Chapter 85

Faced with this unknown terror, he had no intention of leaving his life here; as long as he got back, he didn't believe the Andelie Society would stand idly by.

"Crack!!"

Before the two had gone far, a terrifying scream came from behind them.

They couldn't help but turn their heads for a glance.

That fleeting glance alone sent icy sweat racing down their backs, and their steps surged forward even faster.

The terrifying skeleton giant was estimated to be as tall as a five-story building.

In its massive skull, emerald soul-fire blazed fiercely, illuminating the entire ruin; its body was assembled from countless skulls, each skull gaping open as if laughing.

"Human vermin… you dare awaken me and still try to flee?"

The skeleton giant's eye sockets flared with soul-fire, as if enraged, and it slammed a fist toward the two fleeing figures a hundred meters away.

In an instant.

Countless bone spikes erupted from its fist, shooting out in a sky-covering barrage.

Luo Chenyu seemed to sense something.

He immediately activated all his defensive skills.

【Steel Shield】, 【Defensive Stance】, 【Protection of the Life Goddess】, 【Dark Shield】.

Then he grabbed Facing Ye Xingtong beside him and held her tightly against his chest.

Boom!!

Bone spikes, like spears, rained down and buried Luo Chenyu beneath them.

In just an instant.

The Dark Shield evaporated instantly.

The Steel Shield held for a few moments, then shattered as well.

The shield from 【Unyielding Resolve】 appeared, then vanished beneath the onslaught of countless bone spikes.

All shields were gone.

Despite the 25% damage reduction from 【Defensive Stance】 and the 55% damage reduction from 【Protection of the Life Goddess】, Luo Chenyu's health still dropped to 30%, triggering the absolute defense effect of 【Defensive Stance】.

Immediately, his health restored to full!

Even so.

Luo Chenyu had suffered considerable damage.

Two bone spikes pierced through his shoulders, pinning him firmly to the ground, immobile, blood slowly dripping down the spikes.

With 75% pain reduction, sweat still broke out across his forehead.

Pain!

He clenched his Yaguan and looked at the girl in his arms.

"Brother Yu…"

Facing Ye Xingtong's eyes were filled with tears, gazing deeply at Luo Chenyu.

His actions had shown her, truly, what it meant to risk everything—and what it meant to love without reservation.

"Don't cry!"

Clenching his Yaguan, Luo Chenyu stood up during the absolute defense window, gripped the two bone spikes, and yanked them out with force.

Ssssh!

Blood spurted, staining the pale ruins of the skeletons.

"Fascinating human vermin!"

Behind them, the skeleton giant did not immediately attack, but instead watched Luo Chenyu with keen interest.

"Merely Tier 2 strength, yet you survived my strike—you have reason to be proud. Tell me your name!"

Luo Chenyu knew he couldn't outrun the skeleton giant, so he stopped running.

He turned slowly.

On his pale face, he forced a smile and said: "I don't change my name or my ways—I am Luo Chenyu!"

"Luo Chenyu…"

The skeleton giant's eerie voice echoed: "I have remembered. Return the Spirit-Imprisoning Key, and I shall grant you and your little wife a dignified death!"

The skeleton giant took slow steps forward—only five steps.

The hundred-meter distance vanished.

"Heh…"

Luo Chenyu let out a light laugh, turned to Facing Ye Xingtong, and asked: "Do you regret it?"

Facing Ye Xingtong blinked in surprise and replied: "Do you?"

Then the two exchanged a smile.

"If my final move fails… then this will be our grave."

Luo Chenyu paused, then slowly pulled out a token.

The skeleton giant, seeing the token was not the Spirit-Imprisoning Key, flew into a rage: "Human vermin, don't be ungrateful!"

As he spoke.

A colossal skeleton hand descended from above, reaching for Luo Chenyu.

And at that moment.

The token in Luo Chenyu's hand erupted in a blinding golden light.

Without warning, an ancient stone tower's phantom emerged from the token and expanded at incredible speed.

The moment the skeleton giant's hand touched the stone tower, it was vaporized entirely.

Whoosh!

The skeleton giant's form vanished from the spot in an instant, reappearing at its original position. Soul fire surged within it as it stared at the stone tower before it in disbelief.

"The Eternal Tower—it's the Eternal Tower… How dare you summon the Eternal Tower inside the Secret Realm!!"

Accompanying its voice—

【Eternal Tower】 stood proudly before Luo Chenyu.

"It failed?"

Hearing the skeleton giant's words, Luo Chenyu's heart sank at once.

Originally, he had wanted to catch it off guard and summon 【Eternal Tower】—either to slow the skeleton giant's advance, to suppress it, or to trap it…

He hadn't expected… that the instant they made contact, the skeleton giant's arm would simply explode.

In truth—

He could indeed have let himself or Facing Ye Xingtong enter 【Eternal Tower】 and cling to life for another hour.

But what difference would that make?

Just as Luo Chenyu was feeling despondent—

"Crack, crack…"

Heaven and earth began to tremble; the sound of shattering echoed throughout the entire Skeleton Throne ruins—no, the entire Secret Realm rang with the noise of breaking.

Spatial cracks began to devour the sky.

The spatial storm came raging in!

"No!!"

The skeleton giant let out a terrified howl.

At the same time, in a corner of the ruins, the undead archmage Andre's eyes too brimmed with endless terror, his lips ceaselessly muttering: "【Eternal Tower】! Why do you have 【Eternal Tower】?"

As the spatial cracks grew ever wider—

Everything in the Skeleton Throne ruins was sucked into them.

The Secret Realm… exploded!!