Chapter 304: Ambush
Chapter 304: Ambush
"Another one has fallen!" The High-Order Favored of the God of Craftsmen, clad in battle armor and wielding a heavy hammer, listened to the news with an icy expression.
"In the recent period, five Mid-Order Favored, over a dozen Low Vassals, and even one High-Order Favored have perished or gone missing."
"It's clear that someone is targeting us for an ambush!"
"Indeed," nodded the dwarf beside him.
"Moreover, the perpetrator is either extremely powerful or possesses a means to counter Divine Servants. Otherwise, they wouldn't have acted so swiftly."
The followers of the God of Craftsmen were mostly dwarves, a race renowned for their exceptional forging abilities, surpassing other clans.
"Who could it be?" The High-Order Favored narrowed his eyes and asked, "Has the Divine Child responded?"
"Our Divine Child is currently engaged in a battle with the Creator's sky warship, and it's difficult to determine a victor in such a short time," the dwarf shook his head. "However, the Divine Children of the God of Wind and the Goddess of Water have received the news and are on their way. Once they arrive, we'll surely capture the culprit."
Upon hearing this, a hint of a smile appeared on the High-Order Favored's face.
In a situation where deities couldn't intervene, Demigods and Divine Children were the pinnacle of this realm, unmatched by anyone.
Although the perpetrator was strong, they certainly didn't possess such formidable power, or they wouldn't have acted so covertly.
"Swish!"
A streak of light flew in from a distance.
The High-Order Favored reached out and grabbed it, only to find a flying pigeon carrying a folded piece of paper, which transformed into a regular sheet upon landing in his hand.
"Hmm?"
His eyebrows arched slightly, and his face lit up with delight.
"The Favored of the God of Deception has found a clue about the perpetrator, named Bloodthirst... It seems to be a Foreign Deity's servant."
"Show yourself!"
"Golden Chariot!"
He raised the heavy hammer in his hand, and with a dazzling golden light, a golden chariot appeared in the arena.
The High-Order Favored leaped onto the chariot and turned back, saying, "You guard this place; I'll assist them in capturing the culprit."
"Yes, sir."
---
In a valley, Karl remained seated on a boulder by the stream, his eyes closed tightly as if immersed in meditation.
Kent and his sister had hunted a wild boar, set up a rack, and soon the air was filled with the rich aroma of roasting meat.
"Swish!"
Kent sliced off the juiciest pig leg, handed it to his sister, and gave her a subtle signal.
"..." Gema pursed her lips, her face filled with hesitation. Nonetheless, she took the pig leg and approached Karl.
"Blood... Bloodthirst, sir, please have some."
A peculiar name.
She muttered to herself, struggling to keep her trembling arms under control.
"Umm..." Karl opened his eyes, gazing at the offered food. His deep eyes reflected Gema's anxiety, but he reached out and grabbed it.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome." Gema's face paled, and she quietly breathed a sigh of relief, slowly retreating back to her brother's side.
Apparently, he wasn't always this cold when not on a mission.
As this thought crossed her mind, Gema felt her breath catch, and she nearly knelt on the spot.
"He's here!"
Karl's voice was filled with delight as he soared into the sky again, disappearing from their sight with a few flashes. He seemed unconcerned about the impact of his unleashed aura on the surroundings.
Several dozen miles away.
Three Divine Servants manipulated fierce winds, attacking several figures desperately fleeing. One of them shouted, "You won't escape! Tell us who's behind this, and you might just keep your lives!"
"Nonsense!" One of the fugitives yelled back, "It's not like no one has been caught by you before. As soon as we try to spill the beans, we'll be turned to ashes!"
"That was an accident; we weren't prepared," the Favored of the God of Deception said persuasively.
"This time is different."
"We're prepared, and such a thing won't happen again. Unless, of course, you prefer to remain under someone's control."
"Haha... You Divine Servants, you wanted to know who we're working for, and now he's here!" One of the fleeing figures suddenly burst into laughter.
"Unless you can't escape!"
Hmm? The faces of the three Divine Servants changed slightly, and then various divine lights rose from their bodies, crisscrossing in the air.
The divine lights converged into a mysterious six-sided prism, shielding them securely.
"Clang!"
Flames and divine lights collided, emitting an ear-piercing screech only caused ripples in the divine lights.
"Hmm?"
Karl, suspended in mid-air, spoke in surprise.
"What is this thing?"
Since his constitution had reached 100 points, even a casual strike could shatter a small mountain. With his full power, even a Tier Three entity would struggle to withstand him, yet before him were just two Mid-Order Favored and one Low Vassal.
Logically, they shouldn't have been able to withstand his relentless assault.
