Faint sounds of battle cries drifted over, causing Laurent's expression to change. "We've been surrounded in turn — there are too many of them…"
A high-ranking assassin suddenly materialized from the shadows, a demonic claw with razor-sharp nails protruding from his chest.
The assassin muttered, then collapsed, revealing the figure of a high-ranking Pleasure Devil standing behind him.
"You actually colluded with devils!"
Laurent roared, already attacking without hesitation.
Even now, a chill ran through his heart. The things this noble had been hiding were far more terrifying than he had ever imagined.
"Hurry! The confusion divination spell I set up won't hold for long! Leave no one alive!"
Leilin's face was ice-cold.
Two years had been more than enough to subdue Tifa and Delai, and mobilizing all the devil worshippers' power to ambush and kill Laurent was meant to guarantee absolute success!
"Rest assured, Master!"
Madame Delai had now fully transformed into a devil, and together with Tifa — who was close to legendary-level strength — eliminating a single high-ranked Paladin was no difficulty at all.
Given their diametrically opposed factions and accumulated hatred, the moment they clashed it was like lightning striking fire. Flashes of various spell fluctuations erupted with devastating power.
Yet despite Laurent's extraordinary will and strength, he could not change reality.
A high-ranking devil and a near-legendary powerhouse joining forces — that was enough to crush everything he had.
The low cries of his companions and their final death throes gnawed at his mind like ants.
"Is this… has it really come to this?"
Laurent's vision blurred. A black dagger was lodged in his chest.
His long sword had long since vanished, his armor pitted and corroded, tainted with the terrifying devil's corrosive fire.
He gasped for breath, feeling no regret at the approach of death — only the bitter anguish that justice could not prevail.
"Why… why does the world always have people like you?!"
He stared at the young mage who walked toward him, eyes wide, tears of blood streaming down his face.
"Because in this world… devils run rampant."
Leilin sighed as he drove the bloodstained devil dagger into Laurent's forehead.
The Devil Blood Dagger trembled. A high-ranking Paladin, and a servant of the God of Justice — he was the most powerful being it had ever drained!
Terrifying blood-red energy pulsed in waves from the Devil Blood Dagger into Leilin's body, like a raging dragon.
Even the Devil Blood Dagger itself let out a pained wail under the strain.
"This Devil Blood Dagger of mine was only self-crafted on Faolan Island, without any particularly rare materials. So it can't hold up…"
A glint flashed in Leilin's eyes.
A thread of dark light shot from his hand into the dagger.
"Wuuuu…" The demonic head at the end of the dagger roared, and countless tiny blood vessels spread out, burrowing into every part of Laurent's corpse.
Tumor-like structures were continuously extracted by the blood vessels, the powerful holy energy steadily converted, until fine cracks began appearing on the dagger itself.
Finally, with a mournful cry, the Devil Blood Dagger shattered completely, producing a low, resonant sound.
But just moments before it broke, Leilin felt an enormous quantity of Life Energy fully absorbed into himself!
The Chip's notification sounded: [Ding! Subject has undergone one Devil Blood Dagger enhancement! Strength +1.9! Agility +2.2! Constitution +0.8!]
Leilin's stats instantly refreshed to [Strength: 10, Agility: 10, Constitution: 10, Spirit: 10] All the killing combined with Laurent's entire life force had finally pushed every one of Leilin's attributes to the threshold of 10!
In the World of the
Leilin heard a crisp sound resonate within his soul.
After all his attributes broke through, a long-dormant power surged from every fiber of his being, plunging him into a strange state.
The Chip continued its notification: [Ding! All subject attributes have broken through 10! Talent acquired: Primary Perfect Body!]
Below was the talent's description: [Primary Perfect Body: Subject's genes have undergone initial optimization. Possesses partial traits of supernatural beings in the World of the Gods. Gains: Primary Toxin Resistance, Primary Fire Resistance, Primary Cold Resistance, Primary Corrosion Resistance, Enhanced Environmental Survival Tolerance!]
