Skyfire Avenue - Chapter 725

Chapter 725

Chapter 725: To the Rescue

Anything that came close to the light Occisus released was cut apart by a hundred thousand minute slices . The aliens were diced again and again until there was nothing left of them but lacerated atoms . Occisus was a ship-sized meat grinder .

He could sense immediately that the Pharmacist had prepared for this moment for a long time . Her will permeated the aura and galvanized it .

Lan Jue’s instinct was to rush forward and get to her, but it would be impossible . Even if he and Qianlin had prepared and met her with their Harmonious Swords style, it still might not be enough to withstand Occisus .

His choices were limited . What could he do if he couldn’t stop her? Flee?

Fight!

Lan Jue grit his teeth as Thor’s systems came back online . Thor was a conflagration of blue light that overwhelmed its Blinding Stone as the mecha launched toward Occisus .

Even a Paragon didn’t have the energy necessary to bear this sword without effort . When her strength failed, that would be his chance to end her foolhardy crusade . But if the planets abandoned their teleportation and joined the fight their chances of survival were slim to none .

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The Pharmacist target was simple – Monarch .

Humanity’s war with the aliens was not new by this point . There was some level of familiarity with the enemy, knowledge which served the Pharmacist . She knew that attacking the central vortex was useless . The only way to do damage to these terrible alien worlds was to hit them directly .

She had been watching and waiting . By coincidence she had arrived only about four hours after Lan Jue . Though her heart was filled with enmity she was no fool . She knew her mission was not easy – in fact it was likely impossible . A single person meant nothing against a foe the size of a planet . But none of that mattered in the face of her all-consuming purpose: To get her husband’s sword back!

From time immemorial the Banishing Blades were the greatest weapons ever created . She knew that somewhere within the legendary sword was some residual spark of her husband’s spirit . She needed it back to feel some part of him again .

When she’d arrived the planets were still hibernating . If she wanted any chance at succeeding she had to bide her time . Of course, she had no concept of what that chance would be . Still she had come alone, and that gave her patience to find the right moment .

She’d slipped into a stillness not unlike her unwitting foes and waited . She saved her energy for the final fight . As a Paragon and with the help of Occisus she could hide herself better than Ln Jue and Thor . She’d been practically invisible until this moment .

When it seemed the planets were preparing to teleport, the Pharmacist knew her time had come .

As her will flooded Occisus and the sword awakened, she could sense Ultus’ presence . She knew where it was being held and that was where she focused her assault .

She pressed forward, holding nothing back . Her own protogenia was consumed as the blade drank everything up to fuel its bloodlust . It empowered her, making her attacks more potent than they ever had been . Maybe Occisus would carve her up too, she thought . But she didn’t mind, she just wanted to see that piece of her husband one last time .

Close and closer she came . Her body and mind were as one, focused on her singular purpose . Her heart beat against her chest .

My love, I’m here . If your soul is out there make Ultus heed my call . Come back!

The command echoed through her mind, through her sword . Beneath the hunger for destruction lingered pain and loneliness .

The white light ripped through space!

Just when Occisus seemed poised to clash with Monarch’s roiling violet atmosphere, reality warbled uncomfortably . Occisus vanished . Then, a moment later, its white light brazenly reappeared on the planet’s surface . The ten-thousand meter long sword buried itself in the alien world .

A golden beam shot from Monarch’s surface . Its appearance bore a sharpness that seemed to defy reality . Though it was not as brilliant in hue as snow-white Occisus, its power was more tightly compacted . White and gold collided .

Ting! A sound that seemed to shudder the pillars of the universe rang out . Rippled ran through the vortices in all three alien worlds .

The white light dimmed and the Pharmacist reemerged in the space near Monarch . Her face was pale as a ghost like there was no blood left within her . She had put every ounce of herself in that attack . In this moment, besides what was needed to keep her alive in space, she was as weak and frail as a normal human .

In her hand Occisus shivered .

But more frightening than her feeble condition was the look in her eyes as she stared at the sword – and the one holding it .

The sword was gold from top to pommel . It was simple, much like Occisus in appearance . It was gripped in the hands of a man in his mid-thirties . His body was hidden beneath long violet robes, but his handsome face was left uncovered . Long black hair splayed out behind his angular and handsome features and the whole of him shimmered with a faint golden glow . He was like a perfect representation of an ancient emperor .  1

And his deep violet eyes were staring right back at the Pharmacist .

