Rewinding time to a few minutes prior, an eight-meter-tall crack-rock bear with a hideous scar over its right eye floated in the air, glaring fiercely toward Toka City.
Suddenly, a figure clad in black appeared out of thin air beside it and spoke in a rather distressed tone:
“Does that damn Count know we're organizing a monster tide to attack the city? They've actually started tightening security in the city.
And it's not just the people from the Count's manor. A massive crowd of adventurers from the Adventurer's Guild has gathered, and even those folks from the Holy Light Church are making moves. Could they have found out about the siege in advance?!”
With every faction he mentioned, the black-clad man's face darkened a shade, his tone growing increasingly exasperated.
After the Demonic Seed helped the Crack-Rock Bear King break through to Tier Eight, he had directly guided the Crack-Rock Bear King to organize a monster tide to assault Toka City to test the Demonic Seed's effects.
There had been no warning; they wanted a complete surprise attack!
But he hadn't expected the knights of the Count's manor to already be on high alert.
Not only that, but a vast number of adventurers had also gathered in the city. Usually, these adventurers were either running quests in the dungeon or heading outside the city for missions, yet at this critical juncture, most of them were concentrated in the city.
This made him suspect whether someone had placed a Surveillance Magic spell on him.
What puzzled him even more was the group from the Holy Light Church. Those people, who usually did nothing but daily prayers, had actually begun a city-wide demon-purging operation.
They were searching the streets for anything related to the demon race to purify.
“Could it be the traces I left behind while capturing humans in the city for my experiments recently?”
The black-clad man doubted himself for a moment but quickly shook his head. “Whatever. It doesn't matter even if they've found out. I've already obtained the experimental data anyway.”
Then, standing beside the Crack-Rock Bear King with the endless monster tide of magical beasts below them, he spread his arms and shouted in a crazed tone,
“Now, let us bring a grand feast of death to this city!
All for the Demon King!”
“All for the Demon King!”
The Crack-Rock Bear King also growled respectfully in agreement. However, a trace of struggle flashed in his eyes, only for the pitch-black mark on his forehead to flicker, suppressing it.
Yet, he still asked with some worry, “Are you sure those Tier Eight fellows won't make a move? I have only just entered Tier Eight, while those guys have been at Tier Eight for a very long time!”
The black-clad man let out a bizarre cackle, then spoke in his sharp, shrill voice, “Don't worry, I sent those guys an extra-special gift.”
Only then did the Crack-Rock Bear King put his mind at ease. He curled his lips into a hideous grin, revealing sharp fangs.
“Hank, our grudge of many years will be settled today! I will tear you apart piece by piece!”
Just then, the menacing duo heard a deafening boom. Turning, they saw a patch of land not far behind them had been completely reduced to ruins!
Could there be another powerhouse?
The man and the bear exchanged a glance. Then, the Crack-Rock Bear King's expression changed drastically. Through his bloodline connection, he recognized that location as the direction his children had headed.
And now, he could no longer feel that connection!
“Who is it?!”
The Crack-Rock Bear King erupted in a sky-shaking roar. His magic power burned around his body like his fury, forming a dark purple shroud of light.
He then flew toward the ruins, and the black-clad man did not stop him.
Instead, the man spoke craftily:
“Go on, go! Now that the Tier Eight powerhouses in the city are all tied down, I refuse to believe another unfamiliar Tier Eight powerhouse will suddenly appear.
And as long as they aren't Tier Eight, let the Crack-Rock Bear King bring them terror!”
Meanwhile, Charles also heard the howling roar that sounded like a wild beast.
He looked in the direction of the sound, and a look of urgency appeared on his face. He had just seen Reid and the others run in that direction.
Reid and his party might be in danger!
At this thought, he anxiously said to Milia and the others ahead, “I'm sorry, everyone, but I might have to leave the party for a moment!”
Under the effects of Charles's buffs, the four of them had struggled with their Tier Five, Rank Seven cultivations to kill a Tier Six magical beast. Now, hearing Charles's words, they picked up on the urgency in his voice.
Quickly pulling away from the magical beasts, they gathered around Charles. Milia, the party leader, was the first to speak.
“Is it something important? Do you want us to come with you?”
Thinking of the conflict between his former teammates and his current ones, Charles shook his head. “No, I'll go alone. It's a very important matter, so... I'm really sorry!”
