The moment the image appeared Ved's face turned grim. Volstone disappeared from his sight and the next thing he knew he was falling down faster than he can process.

A gaping hole appeared on his stomach and his shield was broken into thousands of fragments, his intestines fell out and blood leaked from his eyes and nose.

He crashed on the sea turning it red with his blood. ' What the hell was that?' Ved was greatly shaken.

His entire body could barely move, it was throbbing from mind numbing pain. His regeneration failed to heal him.

Something was blocking it entirely, on the contrary, his wound kept getting larger. The tree image shook.

Two life drops as he called them fell from two leafs healing him. The dragon image opened it mouth.

Out came a much darker and much more pure golden light. It bathed his body strengthening him to levels he had never felt before.

He could feel the roots of his tree pacing calculating the most optimal chance of survival for him.

Ved remembered a comic book character from before the fall, there was a man there whose ability was survival and adaptability.

He could adapt to anything as long as it would keep him alive, even death itself. Unfortunately his image ability was not that powerful.

It could only change the effect of what's already in his arsenal. He felt the effect of his iron scales trait and regeneration grow stronger, much stronger.

He lunged back up and faced Volstone but he could feel fear grip his heart. His body continued growing stronger and stronger with each passing moment.

However without suffering another grievous wound the enhancement was slow. " Ved, you need to run, you cannot win."

' Why? What do you mean?' he heard Manas sigh. " There's another stage above martial intent, I didn't mention it because I never thought I would see it here, it has many names but the most common is dao.

Named by the first man to reach this realm, the martial king Zhang Sanfeng. If martial intent is the equivalence of law derived intent then martial dao is the equivalence of a law itself."

' That can't be right, this world shouldn't be able to support a person who has comprehended a law, if martial dao is the same as a law, then he should be rejected by the world.'

" No, unlike the laws of heaven which have strict restrictions on the levels of those who can comprehend them.

Theoretically martial dao can be mastered by anybody as long as they're talented enough but that's only in theory.

Unlike the laws which are part of the heavens, dao is from within, which is why this realm is called the realm of self.

While anybody can comprehend it, the truth is, one still needs a powerful soul to support and nurture something as powerful as a dao.

Not to mention it being hard to learn, even amongst the old monsters of the universe only a few can comprehend it.

However there is no record of anybody learning it before law comprehension realm, nobody below that should have a soul that powerful , unless.."

' So he's stronger now?' " it's more than that, it isn't just strength, it existential level itself. He's basically a higher lifeform.

Without a law or Dao of your own,I'm afraid it's impossible for you to even harm him, let alone defeat him.

Unlike the lower ranks where although hard it was still possible to harm a being above your rank.

Once one comprehends a law, the only possible way to harm them is by using another law or dao, with the exception of one with a divine flame.

Ved, even a new born child would be stronger than you if they had a dao, which is why I'm telling to run, you can't win."

Ved gritted his teeth, he looked around the battlefield and realised how grim the situation was.

If he left right now, it would be even worse for his people, not to mention where would he even go.

He certainly can't outrun this monster. The entire conversation happened in only a split second.

Volstone placed his hands behind his back looking like any old man one could see around the street.

Ved couldn't even sense his aura now, he appeared as nothing but a mortal, one who don't even show up in his soul sense.

Before Ved could continue his thoughts, he felt his body breaking down piece by piece. His image dropped dozens of life drops on him.

Volstone had attacked him again but this time he didn't even move. It was as if the attack came out of thin air.

Just as his body finished regenating, he was cut in half, he used his strings to bring his two parts together healing himself.

He spread out his soul sense as much as he could, focused the hardest to try and detect them to no avail.

He felt fear grip his heart, his blood ran cold. He used everything he had, created as many weapons and shields around him as he could.

Fired nuclear blasts, poison clouds and lightning at Volstone. They all crumbled like eggs against stone when they hit him, he looked at the old man with despair.

" Do you realise the futility of your resistance now child? Give up and your people might live. You call yourself king, any noble king would sacrifice themselves for their people.

Look, look how much they're suffering for you, so much death that can be avoided, you're the only one who can save them boy, will you let them perish?"

Ved thought about it, he wanted to agree but his own image choked his words out, the thought went against his very being, his every instinct but he couldn't allow them to die for him, it would be unfair.

Ved grinded his teeth with rage, he looked around again and saw his people dying one by one.

The turtle family covered in wounds, their shells cracked. White with a heavy breath, her lightning flickering like a dying flame.

Evergreen had ran out of pills and energy, she can no longer heal and Pulse's fingers were blood red yet she still strung the strings of hett harp as hard as she could.

One of the four sea kings, the lobster was pierced by a massive spear and pinned to the floor of his own home, his death throes shook the seas.

Ursela and Linglong were now facing even more opponents and finding it harder to cope, Ved didn't even realise it but at some point even more enemies had arrived.

Avery had lost one of her wings, iron fist lost one of his arms, both were besieged by multiple opponents and leaned against each other for support.

Death was drawing close to them yet they fought, even when the odds were against them they still fought with bravery.

He saw the resolve in their eyes, he felt their beliefs and desires, he knew it wasn't merely he they were fighting for but hope.

They placed all that hope and belief in him and they were willing to die for it. He laughed, he laughed out loud he couldn't help it.

" I'm sorry." Volstone raised his eyebrows. " For what?" He asked. Ved continued not even looking at him. " I'm sorry for looking down on you, for doubting you, it was insulting to your resolve. Do not worry, I will live, your hope will live."

He already accepted that his people will die but he swore to live and carry their dreams and one day avenge them, he would burn all these races to the ground.

Then he turned to Volstone and smiled, " COME YOU OLD GHOST." Volstone's expression changed.

" So be it." Just as he was about to attack they heard the sound of clapping hands. " Well said your majesty." A beautiful voice came behind Ved.

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