Chapter 148 - Cryptid's Invasion

As the mother of all cryptids began to make its move, the spawns made from its leaking essence began to do so as well. In the place they were sealed in, being managed by the Insectar race and the phantom(Angel) army culling their numbers and making sure to keep them in check.

The millions upon millions of cryptids that were spawned and killed every minute rattle in a frenzy. The first to take notice of the changes was Zelanus himself.

Having been the first one to gain sentience among his many siblings, he felt the boost in power as he and Peliod prepare for the clash with their children.

Zelanus clenched his many fists as he entered the gate before him, ready to invade the Cardinal World with his kin.

The first thing they saw as they passed through was barren desert. Looking around, they found themselves in the Barren Lands in Demon Lord Dagruel's territory. The gate having been connected to the Heavenly Tower.

Seeing the settlements encircling the foot of the tower, Zelanus found his first target of invasion.

Yet, before he could even give the signal.

A crashing boom exploded as he blocked a blow from a familiar looking Insectar.

"Zegion." With a deep voice, Zelanus has expected such an attack as soon as he stepped through the gate. With his fist blocking Zegion's own, he clenched as the pair of arms in his right side swung at Zegion.

A quick burst in speed and the Insectar king felt his hands shake, a small but noticeable injury on his limbs. In the edge of his eyes, he caught sight of fluttering wings and a different insectar with obvious human like appearance.

Zegion took the opportunity to activate a distortion filled that caused Zelanus to let go of him. As he does, a small slash in dimension passed through between them.

"You have grown strong." Zelanus readied his limbs, his weapon like upper arms spread wide, his middle pair cracking his fists, while the lower pair activates magic.

Zegion with a stoic stance placed one hand in front of him and the other behind, fixing his footing in the air he remained still waiting for the attack. "You didn't obtain Zess' strength. I did."

Zelanus was a being that wanted absolute power and territory for his own kin. Even so, he feels nothing having to sacrifice them for his ambition. His own children and grandchildren birth by Peliod were disposable and used to strengthen himself.

Having the ability to consume much like Rimuru, he can obtain the strength of his descendants that died in battle. Zess, his eldest and most powerful of the insectar general was nothing special.

Even with knowing Zess' ambition to take his parent down and take the role of king for himself, he let the young insectar dream and grow stronger for when the time he challenge him, then they'll know who truly is stronger.

While Zelanus does find himself desiring to be the strongest, even stronger than someone like Veldanava. He does respect and accept the possibility of defeat in the hands of his own kin if they truly have the strength to back the claim.

Zess was to say the least, was an utter disappointment in his eyes. Even his other descendants were the same in his eyes. Having died in the long war happening behind the scenes with Rimuru's subordinates, the insectar generals dwindled until only Peliod and himself remains.

While he does give acknowledgement of those that managed to beat and kill some of the Arcana's in Rimuru's people, it was still barely an outstanding achievement to beat a mere grunt instead of the powerhouses.

And nothing screams powerhouse than the primordials who were in the vanguard of every battle, not to mention the two Insectars he had given Rimuru. He couldn't believe that his own child and grandchild were siding with his rival.

Zess and Peliod have both attempted negotiation of betrayal and switching to the Insectars' side but the two young insectars refused with fury.

Staring directly at Zegion, he noticed the arrival of the insects and Peliod. The Insectar Queen found herself being chased around by her own child, Apito.

The vibrations of her wings shredded any and all beings that were in front of her as she chased her mother. Their high-speed chase in the sky was moving faster than the speed of sound by several fold.

Even the insects that arrived with them were merely standing obstacles that Peliod used to cover whenever she got closer.

Their remains fell like rain as hundreds continue to fall down, their bodies sliced into several pieces. Even then, Apito cursed at herself for killing them.

Because for each death, Peliod and Zelanus would grow even if merely a minuscule of a fraction.

Zelanus with a bursted speed began clashing with Zegion. "Let's see if you can take the crown from me!"

