Here it is, the City of Floors of Breath, Nadriel, that's the place.” Having left Buffalo City, the group made no stop, arriving by noon on the third day at the final checkpoint leading to the Edilu Gardens: the City of Floors of Breath, Nadriel.

“Once we are here, vehicles are useless. We can only take the scheduled Airship, or proceed by the specialized Tram, because a section of the path from Nadriel to Edilu Gardens is treacherous jungle, and to prevent others from entering, there are quite a few ambushes laid out secretly,” Greyaz explained while walking as he got out of the car, speaking to the people with him. Regarding Edilu Gardens, he had told them almost everything he knew; as for what he hadn't mentioned, it was simply because he didn't know it.

“Then let’s take the Airship,” Lin Luo said directly after hearing him. Since they had already arrived, he didn't want to waste any more time.

“Ah, this journey has finally reached its end. Although it’s been less than half a month, it feels like a very long time,” Shiska sighed with apparent relief, feeling a sense of loss as if the path of her life had reached its conclusion.

Initially, she followed them with the intention of monitoring the Seven-Gem Pagoda tree to determine if she could control her own immensely powerful strength. However, the events of these past days had completely overturned her common sense… As the most dangerous Seraph, the Seven-Gem Pagoda tree had always been quiet; not only did it not display destructive power, but the symbiosis with its user hadn't even occurred. Instead, it was those two inexplicable humans who repeatedly displayed terrifying power before them. She was almost confused about who was the Seraph and who were the humans.

“Well, for me, it was a rather brief adventure,” Big Sister Lin tossed her hair and remarked. Compared to the previous three worlds, this time, both the duration and the strength of the enemies were several levels lower. It felt less like an adventure and more like a trip.

“Wait, before we proceed, there is one thing I must remind you all,” just as everyone was heading to the Airship waiting lounge, Greyaz seemed to suddenly remember something and hurriedly said, “Edilu Gardens, as the most mysterious nation, is not easily opened to outsiders. Nadriel is equivalent to its gate, a country secretly controlled by Edilu Gardens. We might encounter unexpected obstacles here.”

“Nadriel is a dependency of Edilu Gardens?”

“Yes, you could put it that way,” Greyaz nodded. “And this country has an extremely strict hierarchical system. Nadriel is divided into three tiers. The first tier is where outsiders and commoners reside. The second tier is for ordinary workers and basic residents. And the third tier is the upper echelon where true nobles and Seraphs reside... Oh, right, the Airship we’ll be taking soon is also on the second tier.”

“Furthermore, the Queen of this country is a Seraph,” Koko Witt chirped excitedly, seeming quite pleased. This was understandable, after all, who wouldn't like a country that highly values its own kind? As the only country in this world centered around Seraphs, she was naturally happy to be one of them.

“Is that so? That’s quite surprising,” Shiska said with slight astonishment.

“A country of Seraphs, that sounds rather nice,” Chiya commented with a smile.

“No, if you think that way, you are mistaken,” but Greyaz shook his head. “I mentioned earlier that Nadriel is controlled by Edilu Gardens, and the Orkenard organization is a force within Edilu Gardens. I suppose I don’t need to elaborate further, do I?”

“Just superficial peace?” Yuanzaka Lin murmured.

“That’s a common tactic for humans,” CC stated dismissively.

“Edilu Gardens, what kind of place is it?” Lei asked, looking up toward the distance where Edilu Gardens was located.

“Whatever kind of place it is, we’ll know once we get there,” Lin Luo said with a faint smile.

……

“Is this the obstacle you spoke of? I certainly didn't expect this,” half an hour later, Lin Luo said to Greyaz with frustration, while the others also seemed quite dejected over something.

Just moments ago, when they tried to board the Airship bound for Edilu Gardens, they were informed that the regularly scheduled Airship to Edilu Gardens could not depart for an indefinite period due to an attack of unknown origin. As a last resort, Lin Luo had to choose the less maneuverable Tram, but the Tram line was also out of service due to an explosion of unknown cause. Consequently, not only were both routes to Edilu Gardens completely sealed off, but the entire country had entered a state of lockdown, with all outsiders subject to immediate inspection.

