fynovel Chapter 104 Escape from Death
Chapter 104 Escape from Death
When the light bursts forth, a change in space follows.
It was as if someone had waved their tangible hand across space, stirring up the intangible space itself.
The entire cave has changed.
From the ancient stalactites hanging from the cave ceiling to the rushing water in the underground river, to every inch of rock and every breath of air, everything began to tremble slightly.
The golden-green light was like the first ray of sunshine in early spring piercing through the cold winter, so warm, firm and healing, just like the parched earth finally welcoming the first drop of sweet rain, and then, it rained.
Centered on the mark, golden-green light spread out in ripples!
How fast is the speed of light?
Very quickly, and in the relatively enclosed space of the cave, the light enveloped the entire area almost the instant it appeared.
Then, a miracle happened.
The moment they came into contact with the golden-green light, the tentacles wrapped around Gu Chen were instantly melted, emitting a continuous "hissing" sound as they dissolved.
They quickly shrink, fade rapidly, and eventually disappear.
The dark power that had penetrated deep into Gu Chen's body, which had clearly eroded his body and soul, was now retreating or rather dissipating madly!
Even the platform beneath the Dark Eroder's feet, formed from dark power, began to tremble violently, with countless fine cracks appearing on its surface.
"Tsk..."
The Dark Eroder's calm face finally showed a new expression; he looked very unhappy, and his usual cheerful demeanor was gone.
He used the power of darkness to repair the platform beneath his feet, ensuring he wouldn't fall into the water.
At the same time, he turned around abruptly, his dark eyes fixed on the source of the light.
The light wasn't dazzling, but it possessed an undeniable aura of power.
Wherever it passes, darkness recedes, filth is purified, and even the cloying, putrid smell in the air is replaced by a fresh, natural fragrance of grass and trees.
"The mark of the Emerald Ring..."
"projection?"
The Dark Eroder's voice showed a clear emotional fluctuation this time.
He looked into the depths of the steps, the sound of his clenched teeth clearly creaking.
"I-Sera-ra-!!!"
"Are you going to interfere in my affairs?"
As the Dark Eroder spoke, the space around the mark in the cave, where the light was most intense, became noticeably distorted.
Immediately, countless emerald green light spots emerged from the void and converged together. Incredibly, delicate vines grew in the air, intertwining and coiling together, eventually outlining a human figure.
As the vines multiplied, the outline became clearer.
Finally, these verdant vines formed the human torso and limbs, while the specks of light transformed into flowing hair and robes.
The man stood still, holding an oak staff in his hand, the gemstone inlaid at the top of the staff emitting an even more vast and profound golden-green light.
Finally, Ysera's face appeared on the humanoid silhouette.
He looked different from when Gu Chen met him. Although his expression was still peaceful, he now had a more... solemn air about him.
It is like the embodiment of a deity walking in an ancient forest.
The projection opened its eyes.
Those were eyes made entirely of golden-green light, without pupils. Wherever their gaze swept, it seemed that all falsehoods would be seen through, and all life would be reborn.
The projection spoke, its voice both gentle and resolute:
"Dark Eclipse, leave."
The sound echoed in the cave, intertwining with the sound of flowing water and the wind that blew when it appeared, creating a symphony.
"He is under my protection."
Ysera's projection pointed at Gu Chen.
The Dark Eroder remained silent, the sound of its teeth chattering becoming even more pronounced in the cavern.
Then he smiled.
I laughed in exasperation; they've really stopped pretending.
The first time we met, you came out to rescue people, but ultimately it didn't affect your own plans. Since you said this low-level wizard is one of yours, then I'll just leave.
As a result, the second time, this low-level blood wizard messed up his plans. He finally managed to chase them down here, and now this projection has popped up again.
The Dark Eroder's laughter sounded a little hoarse.
"...How much power can a mere projection, maintained remotely from at least ten miles away, possibly bear?"
He raised his hands, and dense dark magic once again condensed in them.
This time, the Dark Eroder was clearly serious. The dark magic in the surrounding environment was completely removed, and the cave returned to its original state, along with the light flashing from Ysera's projection.
