The Cornflower Witch

Book 2: Chapter 198: Divinity Overflow

Vol 2 Chapter 198: Divinity Overflow

The Severing Steel Sword, the holy sword Sylutia had once held and examined, was now completely unsealed in the face of the 'Blackquis Juvenile'.

Dazzling radiance descended from the distant firmament, countless beams of light pierced the dark canopy, descending upon this pitch-black, lightless domain. Within that radiance, the sword displayed an unmatched holy brilliance. The power of burning conviction and will contained within it infected even Sylutia, who was separated by a great distance.

The belief Emersand upheld throughout his life, the oath recited by countless generations of 'Iron Knights' upon their formal inauguration, responded and manifested at this moment. Even the terrifying monster, bolstered by legend, was suppressed beneath this light.

The blinding sword radiance tore through the giant serpent's body like a white rainbow, severing its massive head and sending it crashing to the earth. The severed serpentine body thrashed wildly, spewing foul black blood.

Confronted with the descending radiance, this black blood emitted a sizzling sound, boiling and emitting white smoke, gradually dissipating.

The terror that had weighed on Sylutia's heart also began to recede at this moment.

Did we win? The thought had just arisen in Sylutia's mind when she sensed something was wrong.

No, there was still the other serpent head. The most dangerous aspect of the Twin-Headed Serpent was that it possessed heads at both its head and tail.

Just as Taos severed one of the serpent heads, the other lurking, massive serpent head abruptly burst forth from underground. Covered in glossy black scales, its gaping maw revealed six slender fangs. These fangs sprayed venom from within the opened mouth, striking the eyes of the towering 'Fiend Dragon Berserker'. He became unsteady on his feet, forced to cover his eyes with his hands.Several seconds later, he struggled to open his eyes. At this moment, his eyeballs were bloodshot and crimson, his mind somewhat unclear, his steps staggering as if drunk.

Not good. Seeing this, Sylutia felt a pang of worry.

On the battlefield, the witch manipulated emerald flames to burn away the excess venom. With the loss of the massive blood-colored giant's restraint, the 'Blackquis Juvenile', now with only one head, revealed a vicious glint in its eyes. With extreme speed, it turned around once more, its gaping bloody maw swallowing the bard who had been staying at the rear.

Fortunately, this poet was quite capable. He once again exchanged positions with the fireflies under his control, escaping from the serpent's maw.

However, his condition was far from good. Although he had escaped danger, black serpentine patterns now covered his body, just like Sylutia before, his power being drained by the curse, his complexion pale.

The 'Fiend Dragon Berserker' and the 'Poet Tainted by Fireflies' among the four had temporarily lost their combat capability. On the other side, even though the witch unleashed a kilometer-wide sea of emerald flames erupting from the ground, she could hardly stop the massive serpentine body from thrashing, sending the unsteady blood-colored giant flying.

On the other side, Taos took a deep breath. Boiling white vapor overflowed from the visor of his armor. Then, he raised the holy sword once more, swinging it down at the constantly slithering giant black serpent.

Dazzling radiance once again tore through the sky. Unfortunately, this time, without sufficient teammates for cover and support, the 'Blackquis Juvenile' avoided the vital spot. The brilliant radiance only severed the lower waist section of the serpentine body.

Dragging most of its remaining body, the Blackquis Juvenile became even more crazed and furious. Its remaining head reared high, spewing a black forked tongue, then abruptly dove down, devouring the other severed serpent head.

The glossy black scales expanded. The massive serpent head could be seen visibly sliding down its neck into its belly, then wriggling as it was digested.

After swallowing its other head, the Blackquis Juvenile seemed to trigger some hidden switch. Its aura changed once more. Its body became broad and flat, its belly fat and greasy, yet it gave off an even more dangerous feeling.

The forked tongue it constantly flickered emitted an intangible, sweet fragrance, intoxicating and luring nearby living beings, causing them to lose consciousness and be swallowed alive.

At this moment, the Fiend Dragon Berserker, who couldn't open his eyes, had loose, staggering steps. His condition was already poor, and now he was further confused by the cloyingly sweet, poisonous fragrance. The sensations in his body were gradually being paralyzed.

The bard on the other side was rescued by the witch, but he had completely lost consciousness. The black serpentine patterns on his body grew increasingly vivid, as if they might awaken at any moment.

Faced with this, the witch had no choice but to envelop his body in viridian poisonous flames, engaging in a struggle with the curse on him. Even if she couldn't expel it, she could briefly suppress it, preventing it from erupting instantly. However, this 'fighting poison with poison' also placed a tremendous strain on the bard's body. If not resolved quickly, he probably wouldn't live much longer.

On the field, the only one utterly fearless, protected by the holy sword, slowly supported his body and stood up.

Taos looked up with difficulty, gazing at the terrifying serpentine body slithering in the sky. But now, he was nearing exhaustion, utterly incapable of swinging a third sword.

