Chapter 253: Chapter 237: Blade of Decay (Part 2)
But the second beam of pale purple light had already arrived.
This time, the beam abruptly expanded the instant it struck the Bone Shield.
HUM!
A pale purple Domain with a ten-meter radius erupted into existence.
[Entropy Change Domain]!
Inside the Domain, the temperature began to fluctuate wildly.
One moment, it was extreme cold, and a thick layer of ice condensed on the Bone Shield’s surface.
The next, the temperature soared to several thousand degrees. The ice shattered, and the Bone Shield’s structure began to warp and disintegrate.
"Wh-what is this Witchcraft?!"
The young Witch’s eyes widened in terror.
Her Bone Shield was a defensive measure derived from the Tier Two Witchcraft Artifact, the [Wailing Skull], and was strong enough to block a direct hit from a Level One Peak Witchcraft.
Yet now, within this strange Domain, the Bone Shield’s Energy Structure was spontaneously collapsing.
’It’s as if... the Witchcraft Model has become chaotic and "disorderly"!’
"Fall back! Get out now!" Mars roared, already scrambling backward.
But after just three steps, he felt the ground beneath him vanish.
He looked down.
At some point, a fist-sized, pitch-black hole had appeared in the ground.
The hole had a smooth edge and was expanding outward at a terrifying speed, devouring everything in its path: Rock, dust, even light!
[Gravity Collapse Ball] - Area Mode!
Mars’s face went deathly pale as he frantically channeled his Spiritual Power.
Gray-black Death Energy surged from his body, coalescing beneath his feet into a humus-like cushion.
But it was useless.
The gravitational Singularity’s collapse ignored the energy cushion, acting directly on physical matter.
His left foot began to twist and compress, starting at the ankle, his bones emitting a sickening crunch.
"AHHHH...!"
Mars let out a bloodcurdling scream and violently swung his right arm.
A Short Blade pieced together from bone hacked down at his own left leg.
CRACK!
His left leg was severed clean at the knee!
The severed leg was sucked into the black hole and instantly annihilated.
Mars used the force of the blow to roll backward. Blood spewed from the stump, leaving a gruesome trail on the ground.
"Captain!" the young Witch cried, starting to move forward.
"Forget about me! Activate the array!"
Gritting his teeth, Mars slammed his remaining right hand onto the core node of the Rune on the ground!
VMMMMM!!!
A dark green light erupted from the ground!
Countless chains of condensed Curse Energy erupted from the Rune.
They lunged toward the corner of the corridor like living vipers.
[Soul Shackles] - Full Release!
But...
The chains hit nothing.
The corner was empty.
Mars froze.
The young Witch froze too.
Then they heard a sound.
A faint whistle of displaced air came from directly above them.
They both looked up simultaneously.
Somehow, Ian was already standing in a recess in the ceiling, his body pressed flush against the wall.
The [Invisibility Technique: Mimicry] effect allowed him to blend perfectly with his surroundings.
He held his right hand out, palm aimed downward.
His fingers spread.
"Goodbye."
He whispered a single word.
The next second, thirty-six Floating Crystal Cones poured down like a sudden storm!
A pale golden luster flowed across the surface of each Crystal Cone.
It was an enhancement from Crystalized Spiritual Power, which was extremely effective against Spirit Bodies, Curses, and Death Energy!
THWIP-THWIP-THWIP-THWIP-THWIP!
A rapid series of piercing sounds rang out.
The young Witch’s Bone Shield, already incredibly fragile from the erosion of the Entropy Change Domain, was instantly riddled with holes when struck head-on by the storm of Crystal Cones.
Three Crystal Cones pierced her brow, throat, and heart, nailing her to the wall!
Mars frantically channeled his remaining Death Energy, forming a layer of gray-black mist around his body.
The Crystal Cones’ speed dropped sharply upon entering the mist, but they continued to slowly pierce through!
"You... what kind of monster are you..."
Mars asked hoarsely, his eyes filled with despair.
’He saw it all clearly now.’
’The target who had "vanished" at the corner had never even entered the kill zone.’
’He had launched his attack from fifty meters away.’
’He used that bizarre beam for a precision kill from afar, the gravitational Singularity to restrict their movement, and finally, Invisibility to flank them from above and finish the job.’
’His tactics were machinelike in their precision.’
’His killing was as efficient as a slaughterhouse.’
’Was this really... just a Level One Wizard who had been promoted less than two years ago?!’
Ian leaped down from above, landing three meters in front of Mars.
He didn’t move closer, merely watched the one-legged Withered Wizard calmly.
"Blade of Decay?" Ian asked.
"Vice-captain of the Blade of Decay... Mars," the man ground out.
His remaining right hand quietly crept towards his waist, where a Self-Destruct Rune was hidden.
But Ian was faster.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
A pale-gold thread, almost invisible to the naked eye, shot out from his eyes.
It instantly pierced the space between Mars’s brows.
[Crystal Silk Thread] - Soul Piercing!
Mars’s body convulsed.
’He felt something pierce his Sea of Spirit. It was cold, sharp, and carried with it an absolute Sense of Order.’
’Before that thread, his remaining Death Energy was as fragile as paper, easily torn asunder and pierced through!’
"ARGHHHH!"
Mars let out an inhuman shriek as dark red blood seeped from his eyes, ears, nostrils, and mouth.
’His consciousness began to shatter. His memories were being forcibly rifled through, the very core of his Soul ground to pieces by that thread!’
The shriek cut off abruptly.
Mars’s body collapsed limply to the ground, eyes wide and pupils unfocused.
An expression of ultimate agony and fear was frozen on his face.
Ian retracted the Crystal Silk Thread, frowning slightly.
’There’s a Restriction on his soul... I can only read fragments of his memories.’
He managed to capture several key images from Mars’s fragmented memories.
Silas the Dead Speaker, in a temporary camp at Longgu Port, ordering five members of the Blade of Decay.
"At all costs, kill Ian Marcus."
After entering the ruins, the five-man squad had been lying in ambush at the entrance to the second level: the "Corridor Maze."
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