85% healing, 24k HP, and 30% damage reduction. Every single one of these stats was godlike. It was obvious that this equipment was meant for priests, and Murong Mingyue was the only priest in our party, so it was obvious who it belonged to. The rest of the readers looked at it normally.
I tossed the Dark Dragon Arcane Ring to Murong Mingyue. Her level wasn't high enough to equip it, but after we cleared Bloody Shield Domain, she had more than enough.
In addition to her 85% healing buff, Murong Mingyue's instant healing could heal at least 50k HP. If she crit, she could heal at least 100k HP. If she used Greater Heal with a 3-second cooldown, she could heal 850k HP in one go. Now, this was the power of a true King of Priests!
… …
Dios had dropped almost 20 socket-type gems, and the highest among them was the Rank 12 Dragonstone Gem. It was the best gem at the current stage of the game, so I rolled for it. When I returned, I would equip the Dragon God Shield with Rank 12 gems and increase all Defense by 60%. Only a full set of gems would live up to its status as a 6-star Immortal-grade shield.
It was at this moment Prince Cloudway slowly rose to his feet from the pool of blood. He looked at us, then at the dismembered soldiers lying in the pool of blood. The tens of thousands of elite soldiers he had brought with him from Vanished God City had been wiped out, but killing Holy Magus Dios wasn't a bad thing.
"You are the most admirable adventurers of Sky City!"
Cloudway looked at us and said, "On behalf of the Vanished God Empire, I thank you for your bravery. It was your courage that helped us eliminate a threat, and the citizens of Vanished God City will view you as their glory. Please accept my respect!"
Cloudway then gave a standard knight's salute.
Ding ~!
A system notification rang, and a huge amount of experience entered my body. The quest to spy on Prince Cloudway's army had been completed, and I had risen 82% of the experience bar to Level 175. I was one step away from Level 176, and if I kept doing these main quests, it wouldn't be hard for me to reach Level 180.
I looked up at Cloudway from the rubble and asked, "Your Highness, your subordinates are all dead. What do you plan to do?"
Cloudway's clear eyes were filled with determination. He clenched his fists and said, "I will return to the empire immediately and gather all the troops stationed in the seven great fortresses. I will lead a million strong army into Bloody Shield Domain and wipe out this undead domain before the Night Creatures' full strength has passed through the Eye of the Purgatory. We will revive the Dharan Empire no matter the cost. This land was once our home, the land the Ten Heroes swore to protect with their lives!"
I nodded. "Alright, then we won't send you back to the city!"
"Alright, you guys be careful too!"
Cloudway smiled at me and said, "Welcome to Vanished God City. I'll remember you, my friends!"
"Alright …"
…
Before he finished speaking, the sky suddenly turned dark and blood-red. Thunder burst out, and a powerful aura instantly enveloped them!
"What's going on?!" Lin Yixin exclaimed in shock.
Cloudway's mouth opened wide as if he was howling in pain. His eyes were filled with shock and unwillingness as he spat out a mouthful of thick blood. Everyone else looked at him in shock:!
"Wah …"
Cloudway's hair was disheveled as he collapsed to his knees. His pupils widened rapidly.
Puchi!
Blood splattered everywhere as an arm burst out of Cloudway's chest and penetrated his body. Crimson blood splattered all over the ground.
"Ahhhh …" I gripped my sword so hard that my teeth almost shattered.
After the bloody claw pierced through Cloudway's body, it opened its hand to reveal a beating heart. It was … it was Cloudway's heart!
"It's over …"
My heart sank. Cloudway was killed just like that!
… …
Cloudway slowly withdrew his bloody arm and collapsed to the ground. He let out a low groan of pain as he struggled to turn around. Even in death, he wanted to see who it was that had fallen behind him.
A general in dark red armor stood beneath the bloody clouds. One of his arms had mutated into the shape of a beast, and dark red runes were floating around it. He held Cloudway's heart in his palm and let out a piercing screech. He laughed arrogantly as he stared at Cloudway with his beastly grayish-brown eyes. "Is this all you're capable of, the fifth son of the Vanished God City's monarch and the number one commander of Vanished God City?
That being said, your heart tastes pretty good. Consider it a tribute to me. How about it, Prince Cloudway?! "
Cloudway's life force was fading away. He spat out a mouthful of blood as he stared at the man in front of him. "Hmph … you!
Is that you, Ovia the Bloody Finger?! "
The general with the bloody arm laughed maniacally. "Does anyone remember my name?
Hahaha, does anyone remember the defeated general of the empire? "
Cloudway's eyes were filled with unwillingness. "Ovia!
You … you're one of the Ten Heroes of the Dharan Empire, but you single-handedly destroyed an empire, you damned animal! How could you bear to kill millions of innocent civilians? I hate that I can't kill a devil like you with my own hands! "
"What? One of the Ten Heroes?"
Lin Yixin's mouth fell open. "Bloody Finger … Bloody Finger is one of the Ten Heroes of the ruins of the Dharan Empire? How … how is this possible?"
