Ethereal Ascendance: A Journey of Transformation

"Didn't Kurnel just declare that we are dark elves polluted by light? So what's wrong with turning into light elves? And are you sure you didn't see wrongly that I'm an angel?"

I was still thinking if I could talk my way out of this incoming disaster and trick them.

"Hmph, I...I was drunk and couldn't see clearly, but...Camille definitely didn't see wrongly, your smell is definitely...definitely an angel no doubt." Finally the demon Buck spoke, but he still didn't seem sober.

Hearing this, I knew sweet talking was useless. It looked like we were in big trouble.

"Why didn't you make your move back then? Why did you have to follow us after we left?"

After thinking through everything, I had overlooked this server succubus. We should have flown away immediately after leaving the tavern.

Angels and demons are destined enemies, the threat they pose to each other can never be erased.

"Fighting in the tavern would have damaged the furniture. And that idiot Kurnel is too dumb to understand, he might have messed things up."

As expected, Camille had planned everything. She openly told us her thoughts, then looked to Selene and said:

"Dark elves polluted by light won't necessarily turn into light elves, it depends on the extent of pollution. No matter what happened before, since you've become a light elf means you have an inseparable link with this angel."

"You're now the enemy. Light and dark cannot coexist. Catching you and handing you to Lady Michelle will be a great achievement. Don't blame me for being ruthless."

The opponent even had a whole set of excuses prepared. So this is what they mean by villains talking a lot?

But no matter how much they say, there's nothing we can use. They came to catch us, how could they possibly let Selene go just because of a few words from me.

It looked like a fight was inevitable. To be honest, I don't think we can beat the two dark creatures even with Selene and my Purification skill.

That demon Buck is at least 5th order, while Camille is at least 4th order. We are completely outmatched in strength. My plan is to throw out a Purification shot and run.

I exchanged looks with Selene to confirm she understood my plan. She immediately knew what I meant.

Fight!

I first deactivated the concealment on my wings and immediately threw out two Purification light spheres at them. As expected, they weren't eating this set, Camille flew upwards while Buck dodged to the side.

Now! Seizing the moment they were evading, Selene had already run to my side. I grabbed her with one arm and turned to fly out of the city wall behind us.

But a figure had already blocked our way.

"Want to run? I already noticed your intentions. So just a four-winged angel huh."

Camille flapped her demonic wings, stopping in midair in front of us with a smug smile.

She was alone. I thought we could still fly through the gaps, but suddenly a fiery red figure shot up from below. It was Buck! He jumped up to our level and threw a fist at me.

I couldn't let him hit me. I knew his blow was more than I could take. In desperation, I threw another Purification forward and kicked at him.

"This idiot..." I heard Camille curse.

The moment Buck pounced, seeing the situation he couldn't stop anymore.

He had no wings. With nothing to leverage on in midair, he had nowhere to dodge. Getting hit by Purification completely stripped his defences. My kick then sent him flying down.

"Damn Purification again. Ahh--!"

A pained expression spread on the demon's face. In midair, he was hit by the two light spheres I threw initially. Taking three Purifications at once greatly weakened his dark aura, and he smashed straight into a house below.

"That easy?" I was dumbfounded. I won so quickly I didn't expect it. What happened to him being ranked 5?

"There's still me!"

Unfortunately now wasn't the time to be stunned. I just heard a ripping sound from behind as a whip lashed at me. Caught unprepared, I turned but still couldn't dodge fully in time. My shoulder was struck in an instant.

Massive force surged through me. I felt my whole right side go numb and stumbled unsteadily in midair.

"Buck was drunk and got hit after idiotically jumping into the sky. I won't give you that chance."

Camille's sneak attack succeeded and she didn't stop, immediately chasing after me.

Right before I hit the ground, I finally regained my senses. Flapping all four wings forcefully, I narrowly hovered less than half a meter above the ground.

I've already experienced falling from high altitudes many times. Now I was extremely adept at it.

But her whip just now really was vicious. My whole struck right side still had no sensation whatsoever.

