Lord Protector novel (Zeke Williams) novel Chapter 1653

However, Ares only persisted in a brief and largely symbolic attempt at a pursuit before he pretended to tire out.

This was because he wanted Janus to lure out his own imposter, the real object of his ire.

Letting the former escape was simply part of the plan.

The Azure Dragon claimed total victory in this campaign. They slew close to sixty percent of their enemies and sent the rest scurrying for the hills, all without having sustained a single casualty of their own!

This could be attributed firstly to the Azure Dragon's superior strength, and secondly, Zeke's covert manipulation of energy to neutralize the threats against them.

Thus, the Devonville Restricted Zone had been reclaimed.

“Azure Dragon, secure the restricted zone and kill any and all who trespass!” Zeke commanded.

“Understood!”

The Azure Dragon then spread themselves out to defend the perimeters while Zeke stepped inside the imperial mausoleum with the unconscious Lacey in his arms.

When he passed through the mausoleum and came before the Spirit Stone mine, the sight that greeted him gutted him like a knife into his heart.

The Alpha Suicide Squad, Tyler, and Nameless, amongst others, laid quietly upon the mine.

Zeke could keenly sense their vitality rapidly being absorbed by the Spirit Stone mine.

Curses!

Zeke's eyes bulged in fury.

Connor was really using them to nurture the Spirit Stone mine!

He then approached quickly to examine them.

It's fortunate that they still have a sliver of life force left in them. Had I shown up a minute later, they might have given out.

Zeke immediately got down to administering the life-preserving methods from the Ammo Needle to stabilize them before feeding them one resurrection pill each.

His brow was soaked with perspiration and his breath ragged after all this was done. “Bring them to a quiet corner so that they may recover.”

“Understood!”

Ares and Alfred then rolled up their sleeves and got down to work.

Zeke had done everything he possibly could, and the rest was up to fate.

He was not able to determine whether their life force had been damaged or not. If they had, that may result in a deterioration of their abilities, provided they woke up in the first place.

For a warrior, the loss of their prowess was a fate worse than death.

Zeke laid Lacey onto the Spirit Stone mine and used his own energy to channel spiritual energy into her physical body to nourish it.

With the injection of spiritual energy, there was a visible improvement in Lacey's constitution as evidenced by the ruddiness on her cheeks.

However, she showed no signs of regaining consciousness.

That strain of negative energy was still caroming around inside her body, yet to be dissolved or expunged by the spiritual energy.

D*mn it!

Zeke's frustration was apparent on his face.

It would seem that Lacey did not receive this negative energy through accidental contact with a denizen of the Netherworld.

For it to be so stubbornly embedded, it had to be purposefully introduced into her body by immortals.

“Only the one who did this can undo it. Hence, only by locating the Netherworld could we get them to expel this negative energy from her.”

Ares approached cautiously. “I have an idea, Great Marshal, that might be able to save Lacey's life.”

“Speak,” replied an anxious Zeke.

“When I was imprisoned by the Carter family, I heard their servant mention a place called Summerbank. According to legend, it was a place where the elders of the Four Hidden Sects recuperated at. Many varieties of herbs grow there, and it was said that the energy there is capable of curing a multitude of diseases, all on its own. If we could find Summerbank, wouldn't it be easy for us to purge the negative energy from Lacey's body?”

Oh?

Ares' words reminded Zeke that when he first discovered Missy's sensing capability, the girl told him that she felt countless strains of fettered spiritual energy originate from the east.

Zeke was sure that there must be spiritual land in that direction, and hence brought Missy along in search of it.