Around the time when Will had just entered through the castle’s front door, Ember and the rest moved immediately.
Careful not to alert the beyond-god-level power in the middle of the castle, Ember chose to land at the back, where there’s literally nothing present. Minerva and Hekate quickly followed her out of the portal and began to look around, before the last few of the group rushed to catch up.
“Minerva, is this the right place?”
Ember asked immediately, wondering if they could start breaking the seal even though they were outside of the castle.
Hearing her question, Minerva stepped forward and placed a hand against the castle’s rear walls. The surface was cold, but she could also feel warmth within it, along with a faint, steady pulse.
“This should be good enough. I need to focus on my task, so everyone, please protect me.”
Without waiting for confirmation, she kneeled down, planting her palm flat on the wall while pressing her forehead against it. Then, a faint haze of gold and pink energies started to hover around her, creating an ephemeral scene.
Ember and the rest watched her for a while before turning around. They also had tasks of their own to perform, after all.
“Hekate, watch over Minerva, please. Wan Li, you keep watch of the left; Wan Er, to the right; and Ying Yue, you watch out for the front. I’ll provide backup and protection to everyone!”
“… I’ll protect Minerva.”
“Got it!”
“Leave it to me!”
“Sure.”
Without delay, everyone nodded to Ember’s arrangements. They didn’t move too far, of course, since if they did, it would be a lot more difficult for Ember to protect them.
Hekate stood about three meters behind Minerva, watching her intently. Ember was five meters further from Hekate’s back, with Wan Li, Wan Er, and Ying Yue being ten meters out in their respective directions relative to Ember.
They all stood watch, making sure that not a single enemy could approach and disturb Minerva.
“Incoming!”
Ember, who was watching the surroundings with a few of her clones, noticed a sizeable, detached force approach. Although the majority was still heading for Igni and Fang, roughly 100 angel-like beings took a large detour and rushed to attack their group.
“I see them!”
Wan Er shouted as soon as she saw the enemies approach from her side.
“Xiao Huo, show them your power!”
*SCREEEE!*
“Go! Use [Feather Rain]!”
Following her tamer’s command, Xiao Huo flew high into the air. Her figure rapidly changed, from a small bird to a giant with a wing span of over 10 meters!
Its body was covered with bright yellow flames, a testament that it had already achieved success in learning the phoenix-specific skill [Samsara], which allows it to revive from its ashes.
*SCREEE!* ƒгeewёbnovel.com
With a majestic display, she spread her wings wide before swinging them down. Feathers, burning in yellow flames, rained against the approaching enemies, covering the entire path.
*TING!* *TANG!* *TING!*
However, the enemy was in the 9th stage, and the attacks merely bounced off of their protective barriers. The feathers left not a single injury on the enemies at all!
“Tough!”
Wan Er frowned.
“Then, let’s go full power immediately! [Self Destruct]!”
Following her command, Xiao Huo’s body was covered with raging yellow flames. Then, as if it suddenly gained a life of its own, it separated from her and flew down, heading for the middle of the approaching enemies.
The gigantic flame bird landed, and with a bright flash, it caused a powerful explosion!
*BOOOOOM!*
Rocks flew as shockwaves spread. The damage it caused was almost equivalent to that of a 9th-stage attack!
Soon, the smoke and dust were cleared, and the scene of the enemies was revealed. Most of them were still standing, with a few kneeling on one leg. Unfortunately, their barriers could still hold on against the attack!
“But their energy should’ve taken a large hit!”
Instead of lamenting how her attack still failed to take someone down, Wan Er smiled joyfully.
“Sister!”
“Of course!”
Wan Li, who was already on the move before she even got called, stood by Wan Er’s side and waved her hand.
“Xiao Bing, freeze them solid!”
With her command, the little fairy moved quickly. With speeds faster than those of sound, the little fairy made its way across the enemy’s formation. Everywhere she flew over got frozen solid, and the angel-like enemies weren’t an exception.
Still, only their surface was frozen. Everyone was still alive inside, but the cold and thick ice were hindering their movements for a short while.
“Xiao Huo, NOW!”
And then, with a repeat of the previous attack, the little phoenix released another fiery copy of itself and let it land in the exact middle of the frozen group of enemies.
*BOOOOOOM!*
Another explosion, not losing the power of the earlier one, sent shockwaves around once more. With the enemies frozen solid, the impact affected them even more, causing their barriers to shatter instantly.
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Then, with the remaining heat from the explosion, everyone got major burns, while some even lost their limbs!
“Guiho, finish them off.”
As if to take advantage of the enemies getting weaker, Ying Yue ordered her little black fox to attack.
“Use [Flames of Demise]!”
Guiho jumped forward, and from its mouth flew a powerful wave of black and white flames. Like a powerful flamethrower, the little fox waved the flames around, making sure to engulf every single one of its enemies.
Realizing that they weren’t a match, some tried to turn tails and escape. But with Xiao Bing covering the back, they could only remain rooted on the spot.
Within seconds, the army of a hundred or so angel-like beings turned into piles of ashes. Wan Li and Wan Er smiled at each other as they raised their hands in the air.
“High five!”
“Yay~!”
Ying Yue only watched the two with a smile for a bit before returning to watching her surroundings with a frown.
Ember watched them fight, ready to assist at any given moment but was honestly surprised. She had seen Will fight others who were on a higher stage than him, but it was rare to see someone replicate that deed.
‘Although it took three of them working together, they still wiped out a team of 9th stages without suffering any injuries. Their powers couldn’t be underestimated either.’
Just as Ember was smiling, watching the two sisters praise each other…
*HISSS!*
Wan Li and Wan Er’s nine tails raised up, spread wide, with their fur bristling. Their ears perked up in attention while they turned their gaze up at the castle, somewhere in the middle.
“…!”
Although late by a second, Ember also recognized the presence that washed over them. The beyond-god-level enemy was watching them!
