Chapter 278: Chapter 278 : The villain vs The Devil (6)

The battle between Alex and Kyle raged like the world itself was ending. Across the vast skies of Avaloria, deafening booms echoed one after another, shaking the very foundations of the continent. It was as if the gods themselves were expressing their wrath.

Lightning and darkness clashed endlessly, turning night into blinding flashes of chaotic brilliance. Entire clouds were torn apart by shockwaves that distorted space. The heavens trembled, and the earth cracked open beneath the sheer pressure of their powers.

In the capital below, people screamed and ran for their lives, clutching their children as chunks of debris rained down from the sky. Prayers filled the air—desperate pleas to the gods for mercy. The entire Avaloria Empire was on the brink of collapse.

High above the city, Evelyn stood upon the Grand Spire, her golden hair whipping wildly in the storm, shimmering like rays of the sun breaking through chaos. Her golden eyes burned with divine radiance as she poured everything she had into maintaining the massive golden barrier that shielded the human empire.

Sweat streamed down her face as veins of mana pulsed visibly across her arms. Her breathing grew shallow, every breath a struggle.

“Damn it… this is taking too much mana and divine energy,” she muttered through gritted teeth. “I can’t keep this barrier for long…”

Before she could recover, several dark presences flickered behind her. She turned sharply—and her heart dropped.

Surrounding her were more than a dozen figures cloaked in black robes, their eyes glowing crimson beneath hooded masks marked with cult of abyss crest. The emblem on their chests was unmistakable: the twisted spiral of the Cult of Abyss.

Their leader raised a hand, his voice carrying through the roaring winds. “Kill her! Once she’s dead, the barrier will fall! Then the human empire will crumble, and Avaloria will be ours for the taking!”

Another laughed maniacally. “She’s exhausted! Look at her trembling! End her now!”

“Her divine light won’t save her for long!” yelled another, drawing a blade imbued with fire.

Evelyn clicked her tongue in frustration, stepping back. ’Tch… not now of all times.’ Her body screamed for rest, but her eyes burned with determination. ’If I fall, everyone dies and alex trusted me with this.’

The cultists lunged forward in unison, their killing intent tearing through the air.

But before they could reach her, a brilliant flash of violet light descended from the sky. The impact shook the clouds apart, and a wave of divine power rippled across the battlefield.

In the blink of an eye, two of the Grandmaster-ranked cultists exploded into nothingness, their bodies disintegrating under a crushing pressure.

From the light emerged a man with white hair flowing wildly in the storm and violet eyes burning with fury. His armor gleamed with runic light, his presence shaking the air itself.

It was Edward Evans Avaloria.

His expression was filled with rage, his voice booming like thunder. “How dare you… How dare you swine set foot on my home, spreading death and destruction everywhere!”

He raised his sword, the air vibrating with power. “I will make sure not even your ashes remain here!”

The cultists froze in terror. Fighting a Monarch Rank was suicide—especially one known for his mastery over both elemental and divine magic.

But fear soon turned to despair.

Edward raised his left hand, and spears of condensed water energy materialized around him, gleaming with deadly brilliance.

In a single motion, he unleashed them.

The spears shot forward like divine judgment, piercing through the chests of every cultist who tried to flee. The moment they made contact, their bodies began to melt away, flesh and bone dissolving into puddles of steaming liquid.

The scent of blood and ozone filled the air.

Evelyn exhaled in relief as the last body hit the ground. “Uncle Edward… what are you doing here?” she said between breaths. “You should be out there stopping the attacks. You’re the only one strong enough to end this. The people need you!”

Edward turned his gaze toward her, his expression softening. “I always knew you and Alicia were special children,” he said quietly. “And what you’re doing now… maintaining a barrier of this scale—most Monarchs couldn’t do that, not even me.”

He placed a hand on her shoulder, his voice filled with pride. “I’m grateful to you for protecting our people, Evelyn. You’re risking your life for them.”

Evelyn’s golden eyes widened slightly, her throat tightening at his words. “But Uncle—”

He raised a hand to stop her. “I’m here because someone must protect our hope that is you. Right now, you are the only one standing between our empire and total annihilation.”

