Three-thousand-fold multiplier—【Demonized · Vine King’s Great Arrow】!!!
That was a spell Zhang Ye had parsed from the Demonized Green Vine Snake King. It boasted the power of Tier Ten, yet consumed only as much mana as a Tier Seven spell.
Even so, after the immense drain of ultra-high-speed flight and long-distance Blinks, Zhang Ye’s internal mana reserves were nearly depleted.
Thus, he directly activated 【Devour】, frantically consuming magic cores and Spirit Materials from his spatial ring. Converting them into pure, refined mana to replenish himself, he was barely able to support casting 【Demonized · Vine King’s Great Arrow】 at a three-thousand-fold multiplier.
As for why he didn't use 【Devour】 directly to neutralize the golden light sword...
Quite simply, Zhang Ye couldn't stomach it.
If he devoured an attack like that, he would burst from the sheer overload!
He lacked Gujiu's massive capacity, and eating recklessly would literally kill him.
Demonic aura surged out from the three-thousand-fold amplified black arrow. Unnoticed by Zhang Ye, the whites of his eyes flickered with a demonic black glow, giving him an eerie appearance, though the dark light vanished in an instant.
And at that moment, the massive black arrow collided with the golden light sword.
Zhang Ye was far too close to the point of impact.
The terrifying explosion engulfed him in an instant.
Right then, his 【Parallel Guardian】 automatically triggered to shield its master. Leona had previously placed three layers of protective wards on it; one of these defensive spells flared to life as a red lotus wrapped around Zhang Ye, withstanding the horrifying blast.
Even so, Zhang Ye was still blasted backward by the force, slamming into the snowy mountain beside Hainowei.
Fortunately, he was completely uninjured.
The defensive spells on the Parallel Guardian were extraordinarily powerful; otherwise, Zhang Ye would have undoubtedly been vaporized in an explosion of that scale.
That was a Saint-tier level detonation!
“BOOM!!!”
A violent explosion erupted midair, its shockwave sweeping across all directions. The ice and snow on the mountain below compressed downward by several meters, while clouds scattered across the sky.
The golden-armored knight was equally shocked. Hastily raising his defenses, he was knocked back several hundred meters by the blast.
Once the light faded, he looked with a terrified expression at Zhang Ye, who was currently crawling out of a crater.
“Demonic aura?! Are you a Dark Demon Cultist?!”
“No... that's not right. Your body doesn't carry the aura of this world. Are you a Demon?!”
Having just scrambled out of the crater in a wretched state, Zhang Ye instantly blew his top upon hearing this. Shielding Hainowei behind him, he flipped the middle finger at the golden-armored knight and let loose a torrent of profanity.
“b(▼皿▼ꐦ) You're a Demon! Your whole damn family is Demons!”
“You freakin' bastard! Bullying Hainowei while I wasn't around, huh? Just wait till I grow stronger—I'll rip your head off and kick it like a soccer ball!”
Hearing this, veins bulged furiously on the golden-armored knight's forehead.
Only now did he notice that Zhang Ye's rank was merely at the Tier Nine mid stage.
This shocked him even further.
A mere Tier Nine mid stage unleashed the power of a Three-star Saint-tier to block that golden light sword?!
Horrifying! If this youth were allowed to grow, the Holy See would likely face a monumental enemy!
Furthermore, the dense demonic aura sent shivers down his spine. In his eyes, Zhang Ye was definitely a Demon hiding in this world, or perhaps a descendant of the Demon Race.
Therefore... he could not be allowed to live!
Finishing his tirade, Zhang Ye turned back to Hainowei. Seeing her pale face and tears at the corners of her eyes, he immediately asked with concern, “How are you doing? Are you alright?”
His teeth gritted with fury inside. How dare he make Hainowei cry! Just you wait! Every single one of you, just you wait!
Watching Zhang Ye instantly switch from furious rage to gentle warmth, Hainowei dazed for a moment.
In the next instant, her tears burst forth like a broken dam. Shaking her head, she finally couldn't hold back any longer and threw herself into Zhang Ye's arms, sobbing heavily.
She had waited.
She had finally waited for it.
That ray of hope had appeared on the horizon, rushing to her side against all odds to block that earth-shattering blow for her.
He was only at Tier Nine, while his opponent was a Three-star Saint-tier—an almost insurmountable chasm divided them.
Yet he still stood before her, pointing at the Three-star Saint-tier and cursing without a trace of fear.
She could no longer hold it in.
Recalling the suffering she had endured at the hands of humans, she had once thought Zhang Ye would merely be a fleeting glimpse in her endless existence, a brief blossom that quickly withered.
Perhaps one day, he too would turn his blade against her just as those others had.
