Chapter 794: Chapter 615: Battle of the Holy Domain_4
This is the attack method of “Imagining Overlap”: the Swindler, through regular contemplation, presets a template that “Ash is attacking”, and when needed, simply overlaps it with the current reality, turning contemplation into reality to create the effect of ‘countless Ashes attacking the enemy’.
Perhaps some might wonder why not imagine a more powerful template? There are two reasons: one is if the Mage does not understand the template well enough, then the damage will be greatly reduced—for example, Igula could imagine a dragon breathing fire, but at best, the effect could roast a ralla-fattie; secondly, if the strength of the template in reality increases, then the effectiveness of the “Imagining Overlap” technique will also enhance, which means if Ash’s fighting power increases, then Igula’s Miracle will become even more ferocious.
Ash is the only person Igula knows willing to show off his strength without any reservations, and his speed of leveling up is as preposterous as Tamasi’s battle power. Using him as a template is both the only choice and the best one.
By the time Igula was showing his power, Harvey had already silently fused with Alice, transforming into the non-living and non-dead Ghost King.
Although his body was of Ice Cold Flowing Fire, he still anticipated the moment it would burn out.
His right hand materialized into a gigantic skeletal dragon’s head and then let out a spray, gushing forth a black-green Aging Breath!
Partial Dragon Witch Ghoul Transformation!
Although Harvey had not yet completely unlocked the second to last form of the “Ghost King Chains,” the ‘Dragon Witch Ghoul’, he was already capable of using part of its form in actual combat. The Dragon Witch Ghoul was a Holy Sanctuary Level being, and its ‘Aging Breath’ was almost as devastating as the waters of the Flowing Gold River, capable of aging everything rapidly!
The Divine Sect Mages toughed out the damage from Igula and Harvey with the Holy Domain, looking quite embarrassed. Ash was in charge of defense, while Igula and Harvey were in charge of the attack, which meant they each expended one share of Magic Power; however, the three of them had to both attack and defend with the Holy Domain, effectively paying two shares of Magic Power.
Although the calculus wasn’t that simple and the outcome of a real fight was uncertain—after all, the trio had only just advanced to the Holy Sanctuary Level not long ago and certainly didn’t have much Magic Power—it was apparent to everyone that a fight would not yield any advantage.
So they simultaneously retreated to a safe distance, exchanged glances, and the Fire Technique Holy Sanctuary Mage said, “Return the messenger to us.”
Not give, but return. This choice of word made it clear that they wanted to reason rather than fight.
Igula was about to agree immediately, as they really had no need for Gwen and were also looking for an opportunity to discard her. Now that the Fire Technique Holy Sanctuary Mage needed a way out, they could throw away this burden they had picked up; why not do so?
However, Gwen still hid behind Igula, her hands tightly clenching the sleeve of his clothes. Although she didn’t speak a word, this time she looked up and stared intently at the Swindler, her gaze reminding Igula of those dirty stray cats and dogs.
I don’t like pets… Igula subconsciously looked towards Ash, only to find Ash quietly watching him.
Negotiating for the team had always been Igula’s responsibility, Ash always deferred to his decisions in such matters.
No, Igula thought, when he didn’t immediately make a decision but looked towards Ash, it was really just to seek the Cult Leader’s support, so he could shift the responsibility away.
So… it’s all Ash’s fault.
Amidst Gwen’s anxious gaze, Igula grabbed her arm and said assertively to the Fire Technique Holy Sanctuary Mage, “She is a prisoner and source of information we’ve captured; we can’t just return her to you—that would mean when the Mercury Wooden Horse broke ties with us, we were already in a state of hostility, and you actually think you can take our spoils?”
The Fire Technique Holy Sanctuary Mage was hot-headed and seemed ready to start a fight again upon hearing this, but the Wind Skill Holy Sanctuary Mage stopped him, “If we are going to fight, let’s leave the Dead City and then fight. So much time has passed, and there hasn’t been any other movement in the Dead City, maybe there’s still a chance to leave—”
“There has been a movement,” Harvey said. “The Sanctuary effect has disappeared.”
Everyone was startled and realized that although they had just engaged in combat, they hadn’t triggered the Slowdown effect of the “Sanctuary.”
Although the immediate danger hadn’t arrived, a sense of unease lingered in everyone’s minds. Ash and his companions immediately flew towards the outskirts of the city, with the Fire Technique Holy Sanctuary Mages exchanging glances before following from a distance.
Soon, they arrived at the edge of the Dead City and encountered an invisible air barrier—no matter how they flew, they couldn’t break through the boundary.
Naturally, the Holy Sanctuary Mages didn’t believe in the impossible and tried to break through the barrier using their Miracles, and even the Black Crow attempted with the Gray Fox Blade, but with no effect.
Ash touched the air barrier and found it wasn’t ‘hard’ but rather ‘slippery.’ When they tried to fly through, it wasn’t like mosquitos hitting a glass window, it was more like they were sliding back down a slick slope.
This feeling reminded Ash of the sloping end of the Flowing Gold River deep underground in the night…
“Right,” he immediately realized, “where’s the Silver Lamp?”