Evidently, at this juncture between life and death, Krothino also desired a desperate struggle, unsparingly igniting the entirety of his body's life potential. As a Divine Beast, Krothino’s final, dying counterattack held considerable power, and countless beams of white light materialized before him.

Under Krothino's command, these white lights surged madly toward the surrounding Seven-Colored Magic Barrier, hoping to shatter its obstruction and secure a sliver of hope for escape.

As more and more white light gathered within the magic barrier, even Krothino’s massive form was enveloped by it, creating a blinding expanse of pure white brilliance. Under Krothino’s desperate effort, the surrounding Seven-Colored Magic Barrier began to writhe violently under the pressure of the white light.

The prismatic radiance above the magic barrier also intensified as the white light increased, gaining momentum and threatening to overwhelm the seven colors.

Witnessing this, Blaze, standing nearby, couldn't help but utter in surprise, "I hadn't expected this old Phoenix to still possess such formidable strength after issuing several Divine Curses. It truly earns respect."

Although Blaze spoke these words, his hands did not slow in the slightest.

Under Blaze's control, endless torrents of magical energy continuously reinforced the magic barrier. While he couldn't suppress the white light entirely, he managed to stabilize the barrier’s structure slowly.

After all, although Krothino exerted his utmost effort, the preceding battle with Mo Han and the others had severely depleted his strength. Now, facing Blaze, whose power was nearly equal to his own, the outcome was self-evident.

No matter how violently the white light inside the magic barrier crashed against it, the barrier, under Blaze's control, remained fixed in place like a colossal mountain, firmly encircling Krothino within.

Just then, Mo Han, who had been standing in the rear, suddenly began chanting with booming intensity: "By my name, I beseech you to fulfill the legendary covenant, burn away all wickedness with the undying Earth Fire, and let the flowing Ice Gale cleanse everything in this world—Brilliant Divine Curse."

As Mo Han’s words concluded, the magical energy that had been ceaselessly churning behind him instantly stilled. Simultaneously, the sky above the entire Death Forest trembled.

Countless beams of seven-colored light materialized over the Death Forest, illuminating more than half of the heavens.

All the magical elements surrounding Mo Han—including Blaze’s magic barrier and Krothino’s white light—seemed instantly frozen by the churning magic gathering overhead. The sky condensed an awe-inspiring pressure that made breathing difficult and deeply uncomfortable for everyone present, including Mo Han.

And at this moment, at the very center of those prismatic lights, an exceptionally thick column of energy shot down toward Krothino, who was still struggling in mid-air. Even from a distance, the magical energy contained within the seven-colored beam filled Mo Han and the others with dread.

In an instant, the seven-colored beam slammed into the perimeter of the barrier woven by Blaze. The magic barrier, constructed by Blaze, was shattered the moment it made contact with the beam, utterly incapable of offering any resistance against the immense power it contained.

After breaching Blaze's magic barrier, the beam then undeniably pierced through the massive body of the Fire Phoenix Krothino suspended in the sky, instantly passing clean through him.

Subsequently, the energy beam, still carrying its undiminished power, struck the ground beneath the Death Forest with straightforward force.

A world-shattering roar erupted as the beam impacted the earth, instantly sending up a localized mushroom cloud. Like the nuclear explosions from Mo Han's previous life, the cloud ascended into the air, spreading its immense power outward in all directions.

Everywhere the shockwave passed, the incredibly sturdy trees of the Death Forest were instantly pulverized into fine dust upon contact with the magical explosion’s force, vanishing into the air.

Moments later, this torrent of energy rushed toward where Mo Han and the others stood. Having unleashed the spell, Mo Han’s body was completely drained of all mana; even maintaining flight was a struggle, let alone escaping. Bai Ling was not faring much better, utterly incapable of blocking the terrifying airflow, forced to watch with Mo Han as the currents bore down upon them.

However, there was no trace of panic in Mo Han’s eyes. If it had only been Mo Han and Bai Ling, they would inevitably have been engulfed by these powerful currents. But they were not alone; Blaze, whose strength far surpassed Mo Han’s, was beside them. Even if Blaze couldn't completely nullify the Divine Curse's power, ensuring their escape would certainly not be difficult for him.

Indeed, as the currents drew near, a sheath of seven-colored magical light instantly enveloped Mo Han, Bai Ling, and Dick. They were then rapidly pulled backward, their speed matching that of the frenzied air currents, swiftly flying far out of the blast zone.

Once they reached a safe distance, Mo Han finally had the chance to appreciate the effect of his magic. Nearly half of the Death Forest had been reduced to ash by the impact of the Brilliant Divine Curse, and where the spell struck the ground, a colossal pit had formed.

As far as the eye could see, the massive crater spanned perhaps dozens of miles across. From the depths of this pit, groundwater surged upward in a relentless flow, spreading outwards—it was clear that soon, a massive lake would form in the area.