All the darkness was compressed; it was no longer scattered, but appeared to be compressed together.
Then the dark magic swirled, eventually forming two continuously collapsing black cores.
"A projection is ultimately just a projection; it is not the actual entity present."
"But I'm at the peak of the Second Ring Road."
"You think you can stop me?"
Ysera's projection remained calm as she slowly raised her staff.
"Enough to hold you off for a moment."
The voice remained calm, as if stating a simple fact.
"And a moment was enough for him to leave."
As soon as he finished speaking, the projection paused, sending the oak staff's phantom image fading to the ground!
"boom--!!!"
Centered on the projection, the ground of the cave within a radius of fifty meters erupted with violent tremors!
The entire ground was undulating, just like the water in an underground river!
"Snap! Snap! Snap!"
"Snap!!!"
The ancient rock formations are cracking and crumbling, revealing countless fissures!
These rocks were all cracked by the vines that had just grown from the ground!
Thick vines, shimmering with an emerald luster, surged forth from every crack like wildly dancing pythons!
Each of these vines is covered with strange golden patterns, which flicker and shimmer as the vines dance, exuding a surging life force!
Life is the greatest enemy of darkness!
There are hundreds or even thousands of vines, and they all have only one goal—
Eclipser!
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
If the underground rivers flow like water in the literal sense, then the vines in the sky look like a tide.
They swarmed towards the Dark Eroder!
These vines were completely unafraid of the darkness. On the contrary, the moment they came into contact with the power of darkness, the golden patterns on their surface shone brightly. Natural magic and the power of darkness collided violently, once again producing a "sizzling" sound!
There were also dozens of particularly thick vines whose tips split open the instant they approached the Dark Eater, spewing out a pale golden mist of pollen. This pollen was even more effective when it touched the dark tentacles!
"asshole……"
The Dark Eroder's expression was grave, his eyes filled with obvious anger, and he began to curse directly.
He couldn't help but want to retreat immediately, but to be honest, he couldn't leave...
Joebeck is dead. The underwater blood wizard's attack was too fast. And the behind-the-scenes forces that control the Antinoya family... he dares not provoke them.
Joe Beke is dead, but the crystal he left behind, containing the power of chaotic rules, is still very useful...
Therefore, no matter how Ysera tries to stop him, he must succeed!
He dared not hold back in the slightest!
"Dark Realm... Unfold!"
"Buzz—"
A spherical area with a radius of twenty meters centered on him was instantly swallowed up by pure darkness!
All the vines that entered the area suddenly slowed down, and the golden patterns on their surfaces dimmed rapidly, as if they might go out at any moment.
"cough……"
The Dark Eroder spat out a mouthful of black blood. Mastering a domain was a privilege reserved for the third ring, and even the peak second ring could try... but it would have a tremendous impact on both the body and mind...
We must finish this quickly!
"Dark Blade!"
The Dark Eroder's hands moved like afterimages, each swing unleashing a dark blade!
These hundreds and thousands of blades formed an impenetrable storm of death, sweeping away the vines that surged in from all directions!
"Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle!"
The vines were cut down!
Tear!
Shatter!
But even more vines followed one after another!
Moreover, the moment the severed vines hit the ground, they will take root and sprout, growing back into new vines within seconds and continuing to join the attack!
This is a war of attrition, a battle between darkness and nature!
Taking this opportunity, Gu Chen finally managed to catch his breath...
"Cough cough...cough..."
"Holy crap..."
"Hurry up..."
A head covered by a tattered hood emerged from the water; it was Gu Chen.
After paddling around a few times and choking on several mouthfuls of water, Gu Chen finally struggled to the surface.
The dark tentacles that had been binding him had all disappeared, and the erosion caused by the dark power within his body had been largely purified by the golden-green light.
He coughed violently, spitting out mouthfuls of river water he had swallowed; his lungs burned with pain.
But at least I can breathe now...
"Teacher Isela, I will definitely repay you when I have the chance..."
Gu Chen secretly made up his mind; this wizard from the Emerald Ring had truly helped him so much…
He touched his face and turned to look towards the dock.
The fierce battle between the vines and the darkness turned that area into a meat grinder.
