Chapter 519: Pursuit
Behind her, the girl’s desperate cries echo. Ig hears her chasing, falling, gritting her teeth and standing up, only for it to turn into whimpering.
“Xiao Mi, I’m sorry…”
A deep sense of guilt tears at his heart. Yet, he doesn’t look back, nor does he pause for even a moment.
Is it fear of seeing her sad expression and shaking his resolve?
Ig doesn’t know. But undoubtedly, he has once again hurt a gentle and kind girl who loves him… and he can only offer his insincere apologies.
This is a thought that echoes countless times in Ig’s heart, something he cannot repay…
But, in his heart, there is another girl, Veer, the Young Lady…
“This is what I owe you… Yes, how can I ever repay my feelings for you?”
The same debt. However, to himself, its meaning is completely different.
He had already made his choice.
Ig forcefully lifts his face, his expression turning resolute again, and rushes towards the very center where fire and light clash, with all his might.
The interplay of fiery and luminous shadows casts a large expanse of darkness on the ground. Ig passes through Lichen, encountering quite a few nobles, commoners, and even many royal palace knights along the way.
These residents also see Ig rushing towards the palace, and many excitedly wave him on. However, Ig ignores them all.
Among them, there are lingering conversations:
“Look, isn’t that Lord Ig… Why is he in such a hurry? Is he trying to get to the palace?”
“Of course! Lord Ig is the heir chosen by His Majesty the King, and a candidate for Hero! Until now, facing this evil goddess, His Majesty has not been able to wield the Sacred Sword, most likely because it is with Lord Ig!”
“His Majesty, without the Sacred Sword, has already completely suppressed this goddess. If they obtain the Sacred Sword from Lord Ig, won’t victory be easy… Long live the King, long live the Sacred Sword!”
There are also those with doubts:
“But, that goddess seems to be a young girl… and somewhat resembles a former female companion of Lord Ig. If, by any chance, Lord Ig has a moment of compassion…”
However, such hesitant voices are quickly interrupted by reprimands: “Lord Ig is our hero! Even if he has a sliver of compassion, shouldn’t he uphold righteousness at this time… And, do you doubt His Majesty the King’s judgment!”
The voices flash in Ig’s mind like sparks.
Ig doesn’t pay attention to their words, which lack understanding of the situation. Instead, he feels a long-lost smile appear on his face due to their labeling of Verafia as an “evil god.”
He never imagined that such a cute and charming young girl would also be called an “evil god”?
However, this smile is fleeting. Ig can’t help but wonder, by coming to the girl’s side, what can he do for her?
Even though, for the past six months, in Lichen, he has become a prominent figure. Not only is he the commander of the elite Paladin Order, but even Grand Dukes and influential court ministers subtly show him respect. He even defeated the powerful Saint Rank, Winsor.
However, Ig knows better. All of this is bestowed by Lancaster. Even the strength to defeat a Saint Rank was gained from the Sacred Sword.
Lancaster can easily strip all of this away from him with a single thought, without any chance of resistance… After all, how can a pawn resist its master?
Without the Sacred Sword, without the prestigious status granted by Lancaster, what is he left with… A mere Platinum, what qualification does he have to stand before her, to protect her?
The cool night wind leaves him in silence. Snapping back to reality, Ig arrives before the royal palace. A surge of spiritual pressure surges within the light. countless knights in silver armor are arrayed with swords, and mages’ robes billow from the castle towers.
And at the apex of the sky, a terrifying battle of god-level proportions turns the entire sky into a battlefield. Spilling divine might clashes, sword light and divine power obliterate into brilliant radiance!
—
In the sky divided by light and flame, the battle between Verafia and Lancaster intensifies.
Each clash of the sword of fire and the sword of light unleashes terrifying authority, striking each other amidst glorious divine might. And beyond the laws, astonishing sword techniques are also displayed by the two. The terrifying power almost eradicates the imprints of the laws in heaven and earth!
Yes, in addition to the authority imprint of Verafia herself as a fire deity and the blazing fires that scorch the heavens and earth, Verafia has even drawn her sword and unleashed the sword techniques for which she was once known as Lothosel!
Starflow Sword Qi Slash, Void Annihilation’s Severance, even the Sword of Twilight’s Final Silence!
These terrifying sword techniques, once lost to the river of history with her demise, are now displayed anew in Verafia’s hand, wielding the divine sword.
However, in the struggle against Lancaster, Verafia is undoubtedly at an absolute disadvantage.
The Blazing Fire Startled Swan roars within the domain of endless light. Its astonishing sword light almost tears through this pure domain of light, but the endless light acts like a cage and chains, grinding down the fire and crushing the sword light!
Her pure white long dress dances in the light. Crystal high heels land between golden-white sacred light. Her white jade lotus-like feet step lightly, and the soft radiance illuminates her jade lotus skin, making it pure and flawless, sacred yet luxurious.
