Chapter 1281 - 577: Keep Moving Forward

Chapter 1281: Chapter 577: Keep Moving Forward

Julia does not understand.

She increasingly cannot comprehend what exactly has happened along this journey.

Are they... truly being met with steadfast resistance?

Are they truly charging forward to rescue their corrupted companions?

She was once firmly convinced of this.

But now, Julia is uncertain.

She cast a deep glance at Fremay, her eyes filled with confusion, perplexity, and a touch of something she herself was reluctant to admit... relief.

Relief that she did not have to face such an enemy.

Also relieved that her persistence was recognized by others... even if that recognition came from an enemy.

After hesitating for a long time, Julia squeezed out a whisper through clenched teeth, her voice exceptionally dry.

"Let’s... go!"

She led the Heroic Spirit Legion behind her, silently, stumbling as they traversed the eerie clearing, through the path Fremay had opened.

No cheers, no relief, only pervasive silence.

No one was left behind.

This time, they left no one.

As they were about to leave the clearing and re-enter the dense mist, Julia stopped.

She turned around, looking complexly at the mermaid who watched them, pressing her lips tightly.

"..."

Then, she voluntarily bowed slightly toward the figure, difficultly performing a salute.

"Thank you for your..."

Julia herself did not know exactly what she was grateful for at that moment.

Thankful for not being killed?

Or thankful for being recognized?

She was uncertain.

But still, Julia painstakingly lowered her head, expressing the gratitude in her heart.

The Heroic Spirits following her hesitated momentarily, then followed suit, slightly bowing.

"Thank you..."

Expressing respect toward a powerhouse.

Also expressing gratitude toward one who recognizes them.

Facing everyone’s salute, Fremay did not resist or evade but nodded slightly, then gently bowed back toward them.

Then, she repeated in a soft whisper.

"Go on, proceed further."

Toward the unknown future.

Toward... your destination.

...

After passing through the opened path, the remaining Heroic Spirits felt somewhat numb.

Three consecutive trials, like three heavy hammers, shattered their millennium-old pride, faith, and power.

They were unsure of their current thoughts.

Mechanically and silently, they followed Julia’s silhouette, their Soul Fire flickering as if it could extinguish at any moment.

Yet simultaneously, that feeble flame seemed exceptionally bright, more radiant than any time over the millennia.

Under the hammer’s blows, flawed pieces might crack in pain, but it could also forge a truly sharp blade.

But now, it’s not enough.

Simply being hammered is insufficient for a complete transformation.

They still need a scorching fire.

To burn away all impurities from their bodies entirely.

The fog seemed thinner somehow.

A relatively open plain faintly appeared ahead, at the border of vision, seemingly the contour of Elda Territory.

Hope appeared just before their eyes.

However, when their sight adjusted to the slightly brighter light and focused on the center of the plain, all their hope instantaneously turned into absolute despair.

"..."

All the still-confused Heroic Spirits awoke, staring blankly ahead.

They saw a mountain.

A mountain slowly breathing, covered in thick crimson scales!

The behemoth lazily lay on the plain, its size so grand that its mere existence seemed to occupy all of heaven and earth.

It had folded its wings, but the outline still hinted at an image capable of shadowing the sky when spread. A head like a small fortress rested on its forepaws.

Crimson vertical pupils half-opened, like two blood-red setting suns floating in the mist, bearing an indifferently yet all-knowing majesty, gazing curiously at the tiny "existences" below, like ants.

From informant-provided information, Julia already knew its name—Crimson Giant Dragon, Valentina.

A strong and fearsome Epic Giant Dragon.

Even though the massive being had compressed its form as much as possible, its exhibited form was still a grandeur beyond mortal or Legendary understanding.

The legion completely halted. Without orders, not a single Heroic Spirit took a step forward.

Facing the disaster-like being ahead, their weapons looked ridiculous, their armor paper-thin.

Valentina seemed amused by this group’s reaction; she slightly shifted her huge head, producing a low rumbling from her throat like distant mountain thunder.

Then she spoke, her compressed voice still booming like rolling thunder, making each Heroic Spirit’s soul tremble:

"This trial tests your strength."

"Those lacking strength are forbidden from advancing..."

She paused, her vertical pupils scanning the immobilized legion below, as if evaluating, then seemingly recalled something important.

Next, tapping the ground lightly with a massive claw, producing a deep thud, she tried to adopt a "serious" expression.

But to the familiar eye, her gaze gleamed with a playful expectation akin to seeing a new toy.

She said:

"Defeat me, and you may proceed."

Then she playfully, like a child with sandbox toys, extended a claw and lightly patted the ground before the legion.

No catastrophic explosion, no burst of energy brilliance.

It was the simplest, purest motion.

BOOM!

The earth cried out in agony!

Under sheer violent force, a bottomless crater like a Divine Spirit’s hammer blow gaped between the Heroic Spirit Legion and Elda!

This pit couldn’t completely sever the path, but it severed all hope within the Heroic Spirits.

Impossible to withstand.

Even if the Legion Commander himself came, he likely couldn’t match the beast.

Seeing the legion’s expression, Valentina felt proud, instinctively wanting to snort lightly.

But recalling her current image, she resisted the urge, coughed twice, and slowly said:

"Ahem, Herbert tasked me to thoroughly test you, and absolutely not let you pass without reason."

She paused, waiting for someone to respond.

But the Heroic Spirit Legion was silent; no one spoke.

"...Hmm? Do you not understand?"

Valentina blinked, noticing their lack of comprehension, inwardly complaining.

Why are you all so dull?

I said it so straightforwardly!

What fools.

"Cough!"

Valentina deliberately paused, then forcefully coughed, adding impatiently:

"Indeed, in principle, I cannot let you pass."

"But if you let me taste your armor, I might have a reason to let you through..."

As she spoke, she licked her lips, hungrily eyeing those delectable-looking Heroic Spirit Battle Armors.

"Hehe."

This time, I have a "reason," Herbert can’t criticize me!

But against the dragon’s bizarre gaze, all Heroic Spirits felt a wave of confusion.

???

No, this... huh?

She...

Is she serious???

...

...

Amid the Heroic Spirit Legion’s collective confusion over a hungry dragon, the Legion Commander remained silently stationed at the army’s stronghold.

He sensed the legion’s losses and experienced their fear, pain, and perplexity...

But he stayed silent, not moving an inch.

He waited.

Waited for that person’s arrival.

Before that person arrived, he would not leave.

And now...

The Legion Commander awaited.

He had arrived.

At the dusk, a white-haired figure, under the sun’s afterglow, slowly emerged from the mist.

.

.

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