Between Soul Masters, a single soul ring was an enormous gap. Whether it was soul power, physical reinforcement, or soul skills, the difference was absolute.

With his martial soul fully released, Sebastian's body expanded by an entire circle. His muscles swelled grotesquely, metal-gray scales spreading across his skin until he looked less like a man and more like a beast clad in armor.

"I didn't expect a bunch of brats like you to be Soul Masters," Sebastian sneered. "No wonder you dared interfere. Fine. I'll show you how strong this daddy really is."

He stomped heavily and shot toward Ray like a cannonball.

"Ray, be careful!" Lily cried out. A glow flared from her palm as she tried to soften the ground beneath Sebastian's feet.

But the moment Sebastian released his martial soul, his entire being had undergone a qualitative transformation. He tore free from the forming swamp with brute force alone. Lily's elemental attacks struck his body, yet his armored skin deflected them with ease.

This isn't an ordinary Soul Grandmaster… Lily's heart sank. His soul power is at least Rank 25, maybe higher!

Sebastian's martial soul was an Armored Dragon, a land dragon variant. Land dragons were renowned for overwhelming strength and defense, and Sebastian possessed innate divine strength as well. In raw physical power, he even surpassed Ray.

His first soul skill, Armored Body, was already active, completely nullifying Lily's attacks. Raziel Phoenix's Light Dragon Dagger couldn't even scratch him.

One versus three, yet Sebastian was suppressing them entirely.

Ray remained unnervingly calm. Retreat wasn't an option. If he fell back, Lily would be exposed. Among the three of them, Alfred had made it clear: Ray was the vanguard.

His two Thousand Refined Tungsten Hammers appeared in his hands. Since he couldn't retreat, he advanced.

He charged straight at Sebastian.

The tungsten hammer swung up just as Sebastian's fist came crashing down.

Bang!

The deafening collision of metal and flesh made the crowd cry out in shock. Several people clutched their ears and staggered back.

Ray's face drained of color as he was forced back seven or eight steps. After releasing his martial soul, Sebastian's strength had become terrifyingly tyrannical. Even with the tungsten hammers, Ray couldn't hold his ground.

Raziel Phoenix had already darted behind Sebastian, slashing with his Light Dragon Dagger. Sebastian didn't even turn around. The blade struck his back and left nothing more than a few shallow white scratches.

Lily raised her hands, expression grave. Flames danced in her right palm while green wind-element light gathered in her left. Slowly, she brought her hands together.

A red-and-green tornado roared into existence, tearing toward Sebastian.

Fire and wind, fused.

Sebastian tried to press his attack on Ray, but his movements suddenly slowed. Cracks spread across his armored skin as blazing wind blades carved into him relentlessly.

"Hou!" Sebastian roared.

He slammed both fists into his own abdomen. His yellow soul ring flared brightly as his hundred-year soul skill activated.

A faint silver sheen coated his metal-gray body. His eyes glowed with cold silver light. His body expanded yet again as violent soul power surged outward. His palms grew larger, finger joints bulging as razor-sharp claws over eight centimeters long extended from his hands.

Second soul skill—Armored Dragon Body.

Sebastian's Armored Dragon was a high-grade martial soul. Unfortunately, his poverty had forced him to delay obtaining spirit souls until adulthood, causing him to miss the prime cultivation years. That failure had twisted his temperament and driven him down this ruthless path.

Still, once his second soul skill activated, both his offense and defense skyrocketed. His Rank 27 soul power burst forth, crushing Ray's trio beneath its pressure.

Lily's flame tornado collided with his soul skill and was instantly dispersed.

Taking advantage of that brief opening, Ray swapped his tungsten hammers for his Thousand Refined Heavy Silver Hammers.

This wasn't training. This wasn't the academy.

He couldn't hold back.

The heavy silver hammer in his right hand flew straight at Sebastian, a strand of Silverfalls Vine tethered to its handle.

Sebastian snarled and raised his palm to bat it aside.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Three explosive shocks erupted against his hand. Yet his palm remained unscathed, trembling only slightly. With a casual flick, he sent the heavy silver hammer flying away.

The crowd gasped.

He had suppressed the stacked hammer force with pure strength.

A blade of light suddenly slashed down from behind him.

Silver light burst from Sebastian's back, shattering the attack midair.

Raziel Phoenix's Light Dragon Blade failed.

Sebastian's eyes burned with savage fury. He stomped and launched himself at Ray once more, faster than before.

Ray yanked on the Silverfalls Vine tether while swinging the hammer in his left hand.

Bang!

Hammer and claw collided.

An overwhelming force surged through Ray's body. He let out a muffled groan as he was sent flying, crashing hard into the wall of the stewed beef shop.

A violent shock slammed into his abdomen. Blood surged up his throat.

"Ray!" Lily cried out.

In a flash, she stood in front of him, blocking Sebastian's pursuit. A burst of white light exploded before Sebastian's eyes, temporarily blinding him.

Raziel Phoenix circled to the front, Light Dragon Dagger flashing as streaks of light slashed out.

Thanks to countless battles against Alfred, the three of them didn't panic under pressure.

