Chapter 19: It's Time to End This!

[Warning... No signal... Warning... Not connected to the network... Please locate a signal source in a timely manner...]

Lynn's face instantly showed a look of astonishment and joy. When he saw the content clearly, the corner of his mouth couldn't help but twitch.

This artificial moron...

'I don't need an online narration. Disable the warning sound and report the remaining energy!' Lynn silently recited in his mind.

[Remaining energy is 19.5%. Detected a significant increase in surrounding energy density, estimated to increase energy reserves by 1% per hour.]

This fast, Lynn couldn't help but be a bit surprised. Increasing by 1% per hour, wouldn't it mean the energy could be fully charged in about four days?

But it had already been five days since the system shut down!

Lynn glanced at the prompt from the intelligent brain again.

A significant increase in energy density?

This certainly couldn't be related to the castle below their feet, so... it could only be the influence of Monday!

"Carl!"

Lynn was deep in thought when Johnny's shout interrupted him. A three-meter-tall Spirit Realm guard charged forward, raising a stone hammer to smash at him.

'Enter overload mode, time three seconds!' Lynn didn't turn around but silently recited in his mind.

In the next moment, a massive data stream flooded into his mind. Lynn pushed off forcefully, using the reaction force to leap into the air, avoiding the heavy stone hammer that was smashing down. He then stepped onto the thick stone arm of the Spirit Realm guard, drew out the sharp Witch Hunter's longsword, and embedded it into the crack at the neck of the stone statue, pinning it firmly to the wall behind!

However, this strike clearly couldn't completely destroy the stone statue. Lynn didn't expect as much. After temporarily restricting the Spirit Realm guard's movement, he deactivated the overload mode and continued to escape with Johnny.

The energy of the intelligent brain was less than 20%; it had to be saved for more critical situations.

The group ran wildly for over ten seconds before the sound of the giant stone statue stepping and shaking the floor rang out again. Bai Ge, who was clutching Johnny's arm, trembled continuously and whispered through her sobs, "I'm sorry... I'm sorry... Johnny... Carl..."

"You knew from the beginning that Will betrayed us, didn't you?" Lynn glanced at Bai Ge, speaking with certainty.

When they followed Will tonight, Lynn had already noticed something was off because Will behaved too strangely on his way to the storage room.

Knowing that Bai Ge on night watch could be using gray crows to monitor the entire castle, Will didn't have any vigilance at all and didn't even glance around once.

This clearly didn't make sense.

Unless... Will was sure that even if he was spotted by these gray crows, it wouldn't pose any problem.

"Can you tell me why?" Johnny held Bai Ge's slender hand tightly, unable to believe she could betray them.

Bai Ge's nose twitched, and with a sobbing voice, she hesitantly began to explain.

Three nights ago, it was Will's turn to keep watch. But to be safe, she still sent the gray crows out to patrol and accidentally discovered Will secretly reporting the situation here to the Church through the Alchemy Array...

"Then why didn't you tell me about this?" Johnny questioned.

"But Will... Will found out first. He said the Church already knew my identity. If I dared to tell you, my parents, brothers, and sisters would all be tied to the stake and burned to death..." Bai Ge said with a terrified look, sobbing.

Johnny fell silent. For wizard apprentices like them, who were displaced, the safety of their family was indeed a significant concern.

Because of this, inquiring about each other's identities had always been taboo. They couldn't even confirm if the names they used were real.

"Clearly, he lied to you. Maybe Will didn't know your true identity, or maybe he wanted to enjoy the glory alone..." Lynn said calmly.

Judging by Will's hands-on approach, it was likely that his words were just nonsense. Otherwise, he could have used it to blackmail Bai Ge into doing more things.

Of course, it's also possible Will intended to take all the credit for himself. After all, the more he did, the more likely the Church would see his 'sincerity' and forgive him as a 'follower of the devil'.

"Do you want to survive, Bai Ge? I might have a way to deal with Anluoke..." Lynn suddenly asked.

Before Johnny could speak, Bai Ge tearfully nodded. "I do!"

She didn't want to die...

"Then tell me all the magic you know now. I need to understand their principles and how to use them." Lynn straightforwardly said.

"What do you intend to do?" Johnny asked in surprise.

"I think it's never too late to start learning, right?" Lynn said seriously.

Since 071 had rebooted, it was time to make an end!

Having been chased all the way and witnessing the deaths of Buck and Barton, Lynn was already burning with anger!

But... was there really enough time? Johnny looked at Lynn in disbelief, but after hesitating for a while, she began to explain.

[Flame Touch], [Turn Stone to Mud], [Frost Curtain], [Lesser Flame Demon Hand]...

As Wizard Coru's most valued disciple, Johnny mastered over a dozen one-ring spells, while Bai Ge knew very few, only two highly specialized spiritual energy spells, which were said to be grasped by only a few with a spiritual energy talent.

Considering the limited time, Lynn didn't attempt to learn everything but selectively memorized a few, simulating them in his mind with the help of the intelligent brain.

Lynn's calm demeanor also inspired Johnny and Bai Ge, boosting their confidence in defeating Anluoke.

As the trio progressed, the sound of flowing water came from ahead, and the breeze carried a hint of moisture.

In front of them was a rapidly flowing underground river. The swift current gushed from under the ground, passed through a long tunnel, and directly flowed out of the castle...

[Holy Light Shock]!

Before Lynn and Johnny reached the riverbank, a white light shot from behind.

[Frost Curtain] * 2

Johnny and Lynn exchanged a glance, then simultaneously raised their hands. Two shield walls made of ice crystals rose, together blocking the two-ring Divine Arts spell.

The two walls of ice crystals shattered instantly, fragments falling like hail.

"What do we do now?" Johnny anxiously asked Lynn. The exit tunnel was right in front of them, but if they were swept into the turbulent water and attacked by Anluoke, they would have no way to resist.

"It's very simple!" Lynn gave Johnny a glance, then without warning, he took the girl's sword and, amidst her expressions of astonishment, surprise, and unease, pushed her directly into the rushing water.

The icy water engulfed her nose and mouth, quickly soaking her body. Johnny clearly felt the enormous inertia of the rapid current forcefully pulling her towards the exit.

Through the blurry water, Johnny could vaguely see Lynn's mouth moving as if saying a final farewell, and then a heavy object was thrown at her by him — it was the panicked Bai Ge...

Watching the two being carried away by the current, Lynn wasn't worried about the two witches' safety. A wizard who could control oxygen wouldn't drown; he just silently added the last part in his mind...

"Very simple, just don't get in my way!"

(PS: New book seeking recommendations, collections, follow-up reads, monthly votes...)