Gareth slapped Charles on the shoulder, causing him to stumble and almost lose his footing.
“Why are you apologizing? Even if we're a party, it's not like we have to do everything together!”
Bernard said, “Yeah, Charles. We are a collective, not individuals, but it's only normal for everyone to have their own business.”
Sylph added, “You just need to know that we'll support you no matter what you do!”
A wave of warmth washed over Charles's heart, and his face filled with even more apologetic emotion as he said,
“But what will you guys do after I leave?”
“Don't worry, you have me!”
A voice rang out from the side. The group looked toward the sound and cried out in pleasant surprise.
“Kiki!”
“What are you doing here?”
Gareth asked.
Milia raised her hand with a smile and answered: “I contacted her! I was worried Charles would get too exhausted from constantly casting magic, so I reached out to Kiki to have her support us and ease some of Charles's burden!”
For... me?
Looking at Milia's smiling face, Charles felt warmth swell in his heart once more. He looked at everyone with a serious expression and said, “Thank you. Thank you, everyone!”
Milia stepped up to Charles, stood on her tiptoes, and patted his head, saying with a laugh, “No need for thanks! Because we are partners!”
Gareth added, “If you really want to thank us, treat us to some barbecue when you get back!”
Bernard chimed in, “Actually, stir-fry sounds good too! The flavors are richer and there's more variety!”
Sylph sighed, “You two have really had enough. All you ever think about is eating!”
Kiki laughed, “Alright, alright, don't fight, don't fight!”
Watching this noisy and cheerful scene, Charles felt incredibly warm inside. For the first time, a genuine smile blossomed on his face, which was usually clouded with low self-esteem and blankness.
He nodded vigorously and smiled at them. “I will!”
With that, he turned and rushed off in the direction of the roar. The others smiled warmly as they watched his retreating back, shouting in unison:
“Good luck, Charles!”
Then, the five of them fell into formation. In front of them were several magical beasts around Tier Five, Rank Five. Milia looked at them with a cold gaze and smiled:
“Alright, time to teach these bad guys a lesson! Adventuring Party Wolf Hunt, assemble once again!”
Just like that, Charles and the Crack-Rock Bear King both headed toward Xia De's location.
Naturally, the Crack-Rock Bear King, being Tier Eight, was significantly faster.
As soon as he arrived, he saw several humans slaughtering one another beside a pile of dirt and debris.
There was a blond man with his head buried in the dirt, a mage who had been scared out of her wits and was trying to flee, and a handsome youth repeatedly smashing a woman's head into the ground.
A sneer of disdain escaped his lips. “Lowly, wretched humans!”
He then began to use his bloodline connection to locate his children, but...
Nothing!
No matter how many times he tried, he could not sense his children at all. Those were his only two children!
Fury flooded his entire body, making him like an about-to-erupt volcano. He roared his question at the humans below:
“Humans! Where are my children?!”
Xia De, who had been focused on torturing the person who insulted his parents, glanced up coldly and expressionlessly upon hearing this furious demand.
【Species: Crack-Rock Bear
Combat Power: 14,999 (Defense, Strength)
Skills: Demonization, Claw Strike, Earth Magic (Earth Prison, Earth Spikes, Flowing Rock Bullets, Earth Tremor...)】
This appraisal improved Xia De's mood slightly. Stopping what he was doing, he quietly stared at the massive Crack-Rock Bear King and muttered a seemingly random sentence to himself.
“It seems your first Tier Eight soul will also be a crack-rock bear!”
Then, under the Crack-Rock Bear King's furious and bewildered gaze, Xia De suddenly swung a punch to his side.
But the typhoon-like storm did not appear. Instead...
Crack! Crackle! Crash!
A sound like shattering glass rang out as his fist actually smashed space itself, creating an irregular void and plunging his hand right into it!
Xia De then slowly withdrew his hand from the spatial rift, bringing with it a black greatsword shaped like a coffin lid.
Its pitch-black blade seemed to absorb light, looking incredibly dark and heavy.
Xia De raised Starfall, pointing the tip of the blade at the furious Crack-Rock Bear King in the sky.
A cold gleam flashed across the black sword as emotionless, icy words fell from Xia De's lips:
“To please it?
Or...
To please me?”
Rate on N.U.
