NOVPUBJuliana had originally considered it mere superstition.
She never expected Loren to actually come here to save her.
Juliana’s eyes widened in shock, she couldn’t believe the figure descending from the sky.
Loren’s profile was drawn in sharp black-and-white contrast, his brown hair whipped around by the wind like surging dark clouds, a time of absolute power as he gazed down upon the earth.
"Loren? How are you here?"
Juliana’s voice trembled with weakness and excitement.
"Juliana, take the students and run to Yarolan. Don’t look back."
Loren quickly pushed her aside and escorted her towards Yarolan Kingdom to the west with Wind Magic, his voice carried to her by the wind.
As Juliana, who had turned into a stormy meteor across the sky, looked back with a complicated expression, a tinge of struggle and reluctance flashed in her eyes.
But she understood now was not the time to be emotional. She had faith in Loren’s strength.
Currently injured, she might fall prey to Gaiat’s Illusions at any moment, becoming a liability that could hinder Loren’s ability to fight.
Moreover, as Yarolan Kingdom’s guardian and one of its Powerful Ones, she had to reach the safety of Yarolan’s Barrier as quickly as possible to maximize her strategic value. The Royal Capital could not be left without her, or else Yarolan would become the most easily broken frontline among the three major powers of the eastern region!
"Loren! Don’t let anything happen to you!"
Juliana steeled her resolve, turned her head away, and accelerated her flight, soon disappearing to the other side of the canyon.
"..."
Although Loren did not understand why he had appeared here in a situation that defied all reason, Juliana quickly accepted it.
But the opponent he was about to face, the Third Army God Chained Agate Geat, represented an enormous amount of pressure.
Fighting this top-tier Army God skilled in Illusion Techniques and Seals, Loren was unsure if he could win.
At best, delaying Geat was feasible.
Before Loren’s words had faded, Geat rose from the ruins. He seemed unharmed; his clothes were even free of dust—Loren’s earlier assault had been completely blocked by him.
"Indeed, Great Priest Loren’s reputation with the Empire holds true: coming and going like the wind, capable of appearing at any location. I really didn’t expect such an unexpected catch today."
Geat gazed at Loren as if he had finally met an interesting adversary.
"..."
Loren did not wish to converse any further with the Third Army God Chained Agate Geat.
It was too easy to fall into a trap when talking to an opponent adept at Illusions.
Moreover, his opponent’s words made little sense.
Loren had not left Hutton Kingdom for years; how could his adversary so readily accept the fact that he had appeared here?
This time he had come to retrieve Lanci from Poseen Kingdom.
He knew Lanci possessed unique leadership and command abilities, indispensable during war.
Fortunately, with the Church’s Paladin Leader Florence and the Lady of Divine Choice, the Snow Witch, back in the heartland of Hutton, even Loren’s temporary absence wouldn’t threaten the safety of the Capital City Ekrite. Thus, Loren had embarked on his secretive journey.
Upon arriving in Poseen Kingdom and discovering through their intelligence that Juliana had taken far too long without successfully returning to Yarolan Kingdom, he knew her travels had been incredibly difficult. Considering the possibility of interception by the Imperial Army God, Loren tried his mediocre astrology skills. When the Goddess frequently sent him omens of disaster, he couldn’t settle his mind and promptly set out toward Yarolan Kingdom alone.
After all, Lanci was safe in the Floral City Pariel of Poseen Kingdom’s heartland. Whether Loren went to retrieve Lanci sooner or later didn’t matter as much. It was crucial to ensure that Juliana returned safely to Yarolan territory, as the safety of countless citizens of Yarolan Kingdom hinged on it.
The sky darkened gradually, and vast clouds, reflecting the increasingly reddish moon, turned a strange crimson.
Thunder and lightning roared, carrying sand and stones in their terrifying howl.
Loren and Geat stood confronting each other, their magic power constantly rising, and visible whirlwinds collided mid-air.
In the next instant, millions of airstreams surged from Loren’s raised palm, forming an invisible heavy sword that stabbed straight at Geat.
Geat laughed lightly and waved his Mechanical Staff.
A deep-purple Barrier materialized from nowhere, shielding him.
Surging magic power swirled on the surface of the Barrier like mercury rippling.
The invisible heavy sword clashed violently with the Mana Barrier, causing a resounding echo that shook the earth.
The entire Valhalla Canyon trembled under the impact; Geat’s spells were far more powerful than those used against Juliana before.
Clearly, facing Loren, Geat had begun to use his full strength.
Green streams and deep-purple mists intertwined, creating catastrophic storms, and wherever Loren’s hurricanes went, even the void seemed to tear apart.
Geat swung his staff again, reconfiguring the Mechanical Staff into a Rod.
Countless purple-black lightning bolts descended from the sky, entwining around Loren’s limbs like venomous snakes.
Loren staggered for a moment but quickly broke free from the constraints.
After Geat’s staff transformed into a Rod, although the power of his spells decreased, his casting speed increased significantly.
Loren needed a little time to adjust to his opponent’s new combat pattern.
Just as Loren showed a moment of weakness, Geat waved his Rod towards the sky, and darkness suddenly engulfed it.
Countless shadows emerged from the void, swarming towards Loren.
