Damned Healer-Chapter 672: Most Important Battle

The two years finally came to an end. On that day, Darian and Niara flew to the center of a very tall mountain. Below them was a sea of millions of figures. It was their entire army, all staring at him with eyes full of expectation.

The residents of that universe were elated at the opportunity to help eradicate the evil that existed there. The Spiritual Guardians, on the other hand, were excited and proud, since they would be fulfilling the great mission that Heaven’s Will had given them, saving that place.

But, contrary to what everyone expected, Darian announced that he would take only the Mannaz and a small extra group on this incursion. He intended to invade silently with this smaller force because bringing immortals or too many people would risk the Celestial Shadow sensing them.

"First, I’ll absorb all the resources of that place, preventing them from taking the Primordial Cemetery away. After securing that, we’ll carry out an internal attack, while you attack from the outside at the same time. It’ll be a double move they won’t expect, and they won’t be able to escape easily; that way, we’ll cause maximum damage. Our goal is to kill everyone we can, so the main enemy will be completely cornered, even if he manages to escape."

Darian’s voice was filled with confidence and determination.

"If this isn’t the last, it’ll be one of the most important battles in this universe’s history. We’ll cut off the enemy’s main internal resource, forcing him to rely entirely on what comes from outside. And now that I’m here, he won’t be able to easily ask the traitors for help. He’ll only be able to use what he’s already received."

During this time, Darian also got in touch with the trusted Spiritual Guardians inside the Celestia Academy. They were people Howlyn had recruited in the past.

That vice-leader of his left everything perfectly prepared for him. Darian then armed them with everything they needed, allowing them to keep an eye on the traitors.

The siege was closed in the open; it wasn’t something secret. It was made very clear that, at any sign of helping the enemy, Darian could send his army to eliminate the traitors and take over that academy.

That put them in a peculiar situation.

Of course, Darian could have taken that academy directly already, and he would’ve been justified. But the three Spiritual Sovereigns weren’t idiots, and they already knew that Niara could create a channel and bring all the powerful figures to this universe.

In other words, the Celestial Shadow wouldn’t last long once Darian returned.

Just the four Spiritual Sovereigns alone were already enough to deal with him, even if he were at 100% of his strength.

So, for sure, taking advantage of the time Darian was away, they must have given many things to that enemy, all to deal with Darian. Trying to take that galaxy and academy was a very predictable move, and traps were certainly waiting for him.

Because of that, the traitors living there certainly wanted Darian to attack them, but...

...if that happened, they would definitely die in the process of defending against Darian’s attack.

Cowards like that, even receiving orders to help and report, knowing they would die and lose everything, would they really accept that?

Darian was sure they wouldn’t.

Seeing Darian’s surveillance over them, they would pretend nothing had happened and wouldn’t send anyone to inform those three in their universe. That way, they’d avoid Darian attacking right now.

It was better to wait a bit. Thirty years in this universe were equivalent to thirty days in the other one, after all.

Before long, they would return home and then report only that Darian had ’maybe’ returned, but they weren’t sure. That way, the next group that came to this universe wouldn’t be able to hide it and would be doomed, but those already there now would get away safely.

That was the selfish and petty mindset of people like them. These idiots who thought themselves above everyone else were full of arrogance and would never accept dying if they could avoid it. Darian had seen a lot of the world and many people like them, so he could predict them and use them to his advantage.

At the end of the speech and explanations, Darian felt a warm, wet lick.

He turned toward his shoulder. There was a small newborn she-wolf there, about the size of a medium dog on Earth. Her eyes were bright and cute; she settled herself and balanced on his shoulder, excited and full of energy.

The gestation of the Abyssal Corrupted Wolves after being corrupted by the Nether became much longer than normal, lasting over a year. Because of that, Howlyn was less than a year old now.

"Girl, go play with the others. You’re way too young to be listening to such boring stuff," Darian murmured softly, stroking her black fur.

Her name was still Howlyn. She rubbed her head against him and wagged her tail, unwilling to leave.

She still didn’t know how to use metamorphosis, but she was already quite smart. Sometimes she played with the other youngsters, but in truth, she preferred staying near the adults, watching and listening to everything carefully. She had no memory of her previous life, but she still paid close attention to people, possibly trying to understand them.

