Chapter 545 - To Bring Morals to a Gun Fight (1/2)

As Daniel's relaxed appearance walked through the portal, he found himself standing in open space. Around him was nothing but the four pieces of wood connected into the rectangular wooden frame he had just walked out of, and an infinite expanse of dark and cold spatial essence. It was only thanks to his senses, that Daniel was able to feel the presence of the other champions, who, just like him, were sitting at a table within the dining hall no longer than a couple minutes ago.

Once in this starless expanse of open space, these cultivators split up, and spread out in order to find a spot from which they could observe the fight between the champions of the domains of War, and Morality.

In these types of events there were no real rules. A challenge was thrown the moment one of two conflicting groups would leave the safety of Polis, and any form of preparation needed to be done before accepting the challenge, and following the challenger through the portal - the reason why the battle had begun even before Daniel's arrival.. Nevertheless, Daniel's appearance had brought the exchange between the two groups to a pause only seconds after it had started, causing every cultivator, regardless of whether they were fighting or simply observing, to turn to look at him with suspicion and curiosity.

”I don't know to which domain you belong to, but you better not interfere, this time.” Said a voice that reached Daniel's ear from a depth of space that no member of the younger generation of champions could have ever reached in such a short amount of time.

In the sound essence that carried these words, Daniel could feel an immensely higher power than that of the restaurant's clients, as well as a stronger, yet less refined, presence of the intimidating and domineering aspect of War. It was clear that this fight was not only being observed by the younger generation, but by older, more powerful champions as well.

Daniel did not respond to the voice's veiled threat. Instead, he stood quietly as black blotches appeared on his skin, and by slowly growing in size, completely swallowed his figure, erasing him from the scenery as if he had never been there to begin with.

Immediately after Daniel's disappearance, the fight between the two domains resumed just a few hundred miles away from the portal. There, the champions of war orbited at incredible speed around the party of champions of Morality, like the electrons of an atom-avoiding the thousands of arrows, elemental constructs, and rays of light that came from the core of a barrier made out of thick vines.

Snakes of molten metal and semi-solid slush were coming out of the staff of the female summoner, easily moving through the net of spiky vines that she had put in place, creating a blockage that made the infinite number of arrows shot by her archer companion, and the incandescent light rays constructed by the monk, almost impossible to see. Within this constantly moving formation, the heroic-looking warrior, and the giant in massive plated armor waited in silence, each holding their respective weapons of choice, a sword, and a towering shield that weighed as much as a mountain.

Dashing in a seemingly random pattern were the twenty or so champions of war, who used their impressive speed to avoid the uncountable ranged attacks unleashed every second by their opponents, while occasionally shooting bullets made out of pure essence aimed at the gaps between the vines.. But that were ultimately blocked by the living vines, or by the giant's towering shield.

From an outside perspective, it seemed that the champions of Morality were in an advantageous position. After all, while the attacks of both teams were ranged, and the soldiers had a numeric advantage, they lacked a defensible position, and were forced to focus on constantly avoiding the constant barrage of attacks from their opponents before they could even think of fitting in an attack or two.

The lack of a formation within the soldiers was cause of ridicule between the younger champions of the other domains, who conversed with one another despite being far beyond each other's sight.

”That is all that talk was about?” Said a female champion from afar in anger. In her voice was a power that expressed the quality of the aspect of Dominance, whose domain she was part of. ”They are nowhere near vicious enough.”

Following her remarks were the exclamations of agreement that came from the members of the other domains.

”Does it bother you that your domain is subject to the domain of War?” Said a second voice that came from the other side of the battlefield. This voice belonged to a man, and in it, was contained a power that many would recognize as representative of the aspect of Collectiveness. The tone of the champion of Collectiveness' domain was scornful, and implied rivalry between his domain, and that of Dominance-both of low level.

Irritated and embarrassed by her domain's subservience towards the losing side, the champion of Dominance and her companions turned to look at the portal, above which the counter had burned only a fourth of the way through. In their mind they were considering whether it was better to bear the humiliation, or leave.

After the back and forth between the two domains took place, the situation seemed to be even more dire for the champions of War, as the attack pattern of the other party became more intense. To end any debate on the possible outcomes of this encounter, was the man in white gold armor himself, who, from within the several layers of protection created by his companion's attacks and defensive means, would swing his sword towards specifically prepared gaps between the vines in instantaneous motions.. causing blades of warped space and light, to fly at his opponents.

The closer one of the soldiers came to being struck by one of these attacks, the more the pressure on those who had bet on the win of the domain of War became.. To a point where, just like the champions of Dominance, they were considering whether it was worth wasting time witnessing this exchange, or leave to find entertainment elsewhere. Before any of them could leave, however, what everyone had come to expect finally happened.

The massive net of vines opened just enough for a particularly rapid and thin blade to pass through, striking an unaware soldier who, after noticing the incoming attack, was only able to move his arms in the way of the strike to reduce the impact. Yet, despite being somewhat successful in protecting his life, the attack was still able to pierce through the layers of protection created by the soldier's very own essence, and cut through his skin and flesh.

Pridefully, the hero in white gold armor stared at the injured body of the unconscious soldier he had just hit, from within the core of his party's formation.. Confirming for both teams, and the observing cultivators, that his party was on the path of victory-or at least, that was what they thought.

From the moment the vines opened to allow the warrior's attack through, to the moment the strike hit, only a fraction of a second had passed, allowing the warrior to witness the result of his attack briefly before the vines would close once again-yet, a moment was all the well organized members of War's domain needed.