Chapter 145: Miranda - Part 1
The holy power surged like a dragon, obliterating everything within an eight-kilometer radius.
Furthermore, as Leon's holy power raged, the previously clear night, illuminated by the two moons Sylvia and Miranda, suddenly turned overcast.
A terrifying dark cloud appeared, stretching 50 kilometers in all directions, with Leon's raging holy power at its center, unleashing red lightning and torrential rain in a fierce storm.
This devastating phenomenon left the once-beautiful grasslands within a 50-kilometer radius utterly ruined.
"What exactly happened? Why is it like this?" Liliana muttered, her expression a mix of confusion and worry.
She couldn't fathom why Leon's holy power had become so chaotic and destructive when everything had been fine before.
Furthermore, she couldn't sense Leon's presence from her current position, nor could she teleport closer because the space within an 8-kilometer radius was warped and blocked by his rampaging holy power.
Even her magical eyes, which could see everything in the world, were obstructed, leaving her completely unable to locate Leon or save him.
"What am I supposed to do?" Liliana muttered through gritted teeth, her palms tightly clenched.
She couldn't force herself to get closer, as Leon's holy power would instantly attack, potentially injuring or even killing her.
After all, his holy power was both her enemy and the only force capable of breaching her magical defenses.
Liliana was at a loss for how to ensure Leon's safety until she suddenly recalled something, causing her to be instantly taken aback.
"The Demon Mark!" Liliana exclaimed, her eyes widening as she tapped her forehead in annoyance.
How could she possibly forget about the Demon Mark that bound her and Leon together?
The Demon Mark was the only link connecting her to Leon, and it served an important function—she could sense Leon's condition and safety no matter how far away he was.
"Maybe it's because the Demon Mark no longer gives off side effects like before that I almost forgot about it," Liliana whispered, shaking her head slightly.
After she and Leon fell in love, the Demon Mark no longer caused the same side effects as before, when she would lose control of her consciousness and attack Leon at night. Instead, it would have a positive effect, continuously strengthening her bond with Leon.
Without hesitation, Liliana closed her eyes and activated the demon mark on her right chest.
*Whoosh!*
Suddenly, a black-colored moon-shaped mark appeared, emitting a bright black light.
After shining for a few moments, the light gradually dimmed, and the demon mark on Liliana's right chest slowly faded away.
As she opened her eyes, Liliana let out a sigh of relief, and her worried expression gradually softened, though not entirely.
With the aid of the Demon Mark, she had just sensed that Leon was safe, but he had lost consciousness, leading to the chaos of his holy power.
However, despite his safety, Leon's breathing and heartbeat appeared weak, resembling those of someone who had sustained severe injuries and was on the brink of death.
"Leon..." Liliana bit her lower lip, her expression contorted with anxiety as she stared at the swirling vortex of his raging holy power.
She despised her own helplessness in this situation.
Moreover, she feared that any rash actions on her part could potentially harm Leon directly.
Taking a deep breath, Liliana suppressed all the anxiety within her and resolved to watch over Leon from her current position while simultaneously seeking a way to rescue him.
"Leon, wait for me!" Liliana whispered, closing her eyes as she cast a magical barrier that extended for 50 kilometers and rose into the sky, covering Leon's devastating holy power rampage.
...
Seventy kilometers away from Leon's holy power rampage, slowly being veiled by Liliana's barrier magic, a middle-aged man with white hair and a white cloth covering both eyes floated in the sky. His gaze was fixed on Leon's raging holy power, a faint smile gracing his lips.
"Everything has unfolded according to the timeline as it was meant to, despite the numerous obstacles present, whether they occur now or in the future," the white-haired middle-aged man remarked.
"However, I have faith that with your perseverance and unyielding nature, you will overcome them. I believe you will alter the course of the future and save the world, as it was foretold 7,000 years ago."
After speaking, the man chuckled softly, shifting his gaze to the desert of chaos and then the Holy Empire of Elysium, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"Your enemies await, and you must prepare with all your power, Leon Kruger, the sword hero—no, Leon Kruger, the fated one... hahaha!"
*Whoosh!*
Suddenly, his figure emitted a white light before breaking into pieces of light and disappearing under the two moons of Sylvia and Miranda, which shone brightly in the sky above.
...
"Huh? Where am I?" Leon opened his eyes, surprised to find himself in a strange and unfamiliar place.
The surroundings mirrored a breathtaking garden, where the vibrant hues of blooming flowers enhanced the scene's overall beauty.
In the center of it all, a white round table stood, accompanied by two matching benches on either side, adding to the tranquil allure of the setting.
Suffice to say, the garden bore a striking resemblance to those found within the palace grounds of the Elysium Imperial Palace or the Inner Palace.
"Hmm? Wasn't I in the meadow transcending to maximize the benefits of the transcendent night?" Leon furrowed his brow, muttering in astonishment.
He still vividly remembered being with Liliana in a vast meadow to resolve the matter of the devouring poison inside him.
Having successfully purged the poison and regained his strength, he unleashed his holy power and entered a state of transcendence, fully harnessing the potency of the transcendent night.
But why had he suddenly appeared here?
Confusion gripped Leon, and his face paled abruptly as a troubling memory flooded his mind.
"Damn it! Have I already died?" Fear widened Leon's eyes as he surveyed his surroundings with renewed vigilance.
The memory of the sudden pain during his transcendence rushed back to him, the sensation akin to his heart being torn out by a thousand swords.
Consequently, the excruciating pain caused him to lose consciousness, and darkness enveloped his surroundings.
Now, finding himself in this strange place after opening his eyes only intensified his fear—did this mean he was already dead?
After all, in the novels he had read from his previous life, didn't the protagonists who met their demise often find themselves stranded in strange places, much like what had happened to him?
Just as panic and alarm consumed him, a woman's voice suddenly sounded from behind him.
"You're not dead yet, Leon Kruger—no, the fated one."