Chapter 422: Chapter418-The Schemes of the Mastermind
Chapter 422: Chapter418-The Schemes of the Mastermind
Hearing young Leslie speak, the once-agitated Madelyn gradually calmed down.
After all, Leslie was like an angel, evoking nothing but tenderness in others.
Madelyn stepped forward, scooping Leslie into her arms and planting a kiss on her cheek.
"But... I miss your father. I'm worried about him. What should I do?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Leslie smiled brightly. "Auntie, just wait here. Trust Mother. Trust Father!"
Meanwhile.
In the Demon Realm, Sargeras finally stopped in front of the Demon Abyss, ceasing his escape.
During his retreat, Owen's relentless assaults had left him gravely injured, his vitality nearly extinguished.
Now, his skin was ashen, his expression heavy with defeat.
His once-vigorous soul wavered like a flickering candle in the rain.
When he saw Owen closing in, he let out a long sigh.
"Owen, I admit I underestimated you. In this duel of life and death, you are the victor."
Yet, despite Sargeras's words, Owen didn't let his guard down. Sargeras's sudden shift in demeanor was far too suspicious.
"Your strength is impressive, far surpassing the rumors," Sargeras continued, his tone even. Such recognition from Sargeras would have been a monumental honor for most mages.
But Owen merely stared at him coldly.
Sargeras was not one to concede so easily, and his pride would never allow him to admit defeat outright.
Under Owen's watchful gaze, Sargeras's tone suddenly changed, his voice laced with icyn/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om
menace.
"Though you have won today, make no mistake-you will not leave here alive."
Owen had anticipated such a reversal and was unfazed. He simply waited to see what Sargeras had planned next.
Sargeras raised his head to the heavens.
"The brighter the star, the more the wind howls to snuff it out. Owen, the more extraordinary you are, the more The Celestial will never allow you to live."
With that, Sargeras cast his gaze upward.
Above the Demon Realm, the once still and silent sky was now dominated by a towering white spire.
It radiated an otherworldly aura of terror, bathing the heavens in pale light and casting down dense beams of silver.
Under this light, the void seemed to grow purer, more sanctified-yet it evoked a disquieting compulsion to submit, to worship, to become its devout follower.
Within the spire, a grotesque monstrosity of blood and flesh began to writhe like waves of the sea. From its depths came a hoarse, chilling voice.
"Owen, we meet again."
Accompanying this voice was an overwhelming pressure emanating from the Infinite Spire.
Throne Celestial.
An ancient entity from the Forbidden Zone had awakened!
Owen glanced briefly at the creature before fixing his gaze back on Sargeras.
"So, you've allied yourself with the Forbidden Zone," Owen said flatly. "Surely the Infinite Spire isn't the only one here. Where are the other three Throne Celestials from the Forbidden Zones? Let them show themselves."
The moment Owen spoke, faint whispers filled the air, followed by ancient voices echoing through the void.
"It's been so long, and your strength has grown to such heights. If you're allowed to continue, there may truly come a day when you destroy us Forbidden Zones again."
"A pity that no matter how unparalleled your talent may be, without bowing to us, you've sealed your fate!"
From the Bone Abyss, the Forbidden Sea, and the Heaven of Desire, three more ancient Throne Celestials emerged, encircling Owen.
Standing directly before Owen was a colossal skeletal figure, its blackened bones radiating a corrosive aura that seemed to erode everything around it.
Within its hollow eye sockets, countless wailing spirits writhed in torment.
Its power, too, had reached the level of Throne Celestial.
Behind Owen stood an entity from the Forbidden Sea.
Its body was covered in mysterious runes and bound with white bandages that exuded an eerie, inexplicable energy.
The third appeared beside the Infinite Spire -a humanoid form wreathed in prismatic light. Though it had a human shape, it radiated the feral, predatory presence of a soul-devouring spellbeast.
Four Forbidden Zones.
Four ancient Throne Celestials.
For any mage, facing such a lineup-let alone a single Throne Celestial-would be enough to drive them to despair.
The power of the celestial gods from the Forbidden Zones was already fearsome.
Those who ascended to Throne Celestial were the elites among elites, capable of facing two opponents singlehandedly.
Yet neither Sargeras nor the four ancient beings saw any fear or despair in Owen's expression.
Instead, Owen remained utterly calm.
They had expected to see terror, hopelessness, and pleas for mercy.
Instead, they saw none of it.
"Owen," one of them sneered. "Why the act? If you beg for mercy, we might grant you a swift
death."
"The blood and soul of such a prodigy must taste divine. I wonder how exquisite someone of your unparalleled caliber must be?"
"Eating him would be such a waste. I propose we forge his soul and body into puppets. Imagine turning our most dangerous enemy into a slave under our command-that would be
far more satisfying!"
The ancient beings debated amongst themselves, their voices filled with malice.
But before they could finish, Owen interrupted, his voice calm and unyielding.
"You're speaking too soon."
He swept his gaze over them, his expression unchanged.
At that moment, another voice, cold and familiar, echoed through the air.
"You think you can hold out against five Throne Celestials? Then how about adding three more to the mix?"
As the voice rang out, three figures emerged, their presence sealing off Owen's escape routes
on either side.
Owen's lips curled into a cold smile.
"So it's you. Killed once, yet you still dare to show yourselves?"
The three figures were the celestial gods under Loki, whom Owen had previously defeated.
This time, however, they had arrived in their true forms-and they, too, had broken through
to Throne Celestial.
Though their auras were faintly unstable, they were unmistakably Throne Celestials.
With their arrival, there were now eight Throne Celestials encircling Owen.
Such a lineup was an assured death sentence for any mage.
No one in history had ever survived a battle against eight Throne Celestials.
Owen's expression grew solemn as he spoke, his tone steady.
"So this is your plan? It seems your desire to kill me runs deep."
Sargeras let out a low chuckle.
"As much as I hate to admit it, you are the most troublesome prodigy we've ever encountered.
The effort we've gone to for you far surpasses what we did for the God of Light or the Lord of
Stars in their day."
Under Sargeras's direction, the collective aura of the eight Throne Celestials bore down on
Owen like towering mountains.
The surrounding void was crushed into nothingness by their overwhelming power.
As they prepared to strike, Venus arrived on the scene.
Her icy gaze swept over the gathered foes.
"Eight against one? How despicable," she spat.
Turning to Owen, she said urgently, "Lord Owen, leave now! I'll contact Caesar and the others
immediately!"
Though the presence of eight Throne Celestials was terrifying, the resistance against The
Celestial also boasted powerful allies.
With enough time, Venus could rally reinforcements.
Sargeras shook his head.
"Venus, I suggest you stay out of this. Our target is Owen, not you or your so-called
resistance."
"Your safety has already been assured."
Venus froze, her heart sinking at his words. What did he mean?
Then, as if on cue, she turned toward the approaching magic carpet.
Caesar stood upon it, his posture calm as he faced the scene before him.
"Leader Venus," Caesar said coolly. "Given the current circumstances, Owen's death is
inevitable. For the greater good, it's best you step aside."
Venus's eyes widened in fury.
"Caesar! You struck a deal with Sargeras?!"
Caesar shrugged nonchalantly.
"I take no pleasure in this, but it's for your own good," he replied, joining the circle around
Owen.