Ugh, bad mood from work, lazy to elaborate, here is more chapters
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Ekbert's aged eyes were ice-cold. Yes—he was truly angry.
It was not that he could not accept failure. He was already old, and long ago resolved to give everything for the Light God Realm. Even death he was willing to face calmly.
That was the very reason he had descended to Aquamarine: to do one last service for the Light God Realm in the twilight of his life. If he were to fall in battle on this star, he was already prepared.
But this—this he could not accept.
His colleagues, his juniors, reduced to puppets of evil creatures!
"Divine Sanction!"
Jerna's knight's spear swung down heavily, the radiant holy light condensing into a vast cannon of brilliance that roared toward Ekbert.
His face did not change—neither joy nor sorrow—as he raised his staff. The beam of Divine Sanction crashed into his Light Barrier with a thunderous explosion of radiance.
Yet even Jerna's strongest technique could not shatter it.
"May God have mercy on you, Jerna."
Looking at her cold golden pupils, Ekbert closed his eyes in sorrow and prayed.
Yes, sorrow.
Shanteville and Jerna were both juniors he admired and placed high hopes upon. He had always believed the two of them would one day rise to the rank of Praisers. Their will, their talent—they were outstanding beyond doubt.
And now…
"You look troubled, old man."
A mocking voice cut through his grief. Ekbert's eyes snapped open. Several figures approached—it was Mammon, Shen Ji, and their companions.
"Filthy creatures!"
In Ekbert's once-kind eyes, only cold hatred remained.
"To defile Jerna's will—you will surely be punished by the Goddess!"
To trample upon a person's dignity and will—such a thing Ekbert could not forgive. It was a blasphemy against the Light God Realm itself.
He did not know how they controlled Jerna, but it was surely some foul sorcery.
"What a terrible threat. Then let your goddess save you."
Li Yuqin sneered. "Goddess this, goddess that—you bright creatures never have any new lines."
"The Lady shall purify the world. You, who consort with demons, will be cast into the abyss without redemption!"
Ecbert gripped his staff firmly. His gaze swept across his enemies, yet his face remained calm.
"Then let those words wait until your goddess comes. For now, you stand alone. If you surrender, we will spare your life."
Shen Ji's tone was indifferent, his hands clasped behind his back. Indeed, the two Redeemers had already fallen. The Holy Guard and the Guardian of Light were gone.
Today, Ecbert stood alone—deep within enemy lines.
The old man drew a deep breath, his eyes sweeping across the battlefield.
Before him stood Mammon, Shen Ji, and the Beast King. To his flank, Jerna and the corrupted griffin loomed. Behind him, the Death Scythe Demon and the Storm Worm lurked.
He was completely surrounded. If not for his Light Barrier, they would have already torn him apart.
Such a scene would break most men into despair.
But Ekbert only said quietly:
"Laughable. Bathed in the Holy Light, we will never compromise with evil."
Yes. As the Redeemer of Light, he could never yield—least of all to those who had defiled Jerna's will.
His gaze hardened.
"Besides… you seem so sure you control the board."
He raised his staff. Holy radiance surged skyward, and his old yet steady voice rang with unshakable conviction:
"Look well at the one before you! I am the Redeemer of Light—Ekbert! Personally chosen by the Divine Elemental Angel, bearer of the Goddess's radiance! All darkness shall be consumed in the holy light and reduced to ash!"
Sacred brilliance flooded the sky as a vast magic array began to turn above. An overwhelming pressure swept across heaven and earth.
"Xuan Guang—Eightfold Heaven!"
With Ekbert's solemn invocation, colossal spheres of holy power began to condense within the array. The very wind stilled, the air grew heavy beneath its might.
"This old man is going all out."
Mammon's eyes narrowed. The Eightfold Heaven—it was a near-epic spell of divine magic. And Ekbert was forcing it into existence with sheer will and enormous mana.
"Naruto!"
At Mammon's call, the bell in Naruto's hand rang with a sharp jingle. Shen Ji vanished in an instant.
"The power of Six Suns!"
He reappeared outside the Light Barrier, raising his long blade overhead. Six-colored light erupted from the weapon, its edge sharp enough to rend heaven itself.
Yes—Mammon's earlier words had only been a distraction, buying Shen Ji time to gather power. Ekbert's barrier was too strong to break without full preparation, and of all present, Shen Ji's destructive force was supreme.
"Die!"
Shen Ji's eyes gleamed with killing intent as he swung. The six-colored slash tore through the air, crashing against the Light Barrier.
Rumble!
Holy light collided violently with the six-colored blade. Ekbert's pupils shrank, forced to divert power into maintaining the barrier. For now, he had no choice but to halt the Eightfold Heaven's progress.
If the barrier fell, he would have no chance left to fight back.
"Flame Meteor!"
Li Yuqin's right hand flared, the flame-etched sigil glowing as a searing fireball rose from her palm, swelling in the sky before streaking downward with a blazing tail.
"Vampire Magic—Pierce All Things!"
Mammon's gaze flicked to the unfinished Eightfold Heaven above, a mocking smile tugging at his lips.
Ekbert was indeed powerful, but in the end, he was only an Elemental Messenger—an old one, his body frail and his movements limited.
Alone and surrounded… how much strength could he truly wield?