Chapter 349: Severed Neck

“Lady Aleias? Why have you returned alone? Where is Lord Karim? Where are the others?”

A Hero shouted from within the light barrier of the “City of Protection.”

“The Earth Giant Bear mutated into a Mud Giant Bear! Its strength has increased drastically. Lord Karim is tied up fighting it and urgently needs the help of the City of Protection!”

Aleias shouted back loudly.

The Heroes inside the Quasi-Noble Phantasm “City of Protection” were vigilant. They first admitted Aleias into the outer city. Only after multiple perception checks confirmed her identity did they let her into the inner city.

Aleias placed her hand onto the shield that served as the hub of the City of Protection. Karim’s blood swirled in her palm, slowly merging into the shield.

The Punishers in the camp breathed a sigh of relief. Since it was Aleias herself, and she had the blood of the Great Hero Karim as proof, there was no issue with her taking the “City of Protection.”

After Aleias took the Quasi-Noble Phantasm, she quickly vanished into the western part of the Larr Mountains. The dream mist had already quietly enveloped the area, causing most of the Punishers to fall into a deep sleep instantly.

A few Punishers possessing special Wondrous Items woke up quickly, but they were immediately crushed by a giant elemental pulverize disc descending from the sky. Ambrio, who had transformed into a shadow crow, watched all this in astonishment. It was completely beyond his expectations.

“Hmm, there seems to be a straggler. Let’s grab her and ask about the situation.”

Ambrio reverted to his human form. Tilting his head and croaking like a bird, he stretched his long neck toward Aleias.

Aleias didn’t hesitate. She immediately activated the City of Protection, enveloping herself in a barrier of light.

Ace had basically wiped out the Punishers. Seeing the “City of Protection” rise in the distance, a faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

“It seems a wild rat has exposed itself!”

Seeing his attack fail, Ambrio was about to flee when the magic power near his neck became extremely unstable. A portal of light appeared, followed by the Four-Element Pulverize Disc, which sliced directly through his neck.

Ace stepped out of the light portal with a leisurely gait. The rune structures in his eyes shone dazzlingly. In an instant, he saw through Ambrio’s true nature. He spoke in a cold, indifferent voice:

“The stench of a believer of Pain. So it was you rats pulling dirty tricks in the shadows.”

Ambrio lost all his madness and elegance. He couldn’t imagine how Ace had appeared. Such space-related abilities were generally possessed only by Legends or even Demigods.

For a moment, only one thought filled Ambrio’s mind: Run. Run at all costs.

As a weaver of conspiracies and a believer in the devil, Ambrio had never been this pathetic. At any other time, he maintained his elegance, pain, and madness, quietly manipulating forces far stronger than himself to fight one another.

Although his head and body were separated, Ambrio didn’t die. To be precise, as long as the Fire of Pain burned, he would not perish.

His soul had long been sold to the devil, leaving behind only the Fire of Pain and endless obsession. In a trance, he seemed to recall the time when he was still human.

Back then, he was a young judge—fair, just, and upright. He had dedicated his efforts to the stability of the city-state, and his family had always been proud of him.

When did it start? When did I change?

Ambrio’s memory was chaotic. He couldn’t recall what happened later. Reality allowed him no more time to think; he had to escape immediately.

Ace took another step. A Portal opened right in front of the flying head. His hand was ablaze with fire—it was the Glazed Heart Fire, the power to burn all things!

In a single encounter, the Glazed Heart Fire easily burned the head to ash. All emotions and desires were the best fuel for the Heart Fire.

“Huh?”

Ace made a sound of confusion. Under the observation of the Eye of Truth (Pseudo), the Pain believer’s Fire of Pain was clearly in the head, but it had suddenly vanished.

Just then, Ambrio’s headless body burned violently. Hundreds, even thousands, of Pain flames flew in all directions like brilliant fireworks.

Ace couldn’t react in time. Although the Six-Element Ring swept across instantly, a few flames still managed to escape.

“Excellent escape technique. It seems next time I’ll have to manifest the dream world first. No time to chase him now; let this rat live a little longer. I’ve already memorized his aura.”

Ace sneered. He believed this believer of Pain, who possessed the strength of a Level 2 Life form, was likely the mastermind behind this conspiracy. He hadn’t expected to encounter him like this.

Because the pressure from Alex in the south needed to be resolved urgently, Ace had Aleias deactivate the “City of Protection” and enter his Mental Imagery World with the Quasi-Noble Phantasm.

As soon as the Quasi-Noble Phantasm “City of Protection,” possessing Level 3 Mystery, entered Ace’s Mental Imagery World, it caused disturbances within the world. Ace suppressed these disturbances. While using the Portal spell to move rapidly, he began burning the “City of Protection” with his Glazed Heart Fire.

Burning a Level 3 Quasi-Noble Phantasm with Level 2 Heart Fire was a tedious task. However, Ace’s goal wasn’t to destroy this precious item, but to dissolve Karim’s imprint on it and brand it with his own.

With Aleias’s guidance and the corrosive nature of the Heart Fire, the work progressed extremely fast.

…

While Ace was rushing to Mt. Baal with all his might, Ancestar had been driven to a dead end.

Arno was completely paralyzed by the conflicting levels of Heart Power and Holy Light, losing all combat ability. Xavier carried Arno on his back, fleeing in a wretched state.

The others had scattered as well. Ancestar did his best to tangle with Alex, but his decline was evident. After all, he wasn’t a true Grand Knight; he was merely relying on the Holy Light’s suppression of evil and strength approaching that of a Grand Knight to delay the inevitable.

At first, Alex was intimidated by the restraining power of the Holy Light and acted cautiously. But as the battle dragged on, he gradually understood Ancestar’s true strength.

“Lowly bug. I don’t know where you stole this power targeting the Abyss, but the battle is over. Feel despair.”

Gasping for breath, Ancestar watched the pitch-black halberd descending from the sky. His exhausted body and mount no longer had the strength to dodge. Perhaps this is my end. Having a group to fight for, having a band of comrades… it wasn’t bad.

It’s just a pity I couldn’t see Lord Ace one last time. I wonder if everyone in the High Tower has evacuated? And Arno, Donna, and the others… it seems I can no longer protect them.

“Charge! Compassion Holy Light! This enemy is worth fighting!”

With a final burst of Holy Light, Ancestar launched a desperate charge. For dignity! For the honor of a Knight!

In a trance, he seemed to see that group of charging horsemen again. I’ll be seeing them soon. What should I say?

Ancestar thought.

Suddenly, a blood-red light arrived first, intercepting the unstoppable pitch-black halberd before Ancestar could reach it.

Clang!!

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