73: The sword is as bright as me, cutting off all the clutter!
“So, I was still a step too slow?”
Number One gazed at the long sword, which was still expanding rapidly, feeling the aura of certain death from its tip.
He truly didn't know where his master was.
What a pity.
In the end, he still couldn't help his master save his sister.
As if resigned to his fate, Number One silently enveloped himself in Hellfire, preparing for a final suicidal strike.
“Clang!”
A phantom of a golden greatsword descended from the sky, directly shielding Number One.
The tip of the Wind Severing Sword pressed against the phantom greatsword, unable to advance an inch.
“Don’t just stand there! Do what you’re supposed to do!”
Before the figure arrived, a pleasant female voice was heard, followed by an ancient greatsword flying through the air, striking directly in front of the black-armored figure.
Number One was stunned.
His carefully built up resolve for a suicidal attack was broken.
Who would want to die if they could live well!
Number One suddenly realized, scrambling out of the combat zone and continuing to move towards the center of the plaza.
As long as he kept moving forward.
The path would continue to extend under his feet.
As long as, as long as he reached that place.
In a fleeting glance, Number One saw a graceful figure with silver hair and long ears, identical to Vivian.
Mature and radiant.
This woman was damn beautiful.
Oh no, it was the feeling of a throbbing heart.
Number One’s heart unconsciously quickened.
Layla descended from the sky, and behind her were countless combat-ready Saintess Church members.
Although there were no high-level Arcane Envoys, at the Arcane Master level, the Saintess Church's combat power was already on par with the enemies before them.
“Black-armored one, your opponent is me.” Layla pulled out her greatsword and struck again with a heavy blow.
The black-armored one remained silent, disappearing from his spot in an instant, moving like the wind.
A swordsman known for his speed would never foolishly engage in a head-on clash with Layla, who was a tanky warrior.
Layla’s earlobes twitched, listening intently to the whispers of the wind.
At a certain moment, she suddenly placed her greatsword behind her back.
“Clang!”
The Wind Severing Sword struck the blade of the greatsword, and the powerful recoil forced the black-armored figure back several steps.
His eyes beneath the armor showed a shocked expression.
Layla’s face was as calm as water: “A mature warrior will never be backstabbed a second time.”
As an Elf, Layla had the blessing of elemental affinity, allowing her to reach the Arcane Envoy level without pledging allegiance to the demonic race.
This was also one of the reasons Statham decided to carry out a genocide against the Elves.
In an instant, Layla had already engaged in several rounds of combat with the S-rank black-armored one.
The black-armored one grew more and more alarmed as he fought.
For some reason, he vaguely had the illusion that all his moves had been seen through.
It was as if he was fighting against an old enemy who had already battled him to the death multiple times.
Where will I see you, is it perhaps fated from a past life?
Layla could not only see through the black-armored one's attacks but could even go further, strangely and cunningly discerning all of his weaknesses, not missing any opportunity to attack.
Although the high-agility swordsman, the black-armored one, should have moved like the wind against the greatsword-wielding Layla, he was currently suppressed everywhere, already covered in wounds, and at a disadvantage.
Behind Layla, countless Saintess Church followers had already set up defensive Arcane formations for the common people, guiding them to evacuate in an orderly manner.
The colorful and dangerous Arcane fluctuations echoed incessantly throughout Reed Plaza.
Otto’s face was as calm as water, taking in every scene below.
The traitor Layla, who was entangled with the black-armored one.
The Arcane Masters clashing with the Arcane Association.
And Meng Yun’s helper, who thought he was sneaking into the plaza unnoticed.
Otto could have attacked.
But to guard against Meng Yun, who could appear at any time, he had to personally oversee the high platform and could not afford the slightest mistake.
The person who made him and Statham feel a sense of crisis was someone he needed to be extremely careful with.
“Hellfire Squad, attack.” Otto calmly gave the order.
Number One was now extremely close to Vivian. He could even feel the temperature of the flames surging from her.
