Summoning the Holy Sword

Chapter 1282: Void Storm

The powerful storm whistled past his ears.

Rhode darted ahead without looking back. Despite that, the Chaos fog around him vanished instantly as though it were drained. The constant rumblings of the ground were more than enough to show how critical the current situation was. At that moment, Rhode lifted Lesa with his left arm and Lapis with his right as he dashed forward. The wild void storm followed closely behind him, mercilessly giving chase.

Tsk, everything went well until a few moments ago.

Deep down, Rhode felt rather depressed. Things were going much smoother than expected. Even though he was concerned that Ion would return with his army upon realizing that something was amiss, he didn’t expect things to be so successful. He also didn’t face any issues after the Plane Destruction Bombs were set up. This made Rhode loosen up for a while. Since his mission was accomplished, the next step was naturally to evacuate. However, it was at that moment he realized that he neglected something crucial.

He underestimated the devastation of the Plane Destruction Bombs.

Although Lapis had ‘theoretically’ calculated the time, damage, and range of void that would occur after the series of explosions, that was only ‘theory’, after all. There was always a difference between reality and theory. Rhode initially decided to blend into the Chaos fog as quickly as possible and leave the place by teleporting. That way, they would be able to escape the disaster. However, he didn’t expect the devastation of the Plane Destruction Bombs to be far stronger than he expected. Before the teleportation process was completed, the Chaos fog was completely ripped apart by the void storm, revealing his group, which was laying low and relying on the fog for concealment. Without a choice, they had to rely upon their trusty legs and run for their dear lives. If they were to stop now, they would surely be swept into the void storm. And when that happened, they would be dead for sure.

It went without saying that Lesa and Lapis lacked physical strength, which was why Rhode carried them around his waist like sacks and sprinted without looking back. Although his strength was weakened, he was still a Spirit Swordsman, after all, and didn’t have any issues doing this. Besides, they were both delicate young ladies, so they weren’t too much of a burden even if he were to lift them at the same time. That was why the instant they landed on their feet, Rhode seized their slender waists and ran for his life.

“Hurry, hurry! Everyone keep up!”

Mini Bubble Gum followed closely by his side, extending and holding her arm down. Along with this action, an enormous, revolving white circle expanded abruptly with the young lady in the middle, shrouding everyone in an instant. With this spiritual effect, everyone’s speed increased to a whole new level. They could no longer see themselves running. The only thing they witnessed was their indistinct figures as they zoomed across the land.

Not quick enough! Hurry!

Rhode heard the loud rumbles of collapsing land behind him. At that moment, he spotted the vague silhouette of the steel fortress above the horizon in the distance. But this wasn’t enough. Even though it seemed as though they spent a lot of time fleeing, as a matter of fact, it wasn’t even 10 seconds after his group was revealed from the fog until now. The void storm had already devoured all the lands that were contaminated by Chaos. If one compared the entire land of Chaos to sliced bread, the void storm had almost swallowed this entire slice of bread in one bite, leaving only the sides. But despite that, they wouldn’t survive for long.

“What in the world? It’s never ending!”

In the blink of an eye, Rhode’s group dashed to the edge of the land of Chaos. But it was at that moment when they faced a huge obstacle: a bottomless trench of nearly 100 meters wide. This trench was none other than the one Rhode left behind when he fought against Ion earlier. Even though he failed, the damage he inflicted on the land using his powerful strength didn’t vanish. And now, it was this marking of a failure that obstructed their escape!

“Everyone, get ready to... Jump!”

But in the face of this wide trench, Rhode yelled without any hesitation, grabbed Lesa and Lapis in his arms, and leapt over it. The group who followed closely behind him also didn’t hesitate as they jumped straight across it.

At the same time, Canary spread her arms apart and a mysterious, elemental rune appeared between her hands. Then, green gales emerged and formed transparent wings behind everyone’s back, carrying them forward in a speedy dash like jet engines.

“Ssss...!”

