“Found it!”

On the tenth level of the Silent Spiral, sorcerers were engaged in aerial combat amidst a raging blizzard. They maneuvered their golden and silver Twin Wings through a barrage of hail and Frost, evading the icy Miracles conjured by Oreyva.

Oreyva hadn’t unfurled his virtual wings, yet the Frost would crystallize into icy platforms, allowing him to leap through the air like a jumping spider, relentlessly pursuing Ashe and the others like a swarm of buzzing flies!

Gwen clung to Igor within his Sanctuary, her eyes shimmering with starlight as she hung onto the Con Artist.

Though the Silent Spiral could spawn infinite spaces, it ultimately existed within a single layer of the Silent Spiral, meaning this vast prairie must have an entrance and an exit!

However, the prairie was so expansive, and Oreyva’s Frost Sanctuary had whipped up a blizzard that blanketed the entire area, drastically reducing visibility. Coupled with Oreyva’s rabid pursuit, searching for the Fog Gate had become exceedingly difficult.

The starlit spirit could significantly extend the range of vision, but each flicker severely impacted the retina, with five flashes being the limit. Each additional flicker would further impair vision. On the ninth flicker, Gwen finally spotted the Fog Gate leading to the next level, far in the distance.

Yet at that moment, a hysterical roar echoed through the blizzard, as if someone had ground their teeth to dust.

This was no metaphor; everyone felt a sharp pain in their molars, as if their dental nerves were being struck by a chisel!

Then, in mere moments, Frost enveloped their bodies, rendering the Sanctuary utterly meaningless. As the Frost spread, their thoughts slowed to a crawl-this was a Frost Miracle capable of affecting the mind!

Zing!

Suddenly, a blazing light pierced through the Sanctuary, melting the Frost on their bodies!

A three-wing spirit stood on Chikara’s shoulder, radiating a dazzling, warm light that melted the white Frost clinging to them.

Firelight Spirit!

Chikara’s ace in the hole!

Most of his fire spell Miracles required the Firelight Spirit to extend attack range and expand the area of effect, but simply deploying the Firelight Spirit could neutralize most water spell Miracles!

Though they narrowly escaped disaster, Oreyva’s second wave of attacks was already upon them! The moisture within their Sanctuary rapidly condensed, about to crystallize and explode, tearing into their flesh!

They had witnessed this attack many times before, and under immense survival pressure, everyone had quickly gained experience in ‘shrinking the Sanctuary,’ as a smaller Sanctuary meant fewer ice crystals. Keeping it close to the skin could even resist this assault. However, Igor needed to protect Gwen, so his Sanctuary had to cover them both. He could only hold Gwen tightly to barely shrink the Sanctuary to its smallest size!

After a round of ice crystal explosions, everyone suffered only minor injuries, but due to the Damage Chain, others’ injuries accumulated on themselves, leaving everyone bloodied and battered!

Such is the terror of the Damage Chain.

If the Damage Chain could be reduced to only 60% effectiveness by the Sanctuary, then if each of the five received 10 points of damage, they would also suffer an additional 6*4=24 points of damage from the Damage

If they focus their attacks on Oreyva, they would collectively inflict 10 points of damage on him, but each of them would also suffer 6 points of damage individually, totaling 30 points for the five of them!

In normal battles, having more people usually gives an advantage over fewer opponents, but in the War Trial, it’s quite the opposite. If a fight breaks out in the War Trial, the side with more people will definitely suffer the greatest losses!

Of course, Oreyva’s attacks on them aren’t without cost. As Ashe and the others get injured, he too is heavily impacted by the Damage Chain, but his wounds quickly freeze over with Frost, seemingly unaffected.

Water spells are inherently the best at healing, and although Oreyva primarily focuses on the secondary water spell Frost, as a legendary sorcerer, how could he not have healing methods?

