Ch 335: The Hand You’re Trying To Hold Isn’t Mine Anymore. Go Back

The decisive battle began, with Bal and Yselle leading the charge.

“『Hero’s Radiance』!”

Bal activated a Skill he hadn’t used since the battle with the Pseudo-God. With the massive Enhancement from the 『Hero’s Radiance』, Bal assaulted Ilis of the Black Wing with astonishing speed and power.

“Not enough.”

Ilis of the Black Wing blocked Bal’s Attack with her Broken Sword. She retreated, spreading her Black Wings, and simultaneously unleashed several homing Light Balls to attack Bal.

“Don’t think I’m not here. When it comes to Magic, I’ve never truly lost to anyone.”

Phia planted her spear into the Ground. Behind her, a giant Magic Formation appeared, its complex patterns shining with purple lightning. Countless bolts of homing lightning clashed with the homing lightning pursuing Bal, each collision creating a considerable Explosion.

“It’s not over yet!”

Several Arrows shot towards Ilis of the Black Wing. The Arrows’ trajectories were incredibly precise, each one predicting Ilis’s movements and aimed at her vital points.

“An observer?”

Ilis continuously used Magic to defend against the distant attacks, while simultaneously using her Broken Sword to counter Bal and Yselle’s close-range Attacks. In a gap between repelling the two, she glanced at Grey, and then launched several Greatswords condensed from the Black Tide towards him.

“You’re a nuisance, so get out of here.”

Faced with the incoming Greatswords, Grey didn’t hesitate. He shot Arrows to disrupt their flight paths. When confronted with the last un-deflected Greatsword, Grey remained unshaken. A familiar Shield blocked the Greatsword; its owner was Nia, who hadn’t made a move until now.

“Really… is this the only choice?”

Nia stared intently at Ilis of the Black Wing. She was still hesitating, hoping there was a way to salvage the situation. But Ilis’s Black Tide Greatswords and Magic were the only responses Nia received. Nia left her Separate Sword Shield beside Grey, making the decision to join the battle.

“Good.”

Seeing battle markings appear on Nia’s face, and her Tail glowing gold, Ilis knew Nia was serious. Nia coordinated with Bal and Yselle’s Attacks, weaving in her own close-range Attacks between theirs, while using ranged Attacks imbued with Divine Magic to restrain Ilis when she couldn’t get close.

“Xiaoyue, protect Philia.”

Phia, who had been using Magic, drew her spear. After giving instructions to Xiaoyue, she charged towards Bal to provide Reinforcement.

“Understood, Madam.”

Xiaoyue, wielding her Spear-Axe, stood in front of Philia, observing the Battlefield. But a true Battlefield cannot be observed from only one direction; the entire Inverted Tower was Ilis’s weapon. In a dark corner, a Greatsword condensed from the Black Tide silently shot towards Philia’s back.

“Xiao Jiu?”

Xiao Jiu on Philia’s shoulder sensed something amiss. At the critical moment, it breathed out a Fireball, causing the Greatsword to deviate. When Philia turned around, a Greatsword flew past her.

“Did you save Philia? Xiao Jiu.”

Philia looked at Xiao Jiu flapping its wings beside her. Xiao Jiu nodded.

“Thank you!”

When Bal noticed the situation with Philia, this daughter-obsessed father couldn’t stand it anymore.

“『Ultimate Technique: Weapon River Galaxy』!”

Countless Projection Weapons flew from behind Bal towards Ilis, but Ilis seemed prepared.

“『Thousand Swords』.”

Many Greatswords condensed from the Black Tide also appeared behind Ilis, and the two sides’ Weapons clashed.

“『Godly Sword Rain』!”

Nia swung her Greatsword. A Sword Rain, imbued with a blue Spirit Flame, fell from above Ilis. Ilis attempted to block with her Black Tide swords, but the Spirit Flame’s effect caused the Black Tide swords to vanish the moment they approached the Sword Rain.

