Chapter 427 Chapter427-Regaining Optimal Condition
Mystery Vanguard didn't give Duke Arsena and John much time to prepare.
After using its powerful Mystery forces to destroy the eastern wall of Storm City, it immediately shifted its target.
Transforming into a black sword, Mystery Vanguard thrust directly towards John.
John quickly dodged using the acceleration effect of [Transformation].
At the same time, Duke Arsena used [Divine Protection], and a golden light fell upon John, creating a shield made of Holy Light around him.
"His target is still fixed on you! You must be careful! I will assist you and try to divert his attention," Duke Arsena's calm voice reached John's ears.
John nodded, trusting Arsena's promise.
As a powerful knight, Arsena's strength would diminish, and might even disappear entirely if he broke his promise.
Arsena raised his Silver Sword, and the sky above gathered thick black clouds from which countless lightning bolts rapidly formed.
Guided by Arsena's Silver Sword, a barrage of lightning struck towards Mystery Vanguard.
While John had evaded Mystery Vanguard's first attack, the creature's speed was incredibly fast.
Before John could prepare for a second attack, Mystery Vanguard had already closed in on him.
Faced with no other option, John could no longer evade Mystery Vanguard's assault.
He had to rely on his defensive skills and the Divine Protection granted by Duke Arsena to withstand the attack.
John summoned a powerful dark force in front of him, which overlapped with the effects of Abyssal Prison, significantly enhancing its strength.
Normally an offensive skill, Abyssal Prison could also be transformed into a defensive one in dire situations.
Its principle involved converting the user's power into spatial restraining force, which could either imprison enemies or form a shield.
The black sword formed by Mystery Vanguard crashed into John's conjured shield.
Despite the protection of the two shields, John still felt as though he had sustained a heavy blow.
He quickly checked his status, finding his HP had dropped to around 40%, with his other attributes reduced by about a third.
Looking at the gathering lightning in the sky, John shouted to Duke Arsena, "We must end this battle quickly! We can't give him more time to fight! He's getting stronger as the battle goes on!"
John keenly sensed Mystery Vanguard's growing strength over time.
Although he didn't know why, he believed that if they didn't conclude the battle swiftly, the situation would worsen.
Duke Arsena looked at Mystery Vanguard and then at John.
After pondering for a moment with a furrowed brow, he nodded in agreement with John's assessment.
The urgency of the situation was clear, and quick, decisive action was necessary to prevent Mystery Vanguard from gaining further advantage.
Duke Arsena's first round of lightning attacks against Mystery Vanguard seemed to have little impact, a troubling sign for the seasoned warrior.
During his initial encounter with Mystery Vanguard, the entity had not possessed such immense power.
"Prepare to coordinate with my actions! Let me take the lead in eliminating Mystery Vanguard!"
Despite his growing concern, Arsena maintained a stoic demeanor.
He intended to play the primary role in the battle, asking only for John's support.
To Arsena, John, despite his formidable abilities, was still just a player.
As a powerful NPC, Arsena couldn't place the entire burden of defending Storm City on a player's shoulders.
He harbored a general distrust towards players, or 'Adventurers,' as they were known in the game world.
Raising his Silver Sword, Arsena began chanting a lengthy prayer in an unknown tongue.
As he spoke, his sword emitted a brilliant light.
"No matter what kind of creature you are or which evil you serve, I, Duke Arsena of Storm City, will send you back to the wretched place you belong!" he proclaimed.
Opening his eyes, Arsena threw the shining Silver Sword into the air.
It transformed into a massive white tiger in mid-flight and charged towards Mystery Vanguard with incredible speed.
Sensing the attack, Mystery Vanguard diverted its attention from John, who seized the moment to find a safer position.
He knew he had underestimated the intensity of the fight and needed to quickly adjust his status.
If John had known earlier how challenging the battle with Mystery Vanguard would be, he would have made thorough preparations before heading to the eastern walls of Storm City.
Now, he needed to quickly use his supplies to restore his condition to its optimum state.
He also had to transport all his powerful scrolls from his collection to his hands as swiftly as possible.
As John adjusted his status, the white tiger formed from Arsena's Silver Sword clashed with the sword formed by Mystery Vanguard.
The forces of Holy Light and Mystery collided, creating a powerful shockwave.
Even from a relatively safe position, John could feel the impact.
Forced to use a teleportation skill, John retreated to a safer location within Storm City.
Before leaving, he informed Duke Arsena of his plan: "I'm not in my optimal condition right now. I need to return to my base to recover fully. I will be back on the battlefield as soon as possible!"
Duke Arsena did not object to John's plan.
He appreciated John's assistance during the crisis and said, "Go ahead with your plan. You don't need to worry about me here; I can handle Mystery Vanguard alone."
While Arsena was aware that he couldn't defeat Mystery Vanguard by himself, he didn't want to express this concern to an Adventurer.
After John teleported away, Arsena was left alone on the battlefield.
His Silver Sword, now back in his hand, bore a crack from the clash with Mystery Vanguard.
"Mystery Vanguard's power is incredible. To cause such damage to the Silver Sword, blessed by the incarnation of Holy Light... It seems the Mystery faction is even more fearsome than the Dark Faction," Arsena mused, looking at his sword.
However, he had little time to ponder as Mystery Vanguard was preparing for its next attack.
Arsena had to focus on the imminent threat, readying himself to face the formidable enemy once more.
John teleported back to his base and was greeted by Emma, who was both surprised and relieved at his sudden return.
"How did it go? I just saw a post on the game forum saying that all the players watching the battle were affected by the aftermath, and now no one can see what's happening. I was worried that you might have been in great danger. I'm so glad you're okay. You shouldn't have joined such a dangerous battle!"
Emma poured out her thoughts in one breath.
However, what troubled her was that John seemed to have not heard her at all.
He was busy selecting weapons from his inventory and stuffing all his scrolls into his backpack.
"Are you even listening to me? Are you planning to go back to the battle at the eastern walls of Storm City? Didn't I tell you that it's very dangerous?"
John paused and looked directly into Emma's eyes.
"I know this battle is extremely dangerous. But I must win this battle. It's not just about me, or about you. It's actually about all of us. The game 'Divine Slayer' is not just a game."
After saying this, John walked out without looking back and used a Teleport Spell to return to the eastern walls of Storm City.
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