“I’ve grown up?” The corner’s of Shin’s lips flinched, not at all amused by the World Serpent’s statement. “Who do you think you are? My father?”

Ao shook his head disappointingly. “You’ll never understand…”

How could the World Serpent say the words that were on his mind? How could Ao tell Shin that he bore him no ill will, even though they were enemies that were on two sides of a coin? How could the Noble Beast expect Shin to understand his perspective when the Black Masks had massacred thousands, if not millions of innocent lives?

In the end, Shin wasn’t Junius. Shin was the person that foiled the Allfather’s plans time and time again and was public enemy number one to the Black Masks. Ao knew that. However…

‘In another life, maybe we wouldn’t be facing each other like this...’ Ao chuckled to himself. If history had panned out a little differently, Ao could imagine a scene where he would share a drink with Shin and Junius, as they taught him things about humans and he would lecture them about the gifts of Primordial Beasts.

Alas, it was just a fascination of the World Serpent. Right now, Shin and he weren’t friends, but mortal enemies. Ao served the Allfather and Shin was the number one threat to his exalted leader. Therefore, he must be killed.

“Do you know why I’ve turned this place into a desert?” Ao shot an inquisitive gaze towards Shin while his fingers traced up his cashmere coat, untying the knots in a circular motion.

“...” Shin didn’t reply. It didn’t matter what the answer to that question was. The World Serpent was readying himself for battle, and so should the Prince of Water. Already coated with draconic scales, Shin took the liberty to summon out his Cosmic Wings. Though, he remained adamant about keeping his Spirit within his body. The Paradise Heart was already absorbing the spiritual energies around it like a thirsty whale. Shin didn’t want to feed it more than he should.

“You are of the Water-Element, and I am of the Water-Element. Both of us are slaves to the elemental energies that bind us both. So… What happens when both of us are placed in a place without water? A place where we’re forced to use anything, but water?”

“...” Shin raised his left arm, testing whether he could create the Spear of Aiglos. Unfortunately, just like Ao said, the Water-Elements in the area was practically zero.

“Don’t you think that it’s interesting, Shin Iofiel?”

“No, not particularly.” Shin snorted.

‘Well… If I can’t use any Water-Elements, I could always rely on my many other techniques!’

“Master… Aunt Tian… Zishen… I’ll keep the World Serpent busy. You guys find and opportunity to destroy the Paradise Heart.” Shin muttered under his breath so that only those that were a metre away from him could hear.

“Keep the World Serpent busy? He’s a Primordial Beast now! He’s not Tier 9 like before! Facing him would be like facing a Spirit Saint! Don’t be stupid, Shin!” Longyu Tian refuted Shin with the protective shrieks of a mother. “I’ll keep him busy. The rest of you find a way to destroy the Paradise Heart!”

“Aunt Tian… Your mastery over the Time-Elements is necessary to stop the Paradise Heart for a few moments so that Zishen could send a Dragon’s Breath its way without getting completely sucked dry.” Shin explained his rationale. “Also, the World Serpent and I have a long history. He won’t kill me immediately, and neither am I that easy to kill.”

“But Shin!”

“Please, Aunt Tian! Just trust me!” Shin didn’t look back for a single second. His eyes were facing Ao, who was gleaming with an intense amount of mana. “Saint-leveled or not… The World Serpent isn’t my opponent.”

‘Such daring words!’ Longyu Tian faltered. It was rare for Shin to brag as he was mostly reserved with his words. Most of the time, Shin was humble enough to admit his shortcomings and understand that he was the weaker man. So, the words that came out of Shin’s mouth weren’t out of arrogance… but pure confidence.

‘Seraphim and Senior Zishen aren’t budging as well… Aren’t they concerned about Shin facing a Primordial Beast?’

Standing behind Shin, the blonde beauty and Azure Dragon Lord were standing nonchalantly, waiting for Shin to make the first move. They weren’t wincing or flinching in the slightest as their expressions were as calm as Longyu Lake. Lady Seph even shot Longyu Tian a triumphant look, degrading her concerns in the process.

