Chapter 600 - Confused Heart (VIII) (2/2)

Hiss!

It was apparent from the fluttering tentacles that the Mind Devil was exceptionally furious. But it couldn’t be blamed. Its delicious meal had indeed been disrupted by Rhode and Anne.

Shing!

The Mind Devil hissed and struck several black tentacles forward. However, they were no threat to Rhode and Anne at all. Without Lize’s mental strength, the Mind Devil was nothing more than a basic level 30 BOSS and for Rhode who had reached level 40 and with a swordsmanship standard that had entered the Legendary Stage, it was nothing hard for him.

“Anne!”

“Got it! Leader!”

Anne raised her shield and threw it forward instantly, which deflected and tore apart the black tentacles. The Mind Devil instantly realized the source of danger and retreated desperately. However, Anne’s spinning shield was much quicker than it.

Clang!

The shield crashed into the Mind Devil’s body and it trembled violently. The powerful impact flung Lize out of its body and she fell toward the ground. The Mind Devil saw its escaping prey and it extended its black tentacles to recapture her.

However, dazzling spiritual blade rays erupted in an instant and ripped apart the black tentacles nearing Lize. Facing this ambush, the furious Mind Devil released a dozen more tentacles toward the other direction.

A meteor-like radiance shot out from the shadows and streaked across the darkness.

Rhode emerged in the blink of an eye. He grabbed Lize’s wrist and dragged her out of the Mind Devil’s control. Then, he gazed at the Mind Devil with a smirk.

“You’ve had a hard time. But my apologies. This is the end for you.”

The Mind Devil didn’t launch another attack on Rhode. Instead, it exploded into a burst of blood-curdling screeches because Rhode’s dagger had penetrated one of its red eyes.

Kacha.

Along with a crisp crack, the sacred hall shook violently. Rhode looked up and the ceiling had revealed ghastly lines of cracks. However, the fragments flew upward instead of falling to the surface. It wasn’t the azure sky that Rhode saw through the cracks of the ceiling. Instead, it was dazzling white. The glaring radiance spilled through the cracks and shone on the sacred hall, tearing the walls and ground like an incoming typhoon. The Mind Devil shuddered and collapsed under the bright radiance. The radiance shone increasingly brighter and pure whiteness shrouded the entire place. Then, Rhode felt a cold breeze blowing against him.

The dazzling radiance blinded his eyes and when he opened his eyes again, the view of Emerald Valley appeared before him. However, Emerald Valley was no longer as dark and murky as before. The limpid, downward-flowing river refreshed his mind, the exuberant shrubs swayed to the wind, and the warm sun comforted him.

“Eh? This is…”

Anne widened her eyes in astonishment and touched herself. There were no signs of injuries and the shield in her hand was behind her as though both of them had just experienced a long dream. However, this was actually the truth. The mental world and reality was different. They might have spent a few hours in Lize’s mental world, but in reality, that was nothing more than 10 seconds.

But Anne wasn’t too mindful of such details because someone was more important than the situation.

“Lize!”

Lize was lying unconscious on the prairie. Anne yelled out and bolted forward. She shook Lize’s body to wake her up.

“Lize! How do you feel? Wake up, Lize!”

“Argh…”

Lize groaned softly. She opened her eyes and looked into the sky above vacantly as though she was lost in thought. Shortly after, she regained her focus and she was startled by Anne.

“Anne?”

“Lize!”

Anne pounced forward and hugged Lize tightly.

“You scared Anne… Lize, you’re finally awake!”

“Anne…”

Lize was at a loss and her expression stiffened shortly after. It was impossible for Lize to remember everything that had happened as she was being manipulated the whole time. It felt more like an indistinct dream to her. But the vague impression she had about this dream was enough to make her realize what she had done. She extended her trembling arm and hugged Anne dearly.

“Lize?”

Anne gazed curiously. Lize hugged the young lady before her closely and shut her eyes. Tears escaped the corner of her eye.

“Sorry… Anne… Sorry, Anne… Forgive me…!”

“L-Lize?”

Anne was at her wits’ end.

“What’s wrong? You didn’t do anything that needs Anne’s forgiveness. It’s all that monster’s fault and the monster had been gotten rid of by Leader. Don’t worry, Lize.”

“Anne…!”

Lize couldn’t hold it in anymore. She buried her head in Anne’s chest and burst into tears.