Sacrifice's Rise: I Became Invincible After Entering Godslayer Temple

As they stood at the crossroads of their clandestine endeavor, Mystery Protector's patience began to wear thin in the face of Darklord's visible hesitance.

"What are you hesitating for? If you can't even trust me, how do you expect to fulfill the quest given by the Mystery Saint?"

The question, sharp and loaded with implications, sliced through the tense air, leaving Darklord momentarily speechless, trapped in the web of his own uncertainties.

It was an undeniable truth that without Mystery Protector's vital assistance, Darklord stood little chance of navigating the complexities of the task set forth by the enigmatic Mystery Saint.

Furthermore, the formidable magical Defend Wall that shrouded South Harbor like an impenetrable veil was beyond Darklord's capability to breach solo.

This stark realization underscored the precarious nature of their alliance, highlighting the indispensable role Mystery Protector played in the grand scheme that would challenge the very sanctum of South Harbor.

After wrestling with his decision for a while, Darklord finally made up his mind.

He took out his Mysterious wand and offered it, "Would the Mystery power within this Mysterious wand suffice? There's no need for me to provide any additional Mystery power, right?"

Despite his resolution, Darklord still harbored reservations.

He was reluctant to tap into his own profound Mystery power, which was intrinsically linked to his soul.

Although as an adventurer, soul damage in the game wouldn't pose severe consequences, he certainly didn't want to risk weakening his level and strength at a critical moment.

Mystery Protector glanced at the Mysterious wand Darklord handed over, his expression tinged with a hint of disappointment.

Mystery Protector's intentions extended beyond merely cooperating with Darklord to destroy the Defend Wall of South Harbor.

He aimed to seize this opportunity to gain control over Darklord.

Mystery Protector had never fully trusted Darklord, suspecting that his unwavering obedience to the Mystery Saint could pose a significant threat to him later on.

However, Mystery Protector's plan was only partially successful.

Without wasting any time, upon receiving the Mysterious wand, he channeled all of its power into the divine scroll he held.

Guided by Mystery Protector, the potent Mystery power flowed into the scroll, causing it to emit a soft, azure glow.

"If you're worried about being affected, stay back! The divine scroll is about to unleash immense power, potent enough to grievously injure even deities!" Mystery Protector warned Darklord.

Darklord appeared unconcerned, doubting the scroll's capabilities.

In his view, if Mystery Protector truly possessed such a powerful scroll, he would have already used it against John.

Since Darklord chose not to retreat to a safer distance, Mystery Protector didn't press the issue further.

After all, he had already issued a warning; it was Darklord's own stubbornness that led him to disregard the advice.

Mystery Protector, without a moment's hesitation, hurled the azure-glowing divine scroll towards South Harbor and promptly vanished using a Teleport Spell.

His abrupt departure caught Darklord off guard, who hastily attempted to use a Teleport Spell himself but was a moment too late.

Just as Mystery Protector disappeared, the divine scroll detonated in a massive explosion.

Darklord was engulfed by darkness and lost consciousness momentarily.

When he came to, he found his health severely depleted, not even a fifth of its total remaining, and his attributes significantly reduced.

Surrounded by the lingering azure glow, Darklord could see that the Defend Wall encircling South Harbor had been utterly obliterated.

The powerful magical blast had not only destroyed the wall but also inflicted substantial damage on numerous buildings within South Harbor.

The NPCs of South Harbor were shocked by the sudden explosion.

Twilight and Hammer, who were on guard duty in South Harbor, rushed to assess the situation.

At the entrance, they were greeted by the eerie azure light but chose not to venture out, sensing the extreme danger beyond the remnants of the wall.

"What should we do now? That explosion was clearly targeted at us! Should we seek help from others? Didn't our lord mention we could ask the Naga tribe for assistance?"

Hammer proposed, suggesting they follow John's advice to seek help from the Naga tribe in times of danger.

However, Twilight, standing beside Hammer, seemed hesitant.

She wasn't convinced that seeking immediate help from the Naga tribe would guarantee their support, considering the tribe might have its own agenda and possibly face its own dangers, necessitating all their strength to address their crises.

"Let's not rush to conclusions without understanding the full situation. We should first figure out who is targeting us before making any decisions," Twilight suggested calmly.

Although Twilight wasn't as powerful as Hammer, her approach to handling situations was more composed, earning her more trust among the NPCs of South Harbor than the stronger Hammer.

Even Hammer had to admit that Twilight was more adept at managing troublesome matters.

With Twilight advocating for a more measured response, Hammer naturally agreed.

"Let's wait for the azure glow outside to fade a bit before we go out and investigate. We need to take some risks to gather enough information!" Hammer suggested. This time, Twilight didn't object, as she too believed this was the most sensible course of action.

While Twilight and Hammer were discussing their next steps, Mystery Protector teleported back to his original position.

With a smile, he looked at the severely injured Darklord: "I warned you, why didn't you heed my advice? How can you continue to fight in your current state?"

Darklord, sensing the mockery in Mystery Protector's words, responded sharply, "You intentionally wanted to harm me! You could have explained more clearly but chose to withhold crucial information!"

Understandably, Darklord was furious, yet he restrained from lashing out too harshly at Mystery Protector.

He recognized his limited options and the necessity of Mystery Protector's assistance for the plan's success.

Despite his discomfort at being manipulated, Darklord had no choice but to begrudgingly accept the situation, as Mystery Protector had gained the upper hand.

"Let's not waste time bickering anymore! Our main objective is to bring down South Harbor! Given that I've sustained severe injuries, you'll have to continue the fight on your own from here," Darklord conceded, seeking to halt the dispute.

Mystery Protector, with a sly grin, nodded in agreement, having anticipated Darklord's predicament to leverage it for gaining the upper hand.

"Very well, then watch closely. I will demonstrate my formidable power, ensuring you, John, and all other adventurers recognize that none can rival me."

With those words, Mystery Protector set up a magical formation that, once activated, caused his figure to rise swiftly, enhancing his vantage point over South Harbor.

This strategic move aimed not only to gain a comprehensive view of South Harbor but also to circumvent the interference caused by the residual energy of the divine scroll he had used.

The scroll's aftereffects had not only confused the inhabitants of South Harbor but had also hindered Mystery Protector's own abilities, preventing the use of Detection spells without first dispelling the scroll's lingering power.

As Mystery Protector proceeded with his actions, Darklord focused on harnessing his Mystery power to rapidly recuperate and return to his optimal condition, despite the overwhelming frustration of being sidelined and forced to acknowledge Mystery Protector's newfound dominance in their partnership.

Despite being caught in Mystery Protector's trap, Darklord's thoughts were consumed by considerations of revenge.

He harbored hopes that Mystery Protector and the inhabitants of South Harbor would both suffer significant losses, providing him with an opportunity to eliminate everyone in South Harbor and potentially subjugate Mystery Protector entirely, turning him into a puppet.

This scheme remained a closely guarded secret within Darklord, beyond the reach of any Detection spell Mystery Protector might employ. While Mystery Protector might believe that Darklord's loyalty lay with the Mystery Saint, the reality was far different.

Darklord's allegiance was not to the Mystery Saint but to the power he could gain from him.

Given the chance to acquire greater strength, Darklord wouldn't hesitate to betray the Mystery Saint, as no adventurer would willingly remain subordinate to an NPC.