Chapter 293: The Last Stand

Feris stood frozen, his heart racing as his gaze darted between the lifeless bodies of Mirra and Vorn. Both elders—mighty, revered 8-star powerhouses—now lay motionless on the battlefield. Normally, their ability to heal with Nether Devour would have revived them in seconds, but not this time.The skill that should have been their lifeline had failed. Panic clawed at Feris's mind as the horrifying realization sank in: something was very, very wrong.

His breath quickened, and he instinctively turned toward Velkar, hoping his fellow elder had a plan, a way out of this nightmare. "What do we do?" Feris asked, his voice trembling, betraying the fear he desperately tried to hide. But when his eyes finally landed on the spot where Velkar had been… it was empty.

Velkar was gone.

[Ah, typical, isn't it? Abandon ship when things get rough. I can't say I'm surprised!] the system chimed in, its tone dripping with arrogant amusement.

Lucas's smirk deepened, his expression a perfect picture of mockery. "If you're looking for your friend, he's already run off." Enjoy exclusive chapters from mvl

Feris's face twisted, a mixture of rage and terror. "That… coward," he spat, his voice shaking. His fists clenched as he cursed Velkar under his breath, his mind racing for a way to escape this on his own. He turned his gaze back to Lucas, dread filling his eyes as the full weight of his situation settled in.

"Please, release me!" Feris pleaded, his voice cracking with desperation. "I… I didn't know these mana stones belonged to you! It was a mistake, I swear!" His words came out in a frantic rush, each one laced with terror. "I'll leave right now, just let me go."

Lucas's expression didn't shift. He took a slow, deliberate step forward, his calm demeanor only intensifying the suffocating tension that now hung in the air. His eyes gleamed with dark amusement as he looked down at Feris, watching him squirm. "Is that so?" Lucas's voice was low, dripping with mockery.

[He's really trying to beg his way out of this, huh? Pathetic.] the system chuckled, its voice filled with arrogant derision. [Honestly, it's almost entertaining watching him grovel. Almost.]

Feris's face twisted with fear, but he couldn't help the flicker of hope that sparked at Lucas's measured words. "Yes, yes! It was all a mistake!" He forced a pitiful smile, trying to sound convincing, though his eyes betrayed his fear. "Just let me go, and I swear, you'll never hear from me again."

Lucas tilted his head slightly, his smirk never fading. "And why should I believe you?" he asked, his tone cold, deliberate. He took another step toward Feris, his presence growing more menacing with each movement. "After all, you were just moments away from stealing what's mine."

[And let's not forget trying to kill you just a minute ago!] the system added with a shameless chuckle. [Does he really think you're that gullible? I almost feel bad for him. Almost.]

Feris's breathing quickened as Lucas drew closer, his heart pounding in his chest. "No, no, it wasn't like that! I didn't know!" His voice grew frantic, his composure crumbling under the pressure. He could feel the walls closing in around him, his options shrinking with every second.

Lucas remained unmoved. "And now, you expect me to simply let you walk away?" His tone was flat, devoid of any empathy. The smirk on his face grew, his eyes locked on Feris like a predator toying with its prey.

Feris's voice dropped to a whisper, barely able to keep his fear in check. "Please…"

As Lucas moved closer, closing the distance with a measured calm, Feris's fear twisted into rage. His eyes widened, and in a moment of wild desperation, he acted.

He wasn't going to die without a fight. His hand shot forward, and with a flick of his wrist, he fired a dart of shimmering green liquid—a deadly poison that glittered ominously in the light.

"Die, you fool!" Feris screamed, his voice crackling with triumph, his eyes blazing with the delusion of victory. "You walked right into my trap! This poison is our special creation—Melting Poison. It melts through anything!"

The liquid splashed across Lucas's body, and for a brief moment, Feris's lips twisted into a victorious grin. But as the seconds passed, that grin faltered, then disappeared altogether.

Lucas remained completely unharmed. The poison, meant to melt anything it touched, had done absolutely nothing. Lucas's expression hadn't even shifted, the calm smile still resting on his lips as he glanced down at the liquid dripping off his skin like harmless water.

"Too bad," Lucas said softly, his voice almost gentle. "It doesn't affect me."

[What a joke!] the system laughed, its voice ringing with shameless amusement. [He thought a little poison could melt you? Oh, this is priceless.]

Feris's eyes widened in horror as he watched his last hope vanish. "No… no, this can't be happening," he muttered, his voice breaking under the weight of disbelief.

His heart pounded in his chest as he scrambled for a final option. Desperation gripping him, he tried to summon Puppet Rend, hoping to launch one last attack—anything to save himself. seaʀᴄh thё nôvel_Fire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

But something was wrong.

He couldn't feel it—the familiar surge of nether energy wasn't there. His connection to his puppets, the source of his strength, had been severed. He stood there, helpless, the realization sinking in.

"I… I can't…" Feris stammered, his eyes wide with panic. He tried again, reaching for his powers, but nothing came.

[Aw, poor guy. His toys stopped working.] The system's mocking voice dripped with cruel amusement. [Didn't see that one coming, huh?]

"No! No!" Feris shouted, his voice cracking as the weight of his impending death pressed down on him. His hands trembled as he tried to summon any power he had left, but it was too late. His legs felt weak beneath him, his body betraying him as despair swallowed his heart.

Lucas, calm and unbothered, raised his hand, the familiar darkness of Void Rend gathering around his fingertips. "It's over."

With a flick of his wrist, Lucas unleashed the Void Rend. The dark, rift-like energy tore through Feris's body, severing him from life in an instant. His body crumpled to the ground, joining his fallen comrades in lifeless silence.

The battlefield was quiet once more, the bodies of the once-mighty 8-star elders strewn across the ground. And standing above them, victorious, was Lucas, his expression calm, his power undeniable.

Far from the battlefield, Velkar was running, his breath ragged as he pushed himself to escape. His mind raced as he tried to comprehend the carnage he had witnessed.

"Who… who the hell is he?" Velkar muttered to himself, his voice shaking with disbelief and terror. "How could he kill the others so easily?"