CHAPTER 459: Escape Alive

The golden staff filled the cave with brilliant golden light as it grew. The dazzling golden rays finally caught Han Shuo's attention.

He saw that under the Elite Metal Zombie's manipulation, one end of the Golden Staff - a treasure of the Metal Attribute - was pressing against the solid ice at the mouth of the cave, which had been created by the Water Divine Magus Tiana and further strengthened by the Saintess. Of course, the Metal Elite Zombie couldn't fully grasp the Golden Cudgel, as it had transformed into a huge pillar of great height. However, the metal elite zombie could still manipulate the golden cudgel with the energy of the metal element in his body.

The golden cudgel, which was said to be capable of destroying any solid object, erupted with great power from one end under the manipulation of the elite metal zombie, pushing against the icy cave mouth. Under the watchful eyes of Han Shuo and Stratholme, it shattered the solid ice like a twig.

The Golden Cudgel weighed tonnes. Apart from the metal elite zombie, whose body was filled with the energy of the metal element, no one could move the golden cudgel, not even Han Shuo with the brute force of his physical body. It seemed that the elite metal zombie that was giving up the golden cudgel truly deserved the reputation of having the greatest fighting power. Even the ice shield reinforced with the divine energy of the Saintess could be violently shattered under the blows of the golden cudgel.

"Let's go!" The old monster Stratholme shouted. He was shocked and delighted at the same time.

Han Shuo, who had been staring at his metal elite zombie in disbelief, immediately came to his senses when he heard Stratholme's cry. With an incantation, the immensely proud Metal Elite Zombie was sent back to the netherworld by Han Shuo, along with his golden cudgel.

"Let's go!" Han Shuo replied as he and Stratholme flew out of the broken cave mouth at lightning speed. The battle between Tiana and the Church of Light and the Soul Race continued like wildfire. In the midst of it all, the Saintess displayed truly terrifying strength. All the while, protected by the boundless divine energy that surrounded her and the Holy Grail, which burst with holy light, the six-horned tribal king was forced to stay within limits.

"This is not good, they have broken through the ice!" The solid ice barrier at the mouth of the cave had been erected by Tiana, the divine water magus. She felt it when her ice barrier was destroyed.

Han Shuo and Stratholme flew out of the cave just as Tiana finished speaking.

However, at that moment, whether it was the Saintess of the Church of Light or the three demigod beings, they were all busy fighting off the Soul Race. When fighting against such a level of experts, one must not be distracted in the slightest, unless one's team possessed a strength far above that of their opponents.

Tiana and the others dealt with the four five-horned members of the Soul Race, with the Divine Knight as the main fighter, while Tiana and the Light Divine Magus unleashed a steady stream of terrifying magical attacks. Even though Tiana and the light divine magus were using layer upon layer of defensive boundaries, it was obvious that the three of them were at a disadvantage in a fight of three against four.

As Tiana let out a cry of surprise, her cold air attack against the few Soul Race Clansmen slowed a little. The pressure on the Light Divine Magus and the Divine Knight, already difficult to handle, instantly increased many times over. As a result, the divine knight was pitifully attacked by three tails, almost seriously injuring him.

With their hands tied, Han Shuo and Stratholme the old monster had no hesitation in taking advantage of the situation and flew off into the distance. They did not dare to stay on this Sacred Mountain a moment longer.

Han Shuo and the old monster were extraordinarily fast in their flight. Before the few could see them, they were already gone.

The Saintess of the Church of Light focused all her attention on the six-horned tribal king of the Soul Race, daring not to be distracted in the slightest. All she could do was watch helplessly as the duo ran off, not having any extra hands to intercept them.

"Quick, run!" Stratholme shouted at Han Shuo as he rushed out of the Sacred Mountain.

Of course, Han Shuo was obviously aware of how dire the situation was at the moment and fled like lightning, following closely behind Stratholme. But unlike Stratholme, the expression on Han Shuo's face was much calmer and collected, unlike the panic on Stratholme's face.

Once they had left the cave in the Sacred Mountain, Han Shuo had countless options for escape. As for the speed of flight, Han Shuo believed that even a character with a level of strength higher than his would not be able to catch up with him. At the very least, he could still use the transportation matrix connected to the Cemetery of Death to escape. Therefore, with such aces up his sleeve, Han Shuo wasn't as worried as the old monster Stratholme.

After the two escaped from the Sacred Mountain of the Church of Light, instead of returning to Sandro City near the mountain, they took the longer route and flew to Ortley City.

Once in Ortley City, Stratholme used his authority to gain access to the transportation matrix. After travelling to a number of transportation matrices, the two flew from the borders of the Oden Empire back to the Brut Merchant Alliance. They eventually arrived in Tariq City.

Upon arriving in Tariq City, Han Shuo immediately sensed Elizabeth's position through the drop of blood essence in her brain.

"Bryan, it was all thanks to you that we escaped alive. I owe you one!" Stratholme the old monster said to Han Shuo after arriving in Tariq City.

"You're welcome!" Han Shuo replied with a slight smile. After a short pause, Han Shuo knitted his brows and asked, "The Six-Horned Tribe King was able to sense our souls. What are you going to do next?"

Stratholme, the old monster, showed a worried expression at these words. He sighed before saying, "I will immediately find a secluded place to merge my soul with my Origin Crystal. Only by fusing the soul can we completely free ourselves from the pursuit of the Soul Race."

"But we don't know the slightest detail about the situation at the Sacred Mountain of the Church of Light. If the Six-Horned Tribe King has not been seriously injured in the battle with the Saintess and gets to you while you are still merging with the Origin Crystal, it will mean certain death for you," Han Shuo exclaimed.

"There is no other way. I can only take a risk. If the Six-Horned Tribe King knocks on my door in the middle of it, that's my luck!" The old monster sighed helplessly again.

Han Shuo didn't know what to say. There was really no better alternative.

Han Shuo actually had a pretty good impression of the old monster Stratholme. Due to the existence of the seven grand duchies, Han Shuo could have become his enemy in the future. However, from their interactions over the past few days, Stratholme's behaviour could be described as straightforward, rather than harbouring any evil intentions towards Han Shuo because he was the Lord of Brettel City, as Han Shuo had imagined.

"Well then, good luck!" Han Shuo said after shaking his head and sighing slightly.

"You too. I hope there is a chance for us to see each other again. It was really nice to meet you!" Stratholme, the old monster, said with a smile, as if he was putting some worries to rest in his heart. Then he seemed to remember something and hesitated for a while before saying, "Bryan, after today we may never see each other again. I have something to discuss with you. I hope you will agree that we have fought shoulder to shoulder."

"Tell me about it first," Han Shuo knitted his brows and had a good guess what Stratholme wanted to discuss.

"For many years, I was the State Preceptor of the Imperial Court of Verdun, which no longer exists, having been divided into the seven Grand Duchies. I still have some feelings for the seven grand duchies. In the future, perhaps the Six-Horned Tribal King will find us both and we will both die. Or maybe one of us will survive this disaster.

"If I survive, I will bind the seven grand duchies to never touch Brettel City again. But if I do not, and you are so fortunate as to have survived, I hope that for my sake you will not let the people of the seven grand duchies live in hell.

"Your Lancelot Empire and the Brut Merchant Alliance have always coveted the Seven Grand Duchies. I know that if I die, the Seven Grand Duchies will undoubtedly be conquered. If you survive, all seven grand duchies will be invaded by Brettel City. I'm not asking you to give it up, but I do hope you treat the citizens of the seven grand duchies well," the old monster Stratholme pleaded earnestly as he stared deeply into Han Shuo's eyes.

It was only because Stratholme had calculated the likelihood of his death that he would say such things. No matter how you looked at it, Stratholme's request wasn't too difficult. Therefore, immediately after Stratholme finished, Han Shuo nodded and reassured him, "Don't worry, I will treat the citizens of the seven grand duchies well".

Whether Stratholme would die or not, Han Shuo had no idea, but he knew that he himself would escape alive. He had wanted to get his hands on the Seven Grand Duchies for a long time.

That decision would not change even if Stratholme lived. Now, Stratholme was simply asking Han Shuo to treat the citizens well, which was not out of place at all.

"Thank you. I will return to Stranglethorn Valley and make some arrangements.

Then, I will find a place that would be undetectable to the average person to fuse with the Combat Aura Origin Crystal. I truly hope there will be a day when we meet again!

Stratholme, the old monster, smiled and walked away calmly.

After Stratholme left, Han Shuo muttered in a low voice, "I hope you can escape this disaster!"

For this demigod existence that had hindered the Lancelot Empire's military expeditions for so many years, Han Shuo now felt nothing but compassionate respect and awe.

He sincerely hoped that there would be another chance to meet the old monster again. As the old monster gradually disappeared from Han Shuo's sight, he took a deep breath and flew away.

He went in search of Elizabeth, relying on his senses.

"Come with me!" Han Shuo ordered when he saw Elizabeth and he brought her back to Brettel City.

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