Chapter 131: Stance

“I…” Ollie truly didn’t want Arno to go, but the words caught in her throat. Finally, all she could manage was:

“Whatever happens, you must return within half an hour!”

“This is humanity. When danger approaches, many are unwilling to abandon their friends and family. Others, however, choose to display the light of humanity. The Knight’s path is very interesting, but whether they survive depends on themselves.”

The mirror image Ace, transformed into a Night Owl, landed on a nearby city tower. He watched the departing Arno, quietly maintaining his vigilance and observing the surroundings. Everyone has their own path, and everyone will be responsible for their own choices.

The marketplace was a long distance from the South Gate. Betty and the others sped up. The clumsy Apprentice Model 1 emitted fierce mechanical friction sounds and the roar of steam, attracting the attention of the fortress’s patrolling soldiers.

“What is that noise? Soldiers of the First Squad, Third Platoon, follow my command! Advance left!” The Divine Descendant Captain leading the squad felt a knot of anxiety. He had already been notified that dark worshipers had infiltrated. Although he feared death, his love for the fortress and his family drove him forward without hesitation.

“Get out of my way! I don’t want to hurt you. Don’t force me!” Betty screamed. She was extremely anxious. The dark worshipers’ terrifying ritual could activate at any moment. At that point, the entire city would be in extreme danger, potentially becoming a paradise for Demons.

The soldiers did not stop. They drew their short swords, resting them against their round shields, making a clear metallic sound, and shouted their motto.

“This area is closed! Monster! Soldiers, charge with me!” The Divine Descendant Captain did not hesitate. He drew the two-handed greatsword from his back and roared as he charged toward the Apprentice Model 1 Betty was driving.

“Clang!”

The iron fist of the Apprentice Model 1’s right arm was blocked by the Divine Descendant Captain’s greatsword. The Divine Descendant Captain, facing the overwhelming mechanical pressure, sweated profusely, his body trembling.

“The strength is immense!” he thought, horrified. He considered himself to have superhuman strength among the Divine Awakened, and he was bolstered by his Wonder greatsword, which was inherited from his father’s father and possessed the effect of fortitude and immense power.

He planted his right foot, pivoted on his left, and used his core strength to guide the rotation of the greatsword, successfully deflecting the Apprentice Model 1 to the right.

He spun once, and the greatsword struck from the left.

Seeing this, Betty immediately activated the Mana Crystal shield on her wrist. Clang!

The force was so immense that the Mana Crystal shield cracked slightly.

However, an opening was exposed. With an opening, it was a battle of life and death!

With a great roar of steam, Betty manipulated the Apprentice Model 1. Its right arm instantly fired five steam missiles, which instantly pierced the Divine Descendant Captain’s chest.

“I told you, don’t force me! Are you still going to force me?” Betty, looking frantic, drove the Apprentice Model 1 forward. The three people on the back were jostling and on the verge of vomiting.

Seeing Betty’s power and their dead Captain, the soldiers were terrified and scattered, fleeing in all directions.

Betty did not pursue them. She stopped the Apprentice Model 1, standing still. She clutched her chest, feeling an indescribable nausea.

Donna checked the Divine Descendant Captain. After confirming his death, she pulled out the greatsword and placed it in Betty’s mechanical arm.

“You did nothing wrong. None of us did. We just want to survive. We just want to escape the terrifying ritual of the dark worshipers. Let’s go!” Donna held Betty’s left hand, comforting her.

Betty manipulated the mechanical arm, looking at the greatsword in her hand. A mix of guilt and resolve flashed in her eyes. Some things are not about right or wrong; they are simply about position.

Under the command of Alexius Rona, the Grand Leader of the dark worshipers, all dark worshipers, led by the dark priests, scattered to attack the Divine Descendants in the fortress and kill all living beings they encountered.

Ancestar, meanwhile, led the 15 children cautiously out of the relief home, rushing toward the South Gate. He walked at the back of the group, vigilantly observing his surroundings.

Since his Compassion creed merged with his Inherent Mana and fed back into his heart, his entire body, especially his heart, had undergone a massive transformation.

His intuition, especially his combat intuition, became extremely sharp. His overall physical constitution greatly improved. This was a permanent enhancement, unlike the temporary boost from Enchanted Martial Arts.

His heart seemed to have become a power source, continuously supplying him with Heart Force.

The Heart Force, driven by his will, could reinforce his body and weapon, similar to Inherent Mana. However, conversely, his sensitivity to Mana seemed to have become dull. He was already not adept at spells, and now he found it even harder to use various Lesser Spells.

“My meditation method also seems to have changed. Using the regular meditation method feels uncomfortable. If I can escape, I must try to modify my meditation method to better suit me.”

Ancestar was deep in thought.

He suddenly felt a chill creeping up his spine, striking the back of his head!

The special ability granted by the emergence of Heart Force: Danger Intuition. Ancestar immediately leaped backward, drew the longsword from his back, and infused it with Heart Force. The ordinary, slightly rusty longsword turned a shimmering, water-like azure blue, imbued with the power of Heart Force.

Clang!

The sword hummed faintly, emitting a water-like azure light that cleaved in a semi-circular arc.

The shadows where Ancestar had just stood rippled. Something lurking there was about to emerge but was struck by the azure light, which cleaved like a blue moon.

“Hiss…” Something in the shadows was wounded by the sound of the sword penetrating flesh.

Ancestar channeled his Heart Force into his eyes. They shone fiercely. The immense Heart Force seemed to change the nature of his eyes. Time was critical. Ancestar used too much Heart Force, and blood streamed from his eyes.

But he saw clearly!

“One, two, three… fourteen. All are hidden in the shadows.”

A bead of cold sweat dropped from Ancestar’s brow. He pretended not to notice. His mind raced, desperately trying to figure out how to lead the children to safety.

Fortunately, all the hooded, shadow-lurking dark worshipers focused their attention on Ancestar, who clearly possessed supernatural power. Only one was heading toward the 15 children. The others slowly closed in on Ancestar.

Ancestar concentrated his Heart Force into his legs and his longsword. A flash of azure water-light. Clang!

Three approaching dark worshipers fell. Ancestar did not change direction. His Heart Force exploded. He ejected forward, charging straight at the dark worshiper who was approaching the children.