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Chapter 131 131-Escape?
Chapter 131 131-Escape?
Chapter 131 Chapter 131-Escape?
"Death Hand!"
As Nurbaski spread his hands, a massive blood-red palm appeared out of nowhere, engulfing Howard, Shelley Chan, and Wales within it.
The next moment, the colossal blood-red hand clenched fiercely!
Wales, having previously absorbed the life force of the entire area's trees and monsters, and drawn from the essence of many an awakened being, now wielded considerable power within him.
Almost in the instant the blood-colored giant palm materialized, a purple aura burst forth, enveloping Howard, Shelley Chan, and himself in a protective light.
Boom!
The blood-colored palm clenched, but rather than crushing the purple glow, it was itself shattered.
Even Nurbaski trembled from the shock, his face unwittingly painting a portrait of surprise as he gazed bewilderedly at Wales.
Behind Wales now emerged the ethereal visage of a purple Divine Ghost.
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh—"
The eerie sound, like the weeping and sobbing of hundreds of ghosts, echoed continuously throughout the heavens and earth, sending a shiver down many a spine and causing scalps to tingle with dread.
"Divine Ghost?!"
"You... who exactly are you to be able to commune with the power of a Divine Ghost?!"
Pupils constricted sharply as the multitude of strong beings looked at Wales anew, their eyes alight with shock.
The power of the gods was communicable to humans, with many SS-level skills achieving this, and some rare S-level skills as well.
However, the Divine Ghost was restricted by the Church.
The Pope and those pinnacle warriors had even shielded the entire world's space, making communication with a Divine Ghost as hard as reaching for the heavens!
"Strike now, kill him!"
"Bring his corpse to the Church, and a reward is assured!"
"But why not capture him and deliver him directly to the Church?"
"That's true…"
In that moment, the eyes of the many powerful beings upon Wales turned avaricious.
It was as though Wales had become a treasure in human form!
Hearing their words, the corners of Wales's mouth curled into a smirk as he coldly declared, "Think you can kill me? Do you possess the prowess? Spectral Realm!"
As Wales's voice faded, the Divine Ghost apparition erupted fiercely, unleashing thousands upon thousands of ghostly silhouettes that instantly shrouded the area within a hundred yards.
Even Nurbaski was caught in the skill's effect, suddenly finding himself in a realm dense with ghostly figures.
The next moment, an outcry of ghostly wails—shrill and harrowing—filled the air.
Blood-red claws swung as the specters descended upon Nurbaski and the others.
A single scream was bearable, but the chorus of thousands was a terror of sound waves, against which even the might of Nurbaski and Solyes could hardly stand.
Their heads felt as though struck by a heavy blow, grunting as they sustained internal injuries.
Simultaneously, Howard heeded Wales's words: "Quick, take Shelley Chan and use the random scroll to escape. I can hold them off for a while. Then, take her and run in the opposite direction!"
Howard's brow arched in understanding.
Wales was no match for that mob; he was not indecisive.
In a flash, he produced the scroll given by Daniel, grasping the injured Shelley Chan with one hand and activating the scroll with the other.
Whirr—
In an instant, Howard felt enveloped by a peculiar force, followed by an intense sensation of weightlessness.
When he came to his senses, he was astounded to find himself and Shelley Chan within the expanse of a grand hall.
"Cough, cough!"
Shelley Chan, already bearing grievous injuries, burst into violent coughing after the spatial transfer.
Howard, meanwhile, surveyed their surroundings with great caution, noting the walls built of what appeared to be white jade stones, intricately carved with numerous patterns.
Upon closer inspection, Howard discerned the murals depicted scenes of people worshipping deities.
"We... we've arrived inside the Medea Ruins!"
Shelley Chan's expression turned grave.
The Medea Ruins were home to many structures, but those who came to train typically survived in the wilds, seldom venturing into the buildings.
The reason was simple: the buildings were far too eerie, several hundred times more sinister than the wilderness.
Even those strong individuals above level 80 could meet a grisly end within these structures.
If it were Shelley Chan at her peak, she wouldn't have worried, but now, she wasn't sure she could lead them out safely.
"..."
Hearing Shelley Chan's words, Howard furrowed his brows tightly, cursing under his breath, "Have we just escaped the tiger's den only to enter the wolf's lair?"
