Chapter 1627: The Broken Mask II

"Who is there?" Lucia shouted.

Before anyone could answer, the ceiling exploded. A deafening roar shook the entire building as wood and stone rained down from above. Through the cloud of dust and debris, a figure clad in a black trench coat descended from the shattered ceiling.

The moment he landed, he lunged forward.

A flash of cold steel swept through the air. Before the paladins could even react, their bodies stiffened. A heartbeat later, blood burst forth, splattering through the air like bright crimson flower petals. One by one, they collapsed to the ground.

The man strapped to the ceremonial table stared in shock. He noticed that the ropes binding his hands had been severed during the chaos. Without hesitation, he tore himself free, jumped off the table, and ran out of the building while everyone’s attention was drawn elsewhere. As if on cue, the other captives quickly followed.

Panic erupted as they rushed toward the exits, fleeing for their lives while soldiers poured into the building, attempting to stop the mysterious intruder. None of them succeeded; bodies fell one after another. Some dropped before they even reached him, while others were cut down the instant they entered his path. They fell to the ground like dry leaves swept away by the wind.

Lucia’s mouth hung open because she recognized that man. Her entire body trembled as memories she desperately wished to forget resurfaced. The agonizing pain of her arms being consumed by golden flames seemed to return in an instant.

Then those cold, dark eyes settled upon her.

"Zhao... Zhao Li Xin?" Her voice shook uncontrollably. "How could you be here?" The horror on her face was plain for everyone to see.

Zhao Li Xin paid her no attention. With a casual slash, he opened a soldier’s throat and continued walking forward. Fresh blood splattered across his handsome face, the crimson stains making his pale complexion appear even more striking. He was beautiful like a painting brought to life, yet terrifying like a demon that had crawled out of hell itself.

Throughout the slaughter, his expression never changed. Not a trace of emotion could be found in those dark eyes.

A paladin charged toward him hastily, while drawing his sword. Zhao Li Xin raised his hand then grabbed the man’s face. Golden flames instantly erupted from his palm. The soldier’s screams lasted only a moment before his entire body was incinerated. Within seconds, nothing remained but a pile of scattered ashes.

The sight left everyone frozen in place. Never before had they witnessed such terrifying power, and never before had they seen martial arts that reached such a godlike level. Fear spread throughout them as they realized what they were facing.

It didn’t take long for their fighting spirit to waver. Some instinctively retreated, while others scattered and unleashed offensive spells and magical talismans in a desperate attempt to stop him. Countless flames, lightning, and magical attacks rushed towards him. But none of them worked. The blazing golden flames around him devoured every attack that came his way, while the remaining spells shattered harmlessly, blocked by an invisible Qi barrier.

"Stop him—Everyone stop him at once!" the commander shouted as he unleashed a barrage of bullets and explosives at Zhao Li Xin.

"Throw ice bombs at him!" another yelled.

Dozens of soldiers obeyed without hesitation. Their survival was on the line, and there was no time to think.

Gunfire erupted throughout the hall. Explosions shook the floor as enchanted ice bombs flew toward their target one after another. The soldiers attacked with everything they had, desperately hoping to slow the black-clad man advancing through their ranks.

The paladins unleashed bolts of energy toward Zhao Li Xin while others brandished their swords and charged at him simultaneously, hoping to trap him through sheer numbers. Of course, the plan failed miserably.

He blocked each attack with swift and effortless movements, and one by one, their attacks vanished into nothingness. Zhao Li Xin continued to advance; his pace never quickening. His expression never changing. Step by step, he walked through the storm of spells and bloodshed, leaving only corpses and terror in his wake.

Lucia watched from a distance, smart enough to stay away from the battlefield. Her eyes trembled as she watched the battle unfold before her eyes. How could dozens of soldiers and paladins fall just like that? With their current strength, they could overthrow a small country, but in front of Zhao Li Xin, this strength seemed insignificant. She knew Zhao Li Xin was strong, but not this strong. What kind of power was this? And what were the golden flames surrounding him?

The flames seemed almost alive, dancing around his body like divine fire descending from the heavens. Bullets melted before they could reach him. Explosions were swallowed up by the intense flames. Even the spells cast by the paladins shattered upon contact with the invisible barrier surrounding him. 𝖿𝖗ⅇℴ𝑚

’This man is a monster!’

