74: Fire the cannon and blast his mother

“It’s not enough.”

“Fire, I need more fire…”

Number One assessed his own strength, secretly comparing it to Otto’sBrontosaurus (Thunder Dragon) attack.

It wasn't enough, far from it.

With Hellfire, he could at most manage a fifty-fifty split.

To successfully defeat Otto and take Vivian away, this level of strength was insufficient.

Number One looked towards Vivian.

The flames surging from her body were hundreds, even thousands of times more intense than anyone else's.

If he could successfully devour them, perhaps he could directly step into the rank of Arcane Envoy, though it was uncertain.

But it was clear that these flames were not so easily devoured, and Otto wouldn't give him the chance.

“Thunder Dragon Dance!”

An eighth-level Arcane spell, unleashed through the Arcane Staff, instantly blasted towards Number One.

The colossal Thunder Dragon was perfectly rendered, its silver body seemingly piercing through space, arriving before Number One in the next second.

“This guy is dead!”

“Lord Otto is invincible!”

“You said that just now too…”

“Shut your mouth!”

Number One’s gaze was resolute; since there was no dodging, he could only face it head-on!

“Fire!”

He roared, and blue-black flames bloomed into a lotus, enveloping him layer upon layer.

Boom!!!

The Thunder Dragon fiercely struck the lotus flames, and the two engaged in continuous collision and attrition.

The shockwave spread out, forcing even Arcane Masters to activate defensive Arcane Arts to block it, lest they be splashed by the aftermath and die without a place to reason why.

Even the unconscious Vivian’s body automatically triggered a defense mechanism; tiny whirlwinds circled her, deflecting all incoming attacks.

But the cost of this was that the balance within her body was instantly shattered, and countless Hellfire, like a broken dam, relentlessly rampaged, destroying her body and mind.

“Brother, big brother…”

“It’s so hot, Vivian, so hot…”

At this moment, in the deepest part of her consciousness, the desperate girl’s spirit was curled up in the last corner, gritting her teeth, fiercely resisting the Hellfire.

Her Arcane abilities, suppressed by Otto to less than one-tenth, left Vivian only able to retreat further and further against the surging blue-black sea of fire.

If this last sanctuary were to completely fall, her will would have nowhere to reside.

Perhaps she herself would directly turn to ash, or perhaps she would become a lowly, unconscious monster, a slave.

If, at that time, she no longer even recognized her own brother…

Then what meaning would such a life have?!

Vivian made up her mind: if it truly came to the last resort, she would follow Meng Yun’s example and directly become a Fallen Arcanist!

Rather than living in a daze, barely surviving.

It would be better to become a Fallen Arcanist and let her life’s last moment be brilliant!

As Vivian made this decision, in the plaza, the impact of that vast and mighty power finally ended.

“Is he dead?”

“He seems to have stopped moving again.”

“It’s better not to speak too soon…”

“Shut your mouth!!”

The lotus slowly dissipated.

Revealing a figure kneeling on one knee inside.

It was Number One.

His newly regenerated body was now once again covered in hideous cracks, like a puppet on the verge of collapse.

Hellfire gave him the strength to fight above his level.

But Otto, a peak existence, was definitely not among the Arcane Envoys he could contend with!

Just one strike rendered him unable to rise again!

Another strike would surely leave Number One without a corpse, not even dust!

Otto’s heart, which had been somewhat uplifted, finally slowly settled.

Thank goodness, thank goodness.

In this world, there weren’t so many abnormal beings yet.

Having Meng Yun as someone who made him feel a sense of crisis was already enough.

“You are very strong, but that’s all.” Otto’s indifferent words resounded, as if pronouncing Number One’s death sentence.

The staff fell again, and another Thunder Dragon emerged, piercing through him.

“I! Will! Not! Yield!”

Number One suddenly let out a roar, his arms instantly shattering inch by inch, and streaks of Hellfire surged out from within his body.

No more defense.

All or nothing.

At the same time, he quietly drew the flames from Vivian’s body, frantically converging them towards himself.

A massive fiery tornado, centered on Number One, swept towards the Thunder Dragon.

Like a collision of heaven and earth, a world-ending catastrophe.

The sky and clouds changed color, and the air became thick and viscous.

In the plaza, a severely damaged body flew backward.

No.

Could that still be called a body?

All four limbs were shattered, only his head and torso remained connected.

The only thing worth celebrating was that Meng Yun had put a lot of effort into making his second brother; even with such a massive collision, Number One wouldn’t have the chance to develop business in the Eastern Depot.

Clang.

Number One’s body fell to the ground, rolling countless times before finally stopping, emitting the sound of wood colliding with the ground.

Yes, wood.

Under such injuries, Number One’s life force was rapidly fading, gradually revealing his original form.

He was, in fact, a piece of wood.

When hungry, he absorbed nutrients; when thirsty, he absorbed water.

It was that simple, that simple.

Life, to him, was just that simple.

It was only because of Meng Yun’s refinement that he transformed into a human.

Before today, he didn’t understand why he existed.

At the brink of death, he finally vaguely understood.

He felt the joy of meeting his brothers.

He felt the stirrings of emotion upon meeting the elven swordswoman.

He felt the excitement of thwarting enemy attacks.

At the same time, he understood even more what protection and salvation meant.

In this life, he had no regrets.

“Plop.”

Laila landed in front of Number One, looking at him with an unreadable expression.

Laila casually tossed the black armored head aside, twirled her sword, and sheathed her Wind Severing Sword.

“Live, and you’ll be worthy of knowing my name.”

As an old monster who had lived for over a hundred years, Laila naturally understood the look in Number One’s eyes when he looked at her.

Youthful admiration.

Giving him hope might just keep him alive.

“Heh heh…” Number One squeezed out a smile.

His wooden face could barely express emotion.

“Is that enough?” Otto’s voice slowly came.

Meng Yun had not yet appeared, but the scenes unfolding undoubtedly challenged his patience to the limit again and again.

Even Vivian, due to losing a large amount of Hellfire, showed signs of recovery!

He decided not to hold back any longer.

Just Hellfire.

Who couldn’t use it?

He was Otto, the top expert of the Arcane Association, the noble Lord Otto!

The future world’s decision-maker, the Holy God’s incarnation on earth!

“All of you, die.”

As the indifferent words fell, a blue-black flame suddenly appeared in Otto’s hand.

Stronger than anyone present.

Although still a 'youth' version, it was even more powerful than the 'official' version Number One had previously displayed.

The moment it appeared, it completely awed the minds of everyone present.

Fear, confusion, pain, despair.

Those with wavering wills had already knelt in submission.

Those whose minds had collapsed had already begun to attack indiscriminately.

Even someone as strong as Laila, looking at Otto at this moment, felt despair welling up deep inside.

She couldn’t win.

That was a peak Arcane Envoy.

She suddenly wanted to commit suicide.

If she died, it would all be over.

“Live… live on…” Number One spoke with difficulty.

These words, reaching Laila’s ears, awakened a sliver of her reason.

Laila looked down in surprise, meeting Number One’s resolute gaze.

In a brief instant, she had been saved by him in return.

“Go.” Otto’s voice sounded.

A single flame divided into thousands, spreading indiscriminately towards the feet of the hostile personnel.

“It’s over.”

“Ruyi, do you see that big bearded man?”

“Sigh, the tide has turned…”

“Blast him to hell.”

“Damn it, I’m not reconciled…”

“Fire!”

Despair spread through everyone’s hearts.

Just then, a strikingly vibrant crimson fireball flashed directly from the sky, piercing through space and slamming straight into Otto’s chest.

Otto felt a warmth in his heart.