“These successive accidents probably aren't coincidental,” Shiska remarked.

Yuanzaka Lin pondered for a moment, then nodded, “If these are coincidences, it’s too incredible. It seems the matter of Hailin Gu and Gulatias has been exposed. That’s why Edilu Gardens is making such a fuss to prevent us from entering their territory.”

“But just stopping us here might only be the first step. Perhaps next we’ll have to face the siege of all of Nadriel,” CC speculated, though her face showed no sign of fear; rather, she looked ready to watch a good show.

“Hmph, an attack from an entire country? That sounds exciting,” Big Sister Lin snorted, letting slip a dangerous remark.

“Hey, hey, your words are too reckless,” Shiska and the others couldn’t help but twitch the corners of their mouths.

“So what do you plan to do now?” Greyaz asked Lin Luo. “Without the Airship and the Tram, we have no way to enter Edilu Gardens. And if CC’s speculation is correct, we’ll also run into major trouble next... Actually, based on my experience, her guess is very accurate.”

“Mmm, this must be the move Edilu Gardens has played against us. It’s slightly unexpected, though I don't really care,” Lin Luo said nonchalantly, nodding, then shifted his gaze to the blue-haired girl beside him. “Lei, what do you think?”

“I must go to Edilu Gardens,” Lei stated firmly without hesitation. Although from Greyaz’s words and the situations they had already encountered, she knew Edilu Gardens might not be as wonderful as she imagined, she still had to go. If Edilu Gardens was paradise, she had to keep her promise to meet with Xi Ya. If Edilu Gardens was hell, she even more so couldn't let her stay there alone.

Hearing her words, Lin Luo smiled, spread his hands, and said, “Isn't that settled then? We don’t need to consider how, only how to enter Edilu Gardens the fastest, and we choose that path. The other issues are not problems.”

“But all methods to reach Edilu Gardens are currently forbidden. Unless we can grow wings, there’s no way in,” Greyaz frowned. Although he knew Lin Luo was powerful, he couldn’t fly, after all.

Of course, he didn't know that Lin Luo’s inability to fly was only because his abilities were restricted, and if Rin wasn't accompanying him this time, but rather Mikoto or Yi Wen, flying would be effortless.

But even so, it wasn't a problem for Lin Luo. He pointed a finger to the sky and chuckled confidently, “We don't have wings, but we have Airships.”

“Even if you wanted to buy an Airship and pilot it yourself, it’s impossible, because this country has locked down the skies. Only the national Air Force can pilot Airships; ordinary people cannot even own one, let alone us outsiders,” Greyaz presented another difficulty.

And his companion, Koko Witt, eagerly chimed in, “So, as ordinary people and outsiders, we have no legitimate way to... Waga!” At this point, the girl’s expression suddenly changed drastically, and she made a strange sound.

The others had clearly guessed what Lin Luo intended to do. Except for a few perverts with exceptional skill and daring, everyone else turned pale with fright. Shiska was so shocked she could barely speak, pointing at him, “You, you, you, you... You wouldn't be thinking of...”

Lin Luo snapped his fingers and laughed, “You’re very smart. Since this country has Airships, I’ll just borrow one from them. Why make it complicated like you said? It's a simple problem.” He then turned to Greyaz, “By the way, where is this country's Air Force Headquarters?”

“Before that, I want to ask you what kind of 'borrowing' you mean,” Shiska looked at him with concern.

“If I can persuade them with words, then I'll borrow with words. If words don't work, I suppose I’ll have to... exercise military force,” Lin Luo said with a sunny smile.

“Don’t copy my words!” Shiska roared, then sighed, saying helplessly, “Although I knew you would do this, do you really intend to fight Nadriel?”