Ultimately, the time since his advancement was still too short. As a Sixth Tier knight, his strength was far less mature than the others around him. Unfortunately, among the high-tier members of the Hidden Grove Alliance, most were of human bloodline. Only a few individuals were not countered by Blackquis and could quickly reach the battlefield.

What a pity. Taos silently thought, watching his side on the verge of defeat, his heart filled with regret.

If only he were stronger. Such a defeat would not only cost him his life and cause the 'Ironwall Crown Furnace' to lose its honor—an organization whose very mission was to drive back the Twilight Beasts, yet now, at the most critical moment, it couldn't play its proper role, couldn't live up to everyone's expectations.

The founder of the 'Iron Knight' progression path, 'Emersand', throughout his entire life, was not that kind of dazzling genius. His life could be described as full of hardships. He lost his parents in childhood, his only blood-related sister in his youth. In his old age, the 'Steel Furnace Knight Order' he led, in its constant travels, never had a stable garrison. Although the Iron Knight training method was passed down and promoted, it was never some brilliant technique, but rather a safety net for those knights of ordinary origins and insufficient aptitude.

The only consolation was that his efforts were ultimately seen by the Hours in the heavens. Moved by his conviction and heroic deeds, they specifically instructed the Fairies to forge that legendary holy sword for him.

Now, as Taos neared exhaustion, the holy sword in his hand also gradually dimmed. It was thrust upside down into the abyssal earth, barely supporting the knight who held it.

On the dark canopy, the black serpent that had swallowed the head let out another terrifying hiss. The previously severed serpentine body grew new flesh once more. The regenerated tail was slender, its scales pitch-black, and at its end, a bizarre serpent head emerged anew.

Compared to the raised head, the tail head was more slender and gave off an even more sinister and unfathomable feeling. It flickered a blood-red forked tongue, coiling around the serpent head, climbing and winding along the fat serpentine body. The two heads formed an intertwined 'U' shape.

Beneath the giant serpent, the sea of viridian flames controlled by the witch boiled and rose. Numerous flames drifted up like dandelion seeds, all surging toward the soaring black serpent, attempting to envelop and incinerate it.

The smaller serpent head opened its mouth amidst the flames. Countless viridian flames were all sucked into its body, devoured by it. Then, its blood-red eyes turned viridian, like turquoise, beautiful as works of art, yet covered in black patterns, inspiring fear.

"This kind of devouring ability..." the witch murmured to herself, her face slightly pale.

She suddenly recalled the legend of 'Blackquis'. That Twin-Headed Serpent relied precisely on its powerful devouring ability to grow stronger again and again, continuously reborn, causing the Primordial King to suffer defeat after defeat.

Seeing it as invincible, this witch finally lost the will to fight. She swiftly retreated with the bard behind her, transforming into a viridian meteor and disappearing into the distance.

Unable to give chase, the black serpent vented its fury on the blood-red giant on the ground. The larger serpent head opened its massive maw, swallowing the hundred-meter-long blood-colored giant in one gulp. Within the serpent's belly, the 'Fiend Dragon Berserker' still struggled, but could only create a few spreading, bulging rings, unable to pierce through the serpent's abdomen.

On the other side, compared to the several-kilometer-long giant serpent, Taos's body was exceptionally tiny, never considered a significant threat. If he hadn't swung his sword twice, nearly taking the 'Blackquis Juvenile's' life, this giant serpent wouldn't have paid him any attention.

Now that the other enemies were dealt with, the giant serpent could focus all its efforts on this 'dangerous', minuscule opponent. Its massive body coiled around and locked down the figure protected by the holy sword. Its raised head looked down, glaring with rage, then spewed endless black sludge and poisonous blood, attempting to defile and drain the shining holy sword.

Within that inundating sea of black sludge, the holy sword's radiance was gradually covered, submerged.

Watching this scene from afar, Sylutia felt anxious and uneasy, yet she couldn't find any way to change the situation at the moment.

Call upon the power of the otherworldly witch again? Unfortunately, the 'colors' she had accumulated were insufficient. Now, it was utterly inadequate to summon that powerful authority of the otherworldly witch once more.

Rely on the alien star's traversal characteristic to save the knight holding the holy sword? Her current tier was too far below the giant serpent's. Getting close again might not allow her to tear through space and escape. If she were cursed again, she wasn't sure she could escape danger.

From a mortal without any Aspect tier, to coming into contact with knowledge and growing into a Transcendent, only five years had passed. Even if she was a one-in-ten-thousand genius, she couldn't bridge the power gap accumulated over hundreds or thousands of years. Compared to that giant serpent, she was still far too weak, unable to shake it.

Watching the holy sword's radiance gradually sink, Sylutia's heart also sank bit by bit. At this moment, she suddenly understood why some people, even if they had to abandon everything, still pursued that immensely powerful strength.

As the bitterness at the corner of her mouth slowly spread, Sylutia suddenly heard a sound coming from the distance.

