Chương 66: Chapter 65 — What Was That Again?

"Night—Demon—Hunt—!!!" Balana roared. Ink-black night energy spread fast from him, soon blanketing the whole region around Flying Saber Town. [Night Demon Hunt: At night the Night Demon race is in its element, swift in attack and movement! Strengthens the Night Demon Bloodline, +50% movement speed and +100% attack speed!] System: [Ding! Note! All Night Demon members' movement speed +50%! Attack speed +100%!]"Night—Descends—!!!"

After Night Demon Hunt, Balana spread his hands, shook his wings, and flew skyward; countless threads of night energy poured down from him, forming a dark barrier that wrapped all of Flying Saber Town. [Night Descends: Create a dark barrier blocking all light, letting night-power be wielded to its fullest! Night power +100%; all enemies lose their vision, basic attacks have a chance to miss!] System: [Ding! Dark barrier formed—your vision is lost!] System: [Ding! Within the dark barrier, all Night Demons' abilities +100%!]"Holy hell!" Ryan cursed inwardly. What even is this Dark Night Demon King? Each skill more monstrous than the last—buffs, abilities, the works! How's anyone supposed to live? A Calamity Legion chieftain's strength is no idle boast. Luckily, Night Descends only sealed sight; touch and hearing remained normal, or Ryan would have had no recourse.

Even so, while his last-life experience let him move freely in the barrier, others couldn't—and the townsfolk, crushed by the strength-surged demon army, took heavy losses.

"We can't hold!"

"Chief! What do we do?" The crowd wailed, at a loss. Blinded, they were routed as if struck a blow to the head.

"This… it's over… all over…" Listening to the ceaseless wails, Lee's heart turned to ash. He longed to stand and protect every resident—but he knew well that, as he was, he could do nothing. The King's strength was simply too great—great enough that he couldn't summon the courage to resist.

"Brother Lee—you're not giving up, are you?" Lee's sighing drew Ryan's notice at once.

"I…"

"Don't worry. Night Descends is a nuisance, but for us it may be a turning point," Ryan said gravely.

"You've practiced the saber for years—you must be skilled at locating by sound?"

"I am. But the others—""Then sense it now—the King's position." The corner of Ryan's mouth curled. By rights, after casting his skill the King should have struck them at once—yet so much time had passed with no move at all. Odd indeed. Sensing carefully, Ryan finally caught the trick.

"This—why isn't he moving?" Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. Lee started; he could feel the figure in the sky kept gathering night energy, yet the King himself was fixed in place, motionless.

"To maintain the barrier, surely?" Ryan gave a low laugh.

"He means to boost the demon army's strength across the board, slaughter the town fast, and net us all in one sweep. He thinks that, blinded in his barrier, we can only be cut down—not knowing that, even with sight sealed, you and I can still pinpoint position!"

"In that case…" A thought stirred in Lee.

"We can clear the demon army while the King can't move," Ryan said.

"Then you take everyone into the fortress's underground space!"

"And you?"

"Me?" Ryan smiled faintly.

"I'll take care of this Banana Balana!"

"…You have a way?"

"A Forbidden Curse—what do you think?"

"This… all right. Be careful!"

"Don't worry. Let's move, quick!" … With a plan, the two split off, supporting fast—Lee killing, Ryan controlling. Together they soon rescued the surviving residents.

"Lillian, are you all right?"

"…I'm fine."

"Go hide in the fortress."

"All right." … Though not all the demon army was cleared, the survivors were saved—fled into the town's most heavily fortified fortress and down to a sealed chamber thirty meters underground.

"Chief, do you think… he can do it?"

"He won't come to harm, will he?" Their faces were anxious.

"I don't know either—but right now we can only trust him! Everyone prepare; if he fails, we'll fight them to the end!" Lee said, resolute.

"Don't worry—he'll succeed." Lillian swept the crowd, a spark in her eyes. In Ryan she had an inexplicable confidence. …

"These self-important humans! Think that hiding leaves This King helpless? Hmph—delusion!" In the sky, Balana's gaze sank, his voice cold.

"Night Demon Army, heed my command—break in and kill them!"

"Yes!" The demon army surged toward the fortress in lockstep.

"This time it has to work!" Ryan drew a deep breath, took out the Dark Cudgel, and stepped forward. [Godwind Night-Walker Garb: Special item. On activation, merge with the night and mask all presence; the effect breaks when you attack or are attacked. Cooldown: 30 minutes (3 minutes).] With the Garb's effect active, all his presence was masked—no fear of being noticed. Win or lose, it all comes down to this!

While the demons swarmed the fortress, Ryan had reached the dead center of the dark barrier—directly beneath Balana. This is the spot. Cudgel in hand, gaze sharpening, he raised it overhead and swung down with all his force. Eat My Stick! System: [Ding! Successfully cast "Forbidden Curse · World-Ending Heaven-Thunder"!] At the prompt, the Dark Cudgel in his hand suddenly transmitted a savage pull, his whole body swaying, barely keeping its feet. His Stamina emptied in an instant.

Ryan tipped Potent Spirit Potions down his throat without pause. +10, 000! +10, 000! +10, 000! … Blue recovery numbers kept rising over his head—yet his Stamina slot stayed empty.

"Damn, so a Forbidden Curse really isn't for just anyone!" he cursed. Ten potions down, his swimming head finally cleared. At the same time, a palm-sized purple orb of light rose slowly—plain-looking, with no terrifying energy aura at all.

"Hm?" About to dismiss his Night Descends barrier, Balana suddenly felt a stir below and turned to look.

"This is…" The slowly rising purple orb met his eyes; his brow knit. He seemed to have… seen this thing before. What was this again?