Chapter Two Hundred Thirty-Eight: The Sustainers of the World

Two surges of divine-level power collided with deafening force, like an oversized nuclear bomb exploding directly in the sky. Shockwaves and twisted fissures erupted from the center of the impact, transforming into a tide of destruction that surged outwards in all directions.

However, this seemingly flawed past world didn’t seem to harbor much life. Perhaps this area was always like this, or maybe it was just a simulated world created temporarily to accommodate the Taotie, and the earlier consumption by the Chaos Beast had already erased most objects within visible range. As such, the aftermath didn’t bring much substantial damage.

Yet if this battle, or rather, just this skirmish had erupted in the real world, even above an unpopulated area, the death toll would likely be counted in the hundreds of thousands.

The invisible distortions lingering in the air gradually faded until the residual waves completely dissipated. The black-haired girl, having blocked the Taotie’s strike, flapped her wings to disperse the murky air and assess the general condition of the barrier.

Although the Composite Barrier: Holy Shield was a combination skill, it hadn’t reached the level of a 10th tier spell. Its key advantage lay in its instant activation, unlike high-tier spells like Eternal Sanctuary Light, which required a formation process.

For coverage area and various special effects, it certainly couldn’t rival the latter. Still, when it came to point defense, it was nearly on par with Eternal Sanctuary Light.

Yet such a formidable defense was shattered by a single blow from the Taotie under Vilyric’s persistent support, breaking nearly half of it—an achievement that neither the Abyss Doomsday Cannon nor Sylvania’s Divine Sword had managed to accomplish.

In other words, the power of the Taotie’s simple spray was nearly equivalent to that of an actual forbidden spell.

This was utterly ridiculous…

Just as Vilyric was channeling her surging magic to face this formidable foe birthed from Destruction, a will heavier than a mountain suddenly emanated from that towering figure.

“Radiant Spirit, why have you appeared here?”

“Huh?”

Miss Priestess blinked in surprise, the golden light pulsing from her staff briefly pausing, as she realized this was the Taotie attempting to converse with her.

Though an embodiment of destruction, since even those pseudo-god-level great demons possessed wisdom equal to that of genuine humans, it was safe to say that this Chaos Beast had surpassed true divine status.

However, Vilyric truly didn’t expect the Taotie to engage her in dialogue. She had initially thought it was something akin to the “Chaotic Storm” from the demon realm, ready to strike without a word…

After a moment’s thought, she decided to channel her will into her spiritual points, spreading it outward.

But Vilyric had no intention of complying with the other’s topic and would not honestly respond.

“Then what about you? Why have you appeared here?”

“I, huh…”

It seemed that the acknowledgement of her strength after receiving that blow prompted the colossal beast to actually halt its actions momentarily, seemingly pondering how to respond.

In that instant, quick-witted Miss Vilyric had already conjured up seven or eight varied responses in her mind, including but not limited to “I am the embodiment of destruction!” and “I come to cleanse this chaotic world!” among other nonsensical thoughts.

However, the Taotie’s next reply completely overturned her ridiculous or serious guesses.

“If a title must be given, you may call me ‘Sustainer,’ one of the world’s sustainers, designated as number seven.”

“… Huh?”

So taken aback was Vilyric that she temporarily forgot to convey the information using her spiritual points, instinctively exclaiming in shock before hurriedly pressing for more information.

“What does ‘world sustainer’ mean? Are you not a creation of ‘destruction’?”

“Destruction… Hmm.”

The Taotie’s enormous form trembled slightly, seemingly affirming the Priestess’s claim. Its upper body, almost inhuman, loomed over the girl, who appeared as small and insignificant as a bug to it, heavy and still as a mountain.

“From certain perspectives, this statement isn’t wrong. So, you have come before me to save those pests that ought to be exterminated, correct?”

Hearing that the other party had no intention of further explaining or engaging in deep conversation, the black-haired girl frowned.

“My name is Vilyric, a traveler from another world. To be honest, you seem to possess more reason and logic than I anticipated. If there’s some complex reason behind the rampaging demons, perhaps we could…”

“There is no possibility for negotiation. This world must be purified.”

“What?”

The Taotie looked down at the ground beneath it, its human-like, profound eyes devoid of any emotion.

“You carry… a scent that reminds me of something, but the mission of the Sustainer must be fulfilled. Depart from this place, or be destroyed.”

“… Why?”

Vilyric wanted to continue the dialogue, but the Chaos Beast seemed to have already drawn conclusions from her attitude, or perhaps had simply lost the little patience it had. It raised an arm and suddenly clenched its fist!

*Crack crack crack crack crack crack crack crack!!!*

The very fabric of reality seemed to collapse under its power, the space morphing into a bizarre spongy substance as it wrapped around the area where the black-haired girl stood, layering upon layering, and before she could react, her figure vanished into that distorted chaos.

“…”

Gazing deeply at the area enveloped in chaos, the Taotie made no further delay and set off with a resounding roar of the earth as it moved away.

However, it hadn’t gotten far…

“Poof… poof psh psh psh psh psh psh…!!”

Countless brilliant pure lights erupted from the chaos like a geyser, resembling a golden hedgehog with its quills spread wide, suddenly exploding!

“Let there be light.”

The golden Radiant Spirit gathered in response to the call.

Behind her, six colossal wings, similar to the girl’s yet magnified a hundredfold, unfurled like a curtain. The Holy Lance swept across the chaos that had just been forcibly cleaved, its body forged from light resembling a work of art crafted by the hands of a god. Even the feathers of destruction falling from the sky vanished in an instant upon contact.

That was the power of light, the purest light in the world.

“I see… The Spiritual Fox Priestess developed this Abyss by analyzing the powers of the Chaos Beast. Now this really is turning the tables on them.”

The black-haired girl mused as the Radiant Spirit behind her swelled in response, seemingly growing taller endlessly, eventually standing against the towering Chaos Beast in a striking standoff!

She pointed her staff forward, and the now towering Spirit imitated the motion, raising the Holy Lance toward the returning Taotie.

“Very well, since there’s no will for continued dialogue, let’s settle this with action. Be it Sustainers or Chaos Beasts, regardless of your intentions, your past deeds will not change; demons bring destruction to the world, and Taotie, you too.”

In the silence of the giant beast, she closed her silver-blue eyes, and ten rings of light emanated from her.

When she opened her eyes again, the radiant golden pupils held neither hesitation nor emotion, as if she were a true god gazing down upon the world. The state known as “Destruction Mode” had granted her a battle level that matched her rank—this was Vilyric’s full commitment.

She raised her staff high, summoning the light from above.

“I say, the guilty shall face the wrath of heaven.”

   

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