“Well done.”

Ilis muttered, this being the first time since appearing before everyone that she was on the defensive.

“But it’s still not enough.”

Ilis summoned the Black Tide. Instead of using it to engulf everyone, she enveloped herself in it. The Black Tide prevented close-range attacks, and Yselle, who was the only one capable of breaking through it, was slowed down due to overuse of her Magic. When the Black Tide’s coverage became complete, half of Ilis’s Black Wing transformed into a Black Tide sword, a black ring hovered above her head, and her dark Battle Armor adhered perfectly to her body. This was Ilis’s true form.

“Let the useless ones retreat.”

With a single Slash from her complete form, Ilis sent a powerful gust of wind that blew everyone away. Then, raising the sword repaired by the Black Tide, she brought down dozens of transparent swords onto everyone except Nia and Yselle.

“What did you do to them!”

Yselle attempted to break through these transparent swords that resembled cages, but she failed.

“They have no right to participate in this final holy war. In half an hour, they will be consumed by the Black Tide and become my power.”

Ilis looked at Nia and Yselle emotionlessly.

“Let’s change the battlefield.”

She lightly drew her sword through the air. The next second, Nia, Yselle, and Ilis found themselves on an island.

“Where is this?”

Nia looked around. The place felt familiar, as if she had seen it before.

“This is Solandale, recreated using the Black Tide.”

“What are you trying to do?”

Yselle supported herself with her sword. Her Seal had been completely released, and her time was running out. But Ilis didn’t answer. She shook her head, looking at the battered Yselle.

“As expected, you failed. Useless trash, return to me.”

“Don’t you dare insult her!”

An enraged Nia raised her complete Greatsword and charged at Ilis. Spirit Flames continuously erupted from her fox tail, momentarily suppressing Ilis.

“She is also a Saintess, she’s not a Puppet to be manipulated. She has her own Life, though short, she is a living being!”

“Get out of the way!”

The blade wings behind Ilis flew out. Although Nia promptly decomposed her Greatsword and formed a Shield with Separate Swords, one blade wing pierced through the Shield and Yselle behind her.

“Yselle!”

Nia fiercely repelled Ilis and retreated to Yselle’s side, supporting her.

“Don’t die, Yselle!”

Nia pulled out the blade wing and used Healing Magic imbued with Divine Magic to heal Yselle.

“Nia… don’t be sad… knowing you… I… I’ve been so lucky…”

“Don’t talk, don’t fall asleep!”

“I’m sorry… I’m a liar… I can’t go with you…”

Yselle’s body began to dissipate into points of light. Nia held Yselle’s body, tears streaming down her face.

“No! You can’t leave! Yselle!!”

“It’s useless. That is the doomed wing; she’s beyond saving.”

Ilis’s voice came from behind Nia. She raised her Greatsword, powering up. A dark light shone at the tip of the blade.

“Ilis!!!”

Nia, filled with grief and rage, roared Ilis’s name, her Magic erupting.

“Beast God! I temporarily lend you my body, help me avenge Yselle! 『Complete Possession』!”

Nia’s body began to convulse. The battle markings on her face spread to her entire body, and her nine fox tails changed from gold to white light. At the same time, Ilis finished powering up and brought down the Greatsword imbued with the Black Tide. Nia didn’t dodge; she didn’t even use her Greatsword. She simply used two fingers to catch Ilis’s blow.

“What?!”

A Figure appeared behind Nia, the last power Yselle left for Nia. Nia tightened her fingers, snapping the Greatsword condensed from the Black Tide. Then, she slowly floated into the air, the halo behind her head radiating a Sacred light. Nia didn’t give Ilis time to repair her weapon. She clenched her fist and charged at Ilis, her Greatsword flying with her.

“『Magic Sword Storm: Divine Style』.”