Seeing this scene, Mo Han truly understood the terrifying nature of a Divine Curse. Although he had heard his Master describe the power of Divine Curses before—particularly the tale of a spell that could cleave a massive island in two—in Mo Han’s subconscious, he had always believed that while powerful, the curse didn't possess the world-destroying capability Mo Xiuyi had claimed.

Now, having witnessed the might of the Brilliant Divine Curse firsthand, Mo Han completely believed Mo Xiuyi’s account. This curse was akin to the incredibly potent nuclear weapons of his past life, perhaps even more terrifying.

Wondering about Krothino’s fate, Mo Han immediately scanned the sky for the Fire Phoenix’s massive silhouette. But the sky was completely empty; there was no sign of any creature, much less the Fire Phoenix.

As if sensing Mo Han’s thoughts, Blaze, who had been standing silently nearby, slowly spoke, "No need to search. Krothino was killed instantly by the Divine Curse. As for his body, it was pulverized by the powerful currents at the epicenter of the explosion; there’s nothing left to find."

Hearing Blaze's answer, Mo Han felt a sudden wave of relief wash over him. His body, utterly spent, could no longer support itself, and after a dizzy spell, Mo Han dropped straight down. However, he was immediately saved by a spell cast by Blaze.

A colorful light tightly encased Mo Han, gently lowering him toward the ground. Mid-air, Blaze looked toward Bai Ling with a questioning expression, seemingly asking if she needed assistance, considering she had also nearly exhausted all her mana.

Surprisingly, Bai Ling merely shook her head stubbornly, offered Blaze a grateful smile, and then mobilized her weary body, flying in the direction Mo Han was descending.

Blaze, hearing this, could only shake his head resignedly, transformed into a streak of light, and vanished instantly above the Death Forest. The forest gradually returned to normalcy, except for the colossal lake near its edge, a testament to the earth-shaking changes wrought by the Brilliant Divine Curse; otherwise, everything was quiet again.

In the open space at the edge of the Death Forest, effectively outside its boundaries, Blaze, clad in black, stood quietly. He looked at the just-awakened Mo Han with a placid expression and spoke plainly, "You are brave. But also foolish."

Mo Han showed no reaction to the words, merely staring straight ahead, his gaze utterly level, as if Blaze were speaking of someone else entirely. Occasionally, a faint trace of sorrow flickered in his eyes.

Seeing this, Blaze sighed and said, "The Brilliant Divine Curse, the Light Divine Curse—these are a handful of top-tier spells that even I wouldn't attempt with full certainty of success. Yet you, a mere junior Mage God who has just stepped onto the threshold of that realm, dared to cast it. I don't know if you are foolish or brave."

"If I had the chance again, I would still cast it without hesitation," Mo Han replied flatly, without even turning his head.

Blaze’s tone softened with a touch of sadness. "What you really mean to say is about your friends being killed by Krothino, isn't it?"

Hearing this, Mo Han suddenly snapped his head around, staring coldly at Blaze. "How do you know these things? I never told you any reason."

Blaze did not answer immediately, instead speaking slowly, "When I was at the Gulan Ruins, I sensed a powerful magical fluctuation—a magical strength possessed by at least a God-tier expert. In the entire Death Forest, besides myself possessing the strength of a Mage God, only you held that rank. As for Krothino, although he possessed God-level strength, he was strictly a Sword God."

"And in the Death Forest, the only one capable of forcing you to use your full power would be Krothino. So, the moment I sensed the magical fluctuation, I guessed you and Krothino were in conflict and hurried over."

Seeing Mo Han about to speak, Blaze waved a hand to stop him, continuing, "Krothino has been lingering in this Death Forest for over a thousand years. Before I arrived, he had already been here for a very long time. Back then, with the aid of the Seven Star Dragon Pearl, he couldn't do anything to me, and I fled to the Gulan Ruins."

"His only hobby was capturing people or creatures to practice with. Though it’s phrased as 'practice,' it was truly just brutalizing them. Not a single one of the beasts or humans he captured ever escaped his hands. Over hundreds of years, countless magical beasts and humans have died by his hand."

At this point, Blaze offered a wry, helpless smile. "Since you engaged him in conflict, based on Krothino’s usual methods, he wouldn't proactively provoke a God-tier Mage God. Even if you were only a Mage God just reaching the threshold, it must have been you who sought him out. That's why I immediately suspected your friends were in trouble."

"Then why didn't you tell me this earlier, so I could have returned sooner?" Mo Han continued to gaze at Blaze with a calm expression, quietly awaiting the answer.

Blaze paused, then spoke with a hint of apology, "But from what I knew, Krothino hadn't left the Death Forest’s territory proactively for centuries. That's why, when I heard your friends were on the periphery of the forest, I assumed they were in no danger. Krothino never leaves the Death Forest—who knew..." Blaze trailed off with a sigh.

From the tone of Blaze’s voice, Mo Han understood that he likely wasn't lying. After all, Krothino had remained in the Death Forest for hundreds of years; who could have predicted he would suddenly go mad and venture to the forest's edge to find Jack and the others?