At that moment, Rhode was finally in the mood to turn back briefly. But after witnessing the scenery behind him, he couldn’t help but suck in a cold breath. The vast land was shattering and crumbling in pieces. Deep, purple lightning clapped along with ear-deafening bellows from the void as they slammed onto the ground. Shortly after, along with a piercing ray of light, the solid ground fissured, disintegrated, and disappeared gradually in the spiraling storm. The shining purple was like a pigment that penetrated the darkness, tinting it with a whole new color.

This is ridiculous!

Rhode wasn’t willing to be struck by that purple lightning to see whether he was lucky enough to survive. Because that wasn’t just any ordinary lightning, but a spatial crack instead. As soon as one was hit by it, one would most likely be swept into the torrent of broken space and could forget about leaving. One also wouldn’t know where one would end up in it. Rhode had suffered from a transmigration once and didn’t wish for a second experience...

Hurry, hurry!

Even though the group had the aid of their wings, the thunderous lightning still closed in on them quickly. The flickering purple brilliance grew brighter, and the loud rumbles almost caught up with Rhode!

“S-Sir Rhode!”

“Lapis, Lesa, hang on tight!”

Along with Lapis’s scream, Rhode yelled and swung out his right arm abruptly, and a card appeared swiftly in his hand. Shortly after, the Spirit Bird emerged, expanded its wings, and a dazzling bolt of lightning flickered on its body.

In the blink of an eye, Rhode transformed into a blinding light that streaked across the sky, arriving at the edge of the bottomless trench in an instant. Almost at the same time, a deep purple lightning bolt struck from the space crack and blasted where he was at earlier. If he were slower by one second, perhaps he would have been headed to another world with Lapis and Lesa for a brand new start.

Bam!

Rhode crash-landed on the ground and continued to sprint ahead without patting off the dust on his clothes. Lapis and Lesa who were in his arms couldn’t even speak a word. The violent air currents along the extreme speed forced the two young ladies to turn their heads around and close their eyes to resist the winds and dust. At that moment, they had as though boarded a speeding car. Apart from grabbing onto Rhode’s clothes with all their life, they couldn’t do anything else!

Rumble!

Yet another thunderclap. The distant sky turned pitch-black and large patches of space were completely twisted and shattered like a smashed skylight. The void storm overflowed and tinted everything in sight like a deadly poison.

“Haa... Haa... Haa...”

Rhode looked over his shoulder after the ground was no longer trembling. After ensuring that he had left the proximity of the void storm, he turned over, plopped on the ground palely, and let go of the two young ladies. Even though he didn’t witness it, Lapis clearly saw the entire explosion process. Although she calculated and understood how strong the devastation of the Plane Destruction Bombs were, there was a huge difference between the data in her head and reality. After she witnessed the storm that almost destroyed the world, she sat on the ground, drenched in sweat, and couldn’t stand on her weakened knees. Her expression turned incredibly ashen, especially after witnessing this nightmarish scene that left her shuddering. Earlier on, when she was locked in Rhode’s arm, she saw the purple lightning bolts forming a chain and pursuing her. She felt as though she were gripped in the hand by a terrifying monster that widened its jaw and was about to devour her. If it weren’t for Rhode who transformed into a lightning bolt that zoomed past it, perhaps she wouldn’t be able to see the sky again.

On the other side, Lesa also gasped for air subtly though her expression seemed as peaceful as ever, as if she weren’t terrified or anything. She seemed more like she was exhausted from the earlier ‘intense activity’ instead.

“Damn it! I can’t take it anymore, Leader! I almost died! Almost!”

At the same time, Mini Bubble Gum cursed, dove from the sky, and plunged head-first into the ground. She looked like she had fallen to her death as she didn’t twitch at all. After a few moments, she extended and swung her arm weakly.

“This is crazy, Leader. I swear I will not do this a second time. Next time, I would rather let my original self experience this since I can’t take it no more. That damn storm keeps chasing after my butt...”

“...”

On the other side, although Canary didn’t say a word, judging from her expression it was apparent that she held the same opinion. After all, the void storm was so powerful that it was simply beyond the limits of what humans could influence. It was just like humans facing a tsunami: they were completely powerless. The only thing humans could do was to escape in despair and put their lives on the line with luck. This experience could never be considered great for anybody.