It was a familiar yet unfamiliar troop. One after another, knights clad in gray iron armor galloped forward across the boundless black wilderness. The sound of hooves was urgent and intense. The lances forged of steel were held straight and high, pointing toward the firmament.

They were the knights who had set out from 'Ironwall Precipice', also the core members of the 'Ironwall Crown Furnace' faction. This knight organization, which to this day couldn't be considered large-scale—the several hundred knights galloping across the wilderness now were probably their entire strength.

What is an oath?

If it is only upheld when it benefits oneself, how is it different from hypocritical, cheap words?

But to restrain instinctive fear and follow an oath at a moment of extreme disadvantage, a hair's breadth from life and death—what kind of unshakeable will and conviction is required for that?

Amidst heavy breathing, these iron-clad knights advanced shoulder to shoulder. Gray, steel-like banners flapped fiercely as they galloped. Their figures rose and fell with the galloping of their warhorses. The power within them burned, converging into pale meteors advancing across the pitch-black earth.

Layers upon layers of gray-white light screens spread out from beneath them, continuously breaking through obstacles. The powers of 'Castle' and 'Distortion' clashed. Boiling radiance resembled flames, dragging and tearing open this dark world.

At this moment, the knights charging into the battlefield illuminated this sinking world like torches, drawing the attention of the giant serpent on the celestial canopy.

Angered by yet another disturbance, the giant serpent shifted its target, spewing and pouring black sludge and poisonous blood toward the advancing gray iron cavalry.

The black mudflow violently washed over them. The pale flames and the black mudflow reacted violently, erupting with boiling sparks and white smoke. The layers of gray-white light screens previously deployed were rapidly consumed in the struggle. If the last layer of protection was lost, they would be submerged by this highly toxic black blood, and none of the members would escape the terrifying curse.

An immense and terrifying pressure descended—the crushing weight of a Sixth Tier existence.

Under this extreme pressure, some knights fell forever, tumbling from their horses and disappearing into the dark wilderness. Other members, tested by conviction and oath, persevered with difficulty. The corners of their eyes, on the verge of splitting, overflowed with a faint silver, sacred radiance.

Their life force was beginning to burn at this moment.

That is... Divinity Overflow. Seeing the scene below, an ancient term of knowledge surfaced in Sylutia's mind.

When a person's spirit and will reach a certain extreme, it overflows, igniting their own Aspect. This is an ancient ritual of burning and sublimation, also the only ritual not bound by any Aspect.

It is said that in the primordial era before the sun and moon rose, those ancient lives elevated their own Aspect tiers through this kind of torment and struggle.

And this method of elevation was like moths flying into a flame.

Either success, or death.

In the lightless Dark Ages, those burning lives were the only torches and brilliance.

...

Pale meteors slowly streaked across her pupils. The faces within were so vivid, yet contorted in painful struggle. The boiling conviction and will burning on them were almost visible to the naked eye.

These knights traversed the vast, dark earth, advancing toward the location of the only shining holy sword radiance. Along the way, people continuously fell and died, struck down by the black breath torrents, but even more members survived.

Until they reached the location of the holy sword. It was like adding fuel to a candle about to be extinguished. Boiling, sacred radiance rose from the earth for the third time.

Tears streaming down his face, Taos slowly raised the holy sword once more. By his side, knights used their bodies to forge a wall, protecting him.

This was also their final chance.

At this moment, Sylutia's form transformed into a shining meteor, traversing the celestial canopy in an instant, arriving near the black giant serpent. By her side, patterns of purple eyes unfolded one after another. Interlacing rays converged their fire on the giant serpent's eyes, causing it excruciating pain.

She continuously unleashed various abilities, attracting the attention of the 'Blackquis Juvenile', delaying it as much as possible, buying time for Taos below to gain the best opportunity to swing his third sword.

In the eternally dark firmament, the girl's figure flickered back and forth like a faint firefly, weaving through the extremely dangerous vicinity of the giant serpent. Slender rays of light occasionally appeared in the night sky, and slender chains attempted to immobilize the serpent heads.

At one moment, facing the giant serpent's constricting pursuit, Sylutia narrowly dodged. The corners of her eyes cracked, traces of blood seeping out, and faint golden radiance unconsciously drifted away.

Immediately after, cornflowers tinged with orange flame and gold bloomed fully across the sky. The drifting flames burned brightly, like the most magnificent fireworks, obscuring and attracting the giant serpent's gaze.

Brilliant radiance pierced the pitch-black celestial canopy once more, slowly rising upward.

Amidst the sky-filling falling flames, the dazzling holy sword abruptly rose, sweeping across the firmament for the third time. The sharp sword radiance severed the serpentine body.

With a measure of shock and furious disbelief, both serpent heads fell simultaneously, plummeting from the sky, bouncing slightly, then rolling into the muddy dust.

The massive, terrifying serpentine body writhed, slowly crashing into the earth. Black-red blood slowly flowed, flooding this pitch-black abyss.