Chapter 240: Launching an Illusion Attack.

Impossible!

The purple-haired monster's first reaction was disbelief.

As one of the Ten Demon Lords, it had lived for tens of thousands of years, fought countless battles alongside the Dark God, and killed innumerable human mages, Elves, and Fairies. Yet never once had it encountered anyone capable of casting magic instantaneously!

Not even the gods could do that.

Perhaps low-level spells could be cast quickly, but high-level magic required long, elaborate incantations.

So what was going on with this Little Fairy? He was only an Intermediate Grand Mage, yet he could cast spells without an incantation?

No. It must have hit its head when it crashed into the ground. Its vision was playing tricks on it.

Refusing to believe what it had seen, the purple-haired monster once again tore through Shu Li's defensive barrier with its sharp claws.

Shu Li had no time to worry about what anyone else thought. Without hesitation, he instantly cast another light-element defensive spell. Almost the moment the barrier shattered, the sunstone at the tip of his magic staff lit up, repairing the damage.

Seeing another spell cast instantaneously, the purple-haired monster looked genuinely astonished.

Interesting. How very interesting!

This Little Fairy really could cast magic instantaneously.

It had to capture him and present him to the great Dark God.

"A contest of speed? Gladly!"

It shifted forward and brought both hands into play, squeezing the barrier as though it were a rubber ball. The barrier was as fragile as an eggshell beneath its claws, cracking with every squeeze. If Shu Li had been even a little slower in repairing it, the entire barrier would have shattered.

As though it had discovered a fascinating new toy, the purple-haired monster decided its claws weren't enough. It brought its tentacles into play as well, wrapping them tightly around the entire barrier.

The fire dragon lizard circling overhead made several attempts to dive at it, but none succeeded.

Ansedram was using the Little Fairies inside the barrier as hostages. Unable to attack without endangering them, the fire dragon lizard could do nothing but roar threateningly.

Falm's eyes turned red with fury.

"Sharo, just breathe fire on it!"

"That wouldn't be wise," Sharo replied calmly. "Breathing fire would be easy, but the barrier would get caught in the attack."

The Little Fairy's defensive barrier was already struggling to withstand the Demon Lord's attacks. If Sharo added his flames to the assault, he would only make things worse for them.

After all, Falm's flames could burn anything in existence. A defensive barrier created by an Intermediate Grand Mage would stand no chance.

"Damn it! Is there really nothing we can do?" Falm roared furiously. "You sneaky demon! If you've got the guts, come up here and fight me again!"

The enormous fire dragon lizard roared overhead, but the purple-haired monster remained unmoved. With hostages in its grasp, it was certain neither Falm nor Sharo would dare attack.

Besides, the Little Fairy's instantaneous spellcasting had captured its interest. It was having endless fun destroying the barrier, only to watch it return to its original state the instant it cracked. The timing was always perfect.

The purple-haired monster had become locked in a contest with the Little Fairy. One destroyed the barrier while the other repaired it, each trying to outpace the other.

Shu Li concentrated completely on casting spells without pause. In just one minute, the two had exchanged attacks forty or fifty times.

The others weren't sitting around waiting to die, either. They raised their magic staffs and launched attacks at the tentacles covering the barrier. Spells of different elements struck in succession, forcing half the tentacles to retreat.

The purple-haired monster examined its injured tentacles, then narrowed its eyes and assessed the composition of the group inside the barrier.

Two Fairy Grand Mages, three Fairy Magic Instructors, a young dragon whose strength was equivalent to a Magic Instructor, an adult Dark Elf Grand Mage, two young Dark Elf Mages, and four human Mage Apprentices.

In the eyes of a Demon Lord, every last one of them was weak. Without the protection of the defensive barrier, it could crush them all with one hand.

Yet these weaklings had somehow managed to injure its tentacles.

The purple-haired monster's expression darkened.

The skin of its tentacles was virtually indestructible. Only a Mage Sovereign or Sword Sovereign should have been capable of breaking through it. Yet half its tentacles were now covered in wounds.

Had its strength really declined so much over the past ten thousand years?

Unwilling to accept that possibility, the purple-haired monster continued attacking the barrier.

The fire dragon lizard changed its approach. Abandoning its aerial attacks, it landed nearby and charged at the purple-haired monster with brute force.

Bang!

The purple-haired monster was prepared. It stopped the fire dragon lizard's enormous horn with one hand, while its other hand and tentacles maintained their grip on the barrier.

