Chapter 723: Final Fight: Nox Sacrifice and Blood Wall [2]
"Null Requiem!" Noir's voice boomed as he hurled the miasma spear straight at Nox.
The faint black spear sliced through the air in an eerily silent manner—somehow more terrifying than any thunderous noise.
Nox desperately veered to the side, his wings straining. The spear narrowly missed him, streaking down into the city behind.
KA-BOOOM!!
The moment it struck the ground, a massive explosion of miasmic energy burst outward.
Half of the capital city shook violently as buildings, streets, and everything in its path disintegrated into dust.
A colossal plume of dark energy rose like a grotesque flower blooming in the heart of the capital.
When the darkness finally cleared, an entire district had been reduced to ruins—only a smoking crater remained.
Fear swept across the battlefield.
Even Noir's own demon soldiers gasped in shock at the sheer destruction unleashed by their prince.
"W-what kind of power is that?!" a soldier screamed, falling to his knees.
"Even our strongest barriers couldn't block that…!" another cried in terror.
Many demons flinched backward as the shockwave washed over them.
"Our prince… he's gone mad!"
"Those blasts are killing our own men too!"
With a frenzied grin, Noir began conjuring even more spears, his arms a blur.
One, two, three… a dozen faint lances of pure miasma materialized around him, each humming with deadly power.
Nox roared and unleashed another torrent of dragon flames, trying to intercept the projectiles.
A few detonated mid-air, rocking the skies with dark explosions.
But there were simply too many.
Noir unleashed the barrage in every direction—an indiscriminate rain meant to level the battlefield if that was what it took to kill Nox.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOOOM!
Deafening explosions and geysers of dust shot upward as buildings crumbled like fragile sandcastles.
CRACK! A massive fissure split the earth beneath the force of the impacts.
Panicked screams echoed as soldiers scrambled for cover.
Even the Awakened—powerful as they were—could do little against such devastation, forced to raise barriers or dive for safety.
Adrian watched in dismay as part of the city wall collapsed beneath one of the blasts.
"This is madness…! At this rate, he'll destroy the entire capital!" he shouted, shielding his face from flying debris.
Beside him, Ria trembled, her lips pale. "Centuries of Vermilion's legacy… erased in mere moments…"
Not far away, Vermilion soldiers stood frozen, eyes wide in horror.
The ancient castle was already half-collapsed, and now the city itself was crumbling.
High above, Nox desperately avoided the relentless barrage.
His Inferno Dragon form darted across the sky, leaving streaks of fire in his wake.
But every spear he failed to destroy or dodge carved another wound into the already battered capital.
One miasma lance grazed his left wing, and he roared as corrosive energy burned through his scales.
Another clipped his tail, blasting away chunks of flesh and armor-like hide.
The injuries piled up. His movements slowed, his flight turned labored.
Smoke poured from his jaws as his breathing grew ragged.
"I can't let any more hit the city…" Nox thought, eyes blazing with determination.
When he saw another spear hurtling toward a cluster of survivors, he made a split-second decision.
He dove, placing his massive body between the projectile and his people.
The miasma spear pierced straight through his chest.
GRRAAAHHHH!!
An earth-shattering roar tore from his throat.
The void spear ripped through his torso and burst out his back in a torrent of dark mist.
For an instant, the Inferno Dragon's body was outlined in crackling black energy.
When the explosion faded, a gaping hole remained in his chest, smoke rising as his massive form wavered unsteadily in the air.
"Nox!!!" Serana screamed from below, horror twisting her face as the dragon endured the blow that would have wiped out dozens of comrades.
Akira covered her mouth, tears brimming as she saw his staggering form.
"You fool! Why would you take it head-on?!" Nyx snarled, fury blazing in her eyes as she cut down a demon.
Aina was shaken. A part of her wanted to fly up and help her son, but she was one of the few still holding the demons at bay.
The Valkyrie clenched her fist tightly. This was a battle she couldn't interfere in.
Noir threw his head back and laughed, his voice mocking. "Pathetic! You'd sacrifice your own heart to protect vermin?"
Even though Nox had stopped that spear, another slipped past.
Far across the battlefield, one of Noir's deadly lances streaked toward the area where Eve and Number Two fought.
Number Two was already on the defensive against Eve and Bridget's coordinated assault, bone daggers and undead fists raining down on him.
He had just encased himself in boiling blood armor to resist when he noticed the spear descending.
The shriek of approaching death filled the air.
Eve's red eyes widened. She could feel it—none of them would survive a direct hit.
Number Two realized the same. Panic and grim satisfaction crossed his face.
If he was doomed, at least he would take these witches with him.
Before Eve could muster a defense, a figure blurred into place in front of her.
BAM!
A towering wall of blood surged upward like a crimson curtain unfurling.
The miasma spear slammed into it.
KRRSSHHH! Black and red energies clashed violently.
For a terrifying moment, it seemed the spear might break through—but then the miasma flickered and finally dissipated, unable to pierce the dense Blood Wall.
Eve blinked, stunned, then recognized the silver-haired, blindfolded man standing before her.
"Zarek…!" she whispered.
Zarek had finally moved. One hand still outstretched, he held the Blood Wall firm.
His expression was calm, but a vein throbbed on his forehead from the effort of blocking such power.
Glancing back at Eve and Bridget, his voice was steady:
"Focus on your fight. I'll handle the strays. Aid young master… or this may be the end."
***
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