Chapter 1304 - 591: Huh? Why Is It That One? (First Update)

Chapter 1304: Chapter 591: Huh? Why Is It That One? (First Update)

Caw!

I was just casually speaking, and someone is actually spying on me!

Damn it.

Why do I always get covertly targeted by a group of ill-intentioned people?

Could it be that this is the tragic fate that handsome people can never escape!

This is really chilling.

Herbert grumbled inwardly, but his actions showed no hesitation.

In that instant of thought, he had locked onto the fleeting, vague presence at the edge of his perception, hastily fleeing deeper into the mountains.

The opponent’s speed was incredibly fast and seemed to master some sort of concealment and perception interference technique. If not for Herbert’s advancement to Epic Tier, he might have let the opponent get away.

At this moment, the logic belonging to the Paladin took precedence in Herbert’s mind.

Since he discovered the sneaky spy, and here is the peril-filled Mist Mountain Range...

Well, the course of action is quite simple.

In this situation, let’s use Supreme Slash first!

Herbert directly employed the Paladin’s signature skill.

Repeat once more.

In this situation, let’s use Supreme Slash first!

That’s right, Paladins are such characters, their behavior logic when encountering problems is extremely fixed, and can be considered rigid yet efficient.

Generally, they have two choices upon encountering outsiders.

First situation, unable to determine if the other party is a villain.

This is simple, just throw a "Detect Evil" at the opponent.

If the aura shows purity, the opponent is innocent, then directly apologize. The other side likely won’t mind this standard procedure of offensive behavior.

Of course, generally depends on the power difference between sides.

If our side’s strength is high enough, then no one would mind these small matters.

And if the aura is dark or crimson, the opponent is guilty, then the Paladin doesn’t need to care about the opponent’s reaction — because he directly delivers a Supreme Slash past.

Second situation, no need to detect evil, can determine from the environment, behavior, or intuition if the opponent is a villain.

If able to catch the culprit red-handed, that’s even better.

This situation’s response is even simpler.

If the villain doesn’t even bother to act, then it’s time to directly use Supreme Slash.

In summary, the essence of a Paladin’s logic is, all tactics lead to Supreme Slash.

Cut first and talk later!

As for negotiations, interrogations, or battlefield cleanup after the slash, those are things to consider post-slash.

However, at this moment, Herbert also had some considerations.

The opponent was merely spying, did not initiate any substantive attack, has not crossed his bottom line.

Moreover, considering that this area might very well be the "home ground" for future activities, he refrained from using overly aggressive measures.

He didn’t pull out the real longsword, nor did he perform the full sword-swinging posture.

Herbert simply heaved a gentle sigh, attempted to channel the newly familiar Epic Power within, focusing the spirit on the index and middle fingers of his right hand.

"Off you go."

He whispered to himself, pointing sword-like with his fingers towards the distance in the fog, about a hundred meters away, in the direction the opponent was fleeing.

Herbert’s intention was clear.

This is merely a warning.

I can see you, stop running.

It’s not about slashing the opponent itself, but using a deterrent slash to block their path, forcing them to stop or reveal themselves.

However, Herbert underestimated the power shift brought by his recent ascension, and overestimated his control over this newfound strength.

—Buzzz!!!

The joined fingertips suddenly erupted with dazzling gold light far beyond his expectations!

It was no longer the refined yet limited Holy Light of the Legendary Tier, but a brilliance that seemed to resonate with the Light Elements in the surrounding heavens and earth!

A crescent-shaped light blade, solid as substance, scorching like molten gold, edged with slight spatial ripples, instantly released!

The initial length of the light blade was only as long as an arm, but at the moment of release, it expanded crazily as if drawing energy from the void!

One meter, three meters, ten meters!

By the time it streaked between Herbert and the target, it had transformed into a blinding flood of destruction spanning tens of meters, impossible to stare at directly!

!!!

Herbert’s eyes widened in shock, staring dumbfounded at the light blade he unleashed.

What the heck?

Mom, I’ve mastered Crescent Moon Slash!

...Wait, that’s not right!

"It’s bad!"

Realizing the mistake, Herbert’s expression slightly changed, immediately attempting to retract the power.

But the energy already released was like an arrow leaving the string, abruptly terminating or diverting it required much more will and control.

In a rush, he could only barely control the light blade’s angle, slightly adjust the direction of its descending slash.

Even so... it seemed already too late.

Whoosh—

The light blade swiftly grazed the predetermined target point, slicing through the thick mist and striking deeply into the ground further back.

No earth-shattering explosion was heard, only a low, heart-wrenching thud, as if the earth itself was pierced through in an instant.

