Chapter 190: A Phenomenon the Locals Have Never Seen
Just then, Zhongli approached Trianne with a measured, unhurried gait. He offered no grand pronouncements, merely extending his right hand, palm down, and sweeping it gently through the air before the child.
A clear yet deep amber glow flashed into existence, instantly merging with the space around Trianne. It solidified into an invisible yet incredibly resilient protective force—the Jade Shield.
"This is a small measure of protection," Zhongli's voice was as steady and deep as ever. "In a moment of crisis, it may ward off a blow or two for Miss Trianne." He paused, his golden eyes conveying a quiet gravity. "However, this is not a foolproof solution. The best course of action is still to remain far from danger; do not actively seek it out."
The instant Zhongli raised his hand, the honed instincts of Phainon and Mydei, two battle-hardened warriors, screamed in alarm. Their intuition, sharpened by countless life-or-death struggles, told them that the man named Zhongli was an individual of immense power.
While Trianne couldn't possibly comprehend the true strength of the shield now enveloping her, she could feel the warmth and kindness it contained. She looked up, her small face breaking into a sweet, beaming smile.
"Thank you! I wish you all the best, too! Defeat the bad guys and come back safely!"
With their preparations complete, the members of the expedition performed one final check of their equipment and confirmed their status. As one, their gazes turned towards the deep, shadowy corridor that led into the heart of Hanging Edge City, a maw that seemed to swallow all light.
The team advanced cautiously, following the massive main thoroughfare of the outer city into its depths.
Desolation and deathly silence were the prevailing themes of this place. The only sounds were the mournful wail of the wind whistling through broken walls and the crisp crunch of their own footsteps on the ruined streets.
They hadn't gone far when ominous figures began to stir in the shadows of the rubble ahead.
Amidst a chorus of low, guttural growls, several Heavensent Hunters and Heavensent Choirs staggered into view, their corrupted forms blocking the path forward.
"They're here," Phainon murmured, his grip tightening on his weapon. Beside him, Mydei let out a cold snort.
However, before the two Amphoreus natives could make a move, Wise and his sister stepped forward to meet the threat.
"Perfect. A good warm-up," Wise remarked, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose as fiery ribbons of flame already blazed to life around his Fire-Woven bracers.
Belle drew Hyōrinmaru, and a evident chill spread from the blade. "Brother, leave the two on the left to me."
For the siblings, these common monsters were the ideal subjects to test the results of yesterday's training and further acclimate themselves to the battlefield.
The battle unfolded in a flash. Wise's flames were agile and explosive, weaving through the air like deadly dancers. Belle's icy sword qi was precise and lethally sharp. With a seamless coordination that spoke of years of practice, they swiftly cleared out the monstrous patrol.
What happened next, however, made Phainon and Mydei's eyes widen in disbelief, forcing them to question their own senses.
As the last Heavensent Vanguard was frozen solid and shattered by a final slash from Belle, the scattered crystalline fragments did not vanish or become inert as they always did. Instead, they floated up from the ground, drawn together by an unseen force, converging and merging in mid-air.
In a faint glow, the fragments reformed into an ancient-looking treasure chest that radiated an enticing luster. It landed on the ground with a solid clank.
"Wow! It's Low-Grade Spirit Stones! Not bad, not bad!" Paimon chirped, zipping over to excitedly tally their new gains.
Phainon and Mydei were utterly bewildered. They had fought these minions of the Ethereals countless times—especially elite monsters like the Heavensent Vanguard—and never once had they seen a treasure chest appear after a victory. The only reward had ever been temporary safety.
And they had certainly never heard of these "Spirit Stones" before.
Along their path, this illogical phenomenon occurred two or three more times.
Mydei couldn't hold it in any longer. He discreetly nudged Phainon several times with his elbow, his eyes screaming the question, 'What in the world is going on?'
Phainon took a deep breath, finally unable to resist asking. "Stelle... and everyone... may I ask, why do these... magical treasure chests appear when you defeat these monsters? We people of Amphoreus have never encountered such a situation."
Hearing this, Stelle put her hands on her hips, a proud "Now you're asking the right person" expression blooming on her face.
She puffed out her chest and declared, "This is the magical ability of us Travelers! It's also one of the most important reasons we invited our companions to explore Amphoreus with us!"
"...So that's how it is," Phainon nodded, a thoughtful but still deeply confused look on his face.
Although it was difficult to comprehend, the facts were right before his eyes. He and Mydei could only suppress their shock and accept this bizarre reality. Vague as Stelle's explanation was, it at least gave him a crucial piece of the puzzle: she had actively invited companions to assist them in order to explore Amphoreus and obtain these unique "rewards." It seemed to be a peculiar rule exclusive to their mysterious organization.
Taking advantage of a brief pause in their advance, Phainon fell back a few steps to walk beside Stelle. He lowered his voice and, with utmost sincerity, raised another concern.
"Stelle, I have no intention of belittling Mr. Wise. His fighting style is unique, and his flame ability is very powerful—more than enough to clear out these common soldiers. But..."
He hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "Forgive my bluntness, but Nikador's strength far surpasses these grunts. His madness and power are terrifying. I'm concerned that with the strength Mr. Wise and Miss Belle have displayed so far, facing Nikador directly would be extremely dangerous."
His tone was heavy with a sense of responsibility, born entirely from concern for his comrades' safety. "Should we reconsider the team arrangement for the final assault? Perhaps having Mr. Wise and Miss Belle provide support from the periphery would be a more secure plan?"
Before Stelle could answer, Zhongli, who appeared to be observing their surroundings but had in fact heard their entire conversation, spoke calmly. "It's fine."
His voice was not loud, yet it carried a steady, convincing power that left no room for argument. "On this journey, I will ensure their safety. If the battle situation truly exceeds their capabilities, I will intervene and lead them out of danger."
Since Zhongli himself had given his assurance, Phainon naturally found it difficult to press the matter further.
He merely emphasized again to the group with solemn gravity, "In that case, I'll leave it to you, Mr. Zhongli. And please, everyone, remember that safety comes first. Nikador's strength is beyond imagination, so do not be reckless under any circumstances."
Everyone nodded, indicating they understood.
After clearing a few more waves of scattered monsters, the team finally passed through the long, dilapidated corridor of the outer city. The scene before them suddenly opened up, revealing a sight even more stunning than the ruin they had already witnessed.
They had stepped into a massive, circular plaza. At the far end of it stood an even more majestic, yet even more ruined, main city complex.
But what was most striking was the unimaginably huge stone greatsword suspended high above the entire ruin.
The greatsword was hundreds of meters long, and it emanated a chilling, oppressive aura, as if it could fall at any moment and crush everything beneath it. It hung there in silent judgment, an eternal symbol of condemnation that cast a pall over all of Hanging Edge City.
"That is the Blade of Condemnation," Mydei's voice became low and hoarse, tinged with a complex mix of hatred and sorrow.
He stared up at the colossal weapon. "In the past, Nikador used that greatsword to destroy Aegis's heavenly kingdom, as well as one city-state after another."
Revisiting his homeland only to see it in such a state of ruin, even the stoic Mydei couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.
Just as everyone was immersed in the heavy, impactful scene, several familiar shouts suddenly echoed from nearby.
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