Chapter 283 Chapter281-The Fleeing High Priest
"No!" cried the High Priest, his voice laced with horror.
The recent memory still haunted him. A mere breath from the unknown Stellar Behemoth had devoured a significant portion of his soul.
And even though the behemoth now in front of him was but a mere shadow, the dread it evoked in the High Priest was real.
That familiar, soul-draining pull started again.
Though it wasn't much, he knew it was just the beginning.
Recognizing that Ethan and Lana Mokos could harm him, and that he was powerless against them, doubt and regret began to gnaw at the High Priest's heart.
After much contemplation, he finally reached a decision --
Flee!
He had to escape from this place.
Continuing this battle would surely spell his demise.
And with the impending emergence of the Relic Battlefield, a place many deities would yearn for, the High Priest was unwilling to squander his energy in such a conflict.
So, he swiftly dispelled the barrier and made his escape.
Ethan and Lana Mokos wouldn't miss such an opportunity.
Working in seamless tandem, Ethan skillfully used his spear to manipulate the High Priest's positioning, while Lana Mokos maintained the illusion of the Stellar Behemoth, draining the High Priest's soul.
With their impeccable coordination, the High Priest grew increasingly weaker.
"I can't keep this up, or I'll genuinely perish at the hands of these vermin!" Even in this dire moment, High Priest's arrogance persisted.
Gritting his teeth, with a swift motion, he summoned the trident from within the palace.
Pouring his energy fiercely into the trident, the surrounding waters began to churn violently.
The outer barrier of the palace that kept the seawater at bay shattered, allowing torrents of water to flood in.
Ethan and Lana Mokos instantly felt the crushing rush of seawater filling their mouths, making it nearly impossible to breathe.
Although both promptly deployed magic that allowed them to breathe underwater, the High Priest had already made significant distance.
"Think you can just run? Not so easily!" Ethan exclaimed, seething with anger.
He raised his spear, aiming it at the High Priest in a javelin-throwing stance.
Propelled by immense force, the spear shot out rapidly.
The inherent Unerring Rule of the spear took effect once more.
Despite the High Priest's evasive maneuvers, the spear found its mark, sending him crashing downward as he tried to flee the ocean depths.
Without delay, Ethan and Lana Mokos pursued.
"It's you who pushed me to this!" the High Priest roared in rage, seemingly prepared for a last stand.
Raising his trident, this unique weapon unleashed a brilliant azure Power of Sea.
Surrounding waters were continuously drawn into it, and with a mighty swing from the High Priest, the seas surged once again.
Ethan and Lana Mokos were well-prepared. Seeing that his attack had no effect on the duo, the High Priest's expression turned even more somber.
Without warning, he hurled the trident directly at them.
Ethan and Lana Mokos were taken aback, puzzled by his actions.
At that moment, Lana Mokos's face turned pale as she exclaimed, "Move away! The trident is about to explode!"
While the exact capabilities of this trident were unknown, the fact that the High Priest valued it so highly, combined with its resemblance to the weapon of the God of Sea, made it clear to both Ethan and Lana Mokos: this weapon was no trivial matter. If it were to detonate now, the released force could grievously wound them both.
But --
"There's no time!" Ethan cried out.
He swiftly thrust his Blasphemous Spear towards the trident, channeling his own energy, attempting to contain the explosive force within.
Realizing Ethan's intent, Lana Mokos stepped forward to assist.
Together, they managed to suppress the impending explosion, and the turbulent waters surrounding them calmed.
However, by this time, the High Priest had made his escape.
"He got away," Ethan remarked, a hint of frustration evident in his voice.
Lana Mokos simply smiled, responding, "He's suffered greatly this time. The next time we cross paths, we can declare his end."
With that, Ethan and Lana Mokos departed from the ocean depths.
The pair stepped through a space gate, arriving on the shore with their drenched garments.
Under the influence of a fire spell, their wet clothes quickly dried.
The atmosphere between them then became tense and awkward.
Friends?
Or foes?
Despite the many conflicts that existed between them, in this recent encounter, they had cooperated seamlessly, becoming comrades in arms.
