Chapter 232: Soul Secrets
"Turn around," Vivian said in a cold tone while pointing her finger at his head.
On the other hand, Charles returned to his calm state, turned around, and stared into her eyes.
The next instant, his black eyes glinted all of a sudden.
When Vivian was about to open her mouth, she suddenly forgets what she was about to say!
Simultaneously, her second consciousness noticed a strange fire in her Inner World, appeared beside it, and erased it in an instant.
But that was more than enough for Charles to cast [False Blink] spell!
He enveloped his body in a crimson flame, disappeared from there, and reappeared a few meters away from where he stood before.
In the meantime, Vivian also returned to her previous state and became icy cold!
"You!" She didn't hesitate for a moment before she pointed her finger in his direction and cast her first spell.
'Truth Curse.'
"Reveal your name."
Upon hearing her words, Charles subconsciously opened his mouth and spoke in a female voice.
"John Browning."
The next instant, shock appeared on his face.
'She can manipulate my consciousness to speak the truth?'
Meanwhile, Vivian got stupefied and soon widened her eyes.
But before she could even open her mouth, Charles suddenly raised his hand, pointed his finger at her, and cast [Finger of Destruction] spell!
At that moment, he had single thought run through his mind.
'She has to die.'
A moment later, a dense reddish-black fire condensed at the tip of his finger, formed into a thumb-sized bullet, and shot forth towards Vivian!
Meanwhile, Vivian's instinct began to scream wildly!
'This woman's spell is way too dangerous.' She didn't dare to hesitate and touched her silver bracelet.
In a blink, an invisible layer came out from her bracelet and formed into a force field.
It was a one-time artifact with a Rank-4 spell inscribed in it!
Her Teacher spent more than a month creating this artifact!
Although Vivian felt pained inside, she knew that there was no choice now.
'I need to survive.' She muttered to herself and also cast her defensive spell.
"Cursed Shield."
A one-meter tall blood-coated metallic shield appeared in front of her and landed on the ground with a thud.
Meanwhile, the condensed reddish bullet tore through the air in a blink and collided with the invisible layer.
For a second, two powerful forces clashed against each other and released powerful ripples.
But suddenly, the condensed fire bullet exploded with a powerful bang, enveloped the surrounding trees, plants, and vines in reddish fire, and forcefully pushed the invisible layer in the other direction.
In a blink, the reddish fire enveloped everything around 50 meters radius area and let out terrifying shockwaves in every direction.
Even Charles's body was enveloped in the reddish chaos flame!
Thankfully, he had already expected such an outcome, cast [Fire Born] spell on himself, and started moving backward.
Although the fire couldn't pose a serious threat to his body, he didn't dare to take any risk!
On the other hand, Vivian saw that the illusionary layer began to crack everywhere and went pale in fright.
Before she could even think, a powerful force pushed her backward.
She tried her best and resisted, but a finger-like reddish bullet tore through the invisible layer and collided against her bloody cursed shield.
The next instant, her body flew backward like a bullet due to the powerful impact and collided against the tree branches and stems.
In two seconds, her body tore through the forest, and soon her back collided on a large tree trunk!
At that moment, the reddish bullet also broke her curse shield and pierced through her right side shoulder.
Vivian felt that her whole body was invaded by something very evil!
Letting out a painful moan, she spat out a mouthful of blood and landed on the ground in a kneeling position.
"W-What kind of spell is this?" Panic surfaced on her face.
Meanwhile, Charles stared at the large crater and soon glanced around.
The whole surrounding trees became charred, and the reddish fire was spreading in different directions like wildfire!
'This spell even broke the Rank-4 defensive shield-like paper… Is this due to me enchanting with Elder's Chaos fireball? Or, is it something to do with the spell model?' He furrowed his brows in suspicion.
But he was sure of one thing.
'If I completely comprehend this spell model, no Rank-4 defensive spell could block this spell!' He couldn't help but excited inside.
Shaking his head, he used his wisdom power, scanned the surroundings, and soon widened his eyes.
'She is still alive?'
He instantly cast [Flame Teleportation] spell, disappeared from there, and reappeared in front of Vivian.
