Chapter 2661
At first, it had only been a suspicion. But now Matthias was certain that someone had deliberately set him up and shifted the blto drag him into this mess.
"Hmph. You people from Dragonmarsh talk out of both sides of your mouth," Zeus said coldly. "Every word out of your mouth is a lie. I'm done believing a damn thing you say." The supposed connection between Logan and Matthias had cfrom the Hall of Gods' internal investigation. Compared to anything a Dragonmarsh official might say, Zeus naturally trusted his own people more. And with the badge as evidence, it was hard to argue.
"Whatever grudge you've got against Logan, it has nothing to do with me," Matthias said in a low voice. "I'm telling you, this is all part of someone else's plan. They want us at each other's throats so they can sit back and enjoy the fallout." Now that he knew it was a setup, he was much calmer. He needed to get through to Zeus before this exploded into war. Of course, he didn't want to take the fall for someone else's scheme.
"Why should I believe you?" Zeus shot back. "For all I know, you're hiding him right now." He'd searched all over for Logan, and now that he finally had a solid lead, he wasn't about to walk away empty- handed.
"Do I need to spell it out for you? If I were hiding Logan, do you think I'd be standing here explaining myself? I'd have handed him over already," Matthias growled, struggling to control his anger.
Zeus grunted. “You snakes from Dragonmarsh are all the same-scheming, lying bastards. Who knows what gyou're playing?" Matthias took a slow breath to calm his nerves. "Then, tell me. What will it take for you to believe me?" Zeus replied. "I won't trust a word you say until you bring Logan to me." "I have no idea where he is," Matthias snapped. "How the hell am I supposed to find him overnight?" "That's your problem, not mine," Zeus said coldly. "You have until dawn. If you can't giveLogan's whereabouts by then, I'll level your entire estate." "You're pushing your luck, asshole!" Matthias growled.
"If you want to fight, go ahead. Let's see who walks away alive." Zeus sneered.
He might've had sreservations about the Celestial Inferno, but that didn't mean he was backing down, especially with Hera at his side.
Matthias' knuckles cracked as he clenched his fists. He felt like a volcano ready to erupt. He glared at Zeus, then drew a deep breath to suppress his anger.
"Neville, get out there and find him now!" Matthias barked.
"Your Highness?" Neville frowned in confusion.
He'd drawn his blade, ready to charge at Zeus on Matthias' command. But he didn't expect Matthias to suppress his anger.
After all the lives Zeus had taken, was Matthias thinking about making peace? Matthias turned to Neville and shouted, "I said find him!" As the second prince of Dragonmarsh, Matthias wasn't used to feeling so humiliated. But for the greater good, he swallowed his pride.
"... Yes, Your Highness." Neville gritted his teeth and turned to leave.
Seeing Matthias back down, Zeus let out a faint chuckle.
That was what he expected from the Dragonmarsh's cowards-let someone walk all over them and still lick his boots.
To him, men from Dragonmarsh had no pride. They let others walk all over them and just quietly endured it.
"If any more of my men are harmed, there'll be no more talks today. We go straight to war," Matthias said before turning to leave.
If Zeus had been alone, Matthias would've never backed down. He would've used the Celestial Inferno without a second thought. But Hera was right there with him.
If the talisman failed to kill Zeus in one strike, Matthias would have to face two royal gods simultaneously. Even with the Five Sanguine Elemental Seals protecting him, he was not guaranteed to make it out alive.
If he did manage to kill Zeus, endless problems would follow. He knew well how powerful the Hall of Gods was. Zeus' death would mean nonstop assassination attempts, and every day would be a fight for survival.
That wasn't a risk Matthias was willing to take. But if they pushed him to the edge, he wouldn't go down alone and would take them with him.
Tdragged on in that heavy, tense silence.
Matthias stood motionless at the gate with a grim expression. Behind him, thousands of soldiers stood like a wall of iron and radiated cold, silent fury.
After what felt like forever, dawn broke, and Neville finally returned from his scout.
"Well? Any updates?" Matthias stepped forward as soon as Neville exited the vehicle.
"Your Highness, I just found out that Logan was last seen with Princess Grace.
and heat the city last night and headed toward Embercrest Hill,” Neville reported "Grace? Embercrest Hill? What the hell are they doing out there?" Matthias frowned.
"There's more," Neville added. "
Yesterday, Zeus paid a visit to Prince Nathaniel's mansion to ask about 't know what happened Logan. don't between them. But afterward, Zeus cstraight to you." Matthias' expression darkened instantly." So, that bastard Nathaniel setup and dumped the Hall of Gods' big problem right on my doorstep," he growled.
"Very likely," Neville said with a nod.
"That son of a bitch..." Matthias gritted his teeth. "When I ascend the throne, he's the first one I'll take down." His voice shook with rage and bitterness.
Chapter 2662
"Your Highness, what should we do now?" Neville asked, looking solemn. "Should we tell the Hall of Gods where Logan is?" The Hall of Gods was a force to be reckoned with, but so was Logan, especially with West Lucozia behind him. If tipping Zeus off led to Logan getting hurt, the monarchy wouldn't just let it slide.
Matthias scowled. "That bastard Nathaniel really screwedover." He finally realized Nathaniel hadn't just passed the problem over, but he had also set a trap.
