Chapter 548 - Only One Rule in This World (2/2)

Description: The user infuses a large amount of Nature Power into a moonlight fruit from the World Tree in order to cast the spell. After casting the spell, its user will be able to ignore all attacks from the realm of Firuman and teleport back to Andwar in the Isle of Dawn.

(Note: A precious relic of the High Elves.)

“Trying to escape, eh?” Without hesitation, Link stabbed his sword through a Despair Ball, and the sword’s tip appeared instantly beside Ariel. He then let his Dragon Power flow into it in a torrent, activating a new spatial spell: Spatial Disintegration.

Spatial Disintegration.

Rankless Master-level Spell

Cost: 7000 points or more.

Description: The user spends a large amount of Dragon Power and sets the fabric of space ablaze, giving rise to an inferno with unimaginable destructive power.

(Note: It will burn everything to a crisp!)

The spell was Link’s newest invention, a combination of the dragons’ Void Destructor spell, his own Spatial Rend spell and the Boundless Sharpness property of his Dragon King’s Fury sword. Its destructive power was virtually limitless. The more Dragon Power it received, the more destruction it would be able to wreak.

It was safe to say that nothing in the realm of Firuman would be able to withstand the spell’s destructive power. An object would be able to resist it if it was powerful enough, though.

Once the spell was cast, the space around Ariel was engulfed in its fire. The heat was unlike anything she had experienced. Anything the fire grazed immediately evaporated. Not even its ashes were spared.

This was what happened when space was set on fire.

In an instant, the spatial inferno had spread to Ariel’s body. Her eyes widened, and the silver light around her expanded. Bundles of the silver light came off, trying to keep the fire outside the barrier of light.

In that moment, the gentle moonlight and the relentless spatial fire struggled against each other. Violent energy ripples spread out from the clash of the two energies. The spectacle on the cliff was blinding, as if a silver sun had appeared on it.

Evelina, who was standing nearby, could feel the heat from the cliff. Fearing that she might also be caught in the inferno, she quickly took a step back and cast a defensive spell on herself.

As soon as she backed away, there was a sudden bang. A streak of light shot out from the top of the tree beside her. The attack hurtled towards the ball of silver light and merged with it in an instant.

Evelina was stunned. Did Celine open fire? Did it even have any effect?

A moment later, she heard a pained moan. Before long, the silver ball of light before them disappeared. Ariel was gone without a trace. The spatial inferno had also gone out. All that remained on the cliff was a smooth rock surface that looked like it had been polished recently.

In the end, Ariel still managed to elude them.

“What happened to her?” asked Evelina as she rushed to Link’s side.

Link sheathed back his sword and spoke plainly, “Both her legs had been burned badly. My Dragon Power had entered her body. I was able to cripple her in the end, so even if she’s not dead, she’ll probably wish that she was at this point.”

“Ah! Did she really lose?” Evelina stammered.

“She has paid dearly for her arrogance. Even though Moonlight was a high-level spell, its area of effect was way too small. I was able to break through it with everything I had,” explained Link.

The spell was indeed Level-19, but the amount of Nature Power that Ariel had infused into the World Tree’s fruit was too little. In the span of a mere half-second, Link had used up 15,000 Dragon Power points and was able to reduce the Moonlight spell to a paper-thin layer. Celine saw the opportunity and took her shot. Her bullet broke through that last layer. Without losing its momentum, it struck both of Ariel’s legs. Once embedded inside her body, Link’s Dragon Power immediately spread inside her.

If the Moonlight spell’s teleportation ability did not activate in time, Ariel would have been a pile of smoldering ashes by now.

Eliard came out from his hiding place. The fight had already ended before he even had the chance to make a move. Right now, his heart was beating violently in his chest. His yearning for Legendary power had intensified now. After calming his nerves, Eliard asked, “Link, what’s our next step, now that the Ethereal Prince is dead?”

“We’ll continue our journey down south. I have no intention of making this trip a wasted one. We’ll go after some normal Ethereals. Of course, we shouldn’t take too much time in this. I’ll give us two more days. We’d best pick up our pace now.”

“Alright.” Eliard and Celine did not seem to object to this.

Adrenaline was still pumping through Evelina. She made a conscious effort to nod back at Link.

…

Isle of Dawn, Andwar, beneath the World Tree

A flash of silver moonlight suddenly appeared in the air. Two seconds later, a figure fell to the ground. It was Ariel.

She was in bad shape. Both her legs were gone, Her body was a melted mess of flesh and blood. Hot air issued out of her nostrils and mouth. Though she was barely able to withstand the agony, she writhed and screamed uncontrollably in pain.

When she appeared, the World Tree’s Nature Power flowed into her body. A few seconds later, the Dragon Power that had been rending through her body was suppressed completely. Ariel sighed in relief, glad that the pain was finally over.

She laid quietly on the ground, letting the World Tree heal her wounds. This time, her wounds were severe. Her legs were beyond restoration, and the World Tree could do nothing about it. Still, it served as a cruel lesson for Ariel.

She looked at the World Tree and swore through gritted teeth, “Thank you for the lesson, Lord of Ferde!”

Minutes passed in silence, and then she heard footsteps. Ariel turned and saw a familiar figure. It was her mother, the queen of the High Elves.

“What happened?”

“Mother, I met Link. I lost to him.” Ariel sighed. Her losses had been grievous.

“It’ alright, what matters is that you came back here alive. Tell me exactly what happened.”

Ariel nodded and recounted the events that had transpired to her mother. When she was done, the queen was silent for a few seconds. Then she said, “He even managed to break through your Moonlight spell. I can’t believe his power has grown this much.”

“He did use up all his power trying to break through it, though,” added Ariel.

“In any case, this is bad news. Looks like the thing up north needs to speed up. Once you recover from your injuries, go to the North immediately.”

“But mother, that’s where the God of Destruction’s forces lie.”

“I know. All the more reason why you should go there now. The Dark Elves must exist. The humans are our shield, and what good is a shield without a spear? Do you understand what I’m trying to say?”

Ariel was silent. She wanted to voice her objection against the matter in the North. Suddenly, she remembered what Link had said. In this world, there was no clear distinction between light and darkness.

Only one rule reigned supreme, and that was the survival of the fittest.

And so she nodded. “I understand, mother.”