A chill ran down Lucia’s spine as a terrifying realization slowly formed in her mind. She didn’t want to admit it, but perhaps the only man who could defeat him was King Lucas. Lucia’s fists clenched tightly as her mind raced, calculating her next move. Should she stay and fight? Or should she run? If she fought, she already knew the outcome. Against a monster like Zhao Li Xin, she stood no chance of victory.

But if she fled...

The organization would never forgive a defector. They would hunt her relentlessly, and when they finally caught her, death would be the least of her worries. Lucia was in a dilemma. She wondered if she should take the gamble? Dam*it, she might not live if she didn’t.

Slowly, she lifted her gaze toward Zhao Li Xin. What she saw caused her heart to sink even further. The battle was not a battle at all; it was a one-sided massacre.

Soldiers and paladins alike fell wherever he passed. Blood stained the ground beneath his feet while corpses accumulated behind him. Yet through it all, Zhao Li Xin continued to walk forward with calm, measured steps, as though the slaughter around him was nothing more than an insignificant inconvenience.

Like a god of death descending upon the mortal world, he advanced through the sea of enemies, unstoppable and merciless. Finally, he stopped three steps away from Lucia. His tall figure loomed over her like a dark shadow, and the eyes that looked down upon her were like bottomless abysses.

"So, you healed your arms," his eyes trailed down her arm like a predator eyeing the part of its prey it wanted to devour.

"This..." The words caught in her throat. It felt as though the blood in her veins had turned to ice beneath his gaze.

Lucia reflexively leaped backward, putting as much distance between them as possible. Her expression was shrouded in fear and terror as she stared at the man before her.

"Wait, please listen to me first!" she said, her voice trembling. "Even if you kill me and destroy this place, it’s no use. You must know there are still ceremonial sites scattered all over Dolza, even if you wiped it all they will just make another one, It will never end..."

In her panic, she blurted out everything she knew.

"This whole thing will only affect the Saintess for a moment. Before long, the other sites will be established, and everything will return to normal again. You saw it yourself. Whatever you and Archknight do is useless. As long as Alexander Behrenn and Theodore Navarro are alive, this will never end."

Lucia’s heart pounded, but Zhao Li Xin remained indifferent, his expression unruffled, further fueling her stress.

She clenched her jaw and forced herself to sound calm, even as fear threatened to shatter her composure. "As long as Zalcana exists, this will never end... and I know where Zalcana is."

For the first time, she noticed the slightest shift in Zhao Li Xin’s expression. It was barely perceptible, but after facing that emotionless face for so long, even that tiny reaction ignited a spark of hope within her. 𝙛𝓇ⅇ

She hurried on. "Salvo De Rova moved Zalchana from the Sanctuary." She paused before clarify further, "The Sanctuary is the forest where the Archknights rescued the healers previously, you should know about it right"

Zhao Li Xin remembered that it was a mission involving girls named Maddy and another named Lydia. Interest flashed across his eyes, but it was quick, so quick that even Lucia, who had been watching him closely, didn’t notice it.

"Where did they move it?" Zhao Li Xin asked in a flat tone.

Lucia gulped. "...I can’t tell you. Not until I’m certain you’ll let me live."

A cold smirk tugged at Zhao Li Xin’s lips. "Well. You’re not stupid." The condescending amusement in his voice made Lucia’s stomach tighten.

The smell of burning flesh and blood still lingered heavily in the air. Looking at Zhao Li Xin’s face, she knew trying to seduce him would never work.

Offering herself would only anger him further, just as it had on the airplane. Lucia had always been confident in her appearance. Men had always looked at her with desire, admiration, or greed.

Only Zhao Li Xin was different. When he looked at her, she felt less significant than an ordinary stranger. In fact, she often felt he wasn’t looking at a human being at all.

"I know their ultimate goal," she said quickly. "Why they nurtured Zalchana. The contaminated seeds. The destruction of the land. Everything." She took a shaky breath. "I know what they want to achieve and how they intend to achieve it." Her eyes locked onto his. "If you let me leave and promise me amnesty, I’ll tell you everything."

Zhao Li Xin narrowed his eyes. Normally, he never showed mercy to his enemies regardless of what they offered. Dead enemies were simpler. However, the information Lucia possessed could be valuable. If what she claimed was true, it could help Lory prepare for the coming conflict and strengthen Harland’s position significantly. Lucia stared back at him, desperately trying to pry into his thoughts.

But there was nothing, no curiosity, no excitement, no disgust, nothing at all. It was like staring at a lifeless mannequin, cold and empty.