Chapter 287: Chapter 56: Legend! Legend! (4)

Wherever it passed, the ground was scorched black and melted. The scattered monsters and remains of defenders who couldn’t escape were instantly vaporized!

Some of the defensive runes etched into the tower’s walls activated, flickering with a faint light, but they were annihilated as if made of paper before an attack of this magnitude.

The three Archbishops’ faces paled. The Holy Force Field maintaining the Barrier fluctuated violently, barely withstanding the intense heat of the Magma Breath, but the Barrier’s light dimmed at a visible rate.

"Now’s the time!"

A sharp glint flashed in Quentin’s eyes. With a low shout, he gripped the Giant Sword—completely shrouded in holy brilliance—and leaped down from the tower!

Like a striking falcon, he shot down along the tower’s outer wall, aiming straight for the relatively fragile connection between the head and body of the Giant Earth Rock Worm on the left, just above its gaping maw!

The holy brilliance on the sword grew ever brighter, almost enveloping his entire body, making him look like a meteor falling in reverse!

At the very moment he was about to brush past the edge of the Magma Breath, Quentin’s biceps bulged. All his strength and Holy Energy merged into one as he swung the Giant Sword upward, carving a brilliant, world-splitting arc of light that viciously slashed toward the Earth Rock Worm’s vital connection point!

"Strike!"

The white sword light collided head-on with the dark red magma and the carapace as thick as a city wall!

HSSSS!!!

A piercing, ear-splitting sound of friction and tearing erupted, accompanied by the roar of an energy explosion!

Countless sparks and motes of light shot out like fireworks!

The Triple Magic imbued in the Giant Sword played a crucial role.

The [Sharpness Technique] allowed the blade to slowly but surely cut into the seemingly indestructible carapace.

[Enhanced Attributes] raised the power of this strike to an unbelievable level.

And [Resist Energy Damage] greatly negated the corrosion from the magma’s high temperature and the Chaotic Energy.

CRACK! BOOM!!

A massive gash, several meters long and deep enough to reveal bone, was brutally cleaved open at the connection between the Giant Earth Rock Worm’s head and body!

A viscous fluid, dark red and nearly black like magma, mixed with shredded internal organs, gushed out like a bursting dam!

The Earth Rock Worm let out an earth-shattering, agonized roar. Its entire upper body thrashed wildly, slamming against the ground and causing even more violent tremors.

At the wound, Holy Energy and Chaotic Energy clashed violently, continuously eroding its life force.

’Success!’

’But the cost was not small.’

After delivering the strike, Quentin used the momentum to retreat rapidly, landing back on a relatively intact platform near the tower.

His chest heaved violently, veins throbbed on his temples, and fine beads of sweat mixed with blood and grime trickled down his cheeks.

The two-handed Giant Sword, having endured immense force and the shock of the energy impact, was now covered in a web of cracks. The white holy brilliance rapidly faded, and it was clearly destroyed beyond repair.

He released his grip. The Giant Sword hit the ground with a CLANG and shattered into several pieces.

His knees gave out, and he fell to one knee, barely keeping himself from collapsing by bracing a hand against the ground. His heavy, ragged breaths exposed the severe depletion of his internal strength and the extreme overexertion of his muscles.

That last strike had nearly drained all the Life Energy he had accumulated over a long time.

However, the crisis was not over.

The Magma Breath from the Giant Earth Rock Worm on the right had severely damaged the tower’s base and the Barrier.

To make matters worse, the critically injured and dying Giant Earth Rock Worm on the left had gone completely berserk. It began to roll and charge about erratically, its massive body causing secondary damage to everything around it, including other monsters and the defenders, throwing the defensive line into even greater chaos.

Meanwhile, the one on the right, seemingly enraged by its companion’s miserable state, began to gather dark red light in its maw once more!

The three Archbishops’ faces grew even paler, their breathing unsteady.

After the long battle, maintaining the Barrier against the aftershocks of the Magma Breath, and casting the costly Triple Magic, their Spiritual Power and Holy Power were both on the verge of depletion. The hands gripping their Magic Staffs were trembling slightly.

A trickle of blood even escaped the corner of the white-haired Archbishop’s mouth. He hastily wiped it away with his sleeve, but his eyes remained locked on the worm that was gathering its power again.

"Sir Quentin!" the white-haired Archbishop’s voice was hoarse and urgent. "We have to deal with the other one, quickly! The Barrier... it probably won’t withstand its next breath!"

Quentin gritted his teeth, the muscles in his arms twitching slightly from overexertion.

He took a deep breath, forcing his trembling legs to straighten through sheer willpower.

Even this simple movement caused more cold sweat to bead on his temples.