The golden-green and pure black light collided and flashed continuously, and the shockwaves stirred up a gale in the cave, causing the river water to surge up to several meters high, shaking the cave, and causing rocks to fall continuously from the cave ceiling.
"We must leave immediately..."
Gu Chen used all his remaining strength to paddle desperately towards the dock on the opposite bank.
With each stroke, excruciating pain shot through his entire body. He was far too weak; without the replenishment of blood, it was extremely difficult for a blood sorcerer to recover from a severe injury…
There weren't many creatures in this river, and Gu Chen didn't dare to suck up the tentacles summoned from the dark dimension...
Therefore, he could only escape with his body, which was already at its limit, and he had to constantly push himself to new limits...
The icy river water kept taking away my body heat, and waves of dizziness from blood loss washed over me.
But he gritted his teeth, stared wide-eyed, and only the thought of "living" remained in his mind!
Ysera didn't come from the real body, but only as a projection, while the Dark Eroder looks like he's going to fight to the death!
I must take this fragment containing the power of chaotic rules with me!
This isn't a situation where simply throwing fragments far away will guarantee survival. The Dark Eroder has reached a point of no return; in this bloodthirsty state, if caught, he's doomed...
Gu Chen used both his hands and feet, frantically darting forward in the water!
Swim across! Climb up! Survive!
Ten meters... five meters... three meters...
Finally, his fingers touched the stones at the edge of the dock.
The stones are always wet and very slippery, but it's not a big problem!
A person who wants to live will grab onto a straw... a lifeline, even if it means digging their fingers until they bleed!
Gu Chen let out a low roar, using the last bit of his explosive power to grab the edge of the dock with both hands, and his body suddenly leaped upwards, finally tumbling and crashing onto the stone slab of the dock.
"Huff... huff..."
He collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath, each breath carrying the stench of blood.
My body felt like it was falling apart; every part of me ached, and every part of me was exhausted.
But he had no time to rest; he had to run quickly...
"Gu Chen, come up here!"
Ken's voice?
"Holy crap, you finally showed up..."
Hearing Ken's voice at that moment brought Gu Chen a deep sense of peace...
This is the voice of one of their own... and the appearance of Ken's voice means that Jim's safety is at least guaranteed...
That's good, that means I'll get support soon!
"Hurry up and go."
At the same time, Ysera's projected voice also traveled across the battlefield. Although it remained steady, there was a hint of barely perceptible urgency in the voice.
It seems that maintaining such a high level of projection combat must be extremely taxing on Ysera's main body in the distance.
It won't last long...
"Come up the steps! I'll be waiting for you at the end!"
Ken's voice came again. Gu Chen wasn't worried about whether he was impersonating someone else. The two were using a pre-established mental connection. Ken, who had been out of contact since the accident at the Antinoya family camp, had finally made contact.
Gu Chen took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, got up, and staggered toward the entrance of the steps.
Before stepping through the entrance, he took one last look back at the battlefield.
The Dark Eater still stood at the center of the dark realm, his hands waving like phantoms, countless dark blades continuously slicing through the vines.
Ysera's projection stood at the center of the light, her staff raised high, golden-green light surging forth like a tide, while new vines constantly appeared, filling the gaps left by the Dark Eroder's attacks.
"I can too..."
Gu Chen took a deep look, muttered something, and etched the scene into his mind.
Then he turned around, staggered up the steps, and entered the passage.
Darkness engulfed him, but this time there were no terrible enemies in the darkness.
The steps are narrow, allowing only one person to pass at a time.
The walls on both sides were slippery stone, and the ceiling was low. There was no light source in the passage except for a faint light coming from the entrance.
"It looks like the projection won't last much longer..."
The dimming light signifies that the battle is drawing to a close.
According to Ysera, it's highly likely that she can't defeat the Dark Eroder who is fighting desperately, since it's just a projection.
Gu Chen, holding onto the stone wall, climbed upwards step by step.
His physical condition was extremely poor.
"I can't be so reckless next time. I need to leave quickly and get out of here as soon as possible."
"We must meet up with Isera, Ken, and Jim as soon as possible."