Angela's Arrival

The newcomer was none other than Angela, who had been lured away by the monster earlier. She was now clad in a set of armor as dazzling and emerald-green as a gemstone, adding a touch of heroic spirit to her originally gentle figure.

“You’ve worked hard; you all did exceptionally well,” Angela said, her gaze sweeping gently across the surroundings. “I never imagined the mastermind behind all this would be you, Yuta!”

She raised her fair hand, and the spear lying not far away immediately sensed its master’s call, returning to her grip like a bolt of lightning.

“Emerald Forest Domain—Bind!”

As the words left Angela’s lips, a beam of emerald light as thick as an arm erupted from the tip of the spear, shooting straight into the clouds.

The light suddenly blossomed in mid-air, its vast power of nature decomposing into thousands of fine silk threads. Like a giant birdcage, it enveloped everything within a radius of several hundred meters.

While the Rain of Life fell from the sky, this scorched earth, bathed in the power of nature, miraculously regained its vibrant vitality.

Starlight watched as vines rapidly broke through the soil, gently coiling around him and Moen to continuously supply them with energy. In just a few moments, his exhausted body felt significantly restored.

Simultaneously, the giant hand suppressing Po Kong and Xia Duo was torn to shreds by countless thorns rising from the ground, freeing the two.

The heavily injured Lira was swallowed by a giant flower that appeared out of thin air; the bud twitched slightly, seemingly performing some sort of emergency first aid on him.

“Yuta, do you have anything else to say?” Angela finished her work and turned her icy gaze toward the figure who had quietly retreated dozens of meters away. “This will determine how I deal with you.”

“What is there left to say? No, Lady Priestess, do you really think I would just surrender without a fight?”

Facing Angela’s sharp, locking gaze, the previously furious Yuta quickly calmed his mind. He knew she wasn't an opponent one could defeat with mere passion, and his current state was abysmal. Furthermore, he wasn't without his own trump cards...

Meanwhile, Angela’s keen intuition caught a subtle abnormality. She narrowed her long, beautiful eyes, silently observing Yuta’s every move while thinking to herself:

“He should know that escaping the layered seals of the Emerald Forest Domain in his weakened state is nothing but a fool's dream. But why do I feel so uneasy? There must be something fishy going on...”

At this, Angela spoke again. “Yuta, lay down your weapons. Considering you’ve dedicated thousands of years to our people, I can promise you a dignified end.”

“Heh heh heh... A dignified end? Angela, you’re as arrogant as ever. Blessed by the World Tree, you couldn't possibly understand the feelings of a dying man like me.”

“If not for my Master’s gift, I wouldn't have much time left even if I didn't die here today!” Yuta let out a scornful laugh, his tone becoming agitated again.

“So, the death power that suddenly appeared in you was given by this so-called ‘Master’? Is that why you betrayed the entire elven race?!” Angela shouted coldly, her tone no longer gentle. “It seems you truly have fallen!”

Yuta’s weathered face broke into a bizarre smile. “Fallen? No. If my Master hadn't let me grasp the true meaning of life and death, how would I dare to confront you in this state?”

As soon as he finished speaking, Angela’s figure lunged forward like a bolt of lightning, her spear aimed directly at Yuta’s heart.

With the blessing of the World Tree, she crossed the dozens of meters in an instant, the emerald spearhead piercing straight through Yuta’s body.

However, Angela frowned after the hit; she felt her attack pass right through his body without any sensation of impact. The “Yuta” she had pierced turned into a mass of pitch-black shadow in the next second and dissipated into the air.

“What?!” Angela was slightly startled. She hadn't expected Yuta to deceive her eyes within a barrier that belonged entirely to her. But she reacted instantly, spinning her spear and sweeping it to the side.

A crescent-shaped green glow sliced through the space, cutting down three of Yuta’s magic clones that had just leapt from the shadows.

“This time, there’s a sensation of impact! Over there!” Sensing a faint touch on the tip of her spear, Angela flipped gracefully in the air and hurled the spear behind her.

The strike accurately locked onto Yuta, who had just emerged from the shadows. Even though he had prepared his defenses in advance, he was still sent flying by the immense force.

“As expected of ‘Angela of the Funeral.’ Even after all these years, your prowess hasn't diminished at all!” Yuta tumbled several times in the air, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. “But I’m not so stupid as to face you head-on.”

As he spoke, a black shadow leaped from his chest—he had condensed another magic clone. The clone grabbed the spear Angela had thrown, seemingly trying to control her weapon. But Angela was faster; she reached the spear first, giving the clone no opening.

Just as she was about to swing the spear and destroy the clone again, the black figure swelled up like an overinflated balloon.

“Bang!”

With a loud explosion, Yuta’s clone detonated itself in mid-air, turning into a mist of mingled black and grey ash that instantly obscured Angela’s vision.

“Yuta! Stop this futile struggle! These petty tricks won't stop me!”

Facing the corrosive death power, the armor on Angela’s body burst with brilliant light, shielding her. With a forceful wave of her hand, a gale rose, sweeping the corrosive mist away like a raging tide.

“As long as I can achieve my goal, any means have their value. Look... haven't I found her?”

Just as Angela broke free from the mist of death, she heard Yuta’s voice drifting from the other side of the battlefield, laced with mockery.

Everyone turned toward the sound, only to find that Yuta had somehow appeared on the far side of the battlefield, clutching a petite figure in his hand.

“Lian!” Starlight’s heart skipped a beat at the sight, and he cried out in alarm.

When Yuta had erupted earlier, Lian, who was the weakest, had been blown far away. Although her blessed body hadn't suffered major injuries, the intense shock had left her unable to move for the time being. On the open ground with no cover, she could only watch as Yuta appeared before her and seized her by the throat.