Chapter 837: Ran Chi's Hellish Battle (Part 3)

Chapter 837: Ran Chi's Hellish Battle (Part 3)

If no other Blood Clan members blocked their path, they could also provide support to others.

However, each opponent was bound to be incredibly powerful, leaving little chance for anyone to finish their battle and start supporting others.

Lan Qi was more concerned about Toliatos, who had expended some magic power at the start, forcing him to be sent to Duke Rahal's side. This was a significant disadvantage for Toliatos.

"Okay."

Toliatos stared at Lan Qi for a moment, his furrowed brows relaxing.

While Lan Qi didn't see the usual carefree expression in his eyes, today, he exuded a sense of conviction and purpose.

"Don't worry about me. Go!"

Toliatos released Lan Qi's arm and gave him a firm push. With a twist of spatial magic, Lan Qi fell through a mirror-like surface into an entirely new area.

The space gate closed, and Lan Qi and Toliatos were no longer in sight of each other.

"Thank you, Toliatos," Lan Qi muttered to himself as he continued his descent alone.

The surrounding buildings became increasingly dense, and upside-down cities seemed to loom over him.

"Oh? Is it you who has come to the Blood King Palace?"

A mocking voice echoed all around, like a divine proclamation.

This voice was all too familiar to Lan Qi, having heard it numerous times within the Tabiris Mirror.

Although the current Blood Moon City might differ in danger and unknown factors compared to the late stages of the Blood Moon Cataclysm in the Shadow World, the slightest mistake could lead to a total defeat and annihilation. However, Lan Qi was prepared for battle.

If none of the other sub-palaces with Blood Clan Marquises could be defeated, the protection provided by Duke Rahal at the Blood King Palace wouldn't be lifted, and Lan Qi wouldn't be able to harm Rahal.

Last time, there were two absolutely powerful Great Demons, the Desecration Lord Merogus and the All-Powerful Lord Ogrin, who could help stabilize the defeat of two sub-palaces. No matter how Helaitier allocated them, they would face Blood Clan Marquises weaker than themselves.

This time, Helaitier's spatial manipulation was much more flexible.

Lan Qi could only pray for his friends' safety, not expecting them to win.

...

In the void storm of Blood Moon City, Toliatos slowly descended, stepping onto the icy ground.

The surroundings were a mix of black and blue.

If his senses didn't deceive him, he should have arrived at the easternmost part of Blood Moon City.

It was even colder than the information Lan Qi had, making his movements slower.

“Abigail, where am I? How are the others?”

Toliatos contacted the Dimensional Saint, Abigail, using sacred communication magic.

Only Abigail had the spare capacity to keep track of the situation in all areas. She had left tracking devices and special combat record devices on each person.

She would also find a way to inform the other members about the current progress and the support needed.

"You're the first to land, and the others haven't taken their positions yet. You've reached the Ice Stasis Hall, the farthest from the camp on the eastern side of Blood Moon City. Be extra careful!"

Abigail's voice sounded with a hint of panic, which was unusual for her, as she usually wished for Tolyado's demise.

The location that Helitier had led Tolyado to was quite delicate.

Although Tolyado could now teleport away, the fact that the enemy had brought him here meant they weren't afraid of him escaping.

Once he started moving around, the others would surely be in trouble.

He had to stall a formidable enemy here.

Before Tolyado could ask Abigail any further questions, a figure walked within the Ice Hall, leaving rhythmic footsteps on the ground.

A middle-aged man in a deep green scholar's gown, wearing a top hat, with his hair and beard neatly trimmed, appeared refined and gentle, as if he had never experienced battle.

"Tolyado, it's a pleasant surprise to see you today."

Bishop Fomer held a faintly glowing lamp, casting long shadows on himself and his surroundings.

His deep-set eyes gave him an intensely sinister charm.

"If I could, I really wouldn't want to fight you, Fomer."

Tolyado replied, bracing himself for combat.

He had no means of retaliation, and his high mobility might not be enough to dodge Fomer's wide-range attacks.

The positions of the others were also unknown for the time being, so he could only think of a way to stall Fomer first.

Otherwise, wherever Fomer went, disaster would follow, and this guy, aside from Sigurd, was probably the only one who could barely hold out against him.

...

The northernmost part of Blood Moon City.

A silver mechanical bird perched on the shoulder of the Ice Witch, who had arrived alone at this once-magnificent courtyard.

