Chapter 312: Empty Void

One step, two steps.

The distance closes.

Shichen's heart lifted, he barely gathered a thread of magic, even though he knew it might be negligible.

Lin clenched her small fist nervously, but on some instinct she did not immediately assume an attacking stance.

Sakura's violet‑dark eyes stared blankly at the approaching tall black silhouette, feeling no fear but a strange sense of closeness—perhaps because that voice in the manor had helped her guide the insects earlier, she was unsure.

The Insect Armor Assassin halted about three steps before Sakura, bowing its head slightly; its dark‑red gaze seemed to pierce the mask and settle on Sakura.

The next instant—

Swoosh!

A blade limb behind it—a slender, spear‑like sword—moved without warning!

Fast as black lightning, it thrust straight at Sakura's chest!

"Sakura—!!" Lin screamed hoarsely, and Shichen's pupils contracted sharply as he tried to leap forward to block, but his frail body was too slow!

Pfft!

A faint sound of the blade piercing fabric.

Time seemed to freeze.

Lin's scream lodged in her throat, and Shichen's outstretched hand froze mid‑air.

Sakura lowered her head, staring blankly at the black blade tip lodged in her chest.

There was no excruciating pain as expected, no blood spurted, only a chilling sensation and… as if something were being drawn out from deep within her body.

The Insect Armor Assassin moved steadily and swiftly; the inserted blade limb quivered slightly before retracting smoothly.

When the blade tip left Sakura's body, it left behind a small, constantly twisting dark‑purple Light Orb.

The Light Orb seemed alive, struggling on the blade tip, but as a black aura on the blade limb corroded it, it quickly calmed, finally coalescing into a fist‑sized deep‑purple sphere that hovered faintly above the tip.

Sakura's body swayed, and Lin rushed forward to steady her with a firm grip.

"Sakura! Sakura, are you okay?! Where are you hurt?!"

Lin's voice trembled with sobs as she clumsily examined her sister's chest.

The garment indeed had a small puncture, but the skin beneath was intact—no red mark at all.

"Sister... I'm fine."

Sakura's voice sounded weak, yet her eyes were far clearer than before; the faint gloom that had shrouded her brows seemed to dissipate as the purple Light Orb was drawn out.

She touched her chest, feeling only the torn fabric.

"It doesn't hurt at all... just feels a bit... hollow?"

Shichen also struggled forward to check, and after confirming Sakura was truly unharmed, he, like Lin, fell into a deep bewilderment.

They stared at the deep‑purple Light Orb hovering on the Assassin's blade tip, then at the unscathed yet subtly altered Sakura, unable to grasp what had occurred.

The Insect Armor Assassin seemed to have completed its Task.

It glanced at the purple Light Orb, then at the bewildered three, offering no intention of explanation.

Silently it turned, its eight blade limbs retracting, stepping forward with a soundless yet steady gait toward the alley's depth, soon vanishing into the shadows as if it had never been.

Only the three members of the Yuanban Family remained, standing face to face in the crisp night wind and the distant, faint rumble, unable to recover for a long while.

(What just... actually happened?)

(What was that purple thing...?)

(Why did it... do that?)

The fierce battle in the underground insect nest has entered the white‑hot final chapter!

The Mother Insect's dying, frantic spin resembled a flesh‑grinding mill, turning the entire nest into a death zone!

"Retreat! Keep your distance!"

Saber swung her sword, deflecting the flying shards; her emerald eyes fixed on the raging core, seeking the moment for a killing blow.

Her armor already bore numerous scratches and corrosion marks, yet her gaze remained as steadfast as stone.

Rider rode the Divine Car Wheel, circling the relatively spacious airspace, evading the densest spray of projectiles.

The wound on his shoulder still bled, but his boisterous laugh rang out: "Hahaha! This big guy's death‑blow counterattack is quite a sight!"

A Xing darted through the littered debris and dangerous shrapnel, moving with unbelievable agility.

Her gaze likewise locked onto the frenzied spinning Mother Insect, a faint glimmer flickering in her golden eyes as if calculating something.

"Now!"

A Xing suddenly spoke, her voice low yet clear enough for Saber and Rider to hear.

Almost as her words left her lips, the Mother Insect, flung by a massive spin, exposed the throat wound heavily scarred by the sword and the faintly visible emerald energy core deep within, for a fleeting instant amid the raining fragments!

"Rider!"

Saber barked sharply, needing no further words.

"Understood! Leave it to me!"

Rider roared, yanking the Rein hard!

The Divine Car Wheel transformed into a raging purple thunderbolt, no longer circling but charging straight at the Mother Insect's side with force.

Boom—!!!

The war chariot collided violently with the Insect Limb, the sound of cracking bone making one's teeth ache!

The Mother Insect's frantic spin was brutally halted by the impact, its massive body tilting opposite the blow, exposing the throat wound even more!

"Ex—"

Saber had long been poised to strike!

At the instant the Mother Insect lost balance and its core was exposed, she vaulted upward, raising both hands!

A golden radiance, brighter than before, surged from the blade toward the heavens!

「——Calibur!!! 」

The golden light tore through the pervasive acidic mist, piercing the Mother Insect's throat wound with pinpoint precision, and struck the pulsing ghost‑green core hard!

There was no earth‑shaking explosion.

Only a sharp, soul‑wailing screech rang out, then abruptly ceased.

The Mother Insect's massive body froze completely, all movement halted.

Ghost‑green light poured wildly from the cracks in its carapace, and immediately the shell sprouted countless fissures, letting light radiate outward from within.

Boom—…

A low, muffled thud emanated from its body; the massive form, like weathered sand sculpture, began to fragment piece by piece, turning into countless dull gray‑green shards and drifting spirit‑dust.

The remaining small insects nearby also instantly turned to ash.

Victory!

But before the three could catch their breath—

Clatter… Boom!!!

The Mother Insect's death seemed to be the final straw that crushed the already overburdened Underground Space!

Violent tremors rippled from all directions; the dome began to peel away in huge slabs, walls cracked, and the ground gave way!

The entire insect nest is about to collapse!

Quick, go!

Rider reacted fastest, whipping the war chariot into a sharp turn toward Saber, "Get in!"

Saber leapt onto the war chariot without hesitation.

Rider rushed toward A Xing's direction, "The little girl over there! Quick!"

A Xing didn't hesitate; after a few strides he lightly leapt onto the rear of the Divine Car Wheel.

Hold on tight!

Rider roared and yanked the Rein hard!

Two Divine Oxen bellowed, thunderbolts flashing beneath their hooves, and the war chariot surged forward like a wild horse, racing down the path it came from!

Behind them, rocks and smoke kept collapsing.

The war chariot raced through the narrow passage, jolting violently.

Saber knelt on one knee on the vehicle's deck, one hand gripping the edge, sword sheathed, watching the incoming landslide behind them warily.