Once they pinpointed their destination, the group dispersed in the air, preventing Oreyva from launching a mass attack, and took the long route to fly towards the Fog Gate leading to the next layer. For some reason, Harvey flew a bit slower, becoming Oreyva’s target of pursuit.

Soon, the Fog Gate appeared on the horizon, and Chikara breathed a sigh of relief. The pressure from the ‘Pope of Annihilation’ Oreyva was immense for the orc-he had grown up listening to Oreyva’s legendary tales!

To be precise, the Tribulation Fire Chapel and the War Temple were opposing forces, and he had grown up hearing about Oreyva’s exploits in slaughtering Fire sorcerers. It could even be said that Oreyva rose step by step by trampling over the Tribulation Fire Chapel. There were even rumors that Oreyva specialized in water spells just to extinguish the Tribulation Fire!

Even if Oreyva now has mental issues, he’s still a legendary figure with a mental illness! It sounds like his danger level hasn’t decreased but increased! The orc felt every cell in his body roaring, urging him to flee!

However, at this moment, Chikara saw Ashe and Igor stopping at the Fog Gate. He almost went mad, urging, “Run!”

“Harvey!” Ashe shouted, “Why aren’t you running?”

Chikara turned his head and saw the necromancer not only failing to approach the Fog Gate but also luring Oreyva to another area. Harvey didn’t respond to Ashe’s voice, but Oreyva’s head turned 180° to look at them.

At that moment, a ghostly claw slashed across Oreyva’s neck, and corrosive marks appeared on Ashe and the others’ necks as well!

Harvey didn’t answer; that was the best answer.

“Oreyva will chase us to the next layer.”

Igor’s expression was calm, but his eyes were fixed on the figure in the blizzard: “We can’t let him follow us; someone has to stay behind to deal with him.”

“Can’t we lure him to the next layer and ambush him?” Ashe asked fiercely.

“The curse of the War Trial binds us while also limiting Oreyva’s abilities,” Gwen explained. “Oreyva might be insane, but he’s not stupid; his combat instincts haven’t deteriorated. He realizes the existence of the Damage Chain, so he hasn’t tried to kill us-he’s had many chances.”

“If he’s either inflicting frequent minor injuries on us or trying to bind us, that’s why we’ve managed to hold out until now. If we reach another Trial without the suppression of the Damage Chain, he might unleash the true power of a legendary sorcerer. At that point, we wouldn’t stand a chance against the madness of Senlo’s foremost legend.”

“But in the War Trial, we can’t gang up on him, or we’ll be the first to fall. The best option is to leave someone behind to hold him off.”

“Besides,” Igor added, “we’re here to rescue someone, not waste time.”

Ashe didn’t hesitate upon hearing this. He flew back and launched his Heart Sword, trying to draw Oreyva’s attention to himself. “Harvey, you go down with them to find Tamashi. I’ll keep this lunatic busy!”

“Don’t be foolish.”

Harvey attacked Oreyva again with his ghostly claws. Although he missed, it at least drew Oreyva’s ire back. “Look at Alice,” the necromancer said.

Ashe focused and quickly noticed, “Alice isn’t hurt?”

“The Damage Chain doesn’t affect Alice. Once I merge with her, it won’t affect me either.” Harvey, carrying Alice, darted through the air, dodging Oreyva’s barrage of ice spears. “I’m the best choice to stay and deal with him. You’re just trying to stall him, but I intend to kill him.”

“Go on, don’t stop me from dealing with a legend’s remains. Your lingering here only makes me hesitant to embrace Alice, fearing you’ll be tainted by death.”

Ashe stared at the distant necromancer. He knew now wasn’t the time to hesitate, but-

“Only you can stay?” Igor and Gwen had flown over at some point, asking from afar.

“One of us three must stay,” Harvey replied.

Ashe immediately realized-Chikara and Gwen!

Gwen was one thing, but Chikara was a fire spell Sanctuary, and they had enslaved him! Although it sounded harsh, if anyone had to take the risk of facing Oreyva, the orc Sanctuary was the best choice!

