Chapter 290: Two Against One, Still not enough

"Third-Tier Divine Skill, Star-Erosion."

Countless streams of deathly aura gathered like a vortex, spiraling and coiling around the Greatsword of Gluttony. In the next instant, Rosalia gripped the greatsword with both hands and erupted forward with a violent thrust. At the same time, the phantom of a corrupted dragon suddenly manifested behind her. The phantom spread its wings and carried Rosalia along as it crushed forward like a raging flood.

The dazzling pale-white corruption energy made the Star-Erosion Divine Skill resemble a magnificent comet tearing through the battlefield at high speed. Due to the effect of coordinated combat, a single Divine Skill unleashed by Rosalia carried double the power.

"How can it be this strong? Don’t tell me my Divine Skill can’t stop it. No... impossible."

A trace of horror flashed through Dark Curse’s eyes as disbelief filled her heart.

"Boom!"

Accompanied by a thunderous explosion, the two Divine Skills collided head-on.

Before she could even process it, Dark Curse’s Divine Skill exploded apart, turning into a violent torrent of divine power that instantly annihilated the surrounding debris. Though the incoming Divine Skill appeared overwhelming and unstoppable, its speed was terrifyingly fast. In merely three breaths, it had already crushed its way before them.

Under the horrified gazes of the two women, the Star-Erosion Divine Skill slammed directly toward Biskaly.

"Damn it!"

Biskaly’s pupils contracted violently. She desperately braced her giant axe with both hands while mobilizing every ounce of divine power in her body to defend herself.

With a sharp humming sound, Biskaly was sent flying like a kite with its strings severed. A mouthful of blood burst from her lips as her body was blasted backward.

While hurtling through the air, Biskaly realized that her Divine Artifact had automatically entered its Dissolution state. Her arms had completely lost sensation, leaving only an empty numbness.

That meant the previous strike had effectively killed her instantly. If not for the terrifying enhancement brought by the artifact’s Dissolution state, she would already be dead. Even so, she still paid the price of both arms.

"Why didn’t I listen to that person? Wind Tour Territory really was a trap."

Biskaly’s vision darkened as she fell unconscious. The only thing left in her mind was regret.

If she had simply listened to Phield and turned around to leave, none of this would have happened.

Watching her companion crash into the forest and send dust billowing into the sky, Dark Curse spat on the ground.

She had personally witnessed Biskaly’s Divine Artifact being crushed into fragments. Gnashing her teeth, she cursed, "Newcomers are such a pain. She couldn’t even use her Divine Skill properly. What dead weight."

She had warned the woman countless times to stay cautious and keep a low profile, yet all that idiot cared about was her family’s interests.

"What a waste of one of my Divine Artifacts. Damn it."

Even while cursing, Dark Curse still decisively threw out a black sphere.

"Hope this buys enough time. Second-Tier Divine Artifact, Veil of the Shadow Lady."

Rosalia landed gracefully and began channeling her life force, preparing to unleash another Divine Skill and wipe them all out in one go.

Suddenly, she felt as if someone had covered her eyes with their hands. The entire world seemed to plunge into absolute darkness.

"Eh? Why did the sky turn black?"

She immediately raised her sword defensively while the massive dragon claw shielded her back against a possible sneak attack.

Rosalia shook her head in confusion. When she opened her eyes again, her vision had returned to normal, yet the surroundings were deathly silent. In the distance, only the screeches of the corrupted corpses within Wind Tour Territory could be heard.

"Where did they go?"

Rosalia discovered that the two Imperial Guards had completely vanished.

As long as they refrained from releasing divine power, they were almost impossible to locate. Furthermore, Rosalia’s sensory abilities were extremely poor, making her ill-suited for pursuit.

After searching around in confusion for a while, Rosalia only managed to find a shattered Divine Artifact deep within the forest.

"They actually ran away. How rude. I clearly said I was going to make them pregnant and force them through a humiliating defeat animation."

With a thought, the corrupted dragon’s gigantic claw was dragged back into the spatial rift by chains before disappearing into another dimension. Rosalia sheathed her greatsword.

"I’ll cash in that promise next time. They won’t escape forever. Hmph."

She returned regretfully to Phield’s side, only to find him leaning against the city wall in a completely stunned state while maintaining a vigilant defensive posture.

"Looks like you got hit too, Phield."

Rosalia burst into laughter.

"The enemies have already been driven off. Unfortunately, I couldn’t keep even one of them behind."

Phield was still blinded by the artifact’s effect. Only after hearing Rosalia’s familiar voice did he finally relax. Fanning himself frantically with his hand, he sighed in relief.

"I was still spectating the fight just now. Then I saw Dark Curse pull out that Divine Artifact, and the next thing I knew, I went completely blind."

"It’s a consumable Second-Tier Divine Artifact. As expected of someone serving beside the Empress. She uses something that precious without hesitation. Honestly, it would’ve been far more effective on an actual battlefield. What a waste."

"So you can already see again?"

Phield waved his hands around blindly in the darkness.

"I still can’t see anything."

"The effects of a Second-Tier Divine Artifact barely affect me anymore."

Rosalia deftly sidestepped Phield’s blatantly groping hand.

"But as for you, I doubt the effect will fade anytime soon."

"Damn it."

Phield nearly burst into tears. He had simply been spectating, yet somehow ended up blinded.

"Oh right, I found something good for you to eat."

Rosalia narrowed her eyes and revealed a smug expression.

"Open your mouth. It’ll make you stronger. It’s white, fragrant, and smooth too."

"Seriously? Can’t I just eat it after we get back?"

Half doubtful, Phield opened his mouth. A smooth and icy object immediately approached his lips, causing a terrifying thought to suddenly flash through his mind.

This woman wasn’t trying to prank him, was she?!

Sensing something wrong, Phield immediately shut his mouth, but Rosalia still managed to poke him with her foot.

"Wah! I got tricked!"

Phield hurriedly retreated.

"Do you really have to be this disgusting?"

Rosalia proudly placed her hands on her hips.

"Such a rare opportunity. Besides, don’t you usually enjoy staring at them?"

"Looking and eating are two completely different things. I don’t want a lung infection."

Phield was utterly speechless.

"My feet aren’t dirty!"

Rosalia protested angrily while stomping her feet in frustration.

"Forget it. Back to the main topic. I honestly didn’t expect us to win this battle."

Even Phield found it hard to believe that his own Divine Chosen had managed to fight one against two immediately after advancing, especially against the Empire’s elite forces.

"Could it be because the Divine Chosen I raise are simply stronger? Or are corrupted creatures naturally this powerful in combat?"

Thinking back to the terrible performance of Night Owl’s Divine Chosen, Phield seriously suspected that the improvements they gained after advancing were nowhere near as significant. Back then, Night Owl’s two Third-Tier Divine Chosen had actually been restrained by ordinary soldiers and nearly killed.

"Maybe it’s both."

Rosalia confidently flicked back her hair before placing her hands on her hips again with an expression that practically screamed unrivaled invincibility.

Phield pondered for a moment.

"From now on, any Divine Chosen should be cultivated starting from the First Tier whenever possible."

Vegetables you grow yourself are always safer and healthier to eat.

"Let’s go meet up with Tisiana and the others."

Rosalia proactively wrapped herself around Phield’s arm.

"Careful. Don’t fall into a pit."

Fortunately, the blindness did not last very long. Half an hour later, Phield’s vision finally returned on its own.