As Shadow Kill was escaping, it didn't choose a straight path back but circled to the left.
This detour took an entire hour until Chu Chen, leading Zhen Hun, finally located the other party.
Chu Chen discovered Shadow Kill on a giant tree, its breath extremely weak, using the minimal amount of Star Power to maintain its Mimicry Talent, allowing it to evade the Star Beasts' search.
However, Shadow Kill's efforts were worthwhile. In the subsequent counterattack, the Five Great Armies didn't encounter any significant resistance. The few Emperor-level Star Beasts were all injured; they no longer joined the battle but retreated to the Star Beasts' lair to recuperate.
It took the Five Great Armies only a week to seize an area equivalent to the size of the Alliance.
The swiftness of the Five Great Armies' success was due to two main reasons.
First, the Star Beasts did not put up any substantial resistance. The encountered Star Beasts were all decaying clans, seemingly having given up on resisting.
Second, the Five Great Armies' objective was solely slaughter; they wouldn't station themselves at the captured areas, spending the week constantly on the move.
This mode of combat persisted for a month.
Chu Chen gazed at the towering peaks in the distance, the battle intent in his eyes nearly becoming tangible.
At that moment, an aged hand fell on Chu Chen's shoulder.
Chu Chen turned to see that the hand's owner was Zhang Tianlong.
Seeing this, Chu Chen quickly saluted, "Old Commander."
Zhang Tianlong smiled and said, "Just got news that your master has everything ready. After this battle, return to headquarters immediately. Do you know if your Guardian Beasts have completed their inheritance?"
Chu Chen shook his head, replying, "I'm not sure. They're all in the Secret Realm, and I can't perceive their status, but the retreat plan shouldn't be affected."
"That's good. After today's battle, the Star Beasts will completely fall from grace, and we humans will retake the top of the food chain."
However, Chu Chen shook his head and replied, "Old Commander, we must not be careless. This is the Star Beasts' lair, and most of the remaining Star Beasts have gathered here. We should proceed cautiously."
"I understand. This final battle is crucial. I've prepared a comprehensive plan, but the key to this battle lies with you."
"Me?" Chu Chen asked in surprise, pointing at himself.
Zhang Tianlong nodded, "That's right. We haven't encountered significant resistance because the Star Beasts haven't chosen a new Beast King. After a month, a new Beast King is likely to have emerged."
"Are you suggesting I carry out another decapitation strike?"
"Exactly. With the Beast King slain, the Star Beasts will surely descend into chaos, and they will certainly lose this battle," Zhang Tianlong said solemnly.
Listening to this, Chu Chen frowned. The intellect of High-Rank Star Beasts is no less than that of humans. After the former magic shadow wolf was slain just a month ago, this newly born Beast King would naturally be on guard. Executing another decapitation mission will be exponentially more challenging.
Seeing this, Zhang Tianlong said solemnly, "I understand your difficulties, but don't worry. I will draw out the majority of the Star Beasts, allowing you to infiltrate their lair for the decapitation mission. Of course, your safety takes precedence."
Chu Chen didn't refuse but instead gravely nodded, "Rest assured, I will act within my means."
Zhang Tianlong nodded, "For now, observe the battle. Strike when the opportunity arises." With that, he commanded the Five Great Armies to launch an attack.
Shouts and cries of battle quickly echoed across the plains as Star Beasts poured out from the mountains continuously.
Seeing this, Chu Chen immediately had Dafu join the battle while the other four Guardian Beasts stayed near Zhang Tianlong, waiting for the moment to strike.
As time passed, more and more Star Beasts emerged from the mountains, and the Five Great Armies, which initially held the advantage, gradually began to fall behind.
Seeing this, Chu Chen couldn't help but frown. If the situation continues to unfold like this, executing a decapitation strike will be incredibly difficult, and even maintaining the current situation will be a daunting task.
However, Zhang Tianlong is a seasoned veteran. He wouldn't have come here without a trump card.
Thinking of this, Chu Chen's gaze fell on Zhang Tianlong.
Zhang Tianlong seemed to sense this but didn't respond to Chu Chen. Instead, he raised his hand and ordered, "Star Cannon Army, prepare. The entire army retreat one li."