Unable to handle the mess himself, Nathaniel had used the Hall of Gods to do his dirty work and chip away at Matthias' power. He was killing two birds with one stone.
Matthias fumed, but he had no good way out. Either he crossed the Hall of Gods or made an enemy of Logan.
Then it hit him. This whole mess had nothing to do with him in the first place. It was Logan's feud with the Hall of Gods, not his. If they ended up destroying each other, so be it. Matthias was just trying to stay alive, and that was something he could live with.
With that thought, he stopped hesitating and made his decision.
"Head inside and tell Zeus exactly where Logan is,” Matthias said sharply. “And tell him to get the hell out." "Yes, Your Highness," Neville responded.
He wasted no tand rushed inside. Even though he hated it, he swallowed his pride for the greater good and also for Matthias.
"Let's hope nothing else goes wrong," Matthias muttered.
He frowned, still stewing over the situation. Sending Neville to speak with Zeus wasn't just about delivering a message, but it was his way of covering his own back.
If Zeus did kill Logan, and the West Lucozian monarchy cseeking revenge, Matthias already knew who he'd throw under the bus. Neville might not be a convincing scapegoat, but at least it would look like Matthias had done the right thing.
A few minutes later, Neville returned with a hardened expression.
"Well? Did Zeus buy it?" Matthias asked.
"He only believes half of it," Neville answered truthfully. “He's heading to Embercrest Hill himself. If he finds out we lied, he said he'd bring the full force of the Hall of Gods to raze the estate. He'd make sure you pay dearly for it." "Are you certain your intel is accurate?" "Absolutely. I have no doubt about it." "Good. Let them fight it out. However it ends, it's not our problem." Matthias exhaled in relief.
This was the best outche could have hoped for. Whatever happened next, he'd deal with it then.
"Mr. Galen, open a path in the formation.
Let the Hall of Gods' people leave," Matthias shouted toward the sky.
"Yes, Your Highness." Galen didn't say much. He formed a hand seal, and a hole opened at the top of the Five Sanguine Elemental Seals.
As soon as it appeared, two figures shot into the sky and vanished beyond the horizon.
Inside a natural cave at Embercrest Hill, Dustin hovered in the air with his eyes closed.
Five orbs, glowing with a strange light, spun around him. Within each orb, a dragon-shaped energy stream swirled continuously. Each movement released a small amount of pure spiritual energy, which was absorbed into his body.
Dustin focused on his technique and slowly absorbed the Dracan essence just like Grace had taught him. But the process was painstakingly slow. Even with his talent, he couldn't absorb all five streams of essence in such a short time.
Grace didn't disturb him. She sat nearby and focused on protecting him.
This natural cave has a unique feature. It could block the flow of energy so that no one from outside could sense it.
Simply put, whatever happened inside the cave couldn't bediscovered by outsideks. This was one of the main reasons she had chosen this place for Dustin to absorb the Dracan essence.
She had also set up defensive formations around Embercrest Hill in advance.
dvance. She was confident that even an ultimate grandmaster would have trouble breaking through them in a short time. Before Dustin began absorbing the Dracan essence, she used a secret divinaObservatory.
Success and failure were two sides of the scoin. If successful, o'm Dustin would rise to great power and becd unstoppable. If not, he would die. But at this point, neither of them has a choice. ethod from the Regal The crisis was already here, and pressure was mounting. In such critical moments, only bold actions mattered while hesitation would cost them everything.
Suddenly, Grace's badge blinked twice. It was an alert from her people outside. Whenever the badge flashed, it meant someone was attempting to break in.
She glanced at Dustin, who was focused on his cultivation in midair. Not wanting to interrupt him, she walked to a mirror-like slab of smooth stone.
Without hesitation, she slammed into it headfirst. Strangely, the moment her body touched the stone, it transformed into mist and enveloped her completely.
In the next instant, Grace was no longer inside the cave. She had been transported to the summit of Embercrest Hill.
Chapter 2663
At the peak of Embercrest Hill, inside a quiet old temple, Grace stepped out of the hidden chamber just as a female guard rushed in.
"Your Highness, we've got a situation. A powerful intruder is breaking through the outer gates," she reported "Who is it?" Grace asked calmly, as if she'd expected this would happen.
"Judging from their appearance, they look like elite fighters from the Hall of Gods, or royal gods," the female guard replied gravely.
The defensive and offensive formations around Embercrest Hill didn't stand a chance. Both shattered on impact, as if they'd never been there. Only someone at the royal god-level could force their way in like that.
"They got here faster than I expected," Grace muttered, eyebrows knitting with concern.
She hadn't left the temple, but she already knew who it was. At a tlike this, the only ones who'd cto Embercrest Hill were Zeus and Hera.
Grace had been keeping tabs on the situation in Oakvale.
At first, she'd figured Nathaniel's plan to divert the threat would spark a clash between Zeus and Matthias' forces. That way, Matthias would be too tied up to go after Dustin. But things hadn't played out the way she'd hoped.
She suspected Matthias had slipped out clean and sidestepped a major disaster. What was supposed to be his problem had landed squarely in her lap.
"Your Highness, the Hall of Gods is still pushing through the defenses. Should we step in to stop them?" the female guard asked.