Sebastian spread his arms wide, completely ignoring Raziel Phoenix's attacks, and lunged forward to grab Lily. These brats had pushed him past his limit.

Lily raised an earthen wall, but it shattered instantly under Sebastian's charge. She could have teleported away using space element control—

But she didn't.

Because Ray was behind her.

Suddenly, Lily felt her waist tighten. Her body lifted off the ground as two powerful arms wrapped around her.

Ray's voice rang out, steady and resolute.

"Let me face him."

Lily's cheeks were faintly flushed, but Ray had already surged forward. Both heavy silver hammers were in his hands as he launched himself straight at Sebastian.

Sebastian let out a grim smile and met him head-on. His fists swung out, colliding directly with the hammers.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Ray leapt into the air. With the weight and momentum of the heavy silver hammers, his strength had increased dramatically. Yet Sebastian had both soul skills active. Armored Body is layered atop Armored Dragon Body, turning his physique into something terrifyingly resilient.

Ray was blasted backward once again. A muffled groan escaped him as blood spilled from the corners of his mouth and nose.

Raziel Phoenix reacted instantly. In a flash, he appeared behind Ray, reaching out to support him and keep him from crashing down.

But he had underestimated the force.

The moment he caught Ray, both of them were slammed into the ground together, bones rattling as they hit.

Crushed purely by brute force.

Sebastian rolled his shoulders and finally stopped pursuing. Instead, he turned toward the surrounding crowd, his voice booming arrogantly.

"You see this? This is what happens when you defy me. These brats may be Soul Masters, but they're nothing before this daddy. Anyone who dares oppose me should be prepared to be torn apart by my Armored Dragon claws!"

"So painful, allow me a break," Ray groaned weakly from the ground. "Raziel Phoenix… your Light Dragon Dagger is stabbing me."

Raziel Phoenix froze in shock. He had been flung aside by the impact and had completely lost control of his weapon. The dagger's edge had scraped across Ray's back.

"I'm sorry! That wasn't on purpose!" Raziel Phoenix said hurriedly, sprawled awkwardly on the ground.

Lily had already prepared her water element to heal them, but the moment she reached Ray, she sensed something strange.

An unfamiliar energy was radiating from his body.

"So hot…" Ray's body trembled. A searing heat burst from the wound on his back and spread rapidly through his body.

That burning sensation, long forgotten, returned.

It surged from his tailbone, raced through his limbs, and rushed straight toward his mind. His body felt as if it had been ignited from within, releasing a scorching wave of heat that completely dispersed the oppressive pain in his chest.

His soul power surged violently, yet his consciousness felt chaotic.

What Ray didn't realize was that his strength had skyrocketed to a terrifying level, as if he could shake the earth itself.

He subconsciously raised his right hand.

Golden spots had appeared on the back of it.

His entire right arm vibrated lightly, overflowing with power. That explosive strength was concentrated entirely there.

Golden scales.

The same golden scales that had appeared once before.

Months had passed, and Ray had nearly forgotten about them. Yet now, at the moment he needed them most, they had returned.

He let out a low roar and sprang up, charging straight at Sebastian.

"Ray, don't!" Raziel Phoenix shouted desperately, trying to stop him.

Lily remained silent. She had clearly seen the golden scales spreading along Ray's neck. Her eyes dimmed slightly.

What… is that?

Sebastian laughed arrogantly when he saw Ray rushing toward him again. This time, Ray held only one hammer.

"Kid, you're tougher than I thought!" Sebastian sneered. "If you weren't a child, this daddy would've crushed you long ago!"

He swung his palm at the incoming heavy silver hammer.

In that instant, a chill ran through Sebastian's entire body.

He clearly saw it.

A golden gleam flashed within Ray's eyes. His pupils narrowed into icy slits, radiating an indescribable pressure.

Fear struck Sebastian without warning. His body went limp.

Bang!

Sebastian's massive figure was smashed away by the hammer. A sharp cracking sound rang out, clearly audible to everyone present.

His arm bones had fractured.

The two men beside him scrambled to catch him, but failed. All three collapsed into a tangled heap, just like Raziel Phoenix earlier.

Ray stared at his right arm in disbelief.

Golden scales had spread all the way to his wrist, and sharp claws had emerged. His entire arm burned with unbearable heat.

Compared to the last time, this experience was far clearer. He could distinctly feel his soul power draining at an alarming speed.

Quick, stop it! He pleaded inwardly.

A strange scene followed.

The golden scales dimmed, broke apart into countless motes of light, and vanished completely. The heat within his body rapidly cooled.

From appearance to disappearance, the golden scales had lasted barely ten seconds.

Yet Ray felt as if his soul power had been almost completely emptied.

At least this time, he hadn't fainted.

His arm throbbed so badly he could barely lift it. His mind was in chaos. If the first time had felt like an illusion, then this time was terrifyingly real.

"Your… that power again?" Raziel Phoenix stood right behind him, having witnessed everything. The single hammer strike. The golden scales. The sheer dominance.

Fear had gripped him as well.

That golden power was frightening.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.