The fire dragon lizard had to hold back for fear of harming the hostages, leaving it unable to unleash its full strength.

As the two enormous creatures clashed, the ground shook violently. Shu Li and the others staggered from side to side, barely able to remain standing.

Even while fighting the fire dragon lizard, however, the purple-haired monster never stopped attacking the barrier.

Shu Li didn't dare pause for even a second. If he failed to keep up with the attacks, the barrier would shatter, putting everyone's lives in immediate danger.

Damn it! Was there really no way out of this?

As long as the purple-haired monster held them captive, Falm and the Fire Spirit couldn't attack freely.

Shu Li glanced at the silver bracelet around his wrist.

It was the Phanis Ring.

On his first day as a Fairy cub, he had asked Aisha for underwear. Misunderstanding his request and thinking he wanted a toy, Aisha had given him her own Phanis Ring.

The Phanis Ring possessed the ability to create illusions.

After experiencing transmigration several times, Shu Li had once believed those experiences were illusions created by the Phanis Ring. It wasn't until he encountered the Fire God that he learned they weren't illusions at all, but actual journeys through time and space.

Sometimes his physical body traveled; other times, only his soul did.

Later, he had gone to the hot springs on Amitai Mountain to find the Elven King and ask him about it. Only then had he discovered that the little flower crown was responsible for everything.

Hidden within the little flower crown were three divine soul artifacts belonging to the God of Time and Space.

Over the years, Shu Li had experimented with combining the Phanis Ring and those soul artifacts to create more powerful illusion attacks. He had even managed to trap Ilio for a time.

He didn't know whether the Demon Lord was stronger than Ilio, but he had to try. At the very least, he might buy himself enough time to escape.

Shu Li patiently watched for the right moment.

Whenever the fire dragon lizard charged into the purple-haired monster, its attacks on the barrier would pause for ten seconds.

Those ten seconds were his best opportunity to use the Phanis Ring.

Bang!

Now!

Shu Li poured magical power into the Phanis Ring. The silver bracelet blazed with dazzling light. He extended his hand toward the purple-haired monster outside the barrier and commanded with absolute concentration, "Go!"

A ring of light flew from the Phanis Ring and struck the defensive barrier.

At that exact moment, the purple-haired monster slashed downward with its claws, shattering part of the barrier.

The ring of light shot through the opening and struck the monster squarely in the face.

Shu Li immediately cast another spell, repairing the barrier with not a second to spare.

"Aaah!"

Struck by the ring of light, the purple-haired monster's vision went black. Even its soul seemed to tremble under the impact.

Had it been an ordinary demon, it might already have lost consciousness. But it was a Demon Lord, and its strength was not to be underestimated.

A split second before it was drawn into the illusion, it launched a counterattack.

Its mouth opened, releasing an endless torrent of dark power.

In an instant, the entire area was plunged into darkness.

"Oh no!" Sharo was too late to intervene. He could only watch helplessly as the darkness swallowed both the barrier and the purple-haired monster.

"What's happening?" Falm asked.

Sharo's voice was grave. "Aside from its ability to evolve continuously, Ansedram also possesses the power to induce nightmares."

Falm looked startled. "Nightmares? Is that dangerous?"

"For anyone who harbors fear in their heart, it can be quite terrifying," Sharo replied.

If he hadn't been mistaken, Sperien had just launched an illusion attack against Ansedram. But Ansedram had retaliated with its nightmare ability.

There was no telling what effect the combination of those two powers might produce.

Before long, darkness surrounded them completely, without a single glimmer of light.

"Falm," Sharo asked, "is there anything you're afraid of?"

Falm tilted his head and thought about it.

"Does going hungry count?"

Sharo couldn't help laughing. "No, it doesn't."

The little magical beast was so carefree that nightmares would have almost no effect on him.

As for Sharo himself, being an elemental spirit, he lacked the complicated emotions that made such nightmares possible. He wouldn't be trapped in one, either.

What they needed to do now was locate Ansedram's true body and kill it.

As for the Little Fairies, he could only hope they would overcome the fears in their hearts and awaken from their nightmares.

The purple-haired monster's nightmare ability caught Shu Li and the others completely off guard.

Their minds went blank for a moment. When they regained consciousness, they discovered that their companions had vanished and darkness surrounded them on every side.

Hector was utterly bewildered. He had no idea what had happened. All he could do was grip his magic staff tightly and remain on guard.

Where am I? Where did everyone go? How am I supposed to get out of here?

He walked forward in confusion.