Grace didn't answer right away. Instead, she asked, "How many formations are left on the periphery?" "Most of it has been destroyed. I estimate the Hall of Gods' fighters will reach the mountain peak within an hour." "Don't bother fighting them off. Just keep feeding energy into the barrier to buy us as much tas you can." "Yes, Your Highness," the female guard replied before leaving.
Grace walked out alone into the open clearing and took out a small steeple from her pocket. At first glance, it looked ordinary-only a few inches tall-but its seven-tiered frgleamed with a faint golden light.
She murmured an incantation and tossed it into the air.
A low rumble followed. Caught by the wind, the steeple swelled in size. Within seconds, it was taller than a house.
Grace kept chanting. The golden steeple continued to rise as it expanded tier by tier. In less than a minute, it loomed like a mountain.
She formed a hand seal and commanded, " Drop!" The massive steeple ccrashing down and slammed onto the peak of Embercrest Hill. A second later, it vanished like it had never been there.
Grace let out a slow breath. "Let's hope the Seven Shards Steeple holds up." It was a divine artifact tied to her life force, built for defense and said to be nearly indestructible. But even the strongest artifact had its limits.
If it were just one royal god attacking, the steeple might hold. But if two cat once, she wasn't sure it would last.
All she could do now was hope Dustin would finish absorbing the Dracan essences and break through in time.
If the formation around Embercrest Hill collapsed and the steeple failed to hold, it wouldn't just be her problem but a disaster for everyone.
Grace sat in the courtyard and poured herself stea. There was nothing left to do now but wait.
Every so often, a muffled boom rolled up from the base of the hill-a reminder that the enemy was hammering at the formations and breaking through.
She'd prepared for this. She'd laid down dozens of formations, pouring in money, resources, and time. She'd called in every favor she could, rallied every ally willing to fight tooth and nail when the tcame.
She had done everything she could. What happened next was out of her hands.
Now, it all cdown to Dustin. Whether they made it through or fell apart depended entirely on him.
At the base of Embercrest Hill, Zeus had just smashed through oneformation when another sprang up to trap him. This one wasn't built for defense or attack, but rather it was an illusionary formation.
Thick fog rolled in from every direction. It was so dense it m swallowed the sky, leaving him blind and disoriented. He couldn't see a thing, and that only made him angrier.
Zeus wasn't the type to solve problems with finesse. He preferred brute force-hit hard, kill Past, move ΝΟΙ on. It was simple, direct, and effective. He had no patience for delays or drawn-out fights. Since the moment he stepped onto Embercrest Hill, formation after formation had been popping up to stop him. He'd already destroyed plenty, but more just kept coming.
"You Dragonmarsh pests are starting to pissoff. If I catch even one of you, I'll tear you limb from limb." His roar echoed across the entire hill like rolling thunder.
Behind him, Hera followed at her own pace, calm and unbothered. She hadn't lifted a finger. These little tricks weren't even worth her attention.
Her focus was on one person-Logan Rhys, the man who took down Poseidon. She'd make her move when she saw him face to face.
Chapter 2664
Grace's illusory formation was impressive.
Even divine martial artists, far beyond the grandmaster, could easily lose their way inside and struggle to find an exit.
But it was useless against a royal god like Zeus. His spiritual power and senses were far beyond what the illusion could contain. Even if he couldn't see through it, he didn't need to. He could simply break it with brute force. Every formation had a core and a weak point. If struck with enough force, the entire structure would collapse on its own.
That was exactly what he did. He didn't bother searching for a way out. He just unleashed raw, crushing energy that tore through everything within hundreds of yards.
One energy strike was usually enough to break the formation apart. If not, he'd just hit it again. Nothing had ever withstood more than three strikes from Zeus.
"Break it down!" With a sweep of his hands, he unleashed raw energy in every direction like a storm that spared nothing in its path.
Formations collapsed one after another. As Zeus advanced, he tore through the defenses, carving a path through the hillside-trees splintered, rocks pulverized, and chaos trailed behind him.
Behind him, Hera followed at a leisurely pace. She looked completely unbothered and showed no intention of helping.
They steadily climbed Embercrest Hill, cutting through thick forest and smashing boulders along the way, until they finally reached the summit.
At the top stood an imposing ancient temple. In front of its massive doors, dozens of armed monks stood guard. These were elite fighters from the Luminary Hall, including two grandmasters.
As Zeus and Hera approached, every monk tensed, bracing for whatever was coming.
A middle-aged monk stepped forward, gripping a heavy iron staff. His voice was sharp. "Stop right there, travelers. This is sacred ground. No fighting is allowed. You are not welchere. Leave the mountain now." "Hand over Logan, and we might spare your lives," Zeus said coldly.
He didn't care much for these monks, but he sensed a strong energy nearby. It reminded him of the Five Sanguine Elemental Seals, only more powerful.
"It's not too late to turn back. The path you're on leads only to suffering. Stop this violence before it's too late," the middle-aged monk urged.
"Cut the crap! Hand him over, or die," Zeus growled.
His patience had run out. Once he snapped and took action, it would be a bloodbath.
