Chapter 89: The Butterfly Reappears
Cedric stood in front of Lance, his fists clenched. Facing a Saint Tier Expert, he dared not hold back at all, launching every strike directly at Lance’s vital points, while behind him, Edwin and Saya provided magical support.
However, the disdainful expression on Lance’s face never faded. Such an extent of attack was not enough to draw his attention. He simply gathered his Battle Qi slightly, waved his hand gently, and effortlessly deflected those attacks.
As a Sword Saint, he didn’t even want to draw his sword at this moment.
“Is the Leader of the Scarlet Wing only this level?” Lance scoffed: “Cedric, I think you’ve spent too long in your office that you’ve forgotten all your combat skills.”
The next moment.
“Boom.”
Lance’s furious Saint Tier Battle Qi surged, and a terrifying aura accompanied by a violent wind instantly swept across the entire street.
Cedric widened his eyes and quickly retreated; such a level of wind pressure would leave him gravely injured or dead if it hit him.
“Hahaha, are you afraid now?” Lance laughed loudly: “I said Cedric, why not just give up? If you can bring your A-rank adventuring party before me in one piece, I might be a bit afraid, but as for these weak ones behind you, I think we’d better forget about it.”
“How about we take a step back? You let me go, and I won’t hold you accountable for today’s disrespectful behavior. What do you say?”
“Dream on?” Cedric sneered: “Lance, I’ll advise you not to underestimate people too much; otherwise, you could end up capsizing in the gutter.”
“Ha! You lot? Do you even qualify?” Lance laughed dismissively.
“Heh, fool.” Cedric twisted his wrist and adjusted the armguard, his gaze cold: “You’ll know soon enough whether we qualify or not.”
“Edwin, Saya.”
“Yes.”
Edwin and Saya stepped forward through the crowd of mages and holy mages.
“All mages, pay attention.”
“All holy practitioners, pay attention.”
“Hexagram Sealing Array.”
“Angel Binding Spirit Array.”
In an instant, two massive magic formations rose from beneath Lance’s feet, the tremendous pressure weighing down on his shoulders like a mountain.
“Boom!”
The ground beneath Lance’s feet instantly shattered. His carefree expression finally changed at this moment.
These two gigantic cooperative magic formations combined the mana and holy power of hundreds of mages; even he would find it somewhat strenuous to endure them head-on.
Seeing this, Cedric rushed towards Lance once again.
“Hmph, seeking death.” Lance took a deep breath, waved his hand, and unleashed another powerful wind pressure directly at Cedric.
But this time, Cedric showed no intention of dodging.
“Whoosh!”
A purple arrow charged through the sky, carrying immense magical power, instantly tearing through the wind pressure before heading straight for Lance’s forehead.
Lance’s pupils dilated as he suddenly turned, but due to the pressure from the two large cooperative magic formations, his movements were far too slow.
“Boom!”
The arrowhead collided violently with Lance’s Battle Qi shield, sparks flying as the shield showed signs of shattering.
Lance squinted, his inner Battle Qi erupting once more, and a strong surge of energy instantly shattered the entire arrow, neutralizing Ischer’s attack.
But in the next moment, Cedric’s attack arrived.
【Fourfold Acceleration】【Body Armor】【Muscle Hardening】【Flame Incineration】【Crimson Flame Whirlwind Leg】
“Boom!”
A fierce flame blazed on Cedric’s right leg, and with a graceful spin, his sturdy right leg swept through the air, striking down hard on the same point where Ischer’s attack came from.
“Crack.”
Under Lance’s astonished gaze, the Battle Qi barrier shattered.
【Crimson Flame Whirlwind Leg】 had completely hit…
Cedric thought so.
Colorless mana surged, and an ancient, worn-out longsword suddenly appeared, firmly blocking Cedric’s attack.
“Whoa! That was close.” Lance snickered: “Too bad, just a little bit more would’ve turned things around.”
The next moment, an epic weapon, the Spirit Sword, Seven Star Slash, was drawn.
“Boom!”
A terrifying aura, like that of a hellish demon, descended instantly.
Cedric was startled and immediately pulled back his leg, wanting to retreat.
However.
“Oh, since you’re already here, don’t be in such a hurry to leave; play with me a bit longer.”
A strange light flickered on Seven Star Slash, and a powerful allure suddenly appeared, pulling Cedric slowly towards Lance’s sword.
Lance’s face turned grim as he held his sword with one hand: “Cedric, today, I’m going to make you understand just how great the difference is between a Saint Tier and a quasi-Saint Tier.”
【Seven Star Slash】
Like a flash of lightning, Cedric didn’t even see Lance’s sword swing, but he was struck.
