Samsara Paradise: Dream Weaver of Connections.

In the center of the battlefield, Azathoth, the source of darkness, was like a black mountain that devoured light; its very existence distorted the surrounding space.

The Dark Eye, hovering above His chest, continuously drains the life force of all living beings within its range.

Despite the support of Lin Yi's [Chain of Life] and ultimate halo, weaker members of the allied forces continued to turn into skeletons on the edge of the battlefield. Their soul energy flowed into Azathoth's body like rivers flowing into the sea, nourishing this destructive behemoth.

Gus and the two Blade Golems controlled by Dawn beside him leaped up simultaneously, aiming directly at Azathoth's legs.

Su Xiao's figure flashed out, not to attack directly, but to move at high speed around Azathoth's huge body.

The Dragon Slayer, trailing arcs of blue-green electricity, occasionally struck out, clearing a relatively clean path for Gus's assault.

Su Xiao's goal this time was to launch a feint attack to ensure that the main attacker could remain undisturbed.

"Roar!"

Azathoth seemed enraged by this harassment, and his pupils instantly locked onto Gus, the greatest threat.

The giant hand rose again and pressed down on Gus in mid-air.

At this critical moment—Laurent's entire body glowed with magical runes as if on fire. He abandoned all fancy witchcraft and compressed all his immense magical power into his fist.

Instead of attacking Azathoth's giant hand that was slapping at Gus, he punched the side of Azathoth's knee on the other leg that was supporting his body.

"Boom——!!!"

A deafening roar, like a muffled thunderclap.

Laurent's punch was far more powerful than his previous ones.

A spiderweb-like crack was forcefully smashed into Azathoth's indestructible black carapace, causing its massive body to sway and deviate from the trajectory of its giant hand aimed at Gus.

Gus seized the fleeting opportunity and slammed his battle axe into the wound he had created earlier.

"Pfft——!"

Azathoth let out a pained howl, his whole body shaking violently as one of his legs was severely injured.

However, Gus's risky move also left him completely exposed to Azathoth's counterattack.

Azathoth's massive hand, which had missed its target due to his swaying body, swept across and crashed into Guth like a collapsing mountain.

"boom!"

A heavy impact rang out.

But it wasn't Gus who flew out, but Am, who knocked Gus away.

Am's body was struck as if by a high-speed starship; his thick ice armor shattered instantly, half of his body was destroyed, and he crashed heavily to the ground.

Almost at the same moment that Am was severely injured, a surge of life force rushed in through the [Life Chains], forcibly reviving Am's fading life force and rapidly repairing its broken bones and internal organs.

However, Eminem's injuries were too severe, and he would be unable to fight again for some time.

Su Xiao noticed that after Amu took that hit, the wound on Azathoth's arm that Guth had cleaved was slowly healing again under the continuous regeneration of the [Eye of Darkness].

"I'll create the opportunity." Black Goat Shub's thoughts came again. Now was no time to hold back; everyone was fighting tooth and nail.

The black mist surrounding Shub churned violently, and pale tentacles, like a frantically proliferating fungal carpet, emerged from Azathoth's wounds and joint crevices.

At the same time, the three black goat behemoths, strengthened by the [Gift of Nurturing Thousands of Offspring], once again emerged from the black mist, forming a triangular formation, and fearlessly charged at Azathoth from different directions, attempting to knock him away.

As Dawn pressed her hands to the ground, the ground beneath Azathoth's feet instantly softened and collapsed, turning into a viscous black swamp. Countless shackles made of rock and magic emerged from the swamp, binding Azathoth's legs. Although they were quickly broken by its terrifying power, they did restrict its movement to some extent.

The battlefield instantly turned into a meat grinder of attrition and counter-attack.

Shub's tentacles and cubs were constantly annihilated by Azathoth's power, yet they were constantly reborn.

As Dawn maintained the swamp spell, his face grew increasingly pale.

Laurent and Gus launched a frenzied attack on Azathoth, each collision fraught with danger, barely managing to hold on thanks to Lin Yi's almost supernatural healing abilities.

Guided by Baha in the air, Su Xiao, like a dancer on a knife's edge, weaved between Azathoth's waving giant arms and the constantly bursting black goat calves.

