Chapter 458: 75. The Small Fish
At the same time, outside the spatial rift, Gouwen, who was with Lord Bai, was bleakly staring at the rift in front of him. His left hand was being tightly gripped by Lord Bai, who, like a female pervert, was slowly rubbing and stroking his hand as if trying to extract the so-called “small kiss energy” in this manner.
As Lord Bai started to uncontrollably bring Gouwen’s fingers to his mouth, just about to taste them, Gouwen finally couldn’t hold back any longer. With a dark expression, he jerked his hand away and loudly reminded,
“Lord Bai, please have some self-respect! I am a married man, this is inappropriate!”
“Ah, is that Xu really that good? You keep lingering over her and murmuring about her outside. By the way, why did you suddenly return to the underwater before? I ended up waiting for you for several days.”
Gouwen paused slightly, then sighed as he looked at the golden dagger in his hand and said,
“Just a little family matter.”
“Let me guess… is it related to your wife?”
Gouwen pressed his lips together, seemingly reluctant to say more, but he felt a little annoyed inside, not knowing when Fisher and the others would be done.
At the same moment, he slightly twitched his nose, as if catching a whiff of a rich floral scent.
He raised his head in confusion, only to see petals of peach blossoms raining down from the sky. But soon he realized that not only the sky, everything around him—the buildings, pedestrians, and the Lord Bai in front of him—began to slowly dissipate into delicate peach blossoms.
“Lord Bai?”
He murmured, and just as Lord Bai was about to say something, in the next second, he suddenly transformed into a burst of peach blossoms. Following that, everything here began to disperse into peach blossoms, as if a pink ocean was rushing towards him.
“No, what happened? Are they done over there?”
Gouwen scratched his head and stood up, still confused about what was happening. But quickly, two figures flew over from below. One was the winged Phoenix Race Neceria, and the other… well, Hela riding on her back?
Neceria had a face full of black lines as she gripped her lance. Even the icy mountain she was during the Sun-Searching was made exhausted by spending this day with Hela. It turned out that without other targets to tease, the prank victim became herself.
“So, if you’re afraid of being exposed, why didn’t you let me carry you up?”
“Because riding a phoenix is really cool!”
Hela, sitting on Neceria’s back, cheekily squeezed her and shouted with a smile,
“Let’s charge, Neceria! We’re going to join Fisher and the others! Gouwen, you’re here too! I just noticed. Come with us into the rift.”
Gouwen looked at the two in front of him and smiled helplessly, then turned to look at the open spatial rift behind them.
Inside the rift, in the Elf King’s palace filled with falling peach blossoms, Fisher glanced around at the vast hall. Since entering the hall, the presence of death that accompanied him seemed to have become more active, causing the mark left by Renee on his chest to pulse slightly with heat.
He clearly knew that the Elf King in front of him was just like himself, being pursued by death.
“So, the Duke of Peach’s plan from the very beginning was to let us enter Jianmu Palace in reality through her barrier?”
Behind him, Mikhail understood their current situation after hearing Fisher’s analysis. With that thought, a layer of fine cold sweat began to bead on his forehead, as he knew from spending time with Michael that being eyed by a Being of the Nineteen Rank was a terrifying matter, let alone that this Nineteen Rank existence wanted to kill him.
Fisher took a deep breath and approached the Elf King’s bedside. He used the Fluid Sword to pull apart the gauze curtains at the foot of the bed, revealing the withered form lying on the bed.
Like he was back then, the Elf King’s rank was reduced by death to the lowest value of the Elf race rank, appearing as though he had just stepped into the mythical rank.
But that was merely a theoretical rank value. Those tormented long-term by death become extremely fragile; the heart-pounding anxiety and despair of being pursued by death are even more unbearable.
At this moment, the Elf King before Fisher looked as dried as a piece of wrinkled wood. His originally jet-black long hair had turned pale and thin, and his eyes had shriveled as if leaving two deep holes in his face.
He wore a pale, thin robe, and withered hands still gripped the fruit growing from the flesh-and-blood tree outside. It was clear that he was relying on this fruit to prolong his life. Without the Loom of Fate, it was very difficult for him to survive under the rules of death. But relying on these fruits, he could barely survive like Fisher, who had relied on Erwind’s potions to extend his life, and perhaps even live longer.
But the Duke of Peach could no longer wait.
Fisher looked at the skinny, zombie-like Elf King and, after a moment of silence, said,
“Because no one wants to bear the blame of killing the King, not even the Duke of Peach. That’s why she needs us. It’s alright to steal the Trans and add some sins, of course.”
Mikhail’s heartbeat quickened. He looked at the continuously falling peach petal outside Jianmu Palace and, gritting his teeth, quickly walked to Fisher’s side and pressed his shoulder down, speaking in a low voice,
“This is not the time to consider these matters. How do we escape? Relying on Hela alone cannot stop the Duke of Peach; she wouldn’t even be able to last a single move against her. If the Duke of Peach has such a high status among the Elf race, then she and Michael must also.”
