Chapter 343: Ranchi and Sigrid's Road to Escape
Professor Xi again about matters concerning the Empire."Then we can go claim the pink sacred bonus."Then Zethira spoke.Besides over 20,000 credits as a reward, there's one thing that you can't even b...Chapter 344: Ranchi and Sigrid's Flight
In a secluded corner of the central square in Danderlion City, sunlight dappled through the leaves. People hurried along the street, oblivious to a man's figure brushing past them. [Google search]
Wind rustled through the silence, movements were calm and orderly.
The dusk evenly falls on the bluestone streets, and the dense green leaves rustle gently in the breeze, making a whispering sound. As the wind picks up, this harmony and tranquility are instantly broken.
The glass storefront reflected the people on the street, a figure moving slowly through the crowd, yet disappearing in an instant.
The pace of the wind quickened, becoming more tense. Newspapers along the street fluttered in the breeze, dogs suddenly barked, and birds in the distant treetops took flight with their wings.
Not until that figure reappeared, standing at the entrance of a inn building, did the heavy bass of the wind deepen, casting the sky in twilight gloom. As if gray clouds were about to engulf everything, the man slowly extracted an exquisite pocket watch from his pocket and checked the time.
As twilight descended, the man pushed open the heavy door of the inn.
Every time the door was opened, the flames in the hearth would flicker, partially obscured by an indescribable chill. The tones in the hall would also become slightly dimmer as a result.
He wore a charcoal gray suit that was tailored to fit him perfectly. The collar of his shirt was just right, revealing a silver metal tie clip. His tall and slender frame was slightly thin, with a straight nose and thin lips pressed together. A head of silvery-gray short hair harmonized with the deep gray suit he wore, creating a harmonious yet contrasting aesthetic.
The man walked up to the counter, his eyes fixed on the cashier.
Good afternoon, sir. Would you like to check in
The counter girl gave a slight bow and asked the customer in front of her.
However, the man remained composed.
"Were there a couple who checked out today from here"
The man gently withdrew a leather envelope from his pocket. He opened it slowly and took out two portraits.
These paintings are done with rough brushstrokes, as if they were repeatedly revised based on someone else's description. Nevertheless, one can still discern the features of two young people's faces.
"I'm sorry, sir..."
The young cashier with plain makeup looked troubled. She was not allowed to disclose information about other customers, but her voice trailed off halfway through.
"Answer yes, or no."
The man did not become angry at her words, but instead raised his Imperial Army investigation order.
Those deep-set eyes peered through the curtains, coldly gazing at the cashier. His gaze seemed to pierce her very soul, leaving her feeling exposed and vulnerable.
The cashier swallowed nervously. It wasn't just because of the other person's status, she could feel a sense of calm danger emanating from this young man, like a predator always ready to hunt.
Her hands unconsciously clenched at the edges of her garment, her heart racing. She strained to maintain a facade of composure, deeply suspicious that this dangerous man wasn't from the Imperial Army, but instinctively dared not question it.
"Today, there was indeed a young couple who left, but they didn't match the one in the painting."
"When did he leave"
About three hours ago.
Upon hearing this, the man nodded, seemingly having received the information he needed.
The clerk at the counter finally breathed a sigh of relief.
But just as she was unaware, the man had slowly reached out at some point and placed his palm on the counter girl's head.
Like comforting her not to be afraid.
That broad palm was yet heavy and cold as lead.
Until the next second, the cashier's stunned expression suddenly twisted. Her body was first compressed from the inside by some force, her fair skin covered with pain, her bones gradually deforming, as if she were a victim in an inescapable nightmare, finally undergoing an increasingly indescribable process, becoming a fleshy, hideous sphere.
At once, all the customers in the lounge area stared in astonishment at the changes happening at the counter.
Soon, the meatball, now emitting a raspy cry for mercy, began to tremble violently. Its surface developed strange wrinkles, rapidly expanding until it swelled like a balloon to its limit. In that instant, all that could be heard in the hotel lobby was the sound of the impending burst.
The explosion sent a wave of terror through the hall, causing everyone to jump in fright. Blood and gore splattered across the walls, the thick metallic scent immediately filling the air, acrid and suffocating.
...while men seemed to be protected by some invisible shield, untouched by the bloodshed.
He glanced back over his shoulder. The hotel guests, frozen in fear, trembled at his gaze, unable to move a muscle.
He turned and walked towards the inn's exit. Outside, several Imperial soldiers in priestly garb immediately entered, their cold expressions unchanged by the scene before them.
Even without an order, the high priest knew exactly what to do.
After the man left the inn, all sound from the first floor seemed to vanish.
A priest, like a servant, also followed the man.
"My Lord Anello, wouldn't killing all the people who know about this cause more trouble"
This should be the last batch of Empire civilians they killed today, soon they will find the Overlord Church and the Overlord Son.
Even in the Northwest province, they had never been so brazen in their slaughter of Imperial citizens.
But even fewer dared defy the order of this man, who was as sensitive and cruel as a vengeful fox spirit with his scent.
The sinner of the Protoss Empire, the Holy Sigrid of Heaven's Overlord, threw herself to the demon race. After committing atrocities that stripped humanity in the north with her holy son, she fled south on a journey where killing a few civilians didn't matter.
