Chapter 316 Chapter315-The AGHHO Elder, Mr.9
The cloaked assassin stood serenely before Saphir.
In response to Saphir's inquiry, he cast a leisurely, almost mocking gaze.
With a deep timbre, he intoned, "I am Mr.9, one of the elders of AGHHO. You've wreaked significant havoc on our stronghold and challenged the majesty of AGHHO. Now, it's time to pay the price."
Saphir scoffed coldly, "AGHHO's majesty? Laughable! An arrogant assassination organization like yours thrives in shadows and deceit, yet fails to perceive the grand scheme of the world. You're destined for decline, soon to be rendered obsolete by the march of time."
Mr.9 cast a frigid glance at Saphir, choosing silence over words.
Without warning, he lunged forward, assaulting Saphir with lightning speed.
His dark dagger traced a swift arc, aiming straight for Saphir's throat.
Caught off guard, Saphir felt the cold bite of the blade on his shoulder.
A stifled grunt of pain escaped him, his mage robes instantly stained with his own blood.
Puzzlingly, even as his body was elementalized into flame, it offered no resistance against Mr.9's assault.
Having landed a successful blow, Mr.9, instead of pressing the attack, gracefully retreated to his original position.
Sheathing his dagger, he remarked, "Young man, you truly are something special. Surviving that strike proves your worth. Yet, your strength is still vastly inferior. Today, your fate is sealed here."
"Hmph! Watch your tongue. Relying on age as a crutch, you keep addressing others as 'young'. Do you truly see yourself as a venerable elder?" With furrowed brows and a gaze replete with intensity, Saphir stood defiant.
Yet, deep down, he recognized the gulf that lay between their abilities, not only in technique but also in sheer power.
Nonetheless, Saphir was never one to easily admit defeat.
"For years, AGHHO has been steeped in malfeasance. Its malevolent deeds on the Godslayer Continent have sparked both divine fury and human outrage. Your downfall is inevitable! If I don't bring about your end today, someone will, in time," Saphir declared, teeth gritted, his voice resonating with unyielding conviction.
Mr.9 chuckled coldly, "Malevolent deeds? How laughable! AGHHO has ancient roots, always operating on coin's command. As long as there are disputes in this world, there will always be those seeking our services. You're just an arrogant child. And you dare challenge us?"
"I am not alone!" Saphir's eyes blazed with determination. "I have my comrades."
As his words hung in the air, Saphir raised his wand once more.
Flames, fueled by his incantations, roared and swirled, coalescing mid-air into a massive fire serpent, which lunged ferociously towards Mr.9.
Facing the formidable fire magic, Mr.9's expression remained eerily impassive, akin to that of a corpse.
Only when the serpent was nearly upon him did he lift his dagger, executing a swift swipe.
A pure and potent surge of dark energy split the air, crashing headlong into the fiery serpent.
Their cataclysmic clash produced a thunderous boom, intertwining flames and shadow, plunging the battlefield into an atmosphere of scorching heat and obsidian darkness.
In the end, both formidable forces dissipated into nothingness.
Saphir's expression faltered.
He always knew he wasn't a match for this elder of AGHHO.
But he hadn't anticipated such a vast chasm in their capabilities.
The magic skill he'd painstakingly harnessed was effortlessly crushed by a mere flick of Mr.9's wrist.
At the battle's edge, the trio known as 54 watched intently, their faces breaking into subtle smiles of satisfaction, for they saw that Saphir was completely outmatched in his duel with Mr.9.
Even with the power of Element Fusion, Saphir, formidable as he was, stood no chance against Mr.9, the ninth elder of AGHHO.
Throughout their confrontation, Mr.9 moved with unparalleled agility, his every stealthy assault executed with precision.
His ebony dagger, akin to a venomous serpent, struck with rapid fury, catching one off guard.
Forced on the defensive, Saphir had to unleash a succession of powerful spells just to curb Mr.9's relentless advance.
Yet this passive strategy seemed futile. Although Mr.9's pace was deliberate, he unwaveringly closed the gap.
A determined glint in his eyes, Saphir hastily downed a large vial of mana-restoring elixir.
He then attempted to wield the still-burning flames within the room to retaliate against Mr.9.
