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"Ignorant!"
The Hero's Sword surged with emerald-green radiance! Carrying the power of the Goddess, it slashed fiercely toward the deity before him. It was an attack devoid of technique, fueled entirely by raw fury.
However, after a low-voiced scold, the deity dodged in a panic! She retreated from the stone gate, and only then did the world connected to the gate appear before Yulian's eyes.
Jet-black river water. A gloomy, grey sky. An ominous aura of death.
Yulian didn't know how, but he simply knew—the wasteland before him was the Land Where Souls Rest.
"Stop him, Frieren!"
Panic flashed in Himmel's gentle eyes. Because of that panic, his body even began to emit thick, black mist. It wasn't just Himmel; Heiter, Eisen, and Flamme, one legendary figure after another, looked at Yulian in the sky with horror!
Was he going to destroy this world, a world that was already as beautiful as a dreamscape even before fully descending?
"I'm sorry."
A silvery-white beam of light pierced through Himmel's chest. Frieren slowly lowered her staff, her face a mask of complex emotions. The person before her was undoubtedly the real Hero, Himmel. He was the destination of her journey.
But this Himmel, invaded by darkness, was merely a monster inhabiting Himmel's form. The reason Himmel was Himmel, the hero in Frieren's heart, rested entirely in his holy soul!
"Frieren, watch out."
Sharp attacks whistled through the air behind Frieren! Just as Serie's warning rang out, streaks of golden light flew from the Imperial Capital, surrounding and protecting the group. They were the shards of Magic-Nullifying Crystal refined by Yulian.
"Yulian!"
Flenna looked at the Undead being shredded by the golden fragments and let out a sigh of relief. But seeing Yulian protecting them while fighting the Goddess in the sky, her heart tightened again.
You must be safe!
Her brows furrowed in worry, but then her expression turned resolute. A massive wave of ice and snow power swept out, striking at the Undead! Although they couldn't completely kill the Undead, the price of their "death" was clearly being borne by the Goddess.
As long as she could weaken the Goddess—even by a ten-thousandth—Flenna felt it was worth it! This was the only thing they could do for Yulian.
"Mr. Yulian!"
Fern narrowly dodged an attack from Heiter! Just as she was being driven into a corner, golden light flashed, instantly shredding the apparition of Heiter.
"No, please..."
Fern watched the Heiter she had longed for die before her once again. Her heart went cold, and tears streamed down her face. She knew this was a trick played by that strange deity, but... a world where Heiter existed didn't seem so bad.
Who could look at the person they missed most in the world and strike them down without hesitation? Humans are like that. Even knowing it's a lie, they will fantasize about that minuscule bit of beauty until they are completely broken.
"Master!"
A sharp axe blade grazed Stark's cheek, blood splattering into the air. But how could the physical pain compare to the grief in his heart? This was the second time his master had attacked him.
"Exterminate the demons! Go!" Eisen scolded sternly.
As for the "demon" he spoke of? It was naturally Yulian, who was currently chasing the Goddess across the sky.
"Mr. Yulian?" Stark couldn't believe it. Even he knew that Yulian was currently fighting for the entire continent! He was fighting for the world!
"Yes, go now!" Eisen kicked the heavy axe toward Stark, and it landed firmly in front of him. The severity on his face was unmistakable.
"But..." Stark knelt on one knee, refusing to budge.
"Stark, avenge me."
A red-haired figure in a white robe suddenly appeared out of nowhere. He gazed at Stark calmly, his words brooking no argument.
"Bro... Brother..."
Stark wavered. He stood up tremblingly and picked up the axe beside him. He looked at Yulian in the sky, hesitating.
"Stark, don't be fooled!" Frieren, seeing Stark's condition from afar, shouted a warning!
But for some reason, the battle in the sky suddenly became deadlocked! The situation where Yulian was chasing the Goddess was reversed almost instantly. Even the golden light protecting everyone faltered and crashed to the ground!
Dammit! Frieren was already overwhelmed! The area was swarming with Undead with the strength of Great Demons, and many were even on par with her. Even if they lacked their original sanity and combat skill, their sheer numbers were more than she could easily handle.
Even Serie was locked in a hard fight!
"Curse it! They just keep resurrecting!"
Serie, having cleared the area once more, gritted her teeth as she gauged her remaining mana. After a hesitant glance at Yulian in the sky, she steeled herself and moved toward Fern and Frieren.
"Prepare to retreat, Fern, Frieren! Star—"
Before Serie could finish Stark's name, a fiery red light soared into the sky, charging straight into the battle!
"Stark!" Fern screamed at the sight. Yulian was fighting for the world! Don't do anything stupid, Stark!
"I'll go!" Frieren prepared to intercept him, but as soon as she took flight, she was bombarded by the Undead and slammed back into the ground.
"Mistress Frieren!" Fern panicked even more, looking at the dust where Frieren's fate was unknown. Tears fell frantically from her eyes.
Serie, after staring at the halfway-risen Stark, chose to grab Fern and support Frieren. These were the people she had to protect.
"Yulian!"
Stark's eyes were wide, his body engulfed in red flames! Like a reverse meteor, he carried a terrifying power as he charged toward the battlefield between Yulian and the Goddess!
"Stark?!"
Flenna, who was summoning wind and snow to protect the remaining demons, felt her heart skip a beat! She immediately flew toward the sky.
Must! I must make it in time! Yulian was at his most critical moment!
But how could the Undead let Flenna have her way? Endless black shadows rose from the ground like a swarm of bees, enveloping her.
Too late! Flenna, about to be swallowed by the shadows, reached out toward the higher sky in despair, feeling nothing but a deep sense of powerlessness...
"Protect Her Highness!"
Qual gritted his teeth, leading the surviving demons to break through the encirclement, rushing to protect Flenna.
Stark, I hope you're just putting on an act...
Serie had reached the blood-soaked Frieren. As she raised a barrier and began healing her, she felt uncertain. She gazed worriedly at Stark, who had already reached the center of the storm...
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