The Innkeeper

Chapter 2243: Be proud

Everything happened too fast. That was a feeling Lex had not had in a long time, yet now even his Immortal mind could not keep up with events. It was only after he saw a hand tearing through his chest that Lex felt pain at all.

He didn’t have time to process why his body, which normally could not even be cut, was suddenly being torn through so easily, nor could he spend any time pondering over why he hadn’t sensed the danger coming. As soon as he identified what was happening, the hand attacked Almira.

What’s more, Lex could feel the strength of the attack - it would be enough to harm even him, let alone Almira.

Even so, Lex did not panic. The suddenness of the situation didn’t cause him to descend into panic, nor did the urgency cloud his mind. He remained cool and level-headed, the Flow state playing a role in it too.

Lex erected a barrier around Almira, but that was less to block the attack and more to block the senses of the enemy. He used the Karmic bead to change Almira into karmic form, sending her away from himself, but that’s when he realized that he was sealed within this region.

Sending anything out, or calling anything in would not be easy.

No sooner had Lex had that realization that he felt the second attack land, destroying a chunk of his back and ripping a second hole in his chest.

An intense light passed through Lex’s eyes. When was the last time he’d been beaten up this badly? When was the last time he’d allowed someone to manhandle him like this?

The only reason he was in such a terrible condition was because he’d been taken by surprise, and that he had to protect Almira. Now that he’d turned her into karma, he could hide her in his surroundings. Even if he could not send her out, the enemy wouldn’t be able to-

"Appear," Daekol uttered, and the universe obeyed, unraveling the veil within which Lex hid Almira, bringing her back into the battle field.

Lex’s eyes narrowed. Normally, when Lex used Supremacy and had the laws of the universe obey his words, he did it to cause his enemies to feel despair. It was a powerful tool in more ways than one, and for the first time, he felt what it was like to be on the receiving end of it!

Lex focused on Almira again, finding a way to protect her, and Daekol made use of the opportunity. Both his hands reached for Lex’s neck, his fingers turning into claws to decapitate him!

But Lex was not one to fall for the same trick twice! A Karmic clone appeared behind Almira, grabbing her and once again turning her into karmic form, this time personally escorting her. Lex himself, meanwhile, summoned Naraka and stabbed through the hands... as well as himself, and Daekol’s body behind him.

For once, Lex had not channeled sword intent through his sword. Instead, the sword served as a conduit of his power. One of the things Lex was best at was defense, and thus Lex was an expert in creating barriers Another aspect of defense was sealing something to protect it.

Or, well, in this case, to restrict it. Naraka became the conduit through which he channeled a powerful seal, freezing himself as well as his enemy in place.

At the same time, he channeled his Domination through the sword as well, aiming directly for his enemy’s mind. He wanted to see for himself who exactly was attacking him, and what gave him the confidence to act against Lex!

As if all of that was not enough, Lex reached out to Mary as well, hoping to have her send reinforcements from the Humanoid Alliance and the Henali towards him. Yet for once, no matter how he called, he got no answer.

Domination roared through his sword like a rising tsunami, and slammed into Daekol, yet as his Domination crashed into Daekol, all Lex’s spirit sense saw was Daekol’s appearance, smiling down on him as he had already anticipated this.

"I have studied you in great depth, Lex Williams," Daekol’s voice whispered in Lex’s mind, lulling him as he spoke. "I have learned all that you are capable of. Be proud, for you have accomplished much as a mere human. Be proud, for you were worthy prey."

Lex felt his spirit sense weaken, and his sight darken, as an irresistible drowsiness gripped his mind. His limbs felt heavy, as if they were made of lead, and his thoughts started to slow down, as if his spirit itself was mired in tar.

It was then, at that point, that Lex finally sensed it - the familiar aura of a Sovereign. Daekol had kept his aura suppressed throughout as he slowly exerted his will, weakening Lex step by step, dismantling him in the most strategic manner.

"Be content in the knowledge that I will remember your name, and that your system will contribute in building the empire with which I will one day conquer the universe."

Daekol exerted his power, his will, in suppressing Lex’s mind as he slowly put him in a state of dormancy. Originally, he intended on killing Lex and taking his system. Now, though, he would keep him in a hibernating state until he successfully took control of the system.

Yet instead of despair, or reluctance in his eyes, he only saw an unwavering calmness. Odd.

That’s when Daekol noticed that... his will seemed to be facing some kind of resistance. The universe wanted to obey, but there was some other force going against it, and the strength of that force was rising.

Suddenly, Daekol realized what it was! Earlier on, when Lex had torn through all his means and somehow arrived here, he had thought that Lex had relied on the help of a powerful Dao Lord, or maybe a Dao tool! Now he realized that it wasn’t the case at all!

Lex had a partial Dao Body, and he’d learned how to control it as well.

Amusement and interest flickered through his eyes. Although Daekol had not known about the Dao body prior to this, did Lex really think that would be enough to turn the tables?

As if in response to that question, a massive explosion erupted, filled with furious, golden dragon flames.