Chapter 525 — Calm Before the Storm

The next moment, the World of Heart expanded, covering the entirety of the demi-plane.

The previously barren void was overwritten by a world, with grass, creatures, and a bright blue sky materializing.

It attached to the demi-plane’s outer membrane, preventing communication with the outside world.

As soon as this happened, Liora’s figure blurred.

When her body regrouped, she was hovering right above the Nine-Headed Hydra.

A four-colored sword materialized in her right hand, whose edge glowed with the brilliance of entire worlds.

Clasping it tightly, she swung it down with all her strength, aiming at one of the enemy’s heads.

Her appearance was sudden, as was her subsequent attack.

The Nine-Headed Hydra had been fully immersed in its practice when alarm bells suddenly rang in its mind.

Its nine heads instantly whipped around and looked toward the source of the disturbance.

As the center head watched the sword expand rapidly in its field of vision and threatening to split it in half, the rest of them roared loudly in unison.

Four of them in particular breathed out.

A similar power as the one in Liora’s sword erupted, falling upon her like the tides of a violent tsunami.

At the same time, Liora sensed the space around her grow denser and tougher, as though she had fallen into a quagmire.

She found it difficult to move.

Fortunately, she had expected such a reaction.

In an instant, her figure blurred once more, not only escaping the time-space prison but also evading the deity’s blow.

The sword in her hand abruptly changed trajectory.

It no longer targeted the head at the center, but focused on the one right next to it.

The sound of tearing flesh echoed throughout the demi-plane.

Though the Hydra’s skin attempted to block Liora’s attack, her extraordinary physical power, combined with the assistance of the World of Heart, let her slice neatly through its neck.

A ferocious expression flashed across its separated face as its head slammed onto the ground.

Large amounts of blood erupted from the severed neck.

A tremor instantly rushed through the creature’s body.

It began to spasm, while its eight remaining heads rocked back and forth like out-of-control tentacles.

Its roar grew ever more deafening, while its counterattack intensified.

Before Liora could land on the ground, much less retreat, several attacks were launched in her direction.

Two lights—one white and one blue—emerged from the mouths of two of its heads, firing toward her like arrows.

The two lights seamlessly blended together midair.

Like the pillars supporting the sky, they merged to form a miniature world that descended upon Liora.

The sensation of being frozen returned.

Both time and space seemed to work together to restrain her, seemingly sealing her final fate.

Just as it seemed that the miniature world would crash upon her, however, the sun in the sky of the World of Heart erupted with power.

Crimson flames rained down, engulfing the miniature world.

Combined with Liora’s own Elemental Affinity, the flames were able to burn through its very essence.

Following a thunderous boom, the entire world exploded.

Ultimately, Liora seemed to have emerged victorious in their brief confrontation.

Yet this was not the entire truth.

The flames of the sun were consumed and faded away.

More importantly, the Nine-Headed Hydra used this opportunity to retreat.

A distance of several hundred meters appeared between the two, while its severed neck began to granulate.

A green sheen enveloped its wound as flesh wove together to help it regrow its ninth head.

Liora did not rush to attack.

The earlier combination of abilities had already taken a toll on her, forcing her to regulate the energies raging within her.

Similarly, the Nine-Headed Hydra had to recover from the damage it had sustained, while understanding exactly what was happening.

"Who are you?! How did you reach this place?", a majestic voice suddenly rang out.

Although the hydra’s mouths never opened, Liora knew that it was the source behind it.

It was communicating with her using its consciousness.

A trace of surprise flashed across her face.

She didn’t expect that the other party would take the initiative to speak.

At least, the God of Hunting hadn’t until he met his demise.

Even so, she quickly regained her calm.

After casting a glance at the colossal dragon corpse not far away, she turned back to the Nine-Headed Hydra.

She didn’t choose to answer the previous questions, but instead shook her head.

"It seems that everyone has underestimated you. Even that guy, if he dared to come here, would surely perish."

"I’m afraid that even if you go to the central region, your power should be enough to make you a powerhouse, earning the respect of even the Human Temple."

"Is it because of the dragon remains? Was it the corpse that allowed you to concurrently follow so many Laws?"

Just like the concepts of Devils, Awakeners were also required to understand the world’s operating rules.

The only difference was that they referred to them not as concepts, but as "Laws".

To advance to Rank 7, an Awakener had to integrate a portion of a selected Law into their talent genes.

The practice of the subsequent Ranks was roughly the same.

Comprehending a Law was equally as difficult as comprehending a concept.

Yet during their short exchange, Liora was able to understand that her opponent had comprehended several of them.

Nine, to be exact.

Four Elements, Time and Space, Life and Death, and an inexplicable Law that towered above them all and forcibly fused them together.

She didn’t believe that this was something an Archdevil-level being could achieve on its own.

Most likely, it was due to the Divine Dragon’s corpse.

Liora’s words made the Nine-Headed Hydra’s face change. It never expected that its biggest secret would be revealed so easily.

It took a deeper look at Liora and seemed to have realized something.

"So, you’re an Otherworld Demon."

"Did you come for the Divine Corpse? Has someone betrayed me?"

Since she was so close to a deity, and an extremely powerful one at that, Liora’s nascent technique designed to conceal her true identity was rendered useless.

Sensing the "Otherworld" aura on her body, the Nine-Headed Hydra pieced all the clues together. It quickly understood her purpose.

It no longer doubted how she had been able to locate and enter the demi-plane.

Everything could be explained by her identity as an Otherworld Demon.