Chapter 199: Ambush.

Chapter 199: Ambush.

My thought process was interrupted by a sudden lurch that ripped me right out of the opened portal. For a moment, my mind went blank as I tried to react to this sudden change. With a dulled sense of urgency, I noticed that Emeri had been pulled back with me, leaving us both sprawled across the churchs small courtyard.

I tried to bring myself to stand, tried to will my body to react, but stopped when I realised that I didnt care? Why? Wasnt I supposed to escape? How come I didnt want to-

Like a hammer hitting an anvil, my mind broke free of whatever ailment it had been inflicted with and my thoughts were returned to me. My renewed clarity came accompanied by the realisation that Emeri and I were in danger, a lot of it.

I looked over and noticed the fogginess of her eyes, no recognition being visible within their depths.

I sprung to my feet and dashed over, picking her listless body up by the hip and making for the portal as quickly as my skills and stats could take me.

Unfortunately, the origin of the mind-numbing effect decided to show herself at that very moment. Blessed singing given voice by a young woman filled the area, spreading a golden sheen wherever the sound travelled. As this sheen made contact with the portal, it closed abruptly and created a violent ripple in space that tore through the remainder of the small church, the corrupting purple cracks spreading across the stone as if they were veins before pulverising the majority of it into dust.

As the singing became louder, that low hum from earlier returned, slowing my thoughts considerably. Emeri was having a worse time of it, however. Recognition seemed to be returning to her by the second, but the two clashing energies were creating an internal war that distracted her.

I reached out with my mana sense, getting a feel for the lone newcomer, but was filled with a sense of dread as I realised that we were dealing with a tier 5. Right. The bishop.

So this was it, then. The end. I couldnt overcome a tier 5. Not even with my new class and skill it was simply impossible but I would have to try.

Dalius men had fallen victim to the ethereal chanting as well, but the tier 4 leaders were starting to come back to their senses.

The young woman that floated in the air above the island had noticed, though. A fiendish smirk spread on her face as her song became chaotic, causing her still-ensnared victims to spasm before bursting into fountains of blood unprompted.

Emeri, too, was starting to shake. Her throes intensified as the bishop continued to escalate her song. It wouldnt be long before Emeri, too, succumbed.

In a fit of rage, I apparated. The bishop seemed to notice my disappearance and reacted to my presence by releasing a shrill screech in my direction when I reappeared above her.

The screech passed through my body but somehow still managed to affect my mana, making it boil and destroy my insides.

[Dark embodiment] repaired me enough to use a breaking swipe, though. The bishop huffed and seemingly casually lifted a hand to block it within milliseconds. That was fine. All I needed was a distraction- my sword made contact and I felt [Unstable breaking swipe] pull more mana into itself, before creating a large explosion which threw me into the air.

The resulting blast blinded the bishop, but she seemed unfazed otherwise. I took that opportunity to retreat back to Emeris side and try to make another run for it, but was stopped as a new song began.

This time, the sound created a barrier that trapped us within a certain distance of the bishop.

Thankfully, Emeri had made it through the mind flaying with her life. She was starting to lift herself back up and gave me a guilty glance, as if she was responsible for what had happened to her.

By now, Dalius men had recovered as well and were quick to launch a counteroffensive by attempting every single one of their ranged skills. Unfortunately, they were completely ineffective at their goal as a barrier had been erected around the bishop as well.New novel chapters are published on

I need to act, and fast. But would I be given enough time to put my plan into action? What if they interrupted-

Suddenly, a loud bang resounded. After a quick glance, I saw that Emeri had broken out of the bubble, leaving her captor wide-eyed, shocked by her accomplishment.

Seeing this as the only chance I was going to get, I began to activate [Dark pursuer], keeping one skill in mind.

A black line was drawn in the air before me, which was then torn into a larger hole. A single arm spilled out, grasping the edge of the portal and pulling it back to widen the gaping maw. The arm was followed by the rest of the body in a few violent motions, revealing my summoned elemental in all its glory.

The dark pursuer stood there, aimlessly, before I gave it my order.

Distract that lady there long enough for us to escape! I shouted, simultaneously feeling my body being weakened as one of my core skills was absorbed into the armoured titan.

Upon hearing its order, the dark pursuer shot into action and sprinted at the bishop, its sword making the air around howl as the winds parted before it.

Of the bishop was wide-eyed before, she now became slack-jawed by the sudden turning of the tides. From her face, I could tell that she was disgusted by my elemental. It wasnt just dislike No, this was hate Nonetheless, she seemed confident that this interloper would only be a temporary distraction and swatted at the air as if to kill a bug.

Another shrill scream, more intense than any other that I had yet seen, appeared out of nowhere and crashed into the pursuer with physical force, shredding half of its upper body instantly. The waves around the bay shook with the sound.

Then, a single second later, the pursuers body reformed, leaving it without a scratch. [Dark embodiment] would keep the elemental alive long enough for us to escape.

Emeri took the opportunity to duck between the dark pursuers legs as the bishop continued its assault with renewed rage. As she saw Emeri run, she attempted to set up another barrier but was interrupted by the pursuer, who punted her into the sky.

Dalius men attempted to destroy the pursuer and capture Emeri, but were ineffective at both as I, too, had entered the fray, riding on top of Revan.

I pulled Emeri up by the wrist and launched myself into the sky, leaving Revan to distract the remainder of Dalius men.

As we made some distance, the battle between the pursuer and the bishop raged on.

Mind skills were ineffective against it, as it lacked any free will, while it quickly recovered from any wound with [Dark embodiment]. The beast kept on fighting and repeatedly charged at the bishop each time she attempted to attack us instead, using its speed and power to lay waste to what remained of the small island.

Eventually, the landmass began to sink into the sea, pulling the pursuer into the waves with it.

Thankfully, we escaped to the edge of the golden sheen right at that moment and called for a portal, which appeared with eagerness.

Neither of us said a word as we headed through and watched it close behind us.

Dalius men were dead. Half of our force had been swallowed by the waves. What made it worth it for Dalius to go this far?