Chapter 193: The Shattered Covenant

Above Demon Town.

Aileen, a girl with short gray hair dressed in a simple skirt, floated expressionlessly among the clouds, gazing into the distance at the ever-expanding fiery red fissure devouring the sky, lost in thought.

“Boom!!!”

A new crack ignited in the sky, yet no fireballs erupted from it; only a colossal shadow of a giant began to materialize above the fissure.

【You have done well. The collapse of the幻界 is weakening the cage imprisoning me, and soon, the two worlds will merge, and the God of Blazing Flame will return to the world… But why did you, a mere lackey, come to greet my esteemed self? Where is Sylvester?】

The booming sound reverberated through the sky like thunder; had it been an ordinary being, they would have likely been reduced to a charred fireball by the explosive sheer force of the voice, but the girl maintained a calm expression as she met the fiery shadow’s gaze.

“Syl is busy with her own matters. Don’t act like we are your subordinates; it’s merely a cooperative relationship.”

“Moreover… You couldn’t even guard an entrance against an intruder, allowing them to invade and preventing us from achieving thorough integration with the divine power of the魔神. That seems somewhat different from what you originally promised, doesn’t it? Honorable avatar of flame, the Lord of Blazing Flame… Frim, how do you intend to compensate us for such a huge loss?”

【Human, are you mocking me?!】

Frim’s voice instantly grew furious, the already terrifying temperature around soaring even higher, transforming into an almost tangible wave of surging flames that enveloped Aileen!

However, the crimson flames swiftly morphed into pitch-black phantoms, swirling around Aileen without harming her, like a long waterfall stained with ink. Aileen’s appearance underwent a dramatic transformation.

Her plain gray hair began to grow and extend backward, her previously rough skin smoothed out and became fair, as a manifestation of magical power replaced her simple clothing with a fitted and ornate battle skirt.

Then, a long sword, entirely black and like a deep starry sea, fell into her grasp, ancient and mysterious magical runes appearing on her forehead. With significant momentum and tone equal to that of Frim’s phantom, she swung her sword, tearing through the fiery sky and slowly said:

“Human? I have never been human—wasn’t, am not, and will not be. Frim, I’m just curious: how is it that a high deity, second only to the supreme god, is utterly helpless against a mere priestess? Isn’t that a bit demeaning?”

Aileen’s lips curled into a slight smile.

“Can this little girl then understand that you are intentionally putting up obstacles to prevent me and Syl from obtaining the complete powers of the魔神, or rather… is the council member of the Dusk Assembly only this half-baked?”

【……】

Suddenly, Frim shifted from his previous rage, and his phantom emitted a true sense of danger.

【You wish to betray?】

“You’re wrongly accusing us. It’s just that, since we haven’t received the promised compensation, there’s naturally nothing to talk about regarding the agreement, right?”

【I see, so this was your plan all along? Despicable and cunning insects… You don’t think having gained some magic power allows you to challenge me, do you? If you truly wish for death, I won’t mind turning you to ash first before recreating my blazing world!】

At this, Aileen could not help but smile slightly.

“I certainly wouldn’t be so arrogant as to think that the incomplete and dispersed divine powers would allow me to go against a high deity. But Lord Frim… your power also doesn’t seem that complete, does it?”

“Not to mention that the魔神’s suppression still exists, such a narrow world passage cannot accommodate a god of your stature’s complete descent. I’m curious, how much power can you harness in this world?”

The colossal shadow finally began to tremble violently with agitation.

【The inheritor of the魔神, are you truly determined to turn on me? Think it over; this will bring no good to you!】

“Oh? I thought I was just a lackey or a lowly human? Your position shift is quite flexible, isn’t it, Lord Frim?”

At this point, the girl wielding the magic sword glanced at the ever-expanding fissure in the sky with a smirk.

“It seems you’re quite eager to come out from over there. Is this material world too alluring for you? But, Lord Frim, have you not considered why the Vale of Magic has remained silent, and those in the Gale and Frozen Prison have yet to make a move?”

The fiery god’s shadow slightly stiffened as he spoke in a low voice.

【What do you mean by that?】

“What I mean should be quite clear to you, Lord Frim. Why bother with questions? Well, enough of that; it’s time to get down to business.”

Without hesitation, the girl raised the black sword brimming with infinite magical power and slashed fiercely at the fissure through which the fiery giant’s shadow seeped!

【You seek death!】

With a roar that surged like thunder, a tremendous red flame erupted in the sky, and Frim’s towering phantom abruptly shrunk, transforming into an intense column of fire, clashing head-on with Aileen’s sword light!

“Zizzizizi…….”

The residual heat and magic energy scattered in all directions, with neither side gaining the upper hand, while the center of the clash bristled with massive spatial fractures. However, as more flames surged from the fissure, the black sword light was slowly pushed back, beginning to fall into a disadvantageous position.

Noticing the shift in momentum, Aileen’s brows furrowed slightly as she murmured under her breath.

“Tsk… No wonder he’s a formidable enemy even the魔神 needs to personally confront. The Lord of Blazing Flame Frim… Damn man, this can’t go on.”

“Boom!”

Black light erupted around the girl, her long hair billowing like a cascading waterfall, and the magic sword in her hand shone brilliantly in an instant!

“Magic Power Burst! Slash!”

Another black sword light shot forth, merging with the same sword light that was gradually losing against the blazing flames. The combined strike finally overwhelmed the God of Blazing Flame’s defenses, breaking through the fire pillar and heavily landing on the enormous fissure that kept opening.

“Ziz……ZZZZ……Boom!!!!!!!”

Red electric light flowed, and the passage exploded dramatically, Frim’s furious, thunderous roar echoed across the sky.

【Ahh! Damn woman! Damn Sylvester!!! Don’t think this will stop me! Just wait, once I break free, I will turn you to dust and ashes!!!!】

The fissure was obliterated in the explosion, and the phantom of the God of Blazing Flame finally vanished at the horizon’s end.

“Cough, cough, cough… What a fool, no wonder he’s been locked up by the魔神 for thousands of years…”

Covering her mouth and severely coughing a few times, Aileen couldn’t help but sound mockingly, though her complexion turned slightly pale.

“The burden of divine power is indeed terrifying; even with Syl and I sharing the load, it’s already so quick… cough, cough… No, I must hurry; I need to…”

“Hurry… how?”

A light and melodious voice crossed her ears, and a handsome young man dressed in simple clothing, with an ethereal demeanor but a hint of weariness in his clear eyes, suddenly appeared against the burning sky.

He stood with his hands behind his back, quietly observing Aileen, his expression a mix of regret and resignation.

Seeing this person, Aileen’s eyes finally showed an unexpected depth of shock.

“You… Gatekeeper… how did you end up here?!”

   

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