The fight began again, but this time, Lucien held the upper hand. He stood motionless, his eyes coldly fixed on his opponents, knowing that prolonging the fight was no longer an option. He had to end it now.
He launched himself. He moved with incredible speed, so fast that Vinara couldn't even see his spear as it rained down on her. A series of precise, deadly blows, each one striking a vital spot.
In a moment of inattention, Lucien swung his spear with all his might. Venara hand was severed. She screamed, staggering backward, blood gushing from her body. He gave her no chance.
He unleashed a barrage of ice shards that pierced her flesh in multiple places, until blood covered the ground beneath her. But then came a surprise attack. Myretha charged at Lucien with all the strength she had left.
But Lucien had vanished. He reappeared behind her in the blink of an eye and delivered a crushing kick that sent her crashing into Venara exhausted body. Myretha struggled to her feet, her eyes fixed on her frozen heart.
The truth dawned on her. The time for the explosion hadn't come yet. Her energy wasn't complete. If she detonated herself now, the explosion would be pointless. At that moment, she spotted Venara lying beside her, bleeding, gasping her last breaths. Myretha smiled. She crawled toward her, her hands clamping around Venara neck. "I'm sorry," she said, her voice trembling but resolute. "But it's necessary."
She pierced Venara chest with her hand and dug her fingers into her heart. She began to forcefully absorb her energy. Venara screamed, but her voice gradually faded until she died in Myretha hands. Merita laughed, a mad, desperate laugh. "This is the end for you, Lucien," she said, raising her head to face Lucien. "We'll meet in hell."
Suddenly, an enormous white light erupted from her chest. Explosive energy. "Damn it!" Lucien exclaimed anxiously.
He immediately activated Level 2 Ice Breathing at full power. Time slowed. He raced at full speed, trying to stop the catastrophe, but the harsh truth dawned on him. He was too late.
Moments before the explosion, Lucian activated his final skill: Frozen Moon. Behind him, a vast, white, frozen, silent, and majestic moon formed. He poured all his remaining strength into his spear and released it.
The spear shot forward with incredible speed, piercing Myretha chest. "Too late, Lucian!" she cried, laughing.
But she froze. A tight ball of water formed around her. "What's that?!" she exclaimed, bewildered.
Lucian laughed, a tired but triumphant laugh. "Without Selena… I wouldn't have been able to do this," he said.
Then, in a cold voice, he continued, "After she gave me a portion of her power, I not only activated Frozen Moon… but also mimicked the Sea Kingdom defensive skill."
The spear embedded in Myretha chest began to slowly drain her energy. He looked at her with eyes brimming with anger and hatred.
"Do you think I'm trying to save you?"
Then, coldly, he continued, "No. I'm just weakening the explosion… so the sphere doesn't shatter and we all die."
Her voice began to fade inside the sphere. "The explosion will only affect you," he said.
Myretha screamed, she thrashed about, but it was no use. "I warned you… not to touch a hair on Selena head," Lucien said, turning away.
Then it exploded. A muffled explosion inside the sphere swallowed her whole. Lucien collapsed to the ground, his body unable to take any more. All his strength was gone. He lost consciousness.
After a few moments, he opened his eyes. He was inside a shattered palace, with Atlas beside him. Selena appeared and told him they had brought him there after his fall. Suddenly, she embraced him.
She wept and thanked him for avenging her father. Lucien said calmly, "There's no need… It's my duty, and I couldn't have defeated them… nor could I have defeated you and Atlas."
Meanwhile, all ten ranked prisoners in the kingdoms had been defeated. Only a few prisoners with a ranking above ten remained.
But suddenly, the inhabitants of the ten kingdoms felt an immense dark energy emanating from the Dark Realm. In the Abyss prison, Ethan said in shock, "No… Saruto's energy has dropped to 70%."
Director Ragnar replied anxiously, "That means… he's suffered a severe psychological shock, just like Eliza and Camellia."
Ethan said in a low voice, his heart filled with worry, "Saruto… what's happening to you?"