The metal armors on his limbs shattered instantly, and a massive wound was already slashed across the mithril breastplate.
“Poof!”
Cedric coughed up a large mouthful of blood, staring in shock at Lance: “How is this possible… with the combined power of hundreds, why can your sword be so fast?”
Lance grinned: “Because I’m awesome.”
The next moment, Lance took a deep breath and swung the second sword.
【Void Slash】
“Ah!”
Three monstrous screams rang out as Edwin, Saya, and Ischer didn’t even get the chance to react before they were hit by Lance’s long-distance strike.
Fortunately, Lance wasn’t intending to take their lives; he simply took away their remaining strength to resist before stopping.
However, without the formation’s leader, the Hexagram Sealing Array and the Angel Binding Spirit Array instantly collapsed.
The other mages participating in the formations also suffered backlash at the same time, crashing to the ground and unable to rise again.
Lance looked at the crowd now in disarray and coldly laughed: “Cedric, it seems the defensive power of your Karashok isn’t all that impressive. A few hundred people and you still can’t handle one.”
Saying this, Lance smiled lightly, then sheathed the Seven Star Slash, patting Cedric’s shoulder, and smiling: “Ah, well, Cedric. Since today has already happened, as the defeated side, shouldn’t you give me some compensation?”
“What nonsense are you spouting?” Cedric’s eyes widened: “With a freak like you, I’d be reasonably polite not to lock you away for ten or eight years, and you still want compensation?”
“Come on, don’t be so hasty to refuse, Cedric. Just listen to the pros and cons before you decide,” Lance said hypocritically: “Although my reputation isn’t great, I’m still registered as a Saint Tier Expert in the Sacred Domain and have made outstanding contributions to the human realm during my expedition to the Netherrealm.”
“And you, a mere town mayor, dare to recklessly charge at me. If I impose some punishment, I doubt anyone could say anything about it.”
“You… What do you want?” Cedric’s face looked extremely grim.
“Very simple, just give me the spot in the Netherrealm Expeditionary Force.” Lance said gently: “That half-demon named Lilith can never be a match for my daughter; that spot will eventually belong to her. No need for a complicated duel; just give me the spot, and I won’t pursue today’s matter any further.”
“You’re dreaming!” Cedric gritted his teeth: “Even if you killed me, I wouldn’t give you that spot.”
“Oh dear, there’s no need to get so worked up, Cedric.” Lance chuckled: “Of course, I wouldn’t dare kill you in public; you are, after all, a Guildmaster of the Adventurer’s Guild. If I killed you right here, I’d likely spend the rest of my life being hunted by the guild or rotting away in the Sacred Domain’s jail.”
“But why should I kill you? Isn’t it better to sever your limbs and turn you into a useless waste?” Lance’s tone darkened, a sinister smile appearing: “Believe me, as long as you’re not dead, those above you won’t do anything against me.”
“You!” Cedric’s eyes flared with rage, wanting nothing more than to tear the little man before him apart.
Lance, however, merely smiled faintly, rising slowly and standing proudly before Cedric as the victor.
The Seven Star Slash was drawn once more, and Lance pointed the cold blade at Cedric.
“Now, Cedric, I’ll say this once: do you want the spot or your limbs? I’ll count to three, and if you don’t agree, I’ll just turn you into a stick.”
“Three.”
Lance’s cold voice suddenly echoed.
The onlookers, of course, wouldn’t sit back; they rushed forward, wanting to stop Lance, but were swiftly blown away by his holy Battle Qi.
“Two.”
The Seven Star Slash in Lance’s hand shone brightly, an overwhelming sword aura bearing down on Cedric’s shoulder, yet Cedric showed no signs of yielding.
He knew that if he softened here, he might save his limbs, but that would mean losing his dignity and living forever in regret and guilt.
“Not bad, you’re a tough guy.” Lance said coldly, “Unfortunately, without strength, dignity is just empty talk.”
“One.”
With no compassion, the blade came down.
Cedric did not close his eyes; he glared at Lance with clarity in his gaze.
What he was doing was just; even in defeat, he would have no regrets.
The blade of the Seven Star Slash emitted a faint glow, carving a beautiful arc through the air as it headed towards Cedric’s limbs.
And at that moment.
“Clang!”
A sharp sound suddenly rang out—not the sound of a blade slicing flesh, but rather the noise of a hard blade striking something even harder.
Everyone present gasped, taken aback by the scene before them.
A pitch-black butterfly flapped its enchanting wings, gracefully dancing in the air, using its antennae, as thin as a strand of hair, to block Lance’s sword.