Zegion remained silent, his arms crossed as Zelanus bladed limbs slash at him. He raised his leg, filling with immense energy struck at the insectar king's side which was held by a different pair of arms.

Zegion fired a burst of energy as he pushed forward, swinging his arms wide as he grabbed at Zelanus bladed arms. Energy flowed through his body as he infused Zelanus' blades with said energy.

The insectar king felt the uncomfortable feeling in his arms as he fired a dimensional ray at Zegion pushing him away.

Zegion held his chest as the energy flowed once again, seemingly morphing something inside of him. He raised his right hand high in the sky, Zelanus watched with a shock expression as Zegion's arm turned to a familiar blade looking limb.

He unconsciously turned to his own arm, seeing the glowing vein like energy coursing through it before dissipating. "That is some unique powers, you have never used that before."

Zegion raised his blade arm, the bright energy giving it a bright glimmer. He took a deep breath as he fixed his stance and calmed his body. "I have never used this on anyone before."

Ultimate Skill Lord of Energy: Laozi. The ability that controls the essence of all things, both living and non-living things. He can convert and redirect energy from his body and those he came contact with.

Zelanus felt his eyes blurred as he found Zegion's body glowing a bright golden hue, especially near his abdomen coursing through his entire body. Like a heart that provides blood to every part of the body.

He raised his lower pair of arms, black miasma like mist encroached on the sky like a whirlwind making its way to Zegion.

Zegion observed, closing his eyes as he placed his left arm forward, his right foot stepping backward. He turned his body as he raised his bladed right arm in eye level.

He took a deep breath as the energy near his body began to flow through his veins, up to his chest coursing right to his right arm.

He found the whirlwind of evil dark cells approaching to be moving in slow motion, he watched, analyze their patten as he swung his blade down.

"Empty Sky"

Golden energy released as it made contact with the mist, expecting with blade and Zegion's entire body to be devoured, he watched in astonishment as the mist disappeared.

The swirling mass of dark cells that devour everything it touches vanished.

"What?" Zelanus found himself uttering unconsciously as Zegion rushed towards him with the same blade.

"Heavenly Slash." Zegion swung his arm down at the insectar king who blocked with his blade pair of upper arms. With wide eyes, he accelerated his thoughts as the blades made contact.

No, Zegion's blade began to encroach on Zelanus arm. Like Devastator Virus' ability from earlier. The bladed arms of Zelanus were both swallowed and so was his neck if he did not escape in time.

A tornado of golden energy mix with the black miasma covered Zegion. He reverted his right arm back into a normal fist, he placed his left arm in his back and his right arm rose with a taunting gesture at Zelanus.

Losing two arms out of his six, Zelanus looked with a furious expression. He readied himself as he dashed forward for a brawl.

Apito found Peliod's constant avoidance of a direct confrontation irritating, especially when the insects continue to block her path, forcing her to eliminate them.

....

The Primordials found themselves watching the Insectars' invasion come to a halt because of Zegion and Apito.

Apart from them, the Seraphim were also present, watching from the side as they culled the growing number of insects leaving the area.

The evacuation of the giants in Damargania was going smoothly as Dagruel's children barked their orders for the giants to follow. Having lived in such a harsh environment, where everything sought to end their lives, evacuation was more common and something they were more used to than most would think.

Not so common that it happened several times a year, but common enough that even the children had experienced it two or three times in their lives.

"Kufufufu, to think that we would all be on the same side." Diablo glanced at Zaloria, who found his voice irritating as the angel frowned. "As expected from Rimuru-sama, even as a demon, to have the original angels under him too."

"I don't recall serving Rimuru," Zaloria countered, to which Diablo merely shrugged as if his opinion on the matter was not needed.

"Hey, guys," Dino said, equipping both of his blades. He felt several massive presences about to escape from the Heavenly Tower. "They're here."

"All right!" Carrera cheered, already having nuclear magic activated in the palm of her hand.

