Chapter 248: Joining Forces

Seeing the enhanced summoning array destroyed by Lingqi, a sharp glint flashed through Lingyun's eyes. His Source Power erupted instantly, and a powerful force burst forth from the long sword in his hand. Heavy Sword Qi instantly tore through the line of skeleton soldiers in front of him, charging toward the Reaper.

The Reaper was startled, and even the summoning array behind him faltered. However, the skeletons around him reacted quickly, instantly erecting dozens of bone shields before him. Lingyun's Sword Qi drove straight in, piercing through the dozens of bone shields one after another, before slamming heavily into the scythe in the Reaper's hand. The Reaper's body shuddered, his form drifting dozens of meters backward, while the skeleton mages beside him were instantly torn to shreds by the fierce Sword Qi.

Lingyun's figure followed the Sword Qi, appearing before the Reaper with his long sword pointed directly at the Reaper's skull. The Reaper was struck with terror, never expecting that the person who had been easily blocked by his skeleton soldiers just moments ago would possess such ability, breaking through his defenses in an instant and bringing him to the brink of death.

A grayish-white current surged from the Reaper's body, instantly obstructing Lingyun's offensive. At the same time, the Reaper let out a long howl, and the heavens and earth instantly changed color as countless grayish-white currents surged from the Void, flowing toward the Reaper.

Lingyun formed a seal with one hand, converting his Nine Yang Power into endless Nine Yang True Fire, and blasted it toward the Underworld Power gathering from the Void. As soon as the Nine Yang True Fire made contact with the Underworld Power, a violent reaction occurred; the two dissolved each other, and the resulting force caused even the Void to tremble.

Seeing the Underworld Power being dissolved by the Nine Yang True Fire, the Reaper grew anxious. A ghostly light flickered on the scythe in his hand as he slashed toward Lingyun. Lingyun did not move, his right hand's long sword instantly tracing thousands of sword lights, blocking the Reaper's movements.

Seeing this, the Reaper grew desperate. He forcibly withstood Lingyun's attack while his body shattered into a mist, lunging toward the Underworld Power in the sky. Lingyun frowned slightly; by the time he wanted to strike again, it was too late, and he could only watch helplessly as the Reaper rushed into the Underworld Power.

"Boom—" With a loud sound, the Underworld Power in the sky churned, its powerful force condensing together and instantly repelling all of the Nine Yang True Fire. Afterward, the Underworld Power continued to condense, transforming back into the Reaper, but by this time, the Reaper's power had expanded several times over. Beside him, four powerful undead creatures appeared, wantonly exhaling powerful auras.

"What is going on here!" Lubbock looked at the scene before him in shock. "Isn't this just killing a Teigu User who can be called trash? How did it turn into this!"

The commotion here was so great that it had long since alerted others, and in a short time, everyone had gathered here.

"Night Raid?"

"Jaegers?"

The people present instantly split into three groups. The members of Night Raid and the Jaegers stood in a grave standoff, while those beside Lingyun watched the actions of both sides with curiosity.

"This doesn't seem to be the time for fighting!" Luo Yexi slowly drew her Nine Suns Heavenly Sword and said, "The primary target right now should be these undead, right?"

"I agree!" Najenda leaped down from the Special Grade Danger Beast, the Sky Manta.

"Since Senior Sister has spoken, I will reluctantly cooperate with you all this once, along with my subordinates!" Esdeath said, waving the long sword in her hand. "But, only this once!"

Akame and Kurome exchanged glances and quickly converged. Facing enemies that were undead—creatures already dead—Akame's One Cut Killer lost its effect. With the Reaper, a powerful undead, present on the field, Kurome's Yatsufusa also lost its effect. In other words, their Teigu were useless. However, Teigu had never been their only reliance. Both of them simultaneously drew the Samurai Swords that Lingyun had forged for them. A blood-red light rose from Akame's sword, and a dark-red light rose from Kurome's sword. Their auras merged, the power rivaling that of Esdeath, forming a powerful pressure that kept the weaker undead in the vicinity from daring to approach.

"Since when did Akame become so terrifying?" Tatsumi looked at Akame and her sister, unable to help but swallow hard.

"Leave those four big guys to us!" Esdeath looked toward the undead creatures beside the Reaper and licked her lips. "As for the rest, go solve those small fries!"

"Kill!" The long sword in Esdeath's hand shook as she charged toward the black-armored knight in the sky.

"I'll take on this big guy!" Luo Yexi set her sights on the massive bone dragon.

"We sisters will deal with this one!" Akame and Kurome's target was the gaunt lich.

Seeing that the others had chosen their opponents, Lingqi's gaze fell upon the final Death Wraith, the corners of her mouth curling into a yandere smile: "Ara ara, you're the only one left; it seems I am your opponent!"

Seeing the four great commanders summoned by the Reaper being held back, Lingyun flashed, appearing instantly before the Reaper, his long sword thrusting toward him. The Reaper swung his scythe, slamming it heavily against Lingyun's long sword.

At the first exchange, Lingyun felt a terrifying force transmit from the long sword, and his body could not help but sink downward. Judging by this force, the Reaper's power had increased by at least three times compared to before. With the enemy's strength greatly enhanced, Lingyun dared not hold back. He channeled the Cloud Realm Power into himself, and a terrifying force instantly spread out, stopping the Reaper's offensive in its tracks.

In this world, there were three sources of Underworld Power. One had been destroyed by Lingyun many years ago, one was the Reaper before him now, and the last one had yet to appear, but Lingyun was certain that the final one was definitely hiding in the Imperial Capital. It was just that the opponent had been hiding very well; he had searched in the Imperial Capital for some time and had not discovered the opponent's presence. Finding one of the three sources here could be considered an unexpected joy!

"Clang, clang, clang..." Amidst the splashing sparks, the long sword and scythe clashed repeatedly, the sound of clashing metal ringing out frequently. With every clash, powerful leaked Qi surged, and the skeletons around them were reduced to fragments under this force.

Seeing that he had failed to take down Lingyun for so long, the Reaper grew somewhat irritable. After forcing Lingyun back with a swing of his scythe, the ghost fire in the Reaper's eyes flared, and Underworld Power gathered continuously on his scythe.

"Purgatory Slash!"

Following the Reaper's low shout, dozens of eerie blood-colored skulls suddenly appeared around him. The skulls circled the Reaper, emitting hair-raising howls.

Seeing this, Lingyun pointed his right-hand long sword toward the sky, and the Source Power within his body continuously converted into Nine Yang Power. Red lotus flowers bloomed around Lingyun, and a terrifying heat spread outward with Lingyun at the center. Golden flames spiraled up the long sword, and the red lotuses around Lingyun instantly dissipated, forming a lifelike fire dragon around him.

"Four Symbols Dragon Sword Art: South, Fire Dragon Burns the World!"

With a sharp shout, the Reaper swung the scythe in his hand, and the blood-red light in the eyes of the blood-colored skulls circling him flared, lunging toward Lingyun. Lingyun's expression turned solemn, his long sword tracing an arcane trajectory. The fire dragon around him let out a long roar, circled him once, and then lunged toward the skulls.

The fire dragon and the skulls slammed into each other, the terrifying power fluctuations instantly engulfing the two of them.