The previous three-headed hellhound was likely just a prelude.
"Dimensional expansion? Brother, what are you talking about?" Jiang Xi's confusion grew, but Jiang Chen's expression remained serious.
"Xiaoxi, stay away from that area." He warned, feeling the pulse of divine energy within himself, though it did little to soothe his anxiety.
As the siblings exchanged words, the nearby warriors and martial artists who had not yet left the battlefield began murmuring among themselves.
All eyes were drawn to the black mist that churned ominously in the distance.
A chilling wave of fear washed over them. Even those seasoned in battle could feel an instinctual dread creeping into their hearts.
To face a dimensional invasion was one thing, to witness a dimensional expansion was another.
Once consumed by such an event, even the most formidable fighters might not return.
More concerning was the fact that only worlds of immense power could trigger a dimensional expansion. Normally, weaker dimensions would collapse under the might of the Main World's resistance during the invasion phase.
The last recorded expansion had emerged from a Sixth Tier Peak Level world.
For it to happen again so soon, it could only mean the current invading world was no weaker than that.
Recalling the catastrophic dimension descent from before, no one dared to imagine what might come next.
As eyes remained locked on the roiling mist, distorted visions flickered within it. A towering mountain of divine stature emerged, with grand celestial palaces looming above.
A faint, sacred aura emanated from the scene.
But the purity didn't last.
Darkness slithered over the divine mountain, corrupting its radiance.
From within the shrouded peak, a golden light burst forth in defiance, illuminating the gloom. It sought to banish the shadows, but the darkness remained relentless.
Upon a lofty altar, a small figure appeared, a baby, wrapped in countless strands of golden light.
Yet at the altar's edge, another figure stepped forward.
Draped in a black robe, his presence exuded malice. The mist thickened around him, concealing all but his shadowed silhouette.
Slowly, the black-robed figure approached the child.
The divine light pulsing from the altar quivered beneath the encroaching darkness.
Then, with deliberate intent, the figure raised a hand.
In his grasp gleamed a dagger, forged entirely of gold, adorned with a shimmering gemstone embedded in its hilt.
"You dared to hinder my path. For that, you must die. May the spirits beyond forgive this sin."
His voice was chilling, reverberating through the mist.
"The mortal world is fraught with danger. Return to Olympus, where you belong."
Without hesitation, the dagger plunged downward.
"Buzz!"
Just as the blade neared the child, the black mist surged once more.
The shadows expanded, consuming the fragmented illusion.
Then, from within the mist, the robed figure's form began to materialize, his aura growing more oppressive with every passing moment.
An unbearable force radiated from him.
The weight of his presence bore down upon the surroundings.
Even from afar, Zhang Tao and the others could feel the pressure like an unrelenting tide.
Sweat beaded on their foreheads.
"What a terrifying presence!"
"He's not even fully materialized, and it's already this overwhelming."
Old Li's voice trembled as he spoke, the unease in his heart deepening.
Never before had he experienced such fear.
Not even when facing the three-headed hellhound.
"Old Zhang!" A nearby warrior called out, his voice cracking under the tension.
Together, their gazes fell upon Zhang Tao, silently seeking answers from him.
"Get ready!"
"You might not even qualify to take part in the next battle."
"If it comes to it, we may have no choice but to sever this fragment of time and space."
Zhang Tao's voice was low and grim. Despite breaking through to the Seventh Tier, a rare shiver ran down his spine. Even without engaging, he could sense the inevitable outcome.
"This!"
Hearing Zhang Tao's words, the other two couldn't hide the change in their expressions.
Severing a piece of time and space was the last resort used by the Main World when a dimensional invasion spiraled out of control. If the threat became insurmountable, an entire fragment of existence could be exiled, cutting off the infection.
But the price was staggering. Such a desperate measure consumed the Main World's primal energy and left massive scars on its foundation. It could take centuries to heal. The last time this was done, over a hundred years ago, it took decades before the balance was restored.
Now, with the uncertainty of future dimensional descents looming, another severance could spell unimaginable disaster.
"Follow my lead."
"This crisis may surpass anything we've faced before."
Zhang Tao's words were resolute.
"Understood."
The other figure hesitated but quickly fell silent. Old Li nodded firmly. Zhang Tao was the strongest in the Da Xia Federation, and his judgment was absolute.
At that moment, the black mist churned and thickened. The robed figure solidified further, and the oppressive aura intensified.
Even beings thousands of meters away felt the weight pressing down. Second-tier cultivators stumbled, unable to remain afloat, with some plummeting to the ground. Those who managed to stay aloft still instinctively pulled back.
"Such terrifying power!"
"Unbelievable!"
Jiang Xi's face paled in disbelief. Her combat strength had long surpassed ten thousand points, and after consuming the divine fruit, she was at the Fifth Tier. She had thought herself formidable, especially compared to most in the Da Xia Academy.
But now, faced with this oppressive might, her confidence shattered. Even her teacher, a Fifth Tier peak-level expert, would falter.
Jiang Chen's eyes narrowed. He had already discerned the truth about the world that had descended. And precisely because he understood, an unsettling storm churned within him.
In his knowledge of countless anime worlds, only a handful stood at the pinnacle. Universes like 'Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann', 'Dragon Ball', and the one now before him. Worlds of such terrifying scale were not just advanced , they existed beyond even Ninth Tier realms.
Jiang Chen never expected that, right after entering the Dragon Ball world, this monstrosity would emerge.
His brow furrowed.
The black mist surged once more. The figure in the black robe stepped forward, the ominous pressure intensifying.
Zhang Tao acted without hesitation.
"Serious Punch!"
With a bellow, his fist clenched tightly, overflowing with blinding energy. It was a devastating strike, carrying the full force of a Seventh Tier expert.
A brilliant shockwave erupted, obliterating the black mist.
The blow tore through the heavens, fracturing the sky. The earth beneath quaked and split apart, a massive chasm spreading as far as the eye could see.
Yet, when the dust settled, Zhang Tao's pupils contracted in disbelief.
The black-robed figure remained unmoved.
"Although finite lifeforms may endure endless suffering, human will possess limitless potential. That potential can sometimes create miracles... even surpassing the divine."
The voice was calm, echoing through the shattered landscape. Not a single fold of the figure's dark robe was disturbed.
If not for the destruction left in Zhang Tao's wake, it would seem as though no battle had occurred at all.
Sweat beaded on Zhang Tao's forehead. He had unleashed everything, yet the figure had not so much as flinched.
It wasn't the idea of being weaker that shook him , that was a reality he could accept. What unsettled him was the sheer impossibility of his opponent's complete lack of reaction.
An unbearable pressure weighed upon him.
"Humans may sometimes create miracles," the figure's voice echoed once more. "But their foolishness is an even greater certainty."
"Do you still not see the gulf that separates us?"
His words lingered in the air. Though his form remained partially obscured, the robed figure stepped forward.
(End of Chapter)
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