CHAPTER 576: CHAPTER 573: RAPID RESPONSE

The enormous spell domain expanded from the middle of the mountain slopes.

After Catherine had completely unfolded her spell, a territory covering several kilometers descended near Barrier Mountain.

The spell’s effects were strongest near Catherine herself.

The farther away, the more the effects faded.

As for Ronald, who was searching for enemies from the mountain peak, he immediately felt a wave of intense nausea. This wasn’t a direct physical influence from Catherine’s spell, but rather, the spell domain had altered the common sense and cognition within its range.

However, Ronald soon found that the nausea began to subside.

Catherine had somehow locked onto Ronald’s position, so the domain had plucked Ronald out of this altered common sense and cognition.

As for others besides them...

Under the observation of Ronald’s ’Fury’ power,

many wizards with weak protective measures had completely lost their combat abilities.

At the sight of an enemy, the intense discomfort was enough to trigger obvious physiological reactions in them—forget casting spells or fighting—immediately fleeing to less crowded places was the only way to avoid going into shock.

The Great Wizards blocked by Catherine managed to maintain their combat abilities.

Only, with their current status, their strength was definitely greatly diminished.

"Astronomy Master..."

At that moment, a cold voice came from the ruins of the mountainside just below Ronald. Although it was just a whisper uttered in an extremely low voice, Ronald’s keen hearing still caught this faint sound.

Snap—

Recognizing it was noise made by a divine being, Ronald snapped his fingers to activate "Archangel" and suppress it.

Boom!

Controlled by the spell, rocks and earth began to compress violently.

Within the "Infinite Negative Domain," the "Archangel’s" ability to control objects was greatly enhanced. What would normally be a moderate impact turned into intense pressure akin to the deep sea.

Yet, in the aftermath, the dusty mountain peak ruins were silent once again.

Dominated by the spell, the earth and stones had even compressed into an indestructible whole, but Ronald did not see any other movement.

"..."

The divine being did not retaliate or resist.

As if being suppressed by Ronald’s spell was as natural as it should be.

—This could not possibly be the enemy who had just fought with him!

Instantly judging this as bait to draw out his attack, Ronald in turn enveloped himself in a ten-meter radius with Hell’s black mist and immediately released the souls collected from the river of blood.

And under this airtight spell surveillance,

Ronald truly detected traces of the enemy.

Just seven meters beside him, a completely transparent figure was blending into the dust and approaching Ronald. If it were not for the Hell’s black mist covering every inch of space completely, it would have been exceedingly hard to detect the enemy.

And in that instant, Ronald confirmed something.

Even as Hell’s power in the form of black mist touched the body of the divine being, it could not exercise its authority. According to the spell’s judgment, the divine being was not only not human but could not even be considered a living being!

"Tsck—"

With a lowered gaze, Ronald reacted swiftly.

The Sword of Saint Catherine swung out in an instant, and he himself charged head-on toward the adversary.

"Hmph!"

On the other side, the divine being let out a cold snort.

Seeing that its stealthy attack had failed, it decisively activated the spell brewing in its hand and aimed a punch at the sword blade coming towards Ronald.

Clang—

It was the sound characteristic of clashing sharp weapons.

Though on one hand was a fist and on the other a sword blade, this collision uniquely produced such a sound.

Ronald’s eyes locked onto the hands of the divine being.

This guy was using—undoubtedly some type of spell that altered concepts. If Ronald were to be hit directly by such a fist, the damage would likely be akin to that inflicted by a sharp weapon.

After that, the divine being made a rapid shift in its stance to push forward.

Several distinct types of magical sigils flickered in succession over its hands.

It remembered the combat abilities Ronald had shown on the island last time.

Although it seemed that their close-combat abilities were evenly matched at the moment, the actual situation was far from it.

The divine power of thunder within the artificial deity was steadily weakening at a consistent pace, enhancing its combat ability in a stable manner.

Keeping the fight within the range of close-quarters combat.

It was confident of taking down the enemy before it!

On the other side, Ronald’s gaze remained locked on the artificial deity in front of him.

He, too, saw no reason to shrink back, as long as he could maintain the rhythm of the battle, Ronald believed he could overcome the enemy!

Clang—

Zing!

Figures intertwining, sword and fist colliding.

The battle, unfolding at a speed beyond the limits of human reaction, took place here.

Each moment of contact was swift and elusive, like a flash of lightning.

But this high-intensity combat was not static—

After more than a dozen rounds of fierce engagement,

Ronald’s hand gripping the sword suddenly twisted.

"..."

In that instant,

he realized something was terribly wrong.

Until now, he had been able to match the artificial deity blow for blow, under the enhancement of four layers of spells.

But what about now?

Dawn broke, and the sun rose!

The protection of "Astronomy Master" shifted from an "eclipse" to a "solar eclipse," with his physical strength instantly decreasing.

This reduction was not as simple as declining by a quarter in numeric value; the reality of the multiple implications made handling the combat increasingly difficult.

And as a result...

When facing the punch of the artificial deity,

Ronald actually found it difficult to grip the Saint’s legacy in his hand!

"..."

In this instant, everything changed in the blink of an eye.

The artificial deity, detecting Ronald’s reaction, had its crimson eyes suddenly contract.

And above—

Bapulor had been closely watching the battle below the whole time.

Seeing Ronald at a disadvantage, this time he swung three tentacles and smashed them down upon the artificial deity with force, compelling the opponent to deal with them.

Meanwhile,

Bapulor threw out two green tentacles.

One wrapped around Ronald while the other approached Catherine, who was at the mountainside. Then, the massive tentacles, snagging the two, violently bent and flung them into the air with all their might.

Snap—

Bapulor’s action was quite exquisite.

At the optimal velocity and force, a powerful whip-like effect appeared at the tips of his tentacles.

And at the moment when the tentacle was endowed with terrifying speed,

The tentacle broke.

The immense kinetic energy nearly tore the air itself to shreds, and the tentacle carrying Ronald and Catherine shot into the sky like a cannonball, disappearing from everyone’s sight in an instant.

The tentacle encasing him began to deform.

The heretical magician’s head appeared on the tentacle, then he gave Ronald a grin.

"Hiss, hiss—"

Though the howling wind made it impossible for Ronald to hear what Bapulor was saying,

By reading his lips,

He could guess what the guy was trying to convey:

"Can’t beat it—"

"Run!"