The middle-aged monk frowned and said, " If you insist, I have no choice but to stop you." "A bunch of bald monks think they can stop us?" Zeus scoffed. "You've got a death wish?" As soon as the word fell, he lifted a finger, and a blue lightning snake shot at the middle-aged monk's chest. With Zeus's strength, any grandmaster martial artist would be dead on contact.
Just before the snake hit its target, a flash of golden light appeared. It swallowed the lightning snake whole and disappeared without a trace.
"Hmm?" Zeus raised an eyebrow in surprise.
The golden light that flashed just now resembled a steeple. It appeared and disappeared instantly. His lightning attack had left no trace, and that felt very odd.
"Now this is getting interesting," Hera murmured with a smirk.
She was finally showing sinterest. She had ignored all the formations until now, but the brief glimpse of the golden steeple caught her attention.
It was large, beautiful, and radiated golden light while having the ability to absorb energy. If she could get her hands on it, it would make an excellent defensive weapon.
"So you've got skind of protective artifact. No wonder you dared to stand your ground at the gate.” Zeus narrowed his eyes. "Let's see how well it holds up to my attack."
He slowly raised his hand, and his fingers curled like claws as energy began to build. A ball of blue lightning sparked to life in his palm, no bigger than an egg.
As he charged it, the sphere grew to the size of a basketball. Inside, m lightning snakes wriggled fiercely, pulsing with terrifying energy and radiating intense pressure. "Break it for me!" Zeus grabbed the lightning sphere and hurled it toward the main gate. It shot out like a cannonball and crackled with destructive force.
The massive golden steeple reappeared, towering like a mountain as it shielded the entire temple.
When the sphere slammed into it a v moment later, it erupted with a m thunderous bang. The steeple trembled under the impact but quickly regained its stability. Most of the lightning sphere's energy was absorbed by the steeple on impact.
However, the leftover energy exploded into a violent shockwave that blasted outward from the temple in the opposite direction.
"Huh." Zeus frowned. This second failure made him realize that this golden steeple wasn't any ordinary artifact.
Chapter 2665
What caught Zeus off guard wasn't just how sturdy the golden steeple was, but it swallowed his attacks whole. The lightning sphere he'd thrown had almost all its energy sucked up by the steeple, leaving nothing behind-not even a scorch mark.
This method of neutralizing power was far more sophisticated than simply blocking it head-on. It was clear now that the golden steeple was a rare divine artifact, and breaking through it would be no easy task.
Still, the more resistance he encountered, the more certain Zeus becthat Logan was hiding somewhere inside the temple. He believed that Hall of Gods' potential threat, Logan, could be wiped out for good once the golden steeple was broken.
The middle-aged monk stepped forward and said firmly, "The Adamantine Body Art protects the Seven Shards Steeple. No matter how you attack, you won't be able to break through it. Please stop wasting your energy and leave the mountain now." Zeus sneered. "You really think there's a fortress out there I can't tear down?" He didn't back down. Instead, the challenge only fired him up. He raised both hands and rapidly gathered energy. Two lightning spheres formed in his palms, growing larger by the second.
"Break it down!" When the lightning spheres grew to the size of a basketball, Zeus hurled them at the golden steeple with full force.
The impact produced two loud explosions that shook the steeple slightly.
The lightning spheres released bursts of energy before the steeple absorbed them, and they vanished without a trace.
But Zeus kept going. He summoned one lightning sphere after another and hurled them with relentless fury. Explosion after explosion boomed at the peak of the Embercrest Hill. However, no matter how hard he attacked, the steeple remained steady without any sign of breaking.
The monks inside the temple sighed with relief when they saw the steeple still intact. The Seven Shards Steeple's defense was stronger than they expected. It could withstand repeated attacks from a royal god, which was extraordinary.
However, Grace, who was in the temple's courtyard, showed no sign of easing up.
The steeple was a divine artifact tied to her life force. Though it looked fine now, she knew it had its limits. Every strike from Zeus added stress to the steeple. If the pressure reached a critical point, it would shatter completely. In other words, if he kept hammering without a pause, he would eventually break through.
At this rate, it could only hold for about a day and a night. And that was assuming Hera didn't join in. If she did, the steeple would break much faster.
But now, Grace had placed all her hopes on Dustin.
If he could finish absorbing the Dracan essence before the steeple collapsed, they still had a shot at turning the tide. Otherwise, she likely wouldn't survive either.
She was gambling with her life while staking everything on Dustin to break through.
Tpassed slowly, but Zeus continued his relentless assault outside the temple.
He launched the blue lightning spheres like cannonballs and slammed them into the golden steeple repeatedly. He knew the steeple was strong, but nothing was invincible since everything had its limits.
His goal was to keep pounding the steeple until it broke. Although the plan sounded simple, it proved to be much harder in practice. The steeple had its limits, and so did his strength.
After three hours of nonstop bombardment, the steeple still stood tall.
Zeus was exhausted, gasping for breath and drenched in sweat. Since becoming a royal god, he had never exerted himself like this. No opponent had ever made him struggle like this.
He never imagined that a damn steeple could tank three hours of his nonstop attacks. It was like bashing a turtle's shell with his bare hands. Frustrated, he grew even more determined to break it. After taking a short break, Zeus turned to Hera and said coldly, "How long are you planning to sit back and watch?"