The dark night sky shrouded the area.

"Ice Witch, be careful. The unknown land you're in is likely the northernmost part of Blood Moon City. Its characteristic is to increase the rate of mana consumption. If the opponent is a vampire, it only applies to you. If the opponent is not a vampire, it applies to both sides!"

Abigail's warning echoed in the Ice Witch's ears.

Dim moonlight filtered through thick clouds, and a broken stone path wound its way through a desolate garden, like a path to chaos.

Wild blood-red weeds swayed in the breeze, invading what might have once been the territory of roses, lilies, and irises.

A dry fountain stood silently in the center of the courtyard, its weathered statue unrecognizable, leaving only scattered remains.

This was an unexpected hall.

It wasn't one of the halls seen in the Shadow World before—the Hall of Souls, the Hall of Extinction, or the Hall of Freezing Cold.

At that moment, the sound of dripping water echoed in the council chamber, where it shouldn't have been.

A faint green light flashed deep within the palace, and a young green seedling sprouted from the lifeless ground.

It grew at a visible rate, its leaves rustling in the wind as its vines coiled and twisted like snakes.

In an instant, a tree as tall as a person shot up from the ground, and a slender figure emerged from a crack in the trunk, like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon.

Her skin was as white as snow, and her light golden hair cascaded down to her waist.

Her long eyelashes trembled as she slowly opened her eyes, which were like new leaves in spring or deep pools of clear water, shimmering with a faint glow.

"The legendary Ice Witch? You're even more beautiful than I imagined. It's so nice to meet you."

A woman with light hair and green eyes smiled, her hands clasped together.

This caused the Ice Witch to shiver.

She looked warily at this cardinal bishop.

"Cardinal Bishop Nedochka..."

The Ice Witch instinctively avoided making eye contact with this cardinal bishop.

Their compatibility wasn't that bad, but the problem was that Nedochka was simply stronger than the Ice Witch, who couldn't pose much of a threat to her.

If the Ice Witch kept fighting, she would surely lose and be unable to escape.

This was a slow, painful battle.

...

The eastern side of Blood Moon City.

In the Hall of Freezing Cold, guarded by Helitier, the Seventh Ancestor, another intense battle was already underway.

The hall was situated on a frozen lake, surrounded by biting cold winds and flying ice crystals.

The ice layer on the lake's surface was several meters thick, smooth as a mirror, reflecting the hall's elegant silhouette.

"You chose me, and you really do hold grudges."

Sigurd drew residual shadows in the air, effortlessly punching and shattering layer after layer of ice barriers.

The hall itself was a blood-red ice sculpture, its vast space adorned with crystal-clear ice pillars, beneath which hidden currents lurked, ready to trap any intruder.

Fortunately, Sigurd had high ice resistance.

"I didn't expect you to be a werewolf."

Helitier, the Seventh Ancestor, maintained her ethereal state, raising a black staff and drawing a star chart in the air.

She probably understood the power of the Catholic Church.

As a werewolf, they had a long-standing feud with the vampires, who had indeed killed many werewolves.

However, Helitier didn't engage in a direct confrontation with Sigurd, the strongest of the Catholic Church, but aimed to stall her.

Every other battlefield was at a significant disadvantage.

By holding Sigurd here, Helitier was ensuring the rapid collapse of the enemy's forces, like a falling house of cards.

The more anxious Sigurd became, the more she struggled to catch Helitier, and she couldn't escape the Hall of Freezing Cold.

The star chart began to slowly rotate, and stars flew out, encircling Sigurd, guiding Helitier to the best evasive routes and disrupting Sigurd's balance.

When Sigurd's fists struck, the stars would adjust their positions, and their bright light would neutralize her attacks.

"You're so annoying, you thing!"

Sigurd furrowed her brows as she saw her attacks repeatedly miss their mark.

The one who had tormented her in her dreams was now facing her wrath, but she couldn't land a single hit, and her frustration grew.

She realized that the Ice Witch was the most suitable for fighting in the Hall of Freezing Cold, but Helitier wouldn't let the Ice Witch go to the eastern side of Blood Moon City. Instead, she would send the Ice Witch to the worst sub-hall.

"No matter how anxious you get, it's useless. You're the easiest opponent for me to deal with, with your lack of special mechanisms and reliance on pure strength."

Helitier's expression was cold.

Her divination power was strong, but it also consumed a lot of mana.

