The Great Shaman turned his gaze toward Green for the first time, a flicker of apprehension flashing in his eyes.
This human was dangerous!
No, “dangerous” didn’t even begin to describe it. To sever his staff with a single strike so quickly that he couldn’t even react? Not even a peak Legendary expert should be able to do that!
“Who are you?”
The Great Shaman sifted through his memories of the world’s most renowned top-tier experts: Linda the Elven Queen, the President of the Adventurers’ Guild, the High Councilor of the Mage Committee, the Protector of the Neutral Federation…
Some were forceful, others enigmatic, but each possessed a unique aura that had left an indelible impression on him. This man was not among them.
Could it be…
A possibility immediately struck the Great Shaman.
“Are you a member of the Circus?”
His expression remained wary, but his tone began to soften. “If so, we are not enemies.” This powerful figure, who just moments ago looked down on Green and Andy with utter disdain, now explained with unusual politeness and patience: “I am here executing a mission under the commission of the Female Magician.”
The Circus?
Green’s eyes flashed. He immediately thought of the two individuals he had clashed with not long ago.
As I thought. The story behind the ambush of the Eighth Legion is far from simple.
Sensing the thick Chaos Power saturating the Great Shaman’s body, Green decided to strike first without a second’s hesitation.
Clang!
Ignoring the Shaman’s excuses and refusing to waste time on pleasantries, Green made his decision the moment he confirmed the link between the Shaman and those dangerous figures.
He couldn’t leave this one alive.
“In any case, General Love is enough to give me the truth of the past.”
As for the Great Shaman?
To Green, there was only one word for such a fallen soul: Death.
“Who am I?” Green looked up, his voice casual, almost mocking. “As for that… a dead man has no need to know.”
He’s not a member of the Circus?
The apprehension on the Great Shaman’s face vanished instantly.
“That’s for the best,” the Shaman calculated silently. Although the Female Magician is strong, she isn’t the most powerful in the organization. If this man were a member but happened to be at odds with her, I’d be caught in the middle.
Though he had never officially joined that organization, years of cooperation had taught him that the “Circus” was not a monolithic entity. On the contrary, its members came from all walks of life; aside from the common thread of Chaos Power, their goals differed wildly, and internal conflicts were frequent.
Knowing Green wasn’t a member actually relieved the Great Shaman.
“However, judging by his move just now, he is no weakling. In that case…”
The Shaman’s mind raced.
“It just so happens that after years of toiling for those people, I’ve finally been implanted with a Chaos Seed. I’m qualified to use that power. Let’s start with this human.”
Being able to cut his staff so easily meant the man was likely a peak Legendary expert.
But.
“Even a peak Legend—the theoretical pinnacle of the material world—can only close their eyes in despair before that absolute power!”
Whoosh!
A violent gale howled.
Pitch-black energy spread with lightning speed. Simultaneously, everyone present felt a primal, instinctive dread.
Sizzle!
Not only that, but the defense monitoring arrays—which had been disabled by Andy’s magi-tech—instantly roared back to life the moment the Shaman tapped into the Chaos Power within him.
Signal towers began to operate with double efficiency along the dark aura. Bolstered by various mysterious runes, the Shaman’s vision expanded until every blade of grass and every minute movement within the vast defense line was under his control.
But for the Shaman, the power boost was secondary. What he truly valued was…
“Haha! The Female Magician didn’t lie to me!”
The Shaman stared in delight at his once withered, lusterless arm. It was now eerily regaining vitality, radiating a youthful glow.
“Immortality! Immortality is real!” the Shaman cried out in ecstasy.
“Congratulations, my Lord!” The Orc staff officer and gendarme exchanged shocked looks before sinking into their own frenzy of joy. “This must be the blessing of the Great God!”
If their previous gaze toward the Shaman was mere admiration for a superior, it had now transformed into the fanatical devotion of believers witnessing a miracle of rejuvenation.
“The Great God? Oh, yes, right.” A flash of unnaturalness crossed the Shaman’s face, but it was quickly eclipsed by the joy of his healthy body. He nodded repeatedly. “Follow me and serve the Great God well, and you too shall receive His protection.”