‘Whatever, if they trust him, I’ll do the same.’

In a split second, Longyu Tian made up her mind. She waved her hands once, sending out a surge of particles which slowly coagulated into a fishing rod. An ethereal grey aura wreathed the black-haired woman as well, all while a sphere of grey wrapped around her as if the Spirit Saint was encased in a snow globe.

“We’ll be counting on you,” Longyu Tian declared.

“Yeah, count on it.” Shin returned her gesture with a smile. “Kanari, you’re in command of Guardian Sword while I’m battling the World Serpent. You have permission to either kill or capture anyone that stands in your way, so...”

“Go crazy?” The ageless beauty chuckled with a sinister tone.

“Yes. Go crazy.”

“Hehe, gotcha.” Kanari waved her husband away sweetly, giving the man some space to concentrate. Since there was nothing that Kanari could do to assist in the battle, she was going to help in the war from a different angle.

Whooosssssshhhhhhhhh!!!

Shin’s Cosmic Wings glittered once, and his entire body disappeared into a puff of elements. Ao’s shoulders dropped for a moment, stunned at the sudden development. However, the World Serpent instantly realised what was going on and turned his elbow flying to the left. A blue surge of mana escaped from the tall man’s joint, distorting the reality that surrounded him, forcing a ripple to occur in space. That surge of mana wasn’t without a purpose. The moment the ripple expanded to ten times its size, a human butterfly appeared out of nowhere and retreated just about twenty metres away from Ao.

Naturally, Shin’s mouth was agape. His eyes were wider than footballs and veins started popping out from his forehead. Sweat dripped down his cheeks, and his mouth was experiencing a slight tremble.

“Teleportation… You’ve come up with a pretty annoying ability.” Ao spat. “I’ve haven’t seen it used since the Void Crocodile of the North passed on. Where did you manage to master the Space-Element? Have you forgotten how to use your water element?”

“... You sure are talkative today.” Shin’s stunned expression quickly turned cool as he started to squint. On the surface, he tried to keep his composure. Internally, on the other hand…

‘This is going to be troublesome… I wanted to slip past him and land a surprise attack with Teleportation but who would have guessed he knows how to counter it?!’ Shin wanted to throw his playbook out and write a new one. Utilising the Cosmic Wings was Shin’s best shot at defeating the World Serpent without any injury. However, that plan had failed quite spectacularly.

‘Still, making ripples in space with just his mana… He’s a Primordial Beast, alright...’

“You’re right… I guess I’m in a fairly good mood today.” Ao was unaware of Shin’s inner turmoil and replied with a reserved smile. “But I guess… I can’t fool around anymore.” Ao’s eyes spun around, watching as Zishen and Longyu Tian edged their way closer towards the Paradise Heart. In the end, Ao was still bound to the Allfather just like any other Black Mask or Noble Beast. He was never going to let the Alliance takedown the Paradise Heart that could harm the Allfather’s dream.

“HISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!”

The aura enveloping Ao exploded into life as a serpentine body broke free from Ao’s humanoid self. The snake coiled around the Paradise Heart many times until it was eventually too big and it covered the entire fifteen-metre wide ball of spiritual power. A blue scaly body that was more than fifty kilometres long… That was the full size of the World Serpent. Shin had read reports about it before but actually facing the World Serpent in its original size was… eye-opening.

“That big? No, he’s grown bigger...” Shin had once seen the World Serpent in its original size before. In terms of overwhelming presence, pressure inflicted upon those that gazed upon it and overall size… The current World Serpent far surpassed the one in Shin’s memory.

“Bigger and stronger, Shin.” Ao laughed. “I’m the World Serpent! A being that lived for more than ten thousand years! I am the King of Snakes and the one that will eventually wrap my body around the world! I will always become bigger! And if you want to destroy the Paradise Heart… You’ll have to do it over my dead body!!!”