“Break through!”
Dustin’s rage exploded inside him. His Dracan essence surged like a tidal wave and crashed relentlessly against the last few pressure points with unstoppable force.
Thunderous explosions rang out in quick succession.
Dustin, who had lost too much blood, finally buckled under the strain and fell from midair. At that instant, his life was hanging by a thread.
Inside the ancient temple atop Embercrest Hill, Grace, who was helping Zeus and Hera decipher the breakthrough technique, paused mid-translation. A strange unease stirred in her chest as if she had sensed something, and she frowned.
What happened? Had Dustin failed?
The thought struck like lightning, sharp and sudden. Her chest tightened with worry.
She had placed all her hope in him. If he failed to break through and died, it wouldn’t just be her life on the line. Everyone on Embercrest Hill, and even half
the nation, would be doomed.
Suddenly, a knot of fear twisted in Grace’s gut. She had to get back to the cave. If there were even a chance Dustin could survive, she’d do whatever it took to save him.
“I have urgent matters to attend to. You two go ahead and keep reading.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, she hurried out the door.
“Stop right there!” Zeus shouted.
Grace ignored him. She used an evasion technique and bolted out the door.
“You have a death wish?” he growled.
His face darkened. He raised a hand and fired a bolt of lightning straight at her back.
She couldn’t dodge in time, so she quickly formed hand seals. A golden octagram array appeared behind her, just in time to block his crackling blue lightning bolt.
A loud explosion shattered the golden octagram array instantly. The powerful blast hurled Grace several feet through the air. She crashed hard against the wall, blood spilling from her mouth.
“I have something urgent to deal with. Give me a moment, and I’ll return to translate for you later,” Grace said, frowning.
“Hmph. You think I’m that gullible?” Zeus’ face darkened. “If you weren’t hiding something, why would you suddenly run?”
“Listen, missy. If you don’t want to die, you’d better translate the technique for us. Until we’ve comprehended it, you’re not going anywhere,” Hera said coldly.
“I don’t have time to explain,” Grace snapped.
She formed a quick hand seal, and her body sank into the earth using the earth-shifting technique. She had mastered all five elemental escape techniques.
“Try running again, and I won’t show mercy.” Zeus exploded with rage and slammed his palm into the ground.
A thunderous roar echoed as lightning crackled wildly, and the ground shook like an earthquake. Even the ancient temple trembled violently.
Grace, who had just slipped underground, was suddenly blasted back to the surface by a powerful force. She crashed hard onto the ground, blood spurting from her mouth and nose once again.
“You’ve mastered quite a few mystical arts, but I’m going to destroy your core first.”
Zeus snorted coldly and struck again. He sent a bolt of lightning straight toward her abdomen. If she were hit, it would destroy her core and wipe out all her cultivation.
But just then, a burst of golden light shot up from the ground and formed a barrier in front of Grace. The lightning bolt vanished the moment it made contact with the light.
“Hmm?”
Zeus focused his gaze and realized the golden light was actually a person.