The Silent Saint Angelo glanced at the high priest behind him, and asked indifferently.
"Yes."
The Grand Abbot bowed deeply and dared not speak.
The more one studies sealing arts, the more they will naturally lose their humanity. They have long been aware of this.
The Heavenly Church suffered heavy casualties, and judging by the weather over the past few days, they would not be able to spend the night in the snowstorm. According to Silent Saint's guess, along the route from the Northern Border all the way to the Snowfield Province, there must be their traces in the towns along the way.
As expected, the elite squad led by Saint Son of Extinction successfully tracked their escape route in the snowy region.
The sun sets in the west.
As the glow was swallowed by the horizon, the snowy afternoon was also coming to an end. The streets began to be gradually painted black, and unconsciously, the people's breath seemed to be hidden, falling into silence.
The wind swept through the figures standing in front of the inn.
"It's time to send the Overlord, Overlord Son, and Overlord Daughter together."
Agnello looked south.
His eyes held a strange coldness and distance, the deep purple of the sunset casting a half-shadow across his face.
……
Deep into the night, when even the moon's glow was nearly hidden, each passing minute and second seemed to stretch endlessly.
On the snowfields a hundred miles outside of Dundrum City, an endless night of black and white swept across the land. Snow fell in a flurry, each flake like an ice crystal scattered by an invisible giant hand, carrying with it a pre-meditated chill. They whirled and danced in the wind before falling to the ground, piling up with millions upon millions of other flakes into a world of deep gray.
On this mysterious snowy ground, a deep fissure suddenly appeared.
That was the mark left by the violent impact after the battle.
A corpse lay on the snowy ground with a suddenness that was jarring.
That was a gigantic Imperial figure, clad in heavy armor, but now swallowed by the icy snow.
When his body hit the snow, snowflakes flew up, as if signaling the end of the fight.
Blood flowed from his wound, slowly spreading across the snow and blossoming into a crimson rose.
West Germany gripped her fists, the cold wind tousling her hair. Her breathing was rapid, a consequence of both the fight and her own wounds. Every exhale billowed out as a small white cloud, melting into the snowflakes.
Lance stood beside her, his condition much better.
Even though a battle had just ended, there was no relaxation in their eyes, for in this snowy domain, danger lurked at every turn.
Every gust of wind seemed to carry a foreboding sense of doom, and the moment each snowflake landed, new enemies might appear.
"It's so difficult to even kill a single Annihilation Cleric, working together."
West Germany, with a tired look on her face, gazed up at the sky. It was clear that the recent battle had worsened the injuries she sustained and made them impossible to recover from.
But at night, she became significantly stronger, and combined with the strange control spells of her Holy Child, they finally managed to kill another Annihilation Priest who had caught up to them.
Their whereabouts had been discovered, and gradually, the Ashen Branch's grandmasters found them on the snowfield. Though they were not far from the Snowfield Province, the real struggle would likely begin at dawn.
What are those seal magic spells of yours, a chorus that seals hearing and a sun that seals sight
West Germany sighed with relief and finally complained.
She now has seen firsthand that her saint child has other sealing techniques besides explosions.
She also couldn't stand that grand chorus. If she were at her peak, she probably wouldn't have been affected at all, but in her current state, listening to the calls from hell was almost unbearable.
If you haven't prepared custom earplugs and sunglasses beforehand, these two indistinguishable magical forces can drive even yourself crazy.
"Great power always comes with risk, that's the law of conservation."
Lance sighed, he'd pulled out all the stops.
Although his [Glowing Virtue] was already quite famous in Ecterra, Lanci Wilford wasn't well-known at all in the South Continent due to the information gap between the North and South. It was perfectly normal for someone like Sigrid, a big figure from the North Continent, to not have heard of this burgeoning new sealer who had just begun making his mark in the South Continent.
After they left the city of Dundren, they had been hiking south across the snow for over ten hours after crossing the mountains.
The distant horizon seemed to finally feel the passage of time, gradually revealing a faint glimmer of dawn.
That faint glimmer shone on the snow, bringing a touch of warmth.
"A few dozen miles south from here, you should reach the Snowfield Province. See, I told you I know my way around."
Lance gazed eastward at the nascent sun peeking over the horizon and surveyed the terrain, roughly estimating their location.
"Just say what you want to say. I'll give you a time limit and won't deduct your goodwill points."
West Germany laughed angrily. This guy really wasn't acting at all, doing his daily tasks right in front of her.
However.
As the two continued their conversation while heading south towards their destination.
The sky, which had been tinged with the warmth of dawn, suddenly became oppressive. The morning light seemed to be held tightly in a vice-like grip, losing its original brilliance.
The surrounding space seemed to freeze, and a heavy, icy magic permeated the air. It was as if an invisible wall had surrounded the two of them, leaving them feeling like they were plunged into an ice cave.
Three updates today, two more chapters to come.
(The End)
[ ] soundproofing magic devices placed on the shelves, no one knew how heavy the rain was outside or if there were any booming thunder.This ordinary, relaxed and comfortable living room held an atmospher...