But would Chikara really be willing to stay?

The most crucial clause in the slave Pact was that he couldn’t be deliberately sent to his death!

If he believed it was a certain death situation, he could defy orders. Even if they left the orc behind on purpose, he could lead Oreyva to them instead of willingly leading Oreyva away to die-in the face of death, anything Chikara did wouldn’t be too much.

So, the person to intercept Oreyva had to be chosen from among the three of them.

According to Harvey, he was indeed the best candidate, but if he alone faced Senlo’s top sorcerer…

“I’ll stay with Mr. Harvey.”

At that moment, Chikara suddenly flew over to them and volunteered, “I’m a fire spell Sanctuary, perfectly suited to counter Oreyva’s Frost spellcasting. As for the Damage Chain, I have ways to resist it. Even if I can’t help much, I won’t be a burden to Mr. Harvey.”

Ashe and Igor looked at Chikara in surprise. The Con Artist squinted slightly but decisively said, “Alright!”

After speaking, Igor and Gwen didn’t linger; they flew straight towards the Fog Gate. Ashe took a deep breath, glancing at Harvey amidst the blizzard, his black skin appearing even darker against the white snow. The Cult Leader shouted, “Either I or my corpse will be waiting for you below. Catch up quickly.”

“I shall look forward to it with great anticipation,” the necromancer said with a slight smile.

After Ashe and his companions passed through the Fog Gate, Harvey also met up with Chikara in the storm. Noticing some had escaped, Oreyva seemed a bit annoyed and roared. The area around Harvey and Chikara began to ice over, nearly freezing them directly into ice balls!

However, Chikara waved his hand and released a cloud of black smoke, which instantly set the ice on fire upon contact. The smoke produced from the melting ice helped to intensify the concentration of the black smoke, quickly consuming the ice ball in flames.

Miracle-Fireworks.

Harvey looked at Chikara somewhat surprised, and the orc laughed, “For a long time, Lord Oreyva has been the hypothetical foe of the Tribulation Fire Chapel.”

“You didn’t have to stay,” said Harvey. “Although Igor will hold a grudge against you, he won’t sell you out as long as you’re not in mortal danger.”

Chikara smiled sheepishly, “Not at all, Lady Alice is my master, Mr. Harvey is Alice’s master, and I genuinely want to help you…”

“Suit yourself,” Harvey turned to the distant figure of Oreyva. “You said you had a miracle that could resist the Damage Chain? You can cast it now. Because…”

Harvey pulled the decaying Alice into his arms. “I am about to cross through the veil of death.”

“His body, though cold and fiery, still yearned for the moment of burning out.”

The noisy ghost fires merged the two into one, and the wild blizzard couldn’t block this bizarre and eerie necromantic life. The dark blue ghost fire cast a dim glow on the blizzard, and the snow on the ground began to ‘wither.’ They didn’t melt but seeped into the ground and died.

Miracle-Frostfire!

Meanwhile, Chikara suddenly stood upright, arms raised, then flames in the shape of a cross burst from his back, binding him like the cross he was tied to, and then flames burst forth from within him, completely turning him into a man on fire being executed!

His flesh was quickly consumed by the flames, leaving only blackened bones in the fierce flames, instantly vaporizing the surrounding snow into mist!

Miracle-Purgatorial Punishment!

Oreyva seemed to realize something, his voice tinged with excitement. He swept up the icy frost, forming a tornado around him, hurling countless icicles and ice shards towards them!

Harvey’s right hand transformed into a massive dragon skull, deep blue flames brewing within; the flames on Chikara grew more intense, turning his arms into roaring torches!

Ghost King Shackles-Dragon Lich Bone Fire!

Miracle-Purgatorial Roar!

Deep blue flames of death, dark red purgatorial flames, and the freezing storm of Frost all struck together in a tumultuous clash!