As the colossal monster resurrected with an even more formidable aura, Yuan Jin and Hu Xue braced themselves for another battle. However, they quickly realized that Aether was no longer by their side—she was still engaged in combat with Ji Wutian, the Star Emperor, who had just summoned ten thousand clones of himself.
Above them, Ji Wutian and Aether stood face to face, surrounded by thousands of identical copies of Ji Wutian, all floating ominously in the sky.
Aether narrowed her eyes. "So, you're using clone formation to compensate for your weaknesses?"
Ji Wutian chuckled. "Against the Supreme System, I must use every trick I have."
Aether remained calm, but in the blink of an eye—
SWOOSH!
Ten thousand Ji Wutian clones moved simultaneously, launching attacks from every direction.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Explosions of energy rippled through the sky, creating destructive vortexes that tore through space itself. Each clone unleashed an attack powerful enough to obliterate a small planet, and within seconds, Aether was completely surrounded by an uncountable wave of attacks.
But just before the attacks could land...
CLANG!
A transparent barrier materialized around Aether, effortlessly nullifying all the incoming strikes.
Ji Wutian narrowed his eyes. "Hmph… What kind of defensive technique is this?"
Aether didn't reply. She simply raised her hand.
And in an instant...
BOOM!!!
A massive wave of blue energy erupted from her body, annihilating thousands of Ji Wutian clones in a single instant!
Within a heartbeat, more than half of the army of clones had vanished without a trace.
Ji Wutian clenched his jaw. "As expected, you're no ordinary opponent."
Yet, he did not panic. Instead, he simply smirked.
Then suddenly...
SWOOSH!
The remaining clones merged into one, then split apart again, but this time they were far stronger.
Aether analyzed the change.
[System Detected]
Name: Ji Wutian (Fusion Clone Mode)
Status: Star Emperor
Clones: 1,000 (Each possessing 50% of the original's power)
Aether sighed. "So now you're condensing your clones to make them stronger?"
Ji Wutian laughed. "Exactly! This time, you won't wipe them out in a single attack!"
A thousand Ji Wutian clones now hovered in the sky, each radiating an aura equal to that of a true Star Emperor.
And in an instant...
They all attacked at once.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The sky shattered under the overwhelming force of their strikes. Each of Ji Wutian's attacks ripped through space, creating small black holes that devoured everything nearby.
But Aether still stood in place—completely unharmed.
She looked at Ji Wutian with a calm expression.
Then, in a low voice, she said:
"You cannot win against the Supreme System."
And in an instant...
Aether vanished.
Ji Wutian's eyes widened. "What—?"
Suddenly, all of his clones froze in place.
And in the blink of an eye, they all began to disintegrate one by one.
SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!
A thousand Ji Wutian clones evaporated like mist within seconds.
Ji Wutian's eyes trembled in disbelief. "W-What did you do?!"
Aether reappeared behind him.
"I simply… erased their existence from this universe."
Ji Wutian staggered in shock.
She didn't just destroy my clones… She erased them from reality?!
Aether gazed at him. "You're just wasting your time, Ji Wutian."
Ji Wutian gritted his teeth. "Don't be so arrogant, Aether… We will meet again."
In an instant, his body vanished into space, disappearing before Aether could pursue him.
Aether did not chase after him. She simply stared at the empty sky, before finally turning her gaze downward.
Where Yuan Jin and Hu Xue were still fighting desperately against the immortal monster.
Aether narrowed her eyes. "Looks like I still have unfinished business."
---
The colossal monster stood up once more, its aura even more terrifying than before. Its previously wounded body had completely healed, now appearing even sturdier. Dark energy swirled around it, creating a vortex of wind that tore through the ground and shattered the surrounding rocks.
Yuan Jin and Hu Xue took a few steps back, their breaths ragged. They had already used all their strength to defeat the monster, yet it had risen again, now stronger than before.
"How is this possible?!" Yuan Jin growled, gripping his sword tightly.
Hu Xue's eyes burned with determination. "If we don't destroy its core, it will keep regenerating!"
Before they could act, a cold laugh echoed through the air.
"Hahaha... Do you really think you can defeat this creature so easily?"
Above them, Ji Wutian hovered with a mocking gaze. Even though thousands of his clones had been obliterated by Aether, he still stood with unwavering confidence. His golden eyes gleamed as if he could see something others couldn't.
Aether looked at him calmly. "You still have more tricks up your sleeve?"
Ji Wutian smirked. "Of course. I've planned this from the start. That monster is no ordinary creature... it is the Avatar of Destruction, an entity that cannot die unless completely annihilated down to its very essence."
Aether narrowed her eyes. "So that's your plan?"
Ji Wutian raised his hand, and in an instant, a dark radiance emerged from his palm. It wasn't ordinary energy—it was Eternal Energy, a power source possessed only by the highest star rulers.
The colossal monster roared, its body trembling violently, and in an instant, it began to change. Its black scales hardened further, horns sprouted from its head, and six massive wings unfurled from its back. The aura it emitted was now so overwhelming that even the sky itself seemed to crack.
Yuan Jin and Hu Xue felt an immense pressure weighing down on them, making it difficult to move.
"What... is this?" Yuan Jin whispered, feeling as if the gravity around him had multiplied several times over.
Aether let out a sigh. "You've created unnecessary chaos, Ji Wutian."
But Ji Wutian only laughed. "This is just the beginning."
In an instant, the monster swung its arm, unleashing a wave of black energy that shot toward Yuan Jin and Hu Xue. They tried to evade, but the overwhelming pressure made them react too slowly.
BOOM!
A massive explosion shook the entire area, creating a giant crater in the ground. Yuan Jin and Hu Xue were sent flying, blood trickling from the corners of their lips.
Aether narrowed her eyes. "That's enough."
In a flash, her body disappeared. When she reappeared, she was right in front of the monster. With a simple movement, she raised her hand and...
BOOM!
The colossal monster was sent hurtling hundreds of meters away, crashing into several mountains in the distance. Ji Wutian, witnessing this, could only smirk slightly.
"You're finally getting serious..."
Aether stared at him sharply. "Your performance is over, Ji Wutian."
To be continued...