Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Five successive tremors shattered the silence in the distance, and a crimson light dyed the entire night sky red, like a curtain of blood spread across it.
Zesshi Zetsumei turned to look. On the five distant mountains, blood-red pillars of light rose into the sky. With her exceptional eyesight, she could see countless lost souls struggling within the pillars.
Clearly, these five pillars of light were nothing good.
Zesshi's willow-like brows furrowed as she gripped her long-handled scythe with both hands, shielding Helant behind her. "The demon is coming. Be careful."
The scale of this Blood Sacrifice is enormous, and...
Zesshi Zetsumei looked toward the base of the pillars, a trace of shock and seriousness flashing in her black-and-white heterochromatic eyes.
"A million demi-humans were sacrificed just like that. It seems this demon is determined to kill you."
Helant stood up and looked at Zesshi Zetsumei's small face, which was flushed red by the light of the pillars, and sighed.
"Bastello is truly heartless, sacrificing a million demi-human subordinates without hesitation."
Solving all the Holy Kingdom's external threats in one move... aside from making Bastello look a bit like a traitor, everything else is fine...
Zesshi Zetsumei glanced sideways, her baby-fat cheeks puffing out slightly as she explained, "A sacrifice is both unexpected and reasonable. Quantity and quality are key in sacrificial magic. Bastello's move proves how determined he is to kill you."
"Then he really is wicked." Helant hid "weakly and pitifully" behind the century-old girl who did not even reach his chest, his face full of "fear."
Zesshi Zetsumei tapped the ground with her long-handled scythe, remaining vigilant of her surroundings as she said helplessly, "He could launch a sneak attack at any moment. You had better stay focused."
"Also, I should say this in advance. Considering the scale of this sacrifice, I might not be able to protect this city from the demon later. So be mentally prepared."
If anything unexpected happened, she would immediately use a Teleportation Item to transport Helant and herself away. As for this city, it would have to fend for itself.
"Good evening, oh so compassionate, sir Helant." A raspy male voice came from the sky.
Bastello stood against the blood-red night sky, his black formal suit neat and elegant. Placing his right hand over his heart, he gave a slight bow.
"Putting on an act." Zesshi tightened her grip on her scythe, her black-and-white heterochromatic eyes filled with hostility and vigilance.
Bastello ignored Zesshi. With a polite smile on his hideous, blood-red face, he continued, "As expected of you, to actually save the people of five cities before sunset. Impressive."
"Compared to someone like you who sacrificed a million subordinates, I still fall a bit short." Helant mimicked Bastello, the demon who had been personally trained by Demiurge.
Hearing this, Bastello's mouth curled into an exaggerated grin, revealing his fangs. His polite smile turned into a sinister sneer, and boundless malice seeped from his body as he spoke.
"To trade a mere million demi-humans for a chance to completely kill Lord Helant, no matter how you look at it, it is a bargain."
Completely kill?!
Zesshi Zetsumei took her stance, ready to use a Teleportation Item at any moment.
Helant frowned as Holy Light gathered around his tall frame. The white-gold radiance instantly illuminated a portion of the sky, appearing exceptionally dazzling against the crimson night.
This light was like needles piercing Bastello, forcing him to fly back several meters. After glancing at the Holy Light with disgust, he continued, "As you know, for people like us, resurrection is incredibly simple. That is also one of the reasons you were willing to face a trap for the sake of these commoners."
He bared his fangs as a hint of madness and cruelty flashed in his blood-red eyes. With a sneer, he said, "What if... at this very moment, your death would be permanent? What then?"
It seemed that he had exposed one of Helant's trump cards.
"So this Blood Sacrifice Magic Circle is the key to neutralizing the resurrection mechanism." Helant's face showed a trace of nervousness as he subconsciously took half a step back.
Is Helant nervous?
Zesshi Zetsumei noticed Helant's movement and thought to herself, "Some of the literature left by the Six Great Gods indicates that both players and NPCs have resurrection mechanisms, making them almost impossible to kill."
She reasoned that the reason Helant had acted so relaxed just now was probably because he knew he would not truly die.
Thinking of this, Zesshi quietly reached out her small hand and grasped Helant's large hand, comforting him. "Do not worry. I have prepared a Teleportation Item. We will run away together."
"Aha~ I'm afraid not! My dear lady, to prevent Sir Helant from escaping, this sacrificial magic has been enhanced. From the moment it began, no teleportation magic will work on Helant." Bastello pointed a clawed hand toward the five blood-red pillars of light behind him, looking as if victory was already in his grasp.
Upon hearing this, Zesshi Zetsumei's small face stiffened. After unsuccessfully attempting to activate a Teleportation Item on Helant several times, a flash of regret appeared in her eyes.
Damn it. I should not have tried to show off just now, thinking about saving the city in front of Helant.
"I am sorry... I should have taken you away immediately." Regret and disappointment filled Zesshi Zetsumei's eyes as she slightly lowered her head.
"Since resurrection will not work, you should leave quickly." Helant reached out and rubbed her puffy cheeks as a deep look of worry flashed in his eyes. "His target is me, so he will definitely not stop you."
Even in this situation, he is still worried about me?!
Zesshi Zetsumei covered her mouth as a look of deep emotion flashed in her black-and-white heterochromatic eyes.
For him to still be thinking of her at a moment of life and death... Helant was simply too good.
"No. I said I would protect you, and I must do it." Zesshi Zetsumei gripped her scythe as a surge of battle intent ignited in her chest. Her powerful aura burst forth, causing the air to freeze for a moment.
"Going all-in on a life-and-death gamble, huh..." Helant let out a helpless laugh, a hint of emotion flashing in his eyes.
Behind his back, his hand counted down.
Five, four, three, two, one.
Then, a blonde beauty appeared out of thin air. When she saw Helant, her eyes filled with surprise and longing.
Helant reacted quickly and caught Calca in a princess carry.
As the warmth of her soft body spread through Helant's arms, a faint and delicate fragrance drifted through the air.
Helant looked at Calca's beautiful face and said in surprise, "Calca, why are you here?!"
Immediately, that surprise turned into worry as he took the opportunity to hold the noble Holy Queen tightly.
"Since you are here, hurry and use a Teleportation Item with Zesshi Zetsumei to leave this place."
Hearing this, Calca's curled red lips stiffened as she looked at Helant in confusion.
"What is wrong?"
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