"A spirit?!" Jaymi and Lou Yi exclaimed in astonishment upon seeing the diminutive creature hovering next to Red Mist.
Red Mist's smile widened, and her energy continued to surge. She raised her hand slowly, speaking with determination, "You two are far from ordinary experts. I could sense it after just one punch, so I won't hold back any longer. You're most likely the group that's secretly thwarting our plans."
With swift movements, Red Mist advanced, her body ablaze with intense flames.
Swoosh!!
Jaymi and Lou Yi leaped away, well aware of the danger of engaging this formidable opponent up close without adequate preparation. They had never anticipated encountering a Spirit User and were taken aback.
"Why don't you spill the beans?" Red Mist's voice resonated through the inferno.
In the blink of an eye, the entire vicinity within the Darkna Clan's barrier was engulfed in raging flames, causing Jaymi and Lou Yi to feel as though the air had been sucked from their lungs. They retreated, wisely avoiding a direct confrontation with Red Mist.
"I'm going to make a move," Lou Yi informed her comrade.
"Alright, I've got your back," Jaymi replied.
Jaymi and Lou Yi were confident that they could take on most experts. Both were among the strongest within the top tier of SSS-rank. However, facing Red Mist, with her formidable spirit, was an entirely different matter.
Lou Yi inhaled deeply and sprinted through the flames, feeling the scorching sensation on her skin.
Swoosh!!
She extended her hand, summoning a gleaming dark blue sword. An intense white and yellow radiance enveloped her, her energy reaching its peak.
[Triple Element Drive: Light, Ice, and Earth Integration]!!
Lou Yi unleashed her full might, cleaving through the sea of flames with a single swing of her sword. She focused her energy at the sword's tip and thrust it towards Red Mist.
[Divine Thrust of the Three Elements]!!
Swoosh!!
Red Mist was taken aback. She hadn't anticipated that her opponent possessed three elemental affinities, and what was even more astonishing was that all three elements had reached the Integration Stage. It was truly remarkable.
"As expected, you're not ordinary..."
Red Mist's smile broadened. She clenched her fist, summoning a concentrated swirl of flames around it, then unleashed a mighty punch.
[Scorching Earth Blast]!!
Bang!!
Her fist met Lou Yi's sword, resulting in a powerful collision that reverberated through the entire area. Even the formidable barrier protecting the Darkna Clan flickered for a moment.
Boom!!
In the basement, Eldian Ruberd slightly turned his head, sensing the intense battle unfolding above. His expression was somber, and he could feel the overwhelming energy fluctuations.
The aftershocks of the battle continued to shake the entire mansion. Fortunately, this place was fortified with numerous runes, making it resilient to damage. It was a legacy of the Isolated Formation God, crafted for the protection of the Five Master Clans, and not something an ordinary mortal could easily destroy.
"Spirit Energy...? A Spirit User?!" Eldian was taken aback. Feeling spirit energy in this place was entirely unexpected. Spirit Users were exceptionally rare, and throughout his lifetime, he had only encountered five. The individual currently engaged in battle above marked the sixth.
"Lou Yi and Jaymi won't be easily defeated," he mused. "Even if their opponent is a Spirit User, they are more than capable of holding their own. Grim and the others have successfully completed their mission in Hall Plains, so we must succeed in this endeavor as well. It holds great significance."
Eldian took a deep breath to steady himself, focusing his attention on the task at hand. He raised his hand, and a dark orb floated above it. The core of the Darkna Clan.
"This is promising, but it's not what we require," he concluded with a determined nod.
A few moments later, he stumbled upon something of profound significance.
"This...?" His eyes widened in shock, momentarily forgetting about the life-and-death battle raging above.
"The information is incomplete, but it's a monumental discovery..." he murmured, drawing a deep breath. He reached into his pocket and retrieved a golden cube, painstakingly transferring the information. Various images and revelations unfolded before him.
"So, the Isolated Formation God predates the dawn of the gods. He ranks among the oldest deities in the current era. But what does this mean? 'Imperium was sleeping'? He also made reference to the incident in the Hall Plains, likening it to a situation in the Grand Desolate Island of the Mars Archipelago."
Eldian wore a pensive expression, furrowing his brow as he contemplated these mysteries.
"Grand Desolate Island... We must share this information with our allies on that continent."
