Chapter 68: The Hunt Against the Elders

Alysia, an emissary from hell, strode wantonly across the land. Her bare feet scorched the red carpet, leaving a trail of charred marks in her wake.

Every creature possessed a natural predator, and even the god-like Elders were no exception.

Now, Alysia, representing the Original Order, would initiate a hunt against these very Elders.

“I wish you all a pleasant time.”

With a faint smile playing on his lips, Cliff vanished into the boundless darkness, accompanied by Longinus.

“What is happening…?”

Cailin’s tears streamed down her face as she cowered behind Cicero. Cicero, however, calmly adjusted the spectacles on her nose.

“She means to kill us.”

“Chloe, run!”

Wuxu bit her lip, terror etched across her brow.

“We have so many Elders; how can we be afraid of a single Original Order member?”

Chloe was astonished. Surely, if each of them cast a single spell, Alysia would be overwhelmed.

Indeed, as Chloe thought, one Elder clearly had no intention of submitting. She swiftly chanted an incantation, and a spiraling stream of cyan magic materialized in her hand.

“「Wind Blade」!”

She hurled the spell. The stream of magic hurtled toward Alysia at an imperceptible speed.

Alysia’s eyes barely opened as she uttered two words in a detached voice.

“「Rejected」.”

The stream of magic instantly vanished. The next second, that Elder was struck down by an even greater recoil force.

Chloe’s careful calculations were shattered by the brutal reality.

“「Dragon’s Blazing Flow」!”

“「Bow of Ares」!”

The royal court was instantly illuminated by various magical formations, all locking onto Alysia.

Alysia lifted her grey robe and performed a simple curtsy, taking a deep breath.

“「Rejected」!”

A tremendous sonic wave swept away all the magical formations. The ensuing recoil slammed the Elders against the walls, their crimson robes billowing as their bodies were strewn about.

Darkness descended once more, cloaking the fear on everyone’s faces. The once arrogant Elders were as insignificant as ants before Alysia.

Norria shielded Lilith, but he himself was knocked to the ground by the recoil, his head severely injured, rendering him unconscious.

Lilith rushed to Norria, cradling him in her arms.

Chloe was also knocked down, but Una and Wuxu beneath her had absorbed some of the impact. She quickly got up to check on Una and Wuxu.

The impact left her head spinning. As she fumbled around, she didn’t find Una or Wuxu, but her hand closed around a silver dagger.

The dagger was still lodged in Carloman’s body, like a final gift he had left for her.

“The Original Order can negate all Elder magic. Tell your fools to stop wasting their energy!” Alice, struggling to prop herself up, yelled at Cailin.

Cailin wiped away her tears and screamed, “Run, everyone, run!”

It was too late. Alysia already stood before Cailin.

Cicero attempted to block her path but was kicked aside by Alysia, spitting blood before falling unconscious.

Cailin desperately tried to move, wanting to check on Cicero, but her delicate body was pinned under Alysia’s foot.

“Save…”

Alysia ignored Cailin’s plea. She raised her gaze, coldly looking at Alice.

Alice was about to speak, but she was lifted by Alysia as easily as a chick.

“Hand over the Divine Chosen. I don’t wish to kill anyone today,” Alysia said calmly.

“What exactly do you want?” Alice gritted her teeth, asking with disgust.

“To become the Divine Chosen.”

Alysia gripped Alice’s head with her other hand, and flames began to erupt from Alice’s seven orifices.

“Let her go!”

A dagger plunged into Alysia’s heart, but what spewed forth was not blood, but scorching flames.

The tip of the dagger melted at a visible rate, quickly turning into molten silver that fell weakly to the ground.

The heat transferred through the dagger to Chloe’s hand, burning her so badly she released her grip. Her tender hand was already riddled with holes from the molten silver.

Alysia gently released Alice, then turned around, her eyes filled with anticipation.

“Fool, you should have just run away.”

Alice gasped for air, but she no longer had the strength to stop Alysia.

Alysia’s scorching gaze fell upon Chloe.

The wound in Alysia’s heart stared at Chloe like a monstrous abyss, sending a tremor through Chloe’s own heart.

“Caesar… I finally see you again.”

Alysia bent down and kissed Chloe’s forehead.

“What… what do you want?”

Chloe dared not move, fearing Alysia would burn her alive.

“To merge with you.”

Alysia’s body began to mutate from her heart, her cheeks consumed by flames, her expression horribly distorted. Only her loving eyes remained deeply imprinted in Chloe’s pupils.

The fierce flames clung tightly to Chloe’s skin, forging a brand new crimson wedding dress. Yet, as the inferno attempted to invade Chloe’s body further, it was blocked by a thin membrane.

A cloak of flames enveloped Chloe, separating her from the outside world. Heat assailed her from all directions; she felt as if she were being roasted on a spit.

Chloe finally realized Alysia’s true intention: she wanted to possess her body!

The Sirena Ring emitted a faint glow, shielding Chloe from Alysia.

Chloe looked at the Sirena Ring with surprise. It could resist all Elder magic, and now it could save Chloe’s life.

“Julius…”

Alysia’s faint whisper reached Chloe’s ear, and a tremendous force assailed Chloe’s arm.

Chloe could feel Alysia desperately trying to remove the Sirena Ring. Chloe held on tightly, refusing to let Alysia succeed.

The flames consumed all the oxygen around Chloe, making her head spin. Alysia was on the verge of succeeding.

“Chloe!”

Alice’s hand reached through the flames toward Chloe, her arm searing.

Chloe grasped Alice’s hand, the soft touch rippling through her heart.

At that very moment, the Sirena Ring slipped from Chloe’s arm.

Chloe’s five senses were instantly stripped away, her consciousness sinking as if into an ocean.

All was silent, all was dark. Cold replaced the burning heat, creeping from Chloe’s feet to her face.

Throughout her entire body, only her fingertips retained a trace of warmth.

“Brother…”

A faint voice reached Chloe’s ears. She slowly opened her beautiful eyes, and light returned to her world.

This was clearly not the royal court, but a luxurious, serene room. Sunlight streamed through a carved window, illuminating a marble tabletop.

A snow-white dragon was intricately carved into the table. Chloe reached out and traced the dragon, feeling a strange sense of familiarity.

Suddenly, someone grabbed Chloe’s arm.

A beautiful young woman sat in a chair before the table, her golden-red robe draped to the floor. She pouted, looking at Chloe with suspicion.

The sunlight, like a veil, obscured her face, preventing Chloe from seeing her features clearly.

“Alysia, what’s wrong?”

Her voice carried a buzzing, electric quality.

But wait, why was she Alysia?

“Nothing, just a simple interest in this carving.”

Chloe felt her lips move, but the words were not her own. Could it be that the owner of this body was Alysia, and these were Alysia’s memories?

“I can give you the table; I won’t be needing it anyway.”

She stood up, taking Chloe’s hand.

“The Elder Council meeting is about to begin. Our goal is almost within reach. Are you nervous?”

“No, Lord Julius, I will stand with you until the very end.”

“Thank you.”

The sunlight gradually receded from her face, revealing her sister’s familiar smiling countenance.