Extraordinary Voyage-Chapter 749 - 643: Convergence and Target
The power of a Tier 3 vampire is tremendous, and the rapier in its hand, flickering with spiritual light, could pierce a "Silver Knight" through with a single thrust. However, beneath their bright silver armor, there is no alchemy core that could be considered a vulnerability at all.
So, the damage caused by a penetration wound is relatively limited.
Moreover, whenever faced with such circumstances, the "Silver Knight," who knows nothing of pain and death, chooses to thrust forward violently, launching powerful grappling attacks against the vampire, attempting to completely restrict its movements, trading injury for life.
"Madman! Madman!"
Due to the uniqueness of the [Activated Guard], the vampire Bruch, unaware of the specifics about the "Silver Knight," was almost on the verge of a mental breakdown by now, completely losing the initial arrogance of threatening to devour the three Little Witches alive.
Facing three or even five opponents wasn't a problem at all, using guerrilla tactics to break them down one by one eventually. But now facing twenty was truly beyond his ability limit.
Two full minutes into the battle, he hadn't been able to completely eliminate even a single enemy, where quantitative changes have already resulted in qualitative changes.
A streak of black-red bloodlight in front, twenty streaks of silver light behind, darting quickly through the skies above this ancient city, incidentally flattening one spire-like tower after another in the city.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, a Silver Knight pursuing the vampire hurled the lance in his hand.
A streak of silver light flashed past.
Fizz...
The silver-plated lance, which severely restrains dark creatures, grazed his side, tearing a smoke-tingling opening on the edge of one rust-colored wide batwing, causing a steep slowdown in the vampire's flight speed.
Realizing that today's "feast" was clearly unattainable and could potentially endanger his life.
The vampire's red eyes flickered, and then he suddenly reversed course, seemingly aiming to strike towards the direction where Angie, the essential core, was located.
A Silver Knight swiftly blocked his path, yet was smashed down from the air like a heavy hammer by the vampire wielding his thin blood-colored rapier.
Boom!
Fortunately, at the critical moment, it converted its Steel Wings into a shield to block the blade, thus not suffering too severe damage.
However, just as other Silver Knights took the opportunity to encircle in this direction, waving their silver-plated weapons attempting to dismember the vampire.
Bruch instantly transformed into countless screeching black-red bats, easily breaking through the gaps left by the Silver Knights' encirclement. No longer caring about the three delightful Little Witches, he charged like a dark storm towards the city's central church in a desperate bid for survival.
At this point, he was already afraid.
The maximum strength a Wizard can achieve was simply too unpredictable for other paths of Extraordinary beings. Clearly, the three Witches themselves possessed similar Extraordinary levels, but their actual combat effectiveness was worlds apart.
"The Main Material World is too dangerous; it's better to go back to the Lower World..."
His target at this moment was very clear: if he himself didn't possess the ability to break through space, he could only swiftly escape here by seizing the treasure that constituted this Secret Realm.
Luckily, this was only the second layer; as long as he could seize that singular treasure, everyone would be immediately ejected, and he only needed to avoid those bizarre wizards when progressing forward.
But, at this moment.
In his frantic escape for life, the vampire glanced hastily behind him, instantly overcome with dread.
Danger! Danger! Danger! Danger! Danger!...
One by one, blood-red "danger" characters leapt up from atop each little bat's head.
Just as he saw that silver-haired, silver-eyed Little Witch raised her right hand high; on her slim index finger, a plain silver ring pulsed with brilliant silver light, resonating with the magic book before her. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞
[Witchcraft Artifact: Dominating Ring]
Effect: A lost creation from the "Life Tree School," allowing the user to borrow powers from outer-realm creatures, crossing an Extraordinary level (capped at Tier 4); significantly enhancing the commanding power and fine control power over same-level Servant Demons, rendering one person capable of forming an army.
A divine artifact for legion-play!
That was also her spoils from the first layer of the Secret Realm, enabling Angie to command a squad of twenty Silver Knights with three-dimensional attributes matching the human Grand Knight standard as if moving her own limb, to which it partly owed its credit.
Otherwise, no matter how many Servant Demons are there, they could employ only one tactic — "a swarm."
At this moment.
Whoosh—
Suddenly, a Spiritual Wind blowing from the Celestial Realm began to gently stir the white hem of the maiden's dress.
Subsequently.
Not only did a pair of silver dragon wings, covered simultaneously in scales and feathers, appear, but so did the phantom unicorn dragon head, dragon neck, and the entire upper half of the Celestial Feather Dragon emerge from the air.
[Witchcraft: White Dragon Riding]
Unhesitatingly.
The sizeable dragon mouth, filled with sharp teeth, opened wide; holy white light began to shine within its throat, with circles of semi-transparent rune rings slowly rotating in front of it.
Globules of brilliant white light, like bubbles rising from beneath the water's surface, started accumulating continuously at the rune ring's center.
Gradually forming into a growing white little sun.
In a mere few seconds, a swarm of black-red little bats barely managed to slightly disperse their formations.