However, each counterattack was effortlessly neutralized by Mr.9, as if he was never threatened at all.
He strolled leisurely across the battlefield, not seeming like he was in a combat, but rather as if he was taking a casual stroll.
As the minutes ticked by, Saphir's momentum visibly waned, and the speed of his spellcasting slowed.
"Child, your resistance is in vain," Mr.9 uttered, a cold smirk curling his lips. "Every single challenger to AGHHO pays the price. You won't be an exception."
Before his words fully settled in the air, Mr.9's silhouette vanished from Saphir's view.
Like a streak of black lightning, he reappeared behind Saphir, his dagger poised to pierce Saphir's back.
A surge of panic welled up in Saphir, prompting him to whirl around desperately, brandishing his wand in defense.
A deafening "boom" filled the room, cloaking it in a haze of dust and smoke.
When the smoke cleared, Saphir was sent flying, landing nearly ten meters away, another bloody gash marking his shoulder.
Blood gushed forth, as if poured without cost.
"Ha ha ha!" Mr.9 laughed triumphantly. "It seems you're not as mighty as you fancied yourself to be, huh? Did you truly believe that with such a self-destructive Arcane Skill, you could ruthlessly slaughter AGHHO members at will? Ludicrous! Before me, all is in vain."
With gritted teeth, Saphir lifted his head, flames of fury burning brightly in his bloodshot eyes.
In an audacious move, he conjured a ball of fire in his hand, pressing it against his bleeding wound.
A sizzling sound echoed as flesh burned, and a pained expression contorted Saphir's face.
Though the bleeding ceased, his vitality seemed to wane rapidly.
"If you don't step in soon, Captain, I'm genuinely going to be done in by this old geezer!" Saphir shouted, looking in a seemingly empty direction.
A momentary stiffness crossed Mr.9's face as he instinctively scanned the surroundings.
To his spiritual senses, the room contained only those present; there was no hint of an external presence.
Chuckling derisively, Mr.9 scoffed, "I thought you had more spine. Reduced to such bluster and bravado now, are we?"
As his words settled, a clear sigh echoed from above.
"Ah..."
Mr.9's smug expression froze instantaneously, and he abruptly looked up, only to spot a slender figure silently emerging in mid-air.
John gracefully descended, positioning himself beside Saphir.
"I noticed you were deeply engrossed in the fight, so I didn't want to interrupt. You held up well, didn't you?" John's light laughter resonated distinctly across the battlefield.
With a bitter smile, Saphir grumbled through clenched teeth, "Had this old coot not shown up, I'd have already slain those damned rats."
John patted Saphir's shoulder, summoning a gentle energy from the heavens that enveloped Saphir in an instant.
[Divine Guardian (Divine Skill): A protection from the deity. It purifies all impurities, creating a defensive barrier. This barrier can expand or contract, covering up to a radius of 100 yards. Within the Divine Guardian barrier, one remains untouched and unsullied. All curses lose effect, and it can withstand a full-powered attack from those below the Demigod Level...]
As the effects of the Divine Guardian surged, Saphir's aura climbed rapidly.
His face, previously pale from excessive blood loss, gradually regained its color.
"One must always measure one's abilities before acting. You're even more impulsive than I imagined. Didn't Niel warn you earlier that an elder from AGHHO might be lurking at this stronghold? Yet, you attacked recklessly, without any precaution," John admonished, with Saphir bowing his head in acknowledgment.
Initially, their relationship had been of equals, and when Saphir first met John, he saw him as a skilled young individual.
However, after their last hunt of the Soul-Devouring Devil, Saphir began to regard John with increased reverence, almost as if he was in the presence of an elder.
John shook his head resignedly, "But I understand how you feel. Seeing your nemesis, whom you've sought for a decade, right before your eyes, how could you remain composed? Rest assured, pursue your vendetta. As for Mr.9 here, I'll take care of him."
Turning to Saphir with a gentle smile, John added, "With the Divine Guardian I've blessed you with, combined with the remaining duration of your Arcane Skill, you should have more than enough to deal with those three, right?"
Saphir, his face lighting up with excitement, nodded vigorously.
His eyes, sharp as a wolf's, quickly locked onto the sinister-looking trio of 54.
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