Upon Zhang Tianlong's command, five thousand Cyan Dragon Army members swiftly moved to the rear of the Five Great Armies, then set up a thousand Star Core Cannons.
Grouped in fives, they swiftly prepared to fire.
At this time, the Five Great Armies received the order, promptly abandoning the enemy and retreating backward.
The Star Beasts, seeing this, were momentarily stunned, unsure why the enemy was retreating or whether they should pursue or retreat.
At this moment, a loud eagle's cry came from the mountain peak.
Upon hearing the cry, the beast group immediately retreated without hesitation, even faster than the Five Great Armies.
Hearing the eagle's cry, Chu Chen immediately turned his gaze toward the distant mountain peak. Clearly, the commanding King Beast this time should be an eagle-type Star Beast.
Watching the retreating beast group, Zhang Tianlong frowned. The movements on their side had been detected by the enemy. If they waited for the Five Great Armies to withdraw to a safe position, the beast group would also be beyond the range of the Star Core Cannons, leading them into a bitter fight with more casualties.
Thinking of this, he gritted his teeth and roared, "Fire the Star Core Cannons!"
Upon his command, the Star Core Cannons activated, and various Elemental Powers quickly converged.
"Bang, bang, bang..."
Deep explosions echoed as a thousand beams of colorful light, carrying destructive force, fell onto the battlefield.
"Boom, boom, boom..."
The intense roar echoed continuously within the battlefield, with the beasts within the range of the Star Core Cannons and the soldiers of the Five Great Armies instantly turning to dust.
Of course, roughly eighty percent of the casualties were Star Beasts, and the Five Great Armies accounted for twenty percent.
Zhang Tianlong couldn't afford to grieve as he immediately issued the command to charge.
After the barrage, the numerical advantage of the Star Beasts had vanished, making this the best moment for a counterattack.
At this time, the eagle's cry echoed again, and the fleeing beast group immediately stopped, quickly reorganizing to engage the Five Great Armies once more.
The battle continued for about an hour before no more Star Beasts emerged from the distant mountains.
Seeing this, Chu Chen knew it was his time to strike.
He leaped onto Shadow Kill's back.
Without hesitation, Shadow Kill charged toward the mountain peak.
At this moment, a somewhat furious eagle's cry echoed from the peak, followed by hundreds of Star Beasts quickly gathering around the eagle Star Beast, securely guarding it in the center.
As Shadow Kill charged up the peak, dozens of Star Beasts were already preparing and launched their Elemental Powers at it.
Shadow Kill dared not be reckless, revealing all its trump cards, and once again unleashed a terrifying blade light.
This time, the Star Beasts were well-prepared, with various Elemental Powers crashing toward the blade light.
Roaring sounds continuously came from the peak as rampant energy swept in all directions.
Faced with the full-force strike of hundreds of High-Rank Star Beasts, even Shadow Kill, despite revealing all its cards, gradually began to falter.
"Boom"
The black blade light suddenly exploded, and the frenzied energy wave sent Shadow Kill flying.
"Puff"
Shadow Kill spat out a mouthful of blood, its aura rapidly declining.
"Humph! Stupid human, daring to use such a trick. It's simply seeking death."
Chu Chen sneered, glaring at the snow eagle in the center of the beast group, and said sternly, "It seems you're celebrating too early."
Just as Chu Chen's words fell, the space above the snow eagle suddenly shattered, and a dragon claw reached out from the ruptured space.
Everything happened so abruptly that the Star Beasts had no time to react.
The dragon claw landed precisely on the snow eagle's head.
The opponent's head shattered like a watermelon.
The dragon claw quickly retracted, and the shattered space healed instantly.
Seeing this, Chu Chen immediately revealed a hint of joy. He dared not linger, quickly commanding Shadow Kill to retreat.
The one who executed the stealth attack was Unyielding. After Zhang Tianlong reintroduced the decapitation plan, Chu Chen had been planning for this.
The success rate of Shadow Kill's sneak attack wouldn't exceed ten percent, so it was better to have it distract the enemy.
Unyielding hidden in space had concealing abilities even stronger than Shadow Kill, making it the perfect replacement for Shadow Kill.
