ebookslot Chapter 389 Farewell to Artemis
Chapter 389 Farewell to Artemis
Chapter 389 Farewell to Artemis
Guild headquarters, underground prayer room.
Roy gazed at Uranus above the altar. This great god was different from other gods; he was more like an administrator or a privileged being.
When the War Game occurs, Hermes needs Uranus's permission to use his divine power to create the Realm of Gods. Even though he is in the basement, no major event in the city can escape Uranus's perception.
Roy believed the other person could answer his questions.
When Roy asked, Uranus didn't refuse. Both sides wanted to save the city, so their interests were aligned. "Orario is facing an unprecedented crisis. The city's functions have completely stopped. The reason is—years ago, the God Assassin who escaped from the Great Cave (Dungeon) was sealed by the Great Fairy in the monster realm of Andaris, deep within the Great Tree Sea at the edge of the world!"
Roy knew, of course, that he had encountered the Andaris larva on his way here.
"A mere black monster couldn't possibly have caused such a serious situation!" Roy said, even Finn, Riveria, and others at level 7 had been ambushed.
"You're right!"
A hint of admiration flashed in Uranus's eyes. "A villain with ulterior motives has broken the seal. The real reason Orario has stagnated is the power of the Grim Reaper!"
A villain with ulterior motives? The power of death?
Roy's pupils contracted slightly, and finally, the numerous fragments of information connected completely at this moment.
"It seems you've understood." Uranus caught a fleeting look of surprise on Roy's face, and a faint smile appeared on his aged face. Such a clever child is extremely rare, even after thousands of years.
"Yes, thanks to Lord Uranus."
Roy casually flattered the other person, since saying nice things didn't cost anything and could improve this serious and meticulous god's impression of him. He wouldn't even give a damn about those gods who were obsessed with entertainment.
Death! The power to rob souls!
Who else could it be but Thanatos, the god of death who escaped from the man-made labyrinth?
Roy used the False God Card to gain Freya's power and smashed through the artificial labyrinth in one fell swoop. Only three people escaped: Thanatos, Valetta, and Baka!
Thanatos, the god of death, is an evil god who rules the dark faction behind the scenes after the Great Struggle!
Valetta, a high-ranking member of the Dark Faction, considers herself the nemesis of Finn the Hero!
Bacca, a descendant of the Daedalus family, is influenced by a curse left by his ancestors and is single-mindedly focused on building that man-made labyrinth.
If Roy had known about methods like Netherworld Soul Pursuit or Superior Transfer back then, he would have definitely hunted them down to the very end and eliminated them completely!
Later, as the strength of the clan grew, they put the matter out of their minds. After all, the dark faction had suffered a severe blow and would not recover for more than a decade.
Even if the opponent comes back with a vengeance, he and the girls of the Astrea Familia can kick them to death with one kick!
Roy never expected that these few escapees would actually manage to cause trouble in the Great Tree Sea and sacrifice the gods. I only wiped out your entire family, is it really necessary!
If gods cannot use their divine power in the mortal realm, then how can one utilize the power of gods?
The answer is simple.
Let the assassin of the gods devour the gods! The black monster will gain the power and authority of the gods!
That's insane! You have to understand that a monster is a monster after all. Scorpion Andaris won't act according to their wishes; he'll only follow his monster nature, destroying everything and everything until the world is destroyed!
There's a reason why the guild explicitly forbids gods from entering the dungeon. If a god is devoured by a divine assassin, the consequences would be unimaginable. The assassin would gain divine power and create an ultimate monster that no one can stop!
Just like Orario, which has now become a ghost town!
Over thousands of years, everyone has come to regard gods as NPCs who update their abilities, and few people realize that the gods that can be seen everywhere in the streets and alleys, each of whom unleashes their divine power, possesses the power to destroy the world!
Thanatos, the god of death, believed that death was the best destination for all people in the lower realm. His power and divine strength were used by Andaris the scorpion to harvest the souls of everyone in Orario, leaving only useless bodies!
Even a level 7 adventurer cannot withstand the invincible power of a god.
Roy asked in a deep voice, "Lord Uranus, what is the scope of Death's power?"
Uranus replied, "The Realm of Death has already covered the entirety of Orario and is expanding outwards. In about three days, the Lower Realm will be completely devoid of hope."
Roy felt a chill run down his spine.
We must deal with Scorpio Andaris as soon as possible, otherwise, even before the Black Dragon breaks free, the souls of everyone in the world will be harvested by the power of the Grim Reaper!
Seeing Roy's deep anxiety, Uranus said, "The location of Scorpion Andaris was once the stronghold of the Dark Clan—a man-made labyrinth. That place is being assimilated and has the potential to become a den of demons."