He glanced up at the sky, where Alex and Kyle continued their apocalyptic duel, lightning and darkness colliding like twin worlds. The clouds above were ripped apart by their power, revealing a blackened void.

Edward reached into his robes and pulled out a glowing blue bracelet, runes circling it slowly. “Here,” he said, pressing it into her trembling hands. “I’ve stored half of my mana inside this. Use it to keep the barrier from collapsing.”

Evelyn stared at the bracelet, her golden eyes wide. “But if you give this to me, your strength will be halved! If another Monarch-level enemy appears, your life will be in danger!”

Edward smiled faintly, his eyes reflecting both pride and exhaustion. “Don’t worry about me. The safety of the people comes first. That’s my duty as king.”

Evelyn clenched her fists tightly, then nodded. “Understood… I’ll hold the barrier, no matter what.”

Edward turned away, ready to take flight, when a slow, mocking clap echoed through the air.

“Bravo… bravo,” a cold voice said. “Such touching words. Truly kingly.”

A strange pressure filled the sky as a dark ripple tore through the air. A man materialized out of thin air—his figure tall, his face half-covered by a black hood. His presence distorted the space around him, as if the world itself rejected his existence.

He looked to be in his fifties, though his aura spoke of countless centuries of existence. His robes flowed like liquid shadows, etched with blood-red sigils. The very ground beneath his feet began to decay.

“Edward,” the man said in a deep, distorted tone. “Long time no see, old friend.”

Edward’s expression hardened instantly. His violet eyes blazed with recognition and hatred. “So… you’ve finally shown yourself, Chaos.”

The man smirked under his hood. “You sound angry. Still remembering our last encounter? I admit, escaping you wasn’t easy. But your little victory cost me only a pawn… my partner’s death was inconsequential.”

Edward’s sword flared with energy as he took a battle stance. “This time, you won’t escape. Once you die, the cult will lose its leader. And I will finally end this madness.”

Chaos chuckled darkly, his voice echoing like thunder. “Oh, Edward… you misunderstand. Technically, yes—I’m the cult’s current leader. But it doesn’t matter if I fall. Another will always rise. That is the nature of chaos.”

Edward smirked. “Then I’ll destroy them before that happens.”

Chaos’s laughter grew louder. “Big words for someone who just gave away half of his power.” His crimson aura flared violently. “I’ve waited for this moment, Edward. The moment when the mighty king stands at his weakest.”

He raised his hand, and rifts began opening around him—dozens of them, swirling like black holes. Monstrous figures began pouring out: twisted beasts, humanoid horrors, and abominations from the Abyss itself.

It was a scene straight from a nightmare.

Edward’s expression turned grim. He turned his head toward Evelyn and spoke calmly. “Evelyn… I’m not sure if I’ll survive this battle.”

Evelyn’s golden eyes trembled. “Uncle, what are you saying—?”

“If something happens to me,” Edward continued, “tell Charlotte to abandon her claim to the throne. Tell her to live her life freely. The crown… it only brings misery.” His eyes softened, sadness flickering in them. “Just like mine did.”

Evelyn stared at him in confusion. “What do you mean by that, Uncle?”

Before she could finish, the air trembled as Edward’s aura flared—pure, raw, and terrifying. A crimson-red aura enveloped him, mixed with divine blue light. His voice thundered across the skies.

“Chaos! Let’s finish this… once and for all!”

Portals of blue light opened behind Edward as colossal water dragons emerged, their roars shaking the heavens. Alongside them, massive rock golems rose from the ground, forming a wall of living stone.

Chaos grinned wickedly as his own legion of nightmares assembled before him.

The world fell silent for a brief second—then exploded in light and darkness.

Edward slammed his fist into the ground, and a massive magic circle appeared beneath them. In an instant, both he and Chaos—along with their armies—vanished into it, the circle collapsing into a single point of light.

The ground where they once stood was silent once more.

Evelyn stared at the spot where Edward had disappeared, her lips trembling. “He… took the battle to another dimension,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “To protect us…”

Her hands glowed once again as she turned her focus upward, pouring every ounce of strength into maintaining the golden barrier. Her voice quivered, filled with desperation.

“What’s happening, Alex…” she whispered softly. “Are you winning… or losing?”

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