Upon seeing his arrival, her whole body trembled uncontrollably.
She raised both of her hands above her head and shouted with all her might.
"I surrender!"
'Humph, trying to stall time?' He felt amused inside.
'Switch with me, Charles.' He suddenly muttered inwardly and entered his Inner World.
A moment later, the clone Charles took over his body and stared at Vivian.
Just when he was about to use his [Sleight of Mystery Hand] spell on her, his vision turned blurry all of a sudden and went dark!
"Blind Curse." A cold female voice appeared from the front.
Vivian then stood up with all her might, silently cast her 'Illusionary Curse' on Charles, and raised her hand.
Then, she was about to use her next spell but soon froze.
At that moment, Charles blinked his eyes and stared at her coldly.
At that moment, he once again switched his place with his second consciousness and completely broke her previous spells!
Without any delay, he cast [Burning Thoughts] spell on her and continued to erase her current thoughts.
He then raised his hand, pointed her finger at her forehead, and cast [Sleight of Mystery Hand].
The next instant, multiple invisible strings enveloped her body and bound her to the nearby trunk.
By the time Vivian managed to rethink, she had found herself tied to the tree trunk.
Anger and hate appeared in her eyes.
"M-My teacher won't forgive you." She let out an angry growl and muttered.
Meanwhile, Charles suddenly moved his hand, took the strange metallic disc, and asked.
"Who is your Teacher? Who is she working for?"
While asking, he also cast [Burning Thoughts], [Fire Seed], and [Knowledge Absorber] spells on her and soon wore a surprised look on his face.
'Louise… She is the first disciple of a Rank-5 [Sorcerer of the Dead] Class Mystic named Reid… Although Vivian hasn't seen him upfront, she heard it from Louise that he already entered the realm of Immortal and became a pure Lich!'
'The skeleton!' Charles's eyes widened.
'A Rank-5 Existence? Isn't this mission a suicidal one? The Churches doesn't want other candidates to become the next monarch? Or, they still know nothing about this skeleton's real strength?' He was deeply startled inside.
At that moment, Vivian realized what was happening and quivered.
'He is casting multiple memory spells to steal my memories… Oh, no! I need to escape and inform others.'
While she was thinking, Charles already stared into her eyes, cast [Fire Seed] and [Burning Thoughts] spell, and asked another question.
"Why did you guys try to place the greenish-blue gem in my Inner World?"
'Hmm? She knew nothing about the greenish-blue gem?' He frowned for a moment and asked another question while following the same procedure.
"Why are you guys kidnapping children from all over the kingdom?"
'Soul Secrets… It was a secretive mission issued by Lord Reid… Vivian, her Teacher Louise, and 5 other Rank-4 Mystics have been involved in this kidnapping mission during the past few years and doing this openly. From Vivian's observation, they had already kidnapped more than 57,000 children from all over the kingdom and sent them to Whisper Valley. That's where the base of their secret is located… But during the past few years, no children came out from the Whisper Valley. She is 100% sure that all of them are dead.'
"What is Lord Reid's motive? Why did he ask them to kidnap children?"
'She doesn't know much about it… But she once heard from her Teacher Louise that Lord Reid is doing secretive research that involves children's souls… This research also has something to do with the four ancestral spirits hiding in this Iron kingdom… Vivian vaguely suspects that Lord Reid is trying to capture those ancestral spirits and achieve something big…'
"Why the Lawful Churches didn't stop you guys?"
'Their Lord Reid seemed to have formed a secretive agreement with Amber Church higher-ups… Other than this, Vivian knew nothing about it…'
"Who is Casey?"
'He is the one who is responsible for all official matters. He is a Rank-4 [Blood Duke] and has a mysterious background. He came under Reid's only a few years ago and became his trustworthy servant…'
"Do you know anything about Archbishop Royce?"
'He is a corrupted official and turned blind eye to all the current kidnapping and killing incidents. Vivian's suspicion rose on Amber Church after seeing his previous actions…'
Just as Charles was about to ask another question, a vague premonition appeared from the depth of his heart, causing him to halt his action.
'Hmm? It seems her Teacher is already on her way.' His expression changed.
