Chapter 997: Highlord
In Osric’s mausoleum, the only thing that controlled the entire body was the wisp of Osric’s Soul Imprint. As for the world created by the Immortal King and Alanna from more than 1,000 years ago, those were just counterfeits.
However, due to various reasons, Lin Li and Osric had already been embroiled in various feuds that could never be solved. Perhaps they could be considered old rivals. Even though they were from two different eras, the Sky Castle had become their meeting point.
The Osric in front of Lin Li was not in the form of a Ghost, unlike what he always thought. Instead, it was a High Elf that was well and alive with a real body, and had the aura of life. He had bloodshot eyes, a pale face, and a tall and burly figure, which fitted the description of Osric in myths and legends. He was wearing the legendary Divine King Battle Robe, which was said to have been created for him. The black battle robe was as dark as the night sky. Beautiful patterns were embroidered on his collar, and his silver pauldrons were covered in dim golden mageweaths. The fine silver lines on the robe formed a mageweath array with terrifying power.
At this moment, Archbishop Martin and the rest finally recognized Osric, and while bewildered, they were filled with endless horror. After going through all the obstacles along the way, they felt that they had already seen everything the Sky Castle had to offer. However, when faced with the terrifying pressure radiated by Osric, they couldn’t help but shiver uncontrollably.
Actually, Archbishop Martin and the others were not the only ones. Even Lin Li, who had prepared for it, already felt extremely helpless when he was truly facing Osric. The horror that came from the bottom of his heart was something that he had never experienced before even when he was facing the Immortal King’s incarnation.
“O-Osric, you’ve been waiting here!” Lin Li said in a dry and hoa.r.s.e voice. The seven pieces of the debris of the stars had already begun flying around him a long time ago. However, fear was still pouring out of his heart uncontrollably.
Osric’s expression was a bit stiff. After looking at the control crystal in his hand, he shifted his gaze onto Lin Li again. He then coldly said, “I knew you would return. I have to admit, it was indeed my mistake for failing to keep you behind previously. However, this mistake won’t happen again.”
“Is that so? I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you. Even if you have a new body, you’ll have to pay the price to keep me here.” After saying those words, Lin Li’s fear dissipated greatly, and he quickly regained his composure. However, Lin Li, who appeared to be calm, was actually constantly trying to cheer himself on. After all, he was a Sanctuary powerhouse who was at the peak of level-26. He also had the help of the seven pieces of the debris of the stars, so it wasn’t impossible for him to fight Osric!
Not impossible to fight? Despite cheering himself on, Lin Li still did not seem to have much confidence under the pressure of Osric.
Besides, Osric wasn’t angry when he heard Lin Li’s words. Instead, he calmly said, “I have to admit that humans do have an advantage in learning that really makes one jealous. I didn’t expect that after only a short period of time, you have already grown to the point where you are qualified to stand in front of me, but unfortunately…”
It was indeed a pity. If Lin Li had enough time to grow, he would definitely become a second Geresco, and even achieve greater success and attainments than him! Archbishop Martin and the rest had already begun to struggle while standing up. When they saw Osric speaking to Lin Li, they suddenly felt extremely small.
“The High Elves have already vanished from Anril. Even if you get the Sky Castle, what’s the point?”
Of course, Lin Li knew that he definitely wouldn’t be able to affect Osric even if he got the Sky Castle. G.o.d knew what he was thinking. However, Lin Li knew that with his abilities alone, he definitely wouldn’t be able to deal with Osric. Hence, if he wanted to buy time, he would have to make the people behind gradually get used to Osric’s pressure.
However, Osric clearly did not take Lin Li and those people in the expedition team seriously. He did not care if Lin Li was stalling for time, and he did not look at the expedition team at all. Once again, he looked at the control crystal in his hand, and somewhat resentfully said, “Back then, when Teacher left the Sky Castle behind here, I always thought that it was meant for me, but it turns out he reserved it for himself. For the sake of his so-called immortality, he doesn’t mind watching his race perish. To him, even his finger is more important than the survival of his race.”
Hearing Osric’s words, Lin Li recalled the notes that were filled with questions and resentment which he found in the Immortal King’s laboratory. At this moment, he also finally understood that Osric had always wanted to find the Sky Castle’s control crystal.
Indeed, the rule of the High Elves was overthrown at the end of the Dark Age, but the biggest reason that caused the High Elves to fall was precisely because of the absence of the last Sky Castle. Although each of the seven Sky Castles contained ma.s.sive power, their most powerful form was the one where all seven were combined to form a Magic Array that could suppress the world.
Had the seven Sky Castles really formed a Magic Array under the control of the High Elves, both sides would have been heavily wounded even if the combined resistance of the humans and other rebellion forces were led by Geresco City. In fact, if the High Elves had been ruthless enough, they would’ve been able to destroy the entire Anril with the Magic Arrays of the seven Sky Castles.
However, what really caught Lin Li’s attention was Osric’s claim that the Immortal King had kept the Sky Castle for himself. Lin Li was puzzled by his statement. Since the Immortal King already owned the Sky Castle, why would he save it for himself?
Although the Immortal King seemed to have disappeared before the war broke out at the end of the Dark Age, and no one knew where he had gone, Lin Li could vaguely sense through various signs that the Immortal King had been observing the war throughout the Dark Age, and had not really left Anril. The Well of the Sun was the very proof of that.
The High Elves’ Well of the Sun could sink into the Great Whirlpool only because Geresco had caused the Tree of Eternity to fall. Clearly, the Immortal King only kept the Well of the Sun in his world after that. Since the Immortal King had never left Anril, and the Well of the Sun had always belonged to him, why did he have to leave it for himself?
