Chapter 219: The Miniature Black Sun

The primordial flame ignited by the Dawn’s Awakening instantly set the ruins ablaze, spreading across the entire area. The explosion engulfed the hastily approaching demon sailors, with those at the forefront either killed or grievously wounded. Those fortunate to survive dared not charge into the terrifyingly potent primordial flame. However, these sailors were seasoned veterans, and after dodging the initial blast, they unleashed a surge of demonic energy to control the flames.

Brock groaned, and a wave of demonic energy swept through the area, extinguishing the primordial flame caused by the grenade.

Qian Ye surveyed his surroundings and the damaged ceiling above, lost in thought.

“What are you planning now?” the Duke asked warily.

“I was thinking, the Dawn’s Awakening is useful, but the primordial flame’s power is a bit weak. Next time, I should emulate the solar wind and make a few more grenades; I believe the effect would be much better.”

While the primordial flame incinerated everything and seemed powerful, it required time to burn. On the other hand, the solar wind, although also burning, produced immediate destruction with its extreme heat, making it far more potent than first exploding and then burning.

Qian Ye mused seriously, but in the midst of battle, this was almost a disdainful act toward the enemy. Enraged, Brock remained silent, swinging his sword at Qian Ye. This attack was no match for Qian Ye, who blocked Brock’s offensive with a simple parry.

However, as Brock’s sword strike reached halfway, it froze in mid-air, splitting into a phantom that bypassed Dongyue’s block and struck Qian Ye.

Though it was only a shadow, it was immensely powerful. Qian Ye grunted, pushed back a step by the force. He looked down to see a long gash in his crimson armor, though it hadn’t shattered yet.

Brock, however, appeared even more surprised. “So, it’s the Dark Gospel’s work. Letting him escape was indeed a disgrace for us demons. But even with his blessing, you won’t leave this ship alive!”

Duke Brock swung his sword again, sending two more shadows that slashed Qian Ye, leaving long gashes in the crimson armor. These shadow strikes were incredibly fast and powerful, reducing the effectiveness of Qian Ye’s defenses, and Dongyue was powerless against the intangible shadows.

Duke Brock had the confidence to face Valhalla alone, and for good reason.

After three shadow strikes, Duke Brock’s demonic energy waned. Clearly, these spatially agile and powerful shadow strikes were taxing on him.

Seeing Brock’s state, Qian Ye realized the strength of Howard’s crimson armor. Withstanding three full-force strikes from a demon duke without breaking, the defense was nearly as strong as Qian Ye himself.

Of course, the crimson armor couldn’t withstand too many more strikes, but it seemed that when it broke, Brock would have expended a significant portion of his demonic energy.

After the three strikes, Brock didn’t continue, instead sneering, “You think the Dark Gospel’s crimson armor makes you invincible, don’t you?”

Qian Ye remained silent, implicitly agreeing.

Duke Brock’s sneer grew louder. “You still haven’t understood whose territory this is!”

Behind him, a massive rune emerged, converting tidal waves of primordial force into demonic energy, pouring into his body. Brock’s aura surged, and in moments, he was back to peak condition.

With a roar, he wielded his sword, creating a storm of both real and shadow strikes, aiming for Qian Ye.

Plop! Plop! Plop! Five consecutive thuds, and Qian Ye was hit by five shadow strikes. The crimson armor finally gave way, shattering with a loud boom.

Fortunately, the Dark Gospel was a veteran, and the disintegrating crimson armor exploded in a guided manner, neutralizing the last two strikes. Otherwise, even a flawed crimson armor wouldn’t have stopped five strikes.

Brock stood proudly, stroking his sword. “Surviving eight shadow strikes, the Dark Gospel truly lives up to his name. If he hadn’t been severely injured, I would have challenged him after ascending to a prince.”

Brock spoke only of Howard, implying that Qian Ye’s strength was borrowed, and not worthy of comparison.

When Brock finished, Qian Ye said, “Five more shadow strikes, and my crimson armor is gone. How many shadow strikes do you have left?”

Brock laughed, unleashing another shadow strike and once again activating the massive rune behind him. “You forgot, whose territory this is!”

Qian Ye used void flashes to dodge the shadow strikes, but they could track through space. When Qian Ye flashed, the shadow followed, continuing to chase him.

Fast, powerful, and impossible to defend against, with spatial tracking, Duke Brock’s shadow strikes were truly divine.

After several flashes, Qian Ye frowned, ceasing to flash and letting a shadow strike land on his shoulder.

“Useless struggling…” Duke Brock sneered. But his smile froze as the shadow struck Qian Ye, cutting through his robe, armor, and inner clothes, leaving a long cut on his flesh.

Brock knew the power of his shadow strikes and expected Qian Ye’s arm to sever. Yet, the cut remained unchanged.

Qian Ye moved his arm.

Brock’s eyes fixed on the cut. This movement indicated Qian Ye’s arm was intact, but the cut should have widened, revealing bone.

