Xers and his team spread across the surroundings of Grolmuh Island and continued fighting the enemy sorcerers one by one.
Xers advanced toward the southern side of the island. He cut down every sorcerer who stood in his way.
''Haah!''
''Hiah!''
Each time, the sounds of his white and purple swords echoed.
Another Nyxia ship had deployed more sorcerers onto Grolmuh Island. Xers was alone in the south of the island. Around 2,000 sorcerers began charging toward him.
''How many thousands are here?! Whatever, let's play a little rough. Koberai! Repel them!''
Koberai began unleashing thousands of heavenly slashes from its mouth. The slashes pierced through trees and tore apart every sorcerer in their path. At that moment, another 500 sorcerers rushed in from his right side and got dangerously close to Xers.
''Gomerai!''
Gomerai burst out from underground and launched the approaching sorcerers into the air.
Gomerai swiftly began hurling all the sorcerers around.
''DO YOU LIKE IT?! HAHAHA!''
Xers was both firing heavenly slashes with Koberai and sending sorcerers flying with Gomerai.
However, among the thousands of sorcerers, one distinct sorcerer was charging directly at Xers. Xers noticed him and aimed Koberai toward him, but in an instant, the man used Ghost Step and appeared right in front of Xers. He drew his sword at incredible speed. Xers instantly stopped time.
''Koberai, Stop Time!''
The vibrations of the atoms ceased instantly, and time no longer flowed. Xers first examined the man.
''His mask is bright blue, and diamond flakes are falling from his sword. Who is this guy? Whatever, no need to think too much.''
Xers raised his sword and tried to cut the man down, but the blade did not slash him. Instead, it only slightly entered a circular black field that functioned as a shield.
''W-WHAT?! Why couldn't I cut him? This black shield... it was there when I fought Nystral too, but it never blocked me...''
Xers's time stop had reached its final stage. However, it had also brought certain limitations. In the past, while time was stopped, it did not possess destructive force. Now it had destructive power, but it could no longer pierce through an opponent in a single strike. This phenomenon was called the Atomic Shield.
Xers struck with his swords for as long as his remaining time allowed. The shield became thinner and thinner. The atoms began vibrating again, and time resumed. The moment time flowed again, the enemy was hurled meters backward by the destructive force.
''Since then, this is the first time I've used time stop on a real target. I can't believe it changed. Anyway, come on then!''
Xers climbed onto Gomerai and rose above the enemies. While in the air, Gomerai charged a fireball and hurled it at them. A massive explosion erupted. Everyone was thrown in every direction. Xers leapt off Gomerai, but just as he was about to land, a blue holographic explosion appeared on the ground.
''Koberai, Stop Time!''
The atoms stopped vibrating, and time froze.
''W-what kind of explosion is this? Could it be... that blue-masked man! He can control explosions from a distance. And his shield is paper-thin! But I can't reach him. Using this ability repeatedly drains my stamina way too fast!''
Xers took one or two steps to the side. Time began flowing again.
''Come here, you Nyxia dog!''
Xers drew both of his swords and charged toward the enemy. The enemy, however, predicted every place Xers would step and triggered holographic explosions from the ground. Xers avoided them at the last second with his unpredictable aura. He had gotten very close to the enemy.
''Gomerai!''
Gomerai suddenly emerged from Xers's chest and struck the enemy. He slammed him against a tree.
''What's your name, dog?!''
''Uraz... Diamond Uraz.''
''Farewell, Uraz...''
Xers gripped his purple sword tightly. The purple blade suddenly glowed.
''You might want to look behind you.''
Xers instantly turned around. A holographic blue sphere about 30 meters in diameter had appeared in the air directly behind him. It radiated energy and continued gathering power from the ground.
''Y-YOU BASTARD!''
''Hahahah... (Snaps his fingers)''
The moment the sphere was about to explode, Xers stopped time.
''KOBERAI STOP TIME!''
The atoms ceased their vibrations, and time froze.
''The explosion has probably already happened. The moment time starts flowing again, it'll blow everything apart. I need to think smart... I got it! This will completely drain my stamina, but I have to do it if I want to survive.''
Xers ran behind the tree.
''I have 2 seconds left... Dragon's Truth! Let's see which is faster—your explosion, or Gomerai? Time will resume...''
Time began flowing again. At tremendous speed, Gomerai launched a tetracube into the air, and the tetracube unfolded, enclosing only Xers inside before sealing shut like a box. The explosion then occurred.
The entire island was obliterated. Even the hulls of the ships along the coastline cracked. Not a single plant or tree remained on the island. Uraz was instantly erased.
The explosion erupted with an incredibly loud sound. The eardrums of everyone nearby burst.
When the explosion ended, Xers stepped out of the box. Everything was covered in dust and smoke.
''W-what kind of power was that? I-I need to find a way off this island immediately.''
Xers walked for minutes. At last, he reached the shoreline. With limited vision, he saw 40 Nyxia fleets approaching from afar.
These fleets had come to invade all of the Shadowia Islands. Grolmuh Island had actually been a diversion. The Nyxians had named this operation Iron Storm.
''W-where are all those ships heading?... T-they're going to the Shadowia Islands! They're going to invade every single Shadowia Island! I need to find Hanken and the Andante brothers! Gomerai!''
Xers climbed onto Gomerai and began circling above the island from the sky