"The level of combat they're displaying is already far beyond that of an ordinary exploration team," Thomas analyzed. "They look more like elite units belonging to major powers."
Rowan nodded in agreement.
Based on the strength displayed by both sides, neither team was an ordinary group of explorers.
Their equipment, combat techniques, and coordination all showed clear signs of professional military training.
As the battle entered its most intense phase, both sides began using increasingly dangerous attacks.
A metal-element warrior from the Blazing Flame Battle Group suddenly launched an assault from the flank.
Under the enhancement of the Blazing Flame Domain, the metal blade in his hands erupted with dazzling light.
"Armor-Breaking Slash!"
The metal-element warrior roared.
The battle blade descended with terrifying force, carrying enough power to shatter the heavens and destroy the earth as it slashed directly toward the formation of the Tidal Exploration Team.
However, the Tidal Exploration Team was no pushover either.
Two earth-element warriors attacked at the same time.
A massive amount of soil and rock rose from the seabed, forming a thick defensive wall.
The battle blade collided with the stone wall.
The resulting explosion was deafening.
"These people have a great deal of combat experience," Rowan silently evaluated.
"Their coordination is also extremely precise. They have clearly undergone long-term training."
As the battle continued, both sides began to suffer casualties.
A fire-element warrior from the Blazing Flame Battle Group was struck by a water tornado unleashed by the Tidal Exploration Team.
Although the attack was not fatal, the warrior had completely lost the ability to continue fighting.
On the other side, two members of the Tidal Exploration Team were seriously injured by a combined attack from the Blazing Flame Battle Group.
"If they continue fighting like this, both sides will suffer heavy losses," Amy said, unable to hide her sympathy.
"Is it really worth fighting so desperately for a chance to explore the ruins?"
"In the face of enormous benefits, very few people can remain rational," Rex sighed.
"The treasure of a King-Sealed Immortal is an irresistible temptation to anyone."
Just then, the situation suddenly changed dramatically.
The captain of the Tidal Exploration Team seemed to be preparing to use some kind of powerful secret technique.
He began chanting a complicated incantation.
The seawater around him started forming strange whirlpools.
"That's bad. He's going to use a forbidden technique!"
The captain of the Blazing Flame Battle Group sensed the danger and immediately shouted a warning to his team.
"Everyone, fall back! Prepare to defend!"
"Wrath of the Sea God!"
The captain of the Tidal Exploration Team completed his incantation.
A massive phantom formed from water-element laws appeared above the battlefield.
The phantom looked like the projection of some ancient sea god.
It stood dozens of meters tall, radiating terrifying fluctuations of law power.
The moment the sea god phantom appeared, the entire sea began to churn violently.
It was as though an actual god had descended upon the world.
"What kind of technique is that?"
Jack stared at the distant scene in shock.
"I've never seen a law attack of this level before."
"It should be some kind of ancient secret technique," Rex said with a solemn expression.
"The power of this attack is already approaching the level of a Universe-level warrior."
Rowan was also shocked by the power of the technique.
Although his true strength far surpassed everyone present, ancient secret techniques of this level were still extremely rare.
The mysteries of law contained within the technique were worth studying carefully.
Faced with such a terrifying attack, the captain of the Blazing Flame Battle Group did not dare to be careless.
He immediately gathered all of his team members and began preparing a collective defense.
"Blazing Flame Shield Formation!"
The captain of the Blazing Flame Battle Group roared.
"Everyone, concentrate your law power here!"
Seventeen members of the Blazing Flame Battle Group simultaneously released their law power.
Under the guidance of their captain, the energy of different attributes merged together, forming a massive flaming barrier.
The sea god phantom raised its arm.
A massive column of water descended from the sky and crashed directly into the flaming barrier.
The energy explosion created by the collision was terrifying.
The entire foggy sea was blasted apart, revealing a clear view of the ocean.
"Look!"
Amy pointed into the distance.
"There are other ships!"
As the fog dispersed, Rowan and the others discovered that five or six other exploration vessels were hidden in the surrounding waters.
Clearly, they had all been drawn here by the battle.
"Looks like we aren't the only ones interested in this fight," Thomas said nervously.
"What do we do now that we've been exposed?"
"It doesn't matter. Everyone is watching the battle anyway."
Rex remained completely calm.
"As long as we don't take the initiative to get involved, there won't be a problem."
At that moment, the confrontation between the sea god phantom and the Blazing Flame Shield Formation entered its most intense stage.
The collision between water and fire produced massive amounts of steam.
The entire battlefield looked like a scene from hell.
Both captains were fighting with everything they had, and the consumption of their law power was enormous.
"They won't be able to maintain this for much longer," Rowan analyzed.
"Techniques of this level consume too much law power."
