The Divine Armor of the Old Century（Book 1）

Chapter 174

The Florend potion coursed swiftly through the blood vessels, spreading throughout the body in an instant under the powerful beats of the heart.

Consciousness gradually returned, as if waking up from a deep sleep into the biting cold, the sensation spreading across the skin, banishing all drowsiness and fatigue, leaving behind heightened senses.

It was a difficult "clarity" to describe, as if a veil of unknown fog had once shrouded the world, but now that fog had lifted, allowing Lloyd to clearly perceive the essence of everything around him.

"Lloyd..." Selu called out worriedly, standing behind the door and peering at him with a mix of fear and concern.

Everyone had felt it—at the moment of contact between Lloyd and the soldier, a terrifying and overwhelming corruption had emanated from the demon hunter, like a nightmare descending into reality, filled with frenzied wails and twisted claws that clawed at everyone's psyche.

In that instant, Selu had even lost the ability to think, much like a creature in the wild when confronted by a predator, the despair of being preyed upon left her with no thoughts of resistance.

The deepest, most despairing terror.

Yave was also on high alert, his aged face covered in sweat. He might have used up all his courage to rush over and inject Lloyd with the Florend potion.

Wiping the sweat with his sleeve, he knew this was no time for decorum.

"I'm fine," Lloyd responded curtly, his expression serious.

He then demonstrated his recovery through actions, sheathing his folding knife as the remnants of his divine armor fell off in scattered pieces, hitting the ground with metallic clinks.

"It was Prelate Lawrence," he said to the approaching Red Falcon. "He traveled here through the [Gap]. Fortunately, I managed to repel him."

Or at least he hoped he had. Otherwise, he would have been taken over by Prelate Lawrence by now.

Red Falcon looked horrified. "Are you sure?"

This was the Mechanical Institute, a fortress of war disguised as a research facility, equipped with countless heavy artillery, with the mysterious perpetual pump below. The vast industrial mining area was the best battlefield; even a massive invasion of demons could be repelled with their firepower. But now, their most reliable defense had failed, and the intangible enemy had easily reached them.

Lloyd nodded, reluctant as he was to admit it. Their enemies had grown more cunning and terrifying. Red Falcon, never having entered the [Gap], couldn't grasp the gravity of Lloyd's words, not until it was right before him.

Ignoring Red Falcon's puzzled expression, Lloyd put away his folding knife and whispered, "Fear stems from the unseen."

This was the essence of demons and the unknown mystery.

"Selu, come with me," Lloyd suddenly turned and said to the girl nearby.

Though uncertain of Lloyd's intentions, Selu, out of a trusting reliance, obediently followed.

The atmosphere was odd, or rather, it had been strange since Lloyd woke up.

Just as Red Falcon was about to speak, Lloyd cut him off. "Take his body to the perpetual pump. Maybe we'll discover something."

"But..." Red Falcon started to argue but was silenced by Lloyd's gaze, which cut off his words and thoughts.

That was not a human gaze, more like the lingering echo of a demonic presence, revealing flashes of crimson.