Divine Emperor of Death

"Zephya, during your heavenly tribulation, do not scatter the first three strikes. Try to keep them from dissipating by launching attacks that target their Will. Even if you couldn't, that's fine, as all you have to do is make haste while not letting it eat you up until the last strike."

Zephya inclined her head and looked at Davis confusingly.

She pridefully smiled, knowing that she was strong enough to breeze through her heavenly tribulation.

But now, looking at the dark crimson skies that turned crimson-gold and were creating annihilative heavenly flames to unleash on her, she was flabbergasted.

"Heavenly flames…"

Zephya uttered as she saw a wisp of heavenly fire form underneath the clouds, ready to fall from the skies to set her sins ablaze.

She couldn't help but turn to look at Davis in the distance, wondering if he meant that strange conversation they had while traveling here was for this moment. However, she didn't know what she did to deserve this Heavenly Punishment.

Surely, she didn't steal the annihilative heavenly wind, so she couldn't understand why she was being punished. These flames were of the annihilative type since she was an Anarchic Divergent right now because of absorbing annihilative heavenly wind, so once again, she couldn't understand why she was being doubly punished.

"…"

However, she received another shock of her life as her eyes spotted Davis embracing Eldia. Although he turned to look at her with a solemn gaze, fury filled her mind.

She was about to protest from jealousy and unfair treatment but then remembered his words again.

"Of course, if you feel like you're not up to the task, then forget what I said."

"…"

Zephya clenched her fists as she returned her gaze to the Heavenly Punishment, wondering why her words weren't taken seriously, not to mention the disrespect.

"Fine. I will prove to you that I can also do it~ That I'm not any lesser than that lightning spirit and ice spirit~"

Zephya uttered with smiling confidence, although her expression was seething with the urge to get back.

*Szzz!~*

The annihilative clouds rumbled, and the crimson-gold wisp of flames descended.

Although Zephya's silhouette still remained hazy, her gaze was firm.

She appeared to be defenseless, but the moment annihilative heavenly flame wisp fell on her, she was set ablaze.

*Sizzle!~* *Sizzle!~*

Davis turned to look at Eldia and kissed her forehead, turning around before he rested at the edge of the lake while having Eldia on his lap. Her body shuddered with lightning even as she remained still, causing him to feel good.

With Eldia also coming out of her reverie, they turned to look at Zephya and saw that she was engulfed in flames.

However, as they looked closely, they noticed that there was a seamless wind barrier covering her figure. Her control was such that there was only an inch between her flesh and the blazing annihilative heavenly flames but in between them was her annihilative heavenly wind refusing to let the two to come into contact.

And she maintained the status quo in such a way that the annihilative heavenly flames were not reducing the slightest bit, as though they were pushed away but unable to extinguish.

'She's really doing it…'

Davis blinked.

He was fine if she didn't as he would just try to create a ridiculous pill again as he imbued karmic sin in it, bringing down annihilative heavenly flames, but that would be even more difficult and adding more karmic burden to himself.

However, he didn't look worried because he knew Zephya was capable of it.

She had absorbed annihilative heavenly wind.

Even without it, she had been able to battle with a prowess of six levels higher, so in addition to the annihilative heavenly wind, he guessed that she would be able to cross seven levels higher to battle.

If he was not wrong, her annihilative factor would make her tribulation difficult by two levels higher, peaking in energy as well as soul and body would make it difficult by one level higher, annihilative heavenly wind absorption or the karmic burden from it would also be one level higher, not to mention the one meter tall, first-tier karmic sin he imbued would also make it one level higher for a total of five levels higher.

For Zephya, who was assumably seven levels higher, he guessed that she would be able to tank until he arrived and purified the annihilative heavenly flames!

*Szzz!~*

The tribulation waited for no one and sent the next annihilative heavenly flame wisp.

Without any disruption, it also fell on Zephya and further encased her in a purgatory of terrifying flames.

However, her response remained the same.

She was still tanking it with her annihilative heavenly wind. It made him wonder if this was a technique belonging to her when she was a Regal Sky Gale Spirit.

The Regal Sky Gale Spirit was ranked first in Emperor Grade Wind Elemental Charts. It was a terrifying spirit capable of bringing down windy natural disasters and possessed precise control over the wind, capable of cleaving and carving that they could even make inscriptions out of thin air if they learned it.

If it weren't for their terrifying control over the wind, they wouldn't be ranked first.

*Szzz!~~~*

The heavens blazed before the third and final annihilative heavenly flame wisp fell.

Instantly, the annihilative heavenly flames surrounding Zephya grew larger and more powerful. The heat surrounding the area almost created a faint barrier amidst the crimson skies as though it was radiating solar wind.

Quickly, the crimson-gold clouds began to leave, leaving behind the dark crimson clouds of the Annihilative Heavenly Tribulation.

Lightning arced like snakes through the oppressive clouds, and the rumbling caused tyrannical undulations to spread across the region. It should be extremely taxing on Zephya, but Davis was impressed that she was still able to handle the annihilative heavenly flames without caving.

He definitely felt like he must reward her, as not anyone could withstand the oppressive might of the heavens.

He respected his Master Deathseeker, but as his master had never faced Destructive Heavenly Tribulation or Annihilative Heavenly Tribulation, even he wouldn't be able to produce half his full might and could only shiver underneath the rumbling skies.

It was near impossible to remain without fear unless one got used to this annihilative aura.

For Zephya's second time, he felt she was doing good.

*Rumble!~*

Nine seconds passed, and the Annihilative Heavenly Lightning Tribulation appeared to be ready to blast her to smithereens.

Noticing this, Zephya finally moved.

*Ripp!~*

She carved out a path above as nine silver-green crescent blades extinguished the heavenly flames and struck the annihilative heavenly lightning square in its face.

*Booom!~*

One annihilative heavenly wind blade clashed against the annihilative heavenly lightning and was destroyed.

Three seconds later, the second annihilative heavenly lightning descended.

However, the eight annihilative heavenly wind blades remaining in the skies like they were birds abruptly shot in a single direction and clashed against the annihilative heavenly lightning!

*Boom!~*

The second strike was also destroyed, leaving behind seven annihilative heavenly wind blades to take care of the seven strikes.

"…"

Davis was quite flabbergasted as Zephya's control was incredible.

Her crescent blades were like homing defense missiles, seeking to destroy any missiles that might come her way.

'Is she reading the wind?'

Davis wondered as, from his point of view, he couldn't see if the annihilative heavenly flames dampened her senses or not. He did see nine silver-green blades piercing above, but they may have already been filled by annihilative heavenly flames. If not, he imagined she was maintaining that gap by filling her heavenly wind in between and above to react.

"Excellent battle senses…"

Davis praised. He didn't think anything of Zephya other than she was a playful spirit. He admitted that she had the determination to follow them since she became an Anarchic Divergent knowingly, but he didn't think she was this talented in battles.

'It's no wonder Fiora said that it was better to rely on Zephya than her when I borrowed Zephya from her…'

Davis nodded, although he said he would rely on Fiora if it came down to it, which made her delighted beyond compare.

*Booom!~*

*Booom!!~*

*Booom!!!~*

The third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth strikes all fell but were successfully thwarted by her silver-green annihilative heavenly wind blades, leaving behind the ninth strike that was yet to fall.

At this point, even Eldia forgot about dual cultivation and seemed highly interested as she licked her lips, waiting to collect all of these scattered annihilative heavenly lightning to satisfy her tummy.