Apocalypse Circular-Chapter 447: Ashes Godslayer

The monstrous figure before her took Wu Handing by surprise. This form—it must be some sort of aberrant mutation, right?

But could such tentacular monsters be born from lava as well?

BOOM!

The volcano erupted a second time. Countless tentacles, as if breaking free from their shackles, burst forth from the depths of the earth.

Just having reached the Seventh Tier, Wu Handing wanted to take to the sky for a closer look, but the tentacles aimed straight for her, entwining themselves around her without giving her any chance to escape.

"What kind of monster is this!"

Wu Handing cut through a giant tentacle with a single sword strike, and flame ignited the very moment the tentacle was severed.

Yet, the tentacle did not disintegrate from flame and injury; instead, it floated quietly in the air.

It seemed as though it was brewing some kind of powerful Outburst.

Wu Handing had no time to pay attention to the tentacle’s subsequent reaction.

Because there were more tentacles surrounding her that needed her attention, her Red Gauze armor wrapped around her body, and her Ash Envoy erupted with intense heat.

At this moment, she soared midair, like a valiant and beautiful war goddess.

Yet even in such a state, compared to the monsters beneath my feet, I still feel somewhat insignificant.

The giant tentacles began to release a vortex-shaped energy from their mouths.

This energy, upon contact with Wu Handing, instantly turned into a black-purple flame that scorched with energy, causing an unexplained reaction.

"What in the world is this!"

Wu Handing’s expression soured as she immediately used the energy of her Red Gauze armor to shield herself from the Netherflame’s scorching.

Then she continued to wield her greatsword, charging deeper into the mountain.

After all, she was an Imperial Princess.

An Imperial Princess couldn’t tolerate such monsters rampaging through the Imperial lands.

She had to find a way to stop the monster before her; if it made its way into the GuiXi District, it would mean loss for the Imperial Family.

What belonged to the Imperial domain was theirs by extension, and loss was intolerable.

Have they entered? It should be about time.

Watching Wu Handing press on towards the mountain, Lu Luo, who had been hiding in the shadows, revealed himself.

Before taking the Ash Envoy, he had one more task to complete.

That was to help Zhang Changming eliminate the latent risks within the Inspection Department. The group that was killing in the valley—they were Zhang Changming’s problem.

As a collaborator, I’m really quite considerate, solving so many problems for the Inspection Department and providing them with financial support. I’m just too kind-hearted.

Lu Luo praised himself as he approached the group of Inspection Department members.

When these Inspection Department members saw Lu Luo, their expressions turned ugly once more.

They were not afraid of Lu Luo. Instead, they were concerned because he was the person the Imperial Princess was after. Having such a burden would affect their speed of killing and looting.

That’s right, for the Inspection Department, killing and looting on such missions was perfectly legitimate.

The presence of Lu Luo only hindered the speed at which they could make money.

"Hey, what’s with you appearing and disappearing? If there’s nothing wrong, we will take you out of here shortly."

After saying this, the man plundered some Spirit Stones and money from a Transcendent, then killed them with a single stroke, cold and ruthless.

This is ridiculous, not giving any chance at all! Lu Luo thought.

"The volcano is erupting, and here you are still in the mood to rob. Procession to slaughter. No wonder he wants to cleanse all of you; people like you are inherently problematic."

Lu Luo’s words left people baffled.

However, it seemed the Inspection Department members realized what he meant at that moment.

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing much. Just that it’s time for it to end."

No sooner had Lu Luo’s words fallen than his body vanished from before those men.

Shock and terror were insufficient to describe how these men felt at that moment.

Before they could even turn to run, the first man’s head had been twisted off by Lu Luo.

"Face the enemy!"

Resistance was futile; the disparity between their power and Lu Luo’s was too great, almost incomparable.

There was no possibility of putting up a fight.

The ensuing moments were undoubtedly a one-man show by Lu Luo, a massacre!

SPLAT!

