Chapter 63: Chapter 63: Annihilation Blood Nail—A Fatal Blow!
Sensing the abnormality in the space around them, Dean Bruce and Borus Kendra both instinctively looked up at the same moment, exchanging surprised glances.
As their eyes met, they both quickly realized the same thing—someone else was at play, manipulating the situation from the shadows!
But before they could even scan their surroundings, that strange energy had already enveloped them, locking them in place, rendering them immobile.
Hum—
A sudden feeling of weightlessness washed over Dean Bruce. His vision went completely dark, making him tense with apprehension. His eyes were wide open, yet he couldn't see a thing. Whoever was behind this was frighteningly powerful.
He had no idea how long he remained in that darkness, but finally, a faint light began piercing through, like a painting slowly unfurling before his eyes.
Even though Dean Bruce was paralyzed, unable to move even his eyes, he could still take in the scene unfolding before him.
He was no longer in the mineral-filled cave. Instead, he found himself bathed in brilliant moonlight, with no ground or walls in sight, as if suspended in an infinite, starry sky.
Not only was Borus Kendra there, but so were all the researchers, Lina Jones, and the rest of the group. They had all been transported into this mysterious space.
Hum—
A silver-white radiance coalesced into a glowing full moon, and as an ancient figure emerged from the light, the sensation of Primary Space Stasis finally faded.
As the restraints vanished, Dean Bruce immediately stepped back, shouting, "Everyone, regroup around me!"
At his command, the others quickly snapped back to their senses. Borus Kendra was no exception, swiftly gathering his researchers.
In moments, two opposing forces stood facing each other, and at the center was the figure of Ebner Mondo.
Turning to Borus Kendra, Ebner Mondo spoke in a voice cold and sinister, as if it had crawled out of the depths of hell, dripping with hatred. "Outsiders... Thousands of my people have died at your hands. Today, you will pay with your blood."
"One of the relic's natives?"
Borus Kendra narrowed his eyes, scanning the strange surroundings before speaking softly, "It seems I underestimated you. I didn't expect you to have such power. Had I known, I would've wiped you out completely back then."
"Unfortunately," Ebner Mondo spat, his voice thick with fury, "there's no such thing as a second chance!"
"Regret?" Borus Kendra chuckled, baring his teeth in a cruel grin. "Why would I regret it? If I didn't finish the job then, I can just do it now."
"You—an old, broken-down fool—dare to act arrogantly in front of me?"
"Blazing Blood Blade! Go!" With a casual wave of his hand, Borus Kendra summoned a blood-red flame, which instantly transformed into the shape of a blade and shot toward Ebner Mondo with blinding speed.
When the Blazing Blood Blade slashed through Ebner Mondo's body, it passed through as if slicing through water, leaving him completely unharmed.
This sight finally caused Borus Kendra's expression to grow serious.
Ebner Mondo, however, smiled oddly and said coldly, "You fool. Did you really think I'd come before you without any preparation, knowing full well I'm no match for you?"
"Want to kill me? Too late! There's no such thing as regret in this world! You're going to die, and there's nothing you can do about it!"
"Oh Moon God, I have already offered my soul to you. Please manifest your divine power!"
As his words echoed through the space, Borus Kendra and the researchers looked on in shock. Even Borus himself, usually so confident, wore an expression of grave concern. Dean Bruce and the others, on the other hand, were filled with curiosity—they had never witnessed divine power before.
The space fell into an eerie silence.
After a long pause, Borus Kendra noticed no immediate danger and sensed no magical fluctuations. He couldn't help but laugh mockingly. "What a ridiculous show. I don't know how you dodged my attack, but—"
Before he could finish his sentence, one of the researchers behind him trembled, cutting him off with a shaky voice: "M-Master! Y-Your body..."
At those words, Borus Kendra frowned and glanced toward Dean Bruce and the others, noticing their wide-eyed expressions of horror. Something was clearly wrong.
He looked down—and his pupils shrank in shock as he let out a blood-curdling scream.
His legs were gone!
They had simply vanished into thin air. Worse yet, the disappearance was spreading—slowly creeping up his calves, then to his knees, and onward to his thighs.
He couldn't even feel pain!
The terror of the unknown gripped him, plunging him into utter panic.
But no matter how much Borus Kendra struggled, nothing could slow the pace of his body's vanishing.
In the span of mere moments, under the stunned gaze of Dean Bruce and the others, Borus Kendra disappeared entirely, as if he had never existed in the world.
Gulp...
