Floating Island - Triple S Talent

Lein leapt from his dream sphere with a graceful motion, landing calmly on the vast emptiness of the universe. His sharp eyes pierced the darkness, fixed on the dimly glowing altar in the distance.

From within the altar, the souls of dark creatures slowly emerged, one by one, like mist rising from an endless abyss.

Their numbers grew to about twenty, neatly lined up like soldiers awaiting orders.

Amid the crowd stood Zkeron, his face brimming with confidence, directing his arm with a commanding gesture.

Observing the scene, Lein offered a faint smile—a smile that seemed more curious than satisfied. He knew the power before him was insignificant compared to his own, yet this time he decided not to obliterate Zkeron outright using his clones.

Instead, there was an undeniable excitement he couldn't hide. He wanted to test the soul-annihilating skill he had acquired during his recent promotion.

Previously, he hadn't had the chance to use it, as there were no master-level rulers in the divine sky realm. He had been forced to wait, eager to discover the full extent of his new skill. But now, with Zkeron and his army of dark souls standing before him, the moment he had been waiting for had finally arrived. Stay connected with m-v l|e'm,p| y- r

[Skill 8: Soul Annihilation]

Utilizes the ruler's elemental energy to absorb 50% of the enemy's soul energy within the user's awareness radius, weakening them while temporarily increasing the user's strength based on the absorbed soul energy.

- Cooldown: 3 hours.

Lein raised his hand with a casual motion, and at that moment, a radiant blue circle formed around his body.

The light transformed into a vortex of energy, spinning slowly at first, but within seconds its rotation accelerated. A faint wind began to rise, sweeping Lein's hair back.

Gradually but surely, the vortex expanded, spreading in all directions and absorbing any soul energy it touched like a whirlpool pulling dry leaves across a river.

Zkeron's army of dark souls was the first to feel its effects. Their bodies trembled violently, and their anguished cries echoed through the void. The dark aura surrounding them appeared to be drawn out, dissipating like smoke vanishing into the air.

"Arghhh!"

"Howlll!"

The pained screams of the dark souls shattered the silence. Lein stood unwavering at the center of the energy vortex, his eyes keenly observing the effects of his power.

One by one, the souls fell to their knees, their dark auras eroded completely. Their forms grew weaker and increasingly translucent. Their energy was absorbed by the blue vortex, merging seamlessly into Lein's being.

Zkeron, who had previously stood with an air of authority, now looked panicked. "What is this man doing?!" he shouted, his voice full of frustration and a hint of fear.

With swift movements, he raised both hands into the air. A massive black dome materialized, enveloping him and the altar from which the dark souls were summoned.

Duum...

A heavy sound echoed as the dome closed, shielding Zkeron and his forces. However, Lein showed no sign of fear. His blue energy vortex continued to spin, its power penetrating the dome like wind passing through cracks.

[Successfully absorbed soul energy…]

[Soul absorbed, energy gained…]

...

The system notifications rang out incessantly, marking Lein's success in draining the dark souls.

"If I recall correctly, soul energy is essential for summoning a soul altar and powering the souls within it," Lein murmured, trying to recall the information he had read.

So far, he had never summoned his own soul altar, despite the lingering curiosity. However, he held back the urge. For now, he chose to observe the effects of

Soul Annihilation

. His gaze remained fixed on the spinning blue vortex, continuously drawing in the souls around it.

The effects of

Soul Annihilation

were not limited to Zkeron's dark souls but also extended to the souls summoned by Hanes and Kaelath.

The two individuals, who had been locked in fierce combat moments ago, now stood still. Kaelath's face turned pale, his vacant gaze fixed on his weakening souls. Their energy flowed rapidly toward Lein's blue vortex, like rivers unable to resist a powerful current.

"My soul energy... it's depleting so quickly," Kaelath said, his voice trembling, his eyes filled with deep panic. He felt almost paralyzed, like a candle slowly melting under intense heat.

On the other hand, Hanes watched Lein with terror. The figure of the man, standing firm with an aura radiating like a divine punisher, seemed like an unstoppable monster. Hanes' breathing grew ragged, but before he could act further, a soft yet urgent voice spoke near him.

"Dear, we need to leave this place," Lyra whispered, suddenly appearing at his side. Her face showed deep concern, her hand gripping his arm tightly.

Hanes turned to meet his wife's gaze. He knew Lyra was right, but leaving without a strategic plan would only worsen their situation. In a firm tone, he replied, "I agree, but we can't leave recklessly."

He quickly whispered a plan into Lyra's ear. After a few seconds, they exchanged glances and nodded in agreement.

Hanes raised his hand, summoning his soul altar. In an instant, the golden altar he had previously called vanished into the void as if it had never appeared.

"You won't escape," Kaelath growled angrily.

Slash!

A massive, glowing claw appeared out of nowhere, hurtling toward Hanes and Lyra with incredible speed. The air around it vibrated with the sheer force of the attack. However, Hanes swiftly waved his brush, conjuring a giant golden fist that intercepted the strike with a resounding boom.

"Push forward!" Hanes shouted to Lyra.

The two seized the opportunity to flee, reappearing a few meters away from Lein.

"Young Master, please forgive us," Hanes said in a low voice. He and Lyra bowed deeply before Lein, their faces filled with regret."We deeply regret attacking the realm where you were born. We didn't know…"

Lyra added sincerely, "We're prepared to offer appropriate compensation for our mistake."

Lein tilted his head slightly, gazing at them with cold, curious eyes. "What can you offer?" he asked, his tone emotionless yet oppressive.