Chapter 167: Excuse Me, What Are You Doing Lying Beneath Me?
"Oooooh..."
Alexander, kneeling on the Ground, let out a long, mournful wail, tilting his Head back. However, at this moment, the Sky above the entire Great Hall suddenly changed color. The Evil Blood Mist that had been gathering in Mid-air since the Magic Array exploded suddenly formed a giant sheet of Blood and descended from the Sky, tightly wrapping around Alexander's Skeleton. Then, like disgusting Maggots, it twisted and burrowed into his Bone.
That was the Dark Power that had bound Alexander for thousands of years. Even after the Magic Array was destroyed and Alexander was freed, it refused to give up. The remaining Strength attempted to continue Devouring his Soul while he was weak and in Despair, turning him into a Puppet of Hell.
However, would the invincible Strongest Expert of the past, the ever-victorious Knight of the Battlefield, be so easily controlled? The answer was obvious. With only his current meager Strength, Alexander successfully Resisted the Dark Power's expansion on his Body and continuously struggled against it. Even having fallen to such an Extent, his pride would not allow his Soul to be controlled by others.
Green Glow and blood-red Glow intertwined on his Body. The Demonic Whispers, full of hypnosis and temptation, dimmed before Alexander's iron will. He raised his pale green Skull, his two eerie green eyeballs flickering as if mocking the Dark Power's childishness, until he saw the Foul Crow battling with Light Snow and the others. That ugly figure, mixed with a soul-deep tremor, froze the scene for a moment...
Yerith... Lady Yeris, Lady Yeris Lady Yeris Lady Yeris... Why is this happening!!
"Lord, welcome back. You... you must be thirsty..."
The Papal Army returned victorious once more. The people lining the road greeted us with fervent and frenzied cheers. A girl in a white floral dress struggled to push her way out of the crowded crowd. Protecting a worn porcelain bowl in her arms, she raised her Head, revealing a shy and beautiful smile, then handed the bowl to me In Front, looking at me timidly with expectant Gaze.
I only remember feeling a moment of Realization in my Brain then, as if the Angel from the mural had suddenly appeared In Front of me. My heart pounded "thump thump," a pounding more violent than when a sword on the Battlefield was swung In Front of me. My heart had never beaten so fiercely.
Stiffly taking the bowl, and then stiffly raising it to my mouth—my movements must have been comical then. I "gulped gulp" poured the sweet Spring water from the bowl into my mouth. It was so good. I would bet I had never drunk such sweet Spring water.
In fact, it wasn't until much later, when I recalled it, that I realized there wasn't a single drop of water in that bowl at all. Although she tried hard to protect it, the water inside had long been splashed out in the crowded crowd. However, that was indeed the happiest water I had ever drunk in my Life.
(—Excerpt from Alexander's Biography, Chapter 5).
"My dear, if this is your Redemption. If this is your love, I... I am very happy... I love you..."
Even as the sharp sword in my hand pierced her Chest, she still used the same smile that had never faded since our first Encounter, gently stroking my cheek. Tears rolled down as she looked at me with a Gaze I couldn't comprehend or bear. Why? Why say such cruel words? My heart was clearly in such Pain, my tears were clearly so blurry, yet only you were happy. This isn't fair, not fair at all. You should at least have said: 'Alexander, my dear, didn't you promise me you would stay by my side forever?', if it were like that...
"Almighty and merciful God, I, Alexander, a devout and loyal Believer, have been fighting under the guidance of Your Glory for decades. I have never dared to be the slightest bit negligent. Your all-knowing eyes can bear witness. Therefore, for the sake of these decades, please forgive this one selfish and rude Plead—let my poor Wife forever bathe in Your Divine Light, and bestow upon her the Protection and Glory You granted me, even if I fall into Hell afterward, I, Alexander, swear here, willing to exchange my flesh, my Life, my Soul..."
I prayed in the Church until the Sky turned white before closing the lid. God! What was I doing? Using my Power to hide from everyone, secretly burying Yerith in the most sacred Prayer Hall. What have I done?! I couldn't imagine how great a Sin of Blasphemy this was. Even descending to the deepest Hell, with my Soul dominated by the most vicious Demon, I probably couldn't wash away the sins on my Body. However, as long as Yerith can achieve Redemption, everything is worth it...
(—Excerpt from Alexander's Biography, Chapter 31).
"Why... What was I fighting for, why are you doing this to me ahhhhhh!!!!!"
An indescribable heavy feeling, Sorrow... Pain... Helplessness... Wrath...? It pierced straight to the Soul from that mournful cry. Coming back to my senses, I only felt a strange coldness on my cheek.
In that sorrowful and disbelieving wail, something seemed to shatter in Alexander's green eye sockets, rapidly dimming. That iron-like defense was rapidly collapsing. The Dark Power, at a speed visible to the naked eye, gradually dyed his entire Skeleton red, until...
Appearing In Front of me again was a giant Skeleton over 3 meters tall. Its entire blood-red Skeleton seemed to have a layer of fresh Blood flowing over it. In its deep, black hole-like eye sockets flickered a dazzling crimson Blood-light. Its massive frame, like a strong man's Muscle, emitted a "crack crack" grinding sound. Its slightly bent waist made it look full of Explosive Power, like a fully drawn arrow.
Standing aside, I witnessed Alexander's Soul being Devoured bit by bit. The feeling of empathy filled my heart with Fear. I wanted to do something, at least to let this poor Couple rest in peace, but at that moment, I realized how weak my own Strength was, and my Knowledge was just as meager and pitiful. The Rogue's Number One Strongest Expert, and the title of Honorary Elder, were just insignificant Sand on Sanctuary.
Perhaps, all I could do was use the sword in my hand to personally bury their Sorrow. No matter the consequences, it would definitely be better than now... I clenched my Fist tightly and whispered this to myself.
Before Alex..., no, before the Bone Ash reacted, I confirmed its Stats again. Although it was corrupted by Dark Power, its Stats hadn't changed. It was still primarily focused on Toxin and Freeze Attacks. I thought for a moment and changed my Equipment as follows.
Death's Hand Gloves (50) + Necklace (14) + Belt (22) + Scepter (15) + Small Shield (8) = 109% Poison Resistance. With this Resistance, even if I stood there and let the Bone Ash poison me, it wouldn't be able to drop a single point of my Health. Then, two Rings (19) + Helmet (10) + Gloves (12) + Small Shield (8) = 49% Cold Resistance. This could barely withstand the accompanying Freeze delay. Coupled with the high defense in Shapeshifting state, its Physical Attack wouldn't have much effect either. It could be said that my current Stats completely countered the Bone Ash. If it weren't for it being a Minor Boss and having those four Abnormal Boss Stats, I could completely beckon it with a finger and slightly despise it without issue.
Slow to say, fast to happen. I had just finished changing my Equipment and hadn't even had time to check when this giant blood-red Skeleton let out a trembling Roar towards the Sky. The crimson light in its dazzling eye sockets flared intensely. This was a sign of complete revival.
Not to be outdone, I also roared. My Body slowly expanded. Brown fur quickly sprouted from my Skin. In a moment, a Werebear Form taller than the Bone Ash stood In Front of it, looking down from above. Its bestial Gaze was fixed on the opponent. The entire scene fell silent, as if only the two of us, like small mountains, were confronting each other, with crazy Gaze in our eyes, wanting to tear the other into pieces.
"Roar..."
Almost at the same moment I took a Footstep, the Bone Ash also raised its blood-red hands. A greenish-blue energy ball instantly formed in its hands and then fired at me like a Laser. The entire process took less than half a second, truly living up to its Mini-Boss title.
I kept my Gaze fixed on the opponent, ignoring the Green Light coming towards me. In the Bone Ash's flickering Gaze, the light hit me square in the Chest. For a moment, I felt a wave of nausea and coldness throughout my Body, but before I could even register it, the nausea vanished. Only my Movement was slightly slowed by the coldness.
From a bystander's perspective, after the Green Light hit me, my entire Body flashed with a Green Light and then immediately recovered. The Speed was so fast that it was impossible to tell if I had been poisoned at all.
Red Light flickered. The Bone Ash was clearly a bit surprised by this situation, so much so that it froze for a moment. By the time it recovered, I had already Approached a distance that wouldn't allow it time to think of its next Movement. It instantly reacted, clenching its Fist without hesitation to smash against my massive palm tearing through the air. Its massive frame, only half a Head shorter than mine, and its Mini-Boss Level Strength, made the fist it suddenly threw out emit an ear-piercing whistling sound.
Just then, a strange smile tugged at the Corner of my mouth. My tearing Claws suddenly felt light, and at the same time, I sidestepped. In the Bone Ash's astonished gaze, I dodged its attack trajectory.
Bluffing?
Not so. To the side of the Bone Ash, a snow-white figure suddenly rushed out from the deep darkness and pounced straight towards the Bone Ash. Caught off guard, the Bone Ash, still maintaining its frontal punch, lost its balance. The three-meter-tall Skeleton was violently knocked flying from the side, and its trajectory happened to align with my sidestepping pace.
I showed a ferocious smile to the Bone Ash "flying" in Mid-air less than a meter away from me. I clasped my fingers tightly, raised them high, and then smashed down with all my Strength.
"Yaaahhh—"
How could I tolerate it? A peerless Strongest Expert of Sanctuary being controlled by Junk like you. Alexander's Soul, let these hands liberate it.
"Boom boom boom..."
As the solid impact came from my hands, the Bone Ash in Mid-air was forcibly pulled down as if by immense force and smashed onto the Ground. The entire Ground seemed to let out a trembling wail. Smoke and dust filled the air. After it dissipated, a "grave" large enough to bury a three-meter-tall Skeleton frame appeared on the Ground. Heh heh, did you see? The Tacit Understanding that Light Snow and I have cultivated for so long. Even Qiuludun was caught off guard and ambushed back then.
"Phew, ow ow ow..."
Before I could finish celebrating, I immediately shook my massive palm and exclaimed. Who said skeleton frames were brittle? I estimate the Bone Ash's body is harder than steel, and it's covered in Thorns. The negative Dark Power flowing over it like fresh Blood corrodes flesh. Damn it, I didn't expect it to be a giant poisonous Hedgehog.
Dragging its massive Body, the Bone Ash crawled out of the pit. Its Skeleton, almost embedded in the Ground, was covered in dust and Sand. It slowly fell off as its Body stood up, looking quite disheveled.
Facing the two Enemies standing In Front of it, neither of which was inferior in size, it wasn't fearful, but angry instead. It stretched its neck, opened its grim jawbone, and let out an imposing Roar at us like a Tyrannosaurus Rex, then charged straight at us. A greenish Cold Toxin energy ball shot towards Light Snow . It seemed it had learned its lesson and knew that Freeze and Toxin weren't very effective against me.
It would be strange if it didn't even have this much intelligence. I was already prepared for this. The moment it made a move, I had already blocked in front of Light Snow . No matter how the Bone Ash changed its angle, I always stayed in front of Light Snow , completely blocking it, charging towards the Bone Ash one after the other. The Bone Ash seemed helpless against this. Its Cold Toxin beam was a linear attack; it couldn't penetrate or bend to hit the object behind.
Facing our positioning and considering my Resistance, it could only casually throw the prepared beam at us and then charge over with a roaring "thump thump."
Courtesy demands reciprocity. Since the Bone Ash was so hospitable, I couldn't hesitate. The Level 3 Holy Bolt attached to the Scepter I was equipped with smashed straight onto the Bone Ash's Body under my chanting. It instantly churned up like throwing a red-hot iron block into ice water. Wisps of blood-red mist rose from the Bone Ash as it groaned in Pain. However, this only paused its Footsteps for a moment. Although Holy Bolt can cause great Damage to Undead, the Bone Ash's Boss Stats also included a "Magic Resistance" Ability. So the Holy Bolt's effect was discounted.
After a round of ranged exchange of attacks, both sides had Approached a very close distance. The Bone Ash opposite suddenly let out a Roar. It seemed particularly hateful towards this Enemy that had caused it trouble twice in such a short Time. It stretched its blood-red hands straight out, seemingly not worried about the situation of one against two.
I wasn't afraid of Melee Combat with the Bone Ash, but with Light Snow beside me now, if I still clung to the yearning for a hot-blooded scene, it would only prove my reckless bravery and nothing else.
Calmly watching the extended Claws gradually grow larger in my eyes, my waist suddenly bent slightly. The next moment, Light Snow , who had been hiding behind me, leaped high onto my Head as if on springs, pouncing straight towards the Bone Ash from above.
Although the Bone Ash knew there were two Enemies, it didn't expect us to play this trick. It hastily stopped its Footsteps, forcibly pulling back its extended hands, and hastily swung towards the Sky.
"Bang..."
Light Snow , with a nimble twist in Mid-air, easily brushed past the Bone Ash's hastily arriving fist. Taking advantage of the momentum, her Claws slashed across its lower ribs, raising a cloud of blood-red dust.
The Bone Ash cried out in Pain and was about to turn around to deliver a heavy blow to Light Snow , but its intelligence wasn't low after all, and it still remembered there was another Enemy In Front. However, when it reacted, it found that the opponent hadn't launched an Attack the moment it was distracted, as it had expected. At some point, he had stopped a few meters ahead. Those two massive palms that had almost shattered its Frame were rolling with a ball of black dazzling Red Light. The remaining Knowledge in its Brain instantly made it understand that it was the most violent flames from the depths of Hell, even more destructive than its own Ability.
Facing the Inferno that could even melt Souls, I wanted to see how Abnormal your Magic Resistance Stats could be. I coldly snorted and pushed the black flame ball in my hand towards the Bone Ash.
"Boom—"
The violent Inferno, without wasting a trace of residual heat, concentrated into a straight line and Devoured the Bone Ash. Watching the Bone Ash crawl and roll to escape the Inferno's attack range, while finding it amusing, I also felt deep Sorrow for Alexander—how could such caliber possibly be qualified to control you? What were you thinking, Alexander, the former invincible Warrior?
However, on the other hand, I also felt a sense of fortune. If it were the original Alexander, perhaps the one crawling and rolling now would be me—no matter how weak he is now, the Combat Experience and Technique accumulated over a hundred years... No, just his Presence might have been enough to make me unable to Resist. How could the situation be reversed like this? Perhaps, I really should thank this Dark Power after all...
Cold thoughts turned In One's Head. My hands, however, did not relax in the slightest. With Light Snow 's assistance, the Bone Ash's "Extra Strong" and "Magic Resistance" two Stats only meant it would suffer a bit longer.
On the other side, the Poison Creeper, along with the other four Ghost Wolves, was entangled in battle with the Foul Crow. Under my instructions, they did not rashly attack. They were just Deceiving the Foul Crow from afar, preventing it from mixing with the Battlefield here. The Foul Crow's only effective Attack was "Charge"; its other Attacks couldn't even graze the Ghost Wolves' fur. Often, the moment its hand was raised, the Target would quickly run away.
Good, keep it up like this. After taking care of the Bone Ash, I'll slowly wear you down and kill you with Holy Bolt.
The Bone Ash surprisingly held on. It wasn't until over ten minutes later that the Red Light in its eyes gradually dimmed. Finally, Light Snow delivered a "Giant Claw Tear" with 0% Attack, tearing the Bone Ash in half at the waist in my surprised gaze. The lower half of the Body below the Bone Ash's waist knelt on the Ground, while the Upper Body fell to the Ground with a "crack." The giant Bone shattered all over the Ground.
It's finally over. I wiped the Cold Sweat from my forehead. Although there was no Danger, the entire process wasn't easy. The Bone Ash's hard, thorny body, even if it stood still and let you hit it, was a very suffering experience.
I let out a sigh of relief, canceled Shapeshifting, and walked towards the Battlefield on the other side—it's better to end this pathetic Battle quickly, and then bury this loving Couple together. I've done my best.
Huh? I always feel like I've forgotten something...
The moment my doubt just arose, a fierce Gale suddenly blew up behind me. Red Light filling the Sky emitted from the Magic Array I had just destroyed underfoot. A dense Evil Aura gathered in Mid-air and then fell. By the time I turned my Head, the Bone Ash, which had just been kneeling on the Ground with only its lower half of the Body remaining, was now standing perfectly fine not far behind me. Its dazzling crimson eye sockets and dripping fresh Blood Skeleton showed how energetic it was now.
No way!!!
My legs turned to jelly, and I didn't even have the strength to complain.
"Waa~ck..."
These days, misfortunes never come singly is a common occurrence for me. Before I could recover my senses from the Bone Ash's Resurrection, my forehead was suddenly swept by some blind idiot, Extra Strong and powerful.
Needless to say, in the Great Hall, the only one who could strike with this much Strength was that Foul Crow. Carrying my Body filled with infinite resentment, under the innocent gaze of the other four Ghost Wolves and the Poison Creeper who watched as I was sent off, I gracefully spun n full 360-degree rotations in Mid-air and then flew towards the Corner of the Great Hall.
"These days... I can't live like this... Everything can play corpse transformation... play Resurrection... Better pack up and run away quickly..."
Covering my dizzy Head with one hand, I propped myself up with the other and complained. Lord Alexander, Lady Yeris, it's not that I don't want to help you, I'm truly powerless. Please don't come looking for me as ghosts...
"Huh——?"
An indescribably soft and smooth touch came from my right palm propping on the "Ground." Since when did the Great Hall's floor provide such high-quality performance service? Still wanting more, I lightly squeezed.
"Ah woo..."
A soft moan, extremely similar to the softness filling my palm, came from beneath my Body.
I stiffly turned my Head, my Gaze meeting that of the beautiful Maiden who was chanting the Sacred Song, the one I had found at the beginning.
No wonder I always felt like I forgot something? So that's what it was, I suddenly realized.
"Uh... ah, You... hello, beautiful Princess, may I Presumptuously ask... what are you doing lying beneath my Body...?"