I clenched my teeth at the intense pain hitting my right shoulder. Felt like tears could burst from just that pain. I lowered my head to check Selene in my left arm. Luckily she was on my left so wasn't injured, and she gripped me tightly enough not to get flung off while falling.

Selene wasn't idle either. Seeing my mangled shoulder, she immediately chanted recovery magic to heal me.

Run!

I only had this one thought now. That demon Buck still hadn't emerged from the building. Maybe heavily injured or held up by something. Right now was a good chance to escape.

I threw a Purification at the diving Camille to make her dodge, then immediately fled the moment she did.

Couldn't escape by air with our way blocked. So we could only run on the ground. The small alley now had no obstructions whatsoever. I turned and dove right in.

"Don't run if you dare!"

I heard Camille's resentful yell behind me. She looked about to catch up. Without another word, I threw several more Purification spheres behind me.

I discovered this Purification skill was really useful. Even high-order creatures like her didn't dare tank it directly, and it had auto-tracking, making it hard to dodge.

As if!

Reality immediately slapped my face. Camille seeing my barrage of Purifications didn't keep dodging. Her palm suddenly held a black orb that she stretched out front. Those Purifications were instantly attracted to it and absorbed without a ripple.

"You thought I don't have ranged attacks?" She coldly snorted, then flung that black orb at us. Fortunately the speed wasn't fast, and it didn't get attracted like my Purifications. I easily avoided it.

"What is this crap!" I was completely dumbfounded. She actually had a way to counter and return my attack! Those few Purifications just now drained huge amounts of my light aura.

Now in this environment, even if it was day the thick clouds blocked most sunlight. I immediately felt inadequate aura recovery and more fatigue.

Crap, I was completely panicking now. Although the right half of my body slowly recovered under Selene's healing, Camille still chased us. It was only a matter of time before she caught us.

"Faster!" Selene anxiously spurred me on.

So an angel and succubus chased each other through city alleys, occasionally lobbing spheres as greetings. Damn thing is, she really flew faster than me. This made me glad I didn't fly out of the city initially. Without terrain blocking and slowing, she'd definitely catch us in no time.

But even so, unfamiliar roads still often tripped me up. Each dead end forced me upwards. Nearly caught but desperately pulling sharp 150-degree turns nearly dropping vertically into another alley.

The angelic aura agitated many housing beasts into roaring, adding to our panic.

"We're done for!" I yelled at Selene while flying, throwing another backhanded Purification.

"I tried my best already okay, don't blame me if you die! You promised to bring me back safely. And you still owe me money!" But she kept up our mid-chase argument, that girl really kept pestering me.

Although she helped obstruct Camille by throwing several Holy Smites, the actual effect was terribly useless. They lack homing, and even direct hits barely damaged Camille.

At first Camille still dodged a little, but later got too lazy to even dodge. She just tanked them without any noticeable drop in speed.

"She dares disrespect me!"

Seeing her attacks completely ignored seemed to greatly injure Selene's pride. Stowing her staff without healing me further, she started chanting an extremely long spell.

Can't she stay still in my grip... If not for my strong hold she'd have dropped ages ago.

I'd seen this move of hers before against Minos, but the effect was awful.

"Radiant Blast!"

As expected. When that massive radiant orb fired out the staff, Camille didn't dare tank this. She immediately dodged, but the buildings behind were not so lucky. A series of huge craters blasted through over ten homes.

"What a waste!" I laughed bitterly. Although it delayed her briefly, it was but a fleeting reprieve. Soon she'd catch up again. And I felt Selene's light aura nearly completely depleted from that one move. Really not worth it at all.

"So you were originally a human mage!"

Due to casting, Selene's cloak hood got blown off, revealing her ears. Camille realized she wasn't the light elf she assumed, now absolutely furious.

"I can't believe you tricked me too!"

Wonderful, she seemed even faster now all riled up. And ahead was a long straight alley. The next turn was still very far.

Crap, I felt she'd catch us soon. Now completely out of tricks and stamina. I could only close my eyes awaiting the impending trial.