Skyfire Avenue - Chapter 872

Chapter 872

Chapter 872: Death and the Princess

By now the three Nirvana-level aliens scared away by Lan Jue’s attack had realized they were not his target . The Princess’ subordinates hurried back but were barred from helping her by the Bookworm, Keeper, the Gods of Wine, and the Gourmet .  

Lan Jue had decided on his first target moments after coming back to his senses . With Qianlin’s help, he knew that they could kill at least one Nirvana-level monster . But was that enough to alter the outcome of this battle? He didn’t think so .

The combined power of the four Infinite-level aliens was beyond their abilities . What’s more, they were wise, informed, and by some means were able to protect themselves from the dangers of universal protogenia . While Lan Jue’s own side was not weak, they certainly didn’t have enough peak-level powerhouses to contend with their foes . Once they ran out of stamina more of them would die, then the battle would be lost .

So, in order to change this grim fate he had to kill one of their strongest . If he could create a space for his allies to take advantage of, they could fight back .

He chose the Princess . What he had not anticipated was the Pontiff’s noble sacrifice .  

When the Violet Prince shed Luo Xianni’s pressure and came to the Princess’ aid, Lan Jue thought the best they’d manage was to injure her severely . Worse, there was the potential for harming his own people who might get caught in the path of the Harmonious Swords . Instead the man Lan Jue had come to deeply despise, whose dark heart had plagued Lan Jue for years, chose the righteous path . He gave his life, the thing Lan Jue knew was most precious to the covetous old man .  

For the first time he had a sense of admiration toward the Pontiff . His final act helped to wash away the many sins he’d committed through his life . In doing so the late Citadel ruler ensured his organization could rise from the ashes left behind by the alien attack .

The Violet Princess’ body gradually burned away . The Prince fought like a wild animal, trying to come to her aid . However, Luo Xianni fought back just as hard to keep him pinned down . He was forced to watch as his sister was slowly annihilated by the combined power of three Banishing Blades .

Lan Jue didn’t dare let up, for he knew how tenacious the life of an Infinite was . These monsters grew to prominence through the consumption of outside life force . He knew that given even the slightest chance the Princess could claw her way back from death .

He had to keep it up . He had to continue to barrage the Princess with his full power until she was erased from reality .

As layers of the Princess were destroyed a translucent crystal appeared . It was perfectly formed and shimmered with a golden purple light . Little by little the octagonal crystal was revealed nestled in the muscle of her chest .

With no flesh to hide it, brilliant light radiated from the Princess’ core . Even the light of the three swords couldn’t cover it . But once the vital crystal was burned from the monster’s body the rest of the Princess exploded into a mess of flesh . This detritus, that had been the nightmare of humanity for years, was incinerated by the light of the Harmonious Swords .

But the crystal seemed to have a mind of its own . The glittering gem propelled itself with appalling speed at the net closing in around it . It struck with such force that it broke through and started back toward the alien home worlds .

It was trying to flee! Lan Jue and the others did not slacken their assault but it still did not seem to be enough . What was left of the Violet Princess took the opportunity .

Everyone knew that these crystals were the essence of the monsters . Destroying the Princess’ body had been a victory, but without her crystal there would remake her, and she would return to terrorize mankind .

But Lan Jue was prepared . The two of them had tangled many times, this was just the chance he’d been waiting for .

Thump! The crystal stopped dead in its desperate escape, like it’d been caught in a trap . Another net, this one blue . A figure appeared hovering nearby – none other than Hua Li .

He’d arrived on the scene a short time before . The moment combat broke out in Middle Heaven he’d started back, only to discover they were teleported outside of the armada . When he finally reached his friends he saw Lan Jue make his move and decided to wait and see where he would be needed .

In a flash Lan Jue and Zhou Qianlin were by Hua Li’s side . He said nothing, bringing his hand down upon Hua Li’s net of power . Instantly the Princess’ crystal was encased in a shell of Lan Jue’s Domain . Captured in Boundless Starlight, the flash of the five thunders rumbled ominously .

Pure empyrean lightning, All-Heaven Lightning, and Primordial lightning blasted the crystal with alternating strikes . Eventually the crystal stopped, and struggled no more . There was a twinkle of light and the inert crystal appeared in Lan Jue’s hand .