“Ah, so that’s how it is. You’re from Holy Realm, huh? Holy Realm is just like the [blade], not being cautious about the Trans at all, even treating them as tools. Once they lost control, it caused such a great calamity.”
But before Mikhail could finish his words, a melodious female voice suddenly echoed in the hall. Upon hearing that voice, every hair on the bodies of those present stood on end, as if they could feel an indescribable pressure.
Mikhail and Tang Zeming Asuka turned in disbelief to look downward, but saw a beautiful, mature, black-haired, long-eared elf standing in the midst of the gently falling peach blossom rain at the slightly opened Supreme Gate. Although her age didn’t quite match, looking at her familiar features, her distinct high bun, and the much larger pink skirt with embroidered shoes, it was not hard to guess the identity of this terrifying elf.
One of the Three, Peach.
“But you small fish humans are really clever. I thought you wouldn’t distinguish between the past and the present, yet you became aware so quickly.”
She was looking at Fisher, but the pink eyes held little warmth, only terrifying indifference.
As she stepped forward, fresh branches began to unfurl from the blue bricks on the ground, quickly blooming into pink peach blossoms.
Amidst the spectacular display of falling petals, she stepped onto the steps leading to the Elf King’s palace like a mortal. As she walked, she looked around and said,
“Mother hopes all children get along harmoniously, as Lord Ramastia desires, just as all mothers in the world love their children. She bestowed the past and the future to me and Ch, yet the [blade] has nothing and has been burdened with the heavy responsibility of establishing order for the elves [ceremony]. I understand the [blade]’s grievances, and I understand mother’s favoritism towards him; I and my predecessor have always been honest in our role as the [Grand Duke], willingly shielding him from the storm without complaints.
“I have guarded for twenty thousand years. If the [blade] transitioned without impediment, even if he forged a new [ceremony], he would still remain noble and inspiring. But I didn’t expect that he would be so greedy that he wouldn’t even accept this consequence. He fears the old [ceremony]’s turnover, even going so far as to engage in such dealings, secretly raising the Trans and poisoning living beings, even mother gave him the most precious Loom of Fate to help him escape death.”
But clearly, no one in the hall wanted to hear her speak those words because as the Duke of Peach moved closer, the lethal and terrifying pressure of rank gradually reached them. Tang Zeming Asuka’s legs went weak, nearly collapsing to the ground, desperately bracing herself against the floor, her legs still trembling uncontrollably.
Mikhail’s right arm, which was prosthetic, slowly rose, wanting to fight to the death, but found the mechanical arm trembling incessantly, unsteady like chaff.
“I should not have come down. I might as well stay beside Michael.”
With a forced smile, an unexpected remark escaped his lips, for the truth laid before them was indeed a situation of certain death.
Even with Hela, Neceria, and Gouwen outside, they could only muster one mythical being plus three Fourteenth Rank beings and two ordinary humans. This configuration would allow the Duke of Peach to wipe out a hundred of them with just one finger, they were utterly outclassed.
Meanwhile, Fisher tightened his grip on the Fluid Sword, his mind racing.
Could it be that there was truly no glimmer of hope?
No, there was.
Suddenly, Fisher thought of something, looking through the wall toward the direction beyond the vast hall, where the illusory World Tree and broad ocean lay.
“Peach.”
At that moment, unexpectedly, the Elf King’s [blade] behind Fisher suddenly spoke weakly.
The Duke of Peach’s step faltered slightly, and her brows knit together as she looked at the struggling Elf King who had just barely climbed up and disdainfully said,
“You truly are damned, [blade].”
“Cough.”
The [blade] coughed a few times, struggling to articulate until he painfully managed to stuff a fruit clenched in his right hand into his mouth. His eyes lightened up somewhat, at least no longer empty holes,
“I was careless… Let that Trans… but I didn’t do anything wrong. If the [ceremony] collapses, our kin will surely turn against each other. Mother does not wish for us to act this way.”
“With me around, do they dare? Or do you believe that I have never trusted you, thinking that I am the source of the infighting? Do you think I would usurp power?”
The Duke of Peach raised an eyebrow and looked at the [blade] on the bed, speaking somewhat angrily.
As she spoke, the branches of the peach trees outside became more lush, seemingly coming alive as they spread and wrapped around the outer hall, the overpowering aura gathering around the dying, withered Elf King.
Yet faced with her questioning, the [blade] merely shook his head and sighed deeply, his utterly dried-up eyes fixed on the Duke of Peach before him, finally saying,
“It’s not you; it’s Ch. She’s not right.”
“Ch? What about that fellow?”
As the two siblings confronted each other, Fisher suddenly realized something beside them, his gaze abruptly sharp.
He had thought of a feasible way to break the deadlock. Though it was extremely risky, he had to try; otherwise, they would all die here, perishing at the hands of the Nineteen Rank Duke of Peach!
