CHAPTER 122
Although Luo Wei had obtained divine power, it was evident that mastering it still required extensive practice. His current level of control was rudimentary, and he struggled with precise manipulations, relying mostly on brute force rather than finesse.
Despite this, divine power had already begun altering his body's physiology. One noticeable effect was his enhanced metabolism—he could now digest and absorb nutrients at an astonishing rate.
As a result, the leftover half of the wild boar was devoured solely by Luo Wei, who polished it off with ease.
Nearby, Shilut gnawed at a stone. His regenerative progress was clear—his arms had now recovered about halfway, and at this rate, they would be fully regrown within a few days.
Night soon fell, and Luo Wei retired for rest.
The following morning, Luo Wei opened the holy deed and made a decision—he would return to the Trial of Whitemane to test the full extent of his newfound divine strength.
He had entered this trial many times before, but each attempt ended the same way: defeat at the hands of Commander Durand. He had never once laid eyes on Whitemane herself.
But things were different now. Empowered by divine might, Luo Wei's physical strength and combat efficiency had soared. He was confident—Durand would no longer be an insurmountable obstacle.
Upon entering the trial space, the towering interior of the Scarlet Monastery manifested before him, and Commander Durand stood in the center of the grand hall, gripping his massive greatsword.
"You've come only to perish. I'll ensure your death is swift!" the blood-soaked commander declared coldly, drawing his weapon.
Luo Wei clenched Verrigan's Fist in his right hand. Without hesitation, both combatants surged forward.
Clang!
Their weapons collided, creating a shrill screech of metal against metal.
This first clash was a measure of power, and Luo Wei could tell—he now surpassed Durand. Confidence surged through him.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The two exchanged rapid blows. Warhammer and greatsword danced in a flurry of tight, brutal combat. Within moments, dozens of rounds had passed.
Luo Wei's strength and reflexes had seen massive improvement. Though Durand's combat skills were polished and fierce, Luo Wei's physical and reactive advantages soon tilted the battle in his favor. And this, even without invoking his flame-based divine abilities.
As the fight wore on, Durand's rhythm faltered. He staggered, received two direct hammer strikes, and was visibly weakened.
"I—I'm a legend!" he howled, activating his teleportation skill.
In a blink, he vanished from sight and reappeared behind Luo Wei, his blood-colored blade descending with lethal speed.
Despite anticipating the attack, Luo Wei was briefly startled.
Even with his enhanced reflexes, Durand's teleportation remained elusive—instantaneous and unreadable.
Clang! Luo Wei blocked the strike with his hammer and summoned his divine power.
Fwoosh—
Flames erupted from his body, cloaking him entirely in divine fire. He resembled a living torch, a humanoid inferno.
His grasp of divine power was shallow, but in this moment, he unleashed it at maximum capacity.
The heat surged beyond tolerance. Luo Wei estimated that, if measured in Celsius, his body temperature would have exceeded 3,000 degrees.
Durand teleported once more, launching a surprise strike from behind.
Luo Wei twisted, his hammer swinging in a blazing arc.
Holy Light Strike!
Boom!
The hammer, wreathed in holy fire, clashed with Durand's sword. The explosion of force sent Durand flying, flames cascading around him, eliciting a pained scream.
Durand hit the ground hard. His armor was seared and broken, his skin charred in several places, and even his once-mighty greatsword was warped under the combined heat and force.
Still, retreat was not an option. This was the Trial—there was nowhere to run.
Durand blinked forward again, attacking with a more evasive hit-and-run style. He would slash and retreat immediately after.
But Luo Wei, engulfed in divine fire, proved untouchable. Each time Durand got close, the flames scorched him.
Over time, despite managing to land a glancing strike that cut Luo Wei's shoulder, Durand was being drained. His strength waned; his breathing grew ragged.
"I will sacrifice Holy Light with your blood!" Durand screamed, his eyes gleaming with mad devotion.
"For the legend!" he roared, teleporting straight into the firestorm, sword raised high for a final, suicidal blow.
Luo Wei did not falter. He unleashed another Holy Light Strike, smashing Durand's blade aside. The warping metal was flung from the commander's grasp, and the divine flames engulfed him.
In a moment, Durand's body was reduced to a blackened husk.
Bang. The charred remains collapsed.
Luo Wei exhaled, cutting off the divine flames. His strength was spent.
For a divine warrior, divine energy and physical stamina were intertwined—converting between one another. Using divine power at full throttle left him as drained as if he had just endured a grueling battle.
He took a deep breath to steady himself.
Just then, a heavy door at the end of the hall creaked open—Crench-bang!
Luo Wei turned and saw her: Sally Whitemane.
The chief inquisitor of the Scarlet Monastery stood framed in the doorway—tall, pale, and clad in red. Her staff radiated holy light, and her striking appearance made her instantly recognizable.
Whitemane was beautiful. Her lower attire revealed long, pale legs, her armor tailored to accentuate rather than protect. Her poise and cold demeanor exuded authority—and power.
Luo Wei couldn't help but let a few wild strategies flash across his mind.
"You will pay for this!" she declared, her voice icy.
Then, in one of World of Warcraft's most iconic phrases, she cried out:
"Arise, my champion!"
Holy light burst from Durand's blackened corpse. In moments, flesh replaced ash, bones reknit, and he stood again—reborn.
"I fight for you, my lady!" he bellowed.
And thus, the Scarlet Crusade's infamous duo—the blood-stained commander and the resurrecting zealot—was reunited.
The resurrection was beautiful and blasphemous all at once. Luo Wei found himself distracted for a second, still watching Whitemane's confident posture.
But the time for observation was over.
Clenching Verrigan's Fist, Luo Wei charged.
Whitemane showed no fear. Her staff glowed with divine light, forming a radiant shield around her—clearly a high-level defensive enchantment.
She raised her staff and unleashed a radiant beam.
Boom! The holy light struck Luo Wei's chest, hurling him backward.
Even as he skidded across the floor, Durand advanced again, slashing downward with renewed vigor.
Luo Wei blocked with a Judgment Strike and leaped back to his feet, reigniting the divine flame around him.
Against this duo, Whitemane had to go down first—Durand could be resurrected again and again otherwise.
Without engaging Durand, Luo Wei raced toward Whitemane, hammer raised.
His strike—Hammer of Judgment—crashed into her.
Boom! The hammer collided with her barrier. Though the shield held, it flickered under the immense pressure, revealing it was far from indestructible.
Whitemane retreated and countered with another holy light spell.
Luo Wei, shielded in flame, endured the brunt of the impact. The attack singed but did not slow him.
In a second, he closed the distance between them once more.
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