Chapter 520 [Event] [Elven Utopian War] [59] Amael Olphean VS Navas Dolphis


    "Die, human!"


    "Yeah, no thanks!" I growled, driving my boot into the rushing Teraquin''s head with enough force to send him flying. He tumbled like a ragdoll before hitting the ground with a sickening thud.


    The fight had resumed—again—and this time, I was right in the thick of it. Not like I had a choice. If I didn''t step in, they''d take Celeste.


    "When are these bastards going toe up with something original?" I muttered under my breath.


    Seriously, the endless chants of ''Die, human!'' were like listening to a scratched record on repeat. Tiresome didn''t even begin to cover it.


    "Got you, Olphean bastard!"


    An elf darted toward me from behind, but before he could get within arm''s reach, a chilling wave of frost froze him solid.


    I nced to my side, where Celeste stood with her long de gleaming like ice in the faint light. She smirked. "Grumpy already, Amael?"


    "I just want this over with," I replied, scanning the battlefield. "Where the hell are Kendel and Navas?"


    Celeste tilted her head thoughtfully. "Maybe the Behemothmander just showed up to deliver a message and left right after?"


    "Not a chance," I said, shaking my head. "He didn''te all this way just to y courier. He''s here for you or…" My gaze flicked briefly to Alicia, fighting a short distance away.


    "Or?" Celeste raised an eyebrow, catching my hesitation.


    "Nothing," I replied quickly, brushing it off.


    There was no point bringing up the Seed now. The fewer people who knew about it, the better. I had to secure it and hand it over to Utopia—anything else would just lead toplications.


    After all, no one in Sancta Vedelia would ever approve of it. The Seed of Eden wasn''t just valuable—it was irreceable. If anything ever happened to the Holy Tree of Eden, the Seed could grow another one, a young and flourishing tree to restore its glory.


    Celeste sighed, her gaze shifting to the Teraquin Knights swarming around us. Her expression softened, tinged with sadness. "I don''t get it. Why are they fighting us? Aren''t we supposed to be on the same side?"


    "Some of them are," I replied, my tone hardening. "The rest? Just extremist trash. Don''t hesitate against them."


    Celeste stared at me.


    "What?" I asked, ncing at her.


    "Are you going to tell me what happened thesest few months?" She asked with quite an intense gaze.


    "Someday… maybe."


    Probably never. The truth was, I wasn''t exactly proud of what I''d done. But I had my reasons—reasons that made me stand by my choices. I did it for my mother, and while regret hadn''t caught up with me yet, it might if I failed to get her out of Elyen Kiora.


    "We should focus on the battle," I said quickly, steering the conversation away as Celeste''s gaze hardened, clearly catching on to my evasion.


    She sighed after a moment. "Fine. But we need a n against them."


    "I agree," Alicia said as she approached.


    I nodded. "The n is simple. I''ll handle Navas. You two focus on Kendel."


    Alicia crossed her arms, giving me a sharp look. "Senior, you might be strong, but that man is definitely stronger than you."


    "Got a better idea?" I shot back. "Kendel''s tough, but you and Celeste can take him. I just need to keep Navas busy long enough for you to finish ande back me up."


    Celeste''s grip tightened on her de. "I''m not sure we''ll make it in time…"


    She wasn''t wrong. Kendel was stronger than her, but Celeste had her Prophecies and Nevia''s Fate, giving her an edge. With Alicia by her side, they had a shot. That had to be enough.


    "You can do it," I said, throwing in a cliché reassurance as I turned away. "Just believe in yourself."


    "First, are they even—"


    My words froze in my throat as my eyes widened. Instinct roared through me, and I immediately activated my Olphean Bloodline.


    Celeste seemed to notice a split secondter, her gaze snapping forward.


    Summoning Aegis in a sh, I braced myself.


    "That bastard''s fast—!" @@novelbin@@


    -BAM!


    The impact mmed into my shield like a wrecking ball. Aegis held, but my arm went numb almost instantly, and the sheer forceunched me backward like a ragdoll.


    For a few seconds, I didn''t even register the pain. All I could do was hurtle through the air, desperately clinging to consciousness as the world spun around me.


    "A-Amael!" Celeste called out in worry as she turned toward me. Her expression shifted immediately as her gaze snapped to the looming shadow above her.


    Navas Dolphis.


    "You do like Sara Oceania," Navas said with a smile, extending a hand toward her.


    Before he could get any closer, dark tendrils snaked around his legs and arms, stopping him in his tracks.


    Navas turned, his eyesnding on Annabelle, who stood with her arm outstretched, her face set in concentration. In front of her, a dark puppet oozed a viscous, shadowy substance that wrapped tighter around his limbs.


    Navas frowned, testing the binding. His movements slowed, as if the substance were sapping his strength.