Mo Han knew he couldn't truly blame Blaze. If Blaze hadn't suddenly appeared, he and Bai Ling would likely be dead right now, instead of standing there talking. However, the sudden demise of Jack and the others was still hard to accept, which was why he had felt such resentment toward Blaze earlier.

Memories of meeting Jack, Rock, and Latin for the first time replayed in Mo Han's mind, and he could almost hear Jack’s familiar voice: "Boss, why are you hitting my head again? Why am I always the one getting hurt...?" followed by the laughter of Rock and Latin. But now, he could never hear those voices again. Thinking of this, Mo Han’s eyes involuntarily reddened slightly.

He lowered his head, staring blankly at the sky above, silently lamenting why he hadn't arrived sooner. If he had appeared earlier, perhaps this situation would never have occurred.

Seeing Mo Han’s state, both Bai Ling and Blaze knew he was grieving for Jack and the others and dared not disturb him, simply standing by quietly. Bai Ling, having spent time with Jack and the others, also felt a connection, and her expression was laced with sorrow. She slowly walked to Mo Han’s side, took his hand, but didn't look up at him, choosing instead to gaze at the sky alongside him.

Mo Han turned and saw Bai Ling’s hair, now entirely white, and a surge of guilt rose within him. He spoke to Bai Ling apologetically, "I'm sorry, I..." He couldn't finish the sentence. For so long, Bai Ling had only been a burden to him, yet she had always helped him without complaint, treating it as a matter of course. Anything he said now felt hollow, which is why he stopped mid-sentence.

Seeing Mo Han like this, Bai Ling simply smiled at him and shook her head slowly without speaking. Mo Han understood her sentiment—she held no blame for him whatsoever. He offered Bai Ling a grateful smile and fell silent again, continuing to stare at the sky.

A full day passed this way, the three standing silently, none breaking the quiet first, until the next morning. Mo Han finally let out a long sigh, turned to Blaze, and said, "I must return to the Heavenly Dragon Empire to properly bury my friends. Thank you for saving my life; Mo Han will certainly find an opportunity to repay you."

"But Krothino’s palace was razed to the ground by the Brilliant Divine Curse. You..." Blaze was visibly stunned by Mo Han’s words. That area was now a lake; Jack and the others had likely been turned to ash by the Divine Curse's immense power. How could Mo Han bury them?

Seeing Blaze’s confused expression, Mo Han explained sadly, "My friends' bodies were already collected in my spatial ring, so the previous magic did not affect them at all."

Hearing the explanation, Blaze nodded and said solemnly, "Very well. In that case, I won't keep you. But before you leave, there is one matter I must tell you immediately, so you can prepare yourself."

Seeing Blaze's grave expression, Mo Han's own tension increased, and he nodded.

Blaze then slowly began, "I fear the Demon Race army will arrive on the Dragon Soaring Continent in about half a month."

Hearing this explosive news, both Mo Han and Bai Ling froze. Mo Han urgently asked, "According to the Light Divine Church, shouldn't the Demon Race appear in another six months? Why so soon?"

"The Church wasn't wrong," Blaze interjected slowly. "Originally, the Demon Race needed at least another six months to manifest. But I never imagined you would unleash a top-tier Light Divine Curse here in the Death Forest."

Confused by Blaze’s seemingly disjointed statement, Mo Han asked, "What does the Demon Race's appearance have to do with me casting a Divine Curse?"

Blaze offered a bitter smile. "Originally, nothing. But the passage the Demon Race intends to open is located right in the Gulan Ruins within this very Death Forest. Do you see the connection now?"

Hearing Blaze's explanation, Mo Han exclaimed in shock, "What, here?"

Blaze nodded slowly, explaining, "Originally, that passage was suppressed by the divine power resting over the Gulan Ruins. Even Hades, the Demon King, would have needed at least half a year to carve out a spatial tunnel. But your casting of the Brilliant Divine Curse released most of the divine power surrounding the Gulan Ruins. Without that suppression, Hades might open the spatial tunnel and reach the Dragon Soaring Continent in less than half a month."

Hearing Blaze's explanation, Mo Han was truly stunned. He realized that by unleashing the Divine Curse, he had unintentionally done the Demon Race a massive favor. He wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry.

Seeing Mo Han’s reaction, Blaze tried to comfort him, "In fact, my Master had already predicted this outcome. But I didn't anticipate you casting such a high-level Divine Curse—one far beyond your current capabilities—here in the Death Forest. So, everything has essentially exceeded expectations; it feels like fate has already sealed it. You shouldn't blame yourself too much."

Heeding Blaze's reassurance, Mo Han could only offer a wry smile and slowly asked, "So what should we do now?"

Blaze immediately responded, "Your only option now is to rush immediately to the Light Divine Church and inform them of this situation so they can prepare and notify the great empires of the continent to mobilize for war. Although the time is short, it’s better than having no warning at all."

Mo Han nodded. That was the only course of action left. Thinking this, Mo Han stared at Blaze and asked, "Since the Demon Race is coming, why don't you come with us?"