CHAPTER 395: 154 SEVEN ELDERS

"Indeed!"

"He’s been at the market the whole time, just waiting for me to come out."

Upon leaving the Dark Market, and before he had even departed the City of Death, Carl sensed the concealed presence.

Deacon Lev of the Holy Hall!

A glint appeared in his eyes as he dashed towards the city’s outskirts. His Constitution score of over ten points made his explosive power extremely terrifying.

With a mere light tap of his feet, he sprang forward more than ten meters. A few quick boosts, and he vaulted over the towering city walls.

「Soon after.」

The sky gradually darkened.

The shattered red moon was obscured by dark clouds, arcs of electricity flashing intermittently within them, accompanied by the distant rumble of thunder.

A storm was coming!

Carl stopped on a hilltop and turned to look back.

HUFF...

Two dark shadows burst from the cloud layer above, their unfurled, fleshy wings stirring up a Gale as they slowly came to a halt over the hill.

Desecration Beasts!

The first-generation Desecration Knights maintained their human form before losing control; the second generation completely abandoned their human shape.

The second-generation Desecration Knights were beasts,

not humans!

Lev descended from a Desecration Beast’s back, his gaze fixed on Carl.

"Guardian, return with me to the Holy Hall!"

"Hmm?"

Carl raised an eyebrow.

"You know I am the Goddess’s Guardian, yet your tone is so harsh. You’re the first to act this way."

"Shouldn’t you be kneeling on the ground, looking up at me in awe?"

"You killed Boken," Lev’s face darkened.

"I suspect you have forsaken the Goddess, and your soul has been tainted by the Evil God; otherwise, you wouldn’t have killed Boken."

"I’ll say it one last time!"

"Return with me to the Holy Hall and undergo the Goddess’s baptism. Otherwise, I don’t mind taking back a corpse."

"Heh..." Carl chuckled lightly.

"Knowing I killed Boken, you still dare to show your face before me. Such courage is commendable."

His gaze swept across the scene.

Each of the two Desecration Beasts carried a person and landed. Besides Deacon Lev, there was also a man in a black robe.

Hmm...

So this is what they’re relying on?

"Lev."

The man in the black robe suddenly spoke,

"Take the Guardian back."

"Yes."

Lev nodded, a red glint flashing in his eyes. Then, the Battle Aura within his body suddenly surged.

Battle Skill—Red Thunderclap!

BOOM!

The air before him, thick as viscous liquid, was violently torn apart by Lev. A fist wreathed in red Thunderclap shot towards Carl.

BANG!

Carl raised his hand, his body swaying slightly.

Surprise flickered in his eyes, and he involuntarily stepped back.

His opponent’s strength was far inferior to his own, but with the enhancement of the Battle Skill, he was actually able to contend with him head-on.

Notably, the force of the Thunderclap that surged into his body upon impact nearly dispersed his Battle Aura; this was the primary reason he was forced back.

If a mere simplified version of a Holy Skill is this powerful, what would a true Holy Skill be like...?

HMPH!

As the thought whirled through his mind, Carl snorted lightly. The power accumulated within him exploded instantly, propelling him forward.

BANG!

They collided again.

Lev couldn’t help but let out a low grunt, cold sweat beading on his forehead; he felt as if his fist had nearly shattered.

"It’s a Legendary Knight!"

"Let’s get him together!"

Gritting his teeth, he roared. The two Desecration Beasts circling in mid-air shrieked and dived towards Carl.

Unlike Lev.

Lev, after all, was a Great Knight. Even if he could contend with a Legendary Knight through Battle Skills, his Constitution was still insufficient.

The Desecration Beasts, however, were genuine Great Knights. Their sharp teeth and claws were natural, deadly weapons.

BANG!

Four figures collided in mid-air.

Carl’s expression was stern. His hands slapped, hammered, or swept out, parrying every incoming blow.

Thoughts raced even more fiercely in his mind.

Peak Great Knight Lev had mastered a peculiar Battle Skill, one that seemed to combine the powers of fire and Thunderclap.

The fist’s power could shatter another’s Battle Aura and cause them to lose their balance.

Although Lev himself wasn’t as strong, his lethality was extremely alarming, capable of threatening Legendary Knights.

The Desecration Beasts possessed formidable Constitutions, were impervious to pain, had terrifying Recovery Power, and their agile wings made their attacks devious and ferocious.

By comparison.

Carl’s Constitution was stronger, but his Martial Arts were mediocre; he relied entirely on his powerful body to bridge the gap.

So what if my Martial Arts are lacking?

If I were at the First-Order Early Stage, things might be perilous; I’d be physically outmatched. But my strength is at the First-Order Middle Stage.

And...

The Divine Breath!

His eyes lit up. The Battle Aura within Carl instantly solidified, and his body felt as if it were covered by a layer of armor.

Every movement was now imbued with overwhelming strength.

The Red Thunderclap, which had previously been able to agitate his Battle Aura, now failed to cause the slightest ripple when it struck him again.

CRACK!

Two monstrous claws clamped down on Carl’s shoulders but failed to tear his flesh, nor could they drag him into the air.

Terrifying strength erupted from Carl’s body. He shot his hands upwards, grabbed the two Desecration Beasts, and slammed them fiercely onto the ground.

BOOM!

The hill trembled violently, sinking a good foot, and thick cracks spiderwebbed out for dozens of meters.

Even without his body enlarging, the power Carl unleashed at this moment was still terrifying.

The two Desecration Beasts roared wretchedly. Before they could struggle to their feet, Carl had already grasped their wings.

RIIIP...

Flesh and blood flew everywhere.

As Carl ripped with both hands, their fleshy wings—along with white bones and internal organs—were brutally torn from the Desecration Beasts’ bodies.

His fists smashed down again.

BANG!

The Desecration Beasts’ heads shattered.

Hmm?

A familiar aura flowed into the Divine Domain Fragment deep within his Spiritual Inner Sea, causing Carl’s actions to pause momentarily.

Source Material!

+0.2

Killing Desecration Beasts yields Source Material?

The Desecration Beasts possessed the Evil God’s Bloodline, so it wasn’t surprising to obtain Source Material from killing them.

Then why hadn’t he gained any from the three he had killed previously at his residence? Was it because he had used Seals to kill them at that time, and not done it with his own hands?