Chapter 242 — No More Holding Back

Chapter 242: Chapter 242 — No More Holding Back

Chapter 242 — No More Holding Back

Victor dashed through the chaos.

Most of the Evil God cultivators were already locked in battle with members of the Order, leaving enough openings for him to slip through without being stopped.

He barely paid attention to the fighting around him.

His focus was entirely on the Soul Bond.

Lyra was close.

But something was wrong.

Pain.

Victor could feel it through their connection.

Sharp bursts of agony bled through the bond, faint compared to what Lyra herself must have been experiencing, but more than enough to make Victor’s stomach twist.

Someone was hurting her.

Victor accelerated.

Spiritual Energy surged through his legs as he pushed Flash Step harder, following Lyra’s presence deeper into the base.

Then he saw it.

On the far side of the cavern stood a large metal structure built directly into the rock. It resembled a warehouse, its thick metal walls almost completely enclosed by the surrounding stone. A pair of reinforced doors stood at the front.

Lyra was inside.

Victor didn’t slow down.

He slammed through the doors.

The first floor was filled with boxes and containers stacked in narrow rows. A few dim formation lamps illuminated the room, casting long shadows between the crates.

Victor ignored all of it.

Lyra’s presence was above him now.

Then he heard it.

A scream.

Victor stopped for half a second.

Lyra.

Something inside him went cold.

There was no more time.

He spotted a staircase on the opposite side of the room.

Flash Step.

Victor disappeared.

A moment later, he reached the top.

Another door blocked his path.

Victor grabbed the handle.

Locked.

He shoved against it.

Nothing.

The door had been barred from the other side.

Another pulse of pain came through the Soul Bond.

Victor stepped back.

Spiritual Energy erupted through his body.

Monkey Fist.

Power gathered through his muscles as Victor shifted his weight, channeling the force of the technique down into his leg.

Then he kicked.

BOOM!

A moment before Victor caused the door to explode.

Lyra could be seen restrained.

Her face was wet with tears. Blood covered parts of her body, staining her clothes and running from several wounds.

And standing beside her was Snake Mask.

One hand was wrapped around Lyra’s tail, pulling it taut.

The other held a dagger against it.

Blood already darkened the fur beneath the blade.

Lyra clenched her teeth.

"I’m not telling you anything! It doesn’t matter what you do to me!"

Her voice shook.

But she didn’t stop.

"You might as well kill me!"

Snake Mask smiled beneath his mask.

"You know, if this doesn’t go anywhere, I just might—"

The door exploded.

Snake Mask’s head snapped toward the sound.

Too late.

Flash Step.

Victor vanished.

Monkey Fist.

His fist slammed directly into Snake Mask’s throat.

The man’s feet left the floor.

He flew backward and crashed into the metal wall hard enough to dent it before dropping to the ground.

Victor didn’t even watch him fall.

He turned toward Lyra.

"Are you okay?"

Lyra stared at him.

For a moment, she couldn’t answer.

Victor was here.

She had hoped he would find her. Prayed that somehow, despite everything, he would.

But seeing him actually standing there—after blasting through the door and sending Snake Mask flying—almost didn’t feel real.

"Victor..."

Victor was already working on the restraints.

"We’re getting you out of here."

He tore away the bindings around her wrists and legs before moving to the cuffs sealing her cultivation.

His hands moved quickly.

Lyra continued staring at him.

Then movement came from behind.

"Ah..."

Snake Mask pushed himself off the floor.

He rubbed his throat.

"The fun has finally arrived."

Victor stopped.

Slowly, he turned.

Snake Mask rolled his neck.

His gaze moved between Victor and Lyra.

There was no anger in his eyes.

Victor stepped between him and Lyra.

Snake Mask tilted his head.

"I’m curious."

His eyes narrowed.

"How did you find this place?"

Victor said nothing.

"How did you know I had Lyra here?"

Victor simply stared at him.

Snake Mask waited.

Then he laughed softly.

"Still keeping secrets."

Victor’s expression hardened.

This man needed to die today.

There was no other option.

"Space Witch."

The air beside Victor shifted.

She appeared a moment later, sword already drawn.

Snake Mask’s eyes immediately moved toward her.

Victor didn’t take his eyes off him.

"Take Lyra and get out of here."

"I can’t."

Victor glanced toward her.

"My responsibility is to protect you."

Of course it was.

"Then get Lyra far enough away that she won’t be caught in this fight."

The Space Witch hesitated.

Only briefly.

Then she grabbed Lyra.

Space twisted around them.

Both disappeared.

They reappeared halfway across the lower floor, near the open entrance. Far enough to keep Lyra away from the immediate fight, but close enough that the Space Witch could return the instant Victor needed her.

Victor watched just long enough to make sure Lyra was clear.

Then he turned back toward Snake Mask.

"It looks like you and I need to settle something."

Snake Mask laughed.

"So you’re really not going to tell me how you found this place?"

He reached into his storage ring.

A spear appeared in his hand.

"That’s fine."

His fingers tightened around the weapon.

"I’ll get the information out of you one way or another."

There was something almost eager in his eyes.

Victor had noticed it before.

The first time they fought.

The way Snake Mask watched him.

The questions.

The interest.

Something about Victor fascinated him.

Victor hated it.

Snake Mask took another step.

"I’m going to enjoy every moment of this."

Victor smiled.

"So am I."

Snake Mask stopped.

His head tilted slightly.

"How exactly are you planning to fight me?"

His gaze moved over Victor.

"Rank Two Spirit Gathering."

He laughed.

"Do you think something has changed since last time?"

Victor didn’t respond.

"The only reason you lasted as long as you did before was because Space Witch over there overextended herself using a technique she shouldn’t have."

Victor couldn’t argue with that.

Snake Mask was right.

Last time, Victor had survived because of Grace.

And even now, the difference between Rank Two Spirit Gathering and Snake Mask’s true strength was enormous.

Under normal circumstances, Victor didn’t stand a chance.

But these weren’t normal circumstances.

Victor’s eyes briefly moved toward Grace and Lyra.

The Order was occupied.

The Evil God cultivators were occupied.

The only two people nearby who might see what he was about to do were them.

Lyra already knew.

Grace didn’t.

Victor had protected this secret since awakening it.

The Black Phoenix Flame was his most important secret.

Once Grace saw it, there would be questions he could never take back.

Victor looked at Lyra.

The blood.

Her injuries.

Her tail.

Then he remembered the screams coming through the Soul Bond.

The decision became very simple.

Snake Mask could not leave alive.

Victor looked back at him.

He would have to trust Grace.

And once Snake Mask saw what Victor was about to reveal, there could be no letting him escape.

Victor smiled.

"It seems I can’t hold back anymore."

Snake Mask’s amusement faded slightly.

Then—

Black flames erupted around Victor.

They raced across his arms and curled over his shoulders.

His chest.

His legs.

Dark fire spread across his body as the air around him distorted beneath the sudden heat.

Victor’s Spiritual Energy surged.

His presence climbed.

The smile slowly disappeared from Snake Mask’s face.

Across the room, the Space Witch went completely still.

Victor raised his head.

Black flames swirled around him.

For the first time, he made no attempt to hide them.

The Black Phoenix Form had begun.