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Chapter 174, 173: Severely Injuring Alphia, Killing a God?

"What?!"

Alphia showed surprise for the first time. The figure that descended from the sky, the incomparably sharp killing intent, and the incredible speed made her feel an unprecedented threat.

Gu Yuan's goal was crystal clear. He stepped on the air as if shattering it, and accelerated again. He unleashed a fierce downward kick, like a battle axe, towards Alphia!

Alphia hastily raised her arms to block, and an invisible wall of sound transformed into a shockwave that condensed in front of her.

"Gospel!"

boom!!!

Like a meteorite hitting the ground! The shockwave, visible to the naked eye, spread out in a ring!

Alphia felt an indescribable force coming at her, and her protective magic fluctuated violently, even letting out a mournful cry of unbearable pressure!

She let out a muffled groan and, carrying Erebus, crashed down from mid-air!

boom!

Smoke and dust billowed into the sky, rocks flew everywhere, and the ground was smashed into craters like an earthquake.

Alphia knelt on one knee, barely managing to steady herself, but a sweet taste rose in her throat, and a trickle of bright red blood spilled from the corner of her mouth.

She suddenly looked up at Gu Yuan, who was slowly landing not far away, her usually calm eyes filled with disbelief and apprehension.

In just a few days—he's gotten so much stronger?! That speed just now—he leveled up?!

Protected behind her, Erebus, who had also fallen in a disheveled state, struggled to his feet, brushing the dust off his magnificent robes, trying to maintain the last vestiges of his divine dignity and composure. However, his stiff smile and trembling fingers betrayed the turmoil within him.

The moment he saw Gu Yuan's face clearly, all his doubts were answered, and he immediately understood everything.

"Chardo—you bastard—it really was you—"

"Erebus".

Gu Yuan's voice was calm, yet carried a chilling intensity that seemed to freeze the air, interrupting his thoughts. "Your game is over."

Erebus suppressed his panic and anger, forcing a seemingly relaxed smile, though the smile looked particularly distorted on his disheveled face: "Gu Yuan, why be so impulsive? Fighting is not the only way to solve problems."

"You should be well aware that if you were to engage in a full-scale battle with Alphia here, the aftershocks of a clash between two top-tier powerhouses would be—"

"Heh, in this neighborhood, including these adventurers who came here to carry out justice, I'm afraid very few of them will leave alive."

"Are you capable of bearing this responsibility?"

Upon hearing this, the surrounding crowd, whether fighting or watching, fell silent, as if frozen by an invisible ice.

Immediately, even greater unrest and panic spread.

Only then did they belatedly realize that in a life-or-death battle between top experts, even the dissipated energy alone was enough to crush them into dust.

Without any command, the crowd instinctively stepped back, clearing a large open space centered around Gu Yuan, Alphia, and Erebus.

Gu Yuan coldly swept his gaze across the terrified faces around him, his eyes finally settling on Erebus.

"I know."

He slowly drew the divine sword from his waist, the soft hum of the blade as it left its sheath clear in the deathly still night. The cold tip of the sword pointed directly at Erebus's heart. "So I have only one purpose."

"Your life."

His tone was resolute and brooked no argument: "Or, you may choose to return to the Heavenly Realm on your own, and I will leave."

The smile on Erebus's face vanished completely. Return to the heavens?

He had planned for so long, put in so much effort and "chess pieces," how could he admit defeat and slink back because of one accident?

He was indeed prepared to make a grand exit after the birth of a hero, but it had to be a voluntary, dramatic, and beautiful departure.

Instead of being driven away like stray dogs and forced to make a choice, as we are doing now!

However, as a god, Erebus ultimately did not show these emotions.

"Your suggestion is brilliant."

His voice lowered, and a strange, unreadable light flickered in his eyes, as if he were brewing something. "But, Gu Yuan, before making this suggestion, were you prepared to—kill a god?"

"Whether the target is a benevolent god or an evil god, killing a god is an unforgivable act of disrespect, blasphemy, and a grave crime for the people of the lower realm."

"This sin will be branded into your soul and will stay with you for the rest of your life."

His voice was seductive and oppressive as his gaze swept over the astonished adventurers present: "Everyone here knows that you killed me to save Orario, and even to save the world. It was an act of kindness, justice, and heroism."

"But—what about outside of Orario? What about other unsuspecting gods? What about those who have interacted with me, or those who simply abhor the act of 'god-killers' and see it as a provocation against the gods?"

"Gu Yuan, are you prepared to fight against a host of uninformed and prejudiced gods?"

"Can your family and friends bear such consequences?"

His voice was soft, yet it struck everyone's heart like a hammer blow, almost laying bare all the worst possible consequences—

It was laid bare before Gu Yuan.

But in my heart, I was screaming.

Come on, make your choice: will you bear your sins and become a solitary "hero," or will you retreat here?

This is still a trial for him, the ultimate test of his "heroic" character!

Erebus stared intently at Gu Yuan's face, hoping to see struggle, hesitation, or that tragic and resolute expression of being prepared to sacrifice everything.

However, Gu Yuan's reaction was completely unexpected, so calm that it was even somewhat indifferent.

Faced with this probing question, Gu Yuan didn't even lift an eyelid. "So what?"

Gu Yuan's tone was calm and even, as if he were talking about something unrelated to himself. His sword remained as steady as a rock. "Who says I have to kill you with my own hands?"

Throughout the original work, it is known that only Bell committed acts of god-killing.

However, at that time he acted at the instruction of "Artemis" and used the artifact that "Artemis" had temporarily given him.

Gu Yuan was unsure whether he had ever committed god-killing acts that disregarded the will of the gods, so he couldn't be sure if such an act would benefit him.

Therefore, it is necessary to utilize the rules.

For example, by using the "Sword of Justice," a divine weapon wielded by the Goddess of Justice.

His gaze seemingly unintentionally swept across the shadows at the edge of the battlefield, where a pure white hem appeared to flutter almost imperceptibly in the night breeze.

it's time.

"?"

Erebus froze, his expression instantly solidified, and his mind even went blank for a moment.

He anticipated all possible reactions from Gu Yuan.

Passionate and stirring, yet filled with painful struggle.

The only thing I didn't expect was this almost "tricky" answer that completely defies the logic of heroic narratives!

This completely shattered his imagination and definition of "hero"!

Shouldn't heroes be willing to bear all sins and darkness and forge ahead bravely?

Just as Erebus was deep in thought about this unexpected answer, pondering how to break the deadlock and avoid a complete defeat—

A soft yet undeniable light suddenly shone from the edge of the battlefield.

The light wasn't dazzling, but it carried a warm power, dispelling some of the bloodshed and gloom, and illuminating every astonished face.

Splash—

Like Moses parting the sea, the crowd parted automatically and reverently to make way, and the clamor of the battle subsided completely at that moment.

Gu Yuan looked up.

Then, the goddess of justice, Astraea, appeared, draped in a deep blue and white robe as dark as the starry sky. She had arrived silently without anyone noticing.

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