He quickly scanned the battlefield, where his men were falling fast. Finding another suitable heavy weapon wouldn’t be difficult.

The key, however, was that his body was severely damaged after that last outburst. His muscles were torn, his internal organs were concussed, his Life Energy was depleted, and even the hand he would use to hold a sword was shaking uncontrollably.

The three Archbishops were in even worse shape; it would be impossible for them to cast a combined spell of that intensity again anytime soon.

Without the aid of magic, trying to single-handedly wound, let alone kill, the other Giant Worm was a nearly impossible task.

Moreover, Quentin knew in his heart that in his current, utterly depleted state, he had no confidence he could deliver another strike of the same power, even if the three Archbishops were perfectly fine and could empower him again.

A determined light flashed in his blue eyes.

It was a resolve forged by decades of faith, one that would not waver even in the face of despair.

He slowly turned his head, his gaze meeting each of the three Archbishops’ in turn.

Without a word, he saw the same determination in their eyes.

The resolve to sacrifice their lives for one last stand.

Quentin turned his gaze back to the Giant Earth Rock Worm, which was about to finish charging its attack. He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white from the force.

They weren’t afraid of dying; they were afraid of dying without being able to defend this final barrier.

And in the current situation... they might really not be able to hold on.

Just then, a Messenger Soldier, his face covered in soot and his armor stained with blood, scrambled to the edge of the platform. His voice cracked with urgency, "Sir Quentin! An urgent order from the Ironspine Duke!"

Without turning his head, his eyes locked on the Giant Earth Rock Worm gathering its power again, Quentin forced a single word through his gritted teeth: "Speak!"

The Messenger Soldier, panting heavily, spoke in a rapid-fire burst, "Lord Melfield, the Governor of Monte Territory, is believed to have advanced to Legend! He’s rushing from the eastern ridge to the main battlefield! The Lord Duke ordered me to inform you that Lord Melfield is coming to support the Central Tower area!"

Quentin’s pupils contracted sharply!

’Melfield? The Northern Governor?’ An image flashed through his mind: the deep blue figure he had glimpsed on the distant battlefield a short while ago, the one who was clearing out monsters with astonishing efficiency, his sword wreathed in Thunder.

The battle had been fierce at the time, and he was entangled with a monster. He had only assumed it was some Great Knight with a deep heritage using a trump card for a burst of power and hadn’t given it much thought.

Now that the Messenger Soldier had mentioned it, and connecting it to the killing efficiency and energy signature that figure had displayed—far surpassing that of an ordinary Great Knight...

’A Legend... He actually broke through? At a time like this?’ An indescribable mix of emotions welled up in Quentin’s heart—surprise, doubt, but above all, the uplifting thrill of seeing reinforcements in a desperate situation.

He whipped his head around to face the Messenger Soldier, his voice low and urgent, "Are you sure he’s heading this way? What’s his condition?"

"Absolutely certain! As for his condition..." the Messenger Soldier answered quickly, "The eastern ridge only has some infiltrating Razor Hounds and Scorching Beasts. With Lord Melfield’s strength as a Legend, breaking through shouldn’t be a problem!"

Quentin took a deep breath, a flicker of resolve in his blue eyes.

He said in a deep voice, "Understood. Report back to the Lord Duke. Quentin Thorn awaits the blade of another Legend!"

The Messenger Soldier gave a military salute and rushed off the platform.

Quentin turned his attention back to the Giant Earth Rock Worm, which was about to finish charging. He spoke quickly to the three Archbishops, "Conserve your strength. Hold off on casting. Work with me and stall it for a little longer! Our reinforcements... are almost here!"

Hearing this, the three Archbishops’ spirits were lifted.

They were also clearly aware of their own and Quentin’s condition.

Utterly exhausted, running on empty.

They might not be able to block the next attack.

But the arrival of another Legendary Knight might truly be able to change the tide of battle!

The white-haired Archbishop forced himself to straighten his back, wiped away the fresh blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, and replied hoarsely, "Understood. We will hold on until then."

Quentin nodded, saying no more.

He steadied himself again and picked up a blood-stained Longsword from the hand of a fallen defender beside him.

Although it was no match for his familiar Giant Sword, he had no other choice at this moment.

He gripped the hilt, his gaze locked onto the worm like a hawk, waiting for the moment it would spew its magma, ready to use his last ounce of strength to interfere.

The tower trembled, the monsters roared, and the light of the Barrier flickered unsteadily.

But at this moment, hope, like a faint glimmer of light piercing through heavy, dark clouds, illuminated the eyes of the desperate defenders.

They just needed to hold on a little longer.

Just a little longer.