Chapter 291

Chapter 291: The Purity Officer Who Explodes Everywhere She Goes

“Boom—Boom—Boom—!”

Dragon breath magic surged again, its violent torrent of energy cleaving the Sea of Ether as it charged straight at the "Predatory Tree’s" tuber!

"Die!"

"All of you, die!"

"Watch me blast your nest to dust!"

“Boom—!”

The torrent of energy slammed into the Predatory Tree’s layered roots, thick as fortress walls.

“Zii—!”

Vast amounts of etheric liquid evaporated, giving off white mist; the Sea of Ether itself tore open under the dragon breath’s fury!

Freed from the etheric liquid’s resistance, the dragon breath struck the colossal tuber like sharp teeth biting down fiercely.

“Boom—Boom—Boom—!”

The tuber shuddered violently but steadied moments later, seemingly unharmed.

"Oh ho?"

"Quite tough, are we?"

"Shall we keep going, then!?"

“Boom—Boom—Boom—!”

The relentless dragon breath seared the tuber; finally…

“Zii—!”

The Predatory Tree’s surface cried out as its "law fiber" warped and curled under the scorching heat.

【Ouch, ouch, ouch!】

【Honestly!】

【Where did that bad man disappear to!?】

【Why must I endure this!?】

【First locked away, now set ablaze!】

She’d been delighted by Trilobite’s gift earlier; though her Bubble World had perished, this "Holy Tree’s" transformations brought genuine joy.

With this Holy Tree, she could weave physical "Crystal Walls" from its tubers and branches.

Like the "Fantasy Tree of Subspace," its interior folded space itself.

Her people would dwell safely within the Holy Tree.

Even better, the Holy Tree could endlessly expand—a feat beyond Crystal Walls.

But now, she stomped her feet in rage.

【Shouldn’t gifts be delivered face-to-face!?】

【What’s this about sending gifts from afar!?】

【And if you’ve got time for that, why not come see me!?】

【I’m about to be burned alive, yet you’re nowhere to be found!】

【So infuriating!】

Themis raged for a long while, but it proved utterly useless.

【Tsk…】

【Guess I’ll have to let this intruder enter first.】

【Once he’s inside, I’ll hold the home advantage.】

【Yikes—!】

Mid-thought, Themis shrieked as searing pain struck again.

Ether Dragon Clodius had intensified his fiery assault!

"Roar—!"

An entire root section withered completely, crackling into flames.

Finally, an opening tore through the tuber-formed "walls".

"Hahaha—!"

"The breach is open! Charge!"

"Boom—!"

The Ether Dragon swung his colossal body, swimming toward the gap.

—-

"Emergency evacuation!"

"Don your ether-proof suits!"

"Withdraw in orderly fashion!"

Heavily armored warriors called the "Chosen" directed mortals to safety.

Their shoulder badges bore a geometrically-patterned sun.

These were the Solar Knights war organization—among the earliest founded war organizations.

The "mortals" being rescued weren’t civilians, but workers and engineers constructing near the Holy Tree.

Truthfully, after multiple "baptisms," no true "mortals" remained in Themis’ world.

Unlike "virtual Crystal Walls," the "solid Crystal Walls" carried a flaw: neither chaos deities nor demons needed to heed the walls’ laws. They merely required a breach to infiltrate.

Thus, the "Holy Tree’s solid Crystal Walls" ceased being passive barriers—they demanded active guardians.

These workers had been building outposts on the holy tree’s surrounding tubers.

"Tap… Tap… Tap…"

The rhythmic click of powered high heels pierced the air.

Then, a tall hat appeared in the warriors’ sight.

"Purity Officer!"

Several Chosen Warriors stood at attention and saluted when they saw the Purity Officer.

Actually, the Purification Agency and the Chosen war organization were parallel in structure. Glade, the Grand Master of the Ashen Knights, was even an advocate for the Purification Agency and still played a very important role in it. So, it was unnecessary for the Chosen Warriors to show such respect to a Purity Officer.

But not with her.

She was among the first Chosen Warriors and stood out among the Purity Officers.

"Ms. Sylvia!"

"You’re here to help with the evacuation too?"

Sylvia shot an annoyed glance at the talking chosen knight.

"Is your vision module broken?"

"Can’t you see for yourself!?"

"Honestly, sent here by Albert Drake to do menial work."

She felt very annoyed.

