The forces of the alliance army drew closer to the central location housing the device. The battle intensified as they launched a fierce frontal assault.
Alice, clutching her spear tightly, felt the weight of exhaustion. She had been fighting relentlessly since entering this country, and it had taken a significant toll on her body.
Huff! Huff!
She wiped a trickle of blood from the corner of her mouth with her hand.
Approaching her were a group of individuals who inquired, "Are you alright, Alice?"
Alice nodded and replied, "Yes, I can still fight. The most crucial objective is to destroy the device and restore the barrier to its normal state."
The individuals who had approached her were members of the Blue Cross Squad: Drami, Marcus, Sekmet, Paolo, and Leilus. They had grown significantly stronger since their involvement in the war against the Red Matter Association.
"Most of the enemy forces are focused on the angels. We have a chance to break through," Leilus said.
"I know..." Alice replied, glancing around.
Many warriors from Athens' Champion had already perished to reach this point, and more losses were inevitable. It weighed heavily on her conscience. They were on the frontline, but where was Franklin and the others?
They desperately needed more manpower now.
Alice turned her gaze to the Blue Cross Squad and asked, "What about you guys? Can you still fight?"
"Yep, we can still do this!" Drami declared with a smile, raising her fist.
The other members of the Blue Cross Squad echoed her determination with smiles of their own.
Seeing their resolute expressions, Alice understood their answer. There was no need to wait for additional reinforcements. These individuals were true warriors at heart, ready to risk their lives.
"Alright, let's go!" Alice said.
She glanced ahead and spotted Eilish preparing to cast another AOE spell. Eilish was pushing herself too hard, considering she had just broken through the third shackle.
Alice reached into her pocket and discovered she only had three potions left. She knew she had to take action before her energy ran out.
...
Shen Yao and Li Guan found themselves above Zone 10, locked in a fierce battle against the Spatial Whisperer and a woman known as Poisonous Vine. These two formidable experts prevented them from approaching the device containing the Cancelling Rune.
Spatial Whisperer and Poisonous Vine possessed great power and effectively deflected any attacks aimed at the device. Shen Yao and Li Guan understood that, to destroy the device, they first had to defeat these opponents.
Shen Yao distanced herself, her gaze fixed on the pair. She clutched her shoulder, experiencing a stinging pain that caused her brow to furrow.
Her hands emitted a golden light, and the pain gradually subsided, along with the wound.
Poisonous Vine found amusement in Shen Yao's actions. She remarked, "As expected of a priestess. You can dispel my poison as if it's nothing."
Shen Yao remained silent, her attention shifting to the ongoing battle below.
She could only hope that their comrades would swiftly destroy the device, as it had placed the entire country in lockdown, making evacuation impossible for civilians.
However, a nagging sense of doubt lingered in her mind.
Was it truly in the best interest of the Army of Gluttony to lock them in with the civilians?
Shen Yao sensed that the enemy's plan ran deeper than they initially thought. She turned to Li Guan, who stood beside her, and declared, "Li Guan, we must defeat them."
Li Guan nodded resolutely. "Alright, I'll take the lead."
Spatial Whisperer squinted his eyes, and Poisonous Vine tightened her grip on her whip, ready to counter any attack aimed at the device.
Boom!
In the next moment, Li Guan's body radiated a brilliant light, and a green gem materialized on his forehead, emitting a potent and overwhelming energy. The brown fur enveloping his body formed intricate golden patterns that connected to the gem on his forehead. His eyes turned white with multiple green irises.
He had unleashed his released form.
His aura underwent a radical transformation, emanating an intensely dangerous presence unlike anything they had seen before.
"You should all understand that civilians shouldn't be caught in the crossfire. Lives have been lost, and you will be held accountable," Shen Yao declared icily. "Go ahead, Li Guan."
ROAR!!!
Li Guan's thunderous roar echoed through the sky. He bent his knees and propelled himself through the air, hurtling toward their opponents.
In the blink of an eye, he stood before them.
Whoosh!
Poisonous Vine widened her eyes as her dark red hair billowed around her. She swung her whip through the air, but it found no target.
