Chapter 236 - The sudden enemy

Alex, Sara, Schnee, Remia, and Stella felt goosebumps going down their bodies as the deluge of red energy gathered around them.

The hungry demons sucked the red mist around them, bringing forth this unknown technique. No one had predicted such a density of mana coming out from them, to say nothing of the perfect union.

And that was indeed the case.

The hungry demons were a bunch of peculiar individuals. Most were selfish and mainly thought about their own goals and fears. However, this energy came from an unimaginable source, which couldn’t be explained in a few words.

This power made them allies, tightly entwining their energies into one powerful skill…

“They can’t take more of us… They can’t leave unscathed!” the hungry demons recited in tandem, not caring about the villain guild around them.

Marvel stared at them in shock. He felt like crying inwardly because he was totally rendered useless. He felt some joy from seeing all of them getting beaten up. But now, he felt fear once again.

If all players were heroes and the hungry demons were antagonists, how could players match such a union and power? It didn’t matter that both of them were immortal; the hungry demons already had more advantages than players!

‘And this guy… His girlfriend babe was too weak… Now, I can see the high-quality women around him… He’s different too… Too different!’ Marvel nearly fell into a depression as he realized how different he was from legendary class players.

He envied Alex and had his eyes on all of them, yet he mostly hovered his gaze on Stella’s face.

She floated with her wings set free, gathering her power en masse. Her holiness took over her as she focused on holy shields and supportive skills. Her goal was to take the whole brunt of the hungry demon’s skill.

Her countenance was far from a slothful one. She flapped her wings on her own, saving her mana for her skills. She also focused highly, not using anyone instead. She slowly shed her slothfulness, becoming the most active member of her family party; for the sake of her beloved and her sisters.

From her curves, golden streaks ran away, swathing everyone. Her weaker version of [Holy Pillar] came out from her, becoming the blinding shield that protected everyone she held dearly.

Stella flew above everyone like a goddess standing on the highest podium. She perspired heavily while mana escaped her body in abundance. Her already copious amount of blue energy was relatively low as she poured it all into her skill.

And then, Stella screamed out of her lungs, “Inferior Holy Pillar!”

BOOM!

Stella’s skill solidified, embracing everyone with a warm touch. Even Sara, who had dullahan blood, felt nothing but a warm hug. She smiled brightly, feeling an immense pride toward her little sister.

“NOCTER STRACH!” the hungry demons recited the last verse of their ultimate sacrifice, calling all their [Ultimate Skills] into one demonic beam.

Their target was naturally Alex’s party, yet they couldn’t help but raise their eyes at Stella, who was at the very peak. It made sense, however. She was the key and the lady behind the golden pillar.

BOOM!

And at last, the red might clashed with the holy pillar. In the beginning, Stella’s sacred pillar didn’t even move. Every red energy splashed in four directions as if water couldn’t move the immovable wall.

However, after a few breaths, the red beam caused the first crack. The crack was quite vast, spanning from the middle, close to Stella’s location.

The hungry demons focused their might on that crack, filling it slowly. A few seconds later, the second and the third popped out.

The cracks spread across the whole holy pillar, yet Stella’s face remained the same. She looked stern, confident, and not scared of her own life. She wasn’t worried about her beloved, to say nothing of her sisters.

That show of ultimate power and defense continued for one minute. However, in everyone’s eyes, even the villains, that minute felt like an eternity. Indeed, it was their longest one minute ever.

“Fucking losers,” Marvel commented as his face basked in the holy light, “You couldn’t even destroy a part of it.”

His eyes dropped on all the hungry demons sprawled on the ground. They had no strength to move. Their health points were at a dangerous point, and their stamina was reduced to less than one percent.

They all believed in themselves, not wanting to disappear after their last attempt to kill Alex and his wives. They might’ve been naive, yet their show of confidence was quite commendable.

No one could fight without even a hint of confidence, after all.

Marvel and his buddies sneered quickly, of course. They had so many experience bags that their hearts jumped in joy. It didn’t matter whether Marvel couldn’t use most of his skills; he just needed one poison blast to kill many.

But at that time, Alex, Schnee, and Sara rushed out from the holy pillar. They were a family, so no holiness stopped them. And as the sacred pillar stood firm, Remia used her forest to take a grasp of Stella’s exhausted body.

She climbed up the tree, then whispered to Stella, “You’ve worked the most so far, Stella. You are… so awesome.”

Remia’s feelings were genuine as she knew Stella. Everyone who knew the winged girl knew about her laziness and slothful tendencies. But for Alex’s sake, Stella took the skies; she took the brunt of the ultimate skill and worked hard for their survival, going against her nature.

Stella felt mixed feelings as she stared at Remia. She couldn’t understand that odd feeling within her heart. However, it felt good to be praised. After Remia’s lovely words, Alex surely would give her head a pat; that was worth all the effort.

Stella closed her eyes while Remia kept her in her arms. At the same time, Alex and his girls gathered all the hungry demons in their prison. Of course, Marvel was caught up, but he was a particular case.

He was tied to the tree, his treatment worse as he looked like a clown.

His buddies died, of course.

And as Alex crossed his arms, ready to question him, Remia’s sudden scream rang out in his ears.

“STELLA!” Remia’s tone was akin to thunder, alerting everyone.

Alex quickly raised his eyes, only to see Stella with a sword piercing her arm. Just in nick time, Remia used her skills to change Stella’s position. She, and everyone else, couldn’t locate the unknown existence.

Even worse, the man with a mask on could cross through Stella’s holy pillar, which still worked despite the user having no mana and stamina. It would last a few minutes, becoming a safe zone for Stella and her family, or so she thought.

“You bastard!” Alex shouted while running back to the holy pillar. His eyes were locked on the man who hid his appearance through long robes. He had a mask on his face, and his stats were hidden.

‘His level and class must be of the highest quality. Otherwise, he wouldn’t just cross through Stella’s skill effortlessly,’ Alex analyzed the man.

Of course, the sudden enemy didn’t dally. He raised his sword once again, utilizing a skill before Alex and others arrived.

Remia bit her lips, called her [Small Boi], then used her body to protect Stella, “You will wound her… only over my dead body!”

She was filled with the resolution to protect Stella.