"Are you talking to me?" Hera asked, yawning. "You seemed so into it, so I didn't want to interrupt you. Aren't you always the one complaining when I step in and steal your kill?"
"That was then. Things are different now," he said, clearly annoyed. "Can't you see I'm out here doing all the Work? If you don't step in and break this steeple, it's only going to get worse." As the leader of the Four Royal Gods, Zeus couldn't afford to fail. If word got out that he couldn't even crack open a steeple, he'd be a laughingstock.
"Fine. Since you're asking, I'll help," Hera said.
She stretched her arms, and the casual look on her face slowly faded.
Chapter 2666
If Zeus hadn't spoken up, Hera wouldn't have lifted a finger. She would've just kept watching from the sidelines.
But since he asked for help, she couldn't ignore him. After all, he was their leader. Like it or not, she had to respect his order.
"Let's see how tough this thing really is," Hera said.
She raised one hand and spread her fingers. Behind her, a dozen black, icy spears appeared out of thin air. Each one was six feet long, thick as a wrist, and radiated a deadly cold. The air turned sharp and biting. Within thirty feet, the grass, stone, and trees all glazed over with frost.
"Go." Hera clenched her fist. The spears shot forward like missiles toward the golden steeple.
The air split with a sharp whistle as the icy spears struck their mark. But instead of exploding on impact, they slid in like blades through water, leaving only faint ripples behind.
Zeus snapped, "Hera, that pathetic excuse for an attack isn't going to cut it. Showwhat you're really capable of." He was already fighting with everything he had. But her attack coff sluggish, half-hearted, like she hadn't even bothered to wake up.
The sight grated on him. While he threw himself into the battle, she stood off to the side and barely lifted a finger.
"Okay. Calm down. I'm going all out now," Hera replied as her face hardened with resolve.
Her first strike had just been a test, though still powerful enough to injure a grandmaster martial artist. But against the golden steeple, it barely left a mark-just faint ripples. That caught her off guard.
She knew the steeple was a powerful divine artifact, but its defenses were stronger than expected. If they didn't unleash everything they had, breaking through it tonight was impossible.
Hera took a deep breath and raised her hand again. Hundreds of black icy spears appeared behind her, which quickly swelled to thousands. They filled the air like a dark, frozen storm.
The monks in the temple felt a chilling prickling on their scalps, as if tiny needles of ice were piercing their skin.
At first, just a few spears seemed insignificant. But now, with thousands converging, the force was overwhelming.
"Fire!" Hera shouted.
She clenched her fist, and thousands of ice spears shot toward the golden steeple like a storm. The moment they struck, sharp cracks rang out as waves of ripples burst across its surface.
One or two didn't matter, but when thousands landed at once, the entire structure shook under the impact. Ripples surged out in layers, growing heavier with each wave, until they crashed like a tide against the glowing barrier.
"Good. Keep going." Zeus finally smiled. He knew this was Hera's true strength.
The golden steeple wouldn't break in one strike, but under this kind of pressure, even it had a limit.
She kept channeling energy and launched volley after volley of spears. The relentless assault made the steeple groan, as each wave built on the last as the strain mounted.
"Hera, letfight with you!" As the golden light around the steeple began to dim, Zeus sensed an opportunity. Power surged through him as he leaped forward, hurling lightning spheres in rapid succession. Each blast struck with deafening force.
The fading glow of the steeple wasn't just a sign of weakness but a confirmation. He could see that the structure had a limit.
The light had dulled, and its rhythm faltered. It couldn't last forever. Once that threshold was breached, the entire thing would collapse.
Together, the two royal gods pressed the attack.
Zeus's lightning spheres exploded on impact, as each strike sent tremors through the steeplex foundation. Hera's icy spears rained down in waves, sharp and relentless, like a blizzard that refused to let up. Their powers meshed perfectly-force and precision, thunder and frost-blending into a rhythm that battered the ancient structure without pause.
Inside the temple, the monks felt every impact. Their scalps prickled as if stabbed by a thousand icy needles. They stood frozen, too terrified to move.
They knew that the steeple was their only shield. If it failed, they'd wiped out in an instante Rading the royal gods directly wasn't just suicide but an annihilation.
Tdragged on. The golden light m dimmed further with every blast, Then, just as the first traces of dawn lit the horizon, the glow vanished entirely, and a thin, splintering crack split open at the top of the steeple.
Chapter 2667
After a full night of relentless attacks, Zeus and Hera were drenched in sweat and gasping for breath. But the moment they saw a crack forming at the top of the golden steeple, their spirits surged. 1 Zeus let out a sharp laugh. “It's finally cracking! I was starting to think this thing really was indestructible." Since becoming a royal god of the Hall of Gods, he had never pushed himself this hard. He had spent the entire night blasting the steeple without pause. It had drained him, but at least, the effort was paying off.
"This thing's tough. It held up longer than I expected," Hera said as she stopped to catch her breath. Though she hadn't used as much energy as Zeus, she was equally worn out. Still, she could tell the end was finally in sight.
"Now's our chance. Let's hit it together, both of us," he said.
Despite their exhaustion, he knew they couldn't afford to hold back. Only by breaking the steeple could they finally relax.
"Okay. Let's do this." Hera took a deep breath and gathered her energy again. Hundreds of black ice spikes materialized behind her, sharp and humming with energy.
