My SSS-Rank Innate skill: Infinite Adaptation core

What does that mean...? The tournament is already over. Just as he was about to dig deeper into the thought—

BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!

A massive explosion suddenly resounded across the capital. Before anyone could fully react, consecutive explosions erupted from every direction.

BOOOOM!!

BOOOOM!!

BOOOOM!!

From the north, south, east, and west, explosions tore through the capital. Screams of terrified citizens immediately followed, plunging the entire city into chaos.

”What is happening?!”

”What were those explosions?!”

”D-Did the demons attack us?!”

”No... RUN! RUN!!”

Within moments, even the Colosseum descended into disorder. The audience began running and crying out in horror.

Experts immediately moved to control the situation, while many others rushed out to investigate despite the heavy security that had been in place.

Nova instantly activated Omnivision to survey the capital.

What he saw made his eyes narrow.

In every direction of the city, figures that looked like hybrids were slaughtering people without mercy.

They were tall, with brown skin, two horns, scales, pointed elf-like ears, red eyes, and powerful muscular frames — both men and women.

Every single one of them was at least at the King Realm. Not a single one was weaker.

They were clearly the source of the explosions.

A thought flashed through Nova’s mind. Are these the subjects of the Eclipse Order? From what he remembered, their experiments had failed, and the hybrids they managed to create were supposed to be far weaker than this.

On the high royal platform, Leonis and the other kings received the reports almost at the same time.

Their faces filled with horror as they realized the scale of the disaster that had suddenly descended upon the capital.

Vaorak and the other powerhouses appeared on the royal platform with serious expressions.

”Looks like those bastards hid this from us,” Vaorak said coldly. ”They’ve rebuilt their army.”

”They made a mistake coming here,” Draeven replied as he spread his senses across the city. ”Even if there are many of them, they won’t be able to do much.”

Just as he was about to move, a loud, crazed laugh echoed across the sky.

”HAHAHAHAHA!”

The experts had already managed to mostly calm the audience inside the Colosseum, though everything remained in disorder outside the VIP, noble, and royal sections.

All eyes turned upward as multiple figures emerged from a space rift above the arena.

The ordinary citizens began trembling in fear once again as chaos reignited.

Everything was still being broadcast across the entire continent, allowing the whole Human Continent to witness the fate of Vaunis — and possibly the entire Eastern Kingdom — on this day.

A man in a full white cloak floated at the front of the group, a wide smile on his face. His features were rough and half-burned, with two dragon horns on his head and a dragon tail behind him. The aura he released was no weaker than Vaorak’s.

”It’s really been a long time, Draeven!” the man called out with manic amusement.

”Fuck... he’s here too!” Draeven cursed.

What shocked him and the others even more was the army standing behind the man.

There were at least a hundred of them, every single one at the Emperor Realm — ranging from Level 1 to Level 5 — along with two particularly powerful figures at Level 8 and Level 9 Emperor Realm.

All of them wore full white cloaks and black masks. There was no doubt about their identity.

They were from the Eclipse Order.

”They’ve come fully prepared,” Vaorak said, his expression turning completely serious under the gravity of the situation.

”Do you not fear the Human Emperor, you bastards?!” Leonis shouted in rage.

The half-burned man threw his head back and laughed even more wildly.

”HAHAHAHAHA! Fear? Do you think I’m still the same old Zeon who was defeated and exiled by the Dragon Emperor? Hahahaha!”

”That was ages ago, you pests! Not even the Human Emperor can stop me from trampling his Eastern Kingdom! And this is only the beginning — I’ll take revenge for the disgrace I suffered years ago on every race!”

”Fucking crazy bastard!” Draeven cursed under his breath.

The three kings turned toward Vaorak and the others.

”What should we do, my lords?”

Even though they came from different races, they stood as a unified force against evil organizations such as the Eclipse Order, the Blood Moon Cult, and the demons.

”A large-scale battle is inevitable at this point,” Vaorak said as he glanced upward, then back at the kings. ”Go assist the royal guards , holy knights and the Twilight Order.

Protect the citizens and eliminate the hybrids. It’s fortunate that we already have additional forces prepared. Order them to move the audience of the Colosseum to a safe location.”

”Yes, my lord!”

The three kings immediately departed. All of them were Emperor Realm powerhouses in their own right.

Down in the arena, Nova watched the unfolding situation with an expressionless face.

”So that’s why the quest danger was ranked SSS...”

{One Sovereign at the level of a Beast Emperor himself. He’s almost certainly not the only leader of the Eclipse Order... two Level 8 and Level 9 Emperors, and nearly a hundred Emperor Realm powerhouses ranging from Level 1 to 5.}

”No wonder...”

Nova still felt that something more was coming. Without wasting another second, he appeared beside Asia and Rieka.

Celine had already been taken away by her father; as a royal, her safety was of the highest priority for her kingdom.

Nyxara and Velena appeared near Nova a moment later, followed by Jenna, Edward, Theodore, and Rodrick.

Chaos continued to spread through the Colosseum as people ran for safety, the gates already thrown open. Using Void Veil to ensure no one was watching, Nova vanished with everyone into the system space.

Once inside, he spoke calmly to his wives, his parents, Theodore, and Rodrick.

”The situation is far more dire than expected. No one will prioritize your safety right now — everyone will first try to save themselves, even the nobles.

Experts and powerhouses are already feeling lost in the face of this disaster. All of you must stay here.”

Everyone understood. They knew their own limits, and they knew Nova’s words were true. No one objected.

”Don’t worry, son,” Edward said. ”We understand. You don’t have to explain it to us. We know you only want us safe, and we’re grateful.”

Theodore and the others nodded in agreement.

Nova continued, ”I’ll be going out with Nyxara and Velena. Don’t worry — nothing can happen to me. I can return here whenever I want.

And don’t worry about the time difference. Liya will turn off the time dilation so you won’t feel much of a gap.”

It was one of the new functions he had never fully checked after Liya’s second upgrade, but it was convenient now.

They all nodded. Jenna stepped forward and pulled Nova into a tight hug.

”Take care, my son.”

”I will, Mom.”

With that, Nova, Nyxara, and Velena disappeared from the system space.

As Nova, Nyxara, and Velena reappeared outside, Nova was no longer in the same attire. He had changed into his Slaughter Monarch disguise — though this version was slightly different from before.

He wore an elegant black robe adorned with intricate dark-metal patterns, its long flowing layers trailing behind him.

Sharp demonic shoulder guards rested over the cloak, while ornate bracers covered his forearms and a detailed black-metal belt wrapped around his waist.

Subtle violet accents ran throughout the entire outfit, giving him the imposing presence of a true Dark Lord.

This time, he also chose to wear a mask. He was about to face Sovereign-level beings and did not want to rely solely on Body Sculpt.

When Nyxara and Velena saw him in this form, both felt their hearts race. He looked like an imposing Demon Lord — one who surpassed even Kharos himself in presence.

The three of them remained under Nova’s Void Veil, completely invisible as they observed the situation.

**

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