Murong Mingyue tried her best to save Cloudway's life by casting Greater Healing one after another. However, Cloudway looked like he couldn't hold on any longer. His face was as pale as a sheet. No matter how strong a person was, there was no way they could survive without their heart.
… …
"Ahhhh …"
Cloudway howled in pain as tears flowed down his cheeks. He looked at Bloody Finger and murmured, "Ancestors, is this devil really one of the Ten Heroes?
Why … why is he so cruel? How can he treat human lives like dirt? How can an animal like him be one of the Ten Heroes … "
Bloody Finger laughed maniacally, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he raised his bloody hand and opened his mouth to reveal a mouthful of bestial fangs. He bit off more than half of Cloudway's heart, causing blood to splatter all over the ground. While chewing, Bloody Finger laughed maniacally. "Delicious, as expected of a royal bloodline. Thank you so much for the tribute, Your Highness Cloudway, hahahaha …"
Cloudway was in so much pain that he wanted to die. He could only watch as Bloody Finger ate his heart.
After licking away the last of the blood, Bloody Finger's expression changed drastically. He stared at Cloudway and yelled, "Alright, I'll tell you why I've fallen to become a devil!"
Ovia the Bloody Finger pointed at the imperial ruins behind him with a sinister expression. He shouted angrily, "To the north of this city, I, as the commander of the empire, was besieging a Night Creature's Dark Castle with an army of two hundred thousand. When we were about to breach the city walls, we ran out of food and supplies, but Duke Cangye and Duke Lin Nan refused to send reinforcements. Not only that, they refused to even send us food and supplies! My soldiers had no choice but to eat the grass on the ground and the rotting undead corpses on the ground. As for the rest of you, you're reading this normally!"
Ovia the Bloody Finger leaned close to Cloudway's face and said, "Do you know how painful that is?
My subordinates were heroes who never retreated from a bloody battle. We didn't want to eat the corpses of our brothers, and we didn't want to do that either. But what did we get in return?
The three adjutants I sent back to the empire to ask for reinforcements were accused by Duke Cangye of being a deserter and burned to death on the totem pole. The reason was that these pampered bastards were afraid that I would become arrogant because of my achievements. They were afraid that I would cover the sky with one hand, so they used the power of the undead to weaken my strength!
While speaking, Bloody Finger raised his head and trembled all over. "That was why I wanted revenge. I wanted to avenge my fallen brothers. I also made an agreement with the Purgatory. I would sell my soul in exchange for greater power!"
As he spoke, Bloody Finger cackled. "Later on, I led the army back to the empire and killed three of the Ten Heroes in one night, destroying the entire empire with a flip of my hand. I stabbed Duke Cangye a hundred and seven times, and I let the unevolved Ghouls rape his wife and daughter. I let the Corpse Wizard King set fire to the empire's barracks, and I let the Crypt Ghost tear apart the hearts of all the civilians. I want revenge, I want to break this unfair world. My brothers shed blood with their blades. Why should we let those filthy nobles enjoy the fruits of our labor alone? I, Bloody Finger, will personally destroy what I can't get!"
… …
"You … you devil …"
Cloudway was on the brink of death. He pointed at Bloody Finger and muttered, "The Ten Heroes were all generals of the empire just like you, and you killed them? You bastard!"
"Hahaha …"
Bloody Finger abruptly stomped on Cloudway's chest and said, "Those who submit to me will prosper, and those who oppose me will perish. Don't you understand this simple logic?"
… …
"Fuck, I can't take this anymore!"
I abruptly leaped backward and stomped on a giant rock. Using the recoil force, I leaped out of the ground and swung my Cyan Netherworld Sword at Ovia the Bloody Finger. I shouted angrily, "I don't care if you're a Purgatory Sovereign or not, you're going to die!"
"Hmm?"
Ovia the Bloody Finger was caught off guard, but he couldn't dodge in time. He raised his bloody arm to block the attack. "Oh, another fly, hehehe …"
Pfft!
Universe Break ignored 90% of the target's Defense, so not even a Purgatory Sovereign could block it. My sword penetrated Bloody Finger's arm and landed on his head!
“37987！”
Thud thud thud! Ovia the Bloody Finger was knocked back several steps by my attack. A trace of astonishment appeared in his eyes as he said, "Hmph, you're a powerful ant, aren't you? You're Cloudway's subordinate, aren't you?
I didn't think that Vanished God City would have such a young adventurer. You must be a top graduate of the Magic and Martial Arts Academy, right? "
"I haven't been in school for years!"
I raised my sword and unleashed Burning Blade Slash. Three flaming blades crashed into Ovia the Bloody Finger's body and left a trail of sparks in their wake.
Bang bang bang!
This time, Ovia the Bloody Finger didn't move an inch and took all three of my Burning Blade Slashes head-on!
“1928！”
“3282！”
“6226！”
… …
I despaired for a moment. What kind of Defense is this?