Rumble… rumble…
The blue-white sky darkened abruptly.
Thunderclouds spread in all directions, blinding lightning exploding again and again!
BOOM!
BOOM! BOOM!
The detonations were deafening.
Amid the thunder came another sound—
Heavy, deliberate footsteps!
Yes—footsteps.
The few alien beasts that had been so aggressive just moments ago were shaken to their cores, snapping their heads up toward the heavens!
There, countless thick lightning serpents writhed madly as a figure strode forward, step by step, walking upon the thunder itself.
His body was clad in ferocious thunder scales, his expression cold and arrogant.
Every step he took caused a blinding burst of lightning beneath his feet.
The lightning coiling around him was not decoration—it was the external manifestation of his power.
Just the aura leaking naturally as he walked was enough to make the surrounding space crackle and explode!
"They… they're here. You… you have to… run!"
The woman was stimulated by that overwhelming presence and struggled awake.
Her voice was weak, filled with deep unwillingness.
Not only her—those few Master-rank alien beasts had their pupils contract violently as well, staring fixedly at that figure.
Instinct carved into their bloodlines made their massive bodies tremble uncontrollably!
...
Iron Dragon Fortress.
The sky above suddenly convulsed violently.
Space itself was torn apart by an invisible hand, revealing a void rift.
Under the shocked gazes of the fortress guards and civilians, two figures stepped out of the rift and descended straight toward the central administrative hall.
City Lord Garson was already waiting there, his single eye fixed on the newcomers.
At the front stood a burly middle-aged man clad in dark-gold heavy armor, a greatsword strapped to his back.
His gaze was sharp. Just standing there, an aura forged through blood and fire spread outward.
That unfathomable weight made even Garson—himself a Grandmaster—feel a trace of pressure.
The second was a young girl.
She wore simple silver-white enchanted leather armor, a pale-blue cloak draped over it.
Her features were delicate, but her brows were knitted with barely concealed anxiety.
"General Richard… I didn't expect you to come personally,"
Garson said in a deep voice.
He recognized the man—one of the three sharpest swords under the legendary human commander Philippe.
Steelbreaker Richard!
His strength had long reached the peak of Grandmaster, with one foot already stepping into the Epic realm.
A true apex powerhouse capable of influencing the course of an entire war.
"Governor Garson, the situation is critical,"
Richard replied urgently.
"Is there any lead on the missing prodigy?"
Garson's expression tightened.
"Not yet. If I may ask… she is to Lord Philippe…?"
He already had a guess.
Richard nodded gravely.
The girl beside him spoke anxiously.
"Governor Garson, Sister Arlis was ambushed by a thunderclan prodigy and several Master-rank powerhouses!"
"She used her final life-saving method to escape here. We must find her immediately—otherwise, even if she shakes off the pursuit, her injuries…"
A flash of shock passed through Garson's single eye.
He knew the matter was serious, but not to this extent.
Arlis was not only Commander Philippe's only daughter—she was also a prodigy who had left her mark within the Embers Council, bearing the hopes of countless people!
If she were to fall here, the blow to human morale would be incalculable.
Garson said at once, "I'll immediately deploy more troops and expand the search radius!"
He was prepared to personally lead the search, even if it meant abandoning parts of the outer perimeter.
Compared to a single beacon of hope for humanity, the gains and losses of Iron Dragon Fortress were insignificant.
"Much appreciated!"
Richard nodded to Garson, then turned to the girl beside him. "Let's go!"
Two streaks of light shot off into the distant mountains.
Within the fortress, the horn signaling the highest level of alert wailed once more.
Even more soldiers were mobilized. Countless squads surged out through the city gates, joining the rescue effort.
Many officers, veterans, and even craftsmen who heard the news organized themselves spontaneously, grabbing weapons and potions as they left the city to search.
...
Almost at the same time.
From the direction of Crimson City, several powerful figures shot skyward.
At their head was Bonecrusher Quin himself.
They had likewise received strict orders from higher authority—to find and erase that gravely wounded human prodigy at any cost!
Deep within the Evernight Mountains.
More powerful auras were stirred. Shadows of wings slicing across the sky appeared and vanished.
...
Deep in the mountains, at the center of the battlefield.
That thunderbolt tearing across the heavens hung overhead like a Sword of Damocles, radiating a destructive presence that made souls tremble.
All nearby alien beasts cowered, not daring to lift their heads.
Tempest Blackhawk, the berserk ape, and the others—these alien beast lords now barely dared to breathe, much less make another move against Raine.
Because they could feel it—
The master of that lightning could not be defied.
Raine's hair stood on end as well!
He felt that pure, annihilating will of destruction!
Bruce—a fearsome prodigy infamous among the younger generation of the thunderclan.
Every arc of destruction crackling over his body carried terrifying power capable of ripping steel apart with ease.
He didn't spare Raine a single glance, nor did he acknowledge the trembling alien beast lords.
His gaze was locked solely on Arlis, whose aura was faint to the extreme.
"Arlis,"
Bruce's voice was icy.
"Your journey ends here."
It was as if he were reading out a predetermined verdict.
Arlis's eyelids fluttered.
She heard Bruce's words and felt the killing intent enveloping her.
Despair seeped into her bones.
Yet at this moment, a strange calm rose within her heart.
Her life until now seemed to have been nothing but endless battles.
From awakening her talent, bearing expectations, stepping onto the battlefield—to being scarred all over, witnessing death, carrying heavy responsibility…
She was so tired.
Maybe… it really was time to rest.
It was just a pity—to have dragged this innocent soldier into it…
BOOM!
BOOM! BOOM!
Almost the instant Bruce finished speaking—
Figures tore through the air from all directions, landing atop the surrounding peaks to form a tight encirclement.
The auras they released were extremely powerful—every single one had reached the Master level!
This was clearly a joint hunting squad composed of prodigies from multiple upper-tier races, with one clear target—
Arlis!
Seeing this formation, Tempest Blackhawk and the other alien beasts hurried to declare their stance.
"Honored lords!"
The Blackhawk retracted its flames and roared in the humblest tone.
"These two human intruders are also targets we intended to execute!"
"We humbly request permission to act on your behalf—allow us to take their heads and present them to you!"
The Twin-Headed Lion chimed in quickly,
"Yes, yes! These lowly human bugs—leave them to us!"
They were eager to show off before this group of young elites.
"Heh…"
In the midst of this suffocating tension,
A mocking cold laugh rang out abruptly.
The one laughing—
Was Raine.
He slowly raised his head, not a trace of fear on his face.
His gaze swept over the more than twenty powerful figures surrounding him, finally settling on Bruce at the center.
"You want to kill her?"
"Did you ask me?"