Great God? Heh, who are you kidding?
Watching the Shaman’s hypocritical display, Green rolled his eyes internally. Others might not know, but how could he not recognize it? This so-called “Chaos Power” was nothing more than a source of pollution from beyond the stars.
How could such a destructive, sacrilegious substance—one that ran entirely contrary to the laws of the world—be a “miracle” from any deity?
“But then again…”
Green recalled the end of his second life simulation, where he saw the gods themselves trembling in their divine kingdoms, too terrified of the pollution from beyond the stars to step outside. It wasn’t surprising that the mouthpiece of an Orc deity would betray his faith.
“After all, compared to an ethereal faith… who could refuse tangible immortality?” Green sighed with emotion. “However, since you’ve made your choice, you must pay the corresponding price.”
Hummmm—
A brilliant, dazzling radiance erupted from within Green.
The Chaos Power the Great Shaman had just summoned disintegrated instantly, unable to withstand the massive mana appearing out of thin air. The absolute defense barrier—the pride of the Orc Kingdom linked to countless signal towers—was torn in half like a thin sheet of paper.
Green was ready to attack.
“Wait!”
The Great Shaman, who was still gloating over his immortality, was struck with terror. He tried to draw power from the outposts to suppress Green’s near-infinite mana, only to find with horror that the defense line—which even peak Legends couldn’t bypass—was powerless against the light radiating from Green.
“That… what kind of power is that?!”
The Shaman squinted in shock, desperately trying to use his vast knowledge to identify the source of Green’s miraculous power.
Pure, holy, and irresistible.
Holy Light?!
“No, it’s not ordinary Holy Light. That is… that’s the God of Justice?!”
Psh—
A blade of light enveloped the Great Shaman.
“AAAAAAAH!” The Orc Shaman discovered to his horror that under the brilliance of Green’s light, his newly restored, youthful body was melting away bit by bit, like mud thrown into water.
No, no, no!
“You… who exactly are you?! No, I don’t want to die! I don’t want to die, AAAAAAAAH!”
Hiss—
Just as the Shaman watched his own impending doom, a cold, hissed voice reached his ears.
That was it. Yes! He still had that move!
Like a drowning man catching a straw, the Shaman gritted his teeth in the face of death. “O Great Serpent that devours the World Fruit, your contractor commands you in his own name! Heed my call, possess me with all your strength! As the price…”
The price.
The Shaman hesitated for a fraction of a second. But only a fraction.
“I am willing to release your shackles!”
BOOM!!!
The massive entity that had been rising but had yet to break ground suddenly surged. Someone—or something—opened its pitch-black pupils.
General Love’s Manor, Corridor.
Thump, thump, thump.
Teresa was running for her life. The once “Brightest Jewel of the Capital” had discarded all the aristocratic poise the Empire’s high society obsessed over, sprinting desperately toward the warehouse.
“Green! Mr. Green!”
Griping her royal sword, Teresa looked anxiously at the source of the repeated tremors.
“Hah, your friend is definitely dead by now,” General Love, the Orc hero at her side, remarked with cold cynicism. “Our Shaman might have a shitty personality, but he’s a peak Legendary expert. Combined with that terrifying power…” Love’s eyes filled with dread. “Even if your friend is a peak Legend, there wouldn’t be enough of him left to bury. If I were you, I’d focus on finding a way to escape with me.”
“Shut up!” Teresa snorted with disdain. “Mr. Green… he won’t die.”
“Won’t die?” General Love shook his head. “In this world, is there anyone who doesn’t die?”
BOOM!!!
As soon as the words left Love’s mouth, a burst of white light erupted from the distant warehouse, followed by a thunderous roar.
“AAAAAH! I… I don’t want to die!”
Whoosh—
A figure flew out from the wreckage, crashing heavily onto the grass and kicking up mud.
“But then again, in this world, who can avoid death?”
A cool voice repeated the General’s words, but with a completely different tone. The figure slowly emerged from the smoke.
“Mr. Green!” Teresa rushed forward in delight.
Mr. Green? Wait, then the person who just flew out was…
The Great Shaman?!
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