Ascenders Rift

Outside of the crater where Evan was undergoing a transformation, Joe and Rick's body flashed with a bright light before returning to normal. If one looked at Joe, they would notice that his fat seemed a bit slimmer and more muscular, as Rick grow a notch taller and more handsome, both having an extraordinary air about them as if they were at an entirely different life level.

At this moment, Breya and Emilia, who was keeping a watching full eye on them looked at them with flickering eyes, Emilia stared at Rick in a slight daze as Breya licked her lips upon seeming Joe grew slimmer.

'Oh, it seems ascending does has its perks, I wonder, what kind of change will I have?'

Breya thought as she soon gave her ample figure a look over, her eyes showed a tinge of excitement and expectation.

Emilia also had similar thoughts, her reaction no different from any woman who knew that there was a chance to be even prettier.

By now, Joe and Rick had regained their awareness of themselves and their surroundings, they inspected their bodies noticing the change as they gripped their fists tightly feeling an immense amount of power that caused them to feel alarmed.

'Such strength, truly it's better to ascend the moment you can, the difference in power that I had before compared to my current state isn't even comparable on the same scale.'

Joe thought as to when he clasped his fist, he saw his arm swell, his biceps and triceps pulsated with veins as his muscles rippled. If one looked more closely, they would even notice that his skin had a vague metallic sheen as if it had hardened by an ungodly degree.

Rick also felt some degree of power increase, but most of it felt towards his body's flexibility and agility. He made a slight sway of his body and after a flash found himself a few dozens of meters away from his previous location.

'My speed, it's increased by an absurd amount, even my Second Step talent skill has grown even stronger. If I erupt with everything I have, who dares to say they can block my steps?'

Rick felt more confident as he felt his change, his eyes growing sharper as he stared in the distance, hearing a series of booms from the battle between Layla and Valoz.

'Hmph! This time, we'll crush that bastard.'

Rick said inwardly as his body swayed appearing beside Joe and the others once more, Joe looked at Rick with a calm look, he seemed to have been able to pick up on his movements.

The two gave each other a look, before turning away, this wasn't the time for their minor conflicts.

"Breya, we're ready."

Rick spoke as he looks at her, Breya didn't show any signs of shock, she calmed her emotions and stare at them before she spoke, "Good, you both seem to be fine, we should hurry over now, we need to remove Valoz then find a way to return Layla to normal."

"Fine, but what if she tries to fight back?" Joe said as he walked forward.

Rick and Breya made a thoughtful look as they tried to find a solution but right at this time, Emilia spoke with a surprised tone, "Guys, I'm feeling another strong power, it's even more dangerous than Layla's."

"What?" Rick and the others exclaimed as they saw Emilia's panicked expression, they were about to say something, but suddenly, a gush of chilly wind blew before a voice sounded behind their backs.

"Leave her to me, I'm coming too."

When everyone heard the voice, their eyes widened as they turned around and looked at the person in shock. There, they saw a handsome familiar-ish young man with long half brown and half blood-colored hair that floated upwards as if unaffected by gravity, his body had crimson runes on one side as even his left pupil glowed a shade red.

He held onto two weapons, one being his black claymore-like weapon while the other was a curved edged execution sword that emanating dense baleful energy as if it wanted to drink the blood of the entire world.

"This... E-Evan, is that you? How did you recover so quickly?" Joe asked in a tone of utter surprise, his mouth opening wide.

"Brother Evan, what happened? Why are you like---?" Emilia said before halting, it seemed she didn't know how to put together her next words as in her eyes she saw dense evil auras emanating from his figure.

Rick also felt Evan to be much different, he felt terrifying energies from his body, especially in his current state.

'Is this like what Layla did? Will he be fine in such a state?' Rick thought with sharp-looking eyes, Breya seemed to have reached the same conclusion as Rick as she looked at Evan.

When Evan heard their words, he shook his head and replied, "Who else could it be? Listen, we don't have much time, or rather, I can't hold this state for too long or there will be drastic consequences, I'll hurry over and critically wound Valoz, it will be up to you guys to finish him after I take him down. I will suppress Layla with the last of my will before forcing myself unconscious, so take care of the rest."

As everyone heard those words, they looked at each other before nodding and replying, "Okay, leave it to us."

Without another word wasted, Evan's figure vanished as he swept across the distance like a blurry flash of light, his figure moving at speeds that would be considered godly.

Rick was also behind him, moving only a few notches lower, but this was in the effect of him not using his talent skill. Joe and Breya and Emilia also hurried along, using their highest speeds to try and keep up.

Currently, the battle between the strange Layla and Valoz was entering the final act, as both crossed blows in the air, sending shocking booms across the surroundings. However, both were now unaware of the shocking force headed their direction.