The little dots in the sky vanished. Silence enveloped the scene, with everyone watching as the landscape transformed for the final time.
Near Sun Xiao’s mansion, the font of power erupted with a deafening explosion. Light flooded the surroundings, forcing Sun Tie to shield his eyes. He feared he might be blinded if he stared directly into it. The wind tousled his hair, sending it streaming behind him. Darkness soon overshadowed the brilliance of the font of power.
Sun Tie could no longer discern anything from that direction. Such was the extent of God's might: powerful enough to obliterate the strength of hundreds of cultivators, the mightiest beings alive. And yet, how had the system permitted a breach that allowed vampires to escape previously? Something didn't add up.
A piercing shriek echoed from beyond a mountain behind the mansion. A reptilian cry permeated the air, and soon, the rhythmic beat of mighty wings resonated from afar.
From behind the mountain, a colossal dragon soared into view. Its wings, twice the size of its body, carried it upwards, casting an immense shadow below. The expressions on the faces of the onlookers were a blend of awe and fear.
“An elder beast,” Sun Tie muttered.
“Better if we avoid it,” Cole replied, wiping sweat from his forehead.
“Yes, for now.”
“Pff... we're an archer and a swordsman. What could we possibly do against a creature like that?”
“Earn all the EXP in the world, I guess,” Sun Tie said, glancing at the man with a smirk.
“That would be something. I had forgotten what back pain felt like, and I've been suffering since this new integration began.”
Sun Tie nodded to the man and continued to gaze in the distance. From the direction the dragon had emerged, other creatures would likely appear — immensely powerful and ready for a special challenge. With the cultivators weakened, the people of Eternal Wind were in grave danger if they ventured too close.
And Sun Tie hadn't even considered the demonic creatures yet. The demons, exiled and imprisoned, could capitalize on the current chaos and unleash themselves upon the world if they hadn't already.
Sun Tie's grandfather had dedicated his life to ending the demonic presence in Eternal Wind, and he had succeeded. He had either killed or exiled all the demonic cultivators. But now, the potential for his monumental achievement to be undone was alarmingly high.
Finding his grandfather now held a newfound urgency, one that Sun Tie could not afford to ignore.
Another shriek echoed in the distance, this time from the opposite direction.
“What now?” Sun Tie asked, turning to look at the massive Umbraheim mountain. From its peak, a jet of fire spewed forth, resembling the furious breath of an imprisoned deity.
“It was a volcano all along,” Cole whispered, “now it all makes sense.”
“Volcano?”
“Yes, like mountains connected to the Earth's magma or something like that. They're hot and dangerous. That’s another place for us to avoid,” Cole said, grabbing a beer from the table and walking towards the mountain. Sun Tie followed, noticing many individuals with pointed ears doing the same.
They murmured and gestured towards the horizon.
“The prophecy is fulfilled.” Sun Tie glanced to his side and saw the woman who had sent Cole on his quest. She stood gripping her child tightly in front of her.
“What prophecy?”
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“When the mountain spits fire again, the final battle will commence. The end of the world,” she whispered, locking eyes with Sun Tie.
“You're suddenly quite talkative,” Sun Tie commented, a hint of irritation on his face.
“Sorry, I wasn’t having the best of days. Thank you for saving my son; you demonstrated great courage. The images confirmed that.”
“He simply did what any honorable cultivator would do,” Cole said, moving in front of Sun Tie. “At least, I know that’s what he would have said.”
“Thank you again, Cole. I knew I could rely on you, and I regret not trusting you earlier, young man. It's just that you—”
Before she could finish her sentence, another deafening shriek pierced the air. This time, it wasn’t the mountain spewing fire.
A colossal snake emerged from the mountain's depths, covered in the red molten liquid. However, it seemed unharmed, and large portions of its body were missing. Sun Tie noticed that the magma wasn’t really making contact with its skin, as if a magical veil protected the creature.
He didn’t need to inspect closely to discern that it was undead; the fact that half of its head was missing was evidence enough. The creature took its time exiting the mountain, methodically coiling itself around its base.
Once the beast fully emerged from the volcano, it rose high, fixing its gaze on the onlookers below. It let out a powerful shriek, its massive forked tongue flickering in the air, yet it remained motionless.
Many from Umbraheim wept openly.
“The devils will come for us!” A woman lamented nearby.
“Where are our protectors?” Another woman implored, gazing heavenward.
“Why did you kill our lords?” This time, it was a man, his eyes locked onto Sun Tie. “Now, who will shield us from the devil?” The man approached Sun Tie, arms outstretched, pleading, “Can you help?”
Sun Tie met the man’s gaze, at a loss for words. He didn’t wish to deceive, even though he was willing to stand and fight. He had personal matters to sort out before diving into anything else.
“They aren’t our lords any longer,” declared the woman holding her child. “We owe them nothing! They subjugated us, deceiving us into believing it was for our good that we were waging their noble battle.”
“Blasphemy!” Another voice cried out.
“What they did to us, that was the real blasphemy. Now is our moment of reckoning. We possess the means to defy them, and we have allies among the humans from Earth. Be brave, my brethren!” Her voice carried a fiery passion. Sun Tie recognized leadership qualities when he saw them. Her unwavering spirit impressed the young master, and he could see from Cole's expression that he was equally taken aback. “Truly, we are witnessing the dawn of a new era. The death serpent signifies an end — the end of our oppressors, the wicked Vampire lords and ladies.”
Many of them murmured, a mix of fear and anger evident in their voices, as they retreated from her vicinity without uttering another word.
“Why do they have titles and names while we are reduced to numbers? No more! From now on, my name is Liv, and my son's name is Kae.” The woman glanced at her son, whispering something as if seeking his approval. After his nodding, she continued, “Women and children will no longer serve as food for the true devils of Umbraheim. Men will no longer be mere cannon fodder for the vampire army. We will become their greatest nightmare, and I hope you'll stand with me.”
The crowd around her erupted in support, buoyed by her impassioned plea. Sun Tie couldn't deny that her words moved him. In the midst of their grim circumstances, at least one person had found a silver lining.
“I'll assist,” Sun Tie murmured to himself, “Once I've sorted out my own issues, I'll return and lend a hand.” Cole overheard him.
“Good, because I'd say the same, and it'd be a lonely trip without company.”
Sun Tie looked out into the distance, his gaze fixed on his grandfather's mansion far away.
You will soon be returned to the ground in a position similar to where you were previously. The dangers are set to escalate; both beasts and challenges will intensify. However, you've already displayed remarkable determination and strength. The decision is yours: Unite or Fight. The world is now ripe for your taking. For the upcoming 48 hours, you'll continue to experience enhanced recovery.
Afterward, you must rely solely on your own capabilities. Await further communication once the planet reaches a new milestone.
Upon hearing the message, Sun Tie exchanged looks with Cole.
“48 hours. Do you think we can reach the mansion in that time?”
“I doubt it,” Cole responded, grabbing a piece of meat and tossing another to Sun Tie. “Eat up; we can't be certain when we'll eat next.”
As Sun Tie munched on his food and felt his vision beginning to blur, he glanced to the far end of the table. There sat Bruce, his eyes burning with a murderous intent.