Chapter 206: Fighting a Strong 3rd Echelon While Helping Others

Cain had barely taken his first few steps when golden-white light began gathering above him again.

One lance formed, followed quickly by another.

Their number continued rising as Mana poured out of Cain without restraint, and it did not take long before dozens of radiant constructs filled the air above his head.

The Zombie Race commander noticed the growing concentration of energy and narrowed his eyes, but Cain had no intention of stopping at the amount he had used earlier.

Thirty quickly became fifty.

More continued appearing until the entire space above Cain was illuminated by golden-white radiance.

By the time the final lance materialized, exactly one hundred hovered above him.

Cain immediately felt the burden.

Maintaining so many separate constructs at once placed far more pressure on his concentration than controlling the twenty-five Lances he had used near the entrance.

His fingers tightened slightly.

The lances began moving toward one another in groups of four.

The first four collided, but instead of exploding, the Origin Solar Flame within them compressed inward.

Their separate structures gradually fused together until only a single lance remained.

Its overall size had barely changed.

Its radiance was another matter.

Golden-white light poured from its surface with such intensity that the shape hidden beneath it became difficult to look at directly.

Another four lances fused nearby, then another group followed.

The process spread across the entire formation until the original one hundred had become twenty-five much denser constructs.

Cain felt the pressure on his concentration decrease considerably, although each remaining lance now contained several times more energy than before.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

’Much better.’

The 3rd Echelon commander reached him at that moment.

A broad saber appeared from beneath the zombie’s cloak as Nether energy flowed across its blade.

Cain immediately brought his sword across his body.

CLANG!

The weapons collided violently.

Cain’s arm shook from the impact as the force behind the saber traveled through his sword, entered his shoulder, then spread across his upper body.

His boots tore through the stone beneath him as he was forced backward several meters before twisting his waist and finally knocking the opposing weapon away.

The commander gave him no time to recover.

Cain had barely stabilized himself when the saber descended again.

BANG!

He blocked, but another wave of force drove him backward.

Cain’s expression barely changed as he had expected this much.

This man was one of the 3rd Echelons personally brought into the Corridor alongside Serath.

Even if he was nowhere near the Youngest Prince’s level, there was no reason to compare him to the ordinary commanders Cain had encountered earlier.

The next slash came toward Cain’s chest.

He shifted sideways and avoided the edge by a narrow margin, then immediately answered with a strike toward the commander’s ribs.

Clang!

Dense Nether energy compressed around the zombie’s body before the sword arrived.

True Ruin cut partway through the protective layer, but the commander had already pulled himself out of range before Cain could push deeper.

Cain did not pursue him as his attention briefly moved toward the other battlefields.

Fifteen of the fused lances turned in the air and flew toward Aurelia’s side.

Five remained hovering above Cain, while the final five changed direction toward Elara, Jack, and Nathan.

The commander standing opposite him noticed the movement.

His gaze followed the lances leaving their battlefield before slowly returning to Cain, and one of his eyes twitched in irritation.

"You really are arrogant, aren’t you?"

Cain raised an eyebrow.

The commander tightened his grip around the saber.

"You have the audacity to think about helping others even when you’re facing me."

Dense Nether energy surged outward from his body. It spread across his chest and limbs before rapidly compressing against his skin, forming a dark layer that closely resembled armor.

The pressure surrounding him increased noticeably.

"I suppose I should teach you a lesson."

He pointed the saber toward Cain.

"His Highness gave you an opportunity to stand beneath him, yet you still don’t know your place."

Cain stared at him for a moment before chuckling.

"You’re really offended on his behalf?"

The zombie’s expression darkened.

Cain lifted his sword slightly as he sneered.

"That’s kind of embarrassing."

The commander disappeared.

Cain’s eyes sharpened as the zombie crossed the distance much faster than before, his entire body wrapped in dense Nether energy.

Cain immediately pushed more True Ruin Energy through himself.

The dark-gray energy circulating through his muscles became denser, placing greater pressure on his bones and Mana pathways.

His body could withstand far more strain than before, but increasing Ruin Dragon Force beyond the comfortable level still carried a cost.

Cain ignored it as his left hand moved at the same time.

All twenty-five fused lances launched.

Fifteen tore toward Aurelia’s battlefield.

Five descended toward Elara’s group.

The remaining five rushed directly toward the commander in front of him.

The zombie changed his attack midway.

Instead of continuing toward Cain, he turned his saber outward and released a crescent of compressed Nether energy.

BOOM!

The first lance exploded on contact.

The second was destroyed immediately afterward, and the third followed before the crescent finally began weakening.

The remaining two pushed through the fading attack.

The commander brought the saber across his body and blocked the first lance directly.

BANG!

Golden-white energy erupted around him as the Nether armor protecting his arm trembled beneath the impact.

Before the next one reached him, he twisted the saber upward and destroyed it as well.

Another explosion filled the street.

Cain was already moving through the light, his sword swept toward the commander’s neck.

The commander leaned backward just enough for the blade to miss, although several strands of dark hair were cut away.

Cain immediately changed his grip and brought the weapon downward.

Clang!

The saber intercepted it.

Cain pressed forward as True Ruin Energy poured through his transformed right arm.

The dark scales covering his hand shifted as more power surged through his arm, and the physical force behind the sword increased enough to gradually push the commander’s arm downward.

For a brief moment, surprise appeared on the zombie’s face.

Then the Nether energy flowing through his body intensified.

The resistance against Cain’s sword suddenly increased. The saber began pushing upward until his blade was forced aside, and the commander’s free fist immediately shot toward his face.

Cain managed to twist his head away from the direct hit, but the punch still struck the edge of his shoulder.

BANG!

His body was launched sideways and crashed through the remains of a low stone barrier before rolling across the street.

Cain planted one hand against the ground and forced himself to stop.

Pain spread through his shoulder.

The bone had survived the impact, but the surrounding flesh had suffered enough damage that part of his arm briefly felt numb.

Warm energy immediately entered the injured area as Undying God Body began repairing the damage without requiring any conscious effort from him.

Cain rose to his feet just as the commander rushed toward him again.

"Tch."

Cain clicked his tongue and stepped forward to meet him.

He did not particularly care that he was losing most of their direct exchanges.

That had never been the true purpose of this fight.

As long as he kept this bastard occupied and prevented him from interfering elsewhere, Cain could continue influencing the other battles whenever an opportunity appeared.

That was where the difference would be made.

Farther away, Aurelia had already clashed with another 3rd Echelon.