"Seems like it," Shelley Chan hesitated before adding, "Give me some time to regain a bit of my strength; I should be able to ensure our safety."
"By the way, how far does your teleportation scroll work?"
She looked at Howard with a mix of doubt and concern.
"Within 500 yards!" Howard responded.
"Just 500 yards?" Shelley Chan said with resignation, "That's too short. We have to be cautious. If they discover us, we won't have anywhere to bury our bones."
Howard nodded, his heart filled with lingering uncertainties.
Seeing Howard hesitate, Shelley Chan spoke up, "Speak your mind. If the Ravenous Wolf himself is willing to lay down his life to shield my escape, then I shall not abandon you. As long as I draw breath, your safety is assured!"
With this, Howard's hesitation vanished, and he asked directly, "I'm curious, with the Alliance's clear regulations, why would those powerhouses within it still dare to pursue you so relentlessly?"
"Heh..."
At Howard's inquiry, Shelley Chan revealed a look of scorn, her voice cold, "Before absolute gain, there are no such things as rules! Of course, they dare not be too brazen. While still within the Alliance, they skulked about in night gear, their identities concealed. It was only upon reaching Mordun Wasteland and the Medea Ruins that they dared to reveal their true selves."
Detecting the disdain in Shelley Chan's words, Howard pressed on, "Without my teacher, how shall we proceed to Crimson Dragon City?"
"..."
"The old route. Once we approach Crimson Dragon City, I can launch a flare to signal for someone to retrieve us."
Shelley Chan coughed again, her voice soft, "I need to rest for a moment, watch over me!"
With that, without waiting for Howard's reply, she seated herself cross-legged and began to meditate.
A warm aura slowly emanated from Shelley Chan's being.
Understanding the gravity of meditation, Howard carefully surveyed their surroundings, standing guard over her.
After what seemed an indeterminable duration, Shelley Chan concluded her meditation, her previously pallid complexion now tinged with a touch of rosiness.
With a flick of her wrist, a crimson blade once more found its place in her hand.
????
Drawing closer, Howard could feel the sharpness of the longsword.
It seemed sentient, quivering slightly, emitting a unique, sonorous call.
Howard was certain that this was a weapon of Supreme Artifact caliber, capable of cloaking or revealing itself at a mere thought, complete with intrinsic elemental attacks—a feature not found in ordinary gear.
Shelley Chan rose to her feet, her voice a soft murmur, "For now, Nurbaski and his lot are likely still on our trail. Taking refuge within these structures may be a blessing in disguise. At the very least, they wouldn't dare to enter rashly."
Knowing Shelley Chan to be the stronger, Howard nodded in agreement, "What comes next, I'll defer to you!"
"Good," Shelley Chan sighed in relief at Howard's sensibility. If Howard had been headstrong, it would have been difficult for her to assert control.
After all, Howard's mentor had faced a horde of adversaries alone to buy her time, an act that all but spelled certain doom.
Howard, confident that his cunning teacher, Wales, would never leave him in jeopardy, was not overly concerned.
Clutching the crimson blade, Shelley Chan led the way, her voice low, "Just follow me. Let's first scout this place to ensure it's safe before anything else."
Howard, aware of his limitations and knowing he stood no chance against any monster within Medea Ruins, naturally kept close behind Shelley Chan.
The great hall's door was sealed shut, a pentagram seal emblazoned upon it, pulsing with light.
Upon witnessing this scene, Howard and Shelley Chan's expressions grew grave.
The pentagram was typically symbolic of a seal.
In other words, it was highly probable that this structure entombed some eerie entity.
This revelation made Shelley Chan proceed with caution as the two delved deeper into the hall.
Passing nearly thirty feet of murals, Howard and Shelley Chan arrived before a doorway. Pushing it open, they discovered a staircase spiraling downwards.
With a hum, the crimson flames burst forth, instantly illuminating the darkened steps.
The passage was far from narrow, wide enough to accommodate five or six people abreast.
The staircase itself was made of blue stone slabs, and so were the walls on either side.
After a moment's hesitation, Shelley Chan led Howard down the staircase, their steps echoing for several minutes before reaching the bottom, where they entered an underground chamber.
Surveying the surroundings, the chamber was quite spacious, dotted with stone statues but, notably, devoid of any monsters.