Zask, Meidu, and Neil, carrying Celty’s head, headed towards the Ancestral God Temple.
They were following Ye Chui’s instructions to rendezvous with Debbie and the others.
But just as they reached the forest outside the “Imperial Forbidden Ground” where the temple stood, and could already see its high walls in the night, someone suddenly appeared before them.
It was an old man, seemingly even older than the brothers Xelas and Xeral. His build was extremely burly. In the darkness, his right arm appeared unusually thick and eerie. It was a puppet arm!
Grafting puppets onto the human body had been a topic researched by countless puppet masters in the Tidal Empire, with little success. But among countless failures, there were one or two successes. Like the man before them.
The clan leader of the Puppet God phantom beast among the empire’s twelve clans: Faze!
As supreme commander of the empire’s puppet army, he usually did not stay in the capital. Instead, he led his forces to maintain the Tidal Empire’s territorial stability. After the Church invaded, unrest arose across the empire. He had been ordered to suppress it. But after Ye Chui’s group’s uproar in the capital yesterday, he hurried back.
Returning to the capital tonight, learning of events, he came outside the Ancestral God Temple. Wise, he clearly judged Ye Chui’s group likely hid inside.
And reality matched his guess closely. Here, he awaited Zask, Meidu, and Neil’s arrival.
Seeing Faze, Zask’s trio grew extremely tense.
Celty, held in Neil’s arms, curiously glanced at Faze’s puppet arm. She asked, “Who is he?”
“The Puppet God clan’s leader, Faze… He is known as the empire’s strongest man.” Neil’s voice trembled slightly. Clearly, this man brought her great fear. After a pause, she continued to Celty, “After the imperial rebellion, Zask, Meidu, and I questioned the Emperor’s actions. We confronted him. But met Faze. Faze is most loyal to the Emperor… Even the three of us together could not defeat him. He imprisoned us.”
Celty immediately widened her mouth in surprise.
Zask, Meidu, and Neil were already very powerful. Yet the three combined could not match this Faze!
“Teacher…” Zask spoke bitterly now. “You have returned.”
“Teacher?” Celty shocked again.
“Because Faze is so strong, we all received his guidance in youth. Most empire powerhouses call Faze teacher.” Neil continued. Hugging Celty tighter, preparing to flee.
Facing this powerful man, she seemed unable to muster fighting courage.
Zask and Meidu exchanged glances. Then both looked at Neil. Though ages differed greatly—Zask old enough to be Neil’s grandfather, Meidu her mother—their clans always close. They were tacit battle companions, experiencing many perilous fights together.
This glance exchanged much information: Zask and Meidu block Faze. Create chance for Neil to carry Celty escape to the temple!
“I heard the Emperor died.” Faze spoke now. His puppet arm swung, emitting crackling sounds, as if puppet components activating. His voice calm, but calm hid powerful rage. “What relation do you have to the Emperor’s death?”
“The Emperor lured the Church into the Tidal Empire. We did not kill him. But we permitted it.” Zask said gravely. Facing Faze, he knew lies useless.
“The twelve clans swear loyalty to the Emperor. How did I teach you before?” Faze roared angrily. Puppet arm clenched fist. In dark night, huge arm suddenly emitted red glow. Cracks like veins appeared, as if containing powerful energy eager to burst forth. “You…” He stepped forward. “Prepared to die?”
Next moment, he appeared beside Zask. Fist smashing towards Zask’s body.
Meidu’s body suddenly dropped low. Four limbs on ground. Fiery red light surrounded her. Phantom beast shadow—[Fire Fox]!
She instantly transformed into a flaming fox cat.
Speed extreme. Whoosh, pounced at Faze.
Faze punched Zask away. Huge puppet arm swung back. Directly met flaming fox Meidu. Again elbow struck the flame fox cat away.
His eyes did not look at the repelled two. Instead at Neil, and Celty in Neil’s arms.
Neil nimbly leaped back. Clear bird cry. Falcon Beast summoned, appearing under her feet. Simultaneously, illusory flying magical beasts behind her in air. Like cannonballs rushing Faze.
Neil seized chance. Rode Falcon Beast soaring high.
Facing descending countless flying beasts, Faze coldly smiled. Low shout. Puppet arm punched skyward.
Bang—
Fist emitted air-breaking muffled sound.
Powerful aura like terrifying anti-air magic missile shot. Illusory flying beasts shattered and dissipated one by one.
“Want to flee?” He looked at Neil in sky. Body slightly bent, preparing leap.
But just as he about to spring, Zask’s angry roar rang. He furiously charged. Body surrounded by huge shark-like phantom beast shadow. Other side, Meidu’s transformed flame fox cat followed closely.
Flanking Faze!
Faze too strong. And held near foolish loyalty to Emperor. At this moment, they fought desperately. Only to block Faze an instant. Let Neil carry Celty safely escape…
“Wastes!”