He was waiting, waiting for an absolute opportunity to reach the [Eye of Darkness].

The opportunity came from another high-stakes gamble by Lin Yi.

"The next time He attacks Laurent or Gus, I'll forcefully activate my talent. It's up to you now." Lin Yi's somewhat weak voice came through Su Xiao's earpiece.

Lin Yi knew that conventional methods could not break the deadlock; someone had to create that decisive opening.

If they are truly dragged down by Azathoth, death will be their only fate.

Su Xiao did not respond, and the energy of the Azure Steel Shadow was compressed and compressed on the blade.

He understood what Lin Yi was going to do, and he knew that this might be the only chance.

The development of the battle did not keep them waiting long.

At the moment when Laurent delivered a fierce, close-range sweeping kick that struck Azathoth's jaw, causing his head to tilt slightly backward, Azathoth's rage reached its peak.

His massive paw, which had just swept away a black goat behemoth, reached for Laurent with a speed surpassing any previous one!
It's now!

Lin Yi opened his eyes, ignoring the pain of his soul being torn apart, and forcibly activated [Soul Suppression].

"boom--!!!"

This time, the target of [Soul Suppression] is the bestial instinct that drives the divine body!
It must be said that the lack of Azathoth's main consciousness controlling the body and soul damage is indeed a major weakness. If Azathoth's soul were in His body, Lin Yi's [Soul Suppression] would be completely ineffective under such a huge difference in strength.

"Roar……!!"

Azathoth's massive hand, which was reaching for Laurent, froze in mid-air for an extremely brief moment!

For ordinary people, 0.1 seconds is fleeting.

But for Su Xiao, this has been long enough!

"Baha!"

"locking!"

Bahamut, already hovering in the optimal position, roared as he channeled spatial power into his wings, and a subtle spatial ripple appeared precisely between the [Eye of Darkness] on Su Xiao and Azathoth's chests.

"Dragon Shadow Flash!"

Su Xiao's figure blurred in place, and in the next instant, he appeared directly in front of the [Eye of Darkness] that exuded an aura of absolute nothingness.

The violent spatial chaos caused him to spit out a mouthful of blood as soon as he appeared, but Su Xiao's hand holding the knife remained as steady as a rock.

cut!
"puff--!"

The tip of the Dragon Slayer Blade pierced the Eye of Darkness with unparalleled precision.

Time seems to stand still at this moment.

next moment--

"Crack... Boom!!!"

The surface of the Eye of Darkness was instantly covered with countless cracks, centered on the point where the blade tip landed.

“Ouch——!!!”

Azathoth, the source of darkness, let out his most agonizing roar since the start of the war. His massive body convulsed violently, and the dark energy around him collapsed like an out-of-control tide.

[Hint: The Hunters have destroyed the 'Eye of Darkness'.]

[Azathoth, the source of darkness, is weakened for 3.7 seconds.]

The life steal effect of 'Eye of Darkness' has disappeared.

Clang, clang, clang...

A dense barrage of blades was unleashed, black blood gushed forth on Azathoth's body, blood energy condensed, and the Blood Beast pounced forth.

3.7 seconds later, Azathoth was surrounded and beaten by the crowd, leaving him battered and bruised, but he did not die; he only suffered minor injuries.

Just as Su Xiao was about to unleash a powerful attack, he immediately stopped. Azathoth made a very familiar gesture, raising his palm and gathering black energy in it. Azathoth was once again manifesting the Eye of Darkness.

Lacking consciousness and acting solely on instinct, this was Azathoth's greatest weakness.

Shub, Laurent, and the others noticed this and all stopped what they were doing.

The Eye of Darkness is easy to destroy, and destroying it will weaken Azathoth for 3.7 seconds.

The battle took a strange turn. Azathoth expressionlessly gathered the Eye of Darkness, while Shub and her group waited not far away.

In less than two seconds, Azathoth reassembled the Eye of Darkness, and its health began to recover at an abnormally high rate.

Then Laurent stepped forward and punched the Dark Eye, shattering it. Immediately afterward, Azathoth began the process of condensing the Dark Eye again.

