Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Chapter 577: Chapter 576: Blood and Fire (Part 2)

As Fang Zheng said, after he saw everything within the Healing Church, his feelings were more of disgust rather than hatred.

The reason was simple; from the documents Fang Zheng obtained in the research building, most of the experimental subjects were volunteers. They were well aware of what substances would be injected into them, how they would be treated, and they understood the potential consequences very well. Under such circumstances, they chose this path because of their beliefs, so whatever happened was the result of their own decisions.

Therefore, apart from marveling at these people’s insane disregard for their own lives, Fang Zheng didn’t feel much sympathy for their plight. When it comes to evil and gore, these people couldn’t even hold a candle to the children in the Pitch Black World.

”..............”

After hearing what Fang Zheng had said, Maria was completely stunned, and it took her a long while to cough lightly.

”Well, outsider..... I admit..... your words have given me much to think about, but there are no enemies of yours here, you can leave this place and return to your hunt...”

”I did not come here to waste time in an unending hunt like those pitiable Hunters, Madam Maria.”

Fang Zheng waved his hand, interrupting her. Hearing this, Maria let out a low sigh.

”Then, outsider, have you come here to uncover the secrets deep within this nightmare?”

”To tell the truth, I have no interest in your secrets.”

Fang Zheng snorted.

”And to speak frankly, if my guess is correct, what your Healing Church pursues is worthless to me. I came here for some people. I want to leave this place, return to my homeland, and at the same time, I hope to help some individuals escape their fates.”

As he spoke, Fang Zheng walked over to Maria, reaching out and taking out a music box from his pocket, placing it on the table beside her and opening it. Shortly after, the crisp sounds of music filled the silent Bell Tower.

”This is....”

Looking at the music box on the table, Maria paused, while Fang Zheng watched her.

”This is what a child entrusted to me when I entered Anan, asking me to find her parents. Her father, a Hunter who had gone mad from the corruption, only regained his sanity when he heard the music from this music box. Sadly, by the time I found him and his wife, his wife was already dead, and he had turned into a Creature, and in the end, I had to deal with him myself.”

As he said this, Fang Zheng spread his hands.

”To be honest, I still don’t know what to tell that child. There’s also Miss Sophie, an elderly lady whose child also seems to be a Hunter, and has not returned since he left. She can now only mutter to herself in dreams, desperately waiting for her child’s return. So do you understand, Madam Maria? I don’t care about any secrets of the nightmare; I’m even less concerned about whatever trivial matters the Healing Church has, but I want to end all this, help them leave this nightmare like me and start a new life, rather than continue shivering in the nightmare, waiting for an uncertain death.” ƒгeewebnovёl_com

While speaking, Fang Zheng pointed to the side.

”These Creatures, this nightmare may be the retribution you deserve, and perhaps you merit eternal suffering and torment here. But... you should not drag innocent people into it, they owe you nothing.”

Hearing Fang Zheng’s words, Maria looked down and closed her eyes, exhaling softly.

”I’m sorry, outsider..... maybe you are right, but..... this is my destiny, I must stay here, to guard everything...... If you wish to stop me......”

As she spoke, Maria reached for the Two-Headed Sword resting on the chair and slowly stood up.

”Then, you must defeat me.”

”Might makes right, I’m well aware,” Fang Zheng stepped back a few paces, then firmly gripped the Greatsword with his right hand pointing forward, the Dagger in his left hand resting on his right forearm.

”Then, let me—the Abyss Watcher—test your skills, Madam Maria.”

”I will fight with all my strength, outsider.”

While speaking, Maria tightly grasped the middle of the Two-Headed Sword and then forcefully snapped it. Accompanied by a crisp ”click,” the Two-Headed Sword instantly split into one long and one short One-Handed Sword. She gripped the blades tightly, focusing on Fang Zheng before her.

”This is my respect for you.”

As her words ended, Maria raised her Dual Swords and charged at Fang Zheng, her right-hand Longsword swinging down forcefully toward Fang Zheng’s chest.