    "You have some interesting abilities for such a little girl," he said. But his tone hardened as his overwhelming mana red.


    "Ugh—Aargh!" Annabelle cried out, clutching her head in pain as she staggered under the oppressive weight of his mana.


    "Edward!" She called me right after.


    I cursed under my breath, gritting my teeth against the numbing pain in half my body from Navas''s earlier attack.


    "Reflect!"


    Summoning a mirror behind me, I kicked off it, propelling myself forward at breakneck speed using Samara''s ability.


    Navas, finally free from Annabelle''s bindings, turned his cold gaze toward me as I closed the distance.


    Breathing sharply, I forced Ruah to circte through my numbed arm, doing my best to repair the damage as I drew back my fist.


    -BAM!


    I mmed my fist toward him with all my strength, but Navas caught it easily. The collision sent a shockwave rippling outward, his mana shing violently with my Ruah.


    Celeste didn''t hesitate. She surged forward, her sword shing as she swung it at Navas. But before her de could connect, thick vines erupted from the ground, coiling tightly around her arms.


    "What—!" Celeste gasped, struggling against the restraints.


    Alicia darted in, her rapier aze as she thrust it, severing the vines and freeing Celeste. The two of them jumped back quickly before more vines coulde out.


    Kendel also arrived. "Do you really think you stand a chance against me?" Navas said coldly, his grip on my fist tightening.


    I red at him, ignoring the sharp pain as my bones threatened to give under the pressure. "Do you Behemoths have nothing better to do than act as someone else''s dogs? First Ante Eden, now Utopia?"


    His eyes darkened, and his fingers crushed harder, making me grimace.


    Without hesitation, I summoned Perseus, the de forming in my free hand. With all the strength I could muster, I swung it toward his head.


    A torrent of water erupted from nowhere, mming into me and sending me hurtling back.


    I spat out the water that had forced its way into my throat, ring at Navas.


    I couldn''t hold back anymore.


    "Anathema''s Fire!"


    Purple mes ignited around my body, roaring like a living entity. I reached for Khryskatos, pulling its string taut. Amber arrows shimmered into existence, their razor-sharp points glowing beautifully. But I wasn''t done. Channeling my zing fire, I imbued the arrows with a scorching intensity that made them burn even brighter.


    With a sharp release, I let them fly—dozens of arrows streaking through the air like meteor showers aimed directly at Navas.


    But just as they neared him, a powerful wall of water erupted, intercepting most of my arrows. The contact between my mes and his water created an intense wave of hot mist, nketing the area in a suffocating haze.


    I didn''t let up. Summoning Perseus, I steadied myself, honing my senses through the thick mist.


    A sudden shift in the air warned me. Without hesitation, I ducked and spun,shing out with a powerful kick aimed at Navas''s side.


    -BAM!


    My leg connected, but Navas barely flinched. Instead, his hand shot out, grabbing my leg with a vice-like grip.


    "Ugh—!"


    -BAM!


    With overwhelming strength, he lifted me and mmed me into the ground. Pain exploded through my body as the air was knocked out of my lungs. I coughed up a mouthful of blood, struggling to catch my breath.


    He raised me again, ready to m me down once more, but darkness coiled around his arms, freezing them mid-motion.


    Taking advantage of the moment, I broke free, rolling away before leaping back to my feet.


    "You saved me there, Anna," I said, panting as I nced at her.


    "I won''t be letting him hurt you, Edward," Annabelle replied, her hand raised. I could feel her mana entwining with mine, mixed with a tinge of Baphomet''s mana.


    -BOOM!


    The ground erupted violently as dark energy surged forth. From the debris, dozens—no, hundreds—of ck-eyed, mouthless puppets emerged, their forms twisted and eerie.


    Annabelle extended her hand toward Navas, and the puppets obeyed, rushing at him in a wave.


    "That''s useless," Navas scoffed, swatting one puppet aside. But the moment he destroyed it, his hand darkened unnaturally.


    His eyes widened in slight surprise as he examined the spreading corruption.


    Now I understood.


    Smirking, I lunged forward with Perseus, surrounding the de with Four Rings of Vysindra. I pointed above Navas, and a fouryered mana circle materialized in the air. From it, a massive, burning w began to descend.


    Navas''s gaze snapped upward, his expression turning serious. He leaped back instinctively, avoiding the w, but Annabelle''s puppets were there, leaping after him.


    Cornered, Navas summoned another surge of water, engulfing the puppets in its torrent. But as the water touched them, it turned dark and sluggish, its mana visibly weakening.


    "What is this?" He muttered, blinking in disbelief which was normal.


    He probably had never seen in his life something like this.


    "Don''t look away!" I growled, gritting my teeth as I released my attack.


    Navas looked up just in time to see the burning w hurtling toward him.


    -BOOOOOOM!