However, the girl’s posture is one of disarray. Her gilded, beautiful hair is disheveled, sticking to her sweat-soaked snow-white skin. Her chest heaves continuously under her white long dress as she gasps for breath.
She is a maiden of a deity, wielding boundless authority. The flames of the entire world are her divine power—yet, at this moment, her physiological signs are akin to an overexerted mortal. How can she not see her own depletion?
Even such a moment to catch her breath, she can hardly have—
This is a domain shrouded in light. All light is Lancaster’s weapon!
Almost instantly, Verafia forcibly draws her sword and stands up. Tumbling golden flames ignite the surrounding light domain. The dim Sword of Blazing Flame reignites its true flame—this is pure crimson, Herafir’s immortal flame!
And above the authority of the flame, is a brilliant final sword light!
Lancaster’s figure appears in the starry sky. The Star River Sword held in his right hand is filled with pouring sacred light, like the shadow of an immaculate sacred sword. It spans the entire sky as he brings his sword down.
Even the immortal sword light, which startles the world, is undoubtedly extinguished under the boundless sacred light. The next moment, Lancaster steps before the girl, his eyes bright, a slight smile curving his lips, while the sword he draws strikes without hesitation.
“Boom!”
The fiery light is almost completely dimmed, and the girl’s figure is sent flying back dozens of meters. She lets out a muffled groan, and a trace of golden divine blood slips from the corner of her mouth.
The final sword strike not only depleted almost all of her divine power, forcing her to use Herafir’s flame, but it was also only barely held for a moment against Lancaster’s Sacred Light Sword.
Lancaster’s Great Light Sword undoubtedly severely wounded her status, almost knocking her from her divine rank. Even the divine spark of the fire god is incredibly dim, unable to bear the burden, as if it were about to shatter!
“Such brilliant sword techniques… I never imagined I would see them again,”
A leisurely young man’s voice comes from the surging divine power, as if sighing in lament.
Lancaster looks at the divine maiden before him, who is lightly biting her thin lips, propping up her dim divine sword with a slender hand, yet stubbornly refusing to kneel. He only shows a smile of interest and does not attack her.
“Lancaster…”
Every trace of divine power seems to be imprinted with the mark of light, burning her blood and tearing at her divine status. However, the white-dressed, golden-haired girl remains persistent and proud, slowly lifting her head, emitting a slender voice filled with resentment.
And in her golden eyes, more gorgeous than any gem in the world, all transcendence and indifference have been washed away. All that remains is her true, sole pursuit… immeasurable hatred!
However, the girl’s hatred does not elicit any reaction from Lancaster. His face remains with a smile that encompasses everything. As he steps closer, the traces of light spread and envelop the gaps in the world.
The sword edge in his hand transforms into ten thousand feet of light. Lancaster looks at Verafia, who is struggling to stand in the ruins, and a smile curves his lips:
“Not only that brilliant final sword strike, but even Lothosel’s other sword techniques… Back then, in your territory, Ig obtained the former Traus. Perhaps, his sword techniques were also taught by you?”
Lancaster’s words, flowing with a smile, cause Verafia’s eyes to suddenly sharpen. His words almost reveal everything!
“Lancaster… you’ve known all along!”
The girl’s slender and beautiful voice, uttered through gritted teeth, contains not only previous hatred but also the anger from Lancaster’s pretense of playing with her, knowing all along.
Lancaster shakes his head slightly: “I merely saw a beautiful goddess小姐 rashly intrude into my domain… However, besides you, who else in this world could harbor such hatred towards me?”
Lancaster’s voice resonates with majestic righteousness, like the vast light of heaven and earth!
In her golden eyes, Verafia’s long eyelashes flutter lightly. There is no surprise in her expression.
With Lancaster’s current status, why would he regret or resent past events?
However, Verafia does not need his remorse or apology, nor does she need to judge him from a moral standpoint. All she needs is revenge—
The Sword of Blazing Flames suddenly ignites with flames—this is not purely the power of flames under her control, but rather her suppressed resentment and rage accumulated over a hundred years, and even longer, in that sea of flames!
“Rumble!”
The scarlet lotus karma fire sweeps and burns within the light domain. The scorching heat is so intense that it almost melts the entire expanse of light. However, Lancaster suddenly reaches out his hand and smashes the scorching scarlet flames with a palm.
The scorching flames, capable of drying up mountains and rivers, are almost extinguished beneath Lancaster’s palm!
And within the light-shrouded, Lancaster’s slender, jade-like hand suddenly grabs hold of the girl’s long sword.
Intense light surges violently. The crimson-gold Sword of Blazing Flames trembles under the unbearable load. With a cracking sound, bright cracks appear on the magnificent blade condensed from the divine source of flames!