He had no idea how long he had been walking when a light finally appeared ahead.

Delighted, he hurried toward it.

But as he drew closer, his steps gradually slowed.

His eyes widened, staring fixedly at the object before him.

A coffin.

That was... his father's coffin!

Hector approached it in a daze. When he recognized the familiar decorations and family crest, his entire body began to tremble.

Tears streamed down his cheeks.

His knees buckled, and he fell heavily to the ground.

"Dad!"

Nasha was running for her life.

It was as though she had returned to eight years ago, when she had fled the Pedam Kingdom under the protection of her guards.

They had hidden from place to place, only to be pursued by the Black Knights in the end.

One by one, the people around her had fallen.

Until she was the only one left.

Where was Senluo?

Why wasn't Senluo by her side?

Nasha was beside herself with terror.

Seeing the Black Knights closing in, she let out a horrified scream, raised her magic staff, and began chanting at the top of her lungs.

"Great Fire God..."

The Black Knight gave her no chance to finish her incantation.

Seated atop his towering horse, he raised his sword and brought it down with all his might—

Inside a magnificent castle, Siti sat in a chair, bored out of her mind, casting sidelong glances at the queen as the woman berated her in a sharp, spiteful voice.

"You must remember that, as a princess, you are forbidden from leaving the castle without permission. You must not run or jump about in an unladylike manner, and you certainly must not become overly familiar with strange men. You must always conduct yourself with restraint and maintain the dignity befitting a princess. I intend to raise a proper princess, not some wild child."

The queen went on and on.

Siti yawned and shifted into a more comfortable position.

Seeing that her words were having no effect, the queen continued her lecture.

Siti finally grew tired of listening. She stuck a finger in her ear.

"Hey, you old witch. Are you done yet? If you are, hurry up and get lost!"

"You... I'm your mother!" the queen snapped indignantly.

"Stepmother, you mean." Siti waved a dismissive hand. "What kind of princess I choose to be is none of your business. Now get out. If you don't leave, I'll throw you out myself."

"You! You're absolutely impossible!" The queen's face turned livid. "Your mother died when you were young. As your aunt, I have a responsibility to discipline you. Is this any way to speak to your aunt?"

"Yes, yes, Auntie!" Siti curled her lip. "My mother's body was barely cold before you started throwing yourself at your brother-in-law, the king. Tsk, tsk..."

"Siti Est!"

The queen shrieked her name in fury.

"All right, I know what my name is."

Siti clasped her hands behind her head, her eyes darting around thoughtfully.

"This scene feels incredibly real. Too bad I don't care about any of this anymore. Uncle Laya said that instead of dwelling on a painful past, it's better to look toward a brighter future."

She lowered her hands, stood up, and pushed past the queen blocking her way.

Walking to the window, she gazed out at the beautiful scenery in the distance and murmured, "Is this an illusion? How do I get out?"

When Amanda regained his senses, he discovered that he had reverted to his young dragon form.

He was locked inside a sturdy cage, and no matter how desperately he struggled, he couldn't break free.

"Heh, heh. A young dragon! We can sell this one for a fortune."

"And it's a rare little white dragon! We've really hit the jackpot this time!"

"If we could catch another one, we'd make even more money."

"Dream on. We're lucky enough to have caught one. As soon as we reach shore, we're taking it straight to the auction house."

"Before we send it to auction, can I have a little fun with it?"

"Fun? What kind of fun?"

"Ride it around like a puppy! Hahahaha!"

A circle of dark figures surrounded the cage.

Their mouths opened and closed as they spoke their greedy, malicious words.

Amanda was so furious that he threw himself against the bars again and again, battering his body until he was covered in wounds.

So scary!

He didn't want to be sold!

And he definitely didn't want to be kept as a pet by humans!

Wouldn't somebody save him?

Brother... Uncle... Where are you?

Tears filled Amanda's eyes.

He lowered his head to examine a wound on his wing, then stretched out his tongue and licked it.

The sting of saliva against the wound brought him back to his senses.

Wait. Something was wrong!

He'd already grown stronger! He wasn't that weak, helpless little dragon anymore!

Brave Sperien had saved him. The pirates and the necromancer were all dead!

Amanda raised his head, determination shining in his eyes.

Kumandi, Angel, Budno, and Dixio beat their wings desperately, flying as fast as they could through the dark forest.

Behind them, the Dark Elves pursuing them let out shrill, mocking laughter.

"Heehee! You'll never escape! Just be good little Fairies and become my prey!"