When Lu Luo’s palm pierced through the chest of the last member of the Inspection Department, he turned his gaze towards the crater.

He could feel that the Sequence aberrations he had created were about to fully mature.

Looking around at the corpses strewn everywhere, Lu Luo felt somewhat conflicted.

All of this was his doing, for his own self-interest.

I can’t claim any saintly complex, but at this moment, as a human, I still feel somewhat uncomfortable.

The birth of every powerful being causes rivers of blood, and I am no exception.

Settling his mind, Lu Luo ran straight towards the mountain peak.

Next is the decisive battle with Wu Handing!

...

Inside the crater, Wu Handing had already plunged into the depths of the volcano. The Ash Envoy was controlling the surrounding magma, allowing her to glimpse the true visage of the mountainous creature.

BOOM!

Another violent explosion erupted, and lava spewed forth.

The flames and ashes were directed by the greatsword in Wu Handing’s hands.

Countless tentacles struggled in the magma and the mountain, seemingly about to break free.

Before the monster escapes, I’d best inflict some damage on it. That way, when the fight begins, I can conserve some strength, Wu Handing thought.

As for failure?

Wu Handing never considered failure. Even at the Sixth Tier, she would dare to venture deep into the tiger’s lair.

Not to mention, she had now stepped into the Seventh Tier.

In this world, there were not many aberrations that could overpower her.

What a pity, I don’t know how to use a sword!

Gripping the hilt, Wu Handing swung fiercely. Even without sword skills, her immense power and energy enabled her to send out waves of molten lava with Slash Strikes.

The creature’s tentacles continuously fell into the magma, but its body was also rising steadily.

Suddenly, a vast black shadow appeared before Wu Handing’s eyes.

"What is this!"

The shadow was none other than the pupil of the monster—a vertical pupil! A black vertical pupil.

Only, this vertical pupil was so large that when it appeared, it was akin to a vast shadow.

This big?

Though Wu Handing was surprised, her movements didn’t slow down.

She gripped her sword with both hands, charging directly toward the lake of magma, intending to pierce the eyeball completely before it could break through.

But when she arrived above the magma, her body tensed abruptly.

A Seventh Tier warrior’s intense perception of danger made her twist her body unnaturally and hastily escape toward the walls.

WHIR! WHIR WHIR WHIR WHIR!

A colossal red eye beam burst forth from the lake, and everything it passed through disappeared into thin air.

Watching the collapsing mouth of the volcano, Wu Handing was momentarily stunned.

An attack like that... if I were hit head-on, even I...

She dared not continue her thought. This creature is clearly no ordinary being. This battle might not be as simple as I thought.

RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE!

The mountain slowly collapsed, and the vast eyeball soared into the sky.

Innumerable tentacles supported the rising eyeball, the vertical pupil fixated on Wu Handing, its gaze making her very soul tremble.

"Hmph, a member of the Imperial Family will not submit so easily!"

Clearly, Wu Handing was not one to easily compromise. She leaped into the air and slashed at the eyeball before her.

CLINK!

Yet, when the Ash Envoy struck the eyeball, it made only a sound like metal colliding.

Its hardness exceeded Wu Handing’s imagination.

This toughness!

Wu Handing was not discouraged. Her Red Gauze armor covered her arms and the Ash Envoy. She leaped high again, with unyielding resolve, slashing at the eyeball.

The eyeball watched Wu Handing in the air as if invisible energy was gathering in the center of its pupil.

This feeling was eerily familiar.

Damn, another eye beam!

This time Wu Handing could not escape; or rather, she no longer had the chance to.

If I can’t pierce this eyeball, I’ll definitely die!

"With my blood as a sacrifice, I pledge my body."

The lineage of the Wu Imperial Family was clearly no simple matter, as red began to engulf Wu Handing’s body.

A flickering red light wrapped around her Red Gauze armor. It lifted Wu Handing’s speed and strength to another level as she stabbed her sword toward the pupil of the eyeball.

WHIR!