His gaze fell on the token held by one of the Favored, and understanding dawned on him.
"A Fourth Rank Artifact!"
"Even with a Fourth Rank Artifact protecting you, how much power can you truly unleash with your strength?"
"Swish!"
His body transformed, leaving flames lingering in the air, and he pounced on the trio, taking the form of fire-infused creatures: fire-serpents, fire-crocodiles, and fire-dragons.
Even his afterimages, each strike as powerful as a Tier Three Forbidden Knight giving it his all.
"Boom!"
"Boom, boom..."
The faces of the three Divine Servants paled as they controlled a Fourth Rank Artifact, retreating continuously.
As time passed, the divine light surrounding them gradually thinned, and it was on the verge of shattering at any moment.
Suddenly, Karl paused.
"Hmm..."
"Consider yourselves lucky!" he snorted coldly, transforming into a trail of fire and turning to leave. But in the distance, other Divine Servants approached.
If these Divine Servants gathered together, and he couldn't quickly dispose of them, he might be trapped. So, he decided to leave.
Feeling slightly disappointed, Karl returned to the valley and looked down from the sky. Kent and his sister, Gema, looked up at him.
Their eyes held a hint of panic.
Hmm? Karl's expression flickered, and his body suddenly froze.
"Too late!"
A mocking laugh echoed, and countless rays of light appeared out of thin air, forming a giant net that enveloped Karl.
At the same time, several figures appeared in the arena.
Divine Servants!
A total of thirteen of them! Among them were three High-Order Favored, and their divine power combined to form a Binding Barrier.
"My lord," the Bandit Leader said, appearing next to one of them and speaking softly, "It's him!"
Not only the Bandit Leader, but also the Blood Wolf, appeared behind a High-Order Favored, a cold smile on his face.
"Brutality and savagery can only impress for a moment, but they are not sustainable," said the High-Order Favored of the God of Deception, pointing at Karl with a long sword, "By using seals to control others as bait, you're only inviting their resentment and rebellion."
"Such incidents are common in history books, and you're no exception."
"Hmph!" Karl snorted coldly, staring directly at the Bandit Leader, "Don't forget the seals on you. With just a thought, I can make you die a horrible death!"
"You can try," the Bandit Leader sneered, "Battler! You are indeed strong, but you're not a deity, and you can't possibly understand the ways of the gods."
"About a month ago, I had someone test the waters by contacting the Divine Servants. Unintentionally, some information was leaked, and with the help of several angels, we've completely isolated you from your seals."
"..." Karl's expression changed, as if trying to trigger the seal, but his expression grew more and more dismayed.
"Good!"
"Very good!"
"Enough talk!" The High-Order Favored of the God of Craftsmen roared, raising the heavy hammer in his hand, "Kill him!"
"Boom!"
Various spiritual lights surged, merging into the barrier, like countless blades swinging wildly, compressing Karl's range of motion.
In the distance, more Divine Servants rushed over, including the three who had been chased by Karl earlier.
It was obvious.
This was a trap.
The Bandit Leader had betrayed Karl and colluded with the Divine Servants, luring him away and setting up an ambush here.
"Tier Three!"
"And not an ordinary Tier Three," the Divine Servant of the God of Deception narrowed his eyes at Karl and nodded slightly, "If he wasn't trapped in the barrier, it wouldn't be easy to kill him."
"What a pity..."
"It's all over!"
"Hmm?"
Before he finished speaking, his expression suddenly changed.
Karl, trapped within the barrier, shrank, transforming into a bizarre fireball that kept compressing, and then...
"Boom!"
A deafening boom echoed from the valley's sky.
The terrifying power directly collapsed the surrounding mountains, and the barrier formed by over a dozen Divine Servants was torn to shreds.
Self-detonation of the Flame Golem!
The one trapped in the barrier wasn't Karl, but the Flame Golem that had been absorbing the earth's fire energy here for several months.
This self-detonation was something even a Demigod would struggle to withstand.
But the explosion didn't end there.
"Ugh..."
The Bandit Leader's eyes bulged, his hand reaching for his abdomen, his expression filled with terror as he roared towards the sky:
"No!"
"Boom!"
His entire body exploded on the spot, turning into a fireball, and the Divine Servants nearby, already injured from the shattered barrier, were blasted away.
It wasn't just him who exploded.
The Sand Bandits self-detonated simultaneously, affecting all the Divine Servants.
At the same time, the Blood Wolf flashed, and a long sword in his hand silently pierced the back of the High-Order Favored in front of him.
"Pfft!"
It was only then that Karl's figure appeared high in the valley's sky. He faced a group of injured Divine Servants, or...
A harvest of Essence!
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report