Stalling Sigurd was easier than expected.

Even with Sigurd's werewolf traits, which granted her near-immortality in Blood Moon City, Helitier had no issues.

Helitier's task was to stall Sigurd in the Hall of Freezing Cold, giving the advantage to the other four sub-halls and, most importantly, the Blood Palace.

Helitier, the Seventh Ancestor, waved her staff, and the walls of the hall began to move. Ice pillars rose from the ground and walls, constantly changing positions, rushing towards Sigurd.

In the northern part of Blood Moon City, the Hall of Souls was filled with desolate bones and spirits.

Inside the dark hall, countless wandering souls wailed and moaned, while rusty chains and shackles hung on the walls, and the ground was littered with white bones and flesh.

Outside the hall, the land was desolate, covered with charred cracks, and even the earth couldn't bear the resentment here.

In the center of the hall, the altar emitted an eerie purple light, and around it, several black stone pillars stood with an iron bell hanging at their center, covered in rust and cracks. Each ring of the bell would weaken intruders.

Within the Hall of Souls, the Ninth Ancestor, Marquis Bernhard, and Iftia engaged in a desperate battle.

Iftia felt herself being constantly weakened by curses, a terrible characteristic of the Hall of Souls.

Although she was a master of curses and had high resistance to abnormal curse states, she wasn't skilled in purification and dispelling, and being originally weaker than the Ninth Ancestor, Marquis Bernhard, she now found herself in a tough fight.

Looking at the Ninth Ancestor, Marquis Bernhard, who had transformed into a monster with eyes all over his body, she didn't know how to fight this thing.

The entire Hall of Souls began to tremble, the ground cracked, and stones from the walls began to peel off.

Countless ghosts emerged from the ground and walls, emitting shrill screams as they swirled in the air above the hall.

"I've heard about your potential, and it's quite impressive. Join me, and become a part of my family."

Marquis Bernhard, the Ninth Ancestor, took a heavy step towards her.

Iftia clenched her teeth.

She had heard that in the Shadow World combat records, this guy was always the first to fall, but facing him now, she felt the pressure mounting.

She needed more time to grow.

If she had another year, no, even half a year, she was confident she could easily defeat Bernhard.

But now, she could only gamble on whether she could break through to the level of Bishop at level 87 in the midst of battle.

Since her recovery, she felt she was very close to the Bishop level.

Suddenly, Marquis Bernhard, the Ninth Ancestor, accelerated towards her.

The runes on the altar glowed brighter, and purple lightning flashed through them, crackling in the air. The stone pillars around the altar began to shake, and the chains wrapped around them rattled, emitting an unpleasant sound.

Under the threat of death, Iftia realized she had no choice but to fight.

"Damn it, for my beloved family of demons, I'll fight you to the end!"

Before she finished speaking, a powerful force of mana surged around her, darkening the entire Hall of Souls. Countless deep cracks spread like a spider web in all directions.

Black cursed flames erupted from the ground, and Iftia controlled these eerie flames, ravaging the Ninth Ancestor's body, determined to burn the monster to ashes.

...

Dozens of kilometers away, on the southern side of Blood Moon City, a silver mechanical bird flew by.

The Hall of Extinction, governed by the Eighth Ancestor, Marquis Somersett.

This hall resembled an endless colosseum, surrounded by dark mountain rocks, with crimson gems on the cliffs glowing with sinister light in the dim light.

Three powerful demons cautiously guarded the area, engaging in a terrible encounter with the strongest Blood Clan warrior, the Eighth Ancestor, Marquis Somersett.

The three demons were too strong in countering spells and barriers, and Heritier couldn't guarantee that she could send them to their intended destinations.

However, with the other opponents arranged, their own opponents were also determined.

"The terrain of the Hall of Extinction allows the Eighth Ancestor, Marquis Somersett, to hide his movements."

Plana spoke in a low voice.

He was well-informed about the characteristics of each hall.

For the three of them, facing a physical-type Blood Clan powerhouse in this place was undoubtedly the worst-case scenario.

Sinora's spell countering abilities were useless here.

"Antanas, you stay at the back, you must survive."

Sinora observed the battlefield where Bone Lord Daemon Gate and Quicksilver Lord Michio had fought before.

In truth, she had no confidence in facing the Eighth Ancestor, Marquis Somersett, head-on.

At this moment, she had no choice but to fight.