The [blade] muttered about wanting to say something but had been tortured by death to the point of abnormality. His body had shrunk to a frail state, his teeth had fallen out, and his thoughts had grown extremely sluggish. At that moment, Fisher suddenly looked at Tang Zeming Asuka beside him and shouted,
“Tang Zeming! Detonate all the magic on you towards the sky!!”
“Eh? Huh?!”
Before Tang Zeming could even react, they witnessed a scene that shocked everyone present.
Fisher’s Fluid Sword suddenly elongated, and he swiftly gripped the Elf King, holding him less than half a meter away. The instant the Duke of Peach’s gaze shifted toward him, Fisher sensed danger and instinctively turned his head, but something behind him exploded, giving way to blossoming pink peach flowers.
“Cough!”
Fisher coughed violently, but he still forced himself to endure the intense pain that paralyzed him, sinking the blade deeply into the [blade]’s neck. In an instant, a crimson mist erupted, as the Elf King, tortured by death, was so fragile that even the Fluid Sword could take his life.
“You deserve this. By the way, I’ll borrow your head.”
Fisher whispered into his ear, then with a loud shout, he gripped the [blade]’s head firmly and yanked it off, causing the Elf King’s head and body to separate instantly.
“Roar!”
The ever-present death leapt forward and instantaneously consumed everything, yet Fisher still tightly held onto the Elven King’s head, lifting it toward the Duke of Peach before him,
“Aren’t you going to pin the blame of killing the Elf King on us? Fine, then I’ll kill him for you to see.”
“You’re seeking death, small fish.”
The Duke of Peach glared coldly at Fisher before her, the peach blossoms on her body blooming little by little, but Fisher didn’t waste time talking with her and fiercely aimed the sword at her head, intending to crush it.
Because it had been mentioned before, the reincarnation of elves post-death was essentially a revival; both their bodies and souls were that of their previous lives, merely being reborn through the tree’s reconstruction. However, this had a prerequisite; their bodies had to be planted in the tree to reincarnate. If the corpse was missing, then they lost the right to be reborn.
The first step of the plan must be to do something with the Elf King’s corpse; the battle situation would undoubtedly favor the Duke of Peach, and they couldn’t possibly defeat her. Their only option was to escape.
Thus, the crux of the contradiction lay in how to run away.
As the Duke of Peach gazed at Fisher’s movements, she slightly raised her eyes, and her sword-holding right hand abruptly froze. In the next moment, branches sprouted from Fisher’s sturdy arm, growing peach blossoms.
Fisher’s face paled as he simultaneously lost sensation in his back and hands, that sensation almost instantly threatening to swallow him whole and turn him into a peach tree.
But he didn’t stop; instead, he suddenly loosened his grip, letting the [blade]’s head drop to the ground, using all his strength to prepare to crush it.
He was certain that the Duke of Peach wouldn’t allow the [blade] to completely perish; she only dared to kill the [blade] in this world, or the World Tree wouldn’t let her off.
At the same time, he shouted again to Tang Zeming Asuka,
“Tang Zeming!!”
“Got it!”
Tang Zeming Asuka hadn’t even processed Fisher’s tragic situation yet. Having been born in a peaceful era, she had never felt the instantaneous pressure of death, yet upon hearing Fisher’s roar, despite her fear, she suppressed her terror, shut her eyes tightly, and unleashed all the magic hidden within her.
“Buzz, buzz, buzz!”
The next second, as dozens of wind spells erupted from her, her white robe shredded apart, revealing the pure, tightly-fitted bear undershirt beneath. But she could care less about modesty at that moment; she precisely allowed all magic she had been harboring to burst forth.
Thus, a massive energy erupted like a tornado, instantly piercing through the hall’s ceiling and the surrounding walls, the chaotic wind being more terrifying than any wind magic Fisher had ever encountered.
It seemed that the magic released by Tang Zeming Asuka gained a certain degree of enhanced effectiveness, and one could tell from the furious whirlwind at that moment.
The howling tornado blew away the buildings and smashed the lower half of the [blade] away, uprooting even the robust flesh-and-blood giant trees growing outside, exposing the eerie white bones beneath the soil.
But the Duke of Peach stood firm, allowing the whirlwind, mixed with fragments of buildings, to soar outside the spatial rift, climbing higher. With one hand she held the [blade]’s body, and with the other, she gave a slight shake, and Fisher was about to explode directly.
But before that could happen, Mikhail bravely blocked Fisher, taking the fatal hit for him.
“Clang!”
As a result of her effortless flick, half of Mikhail’s head burst open, and dense peach blossom branches sprouted from inside.
“Mr. Mikhail!”
Tang Zeming Asuka’s face went pale, shouting loudly.
Fisher also saw the situation over there, grinding his teeth, preparing to strike the [blade]’s head on the ground with all his might.
Meanwhile, the Duke of Peach quickly realized that these three small fish intended to eliminate the existence of the Elf King before her.
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(End of Chapter)