“I don’t want to do anything that troublesome. I’m just borrowing an Airship from them,” Lin Luo shrugged, unconcerned.

“Don’t joke! That’s clearly stealing, how is it borrowing?”

“Stealing means there’s no return; borrowing means there is a return. Even if my method of borrowing is a bit unconventional, I will eventually return it to them, so it’s borrowing.”

“I find your childhood education very strange,” Shiska was at a loss for words. “Let’s just call it borrowing, but the Nadriel Air Force certainly won’t agree. Then we’ll definitely end up confronting them.”

“That’s just what they think. If they want to come up and die, I don't need to stop them.” Saying this, Lin Luo ignored Shiska and waved to Greyaz. “Alright, let’s head to the Air Base now.”

“But...” Greyaz, after all, was not as bold as Lin Luo and still hesitated somewhat.

However, Lin Luo’s next sentence immediately wiped away his hesitation. “Stop with the 'buts.' Hurry up and lead the way. If you dawdle any longer, I’ll have Koko Witt do this and that.”

“Fine, I’ll lead the way. I won't be responsible for what happens.”

……

A moment later, led by Greyaz, the group arrived at a place clearly identifiable as a military base. A sign at the entrance bore sixteen large characters: Air Force Headquarters Military Area, Idlers and Dogs Forbidden Entry.

“Who wrote this? A cursed brat,” Lin Luo cursed under his breath, then turned back to the people behind him, “We are here for serious business, so we are not idlers, right?”

“Only this once I agree with your viewpoint,” Shiska nodded emphatically.

Then the group walked straight in. But after only a few steps, a stern voice came from ahead: “Halt! Who are you people? This is the Nadriel Air Force Base, not a place for commoners like you to come! Get lost immediately!”

Two fully armed soldiers carrying live ammunition approached them warily, their fierce aura suggesting they were ready to open fire at any moment.

“Oh, starting with high energy, are we? If you had been polite, perhaps I would have spoken to you politely... But—” Lin Luo shook his head, then glared fiercely, releasing killing intent like a wild beast. “Do not speak presumptuously before a King, you trash!”

The two soldiers immediately rolled their eyes and collapsed straight down.

The ability to apply killing intent in combat was something Lin Luo learned only after absorbing the Book of Nen. His perception of Qi allowed him to utilize his killing intent more effectively. If an ordinary person were struck by his full killing intent, they would certainly die. But against trained individuals or those with a certain level of strength, the effect was far weaker—for example, against someone like Gulatias, the killing intent had very little effect.

As for the two soldiers before him, Lin Luo didn't use his full power, so they only fainted. Of course, when they would wake up was another matter.

The others were already used to Lin Luo’s power and said nothing more about it. Only Shiska couldn't help but grumble, “By the way, when did you become a King? A King of which country?”

“The King of the World,” Lin Luo replied proudly without looking back, and continued to clear the path.

As they walked, there were many more soldiers who tried to intercept them midway, but the result was always the same. Under the release of Lin Luo’s killing intent, thump, thump, they all fell down like logs. If one looked closely at this moment, an amusing scene could be observed.

“What are you doing... thwack” “Stop right there... thwack” “Individual units take note... thwack” “Move aside, move aside, move aside... thwack”

At first, they could finish half a sentence, but later, Lin Luo became impatient and accelerated the release of his killing intent. Thus, their sentences turned into: “You... thwack horse... thwack what... thwack avoid... thwack”

Put together, it sounded like: You motherf**er... Thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack.*

Lin Luo eventually noticed this interesting phenomenon. Since the last phrase, "avoid," was directed at their comrades, it sounded like they were cursing each other. So, he specifically targeted those who uttered these four phrases. It had to be said that this was one benefit of military management: standardized slogans. Thus, Lin Luo managed to trigger this ‘Motherf***er’ side-plot several times.

However, a few hundred meters wasn't that far, and with everyone falling down as soon as they appeared, even the most resolute individuals were terrified to the point of trembling. So, before long, there wasn't a single standing person left in front of Lin Luo, which left him feeling slightly unsatisfied.

