Damned Healer-Chapter 698: Submit

Back to the fissure in space.

The completely white eyes of the Celestial Shadow stared at Darian calmly. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"It really is a Missionary... but I can feel a karma connected to the Laws of the world in you. Interesting... you seem to be special."

The voice sounded dry, in a tone completely different from the Celestial Shadow’s.

Darian asked, without emotion, "You are?"

"I’m just a hunter. My prey are precisely the Missionaries. Now, with you, that makes 164 dead." The figure’s eyes glinted sinisterly.

Darian let out a dry snort. "I already met one of them in another universe who was a maniac bastard. Clearly, Missionaries aren’t saints. But do you really have any idea what you’re messing with?"

"Of course. After all, I was once a Missionary like you," the answer came flatly. "And just like you said, we’re not saints. But Heaven’s Will is the worst bastard of them all. I won’t drag this out. You just need to know that he’s using you to clean up the mess he himself made. When people like you are no longer useful, or decide to act on your own... he simply moves the pieces to destroy you."

Darian narrowed his eyes. He knew very well the story of the current Heaven’s Will and the person he used to be. It was true, he had a tendency to be radical, but there were limits, and he never did anything without weighing the consequences for others.

But unfortunately, some people couldn’t see the bigger picture.

Was this figure implying he had been betrayed by him?

Judging by his current actions, helping the Celestial Shadow and assassinating Missionaries just because he wanted to, without evaluating the person; it was pretty clear which side was right in this story.

Besides, his master, who had helped him countless times and even constantly watched over him, looking for ways to pave his path; was his daughter.

"How did you find this place?" Darian asked coldly.

"You practically called me, didn’t you?" the figure replied indifferently. "My power and will can travel through the underworld and reach universes. I simply felt the power of Heaven’s Will connected to this place appear out of nowhere. Something that didn’t exist before, making it clear this universe was special."

Darian took a deep breath. Recently, the only major change in the universe — something that existed and suddenly vanished — was the time synchronization with the Universe of Heaven’s Will.

He had never figured out why, before, the two universes were synchronized, with time passing equally. It was as if they were truly connected...

His mind lit up. That had to be it. Heaven’s Will had truly linked the two universes as a way to protect him. That way, people from outside would likely sense the energies coming from the other dead universe, not the real one, and ignore it.

But why had that connection suddenly broken?

Thinking about it now, the answer came immediately.

It was simple. Darian needed it. Having one year there pass in a single day in his universe gave him the chance to act freely and do great things, like invading those small worlds without having to return every thirty days.

On top of that, after everything he had accumulated and planted in that universe, for the fruits to be harvested properly, time needed to pass faster inside it.

In other words, Heaven’s Will created the mechanism to remove the connection between the two universes so Darian would have the chance to evolve faster. It was a gamble. If he didn’t grow explosively, that figure could invade the universe and destroy everything.

Staring at Darian coldly, the figure evaluated him with a hint of excitement. "You really do seem different from the others. I hope you can give me a pleasant surprise. Otherwise, killing you like this would be quite regrettable."

Darian snorted, staring back at him.

The Celestial Shadow was a complete idiot who, in his desperation, brought the wolf into his own flock. That figure had completely taken over his soul and existence, and would use him without hesitation.

Most likely, the Celestial Shadow hadn’t wanted to do this before, so he had only kept that person’s runes and will stored within himself.

This figure couldn’t travel physically because of the deadly power of the underworld, but he seemed capable of safely sending some runes of power along with his will. When he arrived in this universe, he didn’t have enough power to do anything and depended on an ally to nourish his runes.

So the Celestial Shadow, seeing he had no way out, trapped inside the galaxy, handed over everything that figure wanted. Now, he would pay for that support with interest.

Two daggers appeared in Darian’s hands.

The figure snorted, and the entire ethereal body and soul of the Celestial Shadow pulsed with an even more intense white light. Now, all of his power would be used directly by that figure’s own hands. The difference was like heaven and Earth.

Before, Darian already felt pressured. Now, the situation had worsened several times over.

"Come!"

That figure roared. In that moment, his white power shot out, turning into a massive chain. It became almost physical, coiling around Darian like a snake.

Darian didn’t attack. Instead, he grabbed the chains with one hand. At that exact instant, countless barbs burst out from them. His hand wasn’t pierced, but he felt a force completely oppressing him. His aura instantly dropped one level.

The enemy mocked him, apparently having already expected that result. The ethereal body of the Celestial Shadow moved, its jaws snapping brutally toward Darian.

As soon as it got close and thought Darian was powerless...

The manifestation behind Darian flashed and spun. He activated his domain and completely sealed the power of those white chains. With a swift and brutal motion, Awel pulsed, channeling all of his strength.

*Blinding Break!*

That figure’s eyes shifted in surprise.

Darian’s body was clearly affected by his technique. How did he still have the strength to counterattack? That had never happened before, not against any Missionary.

**BOOM!**

The small world fell into chaos again. But...

Both Darian and Niara clearly saw that figure block the attack without suffering any major damage.

Since Darian created that technique, he had never faced an enemy capable of blocking it so easily. That was his main offensive weapon...

When everything stabilized, the enemy stared at Darian like a viper ready to strike.

"Very good, the probing can end here. With your power, it’s worth paying an extremely high price to absorb you. Even the three most powerful Missionaries I killed before were far weaker compared to you. My luck was really good. Could it be that you’re the chosen Missionary of the legends? Haha, if that’s the case, I really found a gold mine," the figure said in an excited voice.

Without delay, he waved his hand.

Hundreds and hundreds of chains appeared, forming a gigantic net around Darian.

Darian felt it all with surprise. Each of the hundreds of chains carried a subtly different flow of power. This enemy immediately realized that Darian could dominate energies and created this quickly. Even if they were only slightly different from each other, Darian would struggle to dominate them all.

The chains tightened.

At the center, the space around him twisted and spun. It was as if he were being crushed by mountains from every direction.

Darian’s bones cracked.

The most terrifying part was that the manifestation behind him trembled, as if it too were about to shatter.

"Submit. That way, I can leave your soul intact to reincarnate. I created this technique specifically to kill Missionaries. Each one has one power, or several unique powers, so I can adapt it to anything, even infinite unique variations. As for you... you’re still a mortal, and your strength is limited," that figure said calmly.

"Just you?" Darian’s voice came out through clenched teeth.

The manifestation on his back began to move. The nine-pointed star started spinning.

At that moment, he stopped trying to dominate the chains and focused on his own body. He made all the power of the Ninth Zenith form a layer around himself, blocking the force of the chains in a brute way.

In that instant, every energy in his body vibrated. All his power ignited and surged, rising to its peak.

The formation of chains around Darian began to creak.

The light in that figure’s eyes finally changed. He was in disbelief.

*BOOM!*

Everything exploded. At the same time, Darian’s power rose as if a dam had burst.

"!"

That figure’s eyes widened as he saw Darian closing in again with his dagger. An extreme bluish light pulsed along the blade. And this time, he didn’t have his power to defend himself like before.