Nia spoke in a deep voice, filled with divinity and resonance. The Greatsword beside her immediately disintegrated, seven Separate Swords imbued with Divine Magic impaling Ilis, restraining her. Nia grabbed the main sword and charged at Ilis. Just as Bal had demonstrated in the Fighting Arena in Guangyue Town, Nia perfectly replicated Bal’s Magic Sword Storm, amplifying its power with Divine Magic.

“Ugh… is this the power of a God?”

Ilis, wounded by Nia’s Magic Sword Storm, retreated to the side, using her Broken Sword to support herself and trying to repair the damage with the Black Tide.

“It’s not over yet!”

Nia charged at Ilis again. This time, Oulan’s Figure appeared behind her.

“Oulan…”

Oulan’s appearance momentarily distracted Ilis. Nia seized the opportunity and slashed at Ilis. Ilis recovered, blocking Nia’s Slash with her blade wings.

Nia roared, and this time, a Three-Headed Dog appeared behind her.

“Xiao Hei, Xiao Nan, Bell…”

Ilis whispered the names of the three dogs, her hands trembling.

“Pay for Yselle!”

Nia raised her fully assembled Greatsword, just like Ilis had done before.

“Father King…”

“HAAAA!”

As the Greatsword fell, at the moment of impact, Ilis clearly saw Yselle grasping the Greatsword together with Nia.

“Yselle… you succeeded…”

A pillar of light erupted from beneath Ilis’s feet, enveloping her. Her memories flooded back like a slideshow, and all the Black Tide she had absorbed was purified by Nia’s Divine Magic.

“Ilis, I’ve come for you.”

As Ilis dissipated, she saw Yselle, along with Oulan, the three dogs, and Hassan, welcoming her. Yselle reached out to her, and she responded, smiling as she reached out her hand.

The entire Space began to shatter. The next second, Nia found herself on the 99th floor of the Inverted Tower, her sword piercing Ilis’s body.

“Well done… Nia…”

The Inverted Tower began to collapse. Ilis used her last strength to push Nia away, falling towards the gap in the collapsing Inverted Tower, a gap leading to the surface of the Atlantis Sea.

Nia was about to reach for Ilis, but she remembered Bal and the others.

“Go, Nia.”

Bal stood behind Nia, gently patting her shoulder. Nia nodded and immediately jumped towards the collapsing gap.

“Grab my hand!”

Nia reached out, trying to get closer to Ilis. After passing through a thick layer of clouds, she grasped Ilis’s hand.

“Nia…”

Ilis opened her eyes, her face pale but still smiling as she looked at Nia.

“Yselle, you’re still here!”

Nia asked Ilis with a trembling voice, and Ilis nodded.

“The hand you should grasp is no longer mine… I’m a Criminal, you should go back…”

Yselle gently pushed Nia away, slowly falling towards the Sea, leaving Nia floating alone in the air.

Using Yselle’s last power, Nia returned to Bal’s side, the disintegration of the Inverted Tower temporarily halted by Phia’s Magic.

“Go back.”

Bal ruffled Nia’s head. Nia had already released the Divine Possession and returned to her original form.

“Can you wait a moment?”

Nia looked up at Bal, and he allowed it.

“Sister-in-law, can you fly me to the top of this island?”

“What are you going to do?”

“I have a feeling something is waiting for me there.”

“Alright, let’s go together.”

Phia cast Anti-Gravity Magic on everyone and flew them out through the gap in the Inverted Tower, following the outer layer of the tower towards the top of the island.

“This is!?”

Seeing the red Iris Flowers blooming above the island, everyone was surprised.

Nia walked into the flowerbed, inserted her hand into the soil and carefully took out a red Iris Flower. She walked to Phia with the flower.

“Can you find a vase for me?”

Phia nodded and took out a beautiful vase from Extradimensional Space and handed it to Nia. Nia placed the Iris Flower in the vase.

“Let’s go back.”

“Mm.”

Phia nodded, and she teleported everyone to Atlantis. After they left, the floating city continued to disintegrate, eventually turning into fragments and sinking into the Sea.