Chapter 108: Steel Fist Iron Face Daina

Ace sat on the hilltop, quietly reading The Chronicles of the Augustin Empire via the Grimoire’s illusion interface, imagining the grandeur of the time when the entire populace possessed Divine Blood.

“No wonder the Heroic legends of this world are full of stories about discovering former ruins and obtaining bloodline secrets. Only in such an era could a brilliant bloodline secret art have been developed.”

He continued reading and came to the empire’s end.

This flourishing empire suddenly collapsed into inexplicable chaos, without any warning. The internal society, aside from the very top, was functioning normally at the middle and lower levels, suggesting a relatively healthy social structure. Yet, large-scale rebellion suddenly erupted.

The Great Emperor was also entering his twilight years. He never managed to break the boundary and achieve Demigod status.

The aging Great Emperor lost interest in suppressing the rebellion, immersing himself in organizing human and intellectual resources to research bloodline power and bloodline-enhanced machinery. Ultimately, the Great Emperor achieved the critical step from man to god by forming a symbiosis with a gigantic mechanical titan, becoming a Demigod.

However, this did not bring the Great Emperor good fortune. The empire still inevitably slipped further into the abyss.

The chronicle ended abruptly here, followed by thick blank pages.

“Legend says this world has buried dozens of civilizations. I wonder what unique characteristics those civilizations possessed. The ruins of these civilizations are themselves massive treasures!”

“What purpose do the gods have in continually cycling annihilation and rebirth? Everything has a cause. This will be my long-term research subject in the future.”

After relaxing, Ace continued his journey. A few days later, he reached the foot of Mount Baal.

This was the location where he had installed the signal high tower. Ace transformed and entered the mountain interior. He synchronized with the signal high tower, beginning to learn about the changes that had occurred over the past six months.

Meanwhile, night was slowly falling. Daina was leading dozens of Enchanted Wizard Apprentices in a desperate flight through the Larr Mountains, fighting a guerrilla war against the pursuing military squad.

Daina, wearing an iron mask, was concealed deep in the tall grass and snowdrifts. Behind her were dozens of Enchanted Wizard Apprentices. Everyone looked disheveled, their eyes filled with bloodlust and hatred.

Daina’s eyes looked distant. She was initially a law-abiding female Citizen of the city-state. Aside from her love of mathematics and her habit of punching her younger brother, she was like any other female Citizen.

Perhaps one day in the future, she would marry a Citizen with similar interests. Thinking of marriage, she touched the piece of parchment the mirror image Ace had left her. Her heart felt warm.

“Iron Face Boss, those bastards from the legion are here!” Sulu moved closer to Daina, whispering.

Daina’s gaze instantly sharpened. She had listened to the mirror image Ace’s advice and avoided the Monster Wilderness. Shortly after, a Hero-led military unit raided the Enchanted Wizard Apprentices’ camp. The hundreds of people instantly dwindled to dozens. Some fled, some were captured, and some died.

Fortunately, she had stayed in the fortress and evaded the attack. Because the covenant prevented the Enchanted Wizard Apprentices from revealing their secret, Daina remained safe.

Although Daina had previously vaguely felt that Wizardry encroached upon the domain of the gods and Heroes, she had never imagined the severity of the situation.

She initially thought the city-state would probe and then try to subdue them. Instead, the city-state immediately announced their complete extermination, declaring them followers of the Devil!

Her close interaction with the apprentices inevitably led to her feeling sympathetic to their plight.

Fearing continuous investigation by the city-state, she quietly left the fortress, put on Ace’s iron mask, and fled to the wilderness. Using the Grimoire’s Fellow Traveler function, she located the surviving Enchanted Wizard Apprentices.

Daina now felt only bitter hatred for the city-state and profound worry for Ace.

Teacher Ace hadn’t responded to her message on the Grimoire for a long time. She didn’t know what had happened to him on his travels.

While thinking, Daina and the others did not stop moving. They had all exchanged for the life-saving Lesser Spell, Lesser Mana Fluctuation Concealment.