“Rhode!”

At that moment, along with an anxious calling, Erin descended from the sky. As soon as she witnessed the crowd laying on the ground in great disorder, her eyes glinted with worries. But after noticing Rhode waving at her weakly, she felt relieved. After his group escaped the pursuit of Chaos, they regained spiritual communication with one another. Erin rushed over after acquiring his location through Orchid Heart. It was at that moment when she heaved a sigh of relief after seeing him personally.

“Are you alright, Rhode?”

“I’m fine. We’re lucky this time that everything went rather well.”

Rhode said, gazing at the steel city walls in perfect condition. Although Erin didn’t report the situation yet, just this scene alone was enough for Rhode to guess the situation on the defensive line.

“Seems like your side is doing great too.”

Upon hearing Rhode’s question, Erin nodded and recounted the events that happened earlier on her side to him.

“Yes, Miss Orchid Heart helped us a lot. At one point, even though the situation on our side was really harsh, thanks to the help from Miss Orchid Heart and the adventurers you brought over, we were finally able to secure the defensive line.”

“That’s good to hear...”

After hearing Erin’s report, Rhode nodded and replied plainly. Although he wanted to ask further about Ion, Ion was her big brother, after all. Even though it was almost as if they had cut ties with each other, the question Rhode wanted to inquire about was still relatively awkward for her. Since this matter wasn’t handled by Erin alone, Rhode could still ask Orchid Heart after he headed back later.

But it was a pity that not everyone could discern what others thought from their body language.

“Phew... We finally succeeded after almost losing our lives... By the way, where’s that idiot, Ion? Hahaha, surely he wasn’t engulfed by that explosion and fried to death, right?”

After resting for a while and struggling to get up to her feet, Mini Bubble Gum peered out at the surroundings and burst out laughing, totally neglecting Erin’s presence... Well, this rascal always behaved this way...

“Big Brother is...”

Perhaps due to Mini Bubble Gum’s obvious expression as though she were hoping for Ion to die sooner, the good-tempered Erin couldn’t help but turn speechless. Even though Ion did something terrible to her mother and their current relationship wasn’t any different from sworn enemies, the sight of others gloating over her big brother’s death left her uncomfortable. Fortunately, the moon princess—no, moon queen—wasn’t glass-hearted and wouldn’t be full of remorse over one’s remarks. She knew that Ion was their enemy. Besides, Mini Bubble Gum’s standpoint and identity predetermined that she wouldn’t be polite toward Ion. That was why Erin didn’t say much, but responded plainly instead.

“Regarding Big Brother—no, Ion—we aren’t too sure about his situation. What we do know is that earlier, Ion seemed to realize that Rhode and you guys were in the Darkness Capital and withdrew his army. But before he successfully backed down from the battle, the explosions happened. And now...”

Erin said and couldn’t help but lift her head. She gazed at the spatial crack of the void storm that was dyed in deep purple and shining like a constellation of stars. In the center, the deep, pitch-black presence hovered silently in the center of the void.

Although the nail-sized black hole was far away from her right now, Erin couldn’t help but feel a chill run down her spine. As one of the Creator Dragons, she clearly felt how terrifying the power of ‘nothingness’ was. As soon as one was captured by this power, one definitely wouldn’t be able to escape the fate of being annihilated.

“I guess... Perhaps Ion was swept into that explosion. He shouldn’t be able to survive that, I suppose.”

Erin said and her voice revealed a hint of sadness. No matter what, Ion was her big brother. Even though she also wished to see him dead, she would have liked to do it herself, to seek revenge for her mother, and not end things like this...

Boom!

Suddenly, a ear-deafening explosion sounded and captured everyone’s attention. They lifted their heads and turned in the direction of the explosion. Then, the expressions of everyone, including Rhode, changed abruptly.

On the edge of the void sky, a gigantic, battered dragon flapped its wings and landed on the ground violently.

Shortly after, its furious bellow rang in the sky.

“You think you can defeat me with that trick of yours? Lowly maggots! You’re all gonna die!”