Chapter 307: Annihilation

She tilted her head slightly, looked at Huan Long, and genuine confusion shone in her crimson eyes.

(What method? What riddle is she saying?)

Chang Ye Yue's reaction deepened Huan Long's doubts.

Just as Huan Long's thoughts whirled, the battle's outcome was already decided!

Ice Armor Assassin seized a tiny flaw on the Insect Lancer caused by frost‑induced slowdown!

Two spear‑like blades flashed like lightning, precisely piercing the joints of the Lancer's spear‑holding arms!

At the same time, a curved scythe traced a perfect arc, cutting off its right arm!

The segmented whip blade wound around its neck and torso, and an ice spike drove deep into a crack in the shell!

The Insect Lancer let out a scream of Despair, its remaining left arm flailed wildly, but was crushed by the heavy ice‑clad claw‑arm armor!

Ice Armor Assassin fully restrained it, lifted it high, and the dark‑red, icy‑blue gaze beneath the helm stared coldly at the twisted husk.

Then, all the blades behind it, together with its vacant other claw, in the same instant—

Pierced!

Puff puff puff puff—!!!

A dense piercing sound rang out!

The Insect Lancer's body was completely pierced by multiple ice blades!

A pale green light in its eyes dimmed rapidly, and cracks on the shell spread across its whole body.

There was no earth‑shattering explosion, only a hissing sound like a leak.

The Insect Lancer's body quickly withered, and with a 'crack' it shattered into countless ink‑green fragments covered in frost, scattering on the ground.

A few faint spirit light particles floated up, then vanished.

Diermde Audina, the loyal and brave spearman, exited completely in this tragic manner.

Ice Armor Assassin slowly lowered the now‑empty claw, retracted the rear blades, and stood silently among the frost and insect carcasses.

The icy crystal shell and its azure patterns on its body began to fade slowly, returning to the original matte black, though the surface now bore barely perceptible ice‑blue fine lines.

"Dis... disappeared?"

San Yue Qi rubbed her eyes, stared at the Insect Lancer that had just been a ferocious beast now reduced to scattered debris, then glanced at the tall black silhouette standing silently, and was momentarily at a loss.

Huan Long gave Ice Armor Assassin a deep look, swept her gaze over the Lancer's wreckage on the ground, and her seductive smile fully vanished.

She said nothing further, only let out a light hum, her form like a faded ink painting becoming transparent in an instant, finally vanishing completely into the air.

Chang Ye Yue looked at the spot where Huan Long disappeared, her brows slightly furrowed.

(What did her words just now... actually mean?)

She redirected her gaze toward the black figure in the arena, her crimson eyes full of inquiry.

Ice Armor Assassin seemed to glance at her as well, then it turned, stepped away—not toward Chang Ye Yue or San Yue Qi—but toward the opposite side of the main hall, heading down the corridor deeper into the manor, moving at an unhurried pace.

"Eh? Where is it going?"

San Yue Qi watched its departing silhouette, stared blankly at Chang Ye Yue.

Chang Ye Yue shook her head, folded away the Black Umbrella, walked to San Yue Qi's side, and inspected her wounds: "I don't know. But it... doesn't seem hostile. Don't move yet; the wound needs treatment."

"Oh..."

San Yue Qi obediently nodded, allowing Chang Ye Yue to examine her.

Perspective shift.

Black Tower looked back at the screen, fingers absentmindedly tapping the frame.

How to send away this Hero King afflicted with an "irritability debuff" without letting him blow up this place... any low‑cost plan?

Archer seemed to realize his condition was off, but his proud nature would never admit it, preferring instead to vent his anger to prove he's fine.

He inhaled deeply, about to speak—

"Do you know who ambushed you at the port?"

Black Tower suddenly spoke, tone still flat as if stating an inconsequential fact, eyes never leaving the screen.

Archer's words got stuck in his throat.

The port... that cold arrow that hit his noble rear!

What a humiliating disgrace!

His crimson pupils snapped shut, staring intently at Black Tower: "Who?!"

The irritability in his tone instantly gave way to a more tangible murderous intent.

