Chapter 84: The Secret of the Nine Paths

As the echoes of the explosion faded, panic spread across the ship.

“Enemy attack!” someone shouted.

Dozens of armored soldiers rushed in, each with a different kind of power. Some had fire swirling around their bodies. Others moved so fast they looked like flashes of light. A few had sharp energy blades, while some carried heavy cannons made from strange black stone.

“Kill him! For Lord Zero!” they yelled.

Ian stood still.

The first soldier, covered in metal spikes, slammed both fists into Ian’s chest. The room shook, but Ian didn’t even move. The man blinked, confused, then Ian headbutted him once. The man flew like a meteor, crashing through several walls before disappearing.

Three others tried to hold Ian down with chains made of glowing energy. They wrapped around his arms and legs. Another raised his hand, forming a giant hammer made of light.

He swung.

Boom!

The floor cracked. The air pulsed.

Smoke filled the room.

When it cleared, Ian was still standing, unmoved. The chains had broken. The light hammer had shattered. His clothes were slightly torn, but not a scratch could be seen on his skin.

Ian slowly raised his hand, palm facing forward.

He didn’t even push, but a soft wave of dark energy burst out. It didn’t look strong, but it was. Dozens of soldiers were blown away, crashing against walls or turning to ash. Their screams echoed briefly, then vanished into silence.

Adam crossed his arms and watched.

“They’re all too weak,” he said calmly.

One soldier, shaking, pulled out a glowing red orb and swallowed it. His body grew bigger, twice his size. His eyes turned red, muscles swelling.

“I’ll kill you!” he shouted.

He jumped high, coming down with both fists.

Ian caught him with one hand effortlessly. His grip crushed the man’s arms before tossing him aside like trash.

More soldiers came. They used poison, gravity, sound waves, and even illusions. Nothing worked.

No matter what they used, Ian stood there. His body never bent, never cracked, never bled. His skin took it all. His body glowed slightly with a soft black light, like a hidden armor under his skin.

Suddenly, the temperature dropped.

Time felt slower.

A loud step echoed through the ship.

Everyone froze.

Adam turned serious. “He’s here,” he muttered.

The air thickened. It was hard to breathe.

A presence entered the room. They didn’t see his face, only felt his power.

The air twisted.

Ian’s eyes narrowed. “So you’ve come… Zero.”

From the shadows, a figure walked forward. He didn’t speak. He simply raised a fist and punched Ian in the face.

BOOM!

The ship rocked. Walls cracked again. Ian skidded back several meters, smoke around him.

He wiped his mouth. No blood.

“Strong…” Ian muttered.

The figure in the smoke finally spoke, voice cold and calm. “You’re at least galaxy-scale. I see.”

’This is only my base form though.’ Ian snickered in his mind.

Then, with a deep hum, his energy changed. It grew fast, massive, filling the ship.

His body began to glow, his power rising sharply.

Zero was changing.

He didn’t waste time.

He entered his second form.

…

The air between them shook as Ian stepped forward. Zero didn’t move. Then, in a flash, their fists met.

BOOM!

A shockwave burst out. The ship groaned, the floor cracked, and lights flickered. Neither was pushed back.

They moved again, fist to fist, blow for blow.

Ian’s punch hit Zero’s side. Zero grunted but quickly returned one to Ian’s ribs.

Their hands blurred.

Boom. Boom. Boom.

Each strike made the ship tremble. Their speed was almost too fast to follow. Energy blasts followed their punches, basic, but powerful. Red blasts from Zero, black-green bursts from Ian.

Thanks to Adam’s subtle protection, the ship had remained intact even with the blows enough to shatter galaxies.

Zero floated backward and smirked.

“Not bad. You’re keeping up,” he said, brushing dust from his arm. “But how long can you last?”

Ian didn’t answer. He rushed in again.

Their fists clashed again, and the shockwaves spread through the halls. Soldiers far away collapsed just from the pressure.

Zero chuckled, enjoying the fight more and more. “Hoho… You’ve got skill. But I’ve fought the mightiest warriors this Universe could offer.”

Ian slid to a stop. His chest rose and fell calmly.

Then something changed.

A green light began to glow from his body.

His hair turned dark green, shining softly. His eyes matched the glow. Even his skin seemed stronger, smoother. His body became slightly taller and more muscular.

Adam’s eyes flickered slightly with a strange gleam. ’What is this? A transformation? Hmmm… I sense a familiar aura, almost like that of the former Main God? But how is this even remotely possible?’ For the first time, his emotionless demeanor began to experience a ripple.

How could he not? Nine Paths is a symbol of the Nine Paths Main God, Kratos. This is almost like a guaranteed way to reach the Main God, without many hurdles. In a sense, Ian, the assigned god that recently rose, unexpectedly had it on him to become a Main God. It’s not a matter of whether he can or cannot, it’s just a matter of when!

’T-this…’ Adam’s face turned serious.

The power of the Main God. This is the pinnacle of the 18th Universe, and only Suelo had this status and strength. The real question is, how or why did Suelo and his mother let Ian live? He doubts that they didn’t knew Ian’s Nine Paths. He knew that they should have discovered it earlier than he… Or have they become complacent due to their absolute power and authority?

The air shifted. The green aura spread like waves.

Zero’s smile faded just a bit. His body tensed.

He looked at Ian, then at the aura. He didn’t say anything, but his brow twitched. He felt it.

This form wasn’t just power. It was something different. It had weight. Purpose. It pressed against his own energy.

Zero took a step back.

His face remained calm, but his fingers tightened into a fist. His mind raced.

’This pressure… if I let it grow…’

He glanced down at his own body, his second form still erupting with galaxy-scale power level.

But now…

Now he wasn’t sure it was enough.

His chest rose.

He muttered to himself, voice low and cold. “Is it time to bring out… that form?”

Silver light flickered in his eyes.

No. Not yet.

But the thought was there.

If he transformed again, if he used the Silver Zero form, he would unlock the true nature of his race.

The power of the Frost Freaks would be fully released. The transformations of Frost Freaks didn’t actually improve or enhance their power. They’re already powerful naturally. They’re more like seals that prevent their power from being out of control due to how immense their strength is. The transformations for them are like gate of a dam.

First form unseals 30%, second form unseal 65% and their third form, to his case, the Silver Zero form, unseals 100% of his power. Yes, unseal, not unlock. The two sound the same but they’re different in essence.

It was something he never used unless the opponent was a real threat. And for the first time in a long while, he was thinking about it.

Ian stood calmly, the green aura flowing from his body like soft fire.

Zero stared at him, no longer speaking.

He was trying to decide.

Should he reveal his final form?

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