Derick charged forward, wielding the Blade of Scourge.
The Flame Reaver, facing the combined assault of Phainon and Mydei, couldn't afford to be careless. He had already drawn both his weapons and was engaged in attack.
He had just pushed back Mydei and Phainon and was preparing to attack Phainon, who lacked immortality, when Derick descended from the sky, greatsword in hand. He swung the Blade of Scourge downwards, smashing towards the Flame Reaver.
The Flame Reaver used his crescent-shaped blade to block, giving Phainon and Mydei a moment to breathe.
"It's you!"
The Flame Reaver's voice was hoarse as he spoke to Derick. His tone carried a heavy anger.
Since his debut, he had never suffered such a significant loss. Being dragged by Derick to crash into the Blade of Scourge was an experience the Flame Reaver did not wish to repeat.
"Derick, you've come to help too!" Phainon exclaimed in pleasant surprise.
"Perfect timing," Mydei also replied.
Derick launched his attack against the Flame Reaver. Swinging the greatsword with both hands, his body was enveloped in golden energy, similar to Nikador's, as he smashed down on the Flame Reaver, blow after blow.
"This fighting technique?" the Flame Reaver wondered internally.
"Nikador's fighting technique."
He had fought Nikador extensively that day and was very familiar with Nikador's combat style. He just hadn't expected the boy who had dragged him into a self-destruction a few days ago to possess the same fighting techniques as Nikador. Even the energy within his body was the same as the Titan of Discord's.
"You... how did you do it?"
"Guess."
Derick saw no need to explain anything to the Flame Reaver; let him guess and wonder.
"Lightning Spear of the Azure Sky!"
Derick swung the Blade of Scourge forward, and the golden energy formed a bolt of lightning resembling a spear.
After swinging the spear, Derick used the momentum of the lightning to charge towards the Flame Reaver.
However, he then realized that the Flame Reaver he had attacked was merely an afterimage. Derick quickly turned his head and saw four afterimages of the Flame Reaver appear not far away.
Unlike the afterimages encountered when fighting the Flame Reaver in the game, this Flame Reaver was moving at high speed, making it impossible for Derick to distinguish the real one.
"If I can't find his real body, then I'll just have to use an area attack," Derick thought, then raised the Blade of Scourge with both hands.
"Then let the flames of war rage boundless!"
Another of Nikador's skills.
Derick raised the Blade of Scourge with both hands, and a brilliant light appeared at its tip. Simultaneously, magic circles appeared beneath the feet of the Flame Reaver and all his afterimages.
Immense power erupted from the magic circles.
The real Flame Reaver naturally dodged, but his afterimages couldn't react in time. Thus, after Derick's attack, all the afterimages that were clouding judgment vanished.
Phainon and Mydei now attacked the Flame Reaver from the left and right.
Facing the three-pronged assault, the Flame Reaver crossed his weapons, conjuring a massive dark-light blade that slashed towards the three.
Phainon, Derick, and Mydei all channeled their full energy to meet the attack.
A huge explosion erupted between the four of them, and for a moment, the surroundings shook violently. Fortunately, the structure of the Grove of Epiphany was sturdy enough; otherwise, it truly would have collapsed in the blast.
The nearby Black Tide creatures were not so lucky; they were completely annihilated by the tremors from the violent explosion.
It could be said that as long as this Flame Reaver was repelled, this Black Tide assault on the Grove of Epiphany would come to nothing.
Castorice was naturally fine; she stood at the edge of the explosion, watching with a mixture of worry and anticipation.
After the explosion, Derick, Phainon, and Mydei were sent flying. Mydei and Phainon were close to each other; Mydei dug one hand into the ground, his five fingers carving a long trench, while his other hand grabbed Phainon to prevent him from being thrown too far.
Castorice had been watching Derick. The moment he was sent flying, Castorice quickly moved to embrace him.
The Flame Reaver wasn't much better off. His figure was also blasted into mid-air, his clothes even more tattered.
"This fellow's defense is truly terrifying." Mydei spread his arms, once again gathering energy into them.