Li Guan had already moved above her, preparing to deliver a powerful punch. However, Spatial Whisperer had anticipated this move. He extended both hands and manipulated the space in front of him.
Bang!
Spatial Whisperer warped the space as Li Guan veered to the side. Simultaneously, Shen Yao leaped above them, unleashing a formidable palm strike.
"[Divine Desolation Palm]!!"
A colossal palm, towering over a hundred meters, descended from the heavens. Shen Yao gritted her teeth, infusing even more power into her attack.
Li Guan quickly retreated from Spatial Whisperer and Poisonous Vine. Opening his mouth, he gathered an immense concentration of energy.
"[Bestrou]!!"
Boom!!
On the other side.
Asfrith and Adel suddenly halted, simultaneously turning their heads. They witnessed a colossal energy palm descending from the sky, accompanied by a burst of dark gold beams.
"That's Shen Yao and Li Guan..." Adel remarked with a smile.
Asfrith and Adel recognized the energy signature. They understood that Shen Yao and Li Guan were now giving their all.
Adel glanced toward their opponents, Thousand Earth and Anti Mage. Then, he looked at Asfrith, who stood beside him, and inquired, "So, are you going to get serious?"
"Not until I've confirmed the identity of the traitor. What if you turn out to be the traitor, and you attack me while I'm focused on my target?" Asfrith responded with a cold tone.
Adel laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. "Ehehe, I forgot that there's a traitor among us."
Shen Yao and Li Guan, unlike Omari Adel and Asfrith Beiner, hailed from different factions—Aaru and Asgard, respectively. They were from opposing factions, and if it weren't for the threat of Gluttony, they might have been enemies engaged in the ongoing skirmish between the Holy Lands.
"Then, we'll have to split up. Choose one of them," Adel proposed. "I'll lead away the one you don't pick, so you won't have to worry about my presence here."
Asfrith remained silent, hovering in the air, his gaze fixed on Anti-Mage and Thousand Earth.
Adel sighed and added, "You're overly cautious. My guess is that the traitor is likely one of the Five Master Clans. Well, I'll make a choice."
With those words, Adel sprinted into action, his energy erupting and enveloping the entire battlefield.
Anti Mage and Thousand Earth reacted swiftly, leaping away from the approaching threat.
"You're mine," Adel declared as he extended his palm. Winds and light converged, forming a massive net.
Anti Mage sneered, drawing his sword and charging at the oncoming net. Flames and lightning enveloped his blade as he sliced through the net, reducing it to tiny fragments.
Adel manipulated his hand, causing a potent wind to gather behind him.
HA!
With a shout, the wind burst forth, forcing Anti Mage in a particular direction. Anti Mage shielded himself from the wind by employing lightning and flames.
Meanwhile, Asfrith engaged Thousand Earth. With Adel out of the picture, he could confront his opponent without worrying about his back. Although the likelihood of Adel betraying the alliance was slim, it was still better to exercise caution rather than face regrets.
Boom! Boom!
Kasci confronted a man with short black hair, whose face was concealed by a dark mask. However, his deep blue eyes emitted an unsettling energy, and his white and dark cape fluttered in the wind.
"Who are you?" Kasci inquired of the man.
Kasci had observed that this enigmatic figure was the one commanding unruly and formidable experts, like Man Eating Tamer. It suggested that the man held a significant position within the ranks of the Army of Gluttony.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't Glorious Wings Kasci... I'm Doriam, also known as Ice Death. You might not be familiar with me, but I hold some renown among the forces of my god," Ice Death chuckled.
"What is your objective? I doubt you're simply here to slaughter the people of this country," Kasci retorted coldly.
"My objective... I don't harbor such things. My Lord simply instructed us to destroy this place, and that's precisely what I'm doing now. My Lord granted me the authority to assume command of this formidable force to conquer this small nation," Ice Death Doriam stated, a concealed smile beneath his dark mask. "If you believe I'm powerful because I can command them, you're mistaken. They follow my orders because I represent our Lord."
"So you do have a plan, then? I'll have to extract it from you," Kasci declared coldly, his aura growing more potent.
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