It was evident that neither wanted to broach the subject.
Ethan handed the trident to Lana Mokos, saying, "You should take this weapon. I have my own and don't need another. Also, thank you for keeping your word and getting me out of there."
Lana Mokos knew Ethan referred to their initial battle with the High Priest.
After Ethan had shattered the barrier the High Priest set up, Lana Mokos could have easily escaped in that fleeting moment when the barrier broke.
However, she chose to bring Ethan along, which meant she had to hastily activate a random space gate to flee.
"It was you who helped me first," Lana Mokos responded.
Silence settled between them once more.
After a moment, Lana Mokos accepted the trident, noting, "This artifact likely conceals significant secrets, perhaps related to the God of Sea's trials. Once I decipher it, I'll let you know."
"Alright," Ethan nodded in agreement.
Yet again, they were engulfed by a brief, weighty silence.
It was Lana Mokos who broke the silence again. "I need to head back. But before I do, there's something I want to tell you."
She produced a Heart of the City.
"This is the Heart of the City from Azure Empire's capital," she explained. "But now it's sealed by me and remains inactive. The Heart offers immense convenience in governing a city, but it has a fatal flaw -- it can be traced."
"So, if you ever leave," she continued, "it's best to keep the Heart of the City hidden. The Dungeon of the Dark Lord City, for instance, would be an excellent hiding spot. I've studied it extensively without finding a way in. I must admit, whoever designed the space key spell is an absolute genius."
At Lana Mokos's words, Ethan shifted uncomfortably.
He hadn't expected her to be aware of the Heart of the City.
Did that mean she had always known he retained control over the Dark Lord City?
Ethan let out an awkward chuckle.
"If you knew," he began, "then why did you deliberately take over Dark Lord City?"
Lana Mokos answered earnestly, "It's an opportunity."
"What kind of opportunity?"
"An opportunity to change the world," she responded, gazing out at the vast ocean, her eyes as serene as the tranquil horizon.
"My mentor once told me, 'Always remember to look up at the stars.' The night sky holds an allure like no other. But for those living in this world, even for deities, that canvas of stars remains ever elusive."
What's more," she continued with a hint of distaste, "the nobility of Azure Empire disgusts me. Their minds are filled with sordid deals, caring little for the empire's progress, only vying for power and wealth. Such parasites need to be purged."
"And the Dark Lords? They're the sharpest blade for the task," she declared. "Because, compared to those power-hungry nobles, Dark Lords are, in a way, more reasonable. After all, they adhere to the law of the survival of the fittest."
Listening to Lana Mokos's words, Ethan was once again plunged into silence.
Ethan turned his gaze to the expanse of the sea, walking up beside Lana Mokos.
"Still," he began, "that's not your true reason, is it? There are many ways you could deal with them."
"Indeed," Lana Mokos admitted candidly.
She continued, "Only when the world is free from war do true wonders emerge.
Also, the Relic Battlefield is about to appear, and it will determine the fate of many."
"What exactly is the Relic Battlefield?" Ethan asked, unable to contain his curiosity.
He'd heard whispers of this place several times but had gleaned little about it, which frustrated him.
Lana Mokos, seemingly in the know, could be his chance for clarity.
However, Lana Mokos declined to explain. "Ethan, there's no rush. The Heart of the City of Dark Lord City will soon ascend to Level Five. By then, everything will become clear to you."
She added, "Now, I've said what I needed to. It's time for me to leave. Also, you might want to probe your own body with spiritual power. There might be a pleasant surprise awaiting."
With that, Lana Mokos activated her space gate and vanished.
This time, Ethan didn't follow her.
He gazed at the sea for a moment, then with a light chuckle, opened his own space gate and left the coastline.
Atop a towering mountain, Ethan materialized.
Settling down, he mused aloud, "Lana mentioned a surprise within me... Since leaving the Scrapyard, I have indeed felt a peculiar force coursing through me. Could this be it?"
He pondered further, "And now, with my bodily strength seemingly surpassing its limits, maybe it's time I tried mastering the Power of Rules."
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