But at this very moment, she was suddenly, utterly certain.
He would never do that.
How could a person who stood against an enemy vastly stronger than himself just to protect her ever hurt her like those others did?
He would only protect her.
Holding Zhang Ye, she felt her heart, which had tossed restlessly like a boat in stormy waves for so long, finally settle into tranquility.
The overwhelming sense of security and warmth that filled her heart and soul captivated her completely.
It was as if, within his arms, even if he was only at Tier Nine, and even if they faced a sky full of gods and demons, she wouldn't suffer the slightest harm.
Unconsciously, she wrapped her arms around him even tighter.
Hainowei's sudden embrace left Zhang Ye momentarily bewildered, but then he felt how peaceful she was in his arms.
I can give her a sense of security, huh?
At this moment, in Zhang Ye's eyes, Hainowei was simply a little sister in need of comfort.
Zhang Ye's hands, which had been hovering nervously in the air, slowly descended onto Hainowei's flawless back, gently patting her as if coaxing a child.
“Don't be afraid, I'm right here.”
“Mm...” Hainowei hummed softly in response. Her tears had ceased, and an exceptionally soft smile touched her face as she rested her head quietly against his shoulder, eyes half-closed.
I wish it could stay like this forever... she thought to herself.
Seeing this scene from midair, veins almost popped on the golden-armored knight's forehead.
Hugging and embracing right in front of me—do you treat me like I'm invisible?!
Sensing the knight's mana surging violently, Zhang Ye patted Hainowei's delicate shoulder gently.
Hainowei obediently stepped back out of his arms, looking somewhat reluctant to let go.
Giving her a reassuring smile, Zhang Ye turned back toward the golden-armored knight, who was already gathering power, his face returning to a look of utter gravity.
Three-star Saint-tier... this truly was the most formidable adversary he had ever encountered.
What should he do?
How could he possibly fight him?
His all-out attack was barely equal to one of the knight's minor moves; there was no way he could be his match.
Zhang Ye analyzed the situation calmly.
Right now, there was only one choice available—run!
But how could they escape?
If he were alone, he could rely on rocket propulsion and 【Blink】 to flee; going all out, the knight wouldn't be able to catch him. But Hainowei couldn't do that.
Blink worked by elementizing one's own body and couldn't be used to relocate someone else...
Zhang Ye cursed mentally at the predicament, but then a glaringly bright light bulb went off above his head.
Got it!
By now, the golden-armored knight was radiating golden light, surging with murderous intent as terrifying pressure bore down on them. If Zhang Ye didn't still have Leona's protective magic on him, that overwhelming pressure alone would have been enough to make him suffer greatly.
“Demons do not belong in this world. You shall face my judgment!” The golden-armored knight pointed his Saint Sword directly at Zhang Ye.
Zhang Ye sneered with disdain. “Tch, are all you Holy See people this childishly dramatic? A grown man pulling moves like this... if you aren't embarrassed, I'm embarrassed for you! Shame on you, shame, shame~”
Golden-armored knight: (ꐦ｀益´)
I thought I looked pretty cool, but hearing you say that makes me feel like a complete idiot!
The golden-armored knight didn't want to waste any more breath. He could tell this kid's venomous tongue far surpassed his own, and engaging in a verbal battle would only result in total humiliation.
Besides, why waste words with a Demon? Kill him!
With that, he charged toward Zhang Ye at extreme speed.
He was a Warrior, and while he didn't practice Magic-Martial Dual Cultivation, his magic attainments were by no means low. As he charged, he raised a hand to cast 【Myriad Light Swords】; thousands upon thousands of light swords shot out from a magic circle, aiming straight for Zhang Ye.
Seeing this, Zhang Ye put on a resolute expression, as if ready to hold the pass alone against ten thousand.
Watching him, the golden-armored knight couldn't help but snort softly.
Trying to face me head-on? At least you've got some backbone as a man...
However, in the very next instant, he saw Zhang Ye open a Spatial Gate behind himself, grab Hainowei, and dive right in, vanishing without a trace.
Fight?
Fight my foot, time to scram!
A wise man doesn't fight against overwhelming odds. As long as the green hills remain, there'll be wood to burn—out of thirty-six strategies, fleeing is the best! Bye-bye, sucker!
Golden-armored knight: “...”
“BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!” The light swords leveled the snowy mountain to the ground, accompanied by a furious roar.
“Despicable Demon, I will hunt you down to the ends of the earth!!!”
The roar echoed through the clouds, after which he transformed into a streak of golden light and gave chase toward the distance at extreme speed.
With a Treasure locking onto Hainowei, even if they fled to the ends of the world, he would still find them!
...
...
Rate on N.U.
