"Kehehehe…"
A chilling, grating laugh suddenly exploded through the air, sharp and eerie like a night owl's shriek, tearing through the tense, suffocating atmosphere.
"Without that cursed wall protecting you, I would love to see how you insignificant creatures plan to resist my invincible sea beast army!"
The moment those mocking words echoed out, the battlefield fell into an oppressive silence.
Every beastman froze in place, faces draining of color as if struck by lightning.
They knew that voice.
Since childhood, its legend had been played again and again in the vast plaza of the inner city, year after year. The owner of that voice was the mastermind behind countless sea beast tides that had assaulted the city throughout history.
The Demon Bone-Sea.
A century ago, this ruthless fiend had been defeated by the great beastman Sage at the height of his power and cast into the raging ocean. Since then, there had been no trace of him. Everyone believed he had long since perished, reduced to nothing more than dust in the river of history.
And yet, after a hundred years of silence, he had returned.
As shock rippled through the defenders, an aged yet steady voice suddenly rose from deep within Starfall Island's inner city.
"Brave beastmen, withdraw immediately within the inner city defenses."
"That's great, the Sage has spoken!"
"Hurry, retreat to the inner city at once!"
Shouts rang out as the beastmen snapped out of their daze and fled toward the inner city in a desperate rush.
Some hot-tempered warriors, however, glared fiercely at the churning sea and roared through clenched teeth.
"Damn sea beasts! Come if you dare! I'll be waiting inside and slaughter every last one of you!"
As the beastmen withdrew, the once indestructible steel wall sank completely into the ground, like a colossal ship disappearing beneath the sea.
In the next instant, the ocean boiled.
Countless massive, hideous sea beasts burst from the waves, scrambling toward the land in a frenzied swarm.
"Ah!"
A scream tore through the air.
"Get away from me!"
Weapons swung wildly as retreating beastmen tried desperately to fend off the creatures. Some charged forward in fury, only to be struck down and sent flying.
Cries and curses overlapped in chaos. Those who retreated too slowly had nowhere to escape in midair, watching helplessly as sea beasts knocked them down one by one.
Watching the carnage, Lang Yan ground his teeth and cursed under his breath. Rage burned in his chest, but he knew there was no choice. Without the steel wall, their remaining forces stood no chance against a sea beast army of this scale.
At that moment, Big Pan tightened his grip on the Coiling Dragon Staff, excitement blazing in his eyes.
"Boss, are we really just going to stand by? Shouldn't we help them?"
Beside him, Filina scrunched her nose in disgust.
"Yeah, Eli. Those sea beasts are seriously gross."
Eli Winters swept his gaze across the group. Every face was lit with restless eagerness. Seeing that, he laughed loudly.
"Haha, if you want to go, then go. Show these sea beasts what you can do."
Standing calmly atop the clouds, Eli made no move to stop them. To him, these so-called ferocious creatures were only slightly tougher than ordinary ants.
"Haha, finally my turn!" Big Pan shouted.
With Eli's approval, he leapt from the cloud like a falling star. Mid-descent, the Coiling Dragon Staff in his hands expanded violently, transforming into a colossal pillar that seemed to pierce the heavens. He raised it high above his head.
"Eight Desolations Staff Art, Ultimate Form, Shockwave!"
With a thunderous roar, Big Pan slammed the staff downward.
Boom!
The earth trembled. Dust and gore exploded outward as the massive staff crushed into the sea beast horde. Vast numbers of creatures were pulverized instantly, reduced to mangled heaps of flesh.
And that was only the beginning.
A powerful vibration surged from the impact point, spreading in all directions like ripples across water. Adult beasts and newborns alike spat blood and collapsed. Their internal organs were shattered beyond repair.
"Hah. Too weak," Big Pan scoffed, swinging his staff through the chaos like a god of slaughter.
Filina was the second to move.
Hovering midair, she waved her hands swiftly. Pitch-black storm clouds gathered in seconds, swallowing the remaining light until the sky was plunged into darkness.
"Hehe, die already, you disgusting things!"
She thrust her hands forward.
Blinding bolts of lightning tore out of the clouds, crashing down with devastating force.
The sea beasts below, crazed moments earlier, froze in terror and looked skyward.
"So bright…"
That was their final thought.
In an instant, their massive bodies were erased by the lightning, disintegrating into fine ash that scattered on the wind.
Nearby, Kli lifted his Soul-Calming Flute and began to play. The clear melody flowed across the battlefield, and wherever it reached, the frenzied sea beasts fell into sudden stillness.
Seizing the chance, trapped beastman warriors fled toward safety, glancing back with gratitude and disbelief.
As Kli continued playing, translucent bubbles formed in the air, growing larger and brighter until they shaped themselves into razor-sharp swords.
With a flick of his will, the bubble swords plunged downward.
The immobilized sea beasts had no time to react. Their bodies were pierced clean through. The swords then detonated, the shockwaves tearing apart everything nearby.
At the same time, Simon and Dotai leapt from the clouds. They moved like black tempests, weapons flashing as they carved through the battlefield, blood spraying in their wake.
On another front, Reiju raised her hands. Thick green poison gas poured forth, rolling into the sea beast horde. Any creature touched by it screamed in agony before collapsing. In terms of sheer kills, even Big Pan fell short of her.
Fiona did not move an inch. Four finely crafted blades appeared out of thin air, slicing through the beasts at terrifying speed. Wherever the blades passed, blood lines traced the air and heads fell one after another.
Compared to the others, Chiyo remained composed. She stood quietly, showing little urge to join the slaughter.
With Big Pan, Simon, Dotai, Fiona, Filina, Kli, and Reiju fighting at full strength, the rate at which sea beasts reached the island slowed drastically. Corpses piled high, and the stench of blood filled the sky.
Thanks to their intervention, the beastmen managed to retreat into the inner city and catch their breath.
"Who are you people, daring to butcher my sea beast army so brazenly?"
A furious shout boomed across the battlefield. It was the same voice that had shaken the beastmen earlier.
Big Pan and the others scanned the area, but no one appeared.
"Hah! A coward hiding in the shadows," Big Pan sneered. "Show yourself and let's see if I can beat you until you crawl!"
High above, Eli Winters frowned.
With his heightened perception, he should have sensed any presence nearby. Yet the speaker's position was completely undetectable. That alone made Eli wary.
"Kehehe… ignorant fools. If you're so eager to die, then I'll grant your wish."
A sinister red light flashed into existence and shot toward Big Pan's forehead.
"Not good," Eli muttered.
The red light was terrifyingly fast, striking Big Pan instantly.
Still, Eli did not panic. The spatial mark he had placed on Big Pan had not triggered. That meant his life was not in immediate danger.
In a blink, Eli appeared beside him.
Big Pan stood motionless, eyes shut, as if unconscious.
Filina and the others cut down the surrounding sea beasts and rushed over.
Then the eerie red light appeared again, this time streaking straight toward Filina.
"Not happening," Eli said calmly.
An invisible force erupted from him, freezing the red light in place just two meters from Filina.
"Eli, it's gone!" Filina exclaimed in disbelief.
The light vanished before their eyes.
"It hasn't disappeared," Eli said quietly, studying the space before him. "It's simply no longer visible."
His curiosity about the unseen enemy deepened.