When he reached the area inside the military base where the Airships were parked, there were only three or four people scattered around. One of them had three stars engraved on his uniform, clearly a high-ranking figure. Lin Luo walked up to him without pleasantries and stated directly, “Alright, I only have one thing to say to you: I’m borrowing this aircraft of yours for now.”

Lin Luo was pointing at the most magnificent aircraft next to this soldier, which, even by his discerning eye, was the best among all the Airships... As the King of the World, he naturally had to use the best things.

Although the soldier was trembling with rage, he couldn't utter a word. Obviously, he was fully aware of what was happening outside. How could he possibly resist a monstrous figure like this?

“Don’t even think about it! This is General’s aircraft; even the Queen cannot enter. Dream on, you commoners!” Although the General remained silent, the young woman beside him, wearing a Colonel’s uniform, pointed fearlessly at Lin Luo.

“Are you a Seraph?” Lin Luo glanced at her and frowned as he asked.

“Of course,” the young woman replied proudly.

“Since you are a Seraph, move aside. Otherwise, don't blame me if you die,” Lin Luo gave her a casual glance, then walked directly toward that Airship.

“What nonsense are you spouting? You’re the one who's going to die...” The young woman, apparently furious, rushed toward him, trying to stop Lin Luo. But after only a few steps, a white beam of light flashed past her eye.

Boom! Atomic disintegration erupted. Over a dozen Airships were instantly pulverized, and the sealed roof of the hangar was destroyed at the same time.

This level of attack immediately made the young woman hesitate to act rashly.

“I said, do not speak presumptuously before a King. I’ve already been quite lenient by not executing you all as accomplices of Edilu Gardens. Do you really think I won’t kill?” Lin Luo looked at them coldly. At this moment, that unique killing intent was unleashed, not only stunning the soldiers still present but also causing a ripple of fear among Shiska and the others.

Then Lin Luo ignored them further, slapped the soldier blocking his way away with one hand, and opened the Airship’s hatch.

“Who knows how to fly an Airship?”

“I do,” Long Wei cautiously raised his hand in response to Lin Luo’s question.

Lin Luo looked at the three members of the Angel Protection Squad for a moment and said, “Are you still planning to get involved? Your Protection Association troops are nearby anyway. You should go meet up with them. It will be quite dangerous for you if you get caught up in my fight.”

“Eh? How did you know the Protection Association troops are here?” Shiska was instantly astonished.

Lin Luo smiled. “How could I not know something so obvious? When you handed over Hailin Gu’s Seraph to the Protection Association branch, they probably already focused their attention here. Maybe they haven’t contacted you, but I did see them. Of course, I don’t care what they plan to do, as long as they don’t interfere with my business.”

“Even so... but we decided from the beginning to follow you to the end. No matter what, I won't back down at this final moment,” Shiska said firmly after a moment of hesitation.

“In that case, get on and fly the plane.”

“Damn it, how dare he trick me like this! I must kill him! I must kill him!” After Lin Luo and his group flew away in the Airship, the young Seraph woman gritted her teeth and roared, her face contorted.

“Everyone get up! Take to the air and shoot them down! No matter how strong he is, he can’t win against us in the sky!” The young woman immediately ordered the soldiers present. Although she was only a Colonel, she reported directly to Edilu Gardens and held absolute command authority.

Under the young woman’s orders, the soldiers immediately piloted the other Airships to chase them into the sky. Although Lin Luo’s power terrified them, they were quite confident in aerial combat.

“Once we pass the area ahead, it will be Edilu Gardens,” Greyaz pointed out through the Airship's window to a large expanse of forest visible in the distance.

“No good! Something is chasing us from behind!” Just then, Long Wei, piloting the Airship, exclaimed as the alarm blared, “It’s the Nadriel Air Force—about forty or fifty Airships in total. It seems they plan to shoot us down in the air.”

Shiska and Greyaz’s group couldn’t help but change expression.

