NOVPUB
Chapter 201: The Last Attempt
The people Aldrian saved in Ilyon Town gaze at the golden light pillar reaching high into the sky before it falls in the direction of the eastern side. From afar, they hear only a rumbling sound, a sign that something significant has occurred in the region where the Sazim Fortress is located. All of them conclude that their savior is battling someone and can only pray for his safety.
The people of Vicanti could also see the golden pillar rising on the horizon. Many were curious and wondered what it was, but a group of onlookers stationed atop the town wall watched it with particular fascination. The sight of the golden light piercing through the clouds and reaching the boundless sky was both beautiful and awe-inspiring to them.
When the golden pillar descended to the land, creating a distant rumbling sound, they immediately realized it was the sign of a battle. The brilliance of the golden light and the distinctiveness of the technique left no doubt in their minds—there was only one person they knew who could unleash such overwhelming power.
The devils attempting to attack Sazim Fortress abruptly halted their actions when they saw the sudden appearance of the golden pillar. Despite their relentless efforts, they couldn’t breach the fortress vicinity due to the intricate killing formations that instantly annihilated any who dared to approach. Yet, they had continued trying, driven by their higher ups order. However, the blinding brilliance of the golden light forced them to stop and shift their focus entirely. From their close proximity, they could feel the immense power emanating from the golden pillar.
Despair
The only thing they felt was an overwhelming sense of hopelessness—there was no way devils of their level could contend with something like that. The unmistakable holy aura emanating from the technique confirmed it wasn’t one of their own. Instantly, they realized the person responsible was the same individual who had recently passed some of them, pursued by countless others. Their morale and spirit plummeted, even if they weren’t the intended target of this devastating technique, death seemed inevitable.
And true to their fears, when the golden light slammed into the ground, many of them were caught in its devastating impact. They had little time to react before the pillar struck, and thousands of devils, ranging from the Disciple stage to the Earl stage, were killed in the blinding light. The deep chasm left behind after the strike radiated thick, pure holy energy. It would not be an exaggeration to say that, if someone from the church were present, they would worship Aldrian.
At Aldrian’s location, he simply observed the aftermath of his newly created technique. This technique was inspired by Arthur’s sword technique, which he had witnessed during their battle in the Ivory Empire a few years ago. While Aldrian’s usual techniques were dominated by slashing motions, this one incorporated a chopping motion, delivering a pillar of light that struck down his opponent with immense force.
He simply needed to form his own concept of the technique and implement it with his comprehension. And voilà! He had created a technique he called the Pillar of Heaven’s Judgment.
The result was satisfying. Aldrian observed the straight chasm extending toward the southwest horizon. The chasm itself contained not only many sword intents and wills but also a pure, holy aura from his golden energy, as he had imbued the technique with the concept of ’purification.’ This technique was not purely destructive; it also served as a purifying strike. If an opponent somehow managed to block it, the holy energy would weaken them to a certain extent. It was a perfect technique for opponents who cultivated too much negative energy, like the devils.
Aldrian then looked at the Lust Devil, who was already on his knees in a worn condition. His handsome face was marked with wounds, and it was paler than usual. His hair was disheveled, and his noble-style clothes were in disarray, as though he had just been hit by a storm. His breathing was unstable, with shallow inhales and exhales, as if he had exhausted all of his strength.
Aldrian then walked toward the Lust Devil until he stood right in front of him. The Lust Devil looked up at Aldrian, still smiling.
"You are truly a monster. I have to admit, you are far stronger than me. Even after unleashing that kind of technique, you seem unaffected by it." The Lust Devil believed that what Aldrian had just unleashed was a divine technique, something that had only recently resurfaced, thanks to the mysterious swordsman. Suddenly, something clicked in his mind, and the way he looked at Aldrian changed.
"Ah, I see. You’re that person—the one who ruined our plan in the Ivory Empire," the Lust Devil said with an exhausted voice.