Clearly, this matters more than sparring with Caster.

Black Tower seemed pleased with his reaction, casually pointing with his chin toward the general direction of Tohsaka Residence.

"Berserker. It's in that direction. You'll know when you get there."

Her statement was blunt, but the information was enough for Archer.

"Berserker?"

Archer repeated it, murderous intent almost solidifying in his scarlet eyes.

The cunning and humiliation of that arrow at the port surged again in his mind.

"Hum... very good. How dare you be so sure what you say is true?" He still habitually questioned.

Black Tower finally gave him a proper look, but the gaze was like looking at a fool asking "Why does 1+1 equal 2": "Believe it or not."

Archer was choked by her attitude, his chest heaving, but the priority of the port's humiliation clearly outweighed everything.

He stared deeply at Black Tower, his gaze mixing a threat: "I'll trust you this once, but if you lie, you're dead."

"Better be true, Caster."

He tossed that line, his form instantly turning into Golden Light Particles, his spirit vanishing as he sped toward the general direction Black Tower indicated.

Only a cold hum, gradually drifting away, lingered in the air.

The oppressive atmosphere at the doorway instantly eased.

Weber let out a long sigh, wiped the non‑existent cold sweat from his forehead, and stared blankly toward the direction Archer vanished: "So what exactly did he come for?"

Black Tower didn't look up, continued monitoring the two underground screens, and said offhand, "Who knows. Maybe his brain isn't working right, just taking a few steps."

Weber: "……"

Ailisi Feier couldn't help but smile a little, but quickly turned a worried gaze toward the Light Screen.

She knew the real test lay underground.

Meanwhile, deep underground, A Xing and Saber had already reached the edge of the marked massive void.

It was a huge underground space widened by hand, its vaulted ceiling towering, dripping countless viscous filaments and glowing insect eggs, bathing the whole area in a dim green hue.

Thick Insect Carpet covered the floor and surrounding walls, and at the center loomed a terrifying behemoth—a giant insect magnified countless times, as thick as a train car, bearing compound eyes and a snarling mouth.

It seemed to be in a semi‑dormant state, its abdomen rhythmically rising and falling, while empty shells and bones littered the surroundings.

And before them, on the path to the platform where the giant insect stood, countless insects of varying sizes surged forward like a tide!

Some crawled, some leapt, and some even fluttered their translucent wings as they swooped down!

Hungry glows flickered in their compound eyes, their mouths opened and closed, emitting a hair‑raising rustle and screech!

"There are too many!"

Saber's emerald eyes hardened, and she stepped forward, gripping the hilt of an invisible sword; the Wind King Barrier began to surge violently, and surging magical energy started to gather!

She intended to unleash her Noble Phantasm, using the power of the Sword of Covenant Victory to sweep away the Insect Sea ahead in one blow!

"Wait."

A Xing suddenly reached out, blocking in front of Saber.

Saber froze, looking at her in confusion.

A Xing's expression remained Calm; she turned the strange, dried, shriveled Salted Fish she'd been holding, rotated it, and aimed its "fish head" at the surging Insect Tide.

Then she made a simple throwing motion.

The surface of the Immortal Salted Fish, those suspicious deep‑green, gray‑black hues, suddenly became active!

A visible gray‑green stench, like a long‑suppressed volcano erupting or a living ghost, burst from the Salted Fish with a roar, forming a fan‑shaped torrent that slammed into the Insect Swarm.

It wasn't a physical attack, yet it was more… despair‑inducing for the insects than any physical strike!

The flying insects at the front, their wings just touched by that gray‑green aura, instantly stiffened, as if struck by an invisible hammer, plummeting straight down; with a "crack—" they hit the ground, twitched twice, and fell still.

The crawling insects behind, engulfed by the "stink torrent," instantly seemed drenched in concentrated sulfuric acid, emitting sharp, painful screeches; their shells lost luster, limbs convulsed, and they toppled in sheets, finally freezing dead.

That "stink" appeared to have an extremely terrifying specificity and lethality toward insects.

Saber: "…………"