Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Inside a dark forest that seemed far away from Death Valley but in fact was very close to it in a straight line.
Lucien and Natasha observed the sky that was blocked by clouds through the leaves. There were neither stars nor the silver moon tonight. One could barely see one's own fingers. The deepest fear and panic were brewing.
“Our zone of activity has been minimized. It seems that we need to return to Death Valley.” Leaning against a tree, Natasha sighed at the horizon with Lucien next to her. “It's almost dawn. Aunt Camil should've arrived at the Metarin oasis. It's a pity that we have to wait another day before reinforcements arrive. I wonder if we will ever see the sunrise again?”
The two of them were caught by Congus approximately one day later. Then, they killed him and forced him to spend more than one and a half days to rebuild his body and return to the main material world. After that, they had hidden themselves around Death Valley for more than half a day. Therefore, it had been more than three days since they left Camil. Even taking the time of her recovery into consideration, she should've already arrived at the Metarin oasis.
“We will certainly see the sunrise together.” No frustration could be found on Lucien's face. The more dangerous there was, the more determined he would be. His face was beaming with a hopeful, gentle smile.
Natasha was the same kind of person. She soon grasped her longsword, as resolute and confident as ever.
She looked at Lucien's left hand with a smile. “After the morning outbreak, the remains of the mysterious existence of the World of Souls must've been controlled by the silver moon. The frequency of loss of control is getting lower and lower. Perhaps, it will be one day later next time. If we can get away from DemiG.o.d-lich this time, he will not necessarily be able to find us again, even if we do nothing but hide.
At dawn, the remains of the mysterious existence of the World of Souls had the greatest rampage so far. Not only was Lucien frozen, but even Natasha, who was next to him, was also affected. She felt that two years had pa.s.sed. Thankfully, it was only two minutes in reality, and no other accidents happened. Ever since then, the gap between loss of control was longer and longer, and the last loss of control was in the morning, which exposed their location and allowed Congus to reduce their range of activities.
“Alterna said that the most ferocious phase of a counterattack has pa.s.sed. Next, it's time to digest the cake. However, isn't the mysterious existence of the World of Souls slightly weak? Even though he hasn't restored his consciousness, he is still rather vulnerable since he is absorbed by an existence of the same level in only seven days.” Lucien expressed his confusion.
Natasha sniffed, “Is that so? If he persists for a few more days, we would be sent to the World of Souls by Congus as specters. Alterna definitely knows more about demiG.o.d stuff than you do. If she says that it's fine, there shouldn't be a problem.”
Lucien was about to reply, when the last light in the forest went out. It sank into the purest darkness.
“Stop hiding. Come on out obediently, and I'll grant you peace after your death.” Congus's voice that sounded like the frigid wind in h.e.l.l came from the other side of the dark forest. “How much longer do you think you can hide?”
“He is less than a thousand meters from us.” Lucien and Natasha looked at each other. They left the tree quietly and returned to Death Valley according to the planned route. They detoured on their way back in order to avoid the whole mountain of spectral slaves.
The scene around them was a vivid demonstration of 'scourge of the dead'.
Congus sneered, “I know that you are hoping that 'Blue Tide' has already arrived at the Metarin oasis and informed the old pervert Storm and Hathaway to rescue you. However, do you think I'm such an idiotic and imprudent person?”
Natasha came to an abrupt halt, her face pale. Aunt Camil?
“It's alright. If Aunt Camil were killed or captured by him, he would've shown it to us to sway us.” Lucien patted Natasha's shoulder and comforted her gently.
Natasha soon realized it and regained her resolution. She nodded at Lucien and sped up.
Congus' voice got closer and closer. “While I was in too much of a hurry to catch you two rats to deal with 'Blue Tide', I changed the contact in the Metarin oasis into my loyal subordinate. Rehau has always been a secret student of mine. Do you think your cry for help can be delivered to the other side of the ocean?”
Lucien's face slightly changed. It had been more than two months since Congus started to monitor him. He must've made arrangements regarding everything. However, while he lost that hope, he was still far away from desperation. Just like what Natasha said just now, if they could get rid of him this time, the remains of the mysterious existence would not run out of control easily, and they would be safe again. By the time Alterna recovered, the roles of the hunter and the hunted would be swapped.
Natasha took a breath in relief. She said to Lucien in the telepathic bond with a smile, “He indeed failed to capture Aunt Camil. Since Grandma Hathaway and the Lord of Storm asked me in private to search for you in the areas under the control of the church, they must've sent secret contacts specifically.”
That's good. Lucien put on a smile, too.
Having no doubt that the two of them were around, Congus intimidated them with words and suddenly turned into grey smoke that was filled with countless weird bugs.
The bugs were of the same color as the smoke, but their heads were twisted human faces, which were so illusory that they seemed to be made of souls. Humming, they spread out of the grey mist and soon covered the area. In less than twenty seconds, they finished the search in the area. Then, the smoke floated forward and covered a new area.
Seeing that, Lucien and Natasha accelerated again. They pa.s.sed through a secret cave and returned to the entrance of Death Valley. Leaving blurred shadows behind, they rushed into the valley.
