Crimson Devil Realm, 17th Heaven.
Boom!
"Ahhhhh!" A voice filled with horror, unwillingness, and righteous rage echoed.
Bam!
"Noooo! You bast-" Another voice sounded but was abruptly interrupted by a sound of flesh and bone meeting metal.
Crack!
"Kill! Kill! Die!"
A multitude of voices filled with all types of emotions from pain, unwillingness, horror, regret, and pleasure. They resounded in the millions within the Crimson Devil Realm, a 'titan' realm with a crimson sun, silver moon, and one planet.
On this planet was a grand castle with a tower at its center. This tower was golden and reached the planet's sky, towering all other structures on its surface. At the top of this tower was a man. This man was slim, pale, but remarkably handsome with black hair, crimson eyes, and an indifferent expression.
He wore a pure white robe that served as a distinct contrast to his crimson pupils and deep, black eyes. It gave off a very serene feeling, but for anyone looking at him with a high perception, they may be drenched in cold sweat by his bloody aura.
Reflected in those crimson pupils that seemed to contain all the blood within the world were two realms.
Yes, realms.
Two entire realms were in motion, colliding with his realm's external formation, forcing their way into the Crimson Devil Realm. These were two uniquely created weaponized realms that could be considered the highest form of ship to transport enormous armies and one's geographical advantage.
As the two realms that were less than a tenth the size of the Crimson Devil Realm were being driven into it, a mass of invaders rushed into it from gaps produced in the realm's formation due to the collision.
At this moment, the Crimson Devil Realm's formation was preoccupied by the two realms and their formations, disallowing interference to deal with the invaders. Therefore, the inhabitants of this realm had been called to arms to defend itself.
No, it would be more accurate to say those inhabitants loyal to the Crimson Devil name had taken arms. Others, they were silently observing the situation, some solemn, some in excitement. Perhaps if the situation was a normal realm war, all forces would ally, but this situation was special.
"...Ezekiel." The handsome man was the Realmlord of the Crimson Devil, a (Minor Heaven) Heavenly Creation cultivator with profound strength, Dracula Vladislaus.
The fighting had been ongoing for three years and billions of lives were lost, yet the enemy persisted. They persisted and demanded.
Their demand?
They will cease and retreat if a single person was turned over.
Ariel Vladislaus, his sole daughter.
If it was anyone else, Dracula would not throw away his realm's stability and fate for a single person, but this was his only child.
However, that brought another issue.
It was 'his' child. While differing heavens and different realms have varying beliefs and systems of society, one thing remains consistent throughout - preservation. Nearly half of the Realm's forces were unwilling to fight in this war when they had nothing to benefit or lose regardless of the outcome.
The other side had made their sole demand and even a heavenly oath to no longer take action or claim territory after receiving or killing their target. This one move collapsed the unity of the Crimson Devil Realm's forces. A clear divide took place, those who were willing to fight and die for their leader and those who weren't.
That being said, they understood the danger of not helping if their Realmlord, Dracula Vladislaus, were to adhere to their demands or fend off the invaders. However, anyone who knew this Realmlord and his Dao knew that the former was impossible.
While the latter, the other side had a (Minor Heaven) Heavenly Creation expert to fight and defend against him. This meant even if he did win somehow, he would be severely injured or worse as a consequence and they could easily retreat or take advantage of this.
Atop the golden tower, Dracula was looking at the battlefield that was the space occupied by the three realms. It was like a venn diagram and the middle was the combination of three realms. His gaze was indifferent but his eyes tracked a single figure that wielded a sword, his silver wings flapped here and there, and his expression was cool as he reaped life after life.
This figure belonged to Ezekiel.
"Father…" A voice sounded. It belonged to a young woman. She was crimson-eyed, pale-skinned, wearing a crimson dress and looked about seventeen to eighteen years old. She had an innate air of an empress, but her expression was solemn and somewhat pained.
"Ariel…" Dracula slowly said, turning to see this pride and joy of his. She was remarkably beautiful. Her beauty was gained completely from her late mother. His indifferent gaze unknowingly softened in her presence.
