Blood threads clashed with razor-sharp rose petals in the air, each strike splashing vivid red light.
Louisa, even with Puffshroom support, teetered on the edge under Yuneer’s relentless assault.
Yuneer’s attacks broke Louisa’s defenses several times, only held back by Puffshroom [Magic Shields] giving her split-second reactions.
Starfire emerged from a tunnel, lending magic aid, and sneaky Resonance Cannon shots barely kept the shaky balance, preventing Yuneer’s quick victory.
Seeing Yuneer tied up, Payne swung his staff, launching a blazing fireball into the endless Puffshroom sea below, scorching a black patch.
He pressed the half-demon chief again. “Bastardos! Still waiting? Want to watch your clan die out and crawl back empty-handed?”
Bastardos’s eyes lost their hesitation, flaring with fierce resolve! Air around him twisted as purple glints ignited in his pupils, power surging!
But as he stepped forward—
“Chief! Chief—!” A anguished cry cut through the blizzard from behind!
Bastardos spun, pupils shrinking, voice trembling with disbelief. “Sergio?! You… you were guarding the tribe! Why are you here?!”
“Chief! The tribe’s gone!” Sergio, the half-demon warrior, collapsed, face marred with frostbite, tears, and fear, wailing. “Three days after you left, a horde of beasts surged from the river! They go invisible, too many to stop!”
He pounded the frozen ground, voice breaking. “My brother… he and the others fought to death to buy a chance for the rest! Survivors scattered! I barely found you!”
“What?!” Bastardos reeled like he’d been struck, his towering frame swaying, the purple glints in his eyes fading.
“Chief! Hurry! Save them! Any later… they’ll freeze or starve in the snow!” Sergio sobbed hoarsely.
Payne spoke coldly. “Go back now? Too late. The dead are gone. Survivors can last a few more days. Crush these demonkin, take your remnants, and follow me to the Empire to recover. That’s your only path, half-demon chief.”
Bastardos’s eyes split with rage, glaring at the Marshal Puffshroom on the fortress.
Just then, with Yuneer distracted, warriors fighting, and Payne’s fireball, a gap appeared in the battlefield—a clear path to the fortress walls!
It shone in the chaos, like a shortcut to victory.
Hearing talk of retreat, Lin Jun tried to taunt them to stay…
The gap was tempting. Bastardos nearly charged.
But instinct sniffed danger.
A closer look—when did the demonkin on the walls vanish? Only Puffshrooms remained.
“Retreat!”
A sharp piercing whistle burst from Bastardos’s mouth, echoing across the battlefield!
At the signal to abandon the fight, half-demon warriors, bloodied and battling, showed shock, defeat, and reluctance but began breaking free, falling back.
A few warriors were swarmed by Puffshrooms, about to be overwhelmed.
Bastardos flashed like a specter, claws ripping air, shredding the Puffshroom swarm into flying mycelium bits!
No more hesitation, he darted through the chaos, tearing gaps in the Puffshroom net with raw power, covering and saving more of his clan.
Payne watched coldly, silent. Bastardos had rejected the Empire’s “gift.” No leverage left, words were pointless.
The battlefield shifted fast. As half-demons withdrew organized under their chief, pressure swung to the leaderless lizardmen!
Puffshrooms noticed, letting some half-demons go, flooding toward the lizardmen.
At the top level, their side had Payne and Yuneer, but the enemy’s hidden Hall-tier fighters were unknown.
Even without, facing thousands with just two after losing cannon fodder…
Not impossible, but too risky. No need.
Gray’s old intel was a joke! The enemy’s strength far exceeded expectations. Reporting what they’d seen was enough to call it done.
That’s why Payne pushed Bastardos but never charged himself—no need to risk his neck.
For the tribes, success meant Empire rewards.
Failure? Don’t expect “effort” points. The Empire wanted results.
So… Payne’s gaze swept the battlefield, landing on Gray, fighting Jida suits… time to retreat.
Flames roared around Gray, his fighting spirit burning hotter! Each punch carried searing waves, smashing and melting bio-armor.
His flame talent let him move freely in the North’s chill, despite no [Cold Resistance].
He punched through a Jida’s chest plate, the demonkin inside igniting, screaming as his brutal force sent them flying.
Gray moved to finish with a kick, but a magic blast roared in!
He twisted, dodging. The orb grazed his shoulder, blasting a pit in the tundra.
More bio-armor… slightly different design, but no matter.
Powerful, sure, but the demonkin inside couldn’t match his speed. Big firepower, no threat.
Gray charged, dodging two more blasts, closing in. His flaming fist swung with incinerating force!
But this time, no shattered shell. His punch hit a dull yellow patch on the chest, blocked!
The recoil numbed his arm, while the foe only staggered half a step.
“What the hell?”
Norris, inside, seized the chance. “Eat my drill!”
An elite Digging Puffshroom vibrated, thrusting! Ignoring Gray’s heat, its sharp drill tore into his gut with pure physical force!
Psh!
Flesh tore, pain surged, but Gray forced it down, hands clamping the drill Puffshroom like iron.
Using the momentum, he spun, his burning leg sweeping, exploding the Jida’s head!
Norris’s view shattered.
Gray freed a hand, elbow hammering the drill Puffshroom to mush!
He readied to counter, but a spear struck from the side, aiming for his ribs!
Caught off-guard, he tried to dodge. The spear tracked him, forcing him to block with his arm, pierced through.
“You!” Gray recognized the attacker.
“We meet again, Empire envoy!” Shòu’s voice was ice, no warmth.
Words barely out, they blurred into clashing shadows, fists and spear sparking!
Before a winner emerged, sharp wind blades cut in, disrupting Shòu’s rhythm. Gray seized the split-second, smashing a fist into Shòu’s face!
Shòu flew back burning, carving a trench in the mycelium.
Payne landed beside Gray, grabbing his shoulder. “We’re leaving!”
Before going, Payne flicked his staff, a sharp wind blade slicing at Norris, crawling from the wrecked Jida!
Facing a Hall-tier’s casual strike, Norris’s pupils shrank!
Too late to dodge, he crossed his arms, guarding—
Clang—!!!
A bizarre metallic ring echoed. The lethal wind blade hit black scales, leaving no mark!
Payne, sensing the odd sound, turned grimly to the short figure. “Dragonkin…”
Seeing the enemy refuse his exploding fortress and retreat, Lin Jun stopped hiding, unleashing Little Black.
(End of Chapter)
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