Her and Plana's most important task was to protect Antanas. As long as Antanas remained alive, the two of them could also recover.

As the wind blew, the figure of the Eighth Ancestor, Marquis Somersett, appeared.

Buzz!

A metallic roar sounded as the punch landed.

Sinora tried her best to defend with her scythe, but Somersett's fist felt like a thousand pounds, easily shattering the shield cast by Antanas. Sinora felt the immense force, and even though she blocked it, she couldn't deflect the attack and was smashed like a cannonball into the cliff of the Hall of Extinction.

"Sinora!"

Antanas screamed and quickly cast a support spell.

"Do you still have time to worry about her?"

But the Eighth Ancestor, Marquis Somersett, was too fast, and in the next moment, he was already in front of Antanas, who looked on in terror.

...

On the western side of Blood Moon City.

At the entrance to this ancient underground city, closest to the City Hall, a magical device cleverly mimicked the deep shadows cast by Blood Moon.

The tall, thick outlines of the buildings, constructed from dark stone, painted shadows of ancient art on the empty streets, silently lying in this dark city, solidified with endless years of dust.

At this moment, Abigail's mechanical assistants were already helping her construct a mechanical space barrier.

The small mechanical dolls connected with each other, forming a dimensional gate, and supplies were brought out through it.

Abigail listened and watched the situation on various battlefields, her eyes darting around, and a thin sweat broke out on her forehead.

She had to command, convey intelligence, and simultaneously build a temporary base for the siege team's camp.

Barton and Hyberian stood guard behind her, ensuring her safety and preventing any interruptions.

Suddenly, a figure streaked across the night sky, creating a strong gust of wind and a howling sound in the city's air, accompanied by a bone-chilling cold, heading straight for Abigail.

The speed of the figure was incredibly fast, and its almost perfect lines suggested a highly skilled fighter, even among the Blood Clan.

A cold light flashed, and Barton threw a flying blade from under his cloak, striking the figure. In an instant, the count's body fell like a meteor onto the wall far away from the castle.

"Indeed, they are strong."

Moonlight shone on the black robes of the Blood Clan count, giving him a thin silver cape, and he didn't seem to be injured.

"Don't underestimate them, these humans are quite powerful."

Countess Saberna's clear, crisp laughter rang out as she appeared from the corner.

Barton glanced at Hyberian, who nodded and retreated, moving closer to Abigail.

Without hesitation, he charged towards the two Blood Clan counts.

Hepburn stared intently at Abigail, knowing she had to protect her.

Two Vampire Countesses had arrived in a short time, and more might be on their way.

Abigail was focused on gathering intelligence, paying no heed to the intense battle unfolding nearby.

"Why are there a Withered Bishop and the Tenth Ancestor?"

Abigail's heart sank, and her palms turned pale.

She had discovered that in the Abyssal Palace on the south side of Blood Moon City, there was a powerful Vampire Marquis hiding.

According to the intelligence from the mechanical messenger, it was the Tenth Ancestor, Ulysses Marquis, who was in the center of the Abyssal Palace, guarding the black crystal that sealed Duke Migaya.

This meant their combat strength was not evenly matched.

Aside from the special Blood King Palace battlefield between Lance and Rahal, and the fact that no one had the spare strength to rescue Duke Migaya, the entire line was at a disadvantage except for Sigurd.

Furthermore, the enemy had an additional Bishop-level fighter, and they lacked a Bishop-level powerhouse to rescue the hostage, Migaya.

Wherever Ulysses went, he would cause destruction, and as long as a single top-tier eighth-stage fighter encountered trouble, the effects would immediately radiate to the other eighth-stage fighters!

The worst part was that Ulysses had already begun to act.

"Ulysses, he left two eighth-stage summons beside Migaya, and his main body is moving in a northwest direction."

Abigail's heart raced.

Judging by Ulysses' direction of movement, he was most likely heading towards the southwest to help the Eighth Ancestor, Somerset Marquis, eliminate the three Great Demon Race officials in the Extermination Palace.

More likely—

He was heading straight for the Assault Team Camp in the westernmost part of the city.

If Ulysses reached them, they would undoubtedly be annihilated!

Even if they called for reinforcements from Nikola and the Empire's Special Action Division, it would be futile.

Calling Nikola was already the worst-case scenario, and it was only then that he would bring the elite forces of the Special Action Division. Nikola should have been in charge of ground logistics, providing more cover and convenience.

