Chapter 143 — Dandelion [33] - Surviving

The final attack of the unknown Devil caught Liora’s attention.

Instantly, she understood that she could not withstand the power of that blow with her current strength.

Let alone now, in her weakened state, she would have found it difficult to prevent being seriously injured even if all her power was unsealed.

Her first thought was to escape.

But when she tried to shuttle through the darkness and leave the spiral attack’s range, she discovered that it was impossible.

The prison that the metal chains had constructed was not a random action of the Devil. Instead, he had used it to seal the space, transforming this place into a cage for her.

Seeing this, Liora’s expression turned stern, and she made a quick decision.

Her mouth opened and, from inside, many symbols and words flew out.

The symbols gathered into a Devil Rune in the air, and a thin thread shot out, launching at one of the nearby metal chains.

Instantly, the chain’s connection with the rest of the cage was severed. A gap appeared in the originally flawless cage.

Though this opening was not enough to allow Liora to escape, it was more than enough to achieve her goal.

Liora’s mind moved and connected to the Holy Knight Array that she had carved earlier.

During her fight with the unknown Devil, the Holy Knights had been affected by the aftermath and died.

"But thankfully, the array is still there.", Liora commended as she confirmed its existence.

Then, she gave a command.

At the core of the array, the Spear of the Blighted Sun began to spin erratically. Sometimes it spun clockwise, while sometimes counter-clockwise.

Still, despite its erratic behavior and sudden change of direction, its speed soon grew terrifying.

Right below it, the Devil Runes making up the array’s core suddenly parted. From inside, vast amounts of blood poured out and shot right at the spear.

This blood was the essence of every single cultist that had died in the stronghold so far, now used by Liora as fuel for the array.

Or rather, used as energy to "overclock" it.

The blood dripped onto the Spear of the Blighted Sun, but the spear didn’t lose its holy nature.

Instead, the blood seeped into it, making its holy power grow deeper and denser.

The demonic flames that originally revolved around it disappeared, retreating completely, as if they had lost the fight with the holy power.

In the sky, golden light dropped from the majestic high dome.

Stopping right above the cage trapping Liora, the light gathered in the air and began taking form.

First, a golden helmet, then a pair of armguards, and then the rest of a Knight’s armor.

In the blink of an eye, another new Holy Knight had materialized.

It was just that, unlike the previous Holy Knights, this one looked completely different, both in appearance and in power.

It stood more than twenty meters in height, taller than even the monster that the unknown Devil had transformed into.

Its power—fueled by the blood of thousands of people—was also extraordinary, surpassing the Great Knight rank.

Following Liora’s commands, the Holy Knight ceased flying. With a leap, it crashed onto the metal cage, blasting a wide gap along the metal chains.

Then, it descended, landing right before Liora.

But Liora’s expression was still stern.

Although the newly opened gap in the cage was indeed wide enough for her to pass through, she no longer had the time to do so.

At any moment now, the spiral attack of the unknown Devil would strike in her direction.

Realizing this, she didn’t hesitate.

Her feet moved, and she launched at the Holy Knight. With a move of her mind, a small gap opened on its enormous body, from which she entered it.

Then, the gap closed, like an automatic door.

Before Liora could do anything else—much less breathe a sigh of relief—the attack of the unknown Devil finally struck the ground before it.

Instantly, the air froze.

A bright crimson light first spread throughout the cage, crashing on its walls.

Then, it travelled beyond it. The metal prison was unable to contain it for more than just a brief second.

Its momentum continued unabated, impacting the space of the demi-plane.

Cracks began forming on the space one after another, revealing a deep, horrifying darkness hidden behind them.

The world seemed to work hard to repair the damage, but shortly after one of the cracks recovered, another one would soon form.

For a brief moment, it seemed as if the world itself was going to be destroyed, plunging into eternal darkness.

But fortunately, just when the world was on the brink of death, the crimson light started retreating.

Slowly but surely, it got dimmer until it completely vanished, like a candle going out.

As it did, the once prosperous stronghold of the Necronomicon Sect was revealed once again.

It’s just that, unlike its earlier appearance, it was now utterly destroyed.

The buildings and ruins had been erased from existence, broken down to their smallest structure.

In the entire stronghold, only a towering monster stood alone beside a deep crater.

Its body was bloody and covered in cracks, like a porcelain doll that was ready to break.

Clearly, though it was his own attack, the unknown Devil had also been gravely injured as a result.

But still, he was alive. He had survived, while his prey had disappeared.

Or, at least, that was what the unknown Devil—in his unconscious state—believed.

But the next moment, this belief proved to be wrong.

The shadows beneath him writhed. Four thick vine-like shadows shot from the ground and wrapped around his four limbs, like chains binding him.

Though the unknown Devil tried to move and break free, his grave injuries and the shadows’ surprising toughness rendered him powerless.

Just then, a figure appeared not far away. Staring at the unknown Devil who was struggling to break the shadows, Liora neither spoke nor celebrated.

She calmly raised her hand, and, as if responding to her summons, the Spear of the Blighted Sun spinning in the distance rushed towards her.

Streaking through the sky, it arrived next to her and moved into her palm, as if it possessed a will of its own.