After her last mission to scout the old noble towns, where she found half the world occupied by chaos, she had been sidelined in the agency.

She hadn’t joined the previous big battles.

And now, the new world born from the old one—the "Holy Tree realm"—was under attack by a fierce Ether Dragon, at a critical moment for its survival.

Shouldn’t they have sent her, a veteran Purity Officer, to command a battleship or something?

Instead, she ended up doing menial work here.

It would have been okay if it was about helping civilians evacuate, but the task the Purification Agency gave Sylvia was to check if there were any chaos spies among the workers and engineers…

That was ridiculous.

After the chaos deity trying to attack here was beaten by two living saints, and the chaotic mercenaries were wiped out by the "Holy Tree," it seemed the Chaotic Forces had lost interest for now.

Or rather, they became more careful.

Not only did high-ranking chaos deities stop coming, but even low-position shapeshifting demons weren’t sent anymore.

Where would they find chaos spies!?

"Hmph…"

"Those Purification Agency guys secretly called me a plague god, saying I blow up wherever I go."

"But they sent me to this safe place instead…"

Thinking this, Sylvia felt the faint vibrations under her feet and sighed.

"Um, Ms. Purity Officer, don’t worry."

A Chosen Warrior seemed to misunderstand her sigh.

"The Ether Dragon was mainly attacking the other side; this side was still pretty safe… uh…"

"Did I say something wrong?"

The Chosen Warrior suddenly noticed Sylvia staring at him with fierce eyes.

"No…"

Sylvia shook her head in despair.

"Safe! Safe!"

"I know everyone says things explode wherever I go!"

"That’s why they keep sending me to safe places!"

"Hahaha… safe… absolutely safe here… so far from that Ether Dragon!"

"If I really caused explosions everywhere, let’s see one happen now…"

"Ahhhhh—!"

"Boom—!"

A tremendous explosion and crashing sound cut through Sylvia’s despair!

"Wow—!"

"It actually exploded!"

The Chosen Warrior yelled as he, Sylvia, and nearby workers and engineers plunged into the etheric liquid.

They quickly witnessed…

"Boom—!"

A massive Divine Body slowly swam past them!

It was the Ether Dragon!

"Ha!"

"I’ll tear down all your ‘broken walls’! Tear them down!"

"Whoosh… Boom—!"

To conserve and restore magic, Clodius stopped continuous dragon breath attacks. Instead, he wrapped magic power around his jaws and claws, tearing wildly!

He frantically ripped at the entire "outer wall" made of "Holy Tree bulb"!

Naturally, if anything leaked from the wall, he wouldn’t spare effort to toy with and torment it!

"Ah!"

"What have we here!?"

"You cowardly subjects of a cowardly god!"

"Without shelter, you’ve only one fate!"

"Buzz…"

Faint magical energy gathered.

He prepared to blast these "specks" with "mini dragon breath"!

"I really am a jinx…"

Sylvia said to herself.

She looked at the massive body of the Ether Dragon and the powerful dragon breath magic gathering.

For the Ether Dragon, this magic might have been as easy as moving a little finger, but Sylvia knew this energy could destroy her completely!

"Sigh…"

As she watched the torrent of energy about to burst out, her mind went blank.

Her life flashed before her eyes.

But at that moment…

"Buzz—!"

A pure white light, ignoring space’s laws, pierced the endless void and hit her and the warriors beside her!

This was the grace from the Giant God!

"Divine grace?"

Sylvia smiled and closed her eyes.

"Is this a final comfort?"

Yes, she felt the divine grace flow into her body, quietly changing her soul and body.

The workers, engineers, and Chosen Warriors swept away with her also bathed in the grace.

But she clearly sensed her power didn’t grow much; she couldn’t muster the strength to cast a Holy Light shield to block this "dragon breath."

And even if she could, what then?

This breath was just the Ether Dragon moving its "little finger"; what if next time it used its whole "hand"?

"Still, thank you, Giant God…"

"Um…"

Her red lips moved anxiously as she blew hot bubbles in the etheric liquid.

"Let me be destroyed without pain…"

"Buzz—!"

The torrent of energy erupted!

But just then…

"Bang—!"

A massive crashing sound erupted, stirring huge waves in the Sea of Ether!

"Boom—!"

The dragon breath was deflected again!

"Is the Giant God coming back!?"

Sylvia stared at the huge being that saved her, but soon widened her eyes in confusion.

"No… no… not the Giant God…"

"It was…"