In the heart of the ruins' central area, the earth continued to tremble, growing more intense with time. Walls that were originally crumbling became even more scattered and broken.
"Toyennes, your end has come."
Accompanied by a commanding shout from an unknown source, the soil at a certain point in the middle burst upward. A pillar of water broke through the multiple obstacles and surged up, resembling a high-pressure fountain erupting from the ground.
The momentum of the rising water column was unstoppable, and in a short while, it connected with the runes array membrane above the island, forming a pillar that seemed to hold up the heavens.
Above the castle, as the island's runes array membrane emerged, the castle's defensive arrays also became visible, looking like two bowls of different sizes inverted upon the ground.
Surrounding the towering water column, mist and chill began to spread. Ice started forming on the outside of the water column, while deep cyan energy rapidly ascended within, soon infecting the island's runes array membrane and spreading outward.
In just two to three minutes, a world-shattering change occurred within the island.
As specks of green appeared on the castle's protective arrays, Toyennes finally arrived near the towering water column. Billerie was already there, waiting for him, standing between him and the column.
"Billerie, such actions constitute a betrayal of the Danaila World."
"To see you off, all is worth it."
At this moment, Billerie underwent further transformation. Compared to a few hours before, his humanoid serpent form had swelled to at least twice its size—taller than a two-story building—covered in scales, with green and white mists swirling around him, making him look like a demon that had crawled out of hell.
He emitted a rich aura that didn't belong to the Danaila World.
The scent similar to that of the Curse of Demon's Resentment made Toyennes particularly wary, "Is this power your trump card? Tell me, how did you do it? If you tell me, I'll let bygones be bygones and promise to pass on all my knowledge to you. Everything I have will be yours."
It also filled him with surprise; he saw a glimmer of hope for a complete solution to the Curse of Demon's Resentment.
"Hahaha, feeling scared now?" To Billerie, this was the plea of his enemy, bringing him immense satisfaction, and his laughter quickly turned grim, "Too late, killing you is all I desire."
Toyennes's expression grew stern, "If that's the case, I'll kill you first and then observe from below, or learn from your body."
In an instant, the atmosphere around the two became rigid to the point of snapping.
"Die!"
Billerie launched his attack recklessly, his massive tail sweeping across like a whip column with tremendous force.
Toyennes had anticipated this. He quickly stepped back while tossing a glass tube. The glass tube struck the snake tail and immediately a great amount of lava burst forth, spreading widely and enveloping an area of about four to five meters around it.
This was a blast potion he had meticulously prepared.
"See? It didn't collapse."
Upon hearing his words, Pearney became even more indignant, "With such a big tremor just now, it would be strange if it didn't collapse. Why didn't you warn me a few minutes earlier? Fortunately, we hadn't gone far, otherwise, we might have been trapped under a fissure, not even needing a grave."
The cave had been excavated by Pearney before, and luckily the entrance was small. Otherwise, the debris that had fallen could have filled the cave, which was now blocked.
This place was not suitable for a long stay; staying too long could result in asphyxiation.
The two began to consider how to get out. Digging upwards, there was probably about four meters to go.
Ivan went to the entrance and listened carefully on all sides of the cave.
"Can you hear anything?"
"Quiet."
In the end, he lay on the ground for a long time without getting up. The faint sound of wind from below suggested there was a large space down there.
After standing up, he instructed, "Dig down, it's up to you."
Pearney heard this and refused, accusingly, "Mr. Ivan, what happened to your gentlemanly manners, letting a lady do the digging?"
To her accusation, Ivan's expression did not change, as he pointed out a fact, "Don't tell me you dug out this cave with your hands. Get to work; we'll run out of air soon."
"Hmph."
Of course, Pearney wouldn't dig with her hands. Her element affinity was, in order, earth, water, wind, and she had a natural gift for manipulating Earth-type particles. With the motion of her hands, the surrounding soil became lively, automatically moving from below to above.
The speed wasn't fast, but it was stable and not prone to collapsing.
"With such sharp hearing, you must have practiced an upper class Breathing Method." She was not one to easily concede and quickly pointed out something unusual. "Where did you find it? You're really lucky."
"Found it."
Ivan did not deny it.
Pearney listened and pursed her lips, clearly not believing.
Within minutes, she stopped her work because through a crack on one side, she could see light and sensed an unusual breath that made her feel very uncomfortable.
Pearney didn't dare to act rashly.