Across from her, Zeus raised both arms. Lightning crackled between his palms as the glowing spheres swelled with energy.
A moment later, they unleashed their attacks on the steeple.
A series of deafening blasts split the air, and the golden steeple trembled violently. Its internal energy had already been drained. Now, only its structure held it together.
The impact from Zeus and Hera's joint strike split the surface with fresh cracks. Encouraged by the damage, they pressed on. They ignored their exhaustion and launched a full-scale attack.
They believed that once the steeple collapsed, the monks inside would be defenseless. As for Logan, they'd hazard he'd been seriously wounded in his last battle with Poseidon and no longer posed a threat.
So, with no hesitation or fear, they struck relentlessly.
In the backyard of the ancient temple, Grace sat cross-legged in meditation. Her face had gone pale, and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.
The Seven Shards Steeple was tied to her life force. Every crack in the tower left a wound on her body, too. She had held out for as long as she could.
Zeus and Hera were simply too powerful.
Their combined attacks were relentless, and the damage to the steeple worsened with every blow. No matter how strong the artifact was, it couldn't withstand the onslaught of two ultimate grandmasters.
Now, the steeple shook so violently it looked ready to collapse. Cracks kept spreading downward with every tremor.
Grace coughed out another mouthful of blood. Her lips were colorless, and she could barely breathe. "Dustin... if you're not done yet, we're dead," she whispered.
Panic surged in her chest, but there was nothing more she could do. From the very start, this fight had never been hers to win. She had done everything she could, and now it was up to fate.
"Your Highness, the steeple's about to collapse. You have to get to the hidden chamber-now!" Several female guards rushed into the courtyard and urged Grace to take cover.
"It's no use," Grace replied, shaking her head. “Once the steeple falls, no chamber in the world will save me." With Zeus' spiritual strength, she knew there was no escaping Embercrest Hill. The hidden chamber might shield her temporarily, but it wouldn't change the outcome.
If he couldn't find the one controlling the steeple, he wouldn't hesitate to flatten the entire mountain. And for someone like him, it was just a matter of effort.And once that happened, she wouldn't be the only casualty. Dustin, who was still absorbing the Dracan essence, would be buried with her.
She wasn't ready to give up. There was still a sliver of hope, and she would cling to it with her last breath.
"Your Highness, let us escort you out through the back," one of the female guards pleaded. "We'll protect you with our lives if we have to." "I know you mean well, but I can't leave. If I run, Dustin dies. I have to hold out, just a little longer," Grace replied.
"Your Highness, with all due respect, his life can't possibly be more important than yours." "You're wrong," Grace replied softly. "His life matters far more than mine."
Her voice was calm, and her eyes were steady. "The Regal Observatory had read his ad his fate. He dairies O immense destiny. A single decision from him could affect the future of the entire nation.
"If I die, it won't change much. But if he dies, Dragonmarsh will lose nearly all its fortune What comes after will be unrest and war, and countless people will suffer." She looked toward the distance and said firmly, "No matter what happens, even if it costseverything, I have to keep him alive."
Chapter 2668
Explosions echoed nonstop outside the ancient temple. The golden steeple that shielded it was already veined with dozens of hairline cracks.
With every strike from Zeus and Hera, the fractures deepened. In less than half an hour, the entire structure was reduced to splinters from top to bottom.
"Break it down!" With a thunderous cry, Zeus and Hera unleashed everything they had and struck the steeple in perfect sync. The impact shook the ground. The golden steeple, which had stood strong all night, finally shattered. Countless shards of divine light rained down like broken glass.
In the backyard of the ancient temple, Grace staggered as she coughed up blood.
"Your Highness!" Several female guards rushed to catch her. Forming a wall in front of her, they braced for what was coming. They knew if they couldn't convince Grace to leave, they would have to fight tooth and nail to protect her.
Outside, Zeus burst out laughing. "It's cracked! We finally did it!" He was exhausted, but the thrill outweighed the cost. A royal god's might had to be taken seriously. If he couldn't even destroy a small steeple, how could he face anyone later? "That was exhausting," Hera muttered, exhaling a long breath.
They'd broken through at last, but the effort left a sour taste in her mouth. It took an entire night and the combined efforts of two royal gods to bring it down. However she looked at it, there was nothing glorious about it.
Instead, one question lingered in her mind. Who owned that steeple? Whoever it was had managed to hold off both her and Zeus for hours. That alone made them worth paying attention to.
"Listen up, everyone! Form ranks!" As the steeple ccrashing down, the monks stationed at the temple gates wasted no time. They rushed forward and quickly surrounded Zeus and Hera.
They knew this was their only chance.
After spending the entire night destroying the steeple, Zeus and Hera had to be near their limit. If they waited, the window would close, and there'd be no stopping them once they recovered.
Zeus swept his eyes across the monks and sneered.
"You really think this will work? A bunch of nobodies like you trying to take us down? Dream on." He didn't even need to summon his internal energy. His physical strength alone was enough to crush them.
"Take him down!" the middle-aged monk commanded without hesitation. As soon as the formation locked into place, he shouted the signal to strike.
"Charge!" Dozens of monks attacked in unison. Using the Adamantine Luminary Formation as their base, they surrounded Zeus and Hera in separate rings.
