Chapter 1125: Defending The Territory
Chapter 1125: Defending The Territory
Zogar mulled over his thoughts. He had just received news about the events in Paradise and hadn't anticipated such a situation while he was occupied with his current task.
"Hand her over and surrender yourself, and we'll let you live!" a fierce voice echoed through the air.
Zogar broke away from his thoughts, focusing on the one who had spoken- a slender humanoid man with a single eye dressed in a mix of leather and Vylkr alloy. Surrounding him were individuals with similar features, each with bulging bracelets on their hands and wielding Gearweaver swords and other arrays of Gearweavers.
Next to him stood another humanoid, a man with four-slitted crimson eyes, two thick arms, and retractable claws on the tips of each finger. He wore a claw-like exoskeleton Gearweaver on each hand. Like the first man, several others of the same race surrounded him defensively, armed with their Gearweavers.
Both groups consisted of gods' chosens, numbering in the thousands, painting the rocky plains and surrounding mountains like grains of sand on a beach.
These two groups belonged to the Lurking Alligator and Roaming Silver Dingo Runaway Cities, the factions backing the Drelyal Alliance in their attack on the Trekking Flamingo and Wanderlust Travelling Tortoise Runaway Cities.
Behind them stood ten humanoid individuals of varying races, each with distinct features like elongated, curved ears, scaly hair, inhuman lower body parts, or extra appendages. They were accompanied by gods' chosens from similar or different races, numbering in the millions.
Their gazes, filled with complex emotions, were fixed on the unfolding scene.
These were the Iron Blade Stowaway, Ashwind Stowaway, Hallow Bridge Stowaway, Phantom Callers Stowaway, Rust Sword Stowaway, Lost Spear Stowaway, Rogue Beauties Stowaway, Fire Claw Stowaway, Skull Claw Stowaway, and lastly, Spear Tide Stowaway. These groups led the Drelyal Alliance, comprised of 320 Stowaways, each with populations ranging from 10,000 to 50,000. Each oversaw 32 Stowaways.
Unlike Runaway Cities, every inhabitant of the Stowaways was a trained god's chosen, capable of surviving independently. Those who weren't gods' chosens were trained warriors, expected to secure resources by any means necessary.
Thus, it wasn't far-fetched to say that the gods' chosens and warriors present represented the entire populations of their respective Stowaways. Those absent were either injured people, children or expectant mothers.
At this moment, their cautious and hateful gazes were fixed on a lightly dressed man in trousers and a shirt that exposed his chest. He wore an ashen mask adorned with numerous drawings of Vylkr vines, ranging from one to four. Behind him hovered forty men, each wearing black masks.
With such forces gathered together, they could take down any Grade One Runaway City or one on the verge of ascending to Grade Two. However, their plans had been interrupted by a lowly Stowaway from the bottom of the dregs, attempting to tear apart their alliance.
They were surprised by the revelation that the Trekking Flamingo, Sleeping Fox, and Wanderlust Travelling Tortoise Runaway Cities now served under a force called Paradise and had presumably granted the new Stone Fang leader her strength after the previous leader and his mistress were imprisoned. They didn't take it seriously.
They assumed it was a ploy by the Runaway Cities to scare them into dissolving their efforts. After all, they have lived in this territory for hundreds or even thousands of years and had never heard of such a mysterious force called Paradise, which could make two Grade One Runaway Cities and one about to become Grade Two easily pledge their allegiance.
Still, they couldn't help but feel their hearts waver as they stared at the 41 individuals, especially the man at the forefront, who had effortlessly broken through the forces of the Lurking Alligator Runaway City, freed Iyalis, and soon after proclaimed himself as a warrior from Paradise.
Despite being surrounded by their entire force, he hadn't fled but remained in place as though lost in thought.
Given the mysterious figure's strength, they no longer doubted the existence of the force called Paradise and no longer underestimated the remaining 40 individuals hovering behind him. They deduced that these individuals might possess strength similar to his or close enough, and thus, they refrained from making rash decisions.
Some even considered defecting and pledging loyalty to Paradise but hesitated due to the figure's words.
The Lurking Alligator and Roaming Silver Dingo Runaway Cities were the only ones still unwilling to bow their heads.
"Does this mean you won't surrender willingly?" Zogar asked, his tone indifferent.