Roy's brow furrowed even more deeply. "Lord Uranus, is Astraea in the dungeon?"
"Yes, only that place can escape the power of death!" Uranus's eyes showed increasing approval. He thought the other party would have raised this question much earlier, showing great concern for his goddess and girl, but he insisted on keeping his personal and professional life separate.
"call!"
Roy breathed a sigh of relief. It must have been Cassandra's doing; she led Astraea and Tiona to escape to the dungeon before the Realm of Death descended.
As for the others still in the hotel, it's estimated they won't make it in time; precognitive dreams aren't a panacea.
Uranus said, "Ota, Tiona Sylute, Ais Wallenstein—these adventurers who happen to be off the surface, Fels is helping them conquer that man-made labyrinth."
Roy said, "Understood, I'll be right there!"
"Wait, little brother Roy!" Seeing Roy about to leave, Hermes, who had been hiding in the shadows, quickly jumped out. Otherwise, if Roy used spatial magic and disappeared instantly, he would have nowhere to cry.
"Hermes!"
Roy had already spotted the blond guy, but he just hadn't had time to pay attention to him.
Hermes knew he couldn't escape the perception of a LV.7, and gave a cheerful yet slightly troubled smile. Asphie was helping to deal with a troublesome guy, so he had no choice but to seek refuge with Uranus.
"Brother Roy, before we defeat the Scorpion Andaris, I would like to entrust you with another task, one that only you can accomplish," Hermes said.
Roy's eyes were cold as he recalled the other party's words: at this critical juncture, if the other party still wanted to cause trouble, he wouldn't mind letting Scorpio devour another god.
"Roy, this is your reward for the mission!"
Hermes didn't even explain the mission details before handing over a transparent, spherical crystal.
Fels's eye crystal?
Roy recognized the true nature of the crystal.
"Roy, is that you?" Astraea's gentle, water-like voice came from within her eyes.
Roy was startled. The two eye crystals were paired up. The other eye crystal connected to this one was in the hands of Astraea in the dungeon. He stared at this eye crystal, and what he saw was Astraea's beautiful and gentle face with a smile on her face.
"Astraea, how's the situation on your end?" Roy took the eye crystal.
"Don't worry, Roy, go do what you need to do," Astraea smiled.
As she spoke, she aimed her glasses in another direction.
Roy saw Ota, Tiona, Ais and others attacking the artificial maze. He moved nimbly and killed the larvae of the scorpion Andaris.
The advance was slow, but without the Daedalus Orb, things weren't going smoothly. By the time the Dark Clan was defeated, all the orbs had been collected by Roy.
Moreover, even with a precious pearl, it wouldn't be of much use.
Scorpion Andaris is assimilating the entire man-made labyrinth, turning it into his own domain, probably because of something done by Baka, that descendant of Daedalus.
All Scorpion Andaris needs to do is stall for time. The moment his Death Domain covers the entire world will be his victory. Without supplies and reinforcements, the adventurers who come to fight him will eventually be worn down!
Knowing that Astraea and the others were not in too much danger, Roy felt relieved. "Hermes, speak, I'll take this task."
Hermes secretly wiped away a cold sweat; Roy's gaze just now seemed to have wanted to skin him alive.
This is an utter injustice!
Even though he was also trying to save the world, Hermes quickly adjusted his mindset. "Brother Roy, you must find Artemis!"
"Artemis?"
Roy frowned and subconsciously activated the skill "Netherworld Soul Chaser". Surprisingly, it worked this time, and a certain trajectory appeared in his mind.
It must have been the power of Uranus that cleared away the authority of Thanatos, the god of death, that Roy felt no danger in this prayer room.
There's a feeling that even if the world were to end, as long as you stay here, you'll be safe and sound!
The Underworld Soul Chase was successfully activated.
Thanks to Roy's familiarity with the goddess Artemis, his intuition was very clear.
but!
He sensed two Artemis!
Roy seemed to understand something and looked at Hermes with a meaningful gaze.
Hermes couldn't possibly have missed Roy's change in expression, and a wry smile appeared on his face.
"Roy, there's one more piece of information!"
"You may have come into contact with those larvae on your way here, but don't be careless. There are special enhanced species among them!" Hermes said solemnly.
"I see!"
Roy nodded and said that if something like the Scorpion of the Secret Realm devouring two gods could happen, then he would remain completely unmoved if a few more enhanced species came along.
"Heh!" Hermes hoped that Roy would pay more attention to this information, even "The Mighty" Ota was made to look bad by those enhanced species.
Scorpion Andaris is nothing special; at most, he's a monster around level 6. His specialty isn't combat, but endless reproduction. What's truly terrifying is the power bestowed by the authority of the gods!
