An Understated Dominance

“What? The guy isn’t dead? How is that even possible?”

“He’s not only alive, but he’s completely unscathed. This is insane!”

“How can this be? Is he wearing some kind of armor?”

“Even if he was, there’s no way he could survive Venerable Truce’s strike without a scratch!”

The spectators stared in disbelief as Jeremiah stood there with a seemingly indifferent expression.

Truce’s previous strike was devastating, unstoppable, and could split mountains and rivers.

Under normal circumstances, given Jeremiah’s build, he should’ve been left crippled even if he survived. But he was completely unscathed. This was a sight that defied everyone’s understanding and logic.

Even Truce was left questioning this reality. The Drakon Banisher, a signature move of the Banisher Technique, was known for its unmatched power. Once unleashed, it was nearly impossible for anyone to block, and it had never failed to deliver its intended result.

Truce was certain his strike had hit Jeremiah, but he couldn’t understand how he had emerged without a scratch or blemish.

What kind of monstrous body did he have? Was Jeremiah some sort of demon in disguise?

“Tell me, how will you make up for the damage to my clothes?” Jeremiah asked again, his voice raised.

“I don’t believe you’re truly invulnerable!”

Truce’s anger flared. With a fierce growl, he swung his staff and charged forward. A radiant golden light surrounded him like a mythical dragon wrapped protectively around him.

“Since you refuse to compensate, you’ll pay with your life.” Jeremiah’s eyes turned icy, his previously gentle demeanor replaced by a fierce, menacing glare.

Dark, evil energy surged from his body and quickly enveloped him. His once- pale skin turned a deep, ominous black as black scales erupted from beneath. It covered his body from the neck down.

His slender human fingers transformed into sharp, deadly claws. Jeremiah had become a fearsome hybrid of man and beast in the blink of an eye.

“Die… human.” Jeremiah’s lips curled into a menacing grin.

In a blink, he vanished from sight and reappeared directly in front of Truce. His razor-sharp claws transformed into deadly blades as they aimed toward Truce’s chest and abdomen.

“Damn, he’s fast.” Truce’s eyes widened in shock. He barely had time to react and instinctively raised his staff to block.

A metallic crash rang out as Jeremiah’s black claws slammed into the shadowsteel staff with explosive force and unleashed a terrifying surge of power.

Truce’s body jolted from the impact, and his feet skidded backward uncontrollably. His hands, still gripping the staff, experienced a brief but debilitating numbness.

The demonic transformation had boosted Jeremiah’s speed and strength. He could turn a casual strike into a lethal threat.

“Hmm?” Truce frowned as he stared at the deep claw marks on his shadowsteel staff. His mind was a storm of thoughts.

His staff was made of shadowsteel, a material far tougher than ordinary steel. He had been with his trusty weapon for over a decade, and nothing had ever left a scratch on it.

But with a casual swipe, Jeremiah had left three claw marks, each nearly an inch deep, on his staff. Jeremiah’s claws were as sharp as the Sacred Armory.

Before Truce could react, Jeremiah lashed out again. His claws sliced through the air with a series of deadly afterimages.

Truce had no time to dodge and had to raise his staff to defend. The impact was deafening. He was thrown back several feet, and his shadowsteel staff cracked under the pressure and snapped loudly.

The spectators gasped in disbelief. A single swipe had broken the legendary shadowsteel staff, and they wondered what kind of monster Jeremiah was.

“Okay. If you’re determined to fight me hand-to-hand. I’ll take you on.” Truce’s anger ignited when he looked at the broken staff in his hands.

He tossed the shattered weapon aside and clenched his fists. Then, his body began to glow with golden light.

At the same time, he began to chant a spell. The golden light that had burst forth now converged around him to form a magnificent golden armor,

The golden armor was covered in a network of intricate scriptures, which flowed around like tadpoles.

“Holy crap! This is the Aureate Monastery’s ultimate technique, the Celestial Aegis.”

“Rumor has it that the Celestial Aegis is impervious to blades and bullets, untouched by fire or water. It is the epitome of absolute defense.”

“I didn’t expect that Venerable Truce had mastered Celestial Aegis to perfection. Nobody below the level of ultimate grandmaster can hurt him now.”

“Haha! With the Celestial Aegis, Venerable Truce is unbeatable. Let’s see what that half-demon priest can do now!”

The spectators watched in awe and delight as Truce wore the Celestial Aegis.

With his already formidable Adamantine Body Art and the added protection of the Celestial Aegis, even the ultimate grandmasters would struggle to break his defenses.

Truce glared at Jeremiah and shouted, ” Surrender now, beast!” His body radiated golden light, as if he had emerged from the sun, exuding an awe- inspiring presence.