As expected, several minutes later, the intensity of the attacks began to drop noticeably.
The sea god phantom became increasingly blurry.
Cracks also began appearing across the Blazing Flame Shield Formation.
"Enough!"
A majestic voice suddenly rang across the sea.
"If you continue fighting like this, you'll only benefit everyone else."
Everyone turned toward the source of the voice.
A warrior stood aboard another ship.
He appeared to be a middle-aged man of around fifty years old, and a powerful aura radiated from his body.
His strength was clearly extraordinary.
"That's the leader of the Iron Fortress Exploration Group, the Iron-Blooded War God, Kulak!"
Someone recognized the middle-aged man.
"He's a legendary Star-level Ninth Order expert!"
The moment they heard that he was a Star-level Ninth Order warrior, everyone present was shocked.
A warrior of this level stood at the absolute peak of the Star level.
They were only one step away from becoming Universe-level.
Kulak slowly stepped down from his ship.
He walked through the air, one step at a time, toward the center of the battlefield.
With every step he took, a metallic radiance lingered in the air.
It was a clear display of his powerful control over the metal laws.
"Blazing Flame Battle Group. Tidal Exploration Team."
Kulak's voice echoed across the sea.
"I acknowledge the strength of both your teams."
"But this is not the time for internal conflict."
"We have a common enemy."
"What enemy?"
The captain of the Blazing Flame Battle Group stopped attacking and asked cautiously.
"The Shadowblade Legion of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire and the Thunder Legion of the Qian Wu Empire."
Kulak's expression turned cold.
"They have already established a blockade around the target area."
"No outside exploration team is allowed to enter."
The news struck everyone like a bombshell.
The intervention of two imperial legions meant that the nature of the entire exploration operation had fundamentally changed.
"What right do they have to blockade an open-sea region?"
The captain of the Tidal Exploration Team angrily questioned.
"Right?"
Kulak sneered.
"In a place like this, strength is the only right that matters."
"The Shadowblade Legion has three King-Sealed Immortal-level experts."
"The Thunder Legion has two."
"What can scattered exploration teams like us possibly do against them?"
When he heard the number of King-Sealed Immortal experts involved, Rowan was secretly surprised.
The situation was far more complicated than he and Silvermoon had expected.
Both empires had sent out top-tier combat forces.
"Then what are we supposed to do?"
Someone asked in despair.
"Are we just supposed to give up?"
"Of course not."
Kulak's eyes sharpened.
"I suggest that all the exploration teams present form a temporary alliance."
"We gather our strength and break through the blockade together."
"An alliance?"
The captain of the Blazing Flame Battle Group hesitated.
"We're used to fighting independently. Suddenly cooperating with others..."
"If we don't cooperate, we can only wait to die."
Kulak interrupted him directly.
"An individual team has no chance of breaking through the blockade of imperial legions."
"Only by joining forces will we have even a chance of survival."
His proposal immediately triggered intense discussions among the various teams.
Some supported the idea, believing it was their only way forward.
Others opposed it, worried that betrayal and internal conflict would erupt within the alliance.
"Captain Rex, what do you think?"
Amy asked for Rex's opinion.
Rex fell silent for a moment.
"In theory, an alliance is indeed the best way to break through the blockade."
"But the key question is this."
"Can we trust these people?"
"Even if we break through the blockade, there will be endless disputes during the exploration afterward," Thomas added.
"Distribution of rewards, command authority, and the timing of a retreat."
"All of these could become potential sources of conflict."
Rowan listened to the discussion while observing the reactions of the other teams.
Most of the team leaders were seriously considering the proposal.
Clearly, the threat posed by the imperial legions had placed enormous pressure on everyone.
"Everyone, I understand your concerns."
Kulak continued trying to persuade them.
"But we have no choice."
"If we don't unite now, then once the imperial legions completely control the target area, we won't even get a taste of the rewards."
"Then who will control the alliance?"
The captain of the Tidal Exploration Team raised the most important question.
"I suggest establishing a command council."
Kulak answered calmly.
"The strongest team leaders will make decisions together."
"That way, we can prevent a single person from acting arbitrarily while also protecting the interests of every team."
After nearly an hour of discussion, the eight exploration teams present finally reached a temporary alliance agreement.
There were still many details that needed to be discussed.
However, the overall direction had been decided.
"The Wings of Freedom Exploration Group is willing to join the alliance."
Rex finally made his decision.
"But we reserve the right to retreat independently if the situation becomes too dangerous."
"That condition is acceptable."
Kulak nodded.
"Every team has the same right."
The alliance agreement had barely been signed.
The various teams were still discussing the details of their operation when a deep roar suddenly came from beneath the sea.
