NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 730: Chaotic
Villain Ch 730. Chaotic
"A duel?" Noah exclaimed, his disbelief evident in his tone as he shook his head.
James shared Noah's incredulity, his brow furrowing into a deep frown. "Nah, that doesn't add up," he countered, his voice laced with skepticism. "It's too chaotic for a duel."
The two exchanged a knowing glance, their minds racing to piece together the puzzle of what was happening outside. Whatever it was, they knew one thing for sure—it wasn't a typical showdown between players.
They wasted no time. With a sense of urgency, they went to the entrance, their movements swift and determined. Sophia's heart pounded in her chest as she followed the group.
Behind them, several other patrons who had been seated nearby scrambled to their feet, their faces a mix of fear and curiosity. With a collective sense of urgency, they joined Sophia and the others, their footsteps echoing in the tense silence of the tavern.
Together, they burst through the tavern doors, stepping out into the chaos that awaited them. The scene outside was even more chaotic than they had imagined, and Sophia could feel her pulse quicken as she braced herself for whatever lay ahead.
They were immediately greeted by a scene of chaos and panic. A circle of fire blazed in the center of the clearing, its flames licking hungrily at the air as if possessed by some malevolent force. Players who had been wandering in the wilderness nearby scrambled in all directions, their panicked cries filling the air as they desperately tried to escape the inferno's grasp.
But amidst the chaos, a group of brave souls stood their ground, their weapons drawn and ready for battle. They formed a protective ring around the blazing circle.
James, Noah, and Sophia surveyed the scene before them. A sense of unease settled in the pit of their stomachs. The flames, they realized with a sinking feeling, were all too familiar. It was a skill they had encountered several times before, one that sent a shiver down their spines every time it was unleashed—Hellfire Rain skill, the signature move of the devil emperor himself.
Sophia's grip tightened on her staff, her mind racing as she tried to make sense of the situation. How had the Hell Inferno found its way into the city?
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Noah exchanged a worried glance with James, their silent communication speaking volumes. They knew they had to act fast if they were going to put an end to this madness. With a nod of determination, they moved forward, joining the ranks of the vigilantes as they prepared to face whatever evil lurked within the flames.
Their hearts pounded in their chests, the adrenaline coursing through their veins like wildfire. Their hands instinctively reached for their weapons, fingers wrapping around familiar grips as they prepared themselves for whatever lay ahead.
They had all heard the rumors about the devil emperor's ability to stroll through the city he controlled, his mere presence striking fear into the players' players. But never before had they imagined encountering him in the city outside of the scripted events designed by the game developers.
In the middle of the fire circle, a thick cloud of smoke billowed up, obscuring their vision. They coughed and sputtered as the acrid scent filled their nostrils, their eyes watering as they struggled to see through the haze.
But even as the smoke cleared, revealing the scene before them, the horror of what lay in the center of the inferno struck them like a physical blow. A massive crack marred the ground, jagged and gaping as if torn open by some immense force. Red_King and Mastercraft lay sprawled on the ground in a state of near-death, their bodies battered and broken, wounds oozing crimson blood.
And towering over them, like a dark specter of death itself, stood the devil emperor, his presence casting a shadow over the battlefield. In his hand, he held a wicked black sword, its blade gleaming with the blood of his fallen foes. His gaze was cold and unyielding as he surveyed the scene before him, a cruel smile playing at the corners of his lips.
But it was the sight of Father^Alex, the number one healer in the game, that sent a chill down their spines. His lifeless body hung limp in the emperor's grasp, his eyes closed and his features twisted in an expression of pain. Drops of blood dripped from his wounds, staining the ground beneath him with a dark pool of crimson.
The Devil Emperor's grip loosened, and Father^Alex's lifeless body crumpled to the ground, a crimson pool forming around him. His priest robe, once pristine white, was now stained a deep, ominous red.
Red_King, despite his own injuries, struggled to rise, his teeth clenched in pain as he addressed the emperor. "Why are you targeting him?" he demanded, his voice strained with effort as he fought to maintain his composure amidst the chaos.
The devil emperor's gaze remained cold and unyielding as he met Red_King's questioning stare. "Because he dared to escape my grasp yesterday," he replied, his voice dripping with malice. "I can't rest until he's paid for his defiance."
Mastercraft's eyes widened in shock at the revelation. "He escaped from you?" he echoed, disbelief coloring his tone.
The emperor's lip curled in disdain, his irritation evident in every word he spoke. "Yes, he slipped through my fingers," he hissed, the frustration palpable in his voice. "It's...irritating, to say the least. And it is a mistake I do not intend to repeat. This healer is more troublesome than I anticipated," he spat, his voice filled with frustration.
Without hesitation, the Devil Emperor raised his hand once again, his dark energy crackling with malevolent power. With a swift motion, he unleashed his Demonic Lance skill, calling forth dozens of sinister black lances that materialized above him, poised to strike.
The air hummed with tension as the lances hovered ominously, their sharp tips glinting in the flickering light of the fiery circle. In an instant, they descended upon Mastercraft and Red_King with deadly precision, piercing their bodies with ruthless efficiency.
The sound of flesh meeting steel echoed through the clearing as the lances tore through their defenses, draining their HP to zero in a cruel and merciless assault. Mastercraft and Red_King cried out in agony as their bodies convulsed with pain, their forms collapsing to the ground in a heap of brokenness.
James, Sophia, and Noah stood witness to the devastating power of the Devil Emperor. Their hearts hammered in their chests with a mixture of fear and grim determination. They had faced the emperor's cruelty before, but each encounter seemed to chip away at their resolve, leaving behind a gnawing sense of dread that lingered long after the battle had ended.
Despite their familiarity with the emperor's tactics, this latest display of brutality sent a shiver down their spines. They had grown accustomed to his ruthlessness, but there was something about the way he effortlessly dispatched their comrades that struck fear into their hearts like never before.
On the other hand, Mila, who had never before encountered the Devil Emperor, stood frozen in place, her eyes wide with terror. This was her first taste of the true horrors and the sheer magnitude of the Devil Emperor's presence struck her to her core.
Mila had always heard tales of the emperor's cruelty, but nothing could have prepared her for the reality of facing him head-on. His charisma, his power—it was like nothing she had ever seen before, and despite herself, she couldn't help but feel a strange sense of awe in his presence.
But even as fear threatened to paralyze her, Mila knew that she couldn't afford to let it control her. With a deep breath, she forced herself to steel her nerves, her gaze flickering to James, Sophia, and Noah.
The Emperor's gaze swept over them, his eyes narrowing as he singled out their guild. "Order of Valiance... Next is your guild leader's turn," he declared, his voice carrying the weight of authority.
James felt a surge of anger and fear rise within him at the mention of their guild leader. What had he done to earn the wrath of the Devil Emperor?
"Why Mac?" James demanded, his voice trembling with a mixture of defiance and uncertainty. His fingers tightened around the bow in his hand, the tension evident in the way his arrow quivered ever so slightly.
The Emperor's lips curled into a cruel smile as he reveled in the attention he commanded. "Because he nearly thwarted my plans yesterday," he hissed, his voice dripping with venom. "And he had the audacity to slip through my fingers."
The realization hit James like a punch to the gut. Elio's actions had inadvertently caught the attention of the Devil Emperor, and now he was paying the price. But even as anger boiled within him, James knew that they had to act fast if they were going to save their guild leader.
Noah's eyes locked on the Emperor with a steely determination. "We won't let you touch him," he vowed.