Chapter 69.1

Melo clenched his hands tightly, and with a roar, unleashed a torrent of raw power that erupted from his body.

The force of his blow was so great that it sent Kevin and Oswald flying backwards, their bodies arcing through the air like ragdolls before they landed with a sickening thud several feet away.

The massive pillars of the Ice and Snow Temple, which had somehow survived the centuries, finally succumbed to the force of the impact.

The pillars crumbled from their very foundations, sending a shockwave through the temple that shook the very ground.

Without the sturdy support of the load-bearing pillars, the top of the temple lost its stability, and the grand and imposing structure began to tilt ominously, on the verge of collapse.

While Melo, Kevin, and Oswald could withstand such a impact, it would prove fatal to those who were kneeling down, potentially pulverizing them instantly. The individuals at the scene trembled with fear, unable to lift their heads but feeling the shadows cast over them.

Many of them shook with terror, tears streaming down their faces as they closed their eyes in despair, expecting the impending blow from above.

"Don't-" someone managed to utter with trembling voice, the words nearly breaking amidst the fear. There were pleas for mercy, desperate cries of hope.

Oswald's body crashed heavily onto the icy ground, causing cracks to swiftly spiderweb out from the point of impact with a soft "click".

In that instant, Kevin swiftly raised his hand to provide sudden support, single-handedly propping up the immense dome of the temple.

As Kevin abruptly retracted his fingers, a cacophony of cracking sounds resonated throughout the Frost Dome. Eventually, unable to bear the immense pressure, it shattered into fine powder.

A thick fog of snow, reminiscent of a cloud, billowed over their heads, causing the temperature to drop even further.

After the colossal creature Sirius fell to the ground, it remained motionless. Its body convulsed, lying on its side with its four claws curled up as if clutching its heart. The closed eyes and furrowed brows indicated that it was in pain.

Only Oswald knew firsthand the intensity of this sensation. He couldn't comprehend what was happening to him, only aware that an enormous airflow surged through his blood vessels, thinning and making the vessel walls transparent.

They protruded noticeably under his skin, creating the impression that his skin was on the verge of bursting, like air being pumped into it until it reached its limit.

Every blood vessel in his body throbbed with pain and scorching heat, as if an inferno raged within. This was not a figment of his imagination, but a harsh reality.

Oswald's body emitted scalding heat, akin to the surface of boiling water splashing onto the soldiers nearest to him, instantly turning their skin red. Even they could not help but twitch their fingers, let alone Oswald himself.

His overheated body temperature caused the ice beneath him to melt, resulting in accumulating water that trickled along the sides of the ice surface. The otherwise smooth ice became pockmarked due to his presence, resembling potholes.

To make matters more astonishing, tiny sparks flickered on the giant beast's snow-white fur, resembling the edges of scorched paper.

Eventually, with a long howl filled with both anguish and anger, the ruins of the temple trembled. Flames burst forth from the blood-stained Sirius, engulfing its entire body.

One half of its body was covered in pristine white fur, while the other was drenched in blood. Illuminated by the golden-red flames, Sirius emitted an aura of solemnity and reverence, appearing somewhat different from before.

Its bloodshot eyes glared fearlessly at Melo, tinged with an indescribable hint of sarcasm. With a forceful strike of its claws against the ice, a fire dragon suddenly soared forth, roaring as it hurtled towards Melo.

"I'll grant you a godhead, otherwise, you won't even be worthy enough to fight me," Melo taunted, taking a step back to allow the fire dragon to continue its assault. His voice carried an undeniable arrogance and contempt in its flat tone.

The implications of his words suggested that he deliberately allowed himself to be defeated so that he could present someone with a godhead, creating a less uneven match.

This behavior was completely uncharacteristic of Melo, whose neurotic nature dictated his need to reach the pinnacle and eliminate all threats. It was so unlike him...

Oswald was suspicious, but he couldn't afford to waste time contemplating it. His gaze fell upon the Great Elder and Sinia, who were bound by the green vines, before sweeping across the helpless crowd behind them.

With a mighty leap, he propelled himself towards Melo, accompanied by the charging fire dragon.

The moment he confronted Melo, he mockingly said, "God? Don't make me laugh. Even if you had all the godheads in your possession, you would never deserve to be called a god!"

As Melo dodged, he unleashed another fire dragon that surged towards the dark green vines. The vines' thorns were instantly scorched by the flames, curling up in fear of being burned.

Inside, the Great Elder and Sinia, who were chained, lay lifeless on the ground, appearing weak and frail.

Angry, Oswald howled and knocked Melo aside before rushing to stand in front of the elderly and the young.

As he landed, his form shifted and transformed amidst the flames, changing from a siren to a human. He scooped up Sinia and placed the Great Elder on his back.

Just as Melo raised his hand to intervene, a long, golden arrow pierced through his flesh with a swift gust of wind. The arrow carried such force that it caused him to stagger.

Before he could regain his balance, another arrow followed, striking him directly in the neck.

Knocked back two steps, he leaned against the ice wall, his entire body supported by it.

With a flick of his hand, Oswald caused the golden arrow embedded in him to ignite into a stream of fire that spread from the arrowhead to Melo.

Meanwhile, Kevin, concealed by the flames, unleashed three arrows that lodged directly into Melo, pinning him to the wall...

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