Chapter 632 - 577: Departure of a Friend (1/2)

”Are you alright?”

Lucy support Arthur and worriedly asked. Although she was supposed to follow Arthur's clones, she just couldn't sit still and let him face all of them together so she ended up returning almost immediately. Her nine lotuses released a clear blue aura which enveloped him and conjured a powerful defensive barrier. The moment Zodiak succeeded in trapping Sol'khin's soul, Arthur felt incredibly weakened and oddly dizzy. His breathing was uneven and heavy and his hand was pressed against his heart.

”It's nothing… nothing.” He bit his lower lips and raised his head, meeting an eye to eye with Seraph and several other contestants which circled around him, all eyeing him greedily. The Blessing Stone vanished by the Wish Star was still floating next to the parasite, strangely unwilling to leave his side.

”Hand over the Wish Star!”

Hach'ara spat some black blood and loudly spoke, his aura multiplying by several folds as he showcased his dominance. He wasn't the only one as the Saber Saint and Jade Emperor were also displaying hostility, only Sickle Bart remained at the back, not because he gave up but due to the fatal injuries he sustained from Arthur when he was using the Black Dragon's body.

”Hand it over? It doesn't seem to want to leave his side.”

Lucy glanced at the blinding blob of light circling around Arthur and mockingly said to the cultivators surrounding her. There were seven to eight Exalted Gods and the number of Overgods was staggering, many of the contestants there were eliminated early didn't want to let go of this golden opportunity but they didn't behave as brazenly as Hach'ara and the rest as they were much weaker.

Even if they don't get the Wish Star, they can still help the powerhouses and earn their favor, which is also something very valuable to them.

The Sword God Ber Von Xin showed no interest in the Wish Star, he was staring at the half-kneeling Arthur while pondering about something.

”Your partner, Arthur MoonStar, isn't the winner of the competition. He already caused us enough trouble by allowing Zodiak to get the Blessing Stone! I advise you to take a step back and let us get the Wish Star.”

A praying mantis and a golden beetles appeared in front of Hach'ara, they had huge builds and emitted an aura that wasn't the least bit inferior to their master.

The Saber Saint unsheathed his weapon and prepared to fight too.

”There's no need to talk to her. Let's just attack together.”

The King of Jade shamelessly said that before taking his jade weapons and leaping at Arthur simultaneously with the Hach'ara and the Saber Saint. The remaining Exalted Gods were also greedy about the Wish Star but they didn't attack immediately.

The first ones that reached Lucy were the two insects of Hach'ara, the mantis slashed with its elongated poisoned claws, however, they didn't reach their target as nine lotuses clashed with the claws, causing a ringing metallic sound to echo throughout the area. The Golden Beetle turned illusory and passed through the mantis, heading directly at Arthur but it was also stopped by Lucy, who released golden flames which spread across all directions.

Unfortunately, Lucy couldn't rest for even a split second as she manipulated the flames and pushed away the golden beetle. She left afterimages in her path as her eyes emitted a blue light which froze time and locked the King of Jade mid-air. Her spectral form made its appearance next to Amtir, her devil arm materialized itself and violently struck the king's side, sending him flying dozens of miles away, leaving a fountain of blood in his way.

Lucy withhold nothing of her power and aimed to kill every person who dared to attack Arthur. She became an enraged beast as the Golden Crow flames exploded in her sky, illuminating the area and pushing away the Saber Saint and Hach'ara, who were only a couple of meters away from Arthur.

*******

”Sir, what are you trying to do?”

The bard, Aneirin, appeared a couple of meters away from The Joker, who trapped the greatly weakened Zodiak in a dark and unbreakable space.

Seeing the calm poet and the serious look on his face, Wolfram snorted and retorted:

”It's not a place for you to meddle.”

”Oh but I don't want to meddle.” Said Aneirin while innocently raising his hands: ”I'm only here for my friend, which I humbly request you let go.”

”Request? Who are you to request anything from me?”

”We may not know each other but I'm still a friend of Arthur and an acquaintance of Leiu. Doesn't that make us allies rather than enemies?”

The Joker's aura elevated and locked onto the bard, who was powerless to do anything but he didn't seem to be worried about his fate.