Song Jie led Mo Fan to the edge of the demon's entrance.
The ground trembled faintly—growls, screeches, and the stench of blood filled the air. Around the gaping crack were hundreds of slave-level demons and several general-level ones standing guard.
"Brother Jie, it's all up to you now!" Mo Fan said, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.
He knew his power wasn't enough to deal with creatures of this level. All he could do was stay alert and protect Song Jie from any surprise attacks.
Song Jie didn't answer. His gaze swept toward the distance, where Xu Dahuang and his squad were fighting desperately on the outer perimeter.
Good. They're far enough. A large-scale spell won't hit them.
He raised his right hand. In an instant, brilliant golden starlight connected in the air—forming a radiant, spinning pattern.
"—Laser Burst!"
A huge sphere of light formed in his palm and detonated toward the demon's entrance!
Boom!!
The golden explosion was blinding. Laser-like rays shot out in every direction, slicing through the horde of monsters like divine punishment from the heavens.
Within seconds, the demons around the entrance were vaporized, leaving behind scorched earth and silence.
Xu Dahuang and the others turned their heads toward the explosion, their faces frozen in shock.
"What terrifying power...!" one of them gasped.
"Someone's helping us! Let's move—now!" Xu Dahuang shouted.
Their morale surged instantly, and the entire team pushed forward, clearing out the last wave of monsters before charging toward the heart of the rift.
Song Jie watched them for a moment, then lowered his hand.
The battle was decided—no need to waste any more energy.
Mo Fan exhaled in relief, eyes wide in awe. "Brother Jie… thank you."
If it weren't for Song Jie's intervention, Xu Dahuang's squad would've been annihilated before they even reached the gate.
Song Jie nodded lightly. "They're the heroes of Bo City. I won't let them die in vain."
Mo Fan nodded hard, feeling the weight of those words.
After a brief silence, Song Jie asked, "Are there other demon entrances in Bo City?"
"There should be…" Mo Fan furrowed his brow, thinking back. "When I was with the city monster hunting team, we did find several spots where demons suddenly crawled out of the ground. Those must've been entrances too!"
"Then take me to the nearest one," Song Jie said firmly.
Now that Tang Yue's task was secure, he could focus on purging Bo City's demon gates himself.
"Got it!"
Mo Fan immediately led the way.
Half an hour later, another explosion echoed through the ruins as the two of them obliterated yet another entrance.
Mo Fan threw up his arms in excitement. "Ahhh—this feels so damn good!"
Song Jie shot him a look. "Don't tell anyone about what happened today."
"Don't worry, Brother Jie! My mouth's tighter than a magic seal," Mo Fan said quickly.
Still, he couldn't stop thinking—
That attack… there's no way that was just intermediate magic. It had to be high-level!
Before he could ask, Song Jie was already turning his gaze toward the center of the city.
Not far away, several figures were rushing through the streets.
"Is that… Commander Zhan Kong?" Mo Fan squinted, recognizing the man leading the charge.
Song Jie frowned slightly. "He's going after the Winged Wolf."
That name alone made Mo Fan's scalp tingle.
The commander-level beast—the mastermind behind Bo City's tragedy.
But the Winged Wolf wasn't easy prey. Zhan Kong's hunt would fail that day… and it would become the biggest regret of his life.
From the rooftop, Zhan Kong stood in the storm of fire and smoke, his coat whipping in the wind.
"It's the military mages!" Mo Fan shouted. "Looks like reinforcements from the outer city have arrived!"
Hope flickered in his eyes for the first time that day. "Bo City might actually make it…"
Seeing this, Song Jie said calmly, "Wait here for them. I'll go take a look."
Mo Fan's expression grew serious. He knew exactly where Song Jie was headed.
"Brother Jie—if you get the chance… kill that beast!"
Song Jie didn't respond. He just glanced back with calm eyes. "It's not that simple."
Then he was gone—leaping into the smoke and fire like a streak of golden light.
Mo Fan clenched his fists. He knew it deep down—he might never catch up to Song Jie in this lifetime.
At the same time, in Bo City's central district—
The battle between Zhan Kong and the Winged Wolf had already reached its peak.
The sky was filled with roaring flames and explosions. The air itself trembled under the impact of each spell.
Only Zhan Kong—Bo City's sole high-level mage—could stand against the Winged Wolf.
But even for him, killing a commander-level monster was nearly impossible.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Fiery rain poured down like molten metal. Zhan Kong gritted his teeth. "You damned beast! If I can't kill you, I'll peel you alive!"
The Winged Wolf was the source of Bo City's destruction—the one responsible for all the deaths.
If he didn't kill it, that sin would never leave his heart.
Fortunately, the civilians had been evacuated. At least… only the city would burn.
His constellation shone once again. "Sky Flame Funeral—Hellfire Stone!"
Massive boulders of burning rock plummeted from the heavens, turning the battlefield into a sea of fire.
But when the smoke cleared, the Winged Wolf still hovered above—wounded, but far from defeated.
"Damn it!" Zhan Kong cursed, his breath ragged.
The beast was too fast. Every attack that could've hit was dodged at the last second.
Unless he faced it head-on—
But that could easily cost him his life.
"Roar!!"
The Winged Wolf howled, its breath condensing into icy light.
Zhan Kong crossed his arms, summoning his Wind Wings. The feathers folded in front of him, forming a barrier just as the freezing beam struck.
The shockwave blasted him backward, and officers nearby gasped in fear.
"Commander Zhan Kong!"
Then—
Now's my chance.
Hidden in the shadows of a nearby rooftop, Song Jie's eyes glowed gold.
His magic circuits blazed as he raised his hand.
His enhanced first-tier spell—"Glorious Explosive Golden Rain"—had never been unleashed before.
Its power was comparable to high-tier third-level magic.
Against the Winged Wolf… it was more than enough.
"Now," Song Jie whispered. "Fall."
And the heavens began to shine.