“What should we do? Should we shoot them down? It’s more troublesome in the air,” Yuanzaka Rin, though not afraid, wasn't very adept at dealing with aerial enemies, especially while confined inside the cabin.

“Lin Luo, let’s merge,” Lei suggested. This statement immediately made Shiska and the others’ eyes widen. After all these days, they were eager to witness the power of the Seven-Gem Pagoda tree.

But Lin Luo shook his head. “No need for such trouble. It’s just a few planes; I can shoot them down easily. Don't worry about the rest; just keep flying forward.”

Saying this, without waiting for the group to react, Lin Luo quickly opened the hatch and leaped out onto the roof of the Airship.

“General, that person is standing on top of the Airship.” “What is he trying to do?”

"You intend to deal with us like this? Idiot, that airship is moving incredibly fast; he's bound to be thrown off." "That'll just make him a better target."

Lin Luo's action shocked not only Shiska and the others but also baffled the pursuers behind them. They simply could not believe a human could attack them while standing atop a rapidly flying airship. Thus, they followed closely, waiting for Lin Luo to be flung off so they could launch their assault.

But they would soon realize how terribly mistaken they were. A normal person would indeed be thrown off at that speed, but for Lin Luo, who could control electromagnetic force, there was no need for concern.

"Still not willing to give up just like that? What a pity. I already warned you to cherish your lives." Standing atop the vessel, Lin Luo spoke lightly, then extended a hand forward, sending out a bolt of lightning.

The airship immediately behind him was struck. Although it didn't explode, the vessel's entire operating system collapsed due to the electrical interference, sending it plummeting without question.

"This... how is this possible? That guy..." The pursuers were instantly stunned. Before they could even react, Lin Luo’s attacks did not cease, and in a matter of moments, more than a dozen airships had fallen.

"Damn it! Attack! Fire missiles and blow them up!" Once they snapped back to reality, the young lady of the Holy War Angel erupted in fury, shouting into the communicator.

"Wait, the Seven Luminary Treasure Tree is up there. If she gets blown up..."

"I don't care! I don't care about the Seven Luminary Treasure Tree or whatever! I want them all dead! I want them smashed to pieces! Hahaha! How dare they mess with me! Die! Die!" It was clear that Lin Luo's unconventional tactics had driven the young lady into a complete psychological break, as she screamed maniacally while her finger pressed down on the missile launcher.

In an instant, countless missiles streaked toward the airship where Lin Luo stood. These were not the small munitions Shiska used; these were true high-tech instruments of destruction. A single hit would guarantee the airship's end.

"I see. So you’ve decided to use lethal force. I originally only intended to make you retreat after teaching you a lesson, but since you’ve made this choice, prepare to face the consequences."

Lin Luo said coldly. He hadn't intended to kill anyone earlier; even if the airships fell, they could deploy parachutes and escape before any explosion. But now that the other side had chosen murder, he saw no reason to hold back.

Crackling electricity danced between Lin Luo's fingers, as if countless blue-white threads were adhered to his fingertips. The moment those sparks were flung outward, a massive net instantly wove itself before him. The missiles, stimulated by the current, trembled slightly before all dropping harmlessly away—every single one malfunctioned.

"Our attacks... are all useless? What kind of monster is that guy?" Seeing this, all the air force personnel were terrified. If their missiles were ineffective, chasing them down would serve no purpose.

This was only natural. Level 5 Electromaster control could even affect nuclear warheads, and the technological military might of this world couldn't compare to Academy City. How could mere missiles possibly have an effect?

By the time they understood this, it was too late. The Demon King had decided to stop holding back.

The Spear of Lightning, imbued with tens of millions of volts, shot forth—BOOM! In the blink of an eye, more than ten airships exploded simultaneously. Surviving such an explosion would be nothing short of defying heaven.

"It's done," Lin Luo remarked as he returned to the cabin. In truth, this statement was unnecessary; anyone with eyes could have witnessed the preceding events.