Qian Ye examined the cut, peeling it open to check the depth. Brock, curious, also watched.

The cut revealed flesh and muscle, with some golden blood seeping out, igniting a dark golden flame.

Then nothing else happened. The cut was barely two fingers deep.

Brock realized it wasn’t a new crimson armor, but Qian Ye’s own arm. The shadow strike had done less damage than to the crimson armor. Qian Ye’s body was stronger than Howard’s blessed armor?

Before Brock could recover, Qian Ye closed the wound, the dark golden flame sealing it. He then held a primordial grenade infused with Dawn’s Awakening, sneering, “I forgot, whose territory this is!”

He tossed the grenade into a hole in the floor, dropping it into the lower deck.

A violent explosion tore through the ship, with both Brock and Qian Ye at the center. The duke confirmed it was as powerful as an upper-level divine general’s strike.

Even Brock, a duke, was dazed and stumbled back. Forced to expand his demonic energy to block the blast, he suffered additional damage.

Thankfully, it was Qian Ye’s last grenade.

But then, Qian Ye’s palm glowed with Dawn’s Awakening, wrapped in dark golden blood essence, compressing into a normal-sized grenade.

He tossed it between them.

“Oh no…” Brock’s hair fluttered, and he let out a groan-like roar.

Feeling the danger, Brock realized Qian Ye’s speed was unnatural. In the time it took to form the mixture, he couldn’t react.

An explosion equivalent to a divine general’s strike erupted, sweeping through everything. Qian Ye and Brock were enveloped in the blast.

Facilities were destroyed, but the engine room’s barrier remained intact.

As the flames dissipated, Qian Ye emerged, his cloak tattered, armor scorched, and his arm wound reopened, his aura unstable. Even he, facing a divine-level explosion, was injured, though he caused it.

Brock was worse off, his face charred, half his hair burned, a severe sign for a demon valuing appearance. His armor was twisted, torn, leaking demonic energy, and his sword hand bled.

Brock lowered his arms, eyes blazing. “How did you do it?”

Combining dawn force and blood essence was no secret, but Brock still couldn’t believe it, especially Qian Ye’s control, far beyond ordinary dukes, including Brock himself.

Another fact Brock faced: Qian Ye didn’t need primordial grenades anymore.

The collision of Eternal Night and Dawn was fierce. Qian Ye used Dawn’s Awakening and dark golden blood essence, causing catastrophic explosions, equal to his carefully crafted grenades.

This was the most primitive and purest primordial grenade.

Qian Ye ignored Brock’s question, creating another bomb.

Brock leaped, slashing a shadow, unable to be calm, even if speeding up was risky. Qian Ye deflected all attacks, and the bomb was thrown between them.

Brock staggered back, bracing himself on the engine room barrier, but the bomb’s power forced him to pin Qian Ye, or the ship was lost.

Qian Ye defended calmly, countering Brock’s attacks, and threw another bomb, creating continuous explosions.

Four dukes were on the ship, but three exhausted their demonic energy. The fourth, seeing the explosions, turned pale and left.

Qian Ye’s tactics were self-damaging, but his ancient bloodline and dark golden blood essence made his body stronger than arachnid demons. He could withstand the bombs, but not Brock.

Among the four races, demons were the weakest. Brock, with top speed and attack, neglected his body, making it difficult to improve without special talent.

After several rounds, Brock was severely injured. The ship was heavily damaged, facilities destroyed, and other equipment ruined, unable to form runes.

Qian Ye, despite his condition, remained formidable. In confined spaces, even the ship’s strongest couldn’t avoid the bombs. Entering the battlefield meant certain death.

Brock, pale and weakened, felt pain for his ship. Nearly a third of the ship was destroyed, with severe damage to non-engine systems.

Brock glared at Qian Ye, growling, “I didn’t want to use this. Dying by His Majesty’s hand is an honor.”

A black gem appeared in Brock’s hands, containing a tiny sun. Instantly, Qian Ye felt a deadly threat, his hair standing on end.

This was instinctive fear. The gem’s power could destroy him.

Qian Ye, no longer a young prodigy, could face dukes, and even some princes, but this gem filled him with dread. It contained the power to destroy him.

The source of such power was obvious.

Yet, Qian Ye didn’t flee. He sensed subtle changes in the space around him and a stronger warning, preventing him from using void flashes. He trusted the warning, unsure of its origin.

Qian Ye, with a chilling sensation, examined the gem. “It’s the Demon Emperor’s demonic essence crystal. You’re truly favored by His Majesty.”

“Originally, it was a gift to reach the pinnacle, but now it’s for you. Dying by His Majesty’s hand is an honor.”

Brock, determined, unleashed the gem’s power. The tiny sun expanded, floating out. It was a black sun!

The black sun rapidly expanded, rushing toward Qian Ye, its gravitational pull explaining the earlier warning. The gem’s power distorted space, making void flashes impossible. Now, Qian Ye felt as if mired in mud, unable to move.

The black sun engulfed Qian Ye.