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Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Stealing an SSS-Rank Talent!

John’s pupils contracted slightly.

Simultaneous erasure?

He had originally assumed that the Blade of the Black Death could only steal an opponent’s talent, ensuring that once the target died in the game, they would never be able to log in again.

He hadn’t expected it to directly erase the person’s very existence in the real world as well.

John froze for a moment, an inexplicable chill running through him.

The power of this Divine-grade weapon was far greater than he had imagined. It could even affect the real world.

How was that possible?

Before John could figure it out, another system notification rang in his ears.

[Ding!]

[The Blade of the Black Death has triggered its Plunder Effect!]

[You have successfully acquired the target’s SSS-grade talent: Star Coronation.]

[Lord Class detected: Undead Sovereign. Talent compatibility analysis in progress...]

[Talent enhancement in progress...]

[Enhancement complete!]

[Congratulations, Lord ”Tyrant”! You have acquired the exclusive SSS-grade talent — [Star Coronation]!]

[Star Coronation (SSS · Enhanced)]

[Original Effect: Once per day, can be used on a unit with a star rating between 1 and 4 stars, randomly increasing that unit’s star rating by 1 to 2 stars.]

[Undead Sovereign Enhancement: Removes the ”1-to-4-star” restriction. Can now bestow a coronation upon units of any star rating below Divine-grade, completely removing the original star-rating requirement.]

John stared at the notification, momentarily lost in thought.

No restrictions on the unit’s star rating?

In other words, Augustus’s original ability had certain limitations?

But after being enhanced by the Undead Sovereign class, even those star-rating restrictions had been broken.

”This...”

John took a deep breath, a look of pleasant surprise spreading across his face.

”Now that’s an unexpected bonus.”

However, he quickly regained his composure.

This wasn’t the time to stand around marveling at his new talent. He needed to finish dealing with everything here before returning to test it out.

John raised his head and looked into the distance.

The Judgment Alliance’s defensive barrier had already been destroyed, and all its altars had been reduced to ruins.

This was precisely when their morale was at its lowest and they were most vulnerable to attack.

John slowly raised his hand and brought it down sharply toward the sprawling city.

”All troops, heed my command.”

His voice wasn’t particularly loud, yet it clearly reached the ears of every undead unit.

”Slaughter the city.”

Buzz—

From within the portal, the undead army that had been waiting for this moment surged out in a massive tide, charging straight toward the Judgment Alliance.

...

Meanwhile, as the extermination operation was underway, every player currently online received the same message in their respective World Channels.

It didn’t matter whether they were Lords belonging to an alliance or unaffiliated players.

The message appeared simultaneously for everyone.

[World Channel · Tyrant:]

[I am Tyrant. The Judgment Alliance’s Novice Map headquarters has been completely destroyed, and its Heir Apparent has been executed.]

[From this moment onward, anyone who still bears the Judgment Alliance’s name will be killed without exception. Whoever I find, I will kill.]

[If you want to live, you have five minutes to leave the Alliance.]

The moment the announcement appeared, the entire World Channel fell into absolute silence.

The Judgment Alliance’s internal channel was equally chaotic.

”Leave! Hurry up and leave the Alliance!”

”If we die, we’ll be kicked out of Godfall Continent! Hurry! Don’t stay in the Judgment Alliance and get dragged down with them!”

”Withdraw! I’m leaving right now!”

One player after another frantically opened their Alliance panels and clicked the withdrawal button.

”We can leave the loot behind, but we have to save our lives!”

System notifications continuously refreshed across the channel.

[Player ”Adrian Ashen” has left the Judgment Alliance.]

[Player ”Seraphina Nightsong” has left the Judgment Alliance.]

...

In less than five minutes—

[Judgment Alliance — Current Online Members: 1]

The once-mighty behemoth that had dominated the Novice Continent, throwing its weight around and acting as though nobody could challenge it...

At this very moment, collapsed completely, scattering into pieces.

”Let’s go.”

John took one last look at the city that had now become a pile of ruins before turning away.

...

On the journey back.

Ophelia had transformed back into her purple dragon form and was flying steadily through the air.

John sat at the front of her back, with Arno sitting quietly behind him.

Ever since leaving the Judgment Alliance headquarters, the white-clad assassin had said only one sentence:

”Mission accomplished.”

He hadn’t spoken another word since.

Even now, sitting on the dragon’s back, he remained perfectly still, his back straight and his posture impeccable.

At first, John hadn’t paid much attention to it.

But after flying for quite some time, Arno’s silence began to feel almost unnatural.

After thinking for a moment, John turned around and tried to strike up a conversation.

”Arno, have you ever ridden on a dragon before?”

Hearing the question, Arno lowered his head slightly and replied in a steady voice.

”No, my Lord.”

”Mm.”

John nodded.

He had assumed Arno might say something more, but after waiting for two seconds, he realized the assassin was simply sitting there quietly, with no intention of continuing the conversation.

John rubbed his nose and was just about to turn around.

Suddenly, Arno spoke again.

”However...”

”I have seen dragons before.”

A hint of curiosity appeared in John’s eyes, and he raised an eyebrow.

Even Ophelia, who had been flying steadily, tilted her enormous dragon head slightly, glancing backward with her dark golden, vertical pupils.

”Oh?”

Her voice drifted through the wind, sounding rather casual.

”Boy, your outfit looks rather familiar.”

”Are you from the Mistshadow Mountains?”

Arno nodded.

”Yes, Lady Dragon.”

”The Mistshadow Mountains... It’s been so long since I’ve heard that name...”

Ophelia’s enormous body stiffened slightly in midair.

John hadn’t expected the two to have some kind of connection, so he asked curiously,

”You’ve been there before?”

Ophelia shook her head before continuing.

The coldness in her voice had unknowingly softened considerably.

”I once had a younger sister. She was different from the others. She was small and frail, and her scales had never fully grown in. The other dragon children often made fun of her.”

”Unfortunately, that girl had a weak constitution, but she was more stubborn than anyone else. She was determined to learn the unique combat techniques of our Primordial Ancient Dragon race.”

”But I couldn’t bear to see her suffer. I was afraid she wouldn’t be able to withstand the training, so I kept holding her back and refused to teach her.”

There was a faint note of regret in Ophelia’s voice.

”Who would’ve thought that, eventually... that stubborn little girl would leave our clan in a fit of anger?”

”All she left behind was a letter saying she intended to go to the Mistshadow Mountains to learn the art of assassination.”

”Heh.”

A bitter laugh escaped her lips.

”Can you imagine anything more ridiculous? A proud Primordial Ancient Dragon, with dragon’s breath and draconic might at her disposal, choosing instead to learn how to become an assassin hiding in the shadows.”

”Tell me, isn’t that absurd?”

Silence fell over the dragon’s back.

Arno remained quiet for a long time before slowly raising his head.

”May I ask, Lady Dragon...”

His voice was unusually soft, and he struggled to get the words out.

”Was your younger sister’s name... Vira?”

Ophelia’s enormous dragon body suddenly shuddered.

Her flight path wavered for a brief moment, causing John to sway on her back. He quickly steadied himself.

”Careful, my Lord.”

Arno, however, remained completely unaffected. His body stayed perfectly balanced as he reached out to steady John, his eyes fixed intently on Ophelia.

”Vira...”

Ophelia hadn’t even noticed that her flight had become unstable. Her voice was suddenly filled with urgency.

”You know her?!”

”Where did you see her? Is she...?”