The sound of someone swallowing in fear echoed through the space. Everyone was left speechless, frozen in disbelief, except for Ebner Mondo, who broke into a wide, crazed grin, laughing maniacally.
But the nightmare wasn't over. After Borus Kendra's death, the researchers behind him met the same fate. As the moonlight touched them, their bodies, too, began to fade—starting with their feet, slowly becoming more and more transparent.
Dean Bruce narrowed his eyes, and without hesitation, he discreetly retrieved the Annihilation Blood Nail from his system space.
Dean Bruce had originally hoped to save this precious item for later, but given the current situation, it seemed he had no choice but to use it now.
As for Ebner Mondo genuinely wanting to work with them?
The moment they were dragged into this strange space, Dean Bruce realized that Ebner Mondo's true intention was to eliminate everyone—himself included.
It wasn't just Dean Bruce who sensed the danger; Alita Miller, Lina Jones, and Carol Lane were all on edge, their eyes locked onto Ebner Mondo with wary intensity.
There was no denying the sheer power and eerie nature of the magic gifted by the Moon God.
Even with so many targets, Ebner Mondo's magic was working seamlessly, faster and more effectively than anything Borus Kendra had unleashed.
"Thank you all so much!"
As Borus Kendra and his group completely vanished, Ebner Mondo turned toward them, a smile spreading across his face.
But that smile was unsettling, and Dean Bruce and the others instinctively took a few steps back.
"There's no need to be afraid," Ebner Mondo grinned. "After all, you've done me the great service of driving away those outsiders. When I kill you, I'll ask the Moon God to be as gentle as possible."
"Y-you're going back on your word?"
One of the survivors, gripped by fear, shouted in disbelief. "Without us, how could you have gotten rid of them?"
Hearing this, Dean Bruce, Alita Miller, and the others shook their heads, smiling bitterly. They couldn't believe someone could be so naive.
Trying to reason with the one about to kill them?
Or perhaps that person had been so overwhelmed by fear that they'd lost all sense of logic.
"True enough! But you are outsiders, too!"
Ebner Mondo sneered. "If I let you leave, you'll surely spread word of this place, and soon enough, we'll be back to living in constant fear!"
He paused, shaking his head. "I'm not heartless, nor do I take pleasure in breaking my word. If that were the case, I wouldn't be explaining myself. But to protect this relic, to ensure the Black Dragon cannot be unsealed, you all must die."
"Blame yourselves for coming here."
As soon as those words left his lips, Ebner Mondo's mouth began to move in a quiet chant. Sensing the danger, Dean Bruce didn't hesitate. He flung the Annihilation Blood Nail he had prepared earlier, sending it hurtling toward Ebner Mondo at blinding speed.
Ebner Mondo paused, his chanting abruptly cut off. He sneered, "You couldn't even take down that guy, and yet you think you can hurt me? Let me make this clear—so long as we are in this realm, I am invincible!"
Hearing this, everyone's breath hitched, their hearts sinking into despair.
It wasn't that they doubted Dean Bruce, but Borus Kendra's fate was still fresh in their minds—what hope did they have against someone even stronger?
"Still not giving up? Fine, I'll show you the futility of your efforts!"
With a twisted grin, Ebner Mondo stood motionless, not even attempting to dodge.
Thunk—
But as the Annihilation Blood Nail pierced straight through his body, that smug smile vanished without a trace. His pupils dilated, locking onto Dean Bruce in disbelief as the life slowly drained from his face.
The onlookers, still tense and unsure, could only gulp nervously, unsure of what to make of the scene unfolding before them.
It wasn't until the light faded completely from Ebner Mondo's eyes, and his body slumped forward, floating lifelessly in the vast, endless void, that someone dared to whisper, "Is… is Ebner really dead?"
"Lord Dean! Did you truly kill Village Chief Ebner?"
"Pah! Village Chief? At a time like this, you're still calling that old scoundrel by his title? He was a monster! Good riddance!"
"Lord Dean, you're incredible!"
As they watched Ebner Mondo's lifeless form drift through the strange space, unmoving, the group finally accepted that he was dead. Cheers for Dean Bruce erupted, filling the air with relieved shouts.
Lina Jones, Alita Miller, and the others let out deep sighs of relief.
They couldn't deny that since entering the Sealed Temple, one battle after another had taken a toll on their spirits. Now that it was finally over, exhaustion washed over them, making it hard to even think about moving.
But just as they were starting to relax, Carol Lane's voice broke the silence, reigniting their anxiety. "Ebner Mondo is dead... so why are we still trapped in this strange space?"