The Violet Princess had fallen!

At last the incredibly powerful monster had been defeated, though it was but one of their elite . However it was one of only two that possessed a true inheritance from the home worlds themselves . Monarch’s remaining offspring, the Violet Prince, was shocked by what he saw . But it lasted only a moment, for now his reinforcements had arrived .

The Pharmacist did not pause to celebrate their victory over the Violet Princess . Once the threat was neutralized she turned around and returned to face the three alien elite that had entangled her before . Before the Keeper and Bookworm had struggled to keep the situation from spiraling out of control, but with the Pharmacist they managed to stabilize their section of the battlefield .

Under Lan Jue’s direction Hua Li went to join the Driver . Lan Jue’s lightning-bearing friend, together with the Epochrion and Pauper, were facing an uphill battle . However the Wine Master had also come to their aid after the teleportation was complete . Altogether they were managing to keep the Infinite-level beast they faced from wreaking havoc . Now with Hua Li’s help their situation was even better – maybe even equal to their foe .

The rest was left up to Lan Jue and Qianlin . Together they would have to face the encroaching six aliens and protect their allies . Lan Jue’s eyes flashed with a clear and resolute light . Both sides had suffered, with the aliens losing the Princess and the Pontiff destroyed by the Prince . Humanity’s losses were worse, however, with the death of Xiuxiu .

It was far past time to exact vengeance on these beasts .

Once again Lan Jue released his Boundless Starlight and in response the light of distance stars shone brightly upon them . In contrast to before, though, this time the light of the stars covered a much larger area .

The incoming alien reinforcements were immediately swallowed up . Lan Jue and Qianlin followed up by releasing a prismatic spray from their Harmonious Swords to black their path forward .

At the same time Qianlin was stretching to spread the warmth of her Queen of Light Discipline ever farther . Primarily it had to reach Luo Xianni, so that she could use her full strength without fear of universal protogenia .  

Lan Jue’s expression was as deep and inscrutable as the sea . He was cold, calculating, collected, and the calmer he was the most dangerous he became . The power summoned through him and Qianlin, channeled through their swords, stopped the aliens dead in their tracks . But it did not stop them from reacting .

Humanity wasn’t alone in adapting to the situation!

The six avatars of Monarch, Queen and Consort linked hands and created a circle . Together they released their Creation and Destruction Discipline and allowed it to spread its chaos . Meanwhile their bodies also began to change .

Threads of purple light appeared between them and twined together . Quickly the light coalesced into a shape, a figure that swallowed up the rich aura of strength seeping from all the avatars around it .

Was there no end to what these beasts could do? Lan Jue was almost at a loss, for as he watched these six beasts combined into one . The three-headed, six-armed horror’s central head took the shape of Monarch’s ‘human’ features . On either side were Queen and Consort .

A nightmarish amalgamation of the three – a sort of humanoid hydra!

Once they combined into a single form, the strength of the new creation’s aura surged . All of a sudden it was stronger than the fallen Princess, even stronger than the Prince . It even seemed to surpass the mighty avatar Lan Jue had fought in the depths of Monarch .

“Humans, your species is destined for destruction . It is foolish to think you can resist your fate . Give in to the inevitable and we will grant you immortality . ” The middle head, Monarch’s, spoke to them .

Lan Jue didn’t bother to reply . In lieu of words he thrust forward with Captus and released a stream of focused flow in its direction . Qianlin imitated and released her thousand blades as one style to join with Lan Jue’s, and together they melded into the versicolored ray of the Harmonious Swords . Together they wielded power as though they commanded the Infinite .

Lights flashed around all of the monster’s six arms . Weapons appeared in each one; knife, gun, sword, halberd, axe and spear .

Monarch’s arms bore the knife and sword . As Lan Jue and Qianlin’s attack came bearing down on it the aura of power surged .

All at once all six weapons were employed, producing six beams of golden-purple light that combined into one . The two columns of energy crashed into one another .

Boom- - - -! The Boundless Starlight shell they fought in shuddered from the impact . Qianlin and Lan Jue felt a wall of force strike them so hard it knocked them back .