The Glorious Evolution

Levi immediately waved his hand for his teammates to put some distance between them and Rain... he saw his spiritual aura increasing immensely after he eradicated his allies. This drove him to assume that Rain had done it to devour their blood, fear, or some type of peculiar energy.

Whatever it was, he refused to put anyone in danger unless he figured out Rain’s powers... fortunately, he had Nightcrawlers Wikipedia as his partner.

’Be careful... he is from the Hexgaze Lurker species.’ Ash’Kral warned calmly, ’Those species are known to wield the Fear Aspect and the Illusion Aspect to put their prey and enemies in unescapable nightmares based on their deepest fears. Then, they feast on the released fearful energy, which empowers their spiritual prowess permanently.’

Hearing this, Levi returned his focus to Rain’s spiritual prowess... he couldn’t help but feel a bit concerned. Usually, spiritual prowess is his forte. However, he could see that Rain’s spiritual prowess rivaled that of a third-stage Tier 5 Nightcrawler.

It was so high and powerful that he was the only one capable of resisting his spiritual attacks in his team... the others? Their ending might resemble the Nightcrawlers if he caught them with a direct attack.

Worse...

’He also wields the Blood Aspect, which gives his powers a different twist.’ Levi frowned deeply, ’I don’t know what Bishop had done to him, but I know a product of an experiment when I see one.’

Ash’Kral told him about the chameleon-based species, but it had no connection to Rain’s hyena-like appearance.

It was like two entities were merged forcefully... the fact that Rain hid the Hexgaze Lurker, which was merged onto his scalp, was enough proof.

”One mercenary vs an entire faction, on his own accord! Now, this is a first!” Gamemaster Envy exclaimed loudly, ”Does he really have what it takes to win this, or has he gone mad?!”

The crowd didn’t know whether to cheer or curse... while the situation appeared exciting, they didn’t have much belief in Rain. In their eyes, even if he had taken out his allies alone, it shouldn’t have been possible to win against fifteen Daywalkers.

Not to mention, Levi was amongst them.

As the viewers’ boos resounded across the sky at the notion of a ruined event, Rain remained unbothered... He kept walking in the direction of the Daywalkers through the Toxic Kingdom, his body unimpacted by the poison.

He appeared like he possessed a type of immunity like Levi’s, but he knew the truth... Levi saw him use a skin-tight telekinetic barrier that kept the poison away.

Rain ignored the Giant’s Horns and continued on his path... his deadpan eyes showed a single reflection... that of Levi’s loved ones.

He was still adamant about fulfilling his mission of torturing Levi’s loved ones, uncaring if Levi lived or died in the process.

Unlike Fang, he couldn’t care less if Levi proved to be a long-term threat to his master... he was tasked with a mission, and he was going to fulfill it to the letter so he could go back to his nap.

”Please don’t make me walk... I abhor walking...”

Rain requested with a deep sigh after noticing that the Daywalkers had retreated near the end of the rope to group up with Jasmine and the rest.

Levi was the only one who picked up on his faint murmur... he ignored it and turned to his allies with a solemn expression.

”Do not underestimate him... he is as powerful as Orry’Xel, if not stronger.” Levi ordered sternly, ”I need you to create a physical and spiritual defensive perimeter.”

He could tell that everyone was doubting his orders of retreating against a single Nightcrawler... even if he killed his allies alone, it shouldn’t warrant such a drastic reaction. Not when they heavily outnumbered him.

However, no one dared to doubt Levi out loud again... not after what happened with Fang. Just as they started concocting the most effective defensive plan through their various powers, their pupils suddenly thinned at the sight of Rain’s physical body dissolving slowly into a fine crimson mist...

”Are you seei...”

”Yes.”

Once everyone realized that none of them was hallucinating the scene, their expressions tightened into solemnity as they tracked the scattered crimson mist across the open sky.

”Levi...”

”I am on it.”

Shia and the rest switched their focus to Levi, understanding that he had the best spiritual vision amongst them... no, possibly across everyone below Solarbound rank.