"So an all-attribute score of 1 is the threshold for ordinary beings, and an all-attribute score of 10 is the threshold for supernatural beings…"
Leilin's eyes glinted. His stats now read: [Leilin Faolan — Age: 18 — Race: Human — Rank 10
After breaking through the supernatural threshold, Leilin felt that the growth limitation on his Spiritual Power — which had been troubling him — had loosened. His spirit was incredibly lively, and he was now only a single step away from touching the fifth layer of the Magic Web!
"Handle the aftermath as I've instructed!"
Leilin exhaled a long breath, his entire bearing seemingly transformed.
"As you command, Master!" Madame Delai bowed respectfully, the flame tail and devil wings behind her playfully flickering.
Though they already knew his public identity, Delai and Tifa felt even greater awe. The more ordinary the surface identity, the more terrifying what lay hidden beneath — as a veteran devil, Delai understood this well.
And Tifa? Having been steeped in Leilin's soul power for years, when facing Leilin himself, his influence needed no further explanation.
"Good. Tifa, you'll accompany me to the north. Delai, you'll take charge of the entire Danbres Kingdom and the surrounding network of worshippers…"
Leilin issued his orders.
After everything was set in motion according to his plans, Leilin turned to gaze in the direction of the royal capital.
"Next time I return, everything will be different…"
A sharp light gleamed in Leilin's eyes.
…
The sea swelled with azure waves, and in the distance one could faintly see drifting ice floes and snow-capped island peaks.
A few seagulls soared across the sky, letting out occasional sharp cries.
A northern merchant vessel cut through the wind and waves, the sailors on deck with dark skin, their calloused black hands gripping the ropes as if those ropes were their life and everything they had!
"The northern seas really do feel different from the southern waters off Danbres!"
By now the passengers had retreated to the cabin to take shelter, but only Leilin, with Tifa disguised as a butler, remained on deck.
Far from being unsettled by the sudden storms, Leilin felt a pang of nostalgia — reminded of his days aboard the Scarlet Tiger.
"The kingdom's navy has long since returned to port. I wonder how Cousin
Leilin gazed at the distant waves as though they were nothing, and turned to Tifa. "Once we reach the north, there are legendary powerhouses active in Silver Moon City. Your identity is too conspicuous, so you won't be coming with me. Instead, try to gather some covert forces…"
"As you command!"
Tifa pressed his right hand to his chest, his expression grave. Over this period of life together, he had become certain that this minor noble was almost certainly the Chosen of the Feathered Serpent God
"Well then, we're finally approaching the northern port…"
Leilin nodded, watching as the ship successfully broke through the storm.
The World of the Gods was vast beyond measure, and traveling was an exhausting and dangerous undertaking.
Even as a mid-tier Wizard, with Tifa — a near-legendary powerhouse — protecting him, the journey from the south to the north had taken considerable effort.
They had first departed northward from the Danbres royal capital, crossing through several human kingdoms, skirting around multiple alien territories, and encountering several dangers along the way.
Afterward they had abandoned the carriage and switched to a sea vessel. The entire journey had taken close to a full year.
"Welcome back, sir!"
The bosun approached, a glint of respect in his eyes as he looked at Leilin. A man who could face the fury of the ocean without batting an eye was a true seaman — worthy of the respect of every sailor!
"Mm. We've finally made it past this storm zone…"
Leilin smiled.
"Lately the sea peoples in this region have been very short-tempered. This tsunami was caused by a deep-sea ground whale flying into a rage. Fortunately our druid managed to calm it down in time…"
A shadow crossed the bosun's face. "If this keeps up, we may have to abandon this route entirely and invite a Grand Druid — or even a Legendary Druid — to investigate the cause…"
In the matters of environmental protection and calming dangerous creatures, even Leilin had to admit the druids excelled. Because of their requirement to live close to nature, most druids were elves, though humans and other races were not uncommon.
And in Silver Moon City, this was especially true!
"We're finally approaching the jewel of the north…"
Leilin sighed softly.
Silver Moon City! City of Mages! Jewel of the North! These were all names for that legendary city!
This city, guarded by the Chosen of the Goddess of the Magic Web — who was also her daughter — represented the pinnacle of human magical civilization! Every year it attracted countless mages to study and further their education.
In Silver Moon City, there were the most cutting-edge magical research materials, and even the royal palace held information on legendary spells!