Chapter 353: The Variable (Part 17)

  Just a faint, shadowy figure, Gru's charging form no longer possessed the immense, majestic aura it once held with every gesture. Facing the magic unleashed by the priests, he still didn't dodge or evade. But instead of forcefully shattering and scattering them, his charging figure paused for a moment, then accelerated again, and all the spells automatically disintegrated and dissipated before they could touch his body.

  A High Priest didn't cast a spell, but drew a longsword from his waist and charged forward with a roar, his voice hoarse and savage, like a cornered beast. Gru didn't even pay him any mind, merely accelerating slightly as he brushed past him. The High Priest was sent flying like a fragile paper doll caught in a gale, and before he even hit the ground, his body and the sword in his hand shattered into dozens of pieces.

  Although he seemed less ferocious than before, Gru was indeed stronger, so much so that he had truly transcended the concept of 'human'. One could no longer even sense any killing intent from him.

  The massive white sword of light came bearing down. The air near the blade was constantly compressing and shattering with crackling sounds. All the swordsmen who saw this strike were stunned. No matter how long they had wielded a sword or practiced swordsmanship, they all felt as if they were truly understanding what a sword was for the first time in their lives. This single strike seemed capable of cleaving the very sky, even The Radiant Citadel itself.

  The Holy Light Cross Sword, condensed with the Paladin's full strength, was dozens of meters long, just like the Decapitating Greatsword once held by the Archangel, and even its oppressive aura was similar. Under this massive weapon, his (Gru's) Battle Qi and aura simply charged straight towards the blurry silhouette at the center of the sword of light.

  With a loud clang, the white sword of light shattered. That sword of light was not a physical entity, but it was absolutely far more indestructible than any physical weapon. One could even say that not even a Forbidden Spell could possess a sword energy stronger than this mixture of Battle Qi, magic, and martial skill. But now, this sword of light had shattered, and Gru finally came to a stop.

  Lancelot's fingers were together like a sword, which was the core of the Holy Light Cross Sword. His fingers had pierced Gru's palm. Blood was slowly dripping down Gru's arm. This strike had finally managed to injure him.

  But it was just an injury, and by no means a serious one. Lancelot's own body was already covered in blood. The power of this strike had exceeded the limits his body could bear; the sword energy had first wounded him from within.

  Gru's other hand was now on Lancelot's shoulder. Under this hand, anyone's body would be like mud. But this hand merely supported Lancelot, preventing him from falling. Blood was seeping out from all the pores on Lancelot's body. This strike failed to wound the enemy, but wounded himself first. His body and strength, already not in perfect condition, had been forced to exert one hundred and twenty percent of its power. This time, his sword energy had truly burst forth from within his body.

  Lancelot's face was also covered in blood. His face, once full of resoluteness, determination, and bravery, was now irrepressibly covered in exhaustion. This Paladin, the strongest warrior on the continent, was now on the verge of fainting from exhaustion.

  It was not just physical exhaustion, but mental as well. Only he himself understood what it meant that this strike, which had poured in all his strength and life, had only achieved this effect.

  Gru glanced at his injured hand, then looked at Lancelot. His gaze was strange. At this moment, there was actually no joy of victory, not even the fighting spirit that should have been there. Instead, there was a deep sense of loneliness.

  "From now on, where am I to find an opponent?"

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  Gru gently released Lancelot, and the exhausted Paladin slumped to the ground. Then he turned his head to look at Adela.

  Talise, who was nearby, suddenly shouted and charged towards Gru with her sword raised. Before, she had been completely captivated by the auras of Lancelot and Gru, standing there dazed and motionless. Only now did she react.

  Gru didn't even glance at her, just waiting for her to charge over. And she herself was very clear what the result of such a charge would be. Her shout, like that of the priest just now, had no trace of fighting spirit or aura, like a lamb facing a fierce tiger. The sound was no longer a show of defiance, but a hysterical, unconscious roar on the verge of death. It was just an instinctive struggle born of fear.

  But she did not reach Gru's side. A figure beside her rushed forward and knocked her aside. Pinning her to the ground and twisting her wrist, the figure completely subdued her in an instant. Struggling like a madman for a moment, Talise suddenly let out a long sigh, then went completely limp. Looking at Ethan, who was pinning her down, she said, "Kill me."