"Now that's more like it, the Demon King," CC said with a smile, appearing quite satisfied.

"Thank you for the compliment." Lin Luo gave her an expressionless glance... Demon King obsessive.

...

About ten minutes later, the airship carrying the group finally flew past the forest. Before them appeared a bridge, tens of meters wide and hundreds of meters long, and on the other side lay the Garden of Idyl. From a distance, countless city structures, huge as mountains, floated in the air.

"We've reached the bridge. The airship is useless from here on. If we fly in like this, with the military strength of the Garden of Idyl, we’ll definitely be shot down instantly," Greyatz reminded them.

"Mhm..." Although Lin Luo didn't believe they could be shot down with him guarding them, since Greyatz said so, there must be a reason, and it wasn't worth the risk. "Then stop here. We'll just charge straight in."

The airship halted just before the bridge. The moment everyone disembarked, a massive bolt of lightning suddenly descended from the sky and struck the vessel directly.

"Boom!"

Without a doubt, under such an attack, the airship instantly exploded. Fortunately, the group had already moved dozens of meters away; otherwise, being caught in the blast would have endangered the others, even if Lin Luo and his companions were unharmed.

"What was that? Why did it suddenly explode?" Shiska and the others were greatly startled and immediately looked toward Lin Luo, as he was the only one they knew capable of using lightning magic.

But Lin Luo shook his head innocently; that attack hadn't come from him... Still, another entity possessed lightning power? Could a wild Railgun have appeared?

"It must be someone from the Garden of Idyl attacking us. Be careful; there are many people lying in ambush nearby, I sense snipers. Rin, put up a barrier," Lin Luo said grimly after scanning the area with his perception field.

"Seriously? Are the people of the Garden of Idyl all idiots? Sending these people to die now," the elder Miss Rin said dismissively, but she still layered a defensive barrier over Shiska and the others, as ordinary people couldn't withstand sniper fire.

"Perhaps they believe the entire military force of one nation is enough to handle us," Greyatz suggested, "or maybe they simply don't care about the casualties and only want to drain our stamina, since the Garden of Idyl's own power surpasses this place by a thousandfold."

"Look at that person!" Suddenly, Kokowit gasped, pointing toward the bridge ahead. Following her gaze, the group saw a woman standing in the middle of the bridge dozens of meters away, holding two swords crackling with electricity.

"That person's power... She was the one who hit our airship just now!" Shiska instantly realized, but when she clearly saw the woman's appearance, she gasped in shock. "It's Pearl? How is this possible?"

"You know her?" Rin looked at her suspiciously.

Lin Luo silently grumbled: Tsk, what a disappointment. I thought a wild Railgun had shown up, but it's just some washed-up extra.

Shiska nodded. "We encountered her by chance some time ago while searching for the Seven Luminary Treasure Tree. We defeated her for certain reasons, but... she's clearly a Holy War Angel."

Pearl was a Holy War Angel, and she wielded weapons transformed from the form of a Holy War Angel, meaning...

"Holy War Angel and Holy War Angel Symbiosis," Lei stated concisely.

"Of course, since we are sisters, achieving Symbiosis is natural," the woman opposite them said slowly, as if she had overheard their conversation, walking forward. Behind her materialized the illusory image of a woman with a similar appearance. "Long time no see, Angel Protection Association."

"I’ve never heard of that setting!" Shiska roared.

"That’s because my sister and I are special," Pearl said calmly, her face twisting into a cruel smile. "My angle of attack was slightly off just now, but now... you will all be buried under this lightning!"

Saying this, the two blades in her hands suddenly burst forth with brilliant, dazzling light.

"Not good! The lightning she's gathering has tens of millions of volts!" Kiiya cried out.

Greyatz said gravely, "Be careful. This lightning-attribute Holy War Angel is the Queen of the entire Nadere world. While she might not compare to the most powerful Holy War Angels in the Garden of Idyl, among the Enhanced Holy War Angels, none are stronger than her."

