Within the battlefield spanning several kilometers around the Mirage Pyramid.
Jiang Yu was filled with doubt. He had studied under Pang Lai, well-versed in all kinds of demons, practically an encyclopedia of demonkind. Yet he had never heard of any duel contract concerning the Dark Sword Lord.
It was too illogical—how could a demon be so "simple"? If someone issued a one-on-one challenge, would it willingly give up the advantage of its clan and allow it?
Even nearby, Xin Xia's temple guardian knight, Kulo, scoffed, "My family has been operating in Egypt for so long; why have I never heard of a duel contract?"
Upon hearing this, Lu Jun glanced at the two of them. 'Of course you wouldn't know. Without my original timeline memory, you'd never understand its secret either'
In the original timeline, it was Mo Fan who learned from Asharuiya, a close contact, that her contracted beast was the Dark Sword Lord, and only then did he understand this secret.
Now, to obtain decisive evidence to slay Salan, Lu Jun had ruthlessly suppressed Asharuiya, offending her. Personal communications with her were impossible.
"I wonder if, when we reach Venice, Asharuiya will appear again, and plot to verify the existence of the Black Dragon Emperor in the Tyrant Mountains?"
Lu Jun pondered and set the matter aside, speaking calmly to the others: "The Dark Sword Lord's duel contract has a prerequisite: the challenger must either be a dark creature or a mage who cultivates dark magic."
Upon hearing this, Ai Jiangtu frowned and immediately asked Wankos, "Does your strategist Finna practice dark magic?"
Military officer Wankos' face went pale. Although he didn't fully believe Lu Jun's revelation, it was the only hope remaining. Yet the strict condition crushed even this hope.
Ai Jiangtu sighed, realizing that breaching the pyramid was now completely hopeless.
The National Team members present, including the Parthenon Temple healing mages and other third-party reinforcements, began considering safe withdrawal.
They exchanged glances, each understanding the other's thoughts. In the chaos, the dozen or so present had intentionally clustered together for this very moment.
A group of young Advanced Mages, combining combat and support, had a high probability of escaping from beneath a Monarch-level opponent.
At this moment, Lu Jun stepped forward, scanning everyone calmly: "I cultivate dark magic, so I'll take responsibility for initiating the Dark Duel, restraining the Dark Sword Lord. You all seize the opportunity to annihilate the Mirage Pyramid."
The National Team members exchanged varied expressions, remaining silent.
"Huh?" Zhao Manyan wanted to speak but hesitated, wondering if Lu Jun had gone mad—one-on-one with a Sub-Monarch?!
Before he could speak, a temple female mage gasped, her melodious voice full of astonishment: "You're really reckless! Charging alone into the Poison-Gold Mummy Legion was one thing, but now you want to face a Monarch?"
Following the voice, Lu Jun looked and was slightly startled. He saw a tall woman speaking, her waist supple and slender like a serpent, her chest high and full, a figure so exaggeratedly proportioned that even the wide white robe could hardly conceal it.
Her long, fair legs peeked subtly through the semi-transparent white gown, alluring and enticing.
Because of the distinct "slender-limbed, strong-jointed" feature, he immediately recalled her: she was the temple mage who had applied three consecutive buffs on him during the battle against the Poison-Gold Mummy clan.
He looked away briefly, then studied her face, astonished by her stunning beauty. Her features combined deep European contours with the soft elegance of an Eastern woman, slightly resembling a mixed-race appearance, overall looking like a four- or five-year-older sister figure.
When Lu Jun met her half-smile gaze, he remained calm. But the body far outshone the face in attracting attention, and inwardly he joked: does a healer always have grand ambitions? Is this a rule?
Xin Xia quickly introduced her softly: "This is Sister Jun; she has taken good care of me in Parthenon."
"Huh? A Hua-Xia person?" Lu Jun focused, the word "Jun" spoken in Hua-Xia, surprised: "Parthenon has Hua-Xia people?"
The female mage smiled and shook her head, speaking broken Hua-Xia: "My nationality is Greek, from a minor family in Parthenon. My mother is Hua-Xia. You may call me by my Hua-Xia name, Jun Yaojin."
She casually brushed past her origins, boasting lightly: "I chose this name from many Hua-Xia books. Not bad, right?"
Upon hearing this, Xin Xia facepalmed, and even the National Team members looked awkward, silently wanting to ask: Lady noble, which Hua-Xia books did you consult for this name? It's especially reminiscent of Masurey novels.
Lu Jun did not dwell on the existence of the mixed-blood temple mage. Several temple apprentice female attendants had been sent to assist the Egyptian Pusini City-State; although the original text didn't mention them, that didn't mean they didn't exist.
The battlefield was urgent. Lu Jun raised his hand, suppressing dissent, and with unparalleled authority said, "No need for further words. In the past, I had the hidden cards to attack the Lu family and exterminate the entire clan; today is no different."
"You all need to accomplish only one thing: annihilate the Mirage Pyramid."
Mo Fan's eyes flickered. He had initially wanted to take Lu Jun's place to duel the Dark Sword Lord, but seeing that Lu Jun was resolute, he didn't press further. Beating his chest with heroic resolve, he promised, "Old Lu, go with confidence. I will definitely dispel the Pyramid's illusions."
"Ah!" Jun Yaojin grew anxious and quickly switched to the International Language: "Why won't you listen to advice?"
Lu Jun paid no heed. The tide of water swelled under his feet, stepping atop the black waves as he charged toward the Dark Sword Lord.
The mixed-blood female mage's expression revealed helplessness, and she called out, "Hey, Hua-Xia man, let me give you some help before the battle."
Unexpectedly, Lu Jun waved her off: "No need."
Even high-level magic, no matter how attribute-favored, was utterly fragile before the Dark Sword Lord's high-tier combat strength.
Still, Jun Yaojin stomped her foot, and her innate kindness led her to offer blessings for Lu Jun! A surge of potent holy energy erupted around her, tracing countless celestial trails, shimmering in emerald and creamy white.
Mid-Tier Blessing: Prayer: Empower
High-Tier Blessing:Moon Blessing
High-Tier Healing: Aquarius Ewer
After completing all this, Jun Yaojin silently prayed. Were it not for the Dark Sword Lord's overwhelming power, she would never have abandoned the Egyptian people to flee alone.
Buzz, buzz, buzz!
With each step forward, Lu Jun was enveloped by layer upon layer of holy magical radiance, as if a god descended, his aura soaring with each stride.
Sensing his own condition, he was slightly surprised. Empower was the most basic magic of blessing-type mages. When Nan Rongni cast it, it had increased Mo Fan's shadow magic power by over thirty percent. If cast by an orthodox Parthenon female attendant, the effect boosted all systems by thirty percent.
The subsequent Intermediate Blessing and Advanced Ancient Divine Power spoke for themselves, each with its unique utility.
Yet Lu Jun did not rely on them. Once he unleashed the blood-abyss curse's divine ascent power, all these augmentations would be reduced to a minimum.
However, his grand display attracted the attention of everyone on the battlefield. Even the engaged Dark Sword Lord and strategist Finna paused, turning to look.
For additional chapters
Versatile mage {40 chapters}
Douluo Dalu:This Soul Master is to Weird {30 Chapters}
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