The two of them, their blades overlapping, attacked Talulah like a wild gale, tearing through the barrier of flames and striking her body directly.
The high-speed blades unleashed a continuous barrage of strikes, even displacing all the air within range; the resulting vacuum allowed the slashing speed to increase even further.
This was the true essence of 'Gale's Last Breath'.
By the time the technique ended, Talulah lay on the ground covered in wounds, unable to get up. Although the black mist had effectively increased her surface defense, the damage had still been delivered in full.
Jean Stardust prioritized running over to check on Frostnova's condition, having no time to scold the silly girl for her actions. At that moment, Jean Stardust's eyes were fixed on Talulah, who was lying in a pool of blood.
Despite the apparent victory, no joy could be felt.
Because the divinity gathering upon her had reached a point of nauseating intensity.
Amiya also stared at Talulah ahead. Although she didn't know what divinity was, she felt an instinctive sense of loathing.
At this moment, Talulah, lying on the ground, suddenly began to laugh:
"Hahahahaha, this is how it should be, it has to be like this! This is fate—the most wicked existence that plays with everything in the palm of its hand, bringing destruction at the most beautiful moment, and granting hope at the moment of destruction, only for there to be despair at the end of that hope!"
"That's all nonsense. Looking back at failed choices from the present, of course they all seem like despair. However, all the tragedies in the world stem from the inadequacy of the person involved. To push your own failures onto fate? Utterly ridiculous! Is this the drivel you've summarized after surviving for a thousand years?!"
"Don't say that, little girl who popped out of nowhere. Fate truly exists. Look, at the same time it gives you hope, it is leading you into the abyss of despair! We have arrived."
As her words fell, Chernobog began to brake to a halt. Simultaneously, surrounded by Flame Spirits, Talulah was lifted into the air.
Although her heavy injuries still prevented her from moving freely, she stood up by relying on the black mist to manipulate her like a puppet.
"Snake Molt."
As she uttered this word, her entire temperament began to undergo a drastic change.
"Descending Ladder."
As the second word was spoken, Jean Stardust also tried to release a large number of wind blades to attack.
"Ruined Streets."
With the third word, all attacks were forcibly blocked by a large number of Flame Spirits at the cost of their own lives.
"Burning Enemy Nation."
The fourth word...
"Conflict."
The fifth word...
"Loyal Servant."
The sixth word; she took out Mephisto's soul and began to burn it.
"Polluter."
The seventh word...
"Blood Connection."
The eighth word; this time it was Chen's flesh.
"One's Own Soul."
The ninth word; she patted her own chest.
By now, the entire Chernobog had come to a complete stop in an incredibly short amount of time.
"Now all conditions are met: the time, the place, and the nine elements. Now, as long as I offer up the soul within this body, I shall ascend the divine throne!"
The Flame Spirits also began to rotate, emitting a strange rhythm.
As their speed continued to increase, Talulah's laughter inside became more and more unrestrained.
But suddenly, it came to a screeching halt.
"Why? Why! Why has Chen's bloodline changed! This is impossible, impossible! Aaaaaah!"
The roar gradually turned into a wail:
"No, don't, don't take my soul, my soul... ah..."
Then, before everyone's eyes, the phantom of a small black snake crawled out of Talulah's body, only to be firmly grasped by a hand made of fire.
Just like that, it was gradually turned to ash amidst kneading and roasting.
Then, the small points of light surrounding Talulah's body moved with agility, as if cheering for joy.
They guarded this body that had been completely overtaken by fire.
"Where is it? Where is it!" Talulah, whose face had lost all expression, kept repeating this phrase.
The divine might was like a prison, a near-physical pressure weighing down on everything in the vicinity.
Jean Stardust struggled to lift her head, watching the Dragon Girl standing at the zenith, searching for something with an emotionless gaze.
With equal difficulty, she used 'Appraisal'.
[Target Evaluation]
Name: ■■■■■■■ (Projection)
Race: God (Great Old One)
Rank: Quasi-God
Description: Due to an error during the ritual, the will of an unspeakable Great One has descended.
Ever since the appearance of the Flame Spirits, the true identity of this thing was self-evident: Cthugha, the creator of the Flame Spirits, the Living Flame, and the archenemy of Nyarlathotep, one of the Three Pillar Gods.
What she was searching for at this moment was very likely that Crawling Chaos, Nyarlathotep.
No one could handle these over-the-limit entities popping up one after another.
To think this was the first time Jean Stardust had seen a Quasi-God rank existence, while Jean Stardust herself had only just stabilized at the 'Fierce' rank, let alone a Quasi-God above the 'Mad' rank—and this was merely a projection.
The Great Old One of the main body should undoubtedly be at the God Rank or higher.
---
She signaled Amiya with her eyes to withdraw quickly while the one before them was busy looking for her archenemy; this was no longer something the combat power on the scene could handle.
Amiya also received information about Cthugha through the perception link with Jean Stardust. Equally pale with shock, she began using her power to transmit the retreat signal to everyone around.
Jean Stardust also picked up Frostnova, who had fallen into a weakened state from using her abilities, and gradually backed away.
Fortunately, this deity paid no mind to these weak mortals; her target was always that Nyarlathotep.
While the retreat was proceeding smoothly, perhaps Talulah's words came true: "Fate will bring despair at the end of hope."
Before they could completely exit the clearing, they saw Cthugha, floating in mid-air, suddenly fly into a rage.
"No, it's not here! It's all fake! Liar, that disgusting liar!"
Then, as if her mood had plummeted, she muttered something in a low voice, only to shout loudly again a moment later.
"Forget it, destroy everything!"
Then, from Talulah's body, endless flames erupted, turning into a giant fireball that could cover the entirety of Chernobog.
Upon the fireball, a distorted human face appeared, letting out an incomprehensible roar while pressing down upon all of Chernobog.
It prepared to swallow Chernobog City whole just like that.
At this moment, people finally realized that this was a true Catastrophe—completely unstoppable, bringing equal destruction to all.
Only Jean Stardust glared upward, her hand clutching the red card hidden in her chest.
"An unstoppable disaster? Destruction beyond human power? Don't make me laugh!"
Taking a deep breath, she shouted: [Starlight Road]!
The light of stardust burst forth, illuminating the entire land. Then, within the light, Jean Stardust transformed into a silver-white giant dragon and soared into the sky.
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