"There are stronger ones?" Shiska found it hard to believe that any Holy War Angel could be more powerful than one who could fire a multi-million-volt lightning cannon.

Greyatz nodded. "As far as I know, there are two ice-attribute Seven Luminary Treasure Trees."

"What? Two Seven Luminary Treasure Trees?" Even Lin Luo was surprised to hear the Garden of Idyl possessed Seven Luminary Treasure Trees. In his hands, Lei's Ring of the Eastern Wind could exert the power of an Anti-Military Noble Art. Those on the same level as Lei... even if not quite as strong, they wouldn't be too weak.

"Yes, but we can discuss those later. Right now, Pearl is the main threat. Tens of millions of volts—no one can survive if hit by that." Greyatz looked slightly uneasy. Although he knew Lin Luo was strong, he didn't think Lin Luo could withstand such an attack unless he used a Seven Luminary Treasure Tree.

While his worry was logical, he was ultimately just an ordinary person and couldn't comprehend the true nature of Lin Luo's abilities.

Thus, when Lin Luo walked forward alone to face the enemy's attack, everyone except those familiar with him displayed puzzled expressions, as Lin Luo made no fighting stance, merely standing there as if nothing mattered.

"Wait, no matter how strong he is, a human body shouldn't be able to withstand tens of millions of volts of lightning, right?" Kokowit exclaimed, shocked. Forget humans; even some of them, the Holy War Angels, couldn't withstand it.

"Then you are mistaken. If that woman were attacking anyone else, perhaps it might have some effect. But against him? Heh, it might serve as a health boost," the elder Miss Rin just smiled calmly in response.

"Huh?"

"Hmph, pretending to be cool even when death is imminent. Go regret it in hell! Pillar of Thunder!" The woman opposite sneered and launched her attack. A massive pillar of light woven from lightning descended from the sky, roaring toward Lin Luo, instantly engulfing him entirely.

"It's over!" Shiska and the others lost heart, as they genuinely saw Lin Luo make no attempt to defend himself. Even CC frowned slightly.

"Relax, relax," only Rin and Lei remained as calm as ever.

"Is that all the power you have? Twenty million volts? Not enough to impress," at that moment, a voice echoed from within the pillar of light. Then, all the lightning seemed to be swallowed by something, vanishing completely, while Lin Luo remained utterly unharmed.

"Impossible! A direct hit from my attack..." The woman, who had been sneering moments before, was completely stunned by this sight, and she wasn't the only one.

"Was it a direct hit? Or did I not dodge? Or did I intentionally take your move?" Lin Luo smiled faintly and walked forward slowly.

"What... what nonsense are you spouting..." Pearl instinctively took a step back.

"Nonsense?" Lin Luo neither confirmed nor denied it, simply continuing his advance.

"You..." A flicker of fear appeared in Pearl's eyes, but it instantly changed as her expression hardened. She raised her blades again. "Hmph, I don't believe you can block my attack! I’ll pierce through your trickery! Thunderous Might!" In a flash, countless currents erupted from her blades, converging and weaving into a massive net that enveloped Lin Luo entirely. The crackling electricity was even more dazzling and intense than before.

That area was completely a forbidden zone for life. Shiska and the others were certain that anyone caught in that attack would surely die. But...

"Is he really fine?" Shiska asked Rin, who maintained her calm demeanor, with a worried tone.

"Listen, you all saw it just now," Rin sighed helplessly. "Even if he were to die in an absurd way—choking on water, being strangled by food, falling down while walking, or just being stupid to death—the possibility of him being electrocuted is absolutely zero."

"Why?"

"Because..."

The crackling electricity, capable of destroying any life form, vanished again in an instant. Lin Luo, who had been at the center of the attack, was not only uninjured, but not even the corner of his clothes was frayed.

Looking at the dumbfounded woman opposite him, Lin Luo merely laughed. "You want to ask why I'm still alive? Because... electricity is a part of me."