The sound was like the furious roar of an ancient beast.
A strange sense of fear instantly spread through everyone present.
"Sea monster."
Kulak immediately reached a conclusion.
"And it's not a weak one."
The moment his voice fell, the sea began to churn violently.
Large amounts of bubbles surged upward from the depths.
Then, a massive black shadow moved rapidly beneath the water.
Every movement created enormous waves.
"Everyone, stay alert!"
Rex immediately issued an order to the Wings of Freedom Exploration Group.
"Prepare for battle!"
The leaders of the other teams also reacted one after another.
The warriors who had been discussing the details of cooperation only moments ago instantly entered a state of combat readiness.
Various law forces began fluctuating through the air.
The atmosphere across the entire sea became tense.
"Based on the energy fluctuations, it should be a Sixth-Order sea monster."
The captain of the Tidal Exploration Team, Morris, analyzed the situation.
"That would be equivalent to a Star-level Sixth Order warrior."
"A Sixth-Order sea monster?"
The captain of the Blazing Flame Battle Group, Brad, breathed a sigh of relief.
"That isn't too dangerous."
"With the strength of our alliance, we should be able to deal with it easily."
However, Kulak's expression became even more serious.
"No."
"The energy fluctuations I'm sensing are far more powerful than a Sixth-Order sea monster."
"Everyone, be careful."
"There may be more than one."
Sure enough, the moment Kulak finished speaking, another roar came from beneath the sea.
This roar was even deeper.
Its power was far more terrifying.
Then came a third roar.
And a fourth.
"Damn it. It's a sea monster pack!"
The leader of one of the teams belonging to the Starlight Explorers Alliance turned pale.
"There are at least four large sea monsters!"
Rowan extended his spiritual force toward the depths of the sea.
He quickly detected the exact situation.
The others were right.
There were four large sea monsters beneath the ocean.
The largest had reached the Seventh Order, equivalent to a Star-level Seventh Order warrior.
The other three were Sixth-Order creatures, each possessing strength equivalent to a Star-level Sixth Order warrior.
"These sea monsters were disturbed by our battle earlier," Morris analyzed.
"Sea monsters are extremely sensitive to fluctuations in law power."
"The clash between the Blazing Flame Battle Group and our team must have attracted their attention."
"There's no point analyzing the reason now."
Brad sounded impatient.
"What matters is how we deal with these beasts."
"I suggest that we follow the alliance agreement we just established."
Kulak made his proposal.
"Everyone joins forces to eliminate the sea monsters."
"Afterward, the rewards will be distributed according to each team's contribution."
The spoils of sea monsters were extremely valuable resources for warriors.
Their scales could be used to create defensive equipment.
Their cores could be refined into powerful medicines.
Their blood was even more precious as a material for cultivation.
The four large sea monsters were worth at least tens of millions of credits.
"Agreed."
Morris nodded.
"The Tidal Exploration Team is willing to participate in the joint operation."
"The Blazing Flame Battle Group has no objections either."
Brad agreed.
The leaders of the other teams also voiced their agreement one after another.
But just as everyone was preparing to act, the surface of the sea suddenly exploded.
A massive sea monster leaped out of the water.
The creature looked like a monstrous combination of a giant octopus and a sea serpent.
Its body was more than fifty meters long and covered in pitch-black scales.
Eight enormous tentacles whipped through the air.
Each one was as thick as a water barrel.
The most striking feature was its eyes.
They looked like two enormous red gemstones, radiating a bloodthirsty light.
"Seventh-Order Deep-Sea Demon Octopus."
Kulak immediately recognized the creature.
"This kind of sea monster has extremely powerful combat strength, and its intelligence is also quite high."
"Everyone, be careful."
The moment the Deep-Sea Demon Octopus appeared, it displayed terrifying destructive power.
All eight of its tentacles lashed toward ships in different directions at the same time.
Every strike carried tremendous force.
An ordinary ship would have been destroyed instantly by even one of those attacks.
"Spread out! Don't gather together!"
Kulak shouted orders.
"Use the mobility of your ships to keep it occupied!"
The various teams immediately began moving.
The three ships of the Wings of Freedom Exploration Group rapidly separated, using their high speed to evade the Deep-Sea Demon Octopus's attacks.
The other teams adopted similar tactics.
However, none of them noticed that beneath the dark waters, several enormous shadows were already beginning to move.
The sea monster pack had not yet revealed its full strength.
And the real battle was only beginning.
-------------------------------
Already hooked? Tell me what reeled you in leave a review, spark the fire with a comment, and if we hit every 250 Power Stones, a bonus chapter drops!
The evolution's just begun. Dive deeper into Unbound Evolution and stay leagues ahead!
[email protected]/_tey
Change @ to a.