Chapter 1076: Chapter 412: Grant You a Merciful Death

No one dared to strike first against the “Pillar God Apostle: Endless Knot.”

The overwhelming presence caused “Grey Falcon,” a warrior capable of sensing threats, to experience intense mental pressure.

–He had never witnessed such a powerful being!

Not even those at the Fifth Power Level could compare to this!

The angel slowly extended its right hand toward them. Its hand, already melted into the light and transformed into an amorphous mass, made it impossible to discern whether the gesture was an invitation for a handshake or a sign of rejection, forbidding approach.

But at that moment, the purple-red ring behind it suddenly unfolded outward in layers!

Tetrahedron, cube, octahedron, dodecahedron, icosahedron–these were not three-dimensional objects but rather geometric patterns designed to depict their three-dimensional forms on a plane. These five patterns combined into a new and unique design…

This was the Metatron Cube!

The lines forming this pattern were originally white.

But suddenly, the tetrahedron representing “fire” turned red and became prominent.

It transformed from a planar design into a three-dimensional entity, becoming a translucent red barrier encircling the angel.

And at that instant–

The purple-red sky abruptly darkened to a deep crimson, searing the eyes like a fiery sea.

The white clouds appeared scorched, blackened like charred cotton candy.

The next moment, countless flames descended from the heavens!

A meteor firestorm easily capable of blanketing the entire city.

Thousands, tens of thousands!

Each golden-red fireball measured two to three meters in diameter and trailed a dark red, blackened tail of flame.

“How do we even fight this?!”

In an instant, Princess Noel was overwhelmed by despair.

No chants, no rituals, no offerings… Such a massive spell was unleashed with complete silence!

Was this truly the power allowed during the Fourth Power Level promotion ritual?

“–Vinesse!”

Aleister had no time to think. He shouted the name of the Night Fiend aloud.

The crow-like Night Fiend soared upward, transforming into its demonic form in mid-air.

The deep crimson sky, poised to unleash its blood rain, was evaporated by the flames into nothingness.

“Alchemist!”

The warrior “Grey Falcon” suddenly addressed Princess Noel. “Give me a one-handed sword–you can do that, can’t you?!”

“…I can!”

Noel responded without hesitation.

She brought her palms together, fingers interlacing tightly.

Blackened smoke-like soul energy surged from within her, seeped into the earth, and corroded the metal structure of the clock tower entirely.

When the soul energy converged again, a single-handed sword glowing brightly with radiance stood before them, embedded in the earth.

–Instantly forged!

This was the power of an Alchemist at the Fourth Power Level.

Without hesitation, Grey Falcon drew the sword from the ground. Its cold, brilliant blade reflected a flicker of firelight like a mirror.

As a Sword Saint, the moment he gripped the blade, his aura shifted noticeably.

Placing his left hand against the blade, he brushed toward its tip. White brilliance flowed from under his fingers, spreading and transforming the entire blade into a crystalline structure.

With both hands clasping the sword, Grey Falcon slashed downward suddenly!

A tide-like wave of silver light surged forth.

Sparkling silver Sword Qi soared up to six or seven meters high, dividing the fireballs racing toward them and extinguishing them entirely.

The wave flew directly toward the angel, striking the red tetrahedral barrier surrounding it.

Crack.

The red tetrahedral crystalline barrier endured the strike, yet a crack suddenly appeared upon its surface.

The group’s eyes brightened with anticipation.

If they could deal damage, then it wasn’t completely beyond their power to prevail!

Having been struck, the angel–originally fixated on the Night Fiend–turned its gaze toward the Sword Saint.

At that precise moment, the Night Fiend moved instantly, positioning itself behind the angel.

Its shadow-formed claws aimed to pierce straight through!

But the angel seemed to anticipate this move–it curled its limbs tightly inward, resembling an infant.

From the rear of the Metatron Cube, the icosahedron representing “water” suddenly radiated a blue-white cold brilliance, replacing the red tetrahedral barrier with an icy icosahedral shell.

–Bang!

With the sound of shattering ice, cracks spread across the ice shell but were quickly covered by a new layer of frost while bone-chilling cold exuded outward in all directions.

The spherical ice shell barely blocked the Night Fiend’s assault and then began rapidly expanding in reverse!

In just an instant, it froze one of the Night Fiend’s arms in place, and the cold continued to spread.