"I shouldn't have failed…" Ariel's voice was soft and contained deep regret. Ezekiel was a proud figure within the heavens, and the connections he had established was heaven-shaking, earth-crumbling, and sky-rending! Not only did he obtain two weaponized realms but could even call upon an expert no weaker than her father.
She didn't even want to think about how he garnered the loyalty of billions of experts willing to die for his cause. When they attacked, it was as if they were fighting for their god or savior. Thus, their lives no longer belonged to them but Ezekiel.
It baffled all, especially the neighbouring realms and all within the Crimson Devil Realm. How high must one's luck and charisma be to achieve a tenth of his force? Let alone the entirety of it. The story behind this must be legendary!
"Haaa…" Dracula softly sighed, his gaze turning warmer. His daughter was a strong-willed woman, but more so, she was exceptionally prideful. When Ezekiel had been the son of a Heavenly God and a once in a million years talent with a limitless future, she was willing to accept him despite her personal dislike for his reckless personality and monogamous ways.
However, when calamity hit the 27th Heaven's Chaos Origin God, Ezekiel's father, and Ezekiel became a dog without a home, she felt it was beneath her to associate with him. However, he was relentlessly still pursuing her. Despite Dracula personally attempting to dissolve their relation, he had mistakenly took it as Dracula purposely separating them due to his misfortune. This only fueled his desire more.
Yet...it was all the will of this daughter of his and Ezekiel learned this fact the hard way. Unfortunately, his life was too tough. Even after plotting to kill him without the possibility for revival, he still lived.
Three thousand years later, Ezekiel had drawn upon all his favors and reserve strength and declared upon war to claim the life of this daughter of his.
While he may be indifferent outwardly, inwardly he was heavily sighing. The only regret he had was not personally taking action to rid the vast heavens of the scourge called Ezekiel.
"The past no longer matters, only the present and future." After those words, he turned towards the battlefield. The light in his crimson gaze held a decisiveness as terrifying as hell itself.
-----
Within the tri-realm battlefield.
Shiiing!
Ezekiel swept his blade forth, cleanly sliced a pale figure in half, heavenly shrine, soul, and body! His blade contained no blood as he retreated far away. A world of brightly colored lights formed where he was. The man he had just killed had his entirety eviscerated. This world was produced by nearly ten thousand heavenly cultivators at the middle-stages striking in unison.
These cultivators were in a manifestation of a gigantic War God, dressed in multi-colored armor with a sword the size of a moon. Their bulging muscles were astonishing, their skin was translucent allowing one to see the nearly ten thousand cultivators and each of their expressions were vicious.
It wasn't the only one, but it was definitely the strongest in this area.
"..." Continuing his retreat, he entered one of the weaponized realms and exited the tri-realm battlefield. The time for singular battle had ended a short while ago, the enemy and his allies were establishing small moon-sized manifestations. Some were of weapons, others were humanoids like the War God, and a few were drops of crimson blood empowering and supporting others.
If Yan Zaizen was here, he would recognize that the drops of crimson blood was similar to the Deluge Realm's raindrop manifestation. These formations were all designed for defense and strengthening.
"Ezekiel." An old man with steel-colored hair and goatee appeared beside Ezekiel like a ghost. His expression was calm, but his eyes contained a dense emerald color. As he stepped on the air, faint illusory forms of various plantlife formed beneath his feet.
"Hm?" Ezekiel faced this man, his posture and gaze exuding imperious calm.
"The spatial cage has been established ahead of time, unless a Heavenly Cultivator with a (Minor) Heaven in space appeared, no one shall be leaving or exiting." This old man had eyes that were profound, but in the depths of which was dense battle intent.
Nodding, Ezekiel turned towards the Crimson Devil Realm. "...It seems Yan Zaizen won't be able to make it." As he thought of that figure he had communicated with simply a few minutes ago, he felt odd. It was like an itch in his heart, a feeling unable to be deciphered.
"Bring out the War Worldships," he ordered.
The old man nodded and vanished, a smirk of excitement on his face. The true battle was about to begin!