The word "fear war" did not exist in the dictionary of a Kremnosian.
Phainon, Derick, and Castorice also gripped their weapons, preparing to attack the Flame Reaver.
The battle between the five of them ignited once more.
Cerces quietly watched the battle between Derick's group and the Flame Reaver.
With Castorice's help, the group had reached a complete stalemate on the battlefield. Unlike when it was just Phainon and Mydei, who could barely hold on, now they could not only contend with the Flame Reaver but also launch partial counterattacks.
What the outcome of such a stalemate would be, no one could say.
Derick's progress, however, was rapid. He hadn't been able to fully master Nikador's skills before, but now, fighting against the formidable Flame Reaver, his combat techniques were improving remarkably quickly, gradually developing towards a fighting strength truly equal to Mydei, Phainon, and Castorice.
Cerces's feelings were very complex.
The scholars of the Grove of Epiphany had already evacuated; it could be said that they were now only guarding Herself.
"Since they are willing to make such a powerful effort for Me, then I naturally cannot be stingy," Cerces thought.
She activated Her power, transmitting Her voice into the ears of Derick and the others.
"I am Cerces, the Titan of Reason. Young man with the black hair, please return to the Grove of Epiphany first to meet with Me. The rest of you, please help hold off that Flame Reaver for a while, and then this crisis will naturally be resolved."
Ordinary people could not understand the words of a Titan, but Cerces was the Titan of Reason; She naturally had ways to make Her language known to others.
Hearing Cerces say this, Derick and the others exchanged glances.
"I'll go take a look," Derick said to the other three.
There was no time to think too much. Since Cerces had spoken, he would first see what She intended to do.
"Alright." Phainon and the others nodded.
Derick disengaged and rushed towards the Grove of Epiphany. The Flame Reaver tried to intercept him but was blocked by the combined efforts of Phainon, Mydei, and Castorice.
"With me here, you won't take a single step into the Grove of Epiphany." Phainon's hatred for the Flame Reaver was the strongest. Facing him now, he could be said to have unleashed all his latent potential.
Derick entered the Grove of Epiphany.
Trianne had recovered by now. Seeing Derick walk in, she quickly stood up and, like Hyacine, trotted over to Derick.
"Little Derick, what's wrong? Did something happen?" Trianne asked Derick.
"While we were fighting outside, we heard Cerces's call. So I've come in now to see what She intends to do."
"Do what? Naturally, to help us resolve this battle."
Cerces appeared before Derick.
Looking at Her, Derick thought to himself, If you just went outside for a spin and then sent coordinates and an image to some Star God named Lan outside Omphalos, forget the Flame Reaver, the entire Black Tide wouldn't be able to cause any trouble.
Derick glanced to the side and noticed that Trianne and Hyacine weren't looking in this direction at all.
"They cannot see Me," Cerces said to Derick.
"Derick, your expression is..." Hyacine saw Derick's reaction and looked somewhat puzzled. Trianne tugged at her sleeve at this moment.
"Little Hyacine, Little Derick is meeting with Cerces," she whispered to Hyacine.
Hyacine quickly nodded and stood aside, saying nothing.
Derick looked at Cerces and asked, "Lady Cerces, may I ask what method you have to end this battle?"
"The scholars here have all evacuated; the only thing of value left is Me. Later, I will give you My power and Core Flame. I was also aware of the experiment that Anaxagoras conducted. Your body can bear this power," Cerces said to Derick.
"Alright, I understand." Derick nodded.
He knew Cerces's intention: to transfer Her Core Flame and energy to him, to ultimately be brought back to Okhema.
However, he now wanted to try a different approach.
All of us are gathered here; are we still going to flee when facing the Flame Reaver?
Derick's temper wouldn't allow him to be so cowardly.
Seeing Derick's understanding expression, a faint smile appeared on Cerces's face.
Such a child is good; he can smoothly take My Core Flame away.
"Come, bring your face closer," Cerces said to Derick.
Derick brought his face closer, and Cerces reached out Her palm, caressing Derick's cheek.