Aleister’s eyes narrowed sharply.

As a Sixth Power Level Superior Phantom, the Night Fiend’s spell resistance equated to 6.5 Power Level. Only Seventh Power Level spellcasters–or at least Sixth Power Level Superior Phantoms–could fully bypass its spell resistance; all other spells would be weakened or resisted…

How could such a powerful adversary appear during a Fourth Power Level promotion ritual?

The answer was evident.

This truly was the Serpent Celestial Marshal!

“Come back, Vinesse!”

Without further hesitation, Aleister drew another card instantly. “The hunt begins, Helquinn!”

As faint yellow mist began to gather around Aleister’s side, a nearly frozen Vinesse vanished into black mist.

A storm surged–

A chaotic gale sent Aleister’s hair flying wildly.

The Wild Hunt King appeared silently behind her, its helmet falling away with a metallic clang. The knight, formerly silver-white, turned a dull yellow before her eyes, and behind Helquinn, the Wild Hunt Legion began manifesting.

Soon, Aleister drew another card.

–Thunder Javelin!

Amid a thunderous roar that seemed to shake the heart, a bolt of lightning descended before Helquinn!

The Thunder Javelin, sparking with vibrant electricity, materialized at Helquinn’s side!

Gripping the lightning-charged spear wrapped in frost, Helquinn’s voice resonated deeply and vibrantly:

“–Your command, master. I am here as you willed.”

Meanwhile, the other promotion aspirants began their individual countermeasures.

Noel activated her Stibium-style Alchemy once again–her black soul energy roamed like vengeful spirits, collecting the metal within surrounding structures and the earth, forming layers of shields before her.

The Sword Saint Grey Falcon clasped his sword in both hands, closed his eyes, and entered a meditative state, his presence surrounded by increasingly potent emerald green energy.

And even Laro, poet of the dark nights, dropped his usual levity.

His pupils suddenly became dazed as he began to chant a prophetic poem emerging from the depths of his mind:

“Golden autumn, sun and moon divided.

“Ring, deer cry, beneath the steel nest, warmth smolders like glowing embers.

“The ancient shepherd offers his blood, and the lost wanderer will finally return home…”

As his chant continued, Aleister was overcome by a strange sorrow.

The next moment, the meditative Sword Saint abruptly opened his eyes.

Radiant light shone blindingly within them as he leapt high into the air.

With a fierce swing of his blade descending–

An emerald curtain of Sword Qi cascaded downward!

A sword wave nearly ten meters high rampaged forward, annihilating all obstacles in its path!

The fiery rain still pouring from the heavens was suppressed, the earth fractured, and buildings crumbled. Steel beams snapped like white bones exposed amidst debris.

It was an earth-cleaving strike of overwhelming force!

That wave of Sword Qi landed heavily upon the ice barrier, shattering the cracked inner layer instantly!

But the angel within remained unscathed.

Its limbs extended outward, unfolding from their curled position to stand upright once more.

And yet, compared to before, the angel now seemed “clearer.”

Its previously indistinct features and limbs now revealed faint traces of definition.

[Such a powerful Sword Saint…]

Layered voices echoed.

It was the first time the angel “spoke”–it did not open its mouth, yet its voice resonated just the same.

Its right arm slowly pulled back.

At that moment, the octahedron representing “wind” within the pattern behind it began glowing vividly green.

“Be careful!”

Aleister realized something.

Seeing the third attack, she finally recalled where she’d seen this combat style before.

–It was the Geometric Celestial Marshal’s ability!

Though the Geometric Celestial Marshal itself existed as a colossal, continuously restructuring crystalline geometry, this method of pattern-switching to alternate between the elemental forces was its signature combat approach!

Between Aleister’s fingers, another card appeared suddenly.

It was [Star Frost]!

A vivid, rainbow-tinged ice wall formed before the Sword Saint.

Yet in the next instant, the angel vanished.

It did not pierce through the ice wall.

Instead, it bypassed it entirely from the side!

–With merely one strike, it impaled the Sword Saint!

The emerald-green energy around its arm roared as it pierced completely through the Sword Saint’s back, emerging from his chest.

[Granting you a merciful death…]

The layered voices reverberated along with the melody of a holy song. The green aura turned crimson.

In the next moment, flames erupted!

The “wind” lingering within the Sword Saint’s body was transformed into “fire,” instantly consuming him to the point where no remains were left!