Immediately, the seven circular stars behind him formed a complete circle. Each star then shone brightly, launching massive energy spheres directly at the middle-aged man standing below on the asphalt.
The energy spheres released by the seven stars weren't just one; they continuously fired energy balls without stopping. Like a machine gun spewing hundreds of bullets in a minute, the seven stars unleashed hundreds of energy balls every second.
Even the captain of the soldiers behind William couldn't contain his surprise. They all widened their eyes, full of awe. With such powerful energy, they were curious about the middle-aged man who was the target of the attack.
From a distance, nothing could be seen except the constant explosions raining down on the exact spot where the middle-aged man had been standing.
After a few seconds, William ceased his assault. "Tch... annoying," he muttered, his face scowling.
"Don't let him reach the city's core!"
"Restrict his movements as much as possible!"
William issued a series of commands to the soldiers behind him. Immediately, he dived forward, his golden sword aimed ahead, descending from the sky directly toward the middle-aged man's location, which was now shrouded in smoke.
The smoke dissipated in an instant, revealing a middle-aged man in a gray robe standing with a wide grin on his face. His hand held a mirror, which he promptly tucked into his robe, preparing to face William, who was approaching him.
"Relying on artificial and baseless techniques like that, you think you can kill me? Don't dream, foolish human."
The middle-aged man taunted with a mocking tone, while making strange but structured movements. His hands seemed to be pulling something from thin air, sweeping to the right and left before pushing forward with his palms, as if shaping an invisible force in front of him.
"Damn... this technique again. Crazy cultivator!"
William, who was darting through the air with his golden sword, suddenly felt a tremendous force pulling his body. He couldn't resist the pull, as if he were being forced to follow the movements of the middle-aged man's hands below him.
Helpless, William's body was dragged like a puppet pulled by two invisible strings, moving directly towards the middle-aged man.
Suddenly, a wall of earth rose from the ground. The asphalt beneath them churned, as if something was moving beneath it. The movement eventually stopped far enough from its original location, and a soldier appeared, his body now resembling that of a mole.
"Nice work... now it's my turn," said another soldier in a firm voice. He threw his staff forward, and from the ground, a massive root with a 10 cm diameter emerged right under the cultivator's feet. The root moved deftly, wrapping tightly around the cultivator's legs, as if it had a life of its own.
The other soldiers activated their abilities, trying to disrupt the cultivator's attacks and assist William.
"Pathetic ants," muttered the middle-aged man with a look of disdain. He was forced to release his control over William's body and broke free from the weak soldiers' interference.
William, now freed from the grip of the middle-aged man's power, shot forward like lightning. His golden sword gleamed, emitting an aura that sliced through the air, ready to strike down his opponent. Without hesitation, William unleashed a series of sharp slashes, forcing the cultivator to engage in close combat.
"So, you want to come closer? Fine, let's see how tough you really are."
The middle-aged man sneered as he waved his hand, creating waves of energy that merged with the surrounding air. His extraordinary reflexes and body control allowed him to dodge each of William's slashes with surprising precision. His movements resembled a graceful yet deadly dance, evading the golden sword's strikes with light steps, only to retaliate with magical punches that hit back with force.
"How is this man's magic stronger than my golden sword?" William wondered in disbelief. He began to feel overwhelmed by the middle-aged man standing before him.
If he used pure magic attacks with his stars, they would all be absorbed by the middle-aged man's mirror. William suspected that the mirror was a highly powerful artifact.
"Why are you hesitating? Have you already realized your limit? Hahaha."
The cultivator's laughter rang in William's ears, breaking his concentration as he continued to swing aimlessly. He moved with unpredictable speed. His right hand glowed with thick blue-white energy, making the air around him tremble. Without warning, he delivered a powerful punch directly to William's chest.
The air around them seemed to explode as the punch hit William square in the chest. William couldn't evade in time, and an intense wave of pain surged through his body. The world around him spun rapidly, and his body was hurled through the air like a doll thrown by an immense force.
William was flung back 50 meters, crashing into the ground and rolling violently. The sound of cracking bones echoed in his ears.
His ribs had fractured. His breath caught in his throat, and fresh blood gushed from his mouth with force.
"Ughh...!" William groaned in agony, his body trembling violently from the impact of the attack. Blood continued to flow from his lips, staining the ground beneath him. Excruciating pain shot through every part of his body, nearly driving him into unconsciousness.
The cold laughter of the middle-aged man echoed faintly in William's ears. "You're so weak... Even with your golden sword, you're nothing more than an ordinary human."
William's body remained suspended a few meters in the air, unable to control its movement, until finally, a captain leaped and caught him before he could fall further. "President! Are you alright?" the captain asked with a panicked tone.
The captain felt a sense of dread. If William, their leader, were to fall, their fate would hang by a thread.
William coughed hard, fresh blood spilling from his mouth once again. "D-Damn it... What did... you do to me?" His voice was raspy and weak, barely able to speak properly.
With what little strength he had left, William propped himself up on the ground, trying to stand even though his body was wracked with pain. His broken ribs felt like sharp knives stabbing into him every time he took a breath.