For a moment the two stared at one another . Then, slowly, the man lifted the golden sword to strike .

Only just then his whole body shook . The aura of power around his weapon fluctuated frantically and he pressed his other hand against his head . He winced, as though in terrible pain .

Not a moment later a flash of blue light swept by and swallowed up the Pharmacist . A streak of brilliant color was left in its wake and streaked into the distance .

Two beams of violet light erupted from the surface of Monarch and into the heavens, giving chase . They moved with unparalleled speed and seemed poised to quickly overtake the blue streak .

Just then, a deep and commanding voice boomed through space .

“Return!” he golden figure left in a flash, leaving behind a trail of fading golden silhouettes . The two beams of violet returned just as quickly as they left, as though they were two baseballs knocked back toward Monarch .

A sweeping light of yellow-gold appeared in the blue light’s path and intersected with it . There was a brilliant eruption of color – and then nothing .

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On the surface of Monarch .

The man with the golden sword slowly recovered . The look on his face was icy cold, and when he spoke his words were like frozen daggers . “You dare hinder me . Still your will lingers – good, very good! Then they shall be allowed to flee this time . ”

The two beams of purple light descended from heaven in a flash and terminated before the man in purple . The figures of the Violet Prince and Princess emerged .

Both of them prostrated themselves before the man . “Monarch!”

“Hmph!” With the grunt the central whirlpools of power within each planet swelled . They grew until the whole world was swallowed up . When the light reached its brightest point there was a sudden flash, followed by darkness . The three planets were gone .

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The pale yellow light eventually stopped, settling on the small planetoid Lan Jue had parked Zeus-1 upon .

Thor’s sparkling sleek figure emerged . But there was also someone else, glaring at the mecha with eyes hard enough to crumble mountains .

Thor’s chestplate hissed open and Lan Jue stepped out, carrying the pale and stupefied Pharmacist . He didn’t dare lifts his head to face the other man .

“Father, I’m sorry!” He muttered to the ground .

Indeed the one who saved them in their moment of need had been none other than Jue Di, the only one who could . No other living creature could have delivered them from the clutches of the Prince and Princess .

Jue Di floated to the ground and stood before his son . His voice was cold and cruel . “Get on the ship . We’ll discuss this on the way back . ”

“Yes, father . ” Lan Jue replied obediently .

He didn’t need to ask to know that Lan Qing had told Jue Di about Lan Jue’s plan . His father had come a long way to save him . Lan Jue stole a furtive glance and while Jue Di seemed fine, pangs of regret stabbed at Lan Jue’s chest . He knew every time Jue Di used his powers universal protogenia burned away some of his life force .

Zeus-1 lifted off and began the journey back home . With no alien planets or patrols to worry about, their path was quick and direct .

Lan Jue inwardly prayed the planets hadn’t transferred to the East . Humans were selfish creatures and he was no exception . At times like this who didn’t hope tragedy fell upon others rather than their own friends and family .

“Sister, are you alright?” He looked toward the Pharmacist, seated beside him with that same dull expression . Ever since using the sword she seemed lost, or somehow sealed away . Even her eyes didn’t move .

Lan Jue was suddenly reminded of Jun’er’s words . She had told him her mother would be fine, that only he could bring her back . It seemed she’d been right once again . Her prophetic skills were getting stronger .

Jue Di stood by Lan Jue’s side staring out of a window . His face was dark and solemn .

Lan Jue dropped his head again, his face heavy with concern . “Are you alright, father?”

Jue Di stared at him with hard eyes . “If you would stop making trouble for me I’d be fine . They definitely teleported into human territory . I’m going to rest . It looks like staying out of it isn’t an option for me anymore . Get us back to Skyfire, your brother’s waiting . ”

Lan Jue paused . “Shouldn’t he be on An Lun?”

Jue Di answered . “This doesn’t conflict . You’ll understand once we return . ” He didn’t give Lan Jue any chance to bother him further . Walking off to one corner he settled on the floor and began to meditate .

The aliens were undoubtedly about to visit destruction upon the worlds of man, yet Lan Jue’s heart was accomplished what he’d set out to do, the Pharmacist was back safely . He’d deal with the aliens when they got back .