Chapter 262 Chapter260-Parting
The spear penetrated Sovok's heart, yet not a drop of blood spilled forth.
As the Collapse Rule from the spear took effect, the form of the Original Elf King Sovok began to fracture, much like the fine cracks that emerge on delicate porcelain.
Those cracks widened incessantly, fragmenting his form into myriad shards. Sovok's corporeal body was obliterated.
However, he was not yet vanquished.
"You! Wretched insect, you dare destroy the body I've cultivated!" Sovok's essence reverted to its smoky form.
A dark, nebulous mist hovered above the palace, within which a pair of blood-red eyes emerged - frenzied and bloodthirsty, locking onto Ethan with unwavering intensity.
"I will see you all perish!" Sovok roared in fury.
The black mist reshaped into a colossal hand, lurching towards Ethan and his companions.
Ethan immediately erected the Holy Light Shield, enveloping Rose, Quel, and the others within its protective aura.
After several relentless strikes that failed to shatter the shield, Sovok's frustration grew palpable.
Sensing Ethan's waning power, his voice dripped with mocking delight, "Your strength, after all, is borrowed. It won't last long. Now as it dwindles, let's see how you fend me off!"
The faces of the group drained of color as they huddled close together.
Ethan, too, felt his power ebbing, returning to its prior state, the Power of Rules he once wielded also beginning to fade.
"Could it be that this is where our journey ends?" The thought flitted through Ethan's mind, but he swiftly banished it.
Regardless of the odds, he was determined to give his all.
The glow of the Holy Light Shield intensified, yet it seemed on the brink of collapsing under Sovok's relentless assault.
Each strike sent waves of staggering force through Ethan, making his blood surge and clouding his consciousness.
"How much longer can you hold out, whelp?" Sovok taunted with a smirk.
But as he readied for another strike, the sound of splintering metal echoed through the air.
A furious voice boomed, "Sovok! How dare you deceive me like this. You will pay dearly this time!"
"By your hand—" Sovok began in reflexive scorn, but turning around, his face contorted with horror.
In disbelief, he cried, "Seth! What are you doing?!"
Being the Primordial Key, Seth's true form was incredibly robust, rivalling that of a divine artifact.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtYet now, myriad cracks marred Seth's key-like form, signaling impending shattering.
Because of this, the curse formed by the black mist dissipated.
The price for lifting the curse was death.
Seth's icy gaze fixed on Sovok, and then turned to Ethan and the others, saying, "My apologies. At its core, this predicament was borne of my actions. Thus, it's only right I resolve this. Shortly, I'll harness my power to open a space gate. Seize the opportunity to escape when you can."
After speaking, Seth's form completely shattered.
Yet, death didn't immediately claim him. Manipulating his fractured remains, he used the golden shards of the Primordial Key to construct a vast Magic Circle, ensnaring Sovok within its confines. Then, with a smile, Seth proclaimed, "Sovok, our feud comes to an end today. The Primordial Key possesses the power to break bindings, but in the same breath, confinement is a force within the Key's dominion."
"And now, it's your turn to savor eons of solitude."
Under Seth's command, the massive Magic Circle radiated a blinding light.
A potent suction emanated from within, pulling and sealing the smoky form of Sovok.
"No!" A cry of terror escaped Sovok, but it was to no avail.
This binding Magic Circle was a manifestation of the Power of Rules, and in terms of authority, it far surpassed Sovok's might.
As the last wisp of smoke was absorbed, tranquility once again settled upon the palace.
However, the palace's floor was now etched with numerous intricate patterns.
"Ethan, it's time for you all to leave," Seth uttered, subsequently using his remaining strength to open a space gate.
He then advised, "Sovok isn't dead, only imprisoned by my hand. I can't hold him for long, at most three years. Within that time, you must ascend to the realm of deity. Only then might you truly vanquish Sovok."
"Mr. Seth, what about you...?" Ethan began hesitantly, a palpable concern in his voice.
In the aftermath of his shattering, all that remained of Seth was a radiant golden glow.
It was impossible to discern any expression, but Seth's voice emerged, "This is merely the last of my spiritual power. In a moment, it will vanish, and there will be no Primordial Key thereafter."
"And remember, don't mourn for me."
Ethan, Rose, and the others took a deep breath, words left unsaid.
One by one, they moved toward the space gate. Ethan was the last to approach.