The incident on the Grand Desolate Island transpired around fifteen thousand years ago. The Isolated Formation God couldn't ascertain the precise details because the barrier at the time had been impenetrable, rendering the continent inaccessible.
This event was known as the Fall of the Doomsday.
Eldian continued to organize the information.
"The description of that incident bears striking similarities to the one in the Hall Plains when No God Emperor went on his rampage... Huh?"
Suddenly, he came to an abrupt halt, double-checking the information to ensure he wasn't misinterpreting it.
"Wait a moment! The Isolated Formation God personally knew the Deadly Sins and had an agreement with the Ruler of Pride before he entered his slumber. According to this information, the Ruler of Pride should remain dormant for another fifteen thousand years as per their agreement. So, who is the Ruler of Pride that has been emerging in the last hundred years? A clone, perhaps?"
The Isolated Formation God and the Ruler of Pride had formed an agreement eons ago. According to this pact, the Ruler of Pride was meant to remain dormant until the current era, and would awaken at that time. However, it was revealed that Isolated Formation God had broken the agreement due to the events in the Hall Plains, which had sent shockwaves throughout the world.
"No, this information is insufficient... I need to locate the others," Eldian murmured to himself. He believed that by collecting information from all the Five Master Clans, he might uncover a grand conspiracy.
Suddenly, Eldian was overcome by a burning sensation. He let out a pained groan and observed a black tattoo materialize on his wrist.
The tattoo emitted a peculiar, indescribable aura that gave him an uneasy feeling.
"W-What is this?!" Eldian attempted to cut or remove it, but the tattoo simply reappeared on other parts of his body. It seemed impossible to get rid of it.
On the surface, Jaymi and Lou Yi remained locked in battle with Red Mist, their clash causing the surrounding landscape to deteriorate.
Red Mist, seemingly undisturbed, brought up an intriguing observation, her spirit hovering beside her. "Isn't it strange, Selnes Country?" she remarked with a smile. "Many have sought the secrets uncovered by their fallen god, yet no one has taken the initiative. It's as if someone has been preventing them. I wonder why?"
Lou Yi bore a solemn expression. Having faced Red Mist head-on, she understood that Red Mist was among the most powerful SSS-rank.
With a deep breath, Lou Yi concentrated the three elements into her blade.
Red Mist's smile widened as she noticed their strategy. She first glanced at Lou Yi, then Jaymi, and the grin on her face grew as she deduced, "Oh, I see. You're not trying to defeat me, but to keep me occupied. In other words, there's another one of you."
Lou Yi and Jaymi exchanged knowing glances, realizing that Red Mist had seen through their intentions.
"Hahaha, it appears my assumption is accurate!" Red Mist laughed triumphantly.
"Hey, quit playing around, I thought you were going to finish this!" Fiamma, floating beside Red Mist, protested.
"Alright, alright, I'll end this," Red Mist said, responding to her spirit's complaints. She then turned her attention back to her two opponents. Her aura surged, growing even more formidable.
[Element Drive: Fire Integration]!!
The ground and surrounding objects were consumed by the flames, leaving nothing in their wake. The intensity of the blaze disheartened Lou Yi and Jaymi, compelling them to consider escape. Objects that fell victim to the fire were reduced to nothingness, not a trace of dust remaining.
Beside Lou Yi, Jaymi activated her [Element Drive] as well. Wind and lightning enveloped her, serving as a protective barrier against the engulfing flames.
Jaymi and Lou Yi exchanged worried glances as they contemplated their situation.
"I agree, Jaymi, she's far more formidable than we anticipated," Lou Yi conceded, her expression growing even graver.
"What is Eldian doing? How much longer will he stay in that basement?" Jaymi voiced her frustration.
"I don't have the answers. All we can do is face her head-on," Lou Yi responded.
Meanwhile, Red Mist advanced deliberately, her gaze locked onto the two warriors. She cracked her neck, exhaled, and assumed a ready posture.
"Fiamma, I'm counting on you," Red Mist informed her spirit.
"I know my role. Just give them a beating!" Fiamma affirmed.
Red Mist's smile persisted as she nodded, and in the blink of an eye, she was right before Jaymi and Lou Yi. She focused a considerable quantity of flames in her palm, forging a substantial sword.
In the next moment, she swung the flaming sword towards the two fighters.
[Holy Flame Assault]!!