"We don't wish to kill everyone—and you certainly don't wish to be killed."
Guang Yao stood at the forefront of Cloud Peak's encirclent, his voice amplified across the Holy City.
"Our coming cannot be called justice—call it revenge, or if you prefer, conquest."
Behind him, Ye Zhongming stood ready, having already issued orders for all level-nine forces to prepare to strike at any mont.
He, Death King Tree, Talking Lady, and Mo Ye each guarded a direction, poised to counter any sudden attack from the level-nine presence atop the Holy City's palace.
"We want this city as our trophy for coming here. But—"
Guang Yao's tone sharpened, silencing even the faintest murmurs from the Holy City survivors gathered near the palace.
"We don't need you."
A glacial dread seeped into every listener's bones.
In the apocalypse, "not needed" usually ant death.
The genetic lifeforms, the mutant rats, the missile barrages—all had proven these Easterners fully capable of slaughter.
The crowd stirred. If death were inevitable, so would fight... or beg for rcy.
"But we are not bloodthirsty. You, as fellow humans, should not be butchered like livestock."
Silence returned.
"If you comply with our demands... you may leave."
These were the Holy City's people. Abandoning their ho was unthinkable—yet far preferable to death.
Many wondered: The Holy City is vast. Do these Easterners truly not need citizens? Would they really pass up the chance to exploit us?
The answer ca swiftly.
"Your price for leaving... is surrendering everything."
"Yes, you heard correctly. We... are here to rob you."
Chaos erupted. So tried to break through the encirclent; others rushed toward the palace seeking refuge; still others rallied those around them to resist.
Losing everything—keeping only their evolution level—would make survival in the apocalypse far more difficult.
When the crowd's movents grew too chaotic, Cloud Peak struck.
For two full minutes, magic crystal firearms, ranged weapons, job skills, and war beasts' innate abilities carpet-bombed the front ranks of the Holy City's evolved.
Against overwhelming force—and taken by surprise—this was nothing short of a massacre.
When the barrage ceased, over ten thousand lay dead (and this was with Cloud Peak deliberately limiting the strike zone).
The survivors broke.
They ca forward in waves, stripping off equipnt, so even shedding clothes before stumbling out of the encirclent.
Humans were strange creatures. Given the sliver of a chance to live, most would choose it over certain death.
Within thirty minutes, over one-fifth had surrendered their possessions and departed. Under Cloud Peak's watch, they stread out through a single gate—unard and broken.
As the exodus continued, Cloud Peak's forces began preparing to assault the palace.
Then—
"Heh."
A tallic, grating laugh vibrated through the air.
Cloud Peak's level-nines ascended as one:
Death King Tree resud its monstrous form
Talking Lady perched atop a winged war beast
Mo Ye carried by ice birds
Ye Zhongming astride Yangos
All other forces—including Xia Bai, Red Hair, and the air units—retreated rapidly.
Against a level-nine that even Ye Zhongming treated with caution, only fellow pinnacle existences could intervene.
"How impressive. Four... no, five."
The voice scraped like rusted tal, making listeners wince.
"Almost frightening~"
As the words faded, the palace began to glow—like a firework preparing to launch. An invisible force shoved evolved away from its base, triggering defensive strikes from so Cloud Peak units.
Death King Tree lashed out, a viridian spike shooting toward the palace walls—only to deflect harmlessly with a crystalline ping.
Ye Zhongming's eyes narrowed.
That attack, though probing, could pierce seven-star evolved. Yet the ordinary-looking brickwork remained unscathed.
Without warning, Ye Zhongming drew his blade and struck.
Enemies lurked within—no need for restraint.
Though not a full-power blow, the job skill purple-grade weapon combo made Holy City onlookers pale.
Terrifying—the only word that fit.
Dawn's light dimd as necrotic energy saturated the air, making sub-eight-star evolved tremble uncontrollably. The recently awakened Undead Dragon-fish stretched luxuriously, reveling in the aura.
A pale-gray arc struck the palace.
Silence.
Then—
BOOM!
A thunderous crack split the palace from top to bottom as a gaping fissure appeared in its facade.
Even Cloud Peak's veterans gaped.
This was beyond human capability.
The strange voice did not return—but all five of Cloud Peak's level-nines retreated abruptly.
The ground trembled—so subtly that none noticed until their superiors withdrew. Even Nine Treasures and its mate grew visibly agitated.
Then—
CRAAAAAAAAACK!
The entire palace ripped free from its foundations—
No.
It stood up.
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