Aldrian simply ignored him, though he was genuinely surprised that the Lust Devil had defended better than expected. While his previous attack wasn’t his strongest, as he had only used a portion of his domain’s strength, it was still admirable that the Lust Devil remained in full shape. However, he recalled the Lust Devil’s actions just before being struck. Those desperate actions were notable, prompting Aldrian to speak to him.
"You... you unleashed all of your elemental defenses—earth, fire, water, air, space—even combinations of some elements. I have to say, you’re truly a genius," Aldrian said. In a short time, the Lust Devil had cast all of his strongest defensive techniques based on the elements he had comprehended and using every defense talisman he possessed.
What Aldrian wondered was how the Lust Devil had managed to comprehend all these elements and use them so practically.
He knew that there were geniuses on the continent who could comprehend multiple elements, and even some rare ones. However, from what he had witnessed in the Lust Devil’s desperate actions, it seemed the Lust Devil surpassed them all. Was the Lust Devil truly the most genius cultivator of this era? Aldrian didn’t want to sound arrogant, but the Lust Devil was not like him, someone with his own secret and origin that made him different from others. He doubted the Lust Devil possessed any kind of secret or origin like his own.
Aldrian continued to look into the Lust Devil’s eyes with curiosity, but then he felt his soul and mind tremble as the Lust Devil unleashed his illusion technique through their eye contact. The Lust Devil grinned, knowing he had infiltrated Aldrian’s mind. Many people forgot that his most proficient technique wasn’t elemental—it was mental. This was his most powerful hypnotic technique, capable of affecting people’s personalities without them even realizing it.
Earlier, when they had battled, the Lust Devil had repeatedly tried to affect Aldrian with his illusion, not just once. However, it had not worked on Aldrian, as he was always on high alert and his mental fortitude was exceptionally strong. The Lust Devil wondered what kind of experiences Aldrian must have had to develop such strong mental resilience. Realizing this, the Lust Devil knew the only thing he could do was make Aldrian believe he had already won and let his guard down. Even with such strong mental fortitude, there was no way Aldrian could resist this technique.
The Devil Mind’s Curse
This technique, which combined illusion, hypnosis and even karma laws, could directly affect the soul and mind. The Lust Devil could even alter their memories with it. It was more or less the same as Aldrian’s memory reading and erasing technique, but slightly more advanced, as it could create new memories. Inside Aldrian’s mindscape, the Lust Devil grinned, finally able to infiltrate this place. Once he gained access to someone’s mind, there was no stopping him—it was his playground.
"Now let’s change your mind and make you go crazy. This is going to be interesting." If he could turn Aldrian into an enemy of the entire continent, it would be a valuable opportunity. The Lust Devil had finally realized that Aldrian was the mysterious swordsman. With this kind of power, if he could make Aldrian fight against the other forces on the continent, it would benefit the devils. It could also serve as a substitute for the failed plans in some places caused by this young man.
"But what kind of place is this?"
Surrounding him was a vast expanse full of stars, and he could even see many galaxies—too many for him to count. This was the first time he had encountered a mindscape like this. Usually, when he entered someone’s mindscape, he would find dark space filled with memories and knowledge. From there, he could manipulate their memories and even absorb their knowledge.
He looked at his surroundings, but all he could see, as far as the eye could reach, was the vast expanse of the cosmos. He didn’t understand it, but suddenly, he sensed a danger. His spiritual body felt a pressure as if he were holding an entire mountain with his body. He gritted his teeth and tried to look upwards. That’s when he saw something he hadn’t noticed before—a single star shining brightly, positioned above all the others. It seemed to hover high above the cosmos, so far away that he couldn’t tell if it was even part of the cosmos itself.
"You’re quite brazen to come to this place. This is my domain, my world." Aldrian’s voice resounded.
Above the lonely star, the Lust Devil saw a silhouette beginning to take shape—a giant figure of Aldrian. He was so immense that his form covered the entire cosmos. The Lust Devil’s spirit couldn’t withstand the pressure, and his spiritual body began to disintegrate. However, before he fully dissipated, his eyes, filled with fear, locked onto the regal figure of Aldrian.
"A God."