"Yes, we won't. You've attacked our Runaway City, killed dozens of our treasured gods' chosens, and captured our prisoners. A line has already been drawn, which means that whether we surrender or not, you'll still do what you want to us," the man responded, his teeth clenched in anger.
"True," Zogar replied, "but if you had surrendered willingly, your punishment would've been lighter." He then took the unconscious Iyalis, who had been slumped over his shoulder and tossed her toward the Stone Fang Stowaway inhabitants behind him.
Aric and Mirr quickly caught Iyalis and laid her down gently on the ground.
"Make sure she's alright," Zogar said, glancing at them. The Supreme Leader had explicitly ordered him to ensure Iyalis' safety, as he seemed impressed with her abilities. Zogar had to make sure she wasn't in a vegetative state or severely harmed from the torture she had endured.
Aric and Mirr nodded at Zogar's words and checked her pulse before performing quick treatments with their hands.
Within a minute, Iyalis' eyes fluttered open. She groaned in pain as she attempted to look around.
"Are you okay? Let me help you up," Lolas said, extending his hand to Iyalis with a defeated smile. If his sister hadn't accepted Paradise's conditions, he wasn't sure what would have become of the Stone Fang Stowaway.
Iyalis slapped his hand away, gesturing for Aric and Mirr to help her. They did so gently, without hesitation.
Once she was standing, Iyalis focused on Zogar and nodded. "I'm alright, Stronghold Leader Zogar," she said.
"Good. Don't strain yourself too much until you've received proper treatment. You'll need to speak with the Supreme Leader after this, and he doesn't appreciate when his property is mishandled," Zogar said calmly. Refocusing his gaze, he locked onto the sea of gods' chosens and warriors before them as he rose into the air.
Iyalis nodded firmly, her eyes fixed on Zogar. She was eager to witness the power of one of Paradise's key leaders herself.
"Do you really think you can face us without consequences?" Zogar's voice boomed across the terrain, reaching the ears of every being present and sending chills down their spines.
They couldn't help but marvel at the power of this figure, capable of speaking to such a vast multitude with such clarity.
His following words made every fibre of their being tremble.
"Did you believe you could mock the Supreme Leader's authority, defy his order, and escape judgment? You fools, you have insulted powers beyond your comprehension. Your fate was sealed the moment you raised your weapons against Paradise! Fortunately, Paradise is benevolent!" As Zogar ascended higher, he raised his right hand toward the sky.
His hand transformed as though it were forged from lightning, resembling Orion's lightning
form.
The sky darkened as storm clouds gathered, obscuring the once-brilliant rays of light that bathed the battlefield. Fierce streaks of lightning and thunder filled the heavens.
The sky soon became a thunderous drumbeat, signalling the start of a dreadful event.
Lightning streaked down from the sky, and Zogar grasped it firmly like a rope. Zogar's body began to grow, his head transforming into the head of a menacing beast with razor-sharp teeth. His limbs lengthened, claws extending from his fingers. His entire physique expanded to an imposing height of several tens of meters. His skin turned leathery, and his dazzling wings, resembling those of a mighty bird of prey with striking arrays of brown, white, and orange feathers, unfurled from his back.
The lightning manipulation was a gift from Orion, while the dragonic transformation came from Village Chief Brane-both of which Zogar had copied before departing to handle this
task.
CRACKLE!! CRACKLE!!
The lightning in his right hand spread across his entire body, enveloping him like armour. The strikes poured over his form, illuminating his fearsome appearance.
"ROOOARRR!!"
The mountains trembled, and a mighty gust of wind spread outward, shaking the multitudes
of individuals below.
The forces on the ground were shaken, their bodies frozen in place, unable to move. The Dreyal Alliance and the Stone Fang Stowaway found the unfolding scene incomprehensible.
This wasn't the power of a mortal!
How were they supposed to win against such a being?
A look of relief crossed the faces of the Stone Fang Stowaway while those on the opposing
side continued to watch Zogar in terror. Some had already dropped their weapons in surrender and attempted to flee, while others were too paralyzed with fear to move.
Iyalis turned her head to the side, hearing a dripping sound. Her expression twisted in disgust
as she saw Lolas, who had wet his pants in fear.
Zogar's voice thundered across the battlefield again.
"I won't kill you! I will only leave you with a memory of your defeat!"