  Her voice was filled with the powerlessness that comes after despair, but more than that, there was a strange sense of relief. She only glanced at Ethan once before turning her head away, refusing to look at him again.

  Ethan sighed softly, released her, and stood up. Just from her voice and gaze, he knew she no longer had the strength to do anything.

  At this moment, the swordsmen around the square finally snapped out of their daze and charged towards this spot, even ignoring the orcs who were right beside them.

  "Everyone, don't move."

  A voice shouted. The voice wasn't very powerful, but it contained a natural authority, the kind of intimidating presence that cannot be deliberately imitated, one that only a true leader can possess over others. Even in this situation, it made the swordsmen subconsciously halt their steps. Then they immediately sobered up and realized that rushing forward now would be pointless.

  It was Adela who had shouted. He had not fled, nor had he attacked recklessly. He was the only one among all who, upon seeing Gru, was not completely overwhelmed by his aura and presence.

  Gru also raised a hand, and all the orcs stopped. He didn't even have to speak; the consciousness of all the orcs was invisibly and completely controlled by him.

  "What on earth are you?" Adela murmured, looking at Gru.

  "And what are you? This is not your body." Gru also looked at Adela. His dark pupils were no longer the black abyss that could devour everything, but a calm sea. Vast, boundless, and immense, with faint, shimmering lights dancing on its surface.

  "I am the current Pope, Gervin Magnus." Adela replied. He no longer bothered to hide it; against such an opponent, any disguise was meaningless. "The first thing I must tell you is that Sedros's death has nothing to do with The Radiant Citadel. It was Agrael who did it. If you want to avenge Sedros, please go to her. That kid over there knows her whereabouts."

  "Oh?" Gru glanced at Ethan. But the surprise in his eyes flashed by for a moment without any major reaction, and he continued to look at Adela. "But those are matters for the future."

  "I understand. I will go with you and guarantee that these orcs can return safely to the Barbarian Highlands."

  "Not just that... I also want the ring on your hand." Gru pointed to the Ring of Kings on Adela's hand.

  Adela hesitated for a moment, then replied, "This is a treasure passed down from the previous Pope. And... this item has exhausted its power. It no longer poses a threat to any of you. You should be able to see that."

  "I know. I can see that. But I still want it," Gru said flatly.

  "Alright, I understand." Adela sighed softly and removed the Ring of Kings from his hand.

  In the Grand Hall of Light, around the square, there were thousands of orcs and humans combined. But now, none of these thousands of people could move, or dared to move. Everyone was completely subdued by the aura of that one person.

  "And there's one more thing..." Gru's gaze fell on the Grand Hall of Light behind Adela. His gaze suddenly sharpened, as if he could see something inside through the outer walls of the hall. "What's in there?"

  Adela was taken aback. "In there..."

  Gru's gaze had not moved since he looked in that direction. His eyes grew brighter, yet with a somewhat dazed look. His brows furrowed. It seemed as if he was looking, thinking, and remembering at the same time, trying to grasp something vague and hazy from the depths of his mind. Then his body suddenly trembled, and he turned to look in another direction. This time, his gaze was purely sharp, fierce, and intense, like two swords that had merged into the air itself.

  "Who?" Adela reacted at the same time, also looking in the direction Gru was looking. It wasn't just the two of them; Ethan and Lancelot also looked in that direction at the same time.

  Among a group of swordsmen and priests closest to here, a figure in a gray robe was waving his hands and muttering indistinct words. Although everyone here at the Grand Hall of Light was watching him, none could tell who he was. Although his back was to the Grand Hall of Light, he was facing the many swordsmen and priests in front of the square, looking as if he were giving a speech to them.

  But the voice was definitely not that of a speech; it was the sound of deliberately suppressed spell chanting. The person's hands were waving faster and faster, becoming a blur. As strange and eerie magical fluctuations began to emanate from him, everyone could see that this person was preparing a vast and complex spell. However, no one could tell what kind of spell it was, nor did anyone understand why this person was preparing it in this place in such a manner.

  The larger the spell, the longer the preparation time, and the easier it is to be interrupted. And the greater the backlash from being interrupted, which can be almost fatal. Preparing a spell in such an environment and sensitive atmosphere seemed no different from courting death.

  The swordsmen and priests facing this person watched him. Although there was confusion on their faces, there was not much suspicion or alarm. Without a doubt, they all knew this person, they just didn't understand what he was doing.