This spell can conceal Mana fluctuations, especially the characteristic fixed fluctuations emitted by their Inherent Mana, allowing them to resist the legion’s search Wonders.

“Captain, the compass shows no reaction. There are no desecrators who worship the Devil here!” A Divine Awakened soldier, holding a Wonder compass, reported to his captain.

“Set up camp! All squads maintain vigilance.”

The lurking Enchanted Wizard Apprentices, under Daina’s command, quietly surrounded the nearly 100-strong squad of legion soldiers. The main threat in this squad was the Pseudo-Hero Captain. The others were not a concern.

As for the Captain, Daina planned to test her new spell. Her persistent effort, based on Ace’s early advice, had finally yielded results.

In the dead of night, a group of Wizard Apprentices quietly infiltrated the camp using the Lesser Spell Silence.

Accompanied by the sudden appearance of Mana Crystal war hammers, short swords, daggers, and hoes, the Wizard Apprentices struck swiftly, killing dozens of sleeping heavy infantry soldiers in the camp.

The smell of blood gradually spread throughout the camp. A few vigilant Divine Awakened soldiers woke up, shouting sharply: “Enemy attack! It’s the Devil worshipers! Kill them!”

The Wizard Apprentices, realizing they were exposed, switched to an all-out assault. They roared openly and charged forward, wielding their Mana Crystal Weapons.

Sulu’s eyes darted around. He jogged a few steps, intentionally staying at the back of the charge.

Daina casually swung her arm. Mana Crystal Weapons quickly materialized, instantly killing several rushing Divine Awakened soldiers.

She did not celebrate. Instead, her expression turned anxious as she searched for the Seasoned Divine Awakened Captain.

The Captain had already gotten up. He raised the sharp Wonder longsword in his hand and charged toward a nearby average-looking Wizard Apprentice.

The average-looking Wizard Apprentice was startled. He used Mana Crystals to quickly shape a shield. He hadn’t had time to dodge when the incoming Captain sliced both him and his shield in half.

Sulu, watching from the rear, quietly backed away. He planned to wait and see if “Steel Fist Iron Face” Daina could turn the tide. If she couldn’t, he was ready to slip away early.

Daina also noticed the situation. She activated her modified Lesser Spell, Electrical Jolt Activation. This spell, originally called Trembling Shock and designed to emit a small electrical energy beam, had been modified by Daina after numerous attempts, allowing it to drastically activate physical functions for a short time.

This spell, combined with her Enchanted Martial Arts: Daina Steel Fist Style, could momentarily elevate Daina’s physical attributes to a level similar to a Pseudo-Hero.

Coupled with the Lesser Spell Localized Fortification, she wielded a Mana Crystal spear that quickly materialized and launched the Lesser Spell Thrust. With irresistible force, she charged toward the Captain.

The Captain was experienced. He instantly judged that he could not withstand the blow. He rolled rapidly several times, avoiding Daina’s attack. After a few exchanges, Daina’s bright red blood was spilled onto the ground during the fight.

She suddenly faltered, exposing an opening, which the Captain seized.

The Captain jumped behind Daina, raised the sharp Wonder longsword, and hacked down fiercely.

“Clang!”

Blood-red Mana Crystals suddenly appeared behind Daina, rapidly forming an imperfect eggshell shape that blocked the attack.

The Mana Crystal then instantly softened, spreading along the Wonder longsword like liquid. The Captain quickly threw down the longsword and leaped backward.

The Wonder longsword was completely engulfed by the blood-red Mana Crystal. It emitted a grinding sound and vanished.

“What is that…”

The Captain’s face was horrified. The thought of retreat sparked in his mind. Just as he was about to leap, he found that blood-red Mana Crystal liquid was climbing up his feet, quickly covering his entire body.

“When did this happen?!”

Without leaving any further last words, the red Mana Crystal liquid covered his entire body, encasing him like a mummy. He only managed to utter a whimpering sound before being corroded and devoured within the Mana Crystal liquid. Even his soul was destroyed.

Just then, the “blood” on the ground where Daina had fallen squirmed. The blood-red Mana Crystal liquid slowly flowed into Daina’s body.