Right after that, their staff struck together in a loud clatter. Countless strikes swept in from every direction with overwhelming force. It was so dense that not even light could slip through.
Zeus didn't flinch. He stood there, motionless, as the hail of attacks crashed down on him.
The sharp cracks echoed nonstop. Every staff that struck him either bent out of shape or snapped in half. Not a single blow even scratched him.
On the other hand, Hera vanished the moment the strikes closed in, and every blow missed its mark.
"What?" The monks stared in disbelief at their warped and splintered staff. They had attacked with everything they had. 1 However, Zeus neither dodged nor used any energy to defend. He just stood there and let their blows land. Even so, none of their attacks could penetrate his defense.
That was a devastating blow to them. They had hoped to find an opening while Zeus was weak, but it turned out to be nothing more than a joke.
Zeus's body was as strong as the legendary Golden Sentinel.
"That's it? Is that really all you've got?" Zeus sneered with contempt. Feeling amused, he was willing to toy with these insignificant fighters.
"Don't get ahead of yourself!"
Two grandmaster-level monks exchanged a glance and swung their steel staffs together. One staff aimed at Zeus's head while the other targeted his legs. Zeus didn't move but raised a hand to block.
With two loud bangs, their steel staff bent sharply but caused no damage.
The two monks were stunned. If even a full - power strike from both of them had no effect, then this fight was already lost.
"You done? Now, it's my turn." Zeus laughed coldly and struck both monks in the chest and abdomen with lightning speed.
The two monks were thrown backward over a hundred feet away and crashed through three walls before stopping. They coughed up blood and were badly injured.
With a single move and no use of energy, Zeus severely wounded two grandmaster's. The difference in their strength was like a deep chasm. At that moment, everyone understood just how terrifying Zeus truly was. He was an enemy they had no hope of defeating.
Chapter 2669
"A bunch of weaklings like you dare challenge the wrath of god?" Zeus sneered. "Then, die where you stand." He raised his hand and conjured a sphere of lightning, then hurled it into the sky. Thunder cracked as bolts of blue lightning rained down on the monks below.
"Leave them alone!" ca shout, the voice crisp and clear.
At that instant, a golden octagram array appeared above the monks' heads like a giant mirror. It blocked all the blue lightning bolts, then shattered with a deep, echoing crack.
Grace had conjured the array. Though she blocked the strike to protect the monks, the effort had drained her energy.
"Oh? I didn't expect to find a master among you." Zeus raised an eyebrow, visibly surprised.
Even though that was just a casual strike, it wasn't something a typical grandmaster martial artist could've blocked, especially not someone so young.
"Greetings, Lord Zeus, Lady Hera. I am the Princess of Ariella. What could've provoked such wrath? Surely, we can talk this through." Grace stepped out from the ancient temple gate. Her white dress remained spotless despite the chaos around her.
"Princess of Ariella?" Zeus narrowed his eyes slightly. "That Golden Steeple earlier was your divine artifact?” "That's right. It's bound to my life force," she replied, not bothering to deny it.
He let out a low chuckle. "You've got sskill. I didn't expect it to hold us off this long.” But the amusement in his voice didn't reach his eyes. Beneath it lurked a flicker of killing intent.
He had assumed the Golden Steeple had been set up by ssuprmaster from Dragonmarsh, or an ultimate grandmaster. Never did he expect the one who made two royal gods suffer a setback to be just a young woman.
When did Dragonmarsh start producing so many geniuses? Logan Rhys-who had unlimited potential and managed to take down Poseidon-was already a headache. And now here canother monster. If someone like Grace were allowed to grow unchecked, she'd beca serious threat.
Grace seemed to read his thought and said, "The divine artifact bound to my life force was shattered by both of you. Not only has my cultivation been severely weakened, but I will never be able to break through again. So there's no reason for you to have any reservations." "She's a smart one," Hera said with a faint smile.
A spark of interest lit up her eyes. If Grace hadn't been a princess of Dragonmarsh, she might have taken her under her wing and trained her personally. There were far too few female martial artists with both her talent and shrewdness.
"So what if you're telling the truth?" Zeus sneered. "Do you think you have the right to negotiate with us?" "This isn't a negotiation. It's a deal," Grace replied calmly.
She continued, "I know both of you have hit a wall in your cultivation. You haven't broken through in decades. But I happen to know a technique that could let you tap into divine energy and push past your limits." Upon hearing that, Zeus and Hera froze. Even the way they looked at Grace had changed.
For years, the bottleneck had been their greatest frustration. They'd tried countless ways to break through, but nothing had worked. Eventually, they'd resigned themselves to the idea that they might be stuck at that level forever and would never push past their limits.
But now, Grace's words lit a spark of hope, especially for Zeus. With his short lifespan, he desperately needed a breakthrough to extend it. It was the kind of opportunity he couldn't afford to pass up.
Still, neither of them was foolish enough to take a stranger at her word. They'd run into situations like this more times than they could count. Every tthey thought they'd found a way to break through, it always ended in disappointment.
