He Became A Monstrous Genius After Obtaining A Time Dilation Artifact

Deep crimson hair.

Deep crimson eyes.

A crimson complexion with archaic runes running through them.

An obsidian katana held firmly, pulsing with lightning and azure flames.

Visible expressions of shock.

"He's the Crimson Devil?"

Before they could process the absurd turn of events, Kailen moved.

Realising their opponent meant business, they reeled in their shocked expressions and attacked.

"Astral Nova." Kailen swung the katana over and over again.

If there was something he had endless reserves of, it was universe energy.

Several arcs of flames mixed with lightning were hurtled towards his opponents over and over again.

Yet, they stood their ground.

They were not rank 5 intermediate stage Ascendant level lifeforms for show.

Also, they had some battle experience.

Securing a distance away from Kailen, due to the nature of his affinity that prevailed in wide distances on the battlefield, the gnome's rocs soared through the air with profound speed, heading towards Kailen's form.

On a closer look, the rocs were not just moving towards Kailen, there were gales of wind brewing on top of their heads.

By the time they drew closer to him, the gales of wind had turned into razor-sharp spears, clashing into him alongside their forms.

"Too fast." The movements of the rocs were extremely fast, so fast that Kailen felt under pressure.

The only reason why he had not fallen was because of his monstrous defenses, courtesy of his Asura Enlightenment Physique and his shadow armor.

After all, these guys were actually at the rank 5 intermediate stage Ascendant level, while he was just bridging the gap with his monstrous cheats.

Yet Kailen felt strangely at peace, euphoric even.

Carnage, he wanted carnage. His crimson eyes burnt with raw malevolence with each exchange.

At the same time that the rocs were hurtled constantly by the gnome towards Kailen, the twins weaved around him like phantoms, attacking him from all directions.

Clang. Clang. Clang.

Each twin dagger slash was coated with poison energy that attempted to erode his skin.

His monstrous defenses showed signs of being eroded, cracking under pressure, only to regenerate with profound speed that left his attackers in awe, perplexed.

Thanks to endless reserves of universe energy, and access to the purest form of it thanks to the enigma that was the Time Dilation artifact, Kailen had extremely fast healing and regeneration capabilities.

At the beginning, Kailen seemed to be overwhelmed with their attacks, managing to dodge a few of their strikes while countering them, at the same time retaliating with his elemental energy, affinity lightning, and infinite Alchemy flame Astral Novas.

Yet, as time went on, he was studying them.

The movements of their shadows.

Predicting the trajectories of their attacks.

Umbral Pirouette—his battle style—was at full display.

His sharp instincts, honed from his encounter with the mad female Asura commander from his gruesome time during the first simulation, proved their purpose.

One against three.

It was becoming easy for Darkhaven, yet perplexing for his attackers.

Each of their attacks was met with lethal precision.

Blocks, parries, strikes, Astral Novas, Ragnaroks.

The whole region had become a dome of cataclysmic clashes, each one making the void recoil in fear, painting everywhere in overtones of affinities.

Kailen was spamming skills endlessly.

He was wearing them out.

This was becoming a battle of attrition.

Kailen was akin to a machine, a calculating menace on the battlefield.

He stood firm, calm, yet strangely, maniacal.

He evaded, blocked, parried.

Struck back, pushing them back. Each attack, more lethal.

It became an endless cycle. One that his opponents grew tired of.

The sickening part was the mad grin the bastard wore on his crimson face.

He was enjoying this.

"More, more, more, more. Haaahaaha."

What type of monster was this?

Was he really a rank 1 beginner stage Ascendant level lifeform?

Was he overpowering them?

Was this bastard predicting their attack patterns?

It was as though he had eyes everywhere.

Of course he did.

His shadow sense was his eyes.

His insane perception was his eyes.

His battle instincts, incredulously honed, were his eyes.

His battle style, Umbra Pirouette, was his eyes.

Yet they didn't have to know.

"It's time to end this."

Having fully mirrored their patterns and integrated everything there was to their attacks into his own, Kailen could fully see through them.

His gaze locked sharply on the gnome.

The fellow felt raw, palpable fear as he stared into Kailen's eyes.

"You're the most troublesome."

With that, Kailen moved, weaving through the attacks with undeterred agility, his focus the gnome.

Attacks were launched by the trio, aimed at preventing him from getting close to the gnome, an attempt to buy time to trigger a teleportation artifact to disappear from this death-sentencing battle.

Yet, their attempts proved futile.

"Astral Nova."

A death sentence.

The gnome blinked his eyes—the last.

His vision cartwheeled. Head separated from body, tumbled and came to a halt.

Dead eyes, full of agony and surprise.

Dark crimson blood flowed like a fountain.

Headless body plummeted.

The twins couldn't register when it happened.

Only their jaws registered the pain.

Sickening, raw pain.

Incessant.

Beaten and pummeled like pinyatas.

Over and over again.

Each punch ,

Each kick coated with agonising, sickening lightning and flames.

They could only helplessly accept their fates as they were dragged across the plane in brutal beatings .

They cursed their distant aunt.

Why did she have to get them involved?

They were geniuses, had bright futures, had they not been dragged into this mess.

If only they could go back in time to undo this mess.

Yet, it was impossible.

Weakly, they stared at their predator in what they deemed their final moments.

Those crimson eyes—calm, ominous, crazed.

A brutal maniac.

A sick psychopath who revelled in torturing his enemies.

They were doomed. No doubt.

This bastard would probably torture them to his heart's content before he kills them.

"Well, isn't this fun?"

Kailen stated, his gaze bearing on their weak, pathetic forms—bruised, mangled, broken, and battered.

"Pweeeseee... just.. kwill wuasss."

The masculine twin stated.

Kailen grinned.

"Don't worry. You will be dying. But first, I need some answers," Kailen said.

"Art of Torture. 4th skill—Truth Cage."