As he was about to step through, a flash of golden light and a clear crystal ball flew toward him.
By the time he realized it, he was already through the gate, finding himself amidst a forest.
Surrounding him were Quel, Oberlis, Rose, Windsor, and Kadiven.
"We're finally out," Quel exclaimed, spreading his arms wide, basking in the ambiance of the forest.
Smiles adorned the faces of the others.
The weight of Sovok's oppression had been overwhelming, inducing despair.
Yet, Sovok was merely a common deity.
Above him lay even more formidable deities.
What might they be like?
A flame of determination ignited within the group, their desire to ascend to the status of deity heightened.
Ethan, meanwhile, began to inspect the two items that had flown into his hands upon departure.
[Mystery Key]
[Rank: Unknown]
[Description: Born from the shattered remnants of the Primordial Key, this key possesses a unique ability to unshackle constraints. Once used, the Mystery Key will vanish forever.]
"Did Seth intentionally leave this behind?" Ethan pondered, storing the Mystery Key in his Space Ring.
Then he turned his attention to the other item.
"It is indeed the Heart of the City," Ethan confirmed upon recognizing the transparent crystal ball's significance.
However, Ethan couldn't control this Heart of the City, not even probe it, yet he gleaned some information from it.
"One requires the Elf King Bloodline to wield it," he discerned. "Moreover, with the Elf King sealed away, the Heart of the City now stands masterless and is free to choose a new city..."
Coming to this realization, Ethan felt no greed. Instead, he handed the Heart of the City to Rose.
"What is this?" Rose inquired, instinctively taking it.
Upon sensing the essence of the Heart of the City, Rose was profoundly taken aback. "Ethan," she immediately protested, "this is far too precious. I cannot accept it."
"It originally belonged to the Elf kin, so think of it as returning it to its rightful owner," Ethan countered gently. "And if you truly find it too invaluable, you can always have Oberlis share his notes on space magic with me. I've been eyeing that for quite some time now," he jested.
Yet, Rose took him seriously.
Without hesitation, Oberlis pulled out an ancient notebook and handed it to Ethan, stating, "Remember, I'm only lending this to you temporarily. Once you've finished, you must return it. This isn't just any notebook; it's the notes of a powerful God of Space. It's extremely precious."
"Really?" Ethan instinctively questioned.
Pretending to be irritated, Oberlis retorted, "Of course it's real. Would I lie to you?"
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"Did this deity leave a name?" Ethan inquired further.
Opening a space gate, Oberlis replied, "Yes, the name is Aisya."
"Aisya!" Ethan exclaimed in astonishment, a name he was all too familiar with.
"You know of her?" Oberlis curiously probed.
Ethan, unsure of how to respond, vaguely said, "I might. I think I've heard that name somewhere..."
Oberlis didn't press the matter further.
After handing the notebook to Ethan, he and Rose stepped into the space gate to leave, also opening separate gates for Ethan and the others to make their exit.
"Ethan, until next time." Quel and Kadiven bid Ethan farewell before stepping into the space gate.
Just as Ethan was about to leave, he noticed one remaining figure—or rather, one remaining dragon.
"Windsor, is there something else?" Ethan inquired.
Although their interactions hadn't been extensive, they had faced death together, making them comrades in a profound sense.
Windsor's face turned a deep shade of red, hinting at an inner struggle.
But, realizing Ethan was about to depart, Windsor mustered the courage to voice the thought that had been lurking deep inside: "Ethan, can you... make me pregnant?"
Ethan's mind went blank.
What did that mean?
Pregnant?
He was utterly baffled, even wondering if he had misheard.
But Windsor's subsequent words confirmed that Ethan had indeed heard correctly.
"Ethan, you possess a powerful Dragon Bloodline, and I am a Rainbow Dragon. In the realm of dragons, we both belong to the High Dragonkin. Therefore, if we were to mate, there's a high likelihood of birthing a dragon with the High Dragonkin Bloodline."
"So, will you agree?" Windsor straightforwardly asked.
Ethan remained silent, completely taken aback by the request.
And what Windsor said next left Ethan even more at a loss for words.
"If you're unsure about how dragons mate, I can guide you. However, after becoming pregnant, I'd only be able to maintain my dragon form and couldn't revert to human form. But all I desire is to have offspring. If you're reluctant to be the child's father, that's fine too."
Ethan fell silent again.
After a long pause, he finally asked, "Windsor, where did this idea come from?"