"Why should we trust you?" Zeus narrowed his eyes and gave Grace a sharp once-over. "You don't actually think we'd follow your lead just because you tossed out a few grand claims, do you?" "With your status, how could I even think of deceiving you?" Grace smiled faintly. " I'm not reckless enough to make a deal without scertainty. That'd be like signing my own death warrant." "You might have a point," Zeus said, stroking his chin. "So, what's your condition?" "Leave Dragonmarsh immediately. Three days from now, I'll personally show you how to break through," Grace replied.
"Leave Dragonmarsh?" He sneered.
"So, you're helping Logan deat with the crisis? And you're using that as E an excuse to trick us into leaving?" "Yes, I'm doing this for him. But I'm not trying to trick you. I'm here to negotiate a deal with both of you," she corrected.
"You're honest, I'll give you that. But I still don't believe you." Zeus shook his head.
"Those are the terms. How you want to proceed is up to you," Grace said calmly, without a hint of arrogance or submission.
Suddenly, Zeus grinned. "I've got a better idea. Want to hear it?" "Oh? Go ahead."
He chuckled darkly. "First, we kill Logan. Then, we capture you. After that, we'll use every torture we have Key use to make you spill the secret to breaking through. How does that sound?"
The Hall of Gods had its own torture chamber. Anyone who was brought there didn't last more than three days before confessing everything.
Chapter 2670
"Torturing someone to confess might work, but it's not always the best approach, "Grace said calmly.
She continued, "To be honest, there's a seal inside my body. If I trigger it with my mind, it'll release a burst of energy strong enough to level everything within 300 feet, including me.
"If that happens, you get nothing. And there's a good chance you'll get hurt in the process. I don't think that's what you want, and I certainly don't want it to cto that." Zeus' smile immediately froze. He thought he had her cornered. He didn't expect she had a backup plan. For a moment, he didn't dare use force against her.
He glanced at Hera. "What do you think?" He was a fighter, not a diplomat. If it were any other matter, he'd skip the talk and strike down his opponent.
But Grace's offer was different. She claimed to have a technique that could break through their cultivation, and it was something Zeus had dreamed of for years.
Even if she was lying, he still held onto a glimmer of hope. He felt that it was better to be safe than sorry. After all, what if she was telling the truth? Before he could force the secret out of Grace, he couldn't bear to kill her. If he lost this opportunity, who knew when another would come? Maybe there wouldn't be a next tat all. He wasn't about to gamble on that.
"I have to say, I really admire your courage and wisdom." Hera finally spoke up.
She continued, "With just a few words, you've got us second-guessing everything. People as smart as you don't caround often these days. But honestly, it's your courage I admire even more than your intelligence.
"You're staring death right in the face, yet you keep your cool and negotiate with us without so much as a flicker of fear. That kind of courage and boldness surprises me.
"If we lived in the scountry, I'd definitely take you as my disciple. You've really impressed me." Hera even clapped her hand with undisguised admiration on her face as soon as she finished talking. "Hera, what the hell are you doing?" Zeus frowned in confusion.
Wasn't she supposed to intimidate Grace and use threats? Why was she suddenly praising her? Hera ignored him and kept her eyes on Grace. She smiled and said, "If I'm not mistaken, you're just stalling for time, right? "You want us to leave Dragonmarsh now, then hand over the breakthrough technique three days later. That just doesn't sit right with me.
"I don't know what's going to happen in three days, but something tellswe can't let you get your way. If you do, it could put all of us in danger." Grace kept her calm. “I only ask you to show mercy and spare Logan. Nothing else.
"No, no, no..." Hera shook her head and studied her carefully. "If saving Logan was all you cared about, this isn't the strategy you would've used.
"You had a full night to run, but you stayed. Even after the steeple was destroyed, you didn't back down. Instead, you stood your ground and tried to strike a deal with us.
"So either you've got backup and our threats don't scare you, or something is holding you back from leaving. Telldid I get it right?" Grace kept a calm expression, but Hera's words rattled her. She didn't expect Hera to be so perceptive about her circumstances.
If she denied it, she couldn't explain why she hadn't escaped, and convincing the two afterward would be even harder.
Zeus and Hera had reached the rank of royal gods. They weren't the kind to be fooled or underestimated. After a moment's thought, Grace finally nodded. "It's true. We're trapped here with no way to get out." A soft chuckle escaped Hera. "I knew it." She started to circle Grace, speaking as she went. "If you'd denied it earlier, you'd be dead right now." "Lady Hera, your wit and wisdom are unmatched. My petty tricks will never slip past you." Grace sighed softly.
"Sparethe flattery," Hera replied with a smirk. "Now tell me. What's really keeping you here? Be honest, and I might consider sparing your life." "There's no point hiding it anymore." Grace looked deflated, and her expression dimmed as she spoke.
She went on, "Logan was badly wounded in a recent fight and is now barely hanging on. There's a sacred spring at the base of this mountain that can heal him and keep him alive.
If I leave, he'll die for sure." Upon hearing that, Hera's lips curved into a knowing smile, as if she'd expected this.
"So that's what this is about," she said. " No wonder you've been stalling. All this time, you've been trying to buy tto save your lover." She'd heard before that Logan had been seriously injured. Now, it turned out the rumors were true.
"So you've been lying to us this whole time?" Zeus' expression darkened as sparks crackled at his fingertips. "That so-called breakthrough technique was just a lie too?"
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