smile, looked at them with an almost amused glint in his eyes. His voice was gentle but held an undeniable power. "I am omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. I am all-powerful, I know everything, and I am everywhere at the same time. So, I suppose that answers your question, Eliza."
His words hung in the air, sinking into their minds like a heavy weight. The Overlords exchanged glances once again, but this time with silent agreement—they were in the presence of something far beyond what they had anticipated.
Greta clenched her fists, her lips thinning as she struggled to keep her composure. Eliza's eyes widened, her disbelief clear as she searched for some flaw in his statement, some way to challenge him, but she found none. The Shadow Overlord remained still, but his jaw tensed, betraying his rising unease.
The Sage Overlord's stoic expression faltered ever so slightly, his eyes reflecting a deep sense of wariness.
None of them had ever heard of such a thing—one being possessing all three Omni-Traits. It was unprecedented. No ancient texts or scrolls had ever hinted at such power, and yet, here it was, standing before them.
Adams watched their reactions closely, though he gave nothing away. The mystery surrounding his transformation would remain his own. They did not need to know the intricate details of how his awakening had caused the system to undergo a mysterious change, aligning with his true traits as they became whole. He saw no reason to explain further.
Instead, he simply smiled wider, watching their shock, their awe, and their growing unease.
"Now, since you are here," he said softly, his voice commanding but unhurried, "I expect you to carry out your duties with efficiency."
The tension in the air thickened as his words sank in. The Overlords, despite their titles and immense power, found themselves feeling small in his presence. There was nothing more to say, no more questions to ask. Adams had made it clear—he was something far beyond their comprehension.
The Overlords, still caught in the gravity of Adams' declaration, could do nothing but nod in silent agreement. Their faces remained tense, barely masking the deep unease that crept through their minds. Greta cast one last glance at Adams, her sharp eyes narrowing with a flicker of uncertainty, before she vanished in a ripple of dark energy.
The Shadow Overlord followed, his departure as silent and shadowy as his nature. Eliza hesitated, a mixture of awe and frustration flashing across her face, but ultimately she too disappeared with a soft crackle of energy. The Sage Overlord, calm but wary, gave a final bow before fading from sight.
Adams stood alone now, the void around him swirling gently. A faint, knowing smile curved his lips as he watched them leave, their confusion still lingering in the air. "As expected," he murmured, amused. Without another word, his form flickered and disappeared, vanishing into the endless expanse of the void.
---
Far away, within the heart of the Ashura Plane, a grand palace rose from the chaotic terrain, its immense black stone walls gleaming under the ominous crimson skies. The palace was a fortress of power and excess, adorned with intricate carvings of battle scenes and ancient symbols of destruction.
At the entrance, towering statues of six-handed Ashuras, their expressions locked in fierce combat poses, loomed over those who approached. Around them, Ashuras of lower ranks danced in wild, frenzied motions, their bodies twisting and spinning as drums pounded a primal rhythm that reverberated through the air.
Inside, the grand hall stretched for miles, lit by flickering torches that cast shadows on the high, vaulted ceilings. The scent of roasted meat and spiced wine filled the air as Ashuras of higher rank reveled in their own glory. Laughter echoed through the chamber as they feasted, tearing into entire beasts with their hands, their teeth glistening with grease and blood.
Horned and red-skinned, their massive forms dominated the space, their muscular bodies rippling with raw strength. Golden armors adorned some, while others wore robes of thick animal furs.
At the far end of the hall, upon a raised platform, sat the most formidable of them all—a six-handed Ashura, his skin a deep crimson hue that gleamed like blood. His horns spiraled from his head like a crown of bone, and his six arms rested upon the massive throne carved from obsidian.
Each hand held something—a goblet filled with dark wine, a slab of meat, a ceremonial blade—and his eyes, burning like molten fire, surveyed the room with a mixture of disdain and amusement.
The Ashuras in the hall engaged in loud, boisterous conversations, their deep voices booming through the hall.
"You see that raid earlier? I tore through ten demons in one strike!" one Ashura boasted, his sharp teeth bared in a grin as he slammed his fist against the table, causing the cups and plates to rattle.
"Only ten?" another scoffed, his four arms folded across his broad chest. "I took out twenty, and that was before breakfast."
The first Ashura sneered, his eyes narrowing. "Twenty? You must be getting soft. I've seen you struggle with half that."
They laughed, a deep, rumbling sound that shook the very walls. Their bravado was palpable, each of them trying to outdo the other in tales of violence and conquest. The six-handed Ashura on the throne smirked at their antics, his sharp eyes glittering with approval as he leaned back, casually tearing into a leg of some unfortunate beast with his fangs.
"Let them bicker," he mused, his voice low but powerful. "Ashuras are at their finest when competing for strength. It keeps them hungry."
One of the Ashuras closer to the throne, draped in thick furs, chuckled as he poured himself another drink. "Hungry, yes. But you'll need more than hunger to conquer the next realm. I hear the next opponents are stronger than we've faced in centuries."
"Good," the Ashura king rumbled, his six hands clenching in anticipation. "The stronger, the better. I tire of weaklings."
Just then, the air in the room shifted, the very essence of the space trembling as a figure appeared in their midst without warning. Adams stood there, his form emerging from the shadows as though he had always been a part of them, his presence instantly drawing the attention of every Ashura in the hall.
The laughter stopped abruptly, and all eyes turned to him, the room falling into a tense, charged silence.
The six-handed Ashura king, his crimson eyes narrowing, leaned forward on his throne, his six arms now still, each one holding its item tightly. The Ashuras around him tensed, their hands moving instinctively toward their weapons, though none dared make the first move.
Adams glanced around the room, his eyes flicking from the dancers outside to the feasting warriors and finally resting on the Ashura king seated on the throne. A slight smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he broke the silence with an amused tone.
"Well, well… what do we have here?"
The tension in the hall deepened as the Ashura king rose slowly from his throne, his massive frame towering over everyone else in the room. His fiery eyes locked onto Adams, a mixture of confusion and challenge flickering in his gaze. The Ashura king's voice was low, dangerous, but curious.
"And who are you to enter my domain uninvited?"
Adams' smile widened ever so slightly, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous light. "I think you'll find that I go wherever I please," he said, his voice calm but carrying an undeniable authority that sent a ripple of unease through the room.
The Ashura king hesitated, his instincts warning him of the danger standing before him, but his pride refused to let him bow to it so easily. His six hands flexed, tightening around his weapons, as the other Ashuras exchanged wary glances. They could sense the shift in the air, the overwhelming power that Adams brought with him, though none of them could fully comprehend what stood before them.
For a moment, the hall remained still, the tension thick enough to cut with a blade, as the Ashura king weighed his next move.
And Adams simply waited, his smile never fading.