Chapter 374 372-Alvin Disappears
The trio's eyes were wide open, their pupils filled with terror.
Their faces were as pale as paper, with a fine layer of sweat beading on their foreheads.
Merely one strike had shattered the divine artifacts they had cultivated for decades, even over a century.
What kind of background did this young man have?
Julius was both shocked and enraged, not waiting a moment longer before turning to flee.
He was the first to escape, and the other two didn't hesitate, quickly stepping through the void to make their getaway.
Their figures were disheveled, a stark contrast to their previous arrogant demeanor.
Ethan withdrew his gaze, thinking to himself about the woman's figure, which was indeed impressive.
Her peaks stood tall like mountains, proudly perched on her chest, unforgettable to any onlooker.
He mused inwardly, "I haven't had my fill of that sight yet."
But the trio had already vanished without a trace.
With Julius fleeing the scene and Peggy silent, Ethan rapidly descended, no longer buoyed by any force.
He spread his wings, gently landing on the ground.
Peggy's eyes had disappeared at some point, and now there was complete silence.
Standing still, Ethan sensed his surroundings, filled with a sense of wonder.
Around his soul was entwined a thread-like presence.
This must be the Primordial Light Peggy had spoken of.
Primordial Light, an indescribably mysterious radiance.
Like the first ray of dawn, it pierced through endless darkness, bringing hope and vitality.
Under its illumination, all things seemed to be endowed with new life, bursting forth with vibrant energy.
The colors of the Primordial Light were dazzlingly vibrant, a blend of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet, interwoven into a splendid tapestry of iridescence.
Bathed in this radiance, Ethan's soul seemed to be cloaked in a golden veil.
His consciousness space flickered with brilliant light, as if coated in a mysterious aura.
"This is Primordial Light?" Ethan's pupils dilated slightly as he closely felt its presence, yet it seemed elusive, almost beyond grasp.
In just that brief moment, Ethan knew that the Primordial Light was far more valuable than his golden skull emblem.
Lana and Daphne, watching from the side, sighed in relief seeing Ethan land unharmed.
They had been startled to see him soaring across the sky, forgetting even how to breathe.
They couldn't comprehend where Ethan had mustered such courage to actively join the battle.
Most importantly, Ethan had managed to drive away those terrifying three individuals with his own strength.
Daphne, in awe, simply exhibited her admiration and affection for Ethan.
Lana, however, was profoundly shocked.
It had been only a few months since she and Ethan had left Flame City, and he had grown to a level she couldn't fathom.
Lana felt a tinge of helplessness in her heart, knowing Ethan was a genius, but this terrifying level of strength was beyond her wildest expectations.
Ethan tried to communicate with Peggy using his Power of Soul.
But Peggy fell silent, offering no response.
Had it not been for his Wraith sight showing no change in the Mother-Child Wraith Tree, he might have thought Peggy had fled.
With Peggy unresponsive, Ethan saw no reason to linger.
Exchanging a single attack from a Supreme Deity for the mysterious Primordial Light was a huge gain indeed.
Ethan left with the two women, intending to settle down in City 32 for a thorough rest and to study his recent gains.
The trio chatted and laughed along the way, mainly discussing the recent events.
Ethan carefully explained everything to the women, including the details about the golden skull emblem.
Lana finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Ethan was extraordinary, but she realized he wasn't quite at the level of rivaling a deity.
King, on the other hand, dutifully led the way, not daring to say much.
Entering City 32, Ethan gazed at the familiar buildings, feeling a touch of sentimentality.
When he first arrived in City 32, the sight of its towering walls had filled him with awe.
The presence of the Deity Keepers, though not terrifying, had warranted cautious respect.
Now, after his journey through Santos Tower and seeing City 32's imposing walls again, his feelings had changed.
He was confident that he could overcome these grand walls.
As for the Deity Keepers, they were just his vanquished foes.
The group exited the city, taking in the familiar scenery, and confidently made their way to the Lord's Manor.
But the Lord's Manor was deserted, as if it had been closed for a long time.
"What's going on?" Ethan, looking at the firmly shut gates of the Lord's Manor, asked in confusion.