“Hum! Hum! Hum!” The upsetting noises of bugs suddenly echoed.
“c.r.a.p!” Lucien secretly exclaimed. He hurried to hold Natasha next to him with his left hand. Then, both of them blinked and disappeared.
The legendary sorcerer had too many uncanny methods. He had discovered the two of them in advance!
A green ray shot where the two of them were previously at only one second late. The stones, the mud and the plants all turned into green spots of light, and a gigantic pit that was enough to bury dozens of people appeared.
Congus cackled. “Got you two rats! Let's see how you get away this time!”
His voice was br.i.m.m.i.n.g with intense hatred. It was the greatest humiliation that a DemiG.o.d-lich could be killed once by two 'kiddos' who hadn't even reached the ninth circle!
Teleporting into Death Valley, Lucien and Natasha went at full speed and swooshed past the deep darkness, arriving at the area that they had prepared in advance.
“A divine domain?” Congus floated above Death Valley instead of acting recklessly this time. “You want to team up with a fake G.o.d to deal with me, and to weaken and restrain me with the enhancement of the divine domain and the magic circles you set up in advance?”
“Hehe. Let me show you what a sorcerer should be like!”
Congus raised his hands, and seven minor meteorites fell from the sky surrounded by fire. Illuminating the dark night, they smashed into Death Valley.
“d.a.m.n it! A ma.s.sive attack!” While Lucien was braced for it, he was still shocked by Congus' cautiousness and decisiveness this time and cursed. In the telepathic bond, Natasha exclaimed in ways not expected of a 'lady', too.
“Hide!” Lucien and Natasha rushed to the place they prepared, while they asked Ell and the fake angels under their control to dodge.
The meteorites almost hit Death Valley at the same time. Under the stimulation, divine defenses immediately showed up, but they were soon shattered by the Meteor Swarm. After the attack, the defense of the divine domain was already ragged.
However, Congus did not stop. He raised his hands again, and another seven meteorites fell simultaneously.
Time seemed to have slightly halted. After a boom, a minor mushroom cloud rose from the valley. The overwhelming smoke deprived the area within several hundred kilometers of their original colors.
Inside the divine domain, the city decorated in agates and jade was half-collapsed by the blast. The parts that were directly hit were even razed to the ground. The vines that had blocked the sky in the past were broken and burnt. The pure souls and angels were blown away by the wild wind, not to be seen again. The holy halo was eclipsed by the rampant dust. The magic circles deployed in advance were riddled with holes, and dilapidated walls were the only things that could be seen.
It was not until five consecutive 'Meteor Swarms' that DemiG.o.d-lich Congus descended and searched for Lucien and Natasha.
Below the ground of the divine domain, Lucien and Natasha hid inside a 'fortress' while they listened to the incessant collisions outside.
“Thankfully, you prepared this bomb shelter in advance.” Sensing the violent quakes and the dust that was sprinkling from the ceiling, Natasha raised her thumb at Lucien.
Lucien smiled and said wisely, “It is common sense to be prepared for air raids. It's good that they are just small meteorites.”
“But the magic traps you set up have been rendered useless.” Natasha looked rather solemn.
Lucien nodded his head. “Most of them, yes. However, a tiny proportion of them are rooted in the divine domain, which will not be completely destroyed as long as Ell is not dead. I hope that some of them are still functional.”
The explosions outside stopped. Lucien hurried to reach out to Ell and confirm their location for the upcoming counterattack.
Congus landed inside Death Valley. Looking at the messy ruins, he searched for Lucien and Natasha through magic methods. In the meantime, since the holy halo was not entirely gone, he was aware that the master of the divine domain hadn't perished yet, and therefore was even more vigilant.
The 'mosquitoes of souls' flew out of him and spread out. Suddenly, a shadow rushed out of a collapsed building, with a common longsword in her hands.
Reflecting the fire and the holy halo nearby, the longsword carried the air of divinity, and the shadow seemed to have been melded with the longsword. Surrounded by two illusionary gaps, she slashed at Congus.
Congus did not use legendary magic that required the cooperation of short spells, in case the master of the divine domain attacked him with his ring when he cast the spells. He raised his hands, and all of the colors around Natasha faded away, replaced by the greyness of the void. Natasha's movement was halted under 'Time Stop', her longsword frozen in midair.
When Congus was about to extract Natasha's soul, another person rose from behind his back. He had the Sun Staff in his right hand, preparing to 'lock' Natasha in the maze when necessary, and his left hand was emitting silver brilliance as it was raised high at the enemy.
“You are going to cheat again?” Ignoring the air of the silver moon on Lucien's left hand, and not bothering with Natasha who was in the zone of 'Time Stop', Congus summoned a void-like black ball in front of his skull. Unleas.h.i.+ng the greatest horror, it was about to be shot at Lucien.
It was...o...b..of Ultimate Destruction, a ninth-circle magic!
“He is not using any legendary magic. He is truly wary of Ell.” Delighted, Lucien instructed Ell to attack.
However, there was no response to his command.
