Our Family Has Fallen

Chapter 65: Chapter 65: The Power of Sanctuary_1

Lance was also taken aback. He hadn’t anticipated this situation, yet a strange reaction still occurred when the Collector’s artifact attacked him.

If the Alpha Wolf’s roar earlier had felt like a breath of spring, the Collector’s artifact’s attack was like a mosquito bite.

Indeed, the artifact’s attack, which seemed to penetrate his defenses, actually felt to Lance like he had been bumped by an insect; it was barely noticeable. But he soon understood. How could those artifacts, with only a faint blue light, possess any physical substance? Thus, both the Alpha Wolf’s roar and the Collector’s artifacts’ attacks were psychic assaults on the soul.

However, due to his ”Sanctuary” trait, his soul simply couldn’t be harmed by psychic attacks. This meant the eerie and fearsome powers that would terrify ordinary people could not touch him at all.

If the Collector itself and its artifacts only use psychic attacks... then something is definitely off.

Lance brought his Longsword down on the artifact’s head, sending it flying. Then, he slowly lifted his head to look at the Collector, the meaning in his eyes speaking louder than words.

The Collector pointed a finger. The phosphorescent fire on its head flared, and its eyes shot out two thick beams of light—a strange power directed straight at Lance. It was ”Life Steal,” a classic move the Collector used in the game to attack the back row, dealing damage while simultaneously restoring its own health.

Facing this, Lance didn’t dodge or evade, surprisingly choosing to take the hit head-on.

He needed to test his hypothesis, and it was clear he was right. The attack that could easily rob someone of their life had no effect on him whatsoever.

The Collector had no face, but one could still sense its confusion.

Perhaps it also couldn’t understand why this man showed no reaction. For a moment, the Collector seemed as befuddled as if it had encountered a software bug.

Due to the delay, Reynard and the others had now arrived. They immediately positioned themselves before Lance to offer protection, asking with concern, ”My Lord, are you alright?”

”Beware of the blue lights; do not make contact with them. Those are soul-level attacks. Normal means cannot block or defend against them; avoid them if you can. If you do get hit, don’t panic. As long as your will is strong, you won’t be shaken.”

Lance first informed them of the Collector’s traits to prevent them from being disadvantaged due to unfamiliarity.

The Collector began to feel the threat emanating from Lance. Beneath its Yellow Robe, an odd pulsing began, followed quickly by two more artifacts flying out to block their path.

At the same time, the artifact that had been slashed by Lance’s Longsword, a gap now visible in its head, approached again. The extinguished blue light on it reignited and drifted towards the party.

”Don’t get entangled with those summons! Go after the Collector itself! Leave them to me!” Lance shouted, revealing the key to dealing with the Collector.

There was no point in tangling with the artifacts; everything would end once the main body was destroyed. Not to mention, the artifacts’ attacks were not something his companions could endure.

Lance broke free from the protection of his companions at the rear and charged toward an artifact.

It was unclear whether these artifacts possessed their own consciousness or if the Collector controlled them. Regardless, the artifact, perhaps in disbelief of its own attack’s futility, attacked again. Lance, however, couldn’t be bothered with the glowing weapon it flailed. He reached out, his hand piercing through the blue light to grab the artifact’s spine.

The artifact struggled frantically, as if its lifeline had been seized. Unfortunately for it, the blue light attack was futile. Only the wriggling tentacles clinging to Lance’s hand gave him a disgusting sensation.

Raising his Longsword, he thrust it upward through the artifact’s lower jaw and into its skull, stirring forcefully. The blue light instantly collapsed, and the tentacles clinging to his hand began to twitch wildly before they slackened and hung limply.

Lance casually sacrificed the artifact and then set his sights on the other two, charging directly at them.

Reynard and the others were executing their tactic, quickly closing in on the Collector. However, no sooner had Lance dispatched one artifact than another emerged from beneath the Collector’s Yellow Robe, blocking their path.

The group, familiar with Lance’s warnings, saw another artifact floating towards them and knew they must not let the monster get close.

Just as Dismas was about to raise his gun to shoot, Balistan interrupted him.

”Follow My Lord’s strategy! Don’t waste bullets on the summons. Let it come; I’ll handle it.”

As he spoke, Balistan stepped forward, shield raised. His One-eyed gaze was calm as the artifact flew towards him. With a shield bash, he sent it flying.

The blue light on the artifact extinguished, and it hovered dumbly in mid-air as if it had malfunctioned.

”Die, monster!”

Reynard roared, swinging his Longsword. His strike cleaved the artifact’s head open—a display of power far exceeding Lance’s earlier piercing attack.

But before they could celebrate, three more artifacts emerged from beneath the Collector’s Yellow Robe, instantly putting immense pressure on them.

Endless monsters... No hope for victory... What kind of monster are they facing?

”What are you standing around for?! Reynard, with me! Dismas, covering fire! Balistan, protect him from behind!”

Lance, having already dealt with the previous two artifacts, charged forward again.

While others had to dodge the artifacts, fearing soul damage, Lance, like a war god, charged bravely onward. He grabbed one artifact and swung it like a hammer at another.

His voice immediately roused everyone. Watching their Lord’s fearless fighting form, they felt a surge of inexhaustible strength.

”Holy Light will not falter!” Reynard raised his Longsword and charged towards the Collector, his pace quickening, his steps unremitting and steady.

”Do not fear, I am your barrier!” Balistan said with a smile, raising his Warhammer. It had been a long time since he’d felt such a rush of blood; his heart seemed to roar in his chest.

Confronting the last incoming artifact, he positioned himself before Dismas and swung his Warhammer, sending it flying.

”I have aimed. No bullet will miss.”

Dismas stood sideways, gun raised, his eyes locked on the Collector. He completely ignored the surrounding enemies, trusting his companions implicitly—a level of trust that would have been impossible for him before.

Since arriving here, he had changed significantly. The one thing that remained constant was his deadly precision against his foes.

BANG!

The gunshot echoed. The bullet struck the Collector in the head, but that was all. It shattered upon impact with the skull, merely causing the Collector’s head to tilt to one side without inflicting any noticeable damage.

”Damn, I didn’t hit its eye!”

Nevertheless, his shot gave Reynard an opportunity. As a veteran warrior, he would certainly not miss this opening. His footsteps suddenly quickened, covering the final distance, and he forcefully plunged his Longsword beneath the Yellow Robe.

Reynard had cut down countless foes; he knew the feel of a blade striking flesh. But this... this bizarre sensation sent shivers down his spine. It didn’t feel like he’d struck a body, but rather...