And Darian was obviously the one she liked being around the most. If Darian didn’t push her away and tell her to go play with the younger ones, she wouldn’t leave his side all day.

Niara, by his side, only smiled faintly. After a few seconds, Howlyn felt her gaze from behind, along with a chill down her spine. She let out a soft growl, then quickly jumped away and left, just as Darian had told her to.

Despite what he said, Darian actually didn’t have the heart to kick her away; in the end, it was Niara who had to seriously pressure her. As for little Howlyn, she wasn’t crazy enough to disobey her.

At that moment, Lucy arrived beside Darian and said, "Everything’s ready." 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Darian nodded, turning toward the army of nearly a million Mannaz waiting for him. Besides them, Darian would take Niara and Alear as well, since they were not immortals.

Everyone positioned themselves behind Lucy. She nodded and activated the academy’s connection inscription, linking it to runes from a very distant place.

Lucy did everything very slowly, trying to create a stable channel as subtly as possible, so as not to alert anyone to their arrival.

After almost an hour, a massive spatial channel appeared before everyone.

Darian didn’t hesitate, stepping forward, with everyone following right behind him.

---

After a few seconds, everyone arrived at the Primordial Cemetery.

As soon as the Mannaz arrived, they felt a terrifying power pressing down on them. Their Bloodlines stirred and lit up automatically, and everyone’s hearts trembled. They knew this was a unique opportunity to change their destinies.

The place was a completely dark and cold world, without any source of light or life. Even so, there was no miasma or corruption.

Awel left the inventory and merged with the environment. At the same time, Darian activated his curse, sensing everything around him.

After a few seconds, the two found no sign of anyone. So, Darian ordered a cautious advance.

The place was immense, perhaps the size of an entire planet. With every step, the pressure on everyone only increased.

The ground of that place was not made of soil at all, but of the fragmented bones of terrible Mannaz from the past. In addition, their Bloodlines had fused with the environment. But that represented only the weakest Mannaz of all, who were used in that place as fertilizer. The truly powerful ones were left in the central area.

After almost six hours.

As they approached the core, the Mannaz felt it was difficult even to breathe. When they took a few more steps forward, they soon felt as if they were passing through another portal, leading into the region.

*ROAR*

Suddenly, a majestic dragon appeared in the skies and descended upon them. With just its roar, all the Mannaz spat blood uncontrollably.

That dragon was only a remnant of will, left behind within some draconic Bloodline Mannaz who had died in the past. It appeared and vanished, but everyone turned pale as paper. Just setting foot in that place was already like being struck by a sledgehammer.

"Follow me," Darian said without hesitation, taking the lead.

Before them was a world wrapped in something that looked like blood-colored magma.

Unlike Darian, Niara, and Alear, who could walk over the magma effortlessly, the Mannaz found themselves sinking into it.

"Don’t worry, this ’magma’ is made of the blood of tens of thousands of Mannaz from the past. Since you share the same Bloodline, if your will is firm, there is no threat to your lives. However, your ability to absorb this blood, withstand the primordial power, and reap the benefits will depend on each individual’s abilities," Darian assured them.

If there was no threat to their lives, there was nothing to worry about. Quickly, they began to submerge into the magma.

With that blood touching their skin directly, everyone felt their Bloodline runes merge with their bodies, allowing them to absorb its power without any kind of impurity.

Their eyes shone. Basically, their Bloodlines were being nourished and expanded without limits, with no extra damage at all!

However, the excruciating pain of the blood magma was unbearable, even with their unshakable determination. They could only endure it for a short time before retreating to the shore to rest.

Darian was not in a hurry; he allowed them to rest and advance slowly.

In just a few hours, everyone would adapt and move forward. As they ventured farther, the intensity of the pain increased, but so did the speed at which they were nourished.

’Master, I found him! He really is at the center of everything!’ Suddenly, Awel’s voice echoed in Darian’s mind. ’He is meditating deeply; certain that it is impossible for anything to attack him.’

Hearing this, Darian smiled sinisterly.