King, standing beside him, was also bewildered, scratching his head:
"I don't know either. I've lived in City 32 for many years and have never seen this happen. Even when the city lord is away, there are always staff at the Lord's Manor. Could it be that the Lord's Manor has closed down?"
Ethan slightly raised an eyebrow and pulled over a passerby:
"Excuse me, do you know what happened to the Lord's Manor?"
"You don't know?"
"We've been adventuring outside for some time and are not very informed about the recent events in the city. What exactly happened?"
"That's unfortunate. About half a month ago, the city lord awakened a great magic circle and fought a mysterious Sinister who appeared from nowhere. He managed to drive off this strange Sinister... The scene was apocalyptic. The city lord transformed into a deity and battled fiercely with the Sinister..."
Ethan had initially thought that after their departure, Alvin got into a conflict with another Sinister.
Now, this story seemed to be about Alvin's battle with Phito.
"Sir, let's not delve into the details. What happened afterward?"
"With the appearance of a Sinister in City 32, the Council of Elders from City 0 naturally sent people to inspect. It seems the city lord had some disagreements with the Council's representatives and was eventually arrested."
"What?"
Ethan and the women exchanged glances, filled with surprise.
"When will Lord Alvin return?"
"Return? The Link Tower has already broadcasted the news that Alvin colluded with the Sinister to obtain the power of deity of the Lord's Manor and has been imprisoned. It looks like City 32 is getting a new city lord."
The passerby awkwardly smacked his lips:
"We initially thought Lord Alvin was heroically combating the Sinister, but who would have thought Alvin had such ulterior motives, so greedy. Weren't the resources of the Lord's Manor enough for him alone?"
Ethan tuned out what the passerby said next.
"Could it be that we returned too late, resulting in Alvin's capture?" Ethan speculated, his mouth agape, a tinge of guilt in his voice.
Lana furrowed her brows, pondering, "That's possible, but why do I feel like it's more of a persecution? Did Alvin offend the interests of the Council of Elders in City 0?"
"I don't know," Ethan shook his head slightly. "Also, what exactly is this Link Tower?"
King, standing by, chimed in to explain: "The distances between the major cities are vast, even spanning across different spaces. So, the spatial experts of the Council of Elders created the Link Tower. Its initial purpose was to facilitate requests for aid or support among the cities when Sinisters attacked. Now, it has evolved to facilitate the exchange of information."
"That's interesting. Where is the Link Tower located?"
"It's in the eastern corner of the city. Do you want to go there, master?"
"Let's take a look."
King led Ethan and the others towards the Link Tower.
The Link Tower stood in the eastern corner of the city, towering into the clouds, like a giant finger pointing straight into the sky.
Ethan hadn't seen the Link Tower from outside the city, mainly because it was concealed by the power of space, invisible from afar and only visible when approached closely.
The tower was composed of countless metal plates, each finely polished and reflecting dazzling light.
Intricately complex patterns were engraved on them, with the power of space seeming to flow on the surface of the metal plates.
Entering the tower, they found the hall bustling with people.
Hanging above the hall were numerous square slabs, carved from crystal.
These slabs displayed various messages:
[Massive beast tide in City 67. The Lord's Manor is leading the city's warriors in a bloody battle.]
[Personal message from City 54: Seeking one Celestial Vein Flower, offering two divine crystals in exchange. Interested traders may hand over the item to an Urban Explorer.]
[...]
Ethan noticed that the crystal slabs in the hall followed a certain order.
Most of the slabs at the front detailed events from other cities, while a smaller section towards the back featured news from City 32.
One message, written in red, caught his eye:
[City 32's Lord Alvin colluded with a Sinister, draining the city's power of deity. After a thorough investigation by the Council of Elders of City 0, Alvin has been relieved of his duties effective immediately. Yarman assumes office today.]
Ethan's brow twitched slightly upon reading this.
Alvin had indeed been captured.
Lana, covering her mouth in shock, tugged at Ethan's clothes, then pointed in a direction.
"Ethan, look there, there's news about you."
Ethan's eyebrows lifted slightly, a hint of amusement in his voice:
"There's news about me? Are you sure it's not someone with the same name?"
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