Chapter 355: Gentle Wind
The Pyroblast fireball plummeted powerlessly to the ground and exploded instantly. A mushroom cloud rose into the sky. The violent shockwave flattened everything in its path, engulfing Ollie and Arno within its range.
A flush rose on Ollie’s pretty face. Her magic power, agile as the wind, plucked the strings of runes. Runes appeared on her body one by one. Instantly, she transformed into a swaying breeze, wrapping around Arno and riding the shockwave to fly toward Mt. Baal.
Alex was grazed by the Pyroblast. Although not at the center, the violent shockwave and intense scorching heat left him battered and disheveled. He helplessly moved away from the explosion’s center, circled around, transformed into a shadow, and chased after Ollie and Arno.
Meanwhile, Ace was getting closer to Mt. Baal. Having consumed a massive amount of mana, he couldn’t help but stop.
“I must meditate to draw mana; otherwise, I’ll lose all combat ability by the time I reach Mt. Baal!”
Ace sat down on the spot. His Mental Imagery World manifested, partially overlaying reality. The layered mountain ranges vanished bit by bit, replaced by a boundless illusory night sky. Starlight shone brilliantly, resembling a fantasy world.
The Mental Imagery World manifested projections of stars, forming a sensory resonance with the stars filling the sky. For a moment, the galaxy dazzled, and magic power pulsed rhythmically. Star mana mist condensed into water droplets within Ace’s Mental Imagery World, falling onto the Glazed Heart Fire. Calcined by the Heart Fire to remove impurities, they turned into rich star mana, surging into Ace’s Mental Imagery World to replenish his depleted reserves.
The gathering effect of the mana caused changes throughout the southern Larr Mountains. Observing Mt. Baal from a distance, the Witch and Sauron looked at each other in surprise.
A voice like silver bells rang out. “This power, this density of gathering… it’s already at the peak state of a Great Hero, isn’t it? Even Alex, if not within his Abyssal Projection, would likely only be able to fight him to a draw.”
Sauron spoke in a buzzing voice, “Lady Witch, I think things didn’t go well for Ambrio. This power comes from the north. It’s clearly not a known Divine Descendant. It’s very likely the ruler of the High Tower faction, our old friend, Ace!”
The Witch chuckled lightly. “It seems the High Tower’s power exceeds expectations. Ambrio probably suffered a big loss. Let’s not be in a hurry to contact them. Let’s see if they can defeat Alex first, then decide.”
Sauron nodded slightly. The Witch represented the Archduke of Lust from Hell, an existence comparable to an ordinary Main God. Within Hell, the Archduke of Lust possessed the strength of a Pseudo-Rank Titan Main God. This was the foundation of their fearlessness.
Ace didn’t detect the pair because the Witch possessed a concealment Wondrous Item with extremely high Mystery. As long as she didn’t attack actively or get too close, Ace had no way of discovering her.
Ace continued to absorb the mana shed by the stars like a whale swallowing waves, refining it with Heart Fire. The water level of the mana lake in his Mental Imagery World rose bit by bit.
Xavier and the others, riding the remaining winged horses, were flying through the sky when they suddenly saw a starry sky ahead. They reined in their horses in astonishment.
“Xavier, this mana reaction and grand scene… could it be Lord Ace?” an Advanced Knight Squire asked Xavier.
“It’s possible. Let’s circle around and observe first. We can’t be sure yet!” Xavier said cautiously.
Just then, Ace’s voice rang in their ears.
“Knight Squires of the High Tower, I am Ace. Welcome to my kingdom. My servant will guide you to rest here. You can pass your intelligence to her.”
A resplendent golden door suddenly emerged in the brilliant starry sky. A golden floating carpet paved the way straight to the group’s horse hooves. Aleias walked out gracefully.
Their Grimoires also emitted a signal, confirming Ace’s identity.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and followed Aleias into the manifestation of Ace’s Mental Imagery World.
At Mt. Baal, Ancestar’s aura was rising continuously. Azure Holy Light swirled around his body, and the heart reconstructed for him by Donna beat loudly. Thump! Thump! Thump!
Ancestar suddenly felt a pang of pain in his heart. This newborn heart wasn’t strong enough yet; it seemed difficult for it to bear the power he had just comprehended.
Boom!
A mushroom cloud rose in the distance. The daylight-like brightness made Ancestar even more anxious. Supporting himself on the ground with his longsword, he stood up slowly.
His heart surged. Accompanied by bursts of sudden pain, Ancestar clutched his chest, his gaze firm.
“I’m afraid it’s time to charge. I can’t be a deserter this time! Holy Light!”
Boom!
Azure light erupted, then suddenly contracted. Thread-like azure beams constructed a super-complex 3D rune. This wasn’t a rune structure, but an independent rune.
Level 2 Virtue Rune: Compassion!
Azure power surged. Magic power followed Ancestar’s will rhythmically, forming an azure wild goose rippling with water-like patterns.
The light wild goose flapped its wings and flew into the sky. After wobbling to adapt to its special state, it flew toward the direction of the mushroom cloud.
Ollie, wrapped in wind, fled urgently with Arno. The shadow followed closely behind, getting faster and faster.
Ollie, having embodied the wind, felt that terrifying oppression—the pressure of a life level two tiers higher. One touch would end everything completely!
“There’s no time to hesitate, Brother Arno.”
A trace of decisiveness flowed from the bottom of Ollie’s heart. She recalled her time with Arno at the Northern March Fortress.
The boy who told her not to be afraid in the dead of night; the silly boy who took beatings every day in exchange for food, using his strength to ensure everyone could eat; the boy who always saved the best food for her; the boy who told her he would protect her forever.
Perhaps I can’t continue on with Brother Arno anymore, Ollie thought with a touch of sadness.
Wind-elementalized Ollie gently stroked Arno’s cheek. Arno felt as if a warm spring breeze had brushed past, feeling a bit ticklish.
“We can’t both escape. Ollie, put me down. I’ll hold off the Abyssal Lord Alex. You hurry and escape. Tell Lord Ace not to approach the Abyssal Projection range lightly!”
Dragging his exhausted body, Arno forcibly erupted the remaining Holy Light within him. His body flashed with orange light, looking like a deity.
Ollie nodded with a slight smile, then shook her head. The wind wrapped around Arno, encasing him in an egg shape. The wind element was like a melody flowing on strings, playing a song of parting.
“Brother Arno, Ollie has been protected by you too many times. Let me protect you this time. I like you, Brother Arno!”
The wind turned violent. Ollie, in a semi-elementalized state, gave Arno a warm hug, then pushed him away forcefully. Wrapped in egg-shaped magic power, Arno struggled to burst out his Courage Holy Light, but in his urgency, he couldn’t defy Ollie’s magic. He was pushed by the gale like a cannonball toward Mt. Baal.
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