Gracia and Pico looked at the sight with tense expressions, as the Abyss Core was ready to explode at any given time if left unstable.

The first thing that left the tower was a massive cryptid with a lion's body, a dragon's head, and an eight-pronged, serpent-like tail. Its torso was clad in thick scales, eyes glaring from all across its form.

It looked around, staring at the large group of powerful individuals. Their eyes met as it opened its mouth and roared loudly. The giants who had not managed to escape in time fell to the ground, their lives taken as their ears and eyes bled.

Only Dagruel's children and a few strong giants who were guiding the evacuation managed to survive, but they were not faring well. Their minds failing as if ruptured, they all passed out.

Carrera grinned as she fired Abyss Annihilation at the behemoth of a chimera cryptid.

As the attack reached it, a swarm of something like parasitic scales enveloped around it for safety. The collective of small parasites took the brunt of the strike, evaporating into nothing.

Kakeashi, the dragon-headed cryptid, launched forward to let the others pass. The second cryptid to escape was a large mollusk-like creature, akin to a squid with a shell, covered in numerous tentacles. The swarm of parasites encircled its body at a speed tens of thousands of times faster than the speed of sound.

Suiemu was the name Ivarage gave the creature.

It floated in the air, or more accurately, it swam in the air.

The last of the notable cryptids did not appear from the gate but emerged behind them as it stabbed its claws into Pico.

The blonde Seraph found her stomach pierced by a claw larger than her own arm. She coughed blood as the cryptid threw her body before disappearing again. She began to fall to the barren land, only to be caught by Gracia.

Dino watched this happen and instantly moved, clashing his two swords with the claws of what seemed to be a two-eagle-headed cryptid, Habataki.

With a shrieking sound, the bird cryptid disappeared again and appeared behind Testarossa this time. Unfortunately for it, she was prepared for its arrival.

"Napalm Burst." Flames spread around Testarossa as she moved slightly to dodge the claws of Habataki's feet.

With a slight pained screech, it moved away from the flames. It sensed danger as Dino slammed his two blades into its body. Two heavy wounds were etched onto its back as it disappeared again.

"Kufufufufu, these cryptids are fascinating," Diablo muttered, seeing the events unfold.

Zaloria and Obera made their way to Kakeashi, followed by Carrera. Ultima and Testarossa, followed by Gracia, found themselves intercepting another swarm of parasites from Suiemu.

Diablo then observed as Dino let go of his lazy personality after seeing a comrade taken out.

After those three cryptids, which were several times stronger than even regular Demon Lords, their kin began to stampede out of the Heavenly Tower.

Diablo raised his right hand as a Demon Gate appeared behind him. With the doors opening, thousands of Archdemons filled the skies. With a snap of his fingers, the battle with the stampeding cryptids began.

The Angel army that had been awaiting orders soon followed, as Oma and Dhalis took command.

It was a bizarre sight to see, Demons and Angels together in order to save the world from utter destruction and annihilation.

The descendants of Kakeashi were the only ones that remained on the ground. They were suitable enemies for the Demons, while the Angels decided to take on the kin of Suiemu and Habataki.

In terms of numbers, the Angels were in the hundreds of thousands, while the Demons numbered barely in the tens of thousands. They were proficient in group battles and in places with no concept of ground.

This was due to the sealed space where the cryptids lived being nothing more than empty space, with the usual formation of "things" due to the condensation of magicules in the area.

They spread out in a spherical formation, something never before used in the Cardinal World, as they surrounded the flying cryptids.

While the Demons also experienced combat in the sky, Diablo chose to leave the skies to the true professionals and tasked them with taking out the ground threats.

"Kufufufufu, everything is as Rimuru-sama (Ciel) planned." His lips curved higher. His hand equipped the long, sharp gloves, severing the bird cryptids attempting to sneak behind him.

"No need to interrupt me like this. I am more than happy to give you attention. Kufufufufu."

A/N: I love that one of the cryptids is literally named Swim (Suiemu) lol.