Most of them weren’t that worried, believing that when it came to spiritual battles, they already had the ace.

Unbeknownst to them, Levi had pushed his spiritual vision to its limits and even focused on the subtle vibrations of the air to track Rain, and yet, what welcomed his line of sight was the chameleon alone... it remained hovering silently in the air where Rain had once stood.

As for the true threat? He moved rapidly in their direction, still invisible even to Levi’s spiritual vision!

Since Levi’s Harmonic Spine’s range was still limited to under a couple of hundred meters, all he had was his spiritual vision.

’What did he do... He can’t scatter his soul like this and reform it again with a technique under Solarbound rank.’

Levi’s expression turned stern, feeling truly blind for the first time in a while... his instincts tingled nonstop that Rain was approaching them rapidly, and yet, one of his greatest arsenals failed him.

’I believe it’s one of the Hexgaze Lurker’s techniques...’ Ash’Kral interjected, ’The chameleon acts as the container of both of their souls, which allows Rain to break apart his physical and spiritual forms and project them however he wishes...’

Hearing this, Levi’s frown deepened... he understood that if Ash’Kral was right, then they were in much deeper trouble than he had expected.

Alas, Rain gave him no time to think... out of nowhere, Levi sensed a faint wave-like tremor vibrate through his world of colorful frequencies.

The confirmation of his instincts had arrived at last.

”He’s coming fast, get your defenses up now!”

Levi shouted to the group, his voice vibrating with urgency as he commanded them to cast their most powerful protective abilities or shield their allies.

”My turn... Karmic Pendulum Arts...”

Jojo was the first to step forward, gripping her praying beads necklace tightly... then, she channeled her spiritual energy into the beads until her tiny horn and runic scripture tattoos under her clothes illuminated as pure as children’s innocence.

”Great Prayer Ward Constellation.”

As the faint words left her mouth, the thread of her necklace snapped, and the praying beads spread into the air... Rather than falling to the surface of the rope, they drifted into a complex, nonsensical formation around the Daywalkers; some beads embedded themselves on the rope, others wove through the gaps between the party members, and several hovered at varying heights far above their heads.

The moment they reached their fixed coordinates, the beads ignited with a blinding brilliance, firing concentrated beams of white spiritual energy toward one another. These streaks of light connected the beads like a sprawling web of stars, manifesting a massive, gleaming constellation that towered over the group in the unmistakable silhouette of a giant, meditating monk!

Everyone switched their gaze to Jojo, who was hovering in the middle of the constellation in a meditative position; eyes closed, breath controlled, and lips moving nonstop, reciting a sutra about protection.

With each verse, the constellation shimmered brighter and appeared firmer, as if it were strengthened by her words.

”Tsk... she was clearly impatient to show off her latest ultimate.” Arthur clicked his tongue, but deep down, he enjoyed the sight.

It wasn’t just him... the viewers were left awed at such a mesmerizing technique, making them feel like they were gazing at an actual star constellation descending from the heavens.

’This technique...’ Gamemaster Envy narrowed his eyes, ’Is it part of that Aspect, or is it nothing but a copy created due to her weapon’s design...’

After what went down in this game, Gamemaster Envy started questioning anything that touched a nerve... Jojo’s technique somehow reminded him of ancient arts based on a long-lost Aspect and its wielders. But then, he shook his head and returned to the game, realizing that Jojo’s technique might share some resemblance, but that was it. In such serious matters, it required more than just some resemblance.

”Justice Pervail!”

”Spiritual Reinforcement!”

”Seven-Star Bastion!”

Meanwhile, the other members of the team immediately rallied behind Jojo, pouring their own spiritual power into the structure to bolster the spiritual walls against the coming impact... they saw Jojo use this ultimate during their preparation and knew that its spiritual defenses were not a joke.

Still, orders were orders.

Levi held himself back from contributing to the barrier, knowing that his spiritual energy reserves were getting dangerously low and that he could not afford to exhaust his remaining strength before finding a way to actually deal with Rain.

”He is here...”