Sensing pressure from both sides, Faze abandoned pursuing Neil. Mouth emitted cold angry rebuke.
Boom!
…
Neil holding Celty’s head, astride Falcon Beast. Looked down at powerful collision explosion below. Eyes full worry. Heart unspeakably concerned for Zask and Meidu’s safety.
Falcon Beast already flew over Ancestral God Temple. Then dove down.
“You wait for me… Once I hand Miss Celty to President Ye Chui’s companions, I will join you!” Neil thought resolutely.
Then crack. Like bird hitting glass head-on. Falcon Beast crashed into near-transparent turtle pattern barrier. Powerful impact directly dissipated Falcon Beast. Neil flat smacked onto barrier top. Spread-eagled stuck on turtle pattern barrier. Already fainted…
Celty’s head rolled down side. Accompanied by series of “what the fuck what the fuck” startled cries…
…
Inside Ancestral God Temple, Bishop Xis gravely injured lay on ground. One arm severed. Body countless claw and bite marks. Appearance horrific. Those wounds clearly Fiorre’s doing. Now Fiorre faced Debbie, Shaleme, and dragon-turtle trio.
“Fiorre, wake up. We are your friends…” Debbie shouted. Seeing Fiorre rapidly charging her. She instantly summoned White Ship black sword. Thrust forward. Whoosh whoosh sounds. Sea water seemed surround Debbie. Huge black ship phantom summoned. Supported by illusory sea water. Boom crashed into charging Fiorre. Sent Fiorre flying—this correct combat way for White Ship or ghost ship phantom beast.
Fiorre tumbled several times on ground. Now nearly fully enveloped in black qi. Only two red glows visible in eyes. Emitted piercing roar at Debbie. Then Shaleme’s figure suddenly appeared behind him. Spiked club boom boom boom continuously smashed down.
Shaleme outwardly rough but inwardly gentle girl. So while swinging spiked club smashing, she pleaded, “Fiorre, wake up quickly. Please…”
“Waaahhh—” Fiorre emitted hissing roar. Body teleported. Escaped Shaleme appearing mid-air. Clearly possessed strong intelligence. Realised Debbie and Shaleme not easy targets. Charged seemingly harmless dragon-turtle trio.
But just as body reached three little kids, ground suddenly grew vines. Instantly bound his body.
Elf Baby looked at black eerie figure and two red glows. Wah cried, “Baby scared…”
“Roar—” Longbao pulled Baby’s hand. Opened mouth. Dragon flame directly sprayed onto Fiorre.
“Aaahhh—” Mm, definitely not scream. But angry hiss…
“Actually scared Queen to tears!” Guibao now looking skyward—Neil and Celty just appeared above barrier. She somewhat sensed. But ignored first removing barrier. Instead swung small fists at burning black shadow in dragon flame. Terrifying magical beast divine might instantly emanated.
Boom!
Guibao’s tiny fist landed on Fiorre. Directly sent Fiorre flying sideways. Crashed into waist-thick tree. Tree boom snapped mid-trunk. Guibao then looked sky. Cried inwardly bad. Just now not timely remove barrier. Caused arrivals crash into it. Felt guilty. Hurriedly opened overhead turtle pattern barrier.
Now black shadow Fiorre climbed from wood debris. Body some lingering fine dragon flames burning. Mouth huffing rough breaths. Warily staring courtyard several people.
“Fiorre, wake quickly. We are your friends. You forgot?” Debbie tried her gentlest voice.
“Aaahhh!!!”
Fiorre angrily roared. As if holding unquenchable rage towards Debbie etc.
Clearly sensed fear from Debbie etc. Suddenly spread arms. Mouth continuous strange cries. Black portal appeared before him. Whoosh. Like startled fox. Swiftly darted in.
This scene startled Debbie etc. “That portal…” Longbao seemed sense some aura. Urgently shouted, “This portal connects to Puppet Graveyard!”
Too late. Previously seemingly dying Bishop Xis. Unknown if heard Longbao or sensed familiar aura. Body suddenly leaped up. Followed entering black portal.
“What the hell!” Debbie stunned. Hurriedly chased.
But sky suddenly series cries. “What the fuck what the fuck. Catch me. Quickly catch me…”
Celty and Neil falling from high!
“Celty!” Debbie’s little face blanked. Immediately rushed towards Celty’s fall direction. Very coincidentally, Celty’s fall direction precisely black portal direction.
Shaleme reaction quite swift now. Swiftly rushed one direction. “The other person to me!”
Celty and Neil fell successively.
Then…
“Whoosh—” Celty truly unbiased fell into black portal.
Portal closed accordingly.
Other Shaleme while watching sky, mouth shouting. “I caught. Almost caught…”
Crack. Neil steadily landed half metre before her.
Shaleme: “Eh?”