“Yeah, my race has already perished, but yours still exists, and I believe you will soon be able to see the significance of me taking ownership of the Sky Castle.” Osric’s eyes flashed, and he put away the resentment in his emotions. He opened his palm at Lin Li, and countless magic spells gathered and surged towards Lin Li like a roaring flood.
Lin Li, who had already summoned the seven pieces of the debris of the stars, had been keeping his guard up against Osric. In the blink of an eye, the terrifying magic spells broke out, and the seven pieces of the debris of the stars erupted with great power. A Domain World that was filled with vitality immediately appeared.
Almost at the same time, Osric began to launch a bombardment of infinite magic spells. The dense sounds of explosions filled the air, while Lin Li’s Domain World began vibrating vigorously under the violent magical explosion. Lin Li’s Domain World also began shaking like it was the end of the world.
Osric said that although Lin Li was qualified to stand before him, it was only because he had stepped into the Sanctuary-realm, but in terms of strength and abilities, they were still worlds apart from each other.
Lin Li was now a Sanctuary powerhouse that was at the peak of level-26, and the power of his seven pieces of the debris of the stars would allow him to gain the upper hand even in a battle against a level-27 Sanctuary powerhouse. However, as the Immortal King’s proud disciple who had already become a Sanctuary powerhouse at the end of the Dark Age, Osric managed to be reborn now through some means, yet his strength was not reduced.
The Domain World that Lin Li had built with the debris of the stars was torn by Osric’s magic spells in the blink of an eye. The seven pieces of the debris of the stars broke free from the void. That was the difference in strength, and Osric did not have to use his own Magical Domain at all. He managed to crush Lin Li’s powerful Domain World with just some ordinary magic spells.
In the instant that Lin Li’s Domain World shattered, Osric suddenly appeared in front of Lin Li, and he tried to punch Lin Li’s head with his pale fist forcefully.
Seeing that the fist was rapidly enlarging in front of him, Lin Li quickly activated his s.p.a.ce Robe, and he escaped from Osric’s attacking range in a flash. Although he had escaped, Lin Li had broken out in a cold sweat. He was sure that if he had suffered a solid punch, his head would have been blown off.
Just as Osric was about to continue chasing Lin Li, a giant sword beam sliced through the void, and immediately slashed against Osric’s hand, which was holding the magical crystal. However, in the face of the sword beam, Osric waved his hand gently and nonchalantly. The sword beam that was enough to break a mountain peak shattered, and turned into countless...o...b.. that dissipated into the void.
“Connoris, are you that impatient?” Osric asked with disdain, sneering at Lin Li.
The sword beam was emitted from Connoris’ Eternal Frost Blade. Lin Li was Osric’s enemy. After s.n.a.t.c.hing Osric’s perfect body, Connoris similarly couldn’t escape Osric’s revenge. Hence, despite knowing that there was a huge difference between them, he was still forced to attack even though his soul was trembling uncontrollably because of Osric’s remaining power.
“Osric, you’ve sealed me for thousands of years. I can only feel at ease and the resentment in my heart will only vanish if I behead you with my own hands!” Knowing that they could never escape, Connoris stood out and pointed his Eternal Frost Blade at Osric.
“Lowly worm. How dare you clamor in front of me. Seems like you’ve become really brazen.” With the raise of his finger, a ray of light darted out at Connoris like a Magical Crystal Cannon shot.
Connoris couldn’t dodge at all. He only had time to prevent the attack from hitting his chest using the Eternal Frost Blade. Next, the entire s.p.a.ce even shook violently amidst the roars with a loud bang. Connoris’ body immediately flew out amidst the explosions. Along the way, he scattered various...o...b.., but the Eternal Frost Blade was turned into ashes by a single strike.
Fortunately, Connoris’ body was also a strong perfect body, and had undergone some strengthening and repair by Lin Li. If it had been anyone else, such as Legendary powerhouses like Kanber and Jeremiah, they probably would have been blasted away.
As Connoris was being blown away, Lin Li attacked Osric again, and the power of the seven pieces of the debris of the stars was maximized. The seven waves of power condensed to form the World Sword that cut at Osric’s head like lightning.
The World Sword that contained the seven origin powers of the world could be considered the weapon that would allow Lin Li to exert the greatest attack other than the seven pieces of the debris of the stars. The World Sword would leave long cracks in the s.p.a.ce that it pa.s.sed through. They could not heal for a long time, and everything in the world turned dim under the sword.
However, in the face of the World Sword, Osric nonetheless raised his hand. He used his physical body that was made of flesh to hold the World Sword in place. Immediately afterwards, he saw Osric moving his hand suddenly and causing the World Sword to collapse immediately. The power of the world immediately formed a magic storm, but Osric’s battle robe did not move at all.
However, after this period of time, the members of the expedition had gotten somewhat used to Osric’s pressure, and at least they were no longer immobilized on the ground. Suppressing the fear within them, everyone began attacking Osric before Lin Li even instructed them to.
The members of the expedition were well aware that if Osric really took control of the Sky Castle, the entire expedition—and even Lin Li—would not be able to leave alive. Besides, if Osric the butcher took control of the Sky Castle, it would be a huge disaster for the entire Anril.
All of a sudden, magic spells and light began swarming towards Osric like a storm. The few remaining Alchemy Colossuses of the Rotterdam Kingdom began swinging their giant steel swords and rushed upwards with heavy footsteps. The mobile Magical Crystal Cannons had also begun charging quickly, and the few mana cannons that each had the diameter of a bucket shot immediately.
“You’re overestimating yourselves!” Osric humphed, and the Divine King Battle Robe that he was wearing shone with various rays of light from the mageweath, causing the entire s.p.a.ce to be reversed. The offensive spells launched by the expedition also fell back onto them immediately.