Boom—
It was as if the sun suddenly exploded; a massive wave of brilliant light traversed the entire city, like the dawn light tearing through the darkness, completely illuminating this Secret Realm space.
[Breath: Divine Flash!]
A swarm of disintegrated black and red bats and the "Black Death Host" blocked in the path of the light beam were directly vaporized in this wave of light, as if ice melting and snow dissolving.
Even many buildings in the city collapsed under Angie's strongest strike.
Soon, even the occasionally escaping yet inevitably charred little bats were swiftly slaughtered by the Silver Knights in pursuit.
Clearly, creatures like ghouls and vampires who rely solely on innate talent lack the rigorous training and learning required for resilience, showing a significant disparity compared to human wizards who grow through their own power step by step.
Yes, human wizards with a solid foundation.
Meanwhile, after some artillery discharge by the ground forces, the buildings from the inner noble district to the central church had turned into a scene of ruins. The "Black Death Host" was dwindling and posed no threat to them any longer.
Moments later.
Three witches, after introducing themselves and getting to know one another.
Stood together in front of a red church filled with dark decorations and sculptures, uncertain which god it belonged to, and saw at the central altar a bone cup seemingly carved from some animal's bones in front of a bleeding Holy Statue.
On the outer wall of the cup, various images of animals, demonized creatures, lower-level demons, celestial creatures, humans... were intricately carved, vividly lifelike despite their minute size.
After a gentle touch, they already obtained its information.
[Blood Chalice] A sacred artifact of the vampire clan; upon sacrifice, it can magically produce the blood of any known creature in the world, available for vampire consumption. By initiating [Ceremony: Scarlet Banquet], it also greatly amplifies various witchcraft fueled by life energy.
To vampires, it may just be a food reserve, but to Angie or the "Vitalist School," its significance is especially profound. The most practical application is to analyze the various creatures' [Golden Chain]!
Angie glanced at this somewhat sinister but powerful bone cup and then looked back at the two sisters following closely behind her.
Now aware that the sisters' Wizard's Names were "Flowing Light" and "Firefly," they waved their hands repeatedly, conceding:
"Miss Aspen, we didn't really help much; this trophy should belong to you.
[Clock Tower] is still too challenging for us at present. Having obtained the first layer's rewards means we aren't returning empty-handed; we plan to settle in a safe area on the third layer and wait for it to end."
But, may I ask you..."
Their eyes were filled with a deep longing of "Rich person, can we be friends?"
Angie looked at the elder sister Clareesa, whose upper body was a beautiful young girl while her lower body was the firm and graceful form of a centaur; the silvery eyes sparkled brightly, and the corner of her pink lips slightly curled up:
"Why don't we exchange Spirit Realm Beacons, Miss Flowing Light? Miss Firefly?"
"Okay! Okay! Stay in touch." They agreed enthusiastically.
Later.
Angie reached out to pick up the [Blood Chalice], and the city within the church suddenly faded away.
The beacon talisman adorned with dragon scale, kept close at hand, faintly glowed.
Step!
Upon reopening her eyes, she found herself in a vast forest, where aside from the "Prophet" Milan, her teacher, sister Anita, and sister Olivia, who had "Adventurer's Blood," were smiling at her.
"Welcome back to the team, Little Angie!"
...
Simultaneously.
On the third layer of the [Clock Tower], within a space dominated by a towering royal city.
A group of Iron Wall Knights in heavy armor, majestic yet not cumbersome, lined up in the King's hall.
Led by a Tier 3 Peak Grand Knight, Macaulay Aston, who wielded the [Holy Sword: Adraste] granted by the "Victory Angel," they had already assembled over half of the Iron Wall Knight Squad from the Tulip Countries.
"According to the plan, once half are assembled, we won't wait for the others who can't catch up. Next, we must proceed to the sixth layer's public area at the fastest speed, the great sea—Eye of the Giant hidden in the [Clock Tower]."
Upon finishing his speech, Macaulay took off the Gem Crown placed atop the throne.
...
Over at the Black Wing Order's "Oathbreaker" faction, they were not falling behind.
Peak Grand Knight Don Douglas wielded a lance with a squirrel carved at its tip, the [Holy Spear: Ratatoskr], under the command of the "Inciting Angels" of the God of Black Wings.
Each Grand Knight wielding a divine weapon was at the top tier of combat power in this space, their firm belief that they could make it to the end instilled by these Holy Knights.
"Target 'Eye of the Giant,' we must avoid all unforeseen factors along the way, refrain from touching anything that might affect our strategy speed. We must be ahead of everyone in acquiring the 'Libra Balance Holy Sword'!"
For the Holy Knights, divine tasks are always the top priority; even if companions fall behind, they will not wait.
The two True Gods have one possessing [Navigation] abilities, while the other is the spokesperson for [Plunder], [Theft], [Pirates].
Even without the rivalry between [Royal Authority] and [Capital], the Black Iron Cross Church and Black Wing Order would never coexist peacefully. [Clock Tower] is the initial battleground for both to engage in direct confrontation!
Perhaps... the contest involves more than just these two factions.