"If you feel any discomfort in your body, tell me immediately."
"Mm," Phainon said.
A faint light appeared on Cerces's palm, and Derick felt a gentle power slowly transferring from Cerces's palm into his body.
Compared to Nikador's domineering power, Cerces's power was gentle. When those powers entered his body, he felt little discomfort.
Naturally, an internal circulation path formed within his body.
Cerces transferred all Her energy into Derick's body, leaving only Her Core Flame.
"Next..." Cerces wanted to give Her Core Flame to Derick, but at this moment, Derick took the lead and walked outside.
"Lady Cerces, you don't need to say anymore. I understand the rest."
Cerces turned Her head in confusion.
What exactly does he understand?
What's the meaning of taking My energy and just leaving? My energy isn't important; the most important thing is My Core Flame.
What are you planning to do?
Having lost most of Her energy, Cerces had no ability to stop Derick and could only watch helplessly as he left the Grove of Epiphany.
Derick rushed out of the Grove of Epiphany. At this moment, Phainon and the other two were still besieging the Flame Reaver.
Seeing this situation, Derick shouted, "Sister Castorice, Brother Phainon, you two dodge to the side, as far as possible! Brother Mydei, hold down the Flame Reaver!"
What was he planning to do?
There was no time to think. Phainon and Castorice dodged to the side, while Mydei charged forward to entangle the Flame Reaver.
Once this was done, Derick also rushed before the Flame Reaver and Mydei.
"What are you going to do?" Mydei asked Derick while struggling with the Flame Reaver.
"Of course, self-destruct!"
On Derick's body, the energies of the Titan of Discord and the Titan of Reason converged simultaneously. Energy patterns of two different colors appeared on his body.
Then, these patterns grew brighter and brighter.
The two incompatible Titan attributes collided, their mutual energies repelling and crashing against each other, producing an immense explosive force.
A few days ago, when he had fused a little of Cerces's energy, he had this idea. Now, with enough of the Titan of Reason's energy in his body, he could thoroughly play at self-destruction.
Anyway, with his avatar around, he was immortal. Even if he self-destructed, apart from a bit of pain, he wouldn't pay any other price.
The Flame Reaver watched Derick's maneuver and couldn't resist the urge to curse.
Last time you dragged me to be impaled by a sword together, this time you're just going to self-destruct. When did Omphalos produce such a ruthless person?
Before being blown to pieces, Derick looked at the Flame Reaver with a mocking gaze.
If you don't have a way to deal with me, then don't cause me any more trouble.
Then, with Derick at the center, everything around turned into white light.
And after the white light, a thick mushroom cloud appeared where the three of them had been.
Watching Derick's maneuver, the Flame Reaver was completely dumbfounded.
How dare you play like this!
Outside the mushroom cloud, seeing Castorice's worried face, Phainon quickly comforted her:
"It's alright, Derick and Mydei are both immortal; they will revive."
"Mm." Castorice nodded worriedly.
And inside the Grove of Epiphany, Trianne and Hyacine, seeing this situation, were also extremely anxious.
"Let's go, Little Hyacine, let's hurry out and see."
Hyacine nodded, then left the Grove of Epiphany with Trianne, heading outside.
And inside the Grove of Epiphany, Cerces was dumbfounded.
Is this the person I wanted to entrust My Core Flame to return to Okhema?
Didn't he look like a very well-behaved young man before?
How could he do such an irrational thing?
"Young people nowadays..."
Cerces muttered to Herself.
The mushroom cloud gradually dissipated.
Derick and Mydei lay in the center of what had been blasted into a deep pit.
Mydei was still lying prone on the ground, probably needing to die for a while longer before reviving.
As for Derick, his flesh and blood were reassembling, gradually forming a human shape.
"Ah, that hurts. I won't easily do this kind of thing again next time." Derick's head reformed first. He watched his body slowly recover while speaking to Castorice and Phainon, who were running over.
"It's best if there isn't a next time."
Seeing Derick's cheeky grin, Castorice couldn't help but warn him.
_______
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