Su Xiao coughed up blood and handed the battlefield over to the three immortal wizards.

Just now, Su Xiao forcibly traversed the distorted space around Azathoth, which caused a great backlash to himself. If it weren't for Lin Yi's buff continuously healing Su Xiao, Su Xiao might not have been able to hold on until now.

It can be said that Azathoth is like a plot-driven boss in a game. The difference in combat power between Su Xiao, Lin Yi, and the others and Azathoth is too great. If Su Xiao hadn't happened to destroy the Eye of Darkness with Lin Yi's help, they probably wouldn't have been able to discover this situation.

The scene on the battlefield began to turn eerie.

The source of darkness, Azathoth, has now become a machine trapped in an endless loop.

Following its most instinctive repair process, it repeatedly condensed the [Eye of Darkness] in its palm.

And whenever that eyeball, symbolizing the source of life and power, is about to take shape—

"Bang!" Laurent's iron fist, or Gus's battle axe, would quickly shatter it.

Each time Azathoth shatters, he falls into a brief period of weakness, and the dark energy around him fluctuates violently.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, the group launched a frenzied attack, adding new wounds to its body.

Destroy – Siege – Wait – Destroy Again…

This process was repeated more than ten times.

Azathoth's aura waned at a visible speed, his massive body covered in crisscrossing wounds, and his blood almost turned the ruins beneath him into a charred mess.

The suffocating pressure that was originally there now became intermittent, like a candle flickering in the wind.

Su Xiao retreated to Lin Yi's side, where Lin Yi focused on treating the severe spatial backlash caused by his forced use of Dragon Shadow Flash.

His eyes never left the center of the battlefield, especially on his temporary ally—Black Goat Shub.

Shub stood quietly at the edge of the black mist, no longer giving rise to new derivatives.

Her gaze, hidden behind the mist, greedily scanned Azathoth's decaying divine body, as if assessing a delicacy about to be devoured.

She was also waiting, waiting for the final harvest.

Finally, after countless attempts to shatter the Eye of Darkness, and after the most intense round of concentrated fire, the massive body of Azathoth, the Source of Darkness, ceased its struggle.

The last glimmer of light in His three pupils was completely extinguished, and the dark matter that made up His body began to peel away and dissipate inch by inch from the edges, like a weathered sand sculpture.

[The Hunter has received the gifts of this world; when the Hunter is present in this world, they will be considered a 'World Guardian' by default.]

Within this world, the 'World Guardians' possess absolute 'affinity with the world elements'.

Your health points are permanently increased by 1000.

Your Luck attribute has been permanently increased by 2 points.

[The Hunter's World Affinity has been greatly increased, and his Charisma attribute has been permanently increased by 30 points.]

The Hunter has assisted in the kill of Azathoth, the Source of Darkness.

The Hunters have helped our personnel reclaim 778 ounces of temporal power.

The Hunter gains 16.7% of the World Source.

You have obtained 287 Soul Coins, which can be used to purchase any reward you require from the following rewards. If the Hunter does not make a choice within five minutes, the Soul Coins will materialize.

1. God's Bone (rare item, exclusive reward for killing gods)

Price: 140 Soul Coins.

……

2. Natural Spring (Special Equipment)
Note: This is a unique reward for World Guardians and is extremely rare.

Price: 350 Soul Coins.

……

3. Elemental Spirits (Energy-based beings unique to this world)

Note: This is a unique reward for World Guardians and is extremely rare.

Price: 300 Soul Coins

……

4. Baptism of World Power (Special Permission Scroll)

Note: This is a unique reward for World Guardians and is extremely rare.

Price: 280 Soul Coins.

A notification message rang in Su Xiao and Lin Yi's minds, confirming the demise of Azathoth.

A moment of silence fell over the battlefield, leaving only the hum of residual energy and the heavy breathing of the crowd.

The continuous high-intensity combat and mental strain left everyone feeling completely exhausted.

However, the silence did not last even a second.

In the very instant before the afterglow of Azathoth's death had completely dissipated—

A sudden change occurred!

But his target was not any remaining threat, but his "ally" who had just fought alongside him, Black Goat Shub.