The eye beam was released at the same time. The red light enveloped the sky and instantly swallowed Wu Handing.

But if someone looked closely at the eye beam at that moment, they could notice an impurity in its center.

That impurity was none other than Wu Handing, who was still fighting!

"Today, you must die!"

Wu Handing channeled the blood of the Imperial Family, the power of a Seventh Tier warrior, and the momentum of the Ash Envoy. These three powers merged into one, and she broke through the eye beam.

Her sword pierced into the pupil of the eyeball.

The eyeball vibrated as if it had sustained a massive injury, shaking violently.

The intense vibrations nearly forced Wu Handing to release her grip.

However, she knew she could not let go at this moment. To release her grip was to die!

Innumerable tentacles rippled around Wu Handing, as if they wanted to peel her away from the creature’s main body.

But Wu Handing’s strength was not to be underestimated.

Each time a tentacle drew near, it would be severed by her sharp claws.

With one hand, she gripped the sword hilt tightly, while the other continuously cut through the tentacles, forcefully holding her ground atop the eye.

SPLURT!

The eyeball began to spray red liquid.

Wu Handing didn’t know what this fluid was but, as it sprayed out, she clearly felt a weakening in the eye’s power.

Is it finally giving out?

However, just as Wu Handing’s spirits had lifted, the eye did something she couldn’t understand.

It lowered all of its tentacles, no longer attacking her, but piercing them into the earth.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

After the tentacles pierced the earth, they began to absorb the energy of the land and the volcano.

Wu Handing was bewildered by its lack of resistance.

The battle isn’t over yet. What’s going on?

No matter, I’ll finish this thing off first!

Just as Wu Handing was about to swing her sword again, the sky suddenly darkened.

She looked up to find countless eyeballs appearing in the sky, obscuring every corner of her vision!

This feeling...

Not good!

The Thousand Eyes Demon, Eye Beams!

Numerous red beams descended from the sky, the destructive light striking Wu Handing relentlessly, tearing apart her clothing and the Red Gauze, layer by layer.

In the end, even her body hair, hair, and skin began to be destroyed.

Heart-searing pain made Wu Handing howl in agony.

But her howls were futile; the eye beams continued to ravage her body.

Only when a burst of royal blood spurted from her body did it manage to barely block the energy of the eye beams.

Wu Handing, covered in wounds, stood holding her sword.

She raised her head to look at the eyeballs in the sky, her gaze filled with pain, anger, and the unique defiance of royalty.

Her unyielding will kept her from falling here.

But that was all.

"I... will never fail!"

"Really?"

A somewhat familiar voice sounded behind Wu Handing, surprising her, with disbelief being the greater part of her reaction.

"You..."

Wu Handing turned her head. Her appearance was no longer as stunning as before.

Her damaged skin could not even cover her muscles.

She looked at Lu Luo, the brightness in her eyes dimming a bit.

"Who... who are you really?"

Lu Luo tossed his cloak aside and then tore off his fake beard.

His features were still handsome, which even made Wu Handing, an Imperial Princess who had seen many beautiful men, pause in astonishment.

"It really is you. I should have known earlier, Lu Luo!"

"Should have known what?"

"I should have realized that nothing would be so coincidental. Something has developed between us—cause and effect, right?"

"To think you have such awareness at such a young age, not bad."

Lu Luo spoke with the tone of an older man, though surprisingly, he was actually younger than Wu Handing.

"Heh, you arranged all the opportunities along the way, didn’t you?"

"Yes and no. These opportunities are indeed just that, but they were not for you. Do you understand?"

"I never thought you Circular would be so ruthless. I was merely testing Qi Xinzhu. Was all this necessary? I am an Imperial Princess! I am! This world belongs to our Wu family!"

Wu Handing’s emotions had been relatively stable, but as she spoke her final words, they began to spiral out of control.

"This world has never belonged to just one person or family. It belongs to those with power. When your family had power, it naturally belonged to you. But when your power is insufficient, then this world must change its name. Do you understand?"