Hepburn looked at the battle situation projected by the mechanical assistant in front of Abigail, and she understood the predicament of everyone.

Not only were their companions in danger, but even they themselves in the camp might be facing imminent peril.

"Ulysses..."

Hepburn clenched her teeth and fists.

She was all too familiar with the power of the Tenth Ancestor, a nearly insurmountable foe. She couldn't forget the fear that the Tenth Ancestor, Ulysses Marquis, had instilled in her during the Third Shadow World's Darkest Eclipse.

In the end, like fate, this guy had followed her like a shadow.

"Abigail!"

"I'm going to take a gamble and infiltrate the Abyssal Palace. With two eighth-stage summons, I might be able to bypass them, Abigail."

Hepburn grabbed Abigail's shoulder, forcing her to pay attention for a second, and listen carefully to what she was saying.

Either she would succeed in rescuing her father, Duke Migaya, or she could restrain Ulysses, preventing him from joining the other eighth-stage battles.

Given the current situation, she had to make a swift and decisive decision.

"I can hold on, Hepburn. Don't worry about me. Go support the others. If things get really bad, I'll call Nikola down."

Abigail's eyes lit up as if she had found a savior. She grasped Hepburn's hand and spoke to her.

The entire Assault Team seemed to be gradually heading towards collapse.

Even if Lance could hold off the Third Ancestor, Duke Rahal, the blessings of Blood Moon City would prevent Duke Rahal from breaking through the defenses. At best, Lance could only endure the torment in the Blood King Palace, unable to turn the tide alone. The only one with the highest chance of a breakthrough was the most powerful among them, Bishop Sigurd, but even that would take time.

This was their best strategy for now.

Even if she and Barton died, it didn't matter.

The only option was to gamble with Ulysses, to see if he dared to take the bet, and only then would there be a glimmer of hope for a breakthrough.

...

The final destination of the Blood Moon World, the Blood King Palace.

The man in gray surveyed his surroundings, and as his feet finally touched the ground, he found himself slowly descending into the center of a plaza.

The plaza was paved with black and white marble, with thirteen towering stone pillars reaching a hundred meters high.

Mocking voices echoed around—

"Welcome to Blood Moon City."

The voice came from the edge of the plaza, shrouded in an endless fog.

A figure slowly emerged, dressed in pure black velvet, appearing to be only thirteen or fourteen years old. His skin was as white as porcelain, and his smooth brown hair fell to his shoulders.

Lance glanced at him.

"You, a seventh-stage fighter, dare to challenge me? I admire your courage, Professor Landre."

The Third Ancestor, Duke Rahal, wore a playful smile, his tone casual, as if chatting with a mere ant.

"It seems you truly have no one else to rely on."

Duke Rahal's gaze mocked the invader's stupidity and ignorance.

Professor Landre's reputation in Brillada on the ground was akin to thunder, but here, he was merely an insignificant mortal.

He had expected Tolliado to send a top-tier eighth-stage fighter as a sacrificial pawn, at least to keep him entertained for a while. But to his surprise, it was Professor Landre, who wasn't even an eighth-stage fighter.

Logically, only Bishop Sigurd might be able to exchange a few moves with him, but even then, she wouldn't be his match. If the Seventh Ancestor, Marquis Heritier, were to control the entire battlefield, the enemy would be at a complete disadvantage, and even Bishop Sigurd's sole advantage would be nullified.

The hope of relying on Bishop Sigurd alone to turn the tide was too slim.

"..."

Professor Landre didn't respond to Duke Rahal.

"I understand."

He touched his mechanical earpiece, focusing on listening to Abigail's battle updates.

"Are you really relying solely on Bishop Sigurd? I'm curious who's behind that mask of yours."

Duke Rahal examined Professor Landre's face with interest and asked.

Since Professor Landre was involved with the Resurrection Church, it made this guy even more mysterious.

Perhaps this "Landre Vasington" was just an alias.

Duke Rahal found the other's nonchalant arrogance amusing, like a mouse ready to be played with.

Lance temporarily disconnected the earpiece.

He finally turned to Duke Rahal.

"Rahal, why did your true king abandon you?"

Lance asked seriously.

Duke Rahal's smile froze for a moment.

"What... did... you... say...?"

His voice trembled as he spoke each word with a pause.

Instead, the veins on his forehead throbbed, and his eyes revealed disbelief and rage.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end