In Lin Jun’s perception, the abyss was like a rushing river, endlessly flowing with information that never stayed in one place.
The third- or fourth-tier summoning array he was using now was like drilling a hole in the frozen river surface and waiting for creatures to leap out on their own.
But Lin Jun’s method was different. He could actively reach his consciousness in to “fish,” naturally far more efficient.
Yet what he caught was still pure luck.
Like now: he had quietly tailed the demon army for two days and only pulled up trash fish.
The abyss had bizarre species; many didn’t even seem designed for combat or survival.
For example, candle monsters that produced beautiful illusions when lit, doll-people that only beat monotonous drums… these purely entertainment creations gave Lin Jun a new appreciation for the abyss’s diversity.
Useless ones he had to personally destroy.
Compared to them, shadow bugs were actually “honor students” among recent hauls.
Thanks to Aidin’s concealment, the messy summoning ritual hadn’t been noticed by demon sentries.
The demons weren’t stupid either. Though constantly harassed, the main army still advanced steadily, only half a day behind schedule.
At this rate, they’d reach Redstone City in a day or two at latest.
“Come on, something useful!” Lin Jun was still drawing cards.
Nearby, Aidin expressionlessly downed another mana potion.
Though the potion went down his throat, his mana barely recovered. He felt his stomach was full of water.
Like staying up with stamina potions, supplements had limits.
Overuse not only gave diminishing returns but required long recovery afterward.
“Boss, sorry to kill the vibe, but I’m nearing my limit.”
Seeing Lin Jun addicted to summoning and not replying, Aidin sighed and looked up.
Clouds swallowed the moonlight. The night sky was pitch black. Thunder rumbled deep in the clouds; a storm was coming.
Just then, the abyssal array flared again. This time the emerging objects were different: two light orbs slowly condensing in mid-air.
The thunder grew clearer.
“Aidin, try to survive and come back. I’ll compensate you.”
“What?” Aidin clearly didn’t understand.
“Run!”
CRACK—!
Blinding lightning struck. The scout Puchi vaporized instantly before Aidin’s eyes.
One solidified orb was hit by the lightning. More thunder followed. Winds surged from all directions, forming a growing vortex around the orb.
The other, not yet formed, vanished the instant the Puchi died.
“What the hell is this?!” Aidin knew disaster had come and turned to flee.
He chugged another recovery potion regardless; even a sliver more mana was good!
Stray lightning arcs grazed his back. His mana shield shattered.
Before he could recast, a chunk of wind-tossed debris smashed his face.
“I can escape! I can escape! I can get away!” He endured dizziness, face covered in blood, and ran frantically into the distance.
…
Aidin’s carefully layered concealment arrays collapsed the moment the first thunderbolt fell.
In the demon camp, several sharp-sensed demon powerhouses turned simultaneously toward the direction. The sudden burst of violent mana was like a torch in the night.
Receiving the report, Duke Xenophon stormed out of his tent with his giant axe, laughing triumphantly. “Finally caught those damn rats! They’re…”
His words died.
Xenophon stared wide-eyed at the storm giant coalescing from wind and lightning not far away. The cruel smile on his pig face slowly faded.
“Why is an elemental spirit of this level appearing?! And condensing this fast…”
No one could answer.
Worse: the storm giant let out a thunderous roar and charged straight at the camp!
“GRRROOOOAR—!”
Xenophon bellowed. His body swelled to twice its size in moments. Red-hot steam rose from crimson skin, like a beast fresh from the forge.
Even his giant axe glowed red-hot.
“All troops, to battle!”
The order spread. Countless spells and arrows rained on the storm giant.
Xenophon led the charge, leaping dozens of meters high. His axe swung with mountain-splitting force…
…
At the same moment, people on Redstone City’s walls witnessed the terrifying sight.
When the towering storm giant appeared on the horizon, despair spread among the defenders.
Their already precarious situation now faced this horrifying new enemy.
But soon someone noticed something odd.
Though too far for details, the storm giant seemed to have charged into the demon formation!
“It looks like their summoning ritual went out of control?” Grand mage Ivan guessed from experience.
Half-dragon Gar burst out laughing. “Serves them right! This is demon retribution! Hahaha!”
Nightowl poked Gar. “Stop laughing.”
“Why? Demons getting wrecked isn’t funny?”
“Because it seems to be coming our way.”
“…”
“…”
“…”
“It… really is…?”
—
Lin Jun had no idea what happened over there. The moment the scout Puchi was struck, he lost vision.
Suddenly pulling two LV70+ [Frenzied Spirits], and the low-tier abyssal ritual having zero control effect, Lin Jun knew he was screwed.
He only had time to shout one warning to Aidin.
Lin Jun hadn’t decided what to write on Aidin’s tombstone yet. He hoped the guy didn’t just die…
But Lin Jun had no time to worry about Aidin now; his own backyard was catching fire too!
The instant the scout Puchi was destroyed by lightning, the unformed light orb seemed to latch onto his soul surface and instantly crossed infinite distance, yanked above a fungal mat in the far north.
The strange orb solidified in moments, then sank into the mat, plunging deep underground until it vanished from Lin Jun’s perception.
At first Lin Jun was confused; everything around seemed normal. He even wondered if it had run out of mana and dispersed.
Until snow suddenly began falling across the entire far north. In the season that should be turning from spring to summer, temperatures dropped instead of rising. Lin Jun realized something major had gone wrong!
(End of Chapter)
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