"I don’t understand! All I know is that I can grasp everything I have right now! Lu Luo, do you think you can kill me?"

Wu Handing raised the Ash Envoy in her hands and was about to bring it down on Lu Luo.

But at that moment, the greatsword in her hands felt uncontrollable; it trembled and struggled, seemingly trying to break free from Wu Handing.

"What’s happening? This sword?"

While Wu Handing was astonished, the Ash Envoy actually sent out a telepathic message – it felt as if it had spoken.

"Dad, you’ve come?"

Lu Luo nodded. "Yes, I’m here."

Wu Handing: ???

She was stunned. The sword actually called Lu Luo ’Dad’? What did that mean?

"You find it odd?" Lu Luo suddenly asked.

Wu Handing didn’t know what to say, but she absolutely could not accept such an outcome.

"Did you design this sword as well?"

"This sword was originally mine. It was born because of me and grew because of me. This time, the goal was for this sword to absorb some of the earth’s power. You, Wu Handing, were merely nourishment in the process!"

"Impossible!"

Wu Handing tried to grasp the greatsword again, but the searing heat from it was simply unbearable for her.

Already injured by the eye beam, Wu Handing couldn’t hold onto Lu Luo’s sword any longer. She had to let go, allowing the greatsword to drift towards Lu Luo.

"No!"

Wu Handing attempted to counterattack, but her Seventh Tier strength seemed insignificant before Lu Luo.

Lu Luo slapped her directly, then kicked her away.

"First, for the sin of your arrogance! Then, for the score you’ve racked up probing Circular and Qi Xinzhu!"

The Deliberate Bombardment Fist hit Wu Handing squarely in the chest, the immense force creating a mist of energy and blood.

Wu Handing was bleeding profusely, her viscous blood mingling with the Red Gauze.

Her pupils had dissipated. In such a state, she was no match for Lu Luo, let alone able to resist.

But just as Lu Luo was about to end her life, there was a disturbance in the sky!

Lu Luo’s hair stood on end; every Sequence warned him of impending peril.

A formidable foe!

As Wu Handing looked at Lu Luo once more, an unprecedented, terrifying force descended upon Shuangta Mountain.

Her eyes were empty and abyssal, like endless chasms.

A substitution, then! Lu Luo thought.

Lu Luo, holding his sword with one hand, faced this Wu Handing.

Although Wu Handing was still Seventh Tier, she inexplicably pressured him. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

The power of the Imperial Family, perhaps?

In theory, the Imperial Family represented the pinnacle of this world’s power.

The risks of killing an Imperial Princess were also something Lu Luo needed to weigh!

Just then, Wu Handing spoke again, but with a man’s voice:

"Let her go."

"Hmm? And why should I?"

Lu Luo wasn’t one to retreat from threats.

"Because she is my child."

"And do you not know that she also tried to harm my child?"

"Our statuses are different. Cultivation is hard-earned. I hope you understand this truth."

Lu Luo suddenly burst into laughter, primarily because such people were inherently laughable.

"I see. So even asking me to spare her is a kind of alms!"

"It is best that you understand this," came the reply.

A gigantic hand descended from the sky, grasping Wu Handing before Lu Luo.

Although she had already been gravely injured, her breathing steadied quickly as the hand held her.

Her condition stabilized; it seemed she would recover before long.

Lu Luo looked at the hand in the sky, inwardly marveling.

Unbelievable, such a distant will can be extended! Is this the might of the Imperial War God?

*It is Eighth Order, and very powerful! You...*

"I know!"

Lu Luo suddenly gripped his sword, the Ash Envoy’s heat fully manifesting in that moment.

The tendrils that pierced the earth began to retract, fusing back with the eyeball under Lu Luo’s feet.

The ashes guided the earth’s power, which Lu Luo channeled into a slash towards the sky.

Feeling the disparity in power, Lu Luo should have compromised.

But he didn’t want to, much like Ludie.

"Only the earth can confront the sky!"

With these ashes, I will slay a god!