'We meet again.'
Leo wasn't exactly sure what kind of expression he had on his face, but upon catching sight of Geochin, a confusing wave of excitement enveloped him despite the overwhelming tension in the air.
"It's unlikely that you will change your mind, but I will give you one last chance to step down and join us in rebuilding this unfair world."
The atmosphere turned freezing cold as the Murim League's Liberation Army hit the brakes just before engaging the Heavenly Strength Society's army. Taking one step forward, Geochin presented one last olive branch, barely keeping his aggression in check.
"What do you say? Will you take my hand?"
As the two armies stood in each other's faces, the distance between Geochin and Yeon was barely over a meter.
"We do not care what you make of this world. Whatever your target is, you are free to achieve it as long as you don't get involved in our territory."
Before she finished her words, Yeon moved her hand forward as if she was ready to accept the protagonist's peace offering. However, its trajectory took a different turn when…
Swish!
"Unfortunately, you had already made it clear that you have no plans of leaving us alone!"
The Black Heaven Jade was promptly drawn out of its sheath by Yeon in an attempt to send Geochin's head flying!
Regrettably, it seemed like he was more than ready for such a response, skillfully jumping to the back. While others might call it running away from confrontation in this rigid world, this was Geochin's speedy battle style.
"Very well, let's leave the decision to our blades."
Swish!!!
The Lightning Dragon sword's appearance was accompanied by a sea of metal clashing, the army that had just held down their seething bloodlust had fully drawn their weapons in preparation to drown the plains in blood!
'He… Has changed.'
Leo couldn't help noticing the difference in Geochin's immediate response. This scene was supposed to be semi-lengthy with the protagonist exchanging light attacks with the antagonist while trying to convince her of his ideas, but the script had completely changed!
The glint in Geochin's eyes did show that he still had something for Yeon, but he had almost fully repressed it. Leo didn't even need to consider how this had come to be, this was the result of his intrusive butterfly effect.
Since the plot didn't get to flow in the direction where Geochin always shone with glory before getting strangely lumped in with Yeon due to a series of coincidences, his feelings had gone unrequited without Yeon gaining any sort of interest in him.
The small flame that had kept his cold heart pumping could be said to have been extinguished, everything was frozen into crystals! In fact, it seemed that losing sight of his second target had made him even more focused on his main one, the current Geochin was definitely more on edge!
He was just one step away from realizing his fantastical dream, how crazy was that? Convincing the greatest opposer of his ideals wasn't exactly on the top of Geochin's list at the moment.
'It's a shame. I hoped you would at least understand me, but I suppose this wasn't meant to be…'
"Haaaaaaaa!"
The Liberation Army's thoroughly practiced warcries filled the battlefield as they resumed their frenzied charge, directly engaging the Society's formations, the battle had officially started!
Without a doubt, numbers weren't on the Society's side, but numbers didn't equal strength especially when the majority of them were below the Peak stage, what really mattered was…
Thud!
The Unrestrained Powerhouses! The Poles of the battlefield!
The whole battlefield gravitated around the existence of top-tier Martial Artists, lacking as little as one could mean a decisive loss, and having one more could allow one to lay waste to their enemy's forces, they were the true measure of strength!
"Spread out, don't let them gang up on you!"
Unfortunately, the Liberation Army also had the advantage in that department on account of the uncanny similarity between Geochin's and that of quite a few Elders.
Thanks to this plausible plot device, the protagonist managed to recruit a lot of people who had the ability to escape and go into hiding even if they could repel the Murim League, but the situation was far from being a lost cause!
Thud!
Even when more than two Unrestraineds worked together to fight the Society's Unrestrained, they were still able to hold out fine, especially when it came to the Four Pillars.
"We got this."
For one, the most active person on the battlefield was none other than Cheon Jeong. Holding one blade in each hand, the Blade Spirit easily engaged both the Namgung and the Murong Families' Elders!
Even then, the one who was silently crushing it was undeniably the Absolute Spear. Cheon Chang was handling three at once in order to give the others the chance to decapitate their enemies in one on ones!
"Now, Yong!"
…And that was still from the limits. The two most promising Transcendents of the Society were working together to push the threshold or their stage and imprison an Unrestrained in a battle with them.
Although they didn't get the same chance as Leo and Yeon, Sohee and Yong never stopped doing their best either!
"Sure, you are holding on for now, but let's face it. It's only just a matter of time before you collapse!"
However, none of that gave Geochin any pressure as he locked weapons with Yeon. The numbers still pointed to a confirmed victory.
If anything, those that could handle more than one were bound to get exhausted first. As long as there was no actual important casualty on the Liberation Army's side, there was no changing the results.
"One down!"
Bang!
Just when Geochin's confidence was at its very peak, a loud cheer reverberated through the battlefield as something heavy impacted the ground, attracting everyone's attention for a split second.
"This is…"
The first Unrestrained Martial Artist had fallen… On the Liberation Army's side!