Transfer to a higher position!
Roy greeted the two gods, then activated his magic, causing spatial fluctuations to engulf his figure.
In the blink of an eye, Roy left the prayer room.
Upon witnessing Roy's spatial magic for the first time, Uranus marveled, "Hermes, I think I understand why you value this child so much."
Hermes smiled excitedly and opened his arms as if making some important announcement.
"Uranus, I am certain, he will be the hope of the underworld, and the hope of us gods!"
Not only to become a world hero, but also a hero who saves the gods! Hermes' expectations for Roy were not beyond Uranus's comprehension. After so many years in the mortal realm, he had finally encountered a prodigy, a miracle born from this world.
Rumble! Rumble!
Just as Roy was returning in the opposite direction from Orario, a chase had been raging for more than ten days. Countless Andaris larvae occupied the entire land, rushing forward in a mighty torrent, causing the earth to shake.
Ahead of these monsters, three girls with distinct personalities were fleeing on mixed-race horses.
-
Letesa, the leader of Artemis's Familia; Lanti, Artemis's adopted daughter; and finally, Artemis, the skilled goddess of the hunt.
call out!
Artemis turned around, pulled hard on her composite bow, and shot out arrows that pierced through several Andaris larvae with a whooshing sound.
Its immense power was astonishing.
Artemis gripped the handle of the composite bow tightly, as if she could feel the passion and soul that the boy had poured into forging it.
They supported her during her most painful time.
Lethesa and Lantie were also excellent marksmen, shooting down the young Andaris who were chasing after them.
But their arrows will eventually run out.
Even a skilled cook can't cook without rice; Artemis and her companions could only stare helplessly at the infant Andaris behind them, and going down to fight in close combat was out of the question.
Those monsters were endless, and even their steel bodies couldn't withstand that kind of drain.
What made them even more desperate was that, in the direction of Orario, which they wanted to go, a large number of Andaris larvae also emerged, densely packed together.
They quickly formed a pincer movement.
The three women looked as if all the color had been drained from their faces. They were too late. Andaris had arrived in Orario much faster than them. The fact that the larvae had appeared here proved that the people of that city had probably already suffered a calamity!
"Lady Artemis, you go first, we'll hold off those monsters!" Letsa said through gritted teeth.
Lanti shared the same attitude.
The former was the leader of the clan, who held Artemis in the highest esteem and regarded her as a person of faith.
The latter was Artemis's adopted daughter, a half-elf abandoned baby whom Artemis found in the deep mountains. Artemis raised her from a young age by feeding her with the milk of a mother bear, and regarded this pure goddess as her mother.
"No, we can't do this—" Artemis's beautiful face was filled with pain and despair. Not to mention that they were still hundreds of kilometers away from Orario, even if they got to Orario, what then?
The power of death has already enveloped that city!
Besides the adventurers in that city, who else can deal with the scorpion of the secret realm that devours gods?
It's over, the lower realm is about to be destroyed!
Thousands upon thousands of dark purple, ferocious giant scorpions surrounded Artemis and her companions, their hard shells rubbing against each other, making a creaking sound, forming an impenetrable encirclement.
The three were forced to stop, back to back, as they struggled through the terrifying horde of monsters.
Sword light and magic flashed continuously, and the mood grew heavier. As their strength waned and the encirclement tightened, a heavy weight pressed down on everyone's hearts.
"Well!"
With a muffled groan, Artemis was struck hard in the side by a fearless giant scorpion!
The terrifying force felt like a hammer blow to her, causing her to stagger backward uncontrollably and crash heavily onto the cold, rocky ground. The black spear she carried with her fell to the ground with a clang.
Before Artemis could even struggle to her feet.
A massive shadow loomed over, and the giant scorpion raised its deadly venomous tail high!
call out!
The sharp spikes, their tips gleaming with a chilling green light, were aimed at her unsuspecting chest and stabbed down viciously with a piercing shriek that tore through the air!
The breath of death is so close!
Artemis's power alone is not enough to evade the monster. The gods can fight the adventurers with their superb skills, but their strength is far from sufficient to contend with the mindless monster.
Lessa and Lanti were entangled by the monster and unable to come to their rescue. They could only watch helplessly as this scene unfolded, and they were filled with indescribable anxiety, making frequent mistakes in the battle.
"Am I going to die?"
In that instant, countless images flashed through Artemis's mind: playing with Hestia,
Practice archery in the forest, then descend to the mortal realm, recruit a retinue, and hunt with the children.
Finally, Artemis's gaze fell on the composite bow that she refused to part with until her death. A helpless smile curved her cool and beautiful lips. If they could meet again, she should thank him, repent, and make amends—that boy had done so much for her, and yet things still turned out like this.