It was Hellfire, originating from the same source as his.
However, for some reason, the quality was clearly much different.
Number One had a vague feeling that if he could devour these flames, perhaps his strength could advance further.
Of course, it would be very painful.
“Rustle…”
Suddenly, countless Hellfire ignited abruptly beneath Number One’s feet.
Number One was slightly startled:
Hmm? Who is casting the tickling Arcane spell?
No, the question should be, is there really such an Arcane spell?
It's probably something those bored guys who frequent the Old Bird's Bar and are obsessed with courtesans and dancers researched, right?
But he wasn't the type to preen!
Low damage, extremely insulting.
Number One felt a slight anger in his heart.
Sensing the direction from which the attack came, he summoned flames from his body, devouring the attacks beneath his feet while also sweeping them towards that trash.
Whoosh—!
The true Hellfire displayed its glory.
Clusters of blue-black flames, like the most beautiful and despairing blue lotuses in the world.
Stirring the most desperate and painful emotions deep within people's hearts, burning their bodies, minds, and souls.
“Ah—!!”
“What is this?!”
“How is it even more… than mine…”
“Lord Otto, save…”
Otto’s face finally became serious. He hadn't expected that a true Fallen Arcanist had infiltrated this place!
How did he do it?
Neither exposing chaotic aura nor having his reason devoured by desire?
How the hell could this be a Fallen Arcanist?
But the flames currently being cast were clearly the genuine article, only possessed by a Fallen Arcanist!
Powerful Arcane fluctuations swept across the entire area, and except for a small number of unlucky individuals, most of the other Arcane Masters had the flames on them dispelled by Otto and were rescued.
The Hellfire of a mere Arcanist was still powerless against an Arcane Envoy’s attack.
Feeling the attacks converging on him, Number One’s gaze sharpened, instantly retracting the flames he had sent out, along with the flames generated by those people.
The burning pain instantly engulfed him.
At the same time, Otto’s Thunder Dragon Arcane spell also struck suddenly.
Boom!!!
A powerful explosion echoed. Smoke and dust filled half the plaza.
Otto’s expression remained unchanged as he withdrew his gaze.
No matter who he was, a Level Seven Thunder Dragon was enough to kill him instantly.
The reason he didn't use a Level Eight Arcane spell was, firstly, there was no need, and secondly, he needed to conserve his strength to face Meng Yun.
“Bah, despicable Fallen Arcanist!”
“With Lord Otto’s intervention, he’s definitely dead beyond dead now!”
“That… according to the ‘no damage with smoke’ law…”
“Law my ass, you’re looking down on Lord Otto!”
“Ah? I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare!”
Amidst the discussions of the many Arcane Masters who had survived the ordeal, the smoke and dust dispersed.
A figure, covered in cracks, with countless blue-black flames and silver lightning swirling within the wounds, still stood tall and proud.
Was he… dead?
There was no sound, no breath, and naturally, no movement.
He just stood there, straight and still, like a statue.
Even Layla, who was outside the arena, after swatting away the black-armored one with a sword, cast a slightly worried gaze over.
This person, sigh.
What a pity.
A hint of faint anger unconsciously surged within her, Layla gripped her greatsword tightly, her fighting spirit soaring.
“Sword light like me, sever all impurities!”
Despite being a greatsword, it instantly transformed into myriad forms, imbued with thunder and storm, each strike slashing towards the black-armored one.
“Crack.”
In the world, a faint sound of something cracking echoed.
The black-armored one was filled with shock and horror, instinctively looking at his armor.
?
Huh? He’s fine?
Then… who cracked?
Suddenly, an aura shot straight into the sky.
That was… the center of the plaza?!
Countless gazes immediately turned to look.
They saw a layer of scorched skin peeling off Number One’s body like tree bark, revealing his newly regenerated bronze-colored skin.
Strong and powerful.
And his aura, at this moment, surged, instantly reaching the mid-stage Arcane Master level!
A hint of astonishment finally appeared on Otto’s usually placid face.