"This is a mess." After clearing up the small fry that managed to get past the city's defenses, Damon and Tang Yue finally arrived at West Fortress.
Mages fought desperately against the flying monsters, minions, warriors, commanders—and even a monarch-class creature—all attacking the fortress in waves.
"They won't be able to hold for long," Tang Yue said. With her military experience, she understood the situation at a glance.
The mages were exhausted. Though they maintained the defense, it wouldn't last much longer. Large-scale spells killed many beasts, but humans were still vastly outnumbered.
Mo Fan and Lingling remained in the healing camp. Mo Fan, still an Intermediate Mage and as selfish as ever, had no intention of joining the battle yet. Damon agreed that his intervention wasn't required—once the plague was cured, the Totem Snake might return to save the city.
The only reason he came was Tang Yue's insistence. Her uncle and everyone she cared for were fighting on the frontlines. Though she was only a newly advanced mage who couldn't even form a Star Constellation, she still wanted to help.
'Foolish…' Damon thought. Her power would hardly make a difference when even Super Mages could fall. Still, he escorted her while preparing for his next move—to ensure the culprit behind this chaos paid the price.
Boom!
A sudden explosion drew Damon's attention. A minion-class falcon dove, bombarding the magical barrier.
Boom! Boom!
The first falcon wasn't alone—others followed. Soon, countless beasts were dropping from the sky, smashing into the barrier with suicidal fury.
"The fuck—" Damon was startled. The feathered monsters had previously only tried to bypass air defenses to feed on the city. Until now, they hadn't attacked the fortress directly—but their plans had changed. "This is bad."
Looking at the Monarch-class Silversky Ruler, surrounded by its domain and guarded by an impenetrable defense, Damon's eyes widened. Super Mages struggled to hold their ground.
"CAAAW!"
A roar shook the entire fortress. The Monarch's cry sent its minions into a suicidal frenzy.
Damon immediately understood the meaning behind the roar. The beast was furious—infuriated that humans had dared block its entry. In its own territory, these fragile creatures had become a thorn in its path.
"Oh fuck." Tang Yue had already taken position beside Intermediate Mages, commanding them. The sky darkened as countless falcons dove for a suicidal strike, intent on destroying the fortress and the barrier.
Intermediate magic was useless against such an onslaught. The Advanced Mages, already occupied by other foes, couldn't intervene either.
No Advanced Mage stood on the ground aside from Damon—free to act. 'If the barrier is destroyed…'
It would be catastrophic. The barrier's fall meant the fortress—humanity's final line of defense—would be obliterated, leading to the fall of Hangzhou and the death of millions still evacuating.
Unconsciously, Damon's fists clenched. His body shot forward. The Star Constellation that normally took seconds to form appeared in an instant under desperation.
Adrenaline surged through his veins. His fire reserves gathered into a single point as his fist ignited.
The giant fireball shaped itself into a blazing arm. His entire body burned as he became the incarnation of fire.
His regeneration barely kept pace with the burning Rose Flames that engulfed him. Level 1 Sky Flame Funeral erupted—a storm of rose fire bursting forth against the falcons.
He became the source of the bombardment, his body releasing barrages of fireballs that defied gravity, engulfing the sky in crimson flames. The fortress was shielded by his blaze as the fireballs slammed into the diving beasts.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Hundreds of White Magic Falcons were obliterated instantly. Explosions engulfed the sky, burning countless more.
Thousands died in moments. Their fading souls drifted down as Damon descended.
"It fucking hurts…" Damon muttered as his charred skin repaired itself. Defensive mages took over, warding off the few survivors.
Damon had unleashed a near-suicidal attack. If not for his regeneration, he would have died the moment he ignited himself.
His fire element was depleted. His light element, still limited to the Intermediate rank, was only useful for defense—he couldn't yet control its advanced form.
Looking at the burning corpses, Damon immediately began devouring them. Magic remained in the dead for a few hours before dissipating—especially abundant in fresh kills. It wasn't enough to refill his entire reservoir, but it helped his recovery.
The Monarch noticed his assault and roared in fury. Its loyal warriors immediately dove toward the recovering Damon. Massive talons and wings filled the air as they charged to kill him.
Damon only laughed.
"You wanna play?"
Black armor of shadow enveloped him as he leapt forward. The Sky-Stepping Boots flared to life, letting him walk upon air. He shot upward, punching a falcon square in the face—its head exploded in a spray of blood and feathers.
He twisted midair, changing direction with each step, his claymore materializing in his hands. Each swing cut through another beast, slashing them apart as his wings unfurled.
Dozens of warrior-class beasts fell—but vanished midair, devoured by black-purple energy before hitting the ground. Damon then unleashed Level 4 Intermediate Fire Magic—
Fiery Fist: Nine Dragons!
Flaming pillars spiraled out from him, incinerating the surrounding monsters. Up close, his novice-tier blasts tore through their bodies from within.
It was a one-sided massacre. Damon slaughtered the flying beasts relentlessly. His precise, brutal movements stunned the other mages, who prided themselves on combat prowess. Watching him, they couldn't help but feel both awe and inadequacy.
His stamina seemed endless. His body was built for war—fighting without rest, depleting and replenishing his magic as he devoured the freshly fallen.
He was a machine made for battle—unstoppable.
The monsters soon realized this as well. One by one, they began to retreat. Damon noticed and frowned.
'Are they retreating? Why?' Their minds were dominated by their rulers; fear shouldn't have been possible.
"Then why…"
Slaying the last warrior near him, Damon questioned the odd silence.
"Grrraaaaw!"
The answer came as a soul-shaking roar. A massive Four-Clawed Magic Eagle descended, its shadow blotting out the sky.
The minions and warriors circled above as Damon stood alone beneath it, facing the bloody commander.
It was now a battle of equals—a battle of life and death.