"Rest assured, I wonât do that. As long as Iâm here, no one can make you bear the curse again."
Leo Ray bent down to help the Stone Spirit up, gently patting the otherâs trembling shoulder, and smiled, "Although this path is also filled with thorns and obstacles, it is accompanied by warmth and brilliance, keeping you away from the abyss and darkness."
After saying this, Leo Ray slowly took a deep breath and said earnestly to Little Jie, "Facing that guy head-on is already just around the corner. I will find a way to defeat him, and then you can truly be liberated."
"Many thanks to you, my lord!"
Little Jie, full of excitement, nodded to Leo Ray and said, "I will do my utmost to assist you, my lord, and will not disappoint your saving grace!"
"I have felt your determination."
Leo Ray slightly nodded and continued to ask, "Little Jie, regarding the guy who replaced Gannon the Ninth, do you have any other clues?"
"My lord, ever since that guy cursed me, he hasnât allowed me to leave this arena area."
Holding a towel enchanted with a water-system cleansing spell from Yoyo, Little Jie responded, "However, when the curse was cast, I heard that guy proclaim himself as..."
At this point, Little Jieâs hand began to tremble slightly and hesitated, evidently thinking of something frightening.
After a few adjustments of her breath, she said, "That guy proclaimed himself as a God..."
"A God?"
Upon hearing this word, Leo Rayâs gaze turned solemn, exchanging glances with Mr. Wilson and Yoyo.
Accompanying Leo Ray along the way, everyone naturally understood what this word meant.
Years ago, even someone like the Seventh Stage power Elder Bing, who could single-handedly annihilate a million-strong army, was merely considered a demigod and had no eligibility to enter the Divine Realm.
Whereas those new gods permitted entry into the Divine Realm had all stepped into the Eighth Stage threshold, capable of wiping out millions of soldiers with a flick of their fingers, leveling spaces effortlessly, an existence capable of world destruction.
"Lord, that guy is merely boastful; if he truly had such ability, he could easily annihilate the Human World, why would he use the Black Abyss Brotherhood as his pawns, sneaking in the shadows?"
Mr. Wilson furrowed his brows, saluting Leo Ray with a hand on his chest, "Moreover, with such power, he need not fear the other two Neutral Organizations, yet he goes to great lengths to make them and the Human World perceive us as the threat?"
"Exactly, with the Temple of Lightâs appeal, merely revealing a few miracles would attract countless devotees; why would he remain dormant, even suspiciously sealing off the Holy City?"
Yoyo also stepped forward and chimed in, "Most importantly, if he were overwhelmingly powerful, perhaps we would have already..."
At this point, Yoyo didnât continue, but the meaning was clear.
"My apologies, everyone, I wasnât clear."
Seeing the atmosphere heavy, Little Jie hurriedly added, "My lord, although he claims to be a God, as the Divine Stone, I can confirm he doesnât possess divinity or divine power. As for his strength, though I cannot see through it, it wonât reach godly levels, not even demigod."
"Lord, this clarifies things."
Upon hearing, Mr. Wilson nodded thoughtfully and contemplated, "I believe his situation is similar to Elder Bingâs; he might have been at most a demigod."
"Exactly, I think so too,"
Little Jie eagerly nodded and continued, "What I actually mean is, he embodies an extremely violent and cold mysterious force, which is why Iâm afraid."
"An extremely violent and cold mysterious force?"
Leo Ray furrowed his brows slightly, continuing to listen attentively.
"Little Jie cannot describe this mysterious force. Itâs akin to the Power of Divine Grace, yet utterly contrasting its warmth, instead filled with darkness and distortion."
Little Jie began to tremble again, nodding, "Just the thought of that terrifying force gives me chills."
"It seems that mysterious guy indeed has some tricks."
Leo Ray gently rubbed his chin, recalling the opponentâs "Divine Plan" and "Time Reversal Ceremony," his brows tightened further.
He had to admit, upon learning the truth, Leo Ray didnât feel lighter; instead, the mysterious figure seemed even harder to deal with.
Contemplating heavily, Leo Ray asked Little Jie about the "Divine Plan" and "Time Reversal Ceremony."
"Replying to you, my lord, I know nothing of the âDivine Planâ, although aware those Black-robed Persons gather other Divine Stones at all costs, Iâve never seen other companions."
Little Jie shook her head helplessly, replying, "As for the âTime Reversal Ceremony,â Iâve heard the Black-robed Persons mention vague hints, although it wasnât mentioned before, recently there seems to be a link with the Otherworldly Lords. No, to be more precise, the Otherworldly Lord is now an indispensable part of the âTime Reversal Ceremonyâ!"
"What?"
Leo Ray was startled, instantly recalling the massive absenteeism of the Otherworldly Lords in the Grimm Kingdom.
Although he had anticipated the Black Abyss Brotherhood might be responsible, he hadnât expected a link with the âTime Reversal Ceremonyâ.
"Before, the âTime Reversal Ceremonyâ didnât require a Lord, but now it needs an Otherworldly Lord to complete the âTime Reversal Ceremonyâ?"
Reflecting on his past confrontations with the Apostles of the Reverse, Leo Ray quickly grasped the situation.
Recall initially, through exchanges and battles with the Black-robed Persons, it was clear.
Initially, these Tier 5 Asuras were very limited in number; two appeared as a powerful lineup.
As time passed, the number of Tier 5 Asuras increased, often appearing in groups of three, four, or even seven, eight, some without designated mask numbers.
This undoubtedly indicated that they used the âTime Reversal Ceremonyâ to produce Apostles of the Reverse increasingly faster.
"Could they be speeding up Apostle production using the Otherworldly Lords? How exactly are they doing this?"
Considering this, Leo Rayâs expression became increasingly serious.
Though unaware of their specific methods, it was clear numerous Otherworldly Lords had become their tools.
"Quinn Serena mentioned that it includes many Master Leo Fan Club Lords and several vital talents; rescuing them would only benefit me."
With this in mind, Leo Ray secretly resolved.
No matter the cost, the so-called âTime Reversal Ceremonyâ must be dismantled, or the enemy will only expand further.
With determination set, Leo Ray promptly queried, "Little Jie, do you mean the âTime Reversal Ceremonyâ is in this vast Underground City?"
"Replying, my lord, I can confirm it is within this Underground City!"
Little Jie nodded firmly, replying, "Those Black-robed Persons occasionally visiting refer to events that have happened."
"It seems it shouldnât be far from here."
Having completely understood, Leo Ray nodded promptly, "Letâs leave this arena first."
"My lord, the Confinement barrier here was also set by me; leave it to me."
Little Jie nodded heavily and immediately flew towards the arenaâs edge.
Soon, accompanied by a ripple of mana, the barrier covering the arena dissipated.
"Lord, we can leave now!"
Seeing this, both Mr. Wilson and Little Illusion were filled with excitement.
Yet Leo Ray still furrowed his brows slightly, sensing something amiss.