At the moment of contact, the rocks, soil, and even the drifting mist, all shrouded in holy light, silently dissolved like snow under the sun.

Immediately after, a violent shockwave fanned out forward and to the sides, sweeping up countless debris and dust, forming a turbulent wave of air dozens of meters high!

Boom!!!

On the ground, a deep, bottomless, and charred ravine over a hundred meters long formed instantly, with the edge appearing glass-like after melting and rapidly cooling, emitting wisps of blue smoke.

The power of this strike far exceeded the scope of "blocking," almost equivalent to the desperate blow of some weaker epic strongmen.

The holy light gradually dissipated, and the dust it stirred slowly settled down.

"..."

Herbert lowered his fingers and looked at the masterpiece he created in front of him, his mouth twitching slightly.

"Ah, this."

This power... Although the control wasn’t perfect, it seems not too bad?

At least, it proved that the qualitative change at the epic tier was real.

Yes, it was indeed necessary to complete the ascension ceremony.

I truly am worthy of being an Ascender... yes.

After finding some excuses for himself, Herbert focused his attention once again on the location where he had sensed the peeper before.

As expected, the place was already empty.

That vague aura was scared away during the terrifying menace of the Supreme Slash and hid with the impact of the holy light, disappearing completely like snowflakes thrown into boiling water.

No traces were left, nor were there any signs of corpses or injuries; it vanished into thin air.

Either the other party escaped or concealed themselves in some special way before the light blade and body, or they were unfortunately obliterated in the holy light, leaving not a speck behind.

"It shouldn’t be that bad, right?"

Herbert thought about it and felt that since the other party appeared in the depths of the Mist Mountain Range, they shouldn’t be such a fragile nobody.

At the very least, they should withstand a few more strikes.

However, Herbert did not come out empty-handed after probing; he captured a trace of lingering aura.

"Why does this aura seem a bit familiar?"

He squinted his eyes, uncertainly raising an eyebrow.

"It seems like that... ’Holy Grail’?"

Not certain yet, he carefully felt it again.

Hmm...

It really is.

No, think again.

"Hmm..."

["What are you doing?"]

As Herbert pondered for the third time, Nenasha couldn’t help but voice her critique: ["It’s just that, why are you doubting your own senses?"]

Alright, why don’t you want to face reality yet.

"Well, it’s not that I don’t believe it that much."

Herbert wasn’t actually avoiding reality, just genuinely puzzled, hesitating: "But it was never that strong, was it?"

He still remembered the scene of his first encounter with the Holy Grail, which happened when he first came to the Mist Mountain Range.

At that time, he was with Valentina looking for the site chosen by Elda, and they were sneaked attacked by a "water monster" in a lake they passed by.

Back then, his strength had barely reached high tier, yet the other party couldn’t take him down directly.

Nenasha explained at the time that the Holy Grail was merely a container for providing "Wine of Oblivion," a creation of the Divine Kingdom, lacking strong combat power.

Later, when Herbert went back to settle the score with Fremay, it was the same scenario.

His companion, Miss Mermaid at the Legendary Peak, directly controlled the water elements of the entire lake, easily suppressing the Holy Grail.

From these two encounters, it seems the Holy Grail’s combat capability was at most between high tier and legendary, barely considered pseudo-legendary.

But the peeper just now managed to almost elude his senses and successfully escaped, with strength not to be underestimated.

At the very least, in terms of concealment and escape, it surpassed most legendaries.

Speaking of which, the Holy Grail has been running around quite a bit.

Ever since interacting with Herbert, the Holy Grail had behaved like a not-so-intelligent but curious creature, often quietly riding the lake water closer to Elda, then slipping away when someone approached.

After figuring out its true form, Herbert didn’t pay much attention to it; since it posed no danger, it was like having a little stray animal left in the wild, with no hurry to bring it home.

But now, something seemed off.

How did my little stray in the mountain suddenly super-evolve?

["It might be related to the revival of the Divine Kingdom."]

Nenasha couldn’t confirm the exact condition of the Holy Grail but could roughly guess: ["Its current state resembles a spirit of the Divine Kingdom more, so naturally, as the Divine Kingdom gradually revives, its power increases along too."]

Herbert reluctantly accepted this explanation, but soon furrowed his brows again.

Putting power aside, its current condition also seems a bit unusual, right?

Herbert’s mind flashed back to the size of its tendrils in the lake, confirming it was a large, possibly even massive creature.

But the peeper just now was clearly a normal person, at least humanoid.

Though, it seemed to have a few more legs.

Hmm?

"Wait, did it change form?"

He blinked and hesitated, finally murmuring uncertainly: "So did it turn into an octopus girl now?"