The deadly stinger slowly descended, heading straight for Artemis, at the very last moment.
Boom!
A bolt of golden lightning, as thick as a bucket, tore through the gloomy sky and struck precisely the giant scorpion that was about to kill Artemis.
The blinding golden light devoured everything!
In an instant, the ferocious giant scorpion was annihilated. With a loud "boom," it exploded violently, and the powerful shockwave, mixed with scorching air waves, spread wildly, blowing away several other scorpions around it.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
More golden lightning surged forth, like spears hurled by Thor, avoiding the fallen Artemis, Letesa, and Lanti. Each strike hit its mark precisely, turning several, even dozens, of giant scorpions to ashes in the pale flash of lightning. Explosions, thunderous roars, and the shrill screams of ionized air intertwined to create a symphony of death, the pungent stench of burning instantly drowning out everything else.
The explosion was so close at hand that Artemis's long, azure hair flew wildly in the wind, but she felt no fear. A tear glistened in her bright eyes, knowing that the golden lightning would not harm her.
It only takes three to five breaths.
The terrifying swarm of scorpions that had surged like a black tide and driven the three to the brink of despair was completely wiped out; not a single scorpion larva could be seen within hundreds of meters.
Artemis, Letesa, and Lanti stared in disbelief at the horrifying scene before them: huge craters emitting blue smoke, and utter silence.
"Perhaps next time we should forge a bow with arrows made of magic essence, so that we can have an unlimited number of arrows and kill enemies more effectively," Roy joked.
"If such a bow really existed, I would buy it no matter the cost!" Artemis laughed, her glistening fingers gently wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes.
"The Madman!"
Letesa and Lanti turned their heads sharply to look at the source of the sound. Their pupils reflected the handsome young man, and a look of wild joy appeared on their small faces. He was the one who stood at the pinnacle of Orario, one of the strongest adventurers in the world!
Aside from Roy, who possesses spatial magic, who else could travel hundreds of kilometers away to provide rescue in such a short time? This pure goddess of the hunt was almost killed. Of course, Artemis's condition at this moment was no different from death.
Roy laughed and said, "We only have an idea for that kind of special bow right now. We need to discuss it with Gubernius before it can be realized."
"What a pity, well then I'll wait and see!"
A smile bloomed on Artemis's stunningly beautiful face, like a thousand flowers suddenly bursting into bloom. Moonlight-like silver radiance swirled around her, dazzling and making her even more beautiful and captivating.
Roy looked at the goddess in front of him, who was smiling like a flower and exuded a fresh and vibrant energy like morning dew. She was completely different from her previous reserved and dignified image.
Roy said, "Well, to forge that kind of bow, we need to solve the current problem as soon as possible. Are you the goddess Artemis? Or her manifestation?"
Lessa and Lantie caught their breath.
Artemis wasn't too surprised and laughed, "How wicked of you! You clearly saw through me!"
"I am a being of thoughts!" Artemis picked up her fallen spear, her voice soft as a whisper in the wind, carrying a hint of relief and etherealness.
Before she finished speaking, her exquisite figure began to become transparent, and shimmering specks of light, like moonlight, drifted out from her body. In the next instant, she transformed into a pure and sacred silver-white stream of light, like a comet returning to its destination, and plunged without hesitation into the divine spear standing on the earth.
Despite having cried countless times, Letesa and Lantie's tears still flowed like a burst dam.
The real Artemis had been devoured by that hateful scorpion monster, and at the last moment, she summoned a divine artifact from the heavens, enshrining her longing within it.
hum!hum!hum!
Roy reached out and grasped the gun barrel; the surface he touched felt unexpectedly smooth and warm like jade.
The lance hummed deeply and joyfully in Roy's hand, like the gentle whisper of the goddess Artemis, constantly echoing in his ears.
The next moment, something unexpected happened!
The ancient and dark divine spear seemed to be infused with life, radiating a soft glow. Countless mysterious and divine characters appeared on the spear shaft, and mysterious rings slowly rotated around the shaft.
An indescribable and astonishing power erupted from this divine spear, vast and boundless.
"Activated!"
Lessa and Lanti, standing to the side, had faces filled with disbelief and shock. Throughout the entire journey, they had done everything in their power, but the divine spear had remained dormant and unresponsive, yet it had been activated instantly in Roy's hands.
It can only be said that they were not destined for this world!
According to the goddess, only those with pure and flawless souls can activate the divine spear!
But even if you searched the whole world, you might not find such a person. And now, he was standing right in front of them. There was still hope in the lower realm! The two girls burst into tears.
Roy gripped the divine spear, and a memory flooded his mind, like watching a movie—the Artemis Familia's journey to the Great Tree Sea.