Among the seven Level 5 espers in Academy City, although Misaka Mikoto's ability wasn't the strongest or the best, she was the only one whose body could ignore the damage caused by her own power and actually become stronger from external electrical influences.

For Accelerator, reflecting his own blood vessels and nerves would only result in his body exploding. For an Antimatter user, creating an unknown object inside his own body would lead to certain death. For an Atomic Dissolver, he couldn't even execute a high-output attack, let alone self-harm. For a Meltdowner, applying a Brain Damage Halo to herself would surely turn her into an idiot.

Only Misaka Mikoto could allow her body to completely utilize her power without being harmed by its destructive potential.

"The lightning discharge just now added up to nearly forty million volts. To achieve this level, I suppose I should offer a small word of praise. However..." Lin Luo shook his head and said seriously, "It's still not enough to impress. This kind of artificial electricity is far inferior to the power of nature. Now, let me show you what true... thunder really is."

BOOM!

He pointed a finger to the sky. Dark clouds gathered, lightning flashed, and thunder rolled across the horizon.

In the blink of an eye, the previously clear sky transformed into a terrifying spectacle of churning thunderclouds.

"What is this..."

"How is this possible? There was no lightning here just a moment ago."

"Could it be..."

The faces of the onlookers changed along with the environment.

"This is true lightning... Ten Billion Volt Heavenly Thunder Summon!" As his hand swept down, it was like the end of the world. Endless lightning streamed down from the heavens, beginning to rampage across the ground.

All sound was drowned out by the lightning; all scenery was obliterated by the light. One could hear nothing, see nothing, feel nothing. Before this natural force, humanity seemed so insignificant. They could only watch blankly as the all-consuming, absolute power descended, awaiting the end of their lives.

When the slaughter by lightning ceased, the world was still the same world. But anyone left standing would never believe that anyone else could possibly have survived here.

The woman standing in the center of the bridge had fallen—it was unclear if she was dead or alive. And further in the distance, the snipers who had been surrounding them also showed no signs of movement. Whether they lived or died, perhaps only Lin Luo knew.

"I finally understand why he dared to challenge the Garden of Idyl alone," Greyatz said dazedly, looking at the scene before him.

"Well, what can I say?" Rin's face showed a hint of awkwardness. While lightning power was strong, it was only at the pinnacle of the Human Rank. She couldn't help but wonder what these people would think if they knew she and Lin Luo possessed powers of a higher rank.

To be honest, Rin was looking forward to it.

"Alright, the obstacles in our path have been cleared. Let's split up now," Lin Luo proposed when he reached the group. "Lei and I will head to the Garden of Idyl. You all can manage as you see fit. With Rin here, I doubt anyone will be able to touch you."

If Shiska and the others had hesitated before, they certainly wouldn't now. Being near such a monster meant they couldn't guarantee they wouldn't be caught in the crossfire.

Rin had no objections to this arrangement.

"Wait, let me go with you." The only dissenting voice was CC. She looked at Lin Luo and smiled. "Let me see if you can become a true Demon King."

A test, or anticipation?

Lin Luo didn't quite understand CC's motives, but since she wanted to go, it was fine.

"Fine, let's go together."

Lin Luo nodded, then met Lei's gaze. She instantly understood his intent. The Symbiosis Chant began, and the Blade of the reappeared. Holding the Blade of the in his right hand and gripping CC's body with his left, he shot high into the sky in an instant.

Currently, Lei's ability was the only way Lin Luo could fly.

"That’s the Seven Luminary Treasure Tree!" Shiska and the others couldn't help but shed tears of emotion. They were finally witnessing the Symbiosis state of a Seven Luminary Treasure Tree.

...Meanwhile, the high-ranking officials of the Garden of Idyl were in utter chaos. They could not have missed the power Lin Luo displayed just now. This was completely incomprehensible to them, and the entire Garden of Idyl, save for ordinary citizens, descended into panic.

P: There is one more chapter today. The weapons section should conclude tomorrow.