A shroud of stars formed out of light appeared , moving to form some sort of sigil . It was similar to the stars in the sky , though at an infinitely smaller scale . Did these imperials have a bloodline related to the stars? Or did it create a galaxy under the laws of Taiji? It didn’t matter . This was his opportunity .
Zac forced his way through the barrier of clones , furiously blocking their strikes as Vivi dealt with the sword array . A flying sword dug into his shoulder , but he ignored the pain as he pushed on . Valsa had clearly expected Zac’s strike , but her eyes widened in shock when the Dao was suddenly removed from her surroundings .
The conjured stars dimmed , and the runes on the War Regalia lost their luster . Even the clones turned sluggish , though they didn’t wink out when exposed to Void Zone] as Zac had hoped . This was what he’d aimed for since the beginning . He had used Void Zone] a few times already , but never next to Valsa herself .
The two mages who’d been exposed to the odd domain had immediately died , bringing the secret of the nullification zone to their grave . It was all to catch Valsa unaware , and the appearance of the Golden Champion provided the perfect opportunity . He’d even goaded her into using her bloodline to deal with the puppets .
Zac still didn’t know what was going on with his ancestry . Was Laondio the true Limitless Emperor , or was Karz? Either case , the Void Emperor had to be a heritage that could suppress the bloodline of these false imperials . After all , they were only middling up-and-comers back then , clans that weren’t qualified to participate in the construction of the System .
No! - Valsa cried but was interrupted by a lance digging into her back .
She had put everything on the line to deal with Zac’s swing aimed at her head , but Void Zone] had rendered her Bloodline Talent useless . Blood poured out of Valsa’s mouth , and her aura flickered erratically . But she wasn’t dead . Zac tried to finish her off , but he swore as another gemstone on Valsa’s crown cracked .
A barrier appeared , pushing Zac back even with Void Zone] active . The Golden Champion was also thrown off , and its lance was destroyed . It left a huge bleeding hole in her stomach , which started to close as a third gemstone cracked . Zac inwardly sighed as he saw the four still-intact gems on Valsa’s head .
One had created the three clones that were taking up most of Zac’s attention . A second had created a barrier that could keep even him at bay . The third contained a powerful healing ability . Zac guessed that at least one provided soul protection , and the large gem in the middle reminded him of his Lucky Beads] .
But what about the other two? Another offensive and one for escape?
This was the headache of fighting with these elites . They were like cats with nine lives . He was one of the top five powerhouses of the Perennial Vastness , but he’d failed to kill over a dozen guests over the past year . They all had weird skills and treasures that got them out of death’s grasp . Three had even managed to escape Pillar of Desolation] somehow .
Zac wracked his brain , trying to figure out a way to seal the deal before Valsa could escape , but a scream of danger told him in no uncertain terms his window of opportunity was fast closing . The White Sigils had caught up with their leader , and Zac found himself sieged by two elite puppets and two light clones .
So it didn’t work . He underestimated these puppets , or perhaps overestimated them . Void Zone] completely erased his presence , which he’d hoped would make the puppets ignore him . It’d worked against that snake in the bottom of the Twilight Chasm , but it didn’t seem to have any effect on these things . Were they going by vision rather than aura?
Valsa also got her share of suffering from the Golden Champion and the final White Sigil . Both were trying to break through her barrier , but they were temporarily unable to handle it . Meanwhile , Valsa’s wounds rapidly healed , and Cosmic Energy Surged through her body . Zac grimaced , knowing he wouldn’t be able to interrupt her skill this time .
A celestial emperor appeared above Valsa’s protective bubble , its eyes already trained right at Zac . An immense pressure bore down on him , which lead to a series of wounds across his body . Of course , that wasn’t the extent of the emperor’s power , and he trained a sword in his direction . One circle of light after another appeared around the edge , and Zac felt a mounting sense of danger .
He had to waste what little Void Energy he had left to leave this place . But a drastic change occurred just as Zac activated Void Zone] to stall puppets and clones . A twenty-meter orc appeared out of nowhere , and plumes of bloodlust poured out of his cells . He carried a huge machete in his right hand and swung it at the sword with a roar that shook the whole region .
Machete and sword clashed , and the machete crumbled . It couldn’t withstand the pressure of Valsa’s super-charged blow . It did , however , forcibly push the sword to a side , and sweat poured down Zac’s back as a pillar of Pure Light ripped apart a White Sigil right next to him . He’d barely avoided being turned into toast , though he felt the skin on his left side crackle and tear as it was exposed to the immense energies in the strike .
The pressure from the emperor decreased after the strike , but the orc war chief didn’t give up either . He jumped at the opposing avatar with a mad laugh , radiating immense battle lust . For a moment , Zac was filled with visions of ancient battlefields . Of endless rows of well-decked soldiers encroaching on the lands of the tribes . City-dwellers who had come to the wilderness because of their insatiable greed .
They hadn’t expected the ferocity of the tribes or their willingness to bleed to protect their lands .
The emperor exhausted more energy to destroy the war chief , but a storm of intangible blades ripped him apart the next second . It was the golden puppet who had paused its assault on Valsa to destroy the skill , properly fulfilling its role as backup .
Unfortunately , Kruta’s stance wasn’t enough to turn the tides of war , though it had protected Zac long enough for Valsa’s barrier to collapse under the puppet’s assault . She was once more locked in a deadly melee , unable to send any more skills his way .
You! - Valsa screamed with anger as she desperately fended off the puppets , glaring daggers at Kruta , who tried to look inconspicuous to the side . - You think I don’t know who you are , Kruta? -
I— - Kruta hesitated , but their conversation was interrupted by a swarm of Blue Capes who appeared through the haze .
Zac sighed at the incoming squad . Over twenty Blue Caps with their weapons already drawn . He was full of reluctance , but there was nothing he could do .
It was time to leave .
55
PLUNGE
The White Sigils were true killing machines , but even the high-quality versions were ultimately not his match , at least not when empowered by Arcadian Crusade] . He’d already crippled one of the two through sheer attribute advantage and skill , but dozens of Blue Cloaks were ready to take his place .
Arrows so fast they were invisible forced Zac to constantly bob and weave , and he already had two sticking out of his body . Even Arcadian Crusade] couldn’t hide the fact he was pushing the boundaries of what his constitution could bear , and he felt himself slowly drowning under the onslaught . The ground shook , and Zac inwardly groaned upon sensing the army rushing closer . Just like Kruta warned , there were hundreds of Red Caps .
Fifteen seconds left on Arcadian Crusade] .
Zac hatefully looked at Valsa . They were only separated by thirty meters—a single leap for an E-grade cultivator—yet there might as well be an unbridgeable chasm between them . He was filled with reluctance , but he released a burst of Nature’s Edge] to create a small window to flash over to Kruta’s side .