As the rising giant trees disrupted the path of the cars, Kronin parted ways with Gold. Near the site of the Great Rift, Kronin finally stopped the vehicle.
The fierce ether shock overturned the vehicle, making this teetering steel creation finally succumb to the pressure, shattering into countless fragments during the roll.
Flames surged from under the hood, with billowing black smoke rising incessantly, exploded into a fireball upon hitting the street corner.
After the initial hit, Kronin did not stop, releasing the ether shock again. The wind pressure dispersed the black smoke and extinguished the flames.
Jagged and charred wreckage lay exposed before him, but in that wreckage, Kronin did not find the body he wished to see.
In the periphery of his vision, a silver-white flash rose. Before Kronin could defend, whip blades broke through the ground, striking towards Kronin. Yet before they hit, roots emerged from the ground like wooden walls, blocking the strike for Kronin.
A gust of wind roared to life, with Palmer standing on the rooftop holding a briefcase. When Kronin looked toward Palmer, Palmer maintained the motion of throwing his arms. Simultaneously, around him, barely perceptible bands of light appeared in the air.
Kronin could only hear the piercing sound hidden in the wind, and in the next second, a fierce killing intent surged forth, prompting him to instinctively dodge sideways. Subsequently, a tiny scratch appeared on his cheek, as if cut by the wind.
This wasn't the wind; Kronin fixated on those blurred trajectories, vaguely seeing the swirling flying knives.
Under the Secret Energy·Wind Source's lift and high-speed rotation, the flying knives merged into the air like invisible blades, yet they were merely invisible blades.
The belated Gold unleashed Secret Energy, with branches swinging wildly like arms in all directions, colliding with the flying knives, the clattering sound reverberating non-stop.
Palmer knew this move would be no threat to the Prayer Believers, so he followed with a massive wind pressure. Though this wouldn't harm the two, even a slight impact was enough; he was never the primary attacker in battle.
The instance the wind pressure arrived, a strong ether reaction rose from the burning wreckage, followed by a silhouette tearing through metal restraints, lunging at Kronin.
Gold loudly warned, "Watch out!"
Kronin's pupils shrunk as an ethereal barrier covered his body's surface, followed by the heavy sheep horn hammer slamming into him.
With a muffled sound, Kronin felt his body sink as the ground beneath him caved a bit. The terrifying force struck the ethereal barrier, spreading tiny cracks across the shield.
Two figures locked in a stalemate, and then Kronin saw the attacker's face clearly.
At the moment of eye contact, Kronin's mind went momentarily blank, confused about what he was actually facing.
Bologue wore a sinister mask, which began to slowly move, the seams of stitching slightly curving up, as if smiling at Kronin.
The eerie fog rushed forth, and within that fog Kronin heard the deep breaths of a monster, cold and ruthless green eyes flashing, as if Death God was examining his soul.
Bologue raised the sheep horn hammer again, striking heavily towards Kronin's head.
The brutal killing intent snapped Kronin back to reality, but it was too late. He now had no space to dodge, with only the falling iron hammer left in sight.
The ground beneath started to shake, roots rising and entwining around Kronin's waist, forcefully dragging him back.
Gold, observing the battlefield, rescued Kronin at this crucial moment.
"Stay alert! Kronin!"
Gold shouted as the Face of Horror took effect, he too was affected by the terrifying aura.
Kronin did not respond; his earlier anger vanished under the permeating fear. Kronin realized he wasn't facing a simple opponent. Even at a tier lower, there existed the potential for a counterkill.
Everyone, before becoming a Condenser, was taught this knowledge. Sometimes tiers don't determine everything; given the right timing and means, even a Prayer Believer of High Tier could fall to a Low Tier.
Regrettably, Kronin realized this too late.
The whistling wind approached, swirling flying knives swiftly cut through, severing the branches pulling at Kronin.
Kronin tried to adjust his stance, firmly landing on the ground. In front of him, Bologue charged forward, but this time Bologue's attack was again obstructed by Gold. Twisted thorns spread across the ground, entwining Bologue, slowing his advance.
Deceitful Snake Scale Liquid moved over the surface, gradually covering Bologue with sharp scale armor. Even a slight shift caused the sharp scales to effortlessly slice open the thorns.
It was only a matter of time before Bologue broke free, but this short moment was enough for Kronin, as he prepared to react. Suddenly, another strong ether shock hit him.
The roaring tide lifted the dust on the ground. In the chaotic view, a shadow enlarged rapidly, with her skillfully accelerating, leaping, and delivering a heavy elbow strike.
Kronin's just-stabilized steps were disrupted again. Aimou collided into him like a cannonball. Even with the protection of the ethereal barrier, under Bologue's intense strike, the barrier was filled with cracks.
Drawing two daggers, Kronin maintained his composure, realizing although he's intercepted Bologue, he was losing ground in the battle.
Upon Aimou getting close, she too flickered with an ethereal barrier, throwing consecutive straight punches at Kronin. As Kronin was about to retaliate, Aimou abruptly withdrew.
This was merely a feint; Aimou intended to delay. Now her goal was achieved as the knight in armor broke free from the thorns, swinging a heavy great sword toward Kronin.
Bologue's speed was rapid. For this strike, he poured all his strength and ether, stretching sword light several meters long, hitting Kronin like a raging thunder.
At the point of contact, the ethereal barrier shattered with a roar. Kronin crossed his daggers over his chest, attempting to block the strike, a piercing friction sound arose, accompanied by dazzling sparks. Kronin was knocked backwards, crashing through walls into the ruins.
"Scored one!"
Palmer, on the rooftop, cheered. Despite the joy, he felt a twinge of fear, surprised that in the dispute with Prayer Believers, they could actually gain the upper hand.
"Technically, I can handle one Prayer Believer, and together with Aimou, we can somewhat manage one, right?"
Recalling Bologue's peculiar calculations in his mind. "Look at this; we're in balance!"
After temporarily repelling Kronin, Bologue did not pause, smashing the ground, raising earthen walls to cover his figure. Gold refused to relent, the rampant branches instantly destroyed the cover, and then the heavy-armored Bologue leapt high, striking towards Gold.
This was not the first clash between Bologue and Gold. Roots filled with thorns were heading towards Bologue. Bologue didn't evade, relying on his iron armor, striking heavily down.
In an instant, the iron armor exploded like a fragmentation grenade, sharp fragments scattering, easily slicing through many branches. Even Gold had to avoid the sharpness, with roots covering his front, countless fragments embedded within.
Without the armor, Bologue continued forward, his figure agilely leaping between branches, closing in on Gold.
Gold sensed severe danger; he rarely allowed an enemy to get so close.
The ground trembled, with successive shakes. Rampant roots twisted, breaking underground pipes, creating an abundance of roots surrounding Gold, protecting him like a wooden cage.
Bologue swung his sword, cleaving through most of the wooden cage, nearly striking Gold. At this point, countless branches wrapped around Bologue, immobilizing him.
Gold sighed in relief, finally stopping this madman at the last moment. Then Gold noticed something seemed off.
Bologue's blue eyes revealed a golden halo. The light from the halo grew increasingly intense, seemingly an illusion, another visage overlapping with Bologue.
This was no illusion. Aimou disengaged the Shared Chord Body, breaking away from Bologue, leaping forward and swinging a heavy punch, precisely hitting Gold's face, smashing it into a bloody mess.
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