Ascension from Dual Professions

Chapter 82: Chapter 82: Heaven to the Left, Warrior to the Right

Casting this kind of Evil Magic to summon an unknown existence obviously came at a steep price.

The old man’s already withered body shriveled at a visible rate, yet the gray-white mist was also spreading rapidly, reaching the crowd in an instant.

Everyone knew that if they touched this mist, nothing good would come of it!

Just as the old man had said, though he would certainly not escape death, everyone present would also have their souls stolen by that unknown, evil being!

No one was willing to throw their life away here, but no one could break free from the suppression of that high-level existence!

’Is this... is this the end?...’

The thought uncontrollably surfaced in the minds of several people.

However, just as everyone sank into despair, one person on the field moved.

It was Jon!

A golden light flashed in his eyes. A power of ultimate purity descended from the heavens, piercing through the wind and snow to wash over his body and free him from all suppression!

[Gaze of Po Ao]!

Removes all abnormal status effects!

Without another word.

He drew his sword! He charged!

Jon pushed the long-readied [Dragon Flame Dance] to its absolute limit!

”BOOM—!”

A seemingly endless torrent of scorching flames erupted from his sword arm and the seams of his Armor, flowing over his skin and plating like molten lava!

The crimson-gold streams of fire surged violently, as if draping him in a layer of roaring, fiery Dragon Scales. The frenzied heat wave distorted the air, and even the falling snowflakes vaporized instantly within several feet of him!

He became a crimson-gold meteor tearing through the curtain of snow, his speed exploding to its peak. Wreathed in the immeasurable might of the Dragon Flame, he shot straight toward the withered, gray-robed Evil Mage!

”Impossible!!”

The gray-robed old man’s cloudy, whitish eyes looked as if they would pop out of their sockets.

He had sacrificed all the blood essence in his body just to summon a glimpse from the ”great existence”—a terrifying power that should have been enough to freeze souls, ignoring all ranks!

How could a mere ant-like mortal possibly break free?!

This completely overturned his understanding of Power!

His shock instantly turned into hysterical madness.

”Devour him! Tear his soul to shreds!!!”

The old man shrieked hoarsely, waving his twig-like arms like a madman as he recklessly commanded the gray-white mist that pulsed with a malevolent aura.

The mist, which had been spreading like a living thing, suddenly accelerated. It rolled up like a surging tidal wave, crashing down to engulf the charging, fiery figure!

White mist and crimson-gold flames, the powers of death and rebirth, collided in the biting-cold wind with a thunderous roar!

”TSSSSS—!!”

A violent sound erupted, like a red-hot iron brand being plunged into ice water!

The seemingly unstoppable gray-white evil mist, upon contact with the boiling Dragon Flame on Jon’s body, dissipated into nothing as if it had met its nemesis!

The Poao Divine Power, which should have departed after breaking the suppression, was now lingering on Jon’s body!

And the Dragon Flame covering Jon’s body greedily absorbed this vast and pure Power!

Gradually, threads of warm yet incomparably pure golden radiance shone out from the depths of the boiling crimson flames. The sacred power of Purification and the frenzied fire intertwined and fused perfectly—until they finally transformed into a holy fire that cleansed all evil!

Jon didn’t even swing his sword. Relying solely on the Saint Fire Protection enveloping him, he crashed into the core of the gray mist with his determined charge!

That mass of gray-white mist, which condensed the Evil Mage’s life essence and held the cursed power of a terrifying existence, was as fragile as a wad of rotten cotton under the blaze of the flames, shattering on impact!

Behind it, the Evil Mage’s ugly face, completely twisted by the backlash and his extreme terror, was fully exposed!

His pupils clearly reflected the terrifying figure who had burst out of the dissipating gray mist—a figure bathed in fire, like an incarnation of divine punishment!

He saw the absolute killing intent burning in those ice-blue eyes, and he saw the Longsword held high, wreathed in crimson-gold flames, its tip erupting with a blinding light that made his very soul tremble!

The distance between Jon and him was now less than twenty paces!

The cold grip of death instantly seized his decaying heart!

In a daze, the old man felt that what stood before him was not a human, but a terrifying Giant Dragon filled with boundless rage!

Under this pressure, he couldn’t even lift a single finger!

All he could do was watch helplessly as that flaming sword, symbolizing his end, swung toward his head with unstoppable momentum!

”DIE!!!”

Jon’s roar exploded like a clap of thunder!

Using the momentum of his charge, all his Power, his boiling Qi, and his burning will were concentrated into this single strike!

[Dragon Claw Swing]!

”VMMMM—!”

The blade hummed, vibrating as if under an immense strain!

The crimson-gold Dragon Flame coiling around it was compressed and shaped to its limit, solidifying into a sharp, gleaming dragon’s claw!

Time seemed to stretch out in this moment, and yet also compress to its absolute limit!

When Jon began his swing, he was still ten paces away, but by the time the dragon claw formed, he was already in front of the old man.

He swung the sword and took the head!

There was no earth-shattering explosion, no magnificent, raging blaze—only a soft but incredibly clear sound, like a ripe fruit being plucked from its stem.

The sharp Flaming Dragon Fang sliced off the Evil Mage’s entire upper skull without any resistance, incinerating it completely!

[-1766! (Fatal Blow! Divine Damage!)]

Sizzling white steam, accompanied by a foul, burnt stench, hissed from the remains of the withered old man’s half-skull.

[Killed a higher-level monster. Gained 6,000 (2,000 base × 3.0 reward multiplier) combat Experience Points.]

An Evil Mage who had committed countless evil deeds was thus slain.

It seemed as if everything had come to an end.

Jon couldn’t help but let out a breath.

Even with the [Blessing of the Sun] that Ingram had previously cast on him, which had greatly increased his Recovery Power, this explosive burst had truly drained him dry.

His status bar showed that he had only half his health remaining. His entire body was displayed in a dangerous yellow, and with both his Qi Value and Willpower hitting rock bottom, his limbs felt weak.

However, before he could recover even a bit of his strength, Joyina’s panicked cry came from behind him, now that she was free.

”Mr. Jon! Get out of the way!”

Jon blinked, confused, not knowing where the threat was coming from.

’Didn’t I just kill this guy? The experience points already dropped!’

However, he would soon learn just how important it was to save some strength for a critical moment.

Before him, the Evil Mage, whose upper head had been sliced off, didn’t collapse like a normal person. Instead, a terrifying implosion began, centered on his chest!

It was as if his entire body had turned into a punctured airbag, its inside a vacuum.

His skin, muscles, and bones all caved inward and curled up, defying the laws of physics!

His filth-covered gray robe instantly lost its support and fell, empty, to the ground.

And the body that should have been beneath the robe had, in less than a breath’s time, imploded into a gray, fist-sized vortex that constantly spun inward, emitting a thick, ominous aura!

A greedy will extended its tendrils from this vortex, attempting to devour the otherworldly soul that was right within its grasp!

Jon was horrified!

”Fuck! This old bastard has a deathrattle?”