”You won’t succeed!”

Facing Madam Maria’s attack, Fang Zheng gripped a dagger in his left hand and, just as her blade descended, he sprung up violently, striking it with his own.

”Clang!”

Accompanied by the clashing sound of metal, Maria’s body trembled violently; her longsword slid away, and she fell to her knees. Then, without mercy, Fang Zheng raised his greatsword in his right hand and thrust forcefully towards Maria’s body.

”Thwack!”

The sharp blade pierced into Maria’s chest, but to Fang Zheng’s surprise, as his blade penetrated her body, he suddenly saw the blood flowing from Maria’s chest congeal as if alive, forming a shield that blocked the further invasion of the blade.

What power is this?

Seeing this scene, Fang Zheng was also stunned. Meanwhile, Maria’s longsword once again swung towards Fang Zheng. Facing this strike, Fang Zheng quickly rolled back, creating distance between him and Maria once more.

”Be careful, outsider...”

Maria stood up, pointing to Fang Zheng in front of her.

”The Power of Blood from Cainhurst is more dangerous than you imagine...”

”So the future without a future is not the future I want? And there’s this trick? Don’t tell me you can also conjure a sword from your blood from a wound, right?”

”I don’t have that ability...”

Hearing Fang Zheng’s jest, Maria also let out a slight smile, then her figure vanished again, only to suddenly appear at Fang Zheng’s side, thrusting with her sword again!

Fang Zheng also quickly swung the greatsword in his right hand horizontally in front of him, blocking Maria’s attack, and then slashed again, swinging at the woman before him.

For a moment, swords gleamed as they crossed paths.

Fang Zheng swung his greatsword, erupting with the ferocity of a whirlwind that seemed to tear through everything, while Maria, wielding Dual Swords, was as sharp and swift as thunder and lightning. Fang Zheng’s Wolf Sword Technique, inherited from the Farron Undead Legion, carried a bestial ferocity, while Maria’s swordsmanship was as noble and elegant as that of the nobility, turning their fight into a performance reminiscent of ”Beauty and the Beast.”

But the battle was far from over.

”Clang!!”

With another clash of blades, Fang Zheng and Maria both retreated. At this moment, Maria looked somewhat disheveled, while Fang Zheng also gripped his greatsword tightly, taking a slight breath.

In terms of strength, Fang Zheng was undoubtedly much stronger than Maria, but the problem was that his body hadn’t fully recovered yet, so he had to charge up to unleash his latent powerful force.

Yet Maria’s swordplay was incredibly fast and fluid, allowing her to unleash a barrage of attacks whenever she saw an opening. In such a situation, Fang Zheng hardly had time to perform a charging slash.

However, Maria was in a more disheveled state than Fang Zheng. Fang Zheng’s greatsword, whether in terms of attack distance or range, far surpassed Maria’s Dual Swords. Not to mention, as one of the Church’s most distinguished hunters, Maria could sense that Fang Zheng was always holding back his strength in his attacks, much like a hungry wolf circling its prey, waiting for the moment she showed a weakness to pounce and bite through her throat.

And to avoid giving Fang Zheng the opportunity, Maria had no choice but to resist his attacks head-on.

But now, she had reached her limit.

”How about it, Madam Maria? Are you planning to concede?”

”Of course not.”

Hearing Fang Zheng’s question, Maria smiled faintly.

”I must thank you, outsider. It’s been a long time since I could let go of my mission, the killing, and fully engage in the pleasure of battle. We need not worry about becoming monsters, nor grieve for having to kill our former comrades and brethren. This fight isn’t about life or death, nor about glory. It’s just a battle... pure and simple. Therefore, I will use my full strength to respond to it!”

Having said that, Fang Zheng saw Maria suddenly hold her Dual Swords upside down and then stabbed forcefully. The next moment, Maria’s Dual Swords pierced into her own body!