The burning magic runes granted him explosive speed, and his right fist, brimming with power, struck Shubna's body, which was shrouded in a magnificent black robe and mist, without the slightest hesitation.

"Bang!!!"

A dull bang.

The black mist surrounding Shub was instantly dispersed by the violent force, revealing the blurry outline of a woman's face beneath the mist, her expression filled with shock and anger.

She was thrown backward as if by a catapult, crashing into a half-broken wall in the distance and kicking up a cloud of dust.

Almost simultaneously, Dawn and Gus beside him suddenly stiffened.

"Ugh—!"

Both of them let out a muffled groan of pain at the same time.

Beneath their skin, countless pale white tentacles, like venomous snakes suddenly awakened, frantically burrowed through their clothes and skin, exposing them to the air.

These tentacles are draining their life force and magic at an alarming rate.

Shuguang's cheeks, which had regained some rosy color, instantly turned ashen, and her body trembled uncontrollably.

Gus tried to swing his battle axe, but the tentacles on his arm tightened, making it almost impossible for him to grip the handle. His strong body visibly shrank.

"damn it"

Before Dawn could finish speaking, more tentacles emerged from her mouth and nose, causing her to whimper in pain.

The situation took a sharp turn for the worse!

The temporary alliance that had just joined forces to destroy the final enemy completely fell apart the very next second after the victory, and even devolved into an even more dangerous internal strife.

It must be said that Laurent chose the perfect timing for his move. If time had dragged on any longer, he himself would probably have ended up like Dawn and Laurent.

As for Lin Yi and Su Xiao now, Lin Yi is practically half-dead, and Su Xiao has no intention of getting close to him for the time being.

The two of them completely ignored Laurent and Shub, who were fighting in mid-air, and instead began discussing how to buy items from these stores.

Needless to say, Su Xiao naturally wanted to buy the Divine Bone. He had already bought one, and with another Divine Bone, he would only need one more to synthesize the item needed to upgrade his equipment.

As for the remaining items, Su Xiao bought the special equipment [Natural Source], while Lin Yi happily accepted the other two items.

[Elemental Spirits]

Origin: The Wizarding World

Grade: Special Energy Creature

Category: Energy Lifeform / Supporting Life Form

Duration: Permanent

Binding Status: Bound (World Guardian)
Usage Requirements: World Guardians

Effect 1: Elemental Nourishment (Passive): The Elemental Spirit automatically absorbs elemental energy from the surrounding space and transforms it into gentle life energy. Plants within this energy field will receive a slight, permanent increase in growth rate.

Effect 2: Life Catalysis (Active): Allows you to command the elemental spirits to deeply nourish a single plant target. For special plant life forms, this effect can significantly shorten their evolution and growth cycle; for ordinary plants, there is a certain probability of prompting them to transform into extraordinary plants.

Note: Life Catalysis consumes the elemental spirit's primal energy, and each elemental spirit can only use this skill once in their lifetime.

Tip: When Elemental Spirits are used together with "Fountain of Life" produced by [Natural Fountain], the effect will be amplified beyond imagination.

Introduction: They are the children of the world, the essence of the elements, and the most loyal guardians and catalysts of life. For any plant cultivator, the spirits of the elements are invaluable treasures.

Price: Not for sale.

[The Baptism of World Power]

Origin: The Wizarding World

Grade: Special privileges (quality cannot be kept constant)

Category: Permission Scroll / One-time Enhancement Item

Usage Requirements: World Guardians

Effect of use: Baptism (Active): After using this scroll, the primal power of the world will be drawn upon, giving the user a comprehensive baptism and enhancement.

The enhancement effects are permanent and include: a permanent 20% increase in maximum health, a permanent and significant increase in elemental affinity, a permanent 25% increase in base physical defense, a permanent 15% increase in maximum mana, a permanent and significant increase in all elemental resistances, and a permanent increase in luck.

Note: This baptism is irreversible and can only be performed once in a lifetime.

Note: Baptism will be accompanied by great pain, but if you can endure it, it will greatly benefit your willpower.

Synopsis: This is the world's gift to those who safeguard its peace.

Price: Not for sale. (End of Chapter)