Phainon stopped attempting pointless slashes and instead poured all the remaining strength in his body, along with the lingering embers of the " Dawn's Advance " greatsword, into the boiling rainbow-colored battle staff in his left hand!
boom--!!!
The battle staff is no longer a blunt weapon, but has transformed into thunder that Destruction and protect.
It tore through the air with a piercing shriek that seemed to annihilate all laws, like the dawn tearing through the darkness, piercing with unparalleled precision into the Flame Reaver's ribs, slightly exposed and covered by his black robes due to the interference of the Phainon.
The amber iridescence and the spinning ∞ symbol condensed into a dazzling starlight at the tip of the stick. This time, the invisible barrier that isolated all laws seemed to have met its nemesis.
laugh--!!!!
A chilling tearing sound, like a red-hot iron branding rotten leather, pierced the deathly silence of the Dome Stronghold.
The tip of the rainbow-colored battle staff pierced through the seemingly " Eternity " black robe defense.
The eternal night force field, which devoured all energy, shattered instantly upon contact with the surging amber rainbow light and the wildly spinning ∞ symbol at the tip of the staff, like thin ice exposed to sunlight, emitting a mournful cry of unbearable pressure.
The battle staff plunged straight in, carrying Phainon's full strength and roar, solidly and without any frills, piercing into the churning, concentrated, viscous darkness beneath the black robe.
"Well...!"
A muffled groan, suppressed with extreme pain and rage, burst forth for the first time truly from the shadow of the hood.
The Flame Reaver's body suddenly arched, as if struck by an invisible hammer, his forward momentum abruptly halted.
The part of the robe that was pierced by the battle club quickly turned black, carbonized, and peeled off, as if corroded by strong acid, revealing a dark area below that was frantically writhing and trying to repair itself.
A few strands of grayish-white light that form the foundation of the bone wings, like severed nerves, break, dissipate, and vanish in the darkness.
The mimicry bat sounded the first note of the counterattack, and Phainon gripped the divine weapon formed from the remnants of a star.
The greatsword lay horizontally, blocking the path between the Flame Reaver and Hyacine like a mountain.
Just as Phainon and the ' Flame Reaver ' were locked in a fierce battle, let's shift our perspective to the other side.
After confirming that the Flame Reaver were not pursuing them in the Ancient City of Dragonbone Styxia, Xing put away the " Eternity Wings of Preservation " and took Cipher to a place to rest.
"Whew... that was really close! Are you alright?"
Xing wiped the fine sweat dripping from her forehead, her first concern being for Cipher's safety.
Cipher shook her head. She wasn't immersed in the joy of escaping death; part of her attention was also drawn to the iridescent wings behind Xing.
" Huizi, what's wrong with you...?"
Xing didn't hide anything, since Cipher had asked so sincerely, "Is the equipment dropped by 'Sky' Aegle powerful?"
Before Cipher could respond, Xing pressed on urgently, "So, what exactly happened?"
Cipher sighed helplessly and truthfully recounted the events of not long ago to Xing...
Let's rewind to a thousand years ago, when Cipher was preparing to leave the "Holy City" of Okhema...
"Are you still planning to go to Dawncloud Cliff... Cifera?" Aglaea walked up to her and asked.
"Yes, I've made up my mind. Don't even think about stopping me, seamstress."
Aglaea looked puzzled, trying to guess why Cipher had left. "Was it for the ' All-World Gem '...?"
"Does it matter whether it is or not? You'll never be able to tell if I'm telling the truth or not anyway." Cipher shrugged.
Aglaea suddenly looked down, "You... you're still wearing the gold boots I gave you."
Hopefully, next time you run on it... it won't be to escape someone else's pursuit.
The flashback ends, and in Styxia, the " Ancient City of Dragonbone " that Xing has yet to visit, Cipher is still hiding from the Flame Reaver.
Thinking back on the past, Cipher chuckled softly, "No one can catch me. I stopped running for 'escape' a long time ago."
" World-Saving! You'd better thank me properly!"
"Every second you enjoy your leisurely moments... was earned by me!"
She tossed the " Flipping Coin " again, and the " Trickery " was activated with lightning speed, instantly moving her to the highest point of Styxia, where she awaited the arrival of the Flame Reaver.
"Sigh... you're like a persistent ghost, aren't you?"
As expected, when Cipher turned around, the Flame Reaver was already standing in front of her.
"Unable to... escape..."
"This is... destiny..." the Flame Reaver repeated.
"Destiny? Hmph, I thought only pampered city dwellers liked to use that word, as if they couldn't live without it as an excuse."
"Reincarnation... cannot... be broken..."
Clearly, Cipher couldn't understand a single word the Flame Reaver was saying.
"... What reincarnation, destiny? Don't kid me! Everyone has to walk their own path."
"Only those who constantly rely on gods and prophecies for protection end up looking like this, neither human nor ghost, right?"
"Back then, I was even worse... cheating, swindling, and committing all sorts of misdeeds, just to survive in this damn world! If only I had accepted my fate earlier..."
Cipher spread her hands, "Then this pathetic world would probably have turned into a dark, rubble-filled wasteland long ago!"
" The Core Flame... must come from me..." the Flame Reaver emphasized.
Seeing that communication was impossible, Cipher shook her head. "Sigh... It's my fault, how could I expect a complete madman to listen to good advice?"
"Do you know why I brought you here, Mad Dog? I heard you had a big fight with that golden-haired lion cub before?"
"I doubt I can escape your grasp. I've done my warm-up exercises properly today. Next..."
Cipher snapped her fingers crisply and winked, "How about some competitive sports?"
"As heirs to the divine authority of ' Calamity,' my experience as a demigod—is a full thousand years longer than that little lion's."
"Now—I'll test your mettle, you Flame Thief!"
Before she could finish speaking, Cipher launched an attack on the Flame Reaver!
"I've lived for over a thousand years, and I've never seen an opponent who could keep up with my speed... You're the first!"
But my skills aren't limited to just "running fast"—today, I'll show you!
Cipher conjured countless clones, which took turns clawing at the Flame Reaver. This move was not very damaging, but it was extremely humiliating!
"I can create as many clones as I want!" Cipher tried to win with sheer numbers, successfully keeping the Flame Reaver occupied.
"Hahaha! Good dog, is that all you've got? Looks like I overestimated your swordsmanship!"
Upon hearing this, the Flame Reaver paused, no longer intending to pretend with Cipher, and directly pulled out a bar of soap that she had never seen before.
Bang!
All of Cipher's clones vanished completely.
"Obstruction... is ultimately futile..."
Sensing something was wrong, Cipher took a step back. "I've played with you long enough..."
"It's time to make a move!"