Chapter 458: The Situation Looks a Bit Bad

Chapter 458: The Situation Looks Rather Grim

"Enough! Stop talking!"

Kuris roared in frustration and humiliation.

Everything Kirra had said struck right at his heart.

He had always been the weakest among the Four Bloom Consorts, the one with the least presence.

Even the residents of Flying Petals City didn't know there was a Bloom Consort named Kuris.

Everyone only remembered Lady Rose, the Thunder General, and the Sage.

Only he remained obscure, unnoticed.

Like a windflower by the roadside—trampled to death and no one would care.

Kuris yearned for greater power.

Kirra offered him that chance, promising that once they seized the power of the Hundred Blossoms Goddess, he would be granted even stronger floral seed abilities.

It took Kuris much internal struggle before finally agreeing to help Kirra.

Long ago, Kirra had already made contact with Kuris.

Because of Kuris's unique ability as a Bloom Consort, nobody knew that even while trapped within the Peach Blossom Paradise inside the Poison Dragon Cave, he still maintained contact with Kirra.

That was why the dark cultists around Kirra "died" before Alice and the others returned.

It was because of Kuris's information.

Kuris revealed Alice's plan to Kirra, so Kirra staged this entire performance just for her to see.

Kirra still needed the strength of the dark cultists, so he wouldn't easily abandon his "comrades."

Alice landed on the ground, staring blankly at Kuris, frozen in place, at a loss.

She never imagined that Kuris, who had cared for her so long within the Peach Blossom Paradise, would choose to betray her.

Clearly, within the Peach Blossom Paradise, he had countless opportunities to strike against her.

When Bella wasn't around, Kuris could have easily taken Alice's life.

Yet Kuris never acted.

Perhaps it was because he feared that even if he killed Alice, he still couldn't obtain the power of the Hundred Blossoms Goddess.

So Kuris held back until now.

Until Alice performed the divine ritual, summoning the Hundred Blossoms Goddess to descend upon herself.

Only then did the goddess's power finally manifest.

Only then did Kuris get his opportunity.

The divine light upon the altar vanished, revealing everything atop the sacrificial platform.

Except for Kuris, who still stood, everyone else had collapsed to the ground, appearing to be unconscious.

Seeing this scene, Alice snapped back to reality, her heart trembling.

She realized that even if she lost the power of the Hundred Blossoms Goddess, she couldn't give up.

Her first instinct was to reclaim the goddess's power.

Within the black crystal in Kuris's hand had already grown a purplish-black mandrake.

Seeing the purplish-black mandrake within the black crystal, Alice sensed deep within her soul a pained wail from the Hundred Blossoms Goddess.

She didn't know what methods Kuris and Kirra had used to transform the goddess's power into this form.

This was definitely not a normal state.

Alice drew her beloved sword and charged toward Kuris.

Whoosh!

A gentle breeze brushed past Alice's face, and instantly, she felt tiny particles flying into her nostrils—seemingly some kind of fine pollen.

Her consciousness dimmed momentarily before quickly clearing.

"Enchanting Pollen!"

Alice seemed to understand why everyone on the altar had collapsed.

Kuris had mixed enchanting pollen into the surrounding wind.

He could control the wind, catching everyone off guard and making them all "poisoned" and unconscious in an instant.

But Alice remained unaffected.

She bore the blessing of the Hundred Blossoms Goddess, and even though the goddess's power had been sealed by the black crystal,

Alice still retained part of that power.

Though this portion couldn't allow Alice to display her previous overwhelmingly powerful form,

it was enough to protect her from all toxins of "flowers" and "plants" in this world.

This was power at the level of fundamental rules.

Even enchanting pollen capable of seducing legendary beasts couldn't affect Alice.

Kuris seemed to realize this as well, quickly rushing toward Kirra's direction.

Kirra had also gripped his precious sword firmly, charging toward Alice.

At this moment, far in the distance, a figure surrounded by lightning rapidly approached the altar.

Bella's face was filled with rage, her eyes brimming with electric fury. Thunder rumbled through the clear sky around her—a sign of her intense anger.

Just moments ago, she had been pushed to the distant horizon by Kuris's power.

That was the power of drifting with the wind.

Before that power dissipated completely, Bella couldn't resist.

During her flight to the distant skies, Bella had ample time to think, and only after much contemplation did she realize what had happened.

Why had Kuris used such an ability against her?

There was only one explanation—Kuris had betrayed Alice.

"Get out of my way!"

Lady Rose Evelyn shouted angrily, standing at the entrance of the Mage Association.

Abak led a group of experts from the city lord's mansion, surrounding Evelyn.

His head was still wrapped in white bandages.

The injuries Bella had inflicted on him remained unhealed even after half a month.

He harbored deep hatred for Bella—she had made his already sparse hair even thinner.

Forcing him to wrap his head daily to hide his shame from others.

Abak stared fixedly at Lady Rose Evelyn. "Lady Rose, I urge you to calm down and stay here quietly without causing trouble."

Evelyn swept her gaze around. Abak had already set up magical arrays in the surrounding area.

These magical arrays were specifically designed to deal with Evelyn.

Combined with the encirclement by several fourth-tier professionals around Abak, Evelyn had no opportunity whatsoever to break through the siege and support Alice in the short term.

Evelyn was too lazy to continue wasting words with Abak. She acted directly, attempting to forcibly shatter the surrounding magical barriers and leave this place.

Abak shouted loudly: "Stop her!"

Boom boom boom! Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

Alice clashed with Keira.

Long ago, Alice had fought against Keira once before.

That time, Alice was injured and couldn't defeat Keira.

But that time she hadn't used the power of the Hundred Flowers Goddess.

Otherwise, with Alice's previous display, Keira would have had no qualification to fight her.

She would have been defeated in a single exchange.

Several years had passed, and Keira's strength had become even more formidable.

This time, even though Alice was at her peak, she still felt tremendous pressure when fighting Keira.

Mainly because she faced an attack by three people.

Keira, Curis, and a stranger completely cloaked in black robes.

Even though the opponent's aura was completely different, Alice could recognize him as the dark cultist who had attacked her before.

He had changed bodies, but his techniques remained unchanged.

Still the familiar flavor from before.

Curis wasn't exerting effort. Though he had betrayed Alice, he didn't want to kill her.

He only wanted to obtain the power of the Hundred Flowers Goddess.

Curis was loafing on the sidelines, using the abilities of the wind messenger grass to assist Keira in battle.

Nevertheless, even with just two people attacking her, Alice was at a disadvantage.

"The situation looks somewhat dire."

Levi gazed at the scene below and murmured.

(End of Chapter)