Our Family Has Fallen

The warhammer in Lance’s hand seemed as heavy as a thousand pounds, each swing causing the entire space to tremble, and more tiny cracks erupted around the largest fracture.

The Elder was naturally unwilling and didn’t bother summoning the copies. Instead, he fully engaged in magical combat with Lance, trying to control as much of the space as possible.

Neither made direct contact, but the confrontation was intense, evident from the continuously fracturing and disappearing voids.

Reynard and his allies were also battling the copies. These beings hadn’t inherited the mighty flesh control capabilities of their originals, but they possessed a bizarre sorcery as if it were an innate talent.

The perfect copies made strange gestures with their hands, raising them, and the eerie, blood-red tentacles attacked.

Union!

𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

The twisted tentacles aimed to tear them apart, absorbing them into the flesh—a twisted union.

But Reynard and Balistan were both armored, rendering such attacks insufficient to cause significant harm even if they struck.

Not to mention one wielded a shield, and the other’s longsword was no mere scrap metal.

As for Dismas, although he lacked much armor, he couldn’t simply stand still. The legendary status granted him a robust constitution and agile reflexes. If he sensed danger, he’d dodge instantly.

He responded with a swift sword strike, easily slashing the copies’ throats. Blood and decay erupted from the wounds, this time it truly worked.

However, the copies weren’t mere targets standing still for attacks. Instantly, they revealed their essence, transforming into twisted flesh. From their bodies emerged a large mouth, chanting spells.

We are of one origin!

The evil aura invaded, attacking the soul. But why had Lance chosen these three?

Because they were the most loyal, their will was the strongest. They feared neither death and sought ultimate salvation.

In a mere moment, Dismas broke free from the influence, firing a shot that easily tore through flesh. Supernatural power released from the bullet instantly reverted the copies to their human forms, visibly drained.

Then the short sword sliced blood vessels, and copies covered with numerous Corpse Decomposition Spores started sprouting small mushrooms.

Balistan wielded the shield, guarding the Lord, protecting him from harm. Those chaotic tentacles were blocked by the shield. If they dared approach, he’d smack them senseless with a backhanded shield bash, followed by a hammer.

No one could shake him!

As for some copies trying to bypass Balistan remotely and use sorcery to attack Lance’s soul, they couldn’t penetrate the Sanctuary. Lance didn’t even bother looking.

If you want to talk about efficiency in killing, Reynard was the one to watch. As the longsword swung, a white aura appeared on its blade, leaving the sword unstained by blood.

Yet when its blade sliced through unarmored copies, it smoothly cut through like a hot knife through butter, leaving behind a cut that suddenly ignited. No matter the composition, it couldn’t withstand the flame’s purification.

Reynard could naturally also feel the Lord struggling against the original body, falling behind as the space tremor from the warhammer grew less noticeable.

No time to worry about anything else, he quickly cut down the copies and immediately charged at the original with his longsword raised.

Holy Spear!

The phosphorescent glow on the sword’s blade seemed to manifest Reynard’s unwavering determination, gradually forming into flames, igniting the longsword within moments.

In the next second, the fiery figure arrived before the original body, but the longsword missed as the original flickered away at the last moment—clearly, he was unwilling to endure that strike.

Yet, as he dodged, he abandoned the confrontation with Lance. Instantly, Lance seized the opportunity, pounding the warhammer three times, making the entire space quiver incessantly, like the thunderous sound of a drum.

And the once Elder-controlled fracture rapidly appeared with dense cracks, then shattered, originally a mere line, now ripped open into a gap big enough for someone to fit through after those three strikes.

The Elder’s body was free, but he didn’t bother troubling Reynard and hastily tried to suppress it.

Lance didn’t possess dominion over the space, so he would likely end up like before, at a stalemate or even fall behind.

Indeed, the fracture began to shrink, but at that moment, tentacles stretched from within, gripping the boundary, halting the retreat.

On the contrary, the tentacles pulled with such force it was as if someone was prying it open. Within moments, the boundary space shattered with irreversible speed, enlarging the fracture.

Lance seemed to realize something, urging the warhammer like a drum, fiercely striking to unleash space-shaking power.

More tentacles stretched and clung until, at some point, the surrounding space couldn’t withstand the power and completely shattered, swiftly transforming into a purple-black vortex.

Finally, the body of the tentacle emerged from within—it was the Limping Walker summoned by Lance!

"He’s the one who imprisoned and tormented you back then!"

Lance wasted no words, immediately raising his hammer to point at the Elder, provoking him harshly.

And at this, the Limping Walker uttered a terrifying howl, resonating with Lance’s desire for anger and destruction.

Even the Elder’s tight, proud expression couldn’t hide his indecision. Normally, a Limping Walker was nothing, even if he couldn’t act at full strength, he’d subdue it with ease.

But strangely, just at this moment...