The body of the Guardian emerged. As fate seemed to dictate, it was the same creature that had pushed Eliza and Elina to the brink.

Its six spider-like legs, combined with its repulsive form, made the Lords shudder in a rare moment of disgust.

"Oversized insect, nothing more." Persephone declared as darkness surged from her feet, slowly swallowing the pillar whole.

"Take this seriously." Ember assumed her towering form. "Winning against it will require everything we have."

"It does seem to be stronger than a Monarch, at the very least." Nicole’s eyes sharpened with lethal intent.

"Our mission is to slow down MSAP-8. If killing the Guardian is needed, then I suppose I have to comply." Francesca called forth a beautiful bow.

Michael glanced at his soul weapons.

’Together, we will win!’ Angel assured, the white armor shone.

’Kill!’ Devil demanded a sacrifice, the blade of the sword gleaming menacingly.

ROOOOAR!

The Guardian collided with the pillar.

Climbing upward like a spider, its long body curled over the column, its head and two colossal tusks locked onto the Lords like an eldritch horror.

"This is revenge for last time!" Elina proclaimed, her body crackling with lightning.

Eliza agreed, the temperature around her dropping by several degrees as she conjured pillars of ice.

She fired.

The battle began.

Eliza’s icy shards shot downward like artillery from overhead, combined with Elina’s electricity. The rain of destruction crashed against the Guardian’s body like thunder.

The meteor shower the sister Lords had created cracked the foundation of the ground beneath them.

Unable to withstand the sheer power, the lesser Illusions, which had been toppling over each other to reach the top, fractured in the thousands.

In response, the Guardian let out another deafening roar. Shifting its body and dodging part of the projectiles, the creature created portals, unleashing a meteor storm in retaliation for the sister Lords.

Ignoring any gravitational pull, they traveled upward, causing the pillar to shake.

Francesca snorted and drew her bow, aiming for the Guardian’s head.

"Dodge this."

BOOM!

Traveling faster than a comet, the arrow met the incoming meteors, shattering them with ease before striking the creature in the middle of its forehead.

Despite the successful shot, the Guardian didn’t slow down.

"A fine slave you will become!" Persephone laughed, redirecting her darkness onward.

Devouring the surface the Guardian scaled the pillar on, it caused its feet to sink deep, almost like mud, while chains shot forth and wrapped around the creature’s limbs.

The chains groaned under immense pressure, only to shatter, unable to contain the monstrosity.

Using her mastery over flame and light, Ember tried to pressure the creature, only to fail miserably.

At long last, the Guardian reached the top.

ROOOOOAR!

"Stronger than a Monarch..." Michael smirked, finding it ironic that once more he stood against a creature he had no business fighting.

"Let’s see about that."

Being closest to the Guardian, he was the first to be targeted. One of the creature’s limbs lashed out.

Michael’s eyes narrowed, Parallel Sight allowing him to grasp his foe’s potential moves.

His sword of the Supreme Rank met the Guardian’s strike.

Barely suppressing the sheer might, Michael felt the ground below him fracture in a spiderweb pattern.

Taking even a single blow from the Guardian would break Michael’s bones, and that was with Angel equipped. Without the protection of the Mythic armor, he would be rendered to death’s door.

"Nice one, handsome!" Persephone knew that Michael had intentionally met the creature’s advance to create an opening.

Her scythe, made of darkness, flew downward, targeting a limb of the illusion, intending to cut it off.

Clang!

The weapon bounced off, not managing to leave even a scratch.

"Shit!" Persephone clicked her tongue in displeasure.

The Guardian opened its maw, intending to devour her before she could get out of the way.

Only for it to freeze on the spot, a pressure building beneath its exoskeleton.

"Even if its blood is of a different form, the technique is still usable." Nicole exclaimed, her eyes shining crimson as she used her Blood Manipulation technique.

Sadly, unlike her brother, sister, and the Emperor, her mastery wasn’t advanced enough to completely submit the creature to her rule, barely suppressing it in one spot.

Warping, the creature teleported behind her.

Only for Ember to pounce on its neck, her jaws clamping shut while she used her weight to force it to the side.

The Lords threw every form of attack they possessed, yet all of them were negated by the creature’s alarmingly high defense.

Even though they managed to hold it back, they weren’t able to deliver a fatal attack.

"We can’t let the battle drag on." Michael concluded, analyzing their chances.

The way things stood, a single miscalculation on their part would give the Guardian a chance to recover, turning the tide of battle.

Making up his mind, he turned to the others.

"There is no other choice! We have to go all out!"

Francesca dodged a strike before responding.

"It’s too dangerous! Using our trump card in the territory of a Titan could spell disaster!"

Their caution had been warranted for good reason.

Nicole’s aura stirred. "Michael is right, there is no other way."

Persephone smiled menacingly. "Finally! I have been waiting for this!"

Francesca understood that there was no changing their minds. "Very well then."

Reality fractured. Space infinitely warped in on itself.

Physical weight that would have overwhelmed the senses of any mortal spread in a heartbeat.

The Light Kingdom trembled.

Giving in under the strain of the clash, the pillar they fought on crumbled, toppling to the ground.

However, everybody remained airborne by draining their reserves of spiritual energy at an alarming rate.

All sounds seized, stillness stretching.

Nicole shattered it.

"Authority Manifestation, Crimson Phoenix."

Persephone was engulfed by her darkness.

"Authority Manifestation, Definite Subjugation."

Francesca’s bow turned into particles.

"Authority Manifestation, Golden Order."

The three Supreme Lords deployed the full extent of their authority. Manifesting around the Guardian in a circle formation, they strove to overwhelm the creature before it could counterattack.

Yet to reach a realm higher than a Lord, their authority was subpar, originally meant to be used solely by cultivators of the Kings and Queens realm or beyond.

Nevertheless, the added pressure caused the Guardian to feel tension for the first time since meeting the Almighty.

In every direction the Guardian was trapped by domains that sought to extinguish its life.

With no other alternative, the creature opted to retreat by dashing upward, intending to leave the extent of the territories.

Only to be intercepted by Michael, who had already risen high by riding on Ember’s back.

The lone time he had used the technique had been when under the effects of Demonic Form, more specifically Tyrannical Will, which due to their synergy had twisted his domain.

But this time Michael was of sound mind, explaining the altered end result.

With the sole exception of Nicole, who had already seen his abilities firsthand, everybody stared at Michael with awe, witnessing a Transcendent Lord fracture their understanding of what was normal.

Utilizing Lightning Surge, Archwarlock, and Riftstep to charge, he neglected the effects of